Chapter 18

           Thatnightweallwenttobedearly.Thenextnightwouldbeananxiousone,andMr.Trelawnythoughtthatweshouldallbefortifiedwithwhatsleepwecouldget.Theday,too,wouldbefullofwork.EverythinginconnectionwiththeGreatExperimentwouldhavetobegoneover,sothatatthelastwemightnotfailfromanyunthought-offlawinourworking.Wemade,ofcourse,arrangementsforsummoningaidincasesuchshouldbeneeded;butIdonotthinkthatanyofushadanyrealapprehensionofdanger.CertainlywehadnofearofsuchdangerfromviolenceaswehadhadtoguardagainstinLondonduringMr.Trelawny’slongtrance.

           FormyownpartIfeltastrangesenseofreliefinthematter.IhadacceptedMr.Trelawny’sreasoningthatiftheQueenwereindeedsuchaswesurmised—suchasindeedwenowtookforgranted—therewouldnotbeanyoppositiononherpart;forwewerecarryingoutherownwishestotheverylast.SofarIwasatease—farmoreateasethanearlierinthedayIshouldhavethoughtpossible;buttherewereothersourcesoftroublewhichIcouldnotblotoutfrommymind.ChiefamongstthemwasMargaret’sstrangecondition.Ifitwasindeedthatshehadinherownpersonadualexistence,whatmighthappenwhenthetwoexistencesbecameone?Again,andagain,andagainIturnedthismatteroverinmymind,tillIcouldhaveshriekedoutinnervousanxiety.ItwasnoconsolationtometorememberthatMargaretwasherselfsatisfied,andherfatheracquiescent.