The Woman in White The Second Epoch: X (Marian Halcombe, Count Fosco, Narrator)

Armadale Book the second - Chapter X

In which Midwinter wrestles throughout a solitary night with a painful resolution concerning his dear friend Allan, while curious whispers from servants hint at dark tensions surrounding the new governess at the cottage. Drawn by a letter from Mr. Brock, Midwinter confronts the lady whose face defies every identifying feature described therein, leading him into a profound reconsideration of the sinister omens that have long shadowed their lives.

Armadale Book the second - Chapter IX

In which Allan Armadale and his companions explore the eerie solitude of the Broads, encountering a mysterious cottage and enduring a somewhat uneasy picnic interrupted by the absent arrival of a friend. Alone at the water's edge, Allan confronts strange premonitions and a haunting vision that lead him to an unexpected meeting with Major Milroy’s enigmatic governess, Miss Gwilt.

Armadale Book the second - Chapter VIII

In which a somewhat formal and ill-assorted party sets off from Major Milroy’s cottage for a picnic on the Norfolk Broads, their social awkwardness softened by the charming attentions of the ever-resourceful Pedgift Junior and the unfolding beauty of the landscape. Amidst delicate family dynamics, idle flirtations, and lively musical attempts, the group experiences the gentle pleasures and mild tribulations that render a day afloat more memorable than might have been anticipated.

Armadale Book the second - Chapter VII

In which Allan Armadale secures Miss Milroy’s favour anew by inviting her to a carefully arranged picnic, and Midwinter takes on the role of his steward’s tutor, uncovering the melancholy history of their timid new acquaintance, Mr. Bashwood. Meanwhile, unsettling suspicions deepen as a watchful friend pursues a shadowy intrigue, and preparations for the picnic bring an unexpected complication with the arrival of a governess whose presence promises novel disturbances.

Armadale Book the second - Chapter VI

In which the curious transformation of Midwinter from a reserved to a boisterous companion puzzles and unsettles those around him, culminating in a humorous yet disconcerting exhibition of Major Milroy’s intricate clock that only serves to reveal delicate tensions beneath the surface. Allan Armadale, caught between admiration and unease, navigates the social complexities of the Milroy household, where affection and prudence make an uneasy alliance.