The Woman in White The First Epoch: The Story Begun by Walter Hartright: Introduction - IV (Walter Hartright)

Armadale Book the last - Chapter II

In which Mr. Midwinter returns unexpectedly to England, driven by anxiety about his wife's sudden silence, and encounters the steward Mr. Bashwood, whose shock upon hearing her name as Mrs. Armadale hints at a tangled secret. The meeting culminates in a tense and painful confrontation with his wife, whose denial of their marriage captures the sombre essence of a mystery unravelling under the veil of night.

Armadale Book the last - Chapter III, pt 1

In which Miss Gwilt arrives at the Sanitarium under a dark veil of secrecy and resolves to take a sleeping draught prescribed by the doctor, who in turn prepares his establishment for both her care and an impending visitors' day. Amidst the visits of curious ladies, the doctor extols the virtues of his carefully regulated haven for nervous sufferers, illustrating with quiet confidence the moral and medical safeguards that underpin his unconventional system of treatment.

Armadale Book the fifth - Chapter I

In which Mr. Bashwood takes up vigilant watch at the railway terminus for the anticipated return of Mr. Armadale, while Miss Gwilt and the doctor ponder the precarious arrangements and risks surrounding his arrival. The episode closes with an unexpected encounter that may prove significant, leaving the reader with a gentle suspense in that wintry December setting.

Armadale Book the fourth - Chapter III, pt 4

In which a letter from the seemingly lost Allan Armadale brings unexpected news and sets in motion a cautious plan involving trusted allies and delicate stratagems, all unfolding within the shadows of uncertainty and concealed motives. The narrative gently unveils a complex interplay of loyalty, intrigue, and unspoken tension, as characters quietly brace themselves for the challenges that lie ahead.

Armadale Book the fourth - Chapter III, pt 3

In which the narrator, having taken on the guise of Armadale’s widow, navigates the precarious legalities and social encounters that surround her claim, all the while wrestling inwardly with memories of Midwinter and the uncertainties that shadow her impersonation. An unexpected visitor brings upheaval with news from the sea—news that reveals the supposed death of Armadale may not be so certain, thrusting her into rapt attention and foreboding reflections.