第6章

Myfathergavemehisarm，andwewalkedslowlyupanddownthelawn。

"Whenthatladycalledonmeyesterday，"hebegan，"youwantedtoknowwhoshewas，andyouweresurprisedanddisappointedwhenI

refusedtogratifyyourcuriosity。Mysilencewasnotaselfishsilence，Helena。Iwasthinkingofyouandyoursister；andIwasatalosshowtoactforthebest。Youshallhearwhymychildrenwereinmymind，presently。ImusttellyoufirstthatIhavearrivedatadecision；Ihopeandbelieveonreasonablegrounds。

Askmeanyquestionsyouplease；mysilencewillbenolongeranobstacleinyourway。"

ThiswassoveryencouragingthatIsaidatonce："Ishouldliketoknowwhotheladyis。"

"Theladyisrelatedtome，"heanswered。"Wearecousins。"

HerewasadisclosurethatIhadnotanticipated。InthelittlethatIhaveseenoftheworld，Ihaveobservedthatcousins——whentheyhappentobebroughttogetherunderinterestingcircumstances——canremembertheirrelationship，andforgettheirrelationship，justasitsuitsthem。"Isyourcousinamarriedlady？"Iventuredtoinquire。

"No。"

Shortasitwas，thatreplymightperhapsmeanmorethanappearedonthesurface。Thecookhadheardtheladycrying。Whatsortoftenderagitationwasanswerableforthosetears？Wasitpossible，barelypossible，thatEuniceandImightgotobed，onenight，awidower’sdaughters，andwakeupthenextdaytodiscoverastepmother？

"HaveIormysistereverseenthelady？"Iasked。

"Never。Shehasbeenlivingabroad；andIhavenotseenhermyselfsincewewerebothyoungpeople。"

Myexcellentinnocentfather！NotthefaintestideaofwhatIhadbeenthinkingofwasinhismind。Littledidhesuspecthowwelcomewasthereliefthathehadaffordedtohisdaughter’swickeddoubtsofhim。Buthehadnotsaidawordyetabouthiscousin’spersonalappearance。Theremightberemainsofgoodlookswhichthehousemaidwastoostupidtodiscover。

"Afterthelongintervalthathaspassedsinceyoumet，"Isaid，"Isupposeshehasbecomeanoldwoman？"

"No，mydear。Letussay，amiddle—agedwoman。"

"Perhapssheisstillanattractiveperson？"

Hesmiled。"Iamafraid，Helena，thatwouldneverhavebeenaveryaccuratedescriptionofher。"

InowknewallthatIwantedtoknowaboutthisalarmingperson，exceptingonelastmorselofinformationwhichmyfatherhadstrangelyforgotten。

"Wehavebeentalkingabouttheladyforsometime，"Isaid；"andyouhavenotyettoldmehername。"

Fatherlookedalittleembarrassed"It’snotaveryprettyname，"

heanswered。"Mycousin，myunfortunatecousin，is——MissJillgall。"

Iburstoutwithsuchaloud"Oh！"thathelaughed。Icaughttheinfection，andlaughedlouderstill。BlessMissJillgall！Theinterviewpromisedtobecomeaneasyoneforbothofus，thankstohername。Iwasingoodspirits，andImadenoattempttorestrainthem。"ThenexttimeMissJillgallhonorsyouwithavisit，"Isaid，"youmustgivemeanopportunityofbeingpresentedtoher。"

Hemadeastrangereply："Youmayfindyouropportunity，Helena，soonerthanyouanticipate。"

Didthismeanthatshewasgoingtocallagaininadayortwo？I

amafraidIspokeflippantly。Isaid："Oh，father，anotherladyfascinatedbythepopularpreacher？"

Thegardenchairswerenearus。Hesignedtomegravelytobeseatedbyhisside，andsaidtohimself："Thisismyfault。"

"Whatisyourfault？"Iasked。

"Ihaveleftyouinignorance，mydear，ofmycousin’ssadstory。

Itissoontold；and，ifitchecksyourmerriment，itwillmakeamendsbydeservingyoursympathy。Iwasindebtedtoherfather，whenIwasaboy，foractsofkindnesswhichIcanneverforget。

Hewastwicemarried。Thedeathofhisfirstwifelefthimwithonechild——oncemyplayfellow；nowtheladywhosevisithasexcitedyourcuriosity。HissecondwifewasaBelgian。ShepersuadedhimtosellhisbusinessinLondon，andtoinvestthemoneyinapartnershipwithabrotherofhers，establishedasasugar—refineratAntwerp。ThelittledaughteraccompaniedherfathertoBelgium。Areyouattendingtome，Helena？"

Iwaswaitingfortheinterestingpartofthestory，andwaswonderingwhenhewouldgettoit。

"Astimewenton，"heresumed，"thenewpartnerfoundthatthevalueofthebusinessatAntwerphadbeengreatlyoverrated。

Afteralongstrugglewithadversecircumstances，hedecidedonwithdrawingfromthepartnershipbeforethewholeofhiscapitalwaslostinafailingcommercialspeculation。Theendofitwasthatheretired，withhisdaughter，toasmalltowninEastFlanders；thewreckofhispropertyhavinglefthimwithanincomeofnomorethantwohundredpoundsayear。"

IshowedmyfatherthatIwasattendingtohimnow，byinquiringwhathadbecomeoftheBelgianwife。Thosenervousquiverings，whichEunicehasmentionedinherdiary，begantoappearinhisface。

"Itistooshamefulastory，"hesaid，"tobetoldtoayounggirl。Themarriagewasdissolvedbylaw；andthewifewasthepersontoblame。Iamsure，Helena，youdon’twishtohearanymoreof_this_partofthestory。"

Ididwish。ButIsawthatheexpectedmetosayNo——soIsaidit。

"Thefatheranddaughter，"hewenton，"neversomuchasthoughtofreturningtotheirowncountry。TheyweretoopoortolivecomfortablyinEngland。InBelgiumtheirincomewassufficientfortheirwants。Onthefather’sdeath，thedaughterremainedinthetown。Shehadfriendsthere，andfriendsnowhereelse；andshemighthavelivedabroadtotheendofherdays，butforacalamitytowhichweareallliable。Alongandseriousillnesscompletelyprostratedher。Skilledmedicalattendance，costinglargesumsofmoneyforthedoctors’travelingexpenses，wasimperativelyrequired。Experiencednurses，summonedfromadistanthospital，wereinattendancenightandday。Luxuries，farbeyondthereachofherlittleincome，wereabsolutelyrequiredtosupportherwastedstrengthatthetimeofhertediousrecovery。Inoneword，herresourcesweresadlydiminished，whenthepoorcreaturehadpaidherdebts，andhadregainedherholdonlife。Atthattime，sheunhappilymetwiththemanwhohasruinedher。"

Itwasgettinginterestingatlast。"Ruinedher？"Irepeated。"Doyoumeanthatherobbedher？"

"That，Helena，isexactlywhatImean——andmanyandmanyahelplesswomanhasbeenrobbedinthesameway。ThemanofwhomI

amnowspeakingwasalawyerinlargepractice。Heboreanexcellentcharacter，andwashighlyrespectedforhisexemplarylife。Mycousin（notatalladiscreetperson，Iamboundtoadmit）wasinducedtoconsulthimonherpecuniaryaffairs。Heexpressedthemostgeneroussympathy——offeredtoemployherlittlecapitalinhisbusiness——andpledgedhimselftopayherdoubletheinterestforhermoney，whichshehadbeeninthehabitofreceivingfromthesoundinvestmentchosenbyherfather。"

"Andofcoursehegotthemoney，andneverpaidtheinterest？"

Eagertoheartheend，Iinterruptedthestoryinthoseinconsideratewords。Myfather’sanswerquietlyreprovedme。

"Hepaidtheinterestregularlyaslongashelived。"

"Andwhathappenedwhenhedied？"

"Hediedabankrupt；thesecretprofligacyofhislifewasatlastexposed。Nothing，actuallynothing，wasleftforhiscreditors。Theunfortunatecreature，whoseuglynamehasamusedyou，mustgethelpsomewhere，ormustgototheworkhouse。"

IfIhadbeeninastateofmindtoattendtotrifles，thiswouldhaveexplainedthereasonwhythecookhadheardMissJillgallcrying。Buttheprospectbeforeme——theunendurableprospectofhavingastrangewomaninthehouse——hadshoweditselftooplainlytobemistaken。Icouldthinkofnothingelse。WithinfinitedifficultyIassumedamomentaryappearanceofcomposure，andsuggestedthatMissJillgall’sforeignfriendsmighthavedonesomethingtohelpher。

Myfatherdefendedherforeignfriends。"Mydear，theywerepoorpeople，anddidalltheycouldaffordtodo。Butfortheirkindness，mycousinmightnothavebeenabletoreturntoEngland。"

"Andtocastherselfonyourmercy，"Iadded，"inthecharacterofahelplesswoman。"

"No，Helena！Nottocastherselfonmymercy——buttofindmyhouseopentoher，asherfather’shousewasopentomeinthebygonetime。Iamheronlysurvivingrelative；and，whileIlive，sheshallnotbeahelplesswoman。"

IbegantowishthatIhadnotspokenoutsoplainly。Myfather’ssweettemper——IdososincerelywishIhadinheritedit！——madethekindestallowancesforme。

"Iunderstandthemomentarybitternessoffeelingthathasescapedyou，"hesaid；"ImayalmostsaythatIexpectedit。MyonlyhesitationinthismatterhasbeencausedbymysenseofwhatIowetomychildren。Itwasputtingyourendurance，andyoursister’sendurance，toatrialtoexpectyoutoreceiveastranger（andthatstrangernotayounggirllikeyourselves）asoneofthehousehold，livingwithyouintheclosestintimacyoffamilylife。Theconsiderationwhichhasdecidedmedoesjustice，Ihope，toyouandEunice，aswellastomyself。Ithinkthatsomeallowanceisduefrommydaughterstothefatherwhohasalwaysmadelovingallowancefor_them。_AmIwronginbelievingthatmygoodchildrenhavenotforgottenthis，andhaveonlywaitedfortheoccasiontofeelthepleasureofrewardingme？"

Itwasbeautifullyput。Therewasbutonethingtobedone——I

kissedhim。Andtherewasbutonethingtobesaid。IaskedatwhattimewemightexpecttoreceiveMissJillgall。

"Sheisstaying，Helena，atasmallhotelinthetown。Ihavealreadysenttosaythatwearewaitingtoseeher。Perhapsyouwilllookatthesparebedroom？"

"Itshallbegotready，father，directly。"

Iranintothehouse；IrushedupstairsintotheroomthatisEunice’sandmine；Ilockedthedoor，andthenIgavewaytomyrage，beforeitstifledme。Istampedonthefloor，Iclinchedmyfists，Icastmyselfonthebed，IreviledthathatefulwomanbyeveryhardwordthatIcouldthrowather。Oh，theluxuryofit！

theluxuryofit！

Coldwaterandmyhairbrushsoonmademefittobeseenagain。

Asforthespareroom，itlookedagreatdealtoocomfortableforanincubusfromforeignparts。TheoneimprovementthatIcouldhavemade，ifafriendofminehadbeenexpected，wassuggestedbythewindow—curtains。Iwaslookingatatornplaceinoneofthem，anddeterminedtoleaveitunrepaired，whenIfeltanarmslippedroundmywaistfrombehind。Avoice，soclosethatittickledmyneck，said："Deargirl，whatfriendsweshallbe！"I

turnedround，andconfrontedMissJillgall。

CHAPTERXV。

HELENA’SDIARY。

IFIamnotagoodgirl，whereisagoodgirltobefound？ThisisinEunice’sstyle。Itsometimesamusesmetomimicmysimplesister。

Ihavejusttornthreepagesoutofmydiary，indeferencetotheexpressionofmyfather’swishes。Hetookthefirstopportunitywhichhiscousinpermittedhimtoenjoyofspeakingtomeprivately；andhisobjectwastocautionmeagainsthastilyrelyingonfirstimpressionsofanybody——especiallyofMissJillgall。"Waitforadayortwo，"hesaid；"andthenformyourestimateofthenewmemberofourhousehold。"

Thestormystateofmytemperhadpassedaway，andhadleftmyatmospherecalmagain。IcouldfeelthatIhadreceivedgoodadvice；butunluckilyitreachedmetoolate。

IhadformedmyestimateofMissJillgall，andhadputitinwritingformyownsatisfaction，atleastanhourbeforemyfatherfoundhimselfatlibertytospeaktome。Idon’tagreewithhimindistrustingfirstimpressions；andIhadproposedtoputmyopiniontothetest，byreferringtowhatIhadwrittenabouthiscousinatalatertime。However，afterwhathehadsaidtome，Ifeltboundinfilialdutytotakethepagesoutofmybook，andtolettwodayspassbeforeIpresumedtoenjoytheluxuryofhatingMissJillgall。

OnonethingIamdetermined：Euniceshallnotformahastyopinion，either。Sheshallundergothesameseveredisciplineofself—restrainttowhichhersisterisobligedtosubmit。Letusbejust，assomebodysays，beforewearegenerous。Nomoreforto—day。

Iopenmydiaryagain——aftertheprescribedintervalhaselapsed。

Thefirstimpressionproducedonmebythenewmemberofourhouseholdremainsentirelyunchanged。

HaveIalreadymadetheremarkthat，whenoneremovesapagefromabook，itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatonedestroysthepageafterward？ordidIleavethistobeinferred？Ineithercase，mycourseofproceedingwasthesame。Iorderedsomepastetobemade。ThenIunlockedadrawer，andfoundmypoorill—usedleaves，andputthembackinmyJournal。Anactofjusticeissurelynotthelesspraiseworthybecauseitisanactofjusticedonetoone’sself。

Myfatherhasoftentoldmethathereviseshiswritingsonreligioussubjects。Imayharmlesslyimitatethatgoodexample，byrevisingmyrestoredentry。Itisnowasufficientlyremarkableperformancetobedistinguishedbyatitle。Letmecallit：

ImpressionsofMissJillgall。

Myfirstimpressionwasastrongone——itwasproducedbythestateofthislady’sbreath。Inotherwords，Iwasobligedtoletherkissme。Itisadutytobeconsideratetowardhumaninfirmity。IwillonlysaythatIthoughtIshouldhavefainted。

Mysecondimpressiondrawsaportrait，andproducesastrikinglikeness。

Figure，littleandlean——hairofadirtydrabcolorwhichweseeinstring——smalllightgrayeyes，slyandrestless，anddeeplysunkinthehead——prominentcheekbones，andafloridcomplexion——aninquisitivenose，turningupattheend——alargemouthandaservilesmile——raw—lookinghands，decoratedwithblackmittens——amisfittingwhitejacketandalimpskirt——mannersfamiliar——tempercleverlyhidden——voicetooirritatingtobementioned。Whoseportraitisthis？ItistheportraitofMissJillgall，takeninwords。

Hertruecharacterisnoteasytodiscover；Isuspectthatitwillonlyshowitselflittlebylittle。Thatsheisabornmeddlerinotherpeople’saffairs，IthinkIcanseealready。I

alsofoundoutthatshetrustedtoflatteryastheeasiestmeansofmakingherselfagreeable。Shetriedherfirstexperimentonmyself。

"Youcharminggirl，"shebegan，"yourbrightfaceencouragesmetoaskafavor。Praymakemeuseful！Theoneaspirationofmylifeistobeuseful。Unlessyouemploymeinthatway，Ihavenorighttointrudemyselfintoyourfamilycircle。Yes，yes，Iknowthatyourfatherhasopenedhishouseandhishearttome。ButI

darenotfoundanyclaim——yournameisHelena，isn’tit？DearHelena，IdarenotfoundanyclaimonwhatIowetoyourfather’skindness。"

"Whynot？"Iinquired。

"Becauseyourfatherisnotaman——"

Iwasrudeenoughtointerrupther："Whatishe，then？"

"Anangel，"MissJillgallanswered，solemnly。"Adestituteearthlycreaturelikememustnotlookupashighasyourfather。

Imightbedazzled。"

ThiswasrathermorethanIcouldendurepatiently。"Letustry，"

Isuggested，"ifwecan’tunderstandeachother，atstarting。"

MissJillgall’slittleeyestwinkledintheirbonycaverns。"TheverythingIwasgoingtopropose！"sheburstout。

"Verywell，"Iwenton；"then，letmetellyouplainlythatflatteryisnotrelishedinthishouse。"

"Flattery？"Sheputherhandtoherheadassherepeatedtheword，andlookedquitebewildered。"DearHelena，IhavelivedallmylifeinEastFlanders，andmyownlanguageisoccasionallystrangetome。CanyoutellmewhatflatteryisinFlemish？"

"Idon’tunderstandFlemish。"

"Howveryprovoking！Youdon’tunderstandFlemish，andIdon’tunderstandFlattery。Ishouldsoliketoknowwhatitmeans。Ah，Iseebooksinthislovelyroom。Isthereadictionaryamongthem？"Shedartedtothebookcase，anddiscoveredadictionary。

"NowIshallunderstandFlattery，"sheremarked——"andthenweshallunderstandeachother。Oh，letmefinditformyself！"Sheranherrawredfingeralongthealphabeticalheadingsatthetopofeachpage。"’FAD。’Thatwon’tdo。’FIE。’Furtheronstill。

’FLE。’Toofartheotherway。’FLA。’Hereweare！’Flattery：

Falsepraise。Commendationbestowedforthepurposeofgainingfavorandinfluence。’Oh，Helena，howcruelofyou！"Shedroppedthebook，andsankintoachair——thepicture，ifsuchathingcanbe，ofabroken—heartedoldmaid。

Ishouldmostassuredlyhavetakentheopportunityofleavinghertoherowndevices，ifIhadbeenfreetoactasIpleased。Butmyinterestsasadaughterforbademetomakeanenemyofmyfather’scousin，onthefirstdaywhenshehadenteredthehouse。

Imadeanapology，veryneatlyexpressed。

Shejumpedup——letmedoherjustice；MissJillgallisasnimbleasamonkey——and（Faugh！）shekissedmeforthesecondtime。IfI

hadbeenaman，IamafraidIshouldhavecalledforthatdeadlypoison（wearealltemperancepeopleinthishouse）knownbythenameofBrandy。

"Ifyouwillmakemeloveyou，"MissJillgallexplained，"youmustexpecttobekissed。Deargirl，letusgobacktomypoorlittlepetition。Oh，domakemeuseful！TherearesomanythingsIcando：youwillfindmeatreasureinthehouse。Iwriteagoodhand；Iunderstandpolishingfurniture；Icandresshair（lookatmyownhair）；Iplayandsingalittlewhenpeoplewanttobeamused；Icanmixasaladandknitstockings——whoisthis？"

Thecookcamein，atthemoment，toconsultme；Iintroducedher。

"And，oh，"criedMissJillgall，inecstasy，"Icancook！Do，please，letmeseethekitchen。"

Thecook’sfaceturnedred。Shehadcometometomakeaconfession；andshehadnot（assheafterwardsaid）bargainedforthepresenceofastranger。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshetookthelibertyofwhisperingtome："Imustaskyou，miss，toletmesendupthecauliflowerplainboiled；Idon’tunderstandthedirectionsinthebookfordoingitintheforeignway。"

MissJillgall’sears——perhapsbecausetheyaresolarge——possessaquicknessofhearingquiteunparalleledinmyexperience。Notonewordofthecook’swhisperedconfessionhadescapedher。

"Here，"shedeclared，"isanopportunityofmakingmyselfuseful！

Whatisthecook’sname？Hannah？Takemedownstairs，Hannah，andI’llshowyouhowtodothecauliflowerintheforeignway。Sheseemstohesitate。Isitpossiblethatshedoesn’tbelieveme？

Listen，Hannah，andjudgeforyourselfifIamdeceivingyou。

Haveyouboiledthecauliflower？Verywell；thisiswhatyoumustdonext。Takefourouncesofgratedcheese，twoouncesofbestbutter，theyolksoffoureggs，alittlebitofglaze，lemon—juice，nutmeg——dear，dear，howblackshelooks。WhathaveI

saidtooffendher？"

Thecookpassedovertheladywhohadpresumedtoinstructher，asifnosuchpersonhadbeenpresent，andaddressedherselftome："IfIamtobeinterferedwithinmyownkitchen，miss，I

willaskyoutosuityourselfatamonth’snotice。"

MissJillgallwrungherhandsindespair。

"Imeantsokindly，"shesaid；"andIseemtohavemademischief。

Withthebestintentions，Helena，Ihavesetyouandyourservantatvariance。Ireallydidn’tknowyouhadsuchatemper，Hannah，"

shedeclared，followingthecooktothedoor。"I’msurethere’snothingIamnotreadytodotomakeitupwithyou。Perhapsyouhavenotgotthecheesedownstairs？I’mreadytogooutandbuyitforyou。Icouldshowyouhowtokeepeggssweetandfreshforweekstogether。Yourgowndoesn’tfitverywell；Ishallbegladtoimproveit，ifyouwillleaveitoutformeafteryouhavegonetobed。There！"criedMissJillgall，asthecookmajesticallylefttheroom，withoutevenlookingather，"Ihavedonemybesttomakeitup，andyouseehowmyadvancesarereceived。WhatmorecouldIhavedone？Ireallyaskyou，dear，asafriend，whatmore_could_Ihavedone？"

Ihaditonthetipofmytonguetosay："Thecookdoesn’taskyoutobuycheeseforher，ortoteachherhowtokeepeggs，ortoimprovethefitofhergown；allshewantsistohaveherkitchentoherself。"Buthereagainitwasnecessarytorememberthatthisodiouspersonwasmyfather’sguest。

"Praydon’tdistressyourself，"Ibegan；"Iamsureyouarenottoblame，MissJillgall——"

"Oh，don’t！"

"Don’t——what？"

"Don’tcallmeMissJillgall。IcallyouHelena。CallmeSelina。"

Ihadreallynotsupposeditpossiblethatshecouldbemoreunendurablethanever。WhenshementionedherChristianname，shesucceededneverthelessinproducingthatresult。Inthewholelistofwomen’snames，isthereanyonetobefoundsoabsolutelysickeningas"Selina"？Iforcedmyselftopronounceit；Imadeanotherneatly—expressedapology；IsaidEnglishservantsweresoverypeculiar。Selinawasmorethansatisfied；shewasquitedelighted。

"Isthatit，indeed？AnexplanationwasallIwanted。Howgoodofyou！Andnowtellme——istherenochance，inthehouseoroutofthehouse，ofmymakingmyselfuseful？Oh，what’sthat？DoIseeachance？Ido！Ido！"

MissJillgall’seyesaremorethanmortal。Atonetime，theyaremicroscopes。Atanothertime，theyaretelescopes。Shediscovered（rightacrosstheroom）thetornplaceinthewindow—curtain。Inaninstant，shesnatchedadirtylittleleathercaseoutofherpocket，threadedherneedleandbegandarningthecurtain。Shesangoverherwork。"Myheartislight，mywillisfree——"Icanrepeatnomoreofit。WhenIheardhersingingvoice，Ibecamerecklessofconsequences，andranoutoftheroomwithmyhandsovermyears。

CHAPTERXVI。

HELENA’SDIARY。

WHENIreachedthefootofthestairs，myfathercalledmeintohisstudy。

Ifoundhimathiswriting—table，withsuchaheapoftorn—uppaperinhiswaste—basketthatitoverflowedontothefloor。Heexplainedtomethathehadbeendestroyingalargeaccumulationofoldletters，andhadended（whenhisemploymentbegantogrowwearisome）inexamininghiscorrespondencerathercarelessly。Theresultwasthathehadtornupaletter，andacopyofthereply，whichoughttohavebeensetasideasworthyofpreservation。

Aftercollectingthefragments，hehadheapedthemonthetable。

IfIcouldcontrivetoputthemtogetheragainonfairsheetsofpaper，andfastenthemintheirrightplaceswithgum，Ishouldbedoinghimaservice，atatimewhenhewastoobusytosethismistakerightforhimself。

HerewasthebestexcusethatIcoulddesireforkeepingoutofMissJillgall’sway。Icheerfullysettoworkontherestorationoftheletters，whilemyfatherwentonwithhiswriting。

Havingputthefragmentstogether——exceptingafewgapscausedbymorselsthathadbeenlost——Iwasunwillingtofastenthemdownwithgum，untilIcouldfeelsureofnothavingmadeanymistakes；especiallyinregardtosomeofthelostwordswhichI

hadbeenobligedtorestorebyguess—work。SoIcopiedtheletters，andsubmittedthem，inthefirstplace，tomyfather’sapproval。

HepraisedmeintheprettiestmannerforthecarethatIhadtaken。But，whenhebegan，aftersomehesitation，toreadmycopy，Inoticedachange。Thesmilelefthisface，andthenervousquiveringsshowedthemselvesagain。

"Quiteright，mychild，"hesaid，inlowsadtones。

Onreturningtomysideofthetable，Iexpectedtoseehimresumehiswriting。Hecrossedtheroomtothewindowandstood（withhisbacktome）lookingout。

WhenIhadfirstdiscoveredthesenseoftheletters，theyfailedtointerestme。Atiresomewoman，presumingonthekindnessofagood—naturedmantobegafavorwhichshehadnorighttoask，andreceivingarefusalwhichshehadrichlydeserved，wasnoremarkableeventinmyexperienceasmyfather’ssecretaryandcopyist。Butthechangeinhisface，whilehereadthecorrespondence，alteredmyopinionoftheletters。TherewasmoreinthemevidentlythanIhaddiscovered。Ikeptmymanuscriptcopy——hereitis：

FromMissElizabethChancetotheRev。AbelGracedieu。

（Dateofyear，1859。Dateofmonth，missing。）

"DEARSIR——Youhave，Ihope，notquiteforgottentheinterestingconversationthatwehadlastyearintheGovernor’srooms。IamafraidIspokealittleflippantlyatthetime；butIamsureyouwillbelievemewhenIsaythatthiswasoutofnowantofrespecttoyourself。Mypecuniarypositionbeingfarfromprosperous，IamendeavoringtoobtainthevacantsituationofhousekeeperinapublicinstitutiontheprospectusofwhichI

inclose。Youwillseeitisaruleoftheplacethatacandidatemustbeasinglewoman（whichIam），andmustberecommendedbyaclergyman。Youaretheonlyreverendgentlemanwhomitismygoodfortunetoknow，andthethingisofcourseamereformality。

Prayexcusethisapplication，andobligemebyactingasmyreference。

"Sincerelyyours，"ELIZABETHCHANCE。"

"P。S。——Pleaseaddress：MissE。Chance，PosteRestante，St。

Martin’s—le—Grand，London。"

"FromtheRev。AbelGracedieutoMissChance。

（Copy。）

"MADAM——Thebriefconversationtowhichyourletteralludes，tookplaceatanaccidentalmeetingbetweenus。Ithensawyouforthefirsttime，andIhavenotseenyousince。Itisimpossibleformetoasserttheclaimofaperfectstranger，likeyourself，tofillasituationoftrust。Imustbegtodeclineactingasyourreference。

"Yourobedientservant，"ABELGRACEDIEU。"