第7章

Myfatherwasstillatthewindow。

Inthatidlepositionhecouldhardlycomplainofmeforinterruptinghim，ifIventuredtotalkabouttheletterswhichI

hadputtogether。Ifmycuriositydispleasedhim，hehadonlytosayso，andtherewouldbeanendtoanyallusionsofminetothesubject。Myfirstideawastojoinhimatthewindow。Onreflection，andstillperceivingthathekepthisbackturnedonme，Ithoughtitmightbemoreprudenttoremainatthetable。

"ThisMissChanceseemstobeanimpudentperson？"Isaid。

"Yes。"

"Wassheayoungwoman，whenyoumetwithher？"

"Yes。"

"Whatsortofawomantolookat？Ugly？"

"No。"

HerewerethreeanswerswhichEuniceherselfwouldhavebeenquickenoughtointerpretasthreewarningstosaynomore。I

feltalittlehurtbyhiskeepinghisbackturnedonme。Atthesametime，andnaturally，Ithink，IfoundmyinterestinMissChance（Idon’tsaymyfriendlyinterest）considerablyincreasedbymyfather’sunusuallyrudebehavior。Iwasalsoanimatedbyanirresistibledesiretomakehimturnroundandlookatme。

"MissChance’sletterwaswrittenmanyyearsago，"Iresumed。"I

wonderwhathasbecomeofhersinceshewrotetoyou。"

"Iknownothingabouther。"

"Notevenwhethersheisaliveordead？"

"Noteventhat。Whatdothesequestionsmean，Helena？"

"Nothing，father。"

Ideclarehelookedasifhesuspectedme！

"Whydon’tyouspeakout？"hesaid。"HaveIevertaughtyoutoconcealyourthoughts？HaveIeverbeenahardfather，whodiscouragedyouwhenyouwishedtoconfideinhim？Whatareyouthinkingabout？Do_you_knowanythingofthiswoman？"

"Oh，father，whataquestion！IneverevenheardofhertillI

putthetornletterstogether。Ibegintowishyouhadnotaskedmetodoit。"

"SodoI。Itneverstruckmethatyouwouldfeelsuchextraordinary——Ihadalmostsaid，suchvulgar——curiosityaboutaworthlessletter。"

Thisrousedmytemper。Whenayoungladyistoldthatsheisvulgar，ifshehasanyself—conceit——Imeanself—respect——shefeelsinsulted。Isaidsomethingsharpinmyturn。Itwasinthewayofargument。Idonotknowhowitmaybewithotheryoungpersons，IneverreasonsowellmyselfaswhenIamangry。

"Youcallitaworthlessletter，"Isaid，"andyetyouthinkitworthpreserving。"

"Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat？"heasked。

"Nothingmore，"Ianswered。

Hechangedagain。Afterhavinglookedunaccountablyangry，henowlookedunaccountablyrelieved。

"Iwillsoonsatisfyyou，"hesaid，"thatIhaveagoodreasonforpreservingaworthlessletter。MissChance，mydear，isnotawomantobetrusted。Ifshesawheradvantageinmakingabaduseofmyreply，Iamafraidshewouldnothesitatetodoit。Evenifsheisnolongerliving，Idon’tknowintowhatvilehandsmylettermaynothavefallen，orhowitmightbefalsifiedforsomewickedpurpose。Doyouseenowhowacorrespondencemaybecomeaccidentallyimportant，thoughitisofnovalueinitself？"

Icouldsay"Yes"tothiswithasafeconscience。

Butthereweresomeperplexitiesstillleftinmymind。ItseemedstrangethatMissChanceshould（apparently）havesubmittedtotheseverityofmyfather’sreply。"Ishouldhavethought，"I

saidtohim，"thatshewouldhavesentyouanotherimpudentletter——orperhapshaveinsistedonseeingyou，andusinghertongueinsteadofherpen。"

"Shecoulddoneithertheonenortheother，Helena。MissChancewillneverfindoutmyaddressagain；Ihavetakengoodcareofthat。"

Hespokeinaloudvoice，withaflushedface——asifitwasquiteatriumphtohavepreventedthiswomanfromdiscoveringhisaddress。Whatreasoncouldhehaveforbeingsoanxioustokeepherawayfromhim？CouldIventuretoconcludethattherewasamysteryinthelifeofamansoblameless，sotrulypious？Itshockedoneeventothinkofit。

Therewasasilencebetweenus，towhichthehousemaidofferedawelcomeinterruption。Dinnerwasready。

Hekissedmebeforewelefttheroom。"Onewordmore，Helena，"hesaid，"andIhavedone。LettherebenomoretalkbetweenusaboutElizabethChance。"

CHAPTERXVIL

HELENA’SDIARY。

MISSJILLGALLjoinedusatthedinner—table，inastateofexcitement，carryingabookinherhand。

Iaminclined，onreflection，tosuspectthatsheisquitecleverenoughtohavediscoveredthatIhateher——andthatmanyoftheaggravatingthingsshesaysanddoesareassumed，outofretaliation，forthepurposeofmakingmeangry。Thatuglyfaceisadoubleface，orIammuchmistaken。

Toreturntothedinner—table，MissJillgalladdressedherself，withanairofplayfulpenitence，tomyfather。

"Dearcousin，IhopeIhavenotdonewrong。Helenaleftmeallbymyself。WhenIhadfinisheddarningthecurtain，Ireallydidn’tknowwhattodo。SoIopenedallthebedroomdoorsupstairsandlookedintotherooms。Inthebigroomwithtwobeds——oh，Iamsoashamed——Ifoundthisbook。Pleaselookatthefirstpage。"

Myfatherlookedatthetitle—page："DoctorWatts’sHymns。Well，Selina，whatistheretobeashamedofinthis？"

"Oh，no！no！It’sthewrongpage。Dolookattheotherpage——theonethatcomesfirstbeforethatone。"

Mypatientfatherturnedtotheblankpage。

"Ah，"hesaidquietly，"myotherdaughter’snameiswritteninit——thedaughterwhomyouhavenotseen。Well？"

MissJillgallclaspedherhandsdistractedly。"It’smyignoranceI’msoashamedof。Dearcousin，forgiveme，enlightenme。Idon’tknowhowtopronounceyourotherdaughter’sname。DoyoucallherEuneece？"

Thedinnerwasgettingcold。Iwasprovokedintosaying："No，wedon’t。"

Shehadevidentlynotforgivenmeforleavingherbyherself。

"Pardonme，Helena，whenIwantinformationIdon’tapplytoyou：

Isit，asitwere，atthefeetofyourlearnedfather。Dearcousin，isit——"

Evenmyfatherdeclinedtowaitforhisdinneranylonger。

"Pronounceitasyoulike，Selina。HerewesayEuni’ce——withtheaccentonthe’i’andwiththefinal’e’sounded：Eu—ni’—see。Letmegiveyousomesoup。"

MissJillgallgroaned。"Oh，howdifficultitseemstobe！Quitebeyondmypoorbrains！Ishallaskthedeargirl’sleavetocallherEuneece。Whatverystrongsoup！Isn’titratherawasteofmeat？Givemealittlemore，please。"

IdiscoveredanotherofMissJillgall’speculiarities。Herappetitewasenormous，andherwaysweregreedy。Youheardhereathersoup。Shedevouredthefoodonherplatewithhereyesbeforesheputitintohermouth；andshecriticisedourEnglishcookeryinthemostimpudentmanner，underpretenseofaskinghumblyhowitwasdone。Therewas，however，sometemporarycompensationforthis。Wehadlessofhertalkwhileshewaseatingherdinner。

Withtheremovalofthecloth，sherecoveredtheuseofhertongue；andshehitontheonesubjectofallotherswhichprovestobethesoresttrialtomyfather’spatience。

"Andnow，dearcousin，letustalkofyourotherdaughter，ourabsentEuneece。Idosolongtoseeher。Whenisshecomingback？"

"Inafewdaysmore。"

"HowgladIam！Anddotellme——whichisshe？Youroldestgirloryouryoungest？"

"Neithertheonenortheother，Selina。"

"Oh，myhead！myhead！Thisisevenworsethantheaccentonthe’i’andthefinal’e。’Stop！IamclevererthanIthoughtIwas。

Youmeanthatthegirlsaretwins。AretheybothsoexactlylikeeachotherthatIshan’tknowwhichiswhich？Whatfun！"

WhenthesubjectofourageswasunluckilystartedatMrs。

Staveley’s，Ihadslippedoutofthedifficultyeasilybyassumingthecharacteroftheeldestsister——anexampleofreadytactwhichmydearstupidEunicedoesn’tunderstand。Inmyfather’spresence，itisneedlesstosaythatIkeptsilence，andleftittohim。Iwassorrytobeobligedtodothis。Owingtohissadstateofhealth，heiseasilyirritated——especiallybyinquisitivestrangers。

"Imustleaveyou，"heanswered，withouttakingtheslightestnoticeofwhatMissJillgallhadsaidtohim。"Myworkiswaitingforme。"

Shestoppedhimonhiswaytothedoor。"Oh，tellme——can’tI

helpyou？"

"Thankyou；no。"

"Well——buttellmeonething。AmIrightaboutthetwins？"

"Youarewrong。"

MissJillgall’sdemonstrativehandsflewupintotheairagain，andexpressedtheclimaxofastonishmentbyquiveringoverherhead。"Thisispositivelymaddening，"shedeclared。"Whatdoesitmean？"

"Takemyadvice，cousin。Don’tattempttofindoutwhatitmeans。"

Helefttheroom。MissJillgallappealedtome。Iimitatedmyfather’swisebrevityofexpression："Sorrytodisappointyou，Selina；Iknownomoreaboutitthanyoudo。Comeupstairs。"

Everystepofthewayuptothedrawing—roomwasmarkedbyaprotestoraninquiry。DidIexpecthertobelievethatI

couldn’tsaywhichofuswastheelderofthetwo？thatIdidn’treallyknowwhatmyfather’smotivewasforthisextraordinarymystification？thatmysisterandIhadsubmittedtoberobbed，asitwere，ofourownages，andhadnotinsistedondiscoveringwhichofushadcomeintotheworldfirst？thatourfriendshadnotputanendtothissortofthingbycomparinguspersonally，anddiscoveringwhichwastheeldersisterbyinvestigationofourfaces？ToallthisIreplied：First，thatIdidcertainlyexpecthertobelievewhateverImightsay：Secondly，thatwhatshewaspleasedtocallthe"mystification"hadbegunwhenwewerebothchildren；thathabithadmadeitfamiliartousinthecourseofyears；andaboveall，thatweweretoofondofourgoodfathertoaskforexplanationswhichweknewbyexperiencewoulddistresshim：Thirdly，thatfriendsdidtrytodiscover，bypersonalexamination，whichwastheeldersister，anddifferedperpetuallyintheirconclusions；alsothatwehadamusedourselvesbytryingthesameexperimentbeforeourlooking—glasses，andthatEunicethoughtHelenawastheoldest，andHelenathoughtEunicewastheoldest：Fourthly（andfinally），thattheReverendMr。Gracedieu’scousinhadbetterdropthesubject，unlessshewasbentonmakingherpresenceinthehouseunendurabletotheReverendMr。Gracedieuhimself。

Iwriteitwithasenseofhumiliation；MissJillgalllistenedattentivelytoallIhadtosay——andthentookmecompletelybysurprise。Thisinquisitive，meddlesome，restless，impudentwomansuddenlytransformedherselfintoaperfectmodelofamiabilityanddecorum。Sheactuallysaidsheagreedwithme，andwasmuchobligedformygoodadvice！

Astupidyoungwoman，inmyplace，wouldhavediscoveredthatthiswasnotnatural，andthatMissJillgallwaspresentingherselftomeindisguise，toreachsomesecretendofherown。I

amnotastupidyoungwoman；IoughttohavehadatmyservicepenetrationenoughtoseethroughandthroughCousinSelina。

Well！CousinSelinawasanimpenetrablemysterytome。

Theonethingtobedonewastowatchher。Iwasatleastslyenoughtotakeupabook，andpretendtobereadingit。Howcontemptible！

Shelookedroundtheroom，anddiscoveredourprettywriting—table；apresenttomyfatherfromhiscongregation。

Afteralittleconsideration，shesatdowntowritealetter。

"Whendoesthepostgoout？"sheasked。

Imentionedthehour；andshebeganherletter。Beforeshecouldhavewrittenmorethanthefirsttwoorthreelines，sheturnedroundonherseat，andbegantalkingtome。

"Doyoulikewritingletters，mydear？"

"Yes——butthenIhavenotmanyletterstowrite。"

"Onlyafewfriends，Helena，butthosefewworthytobeloved？Myowncaseexactly。Hasyourfathertoldyouofmytroubles？Ah，I

amgladofthat。ItsparesmethesadnecessityofconfessingwhatIhavesuffered。Oh，howgoodmyfriends，mynewfriends，weretomeinthatdulllittleBelgiantown！Oneofthemwasgenerositypersonified——ah，shehadsuffered，too！Avilehusbandwhohaddeceivedanddesertedher。Oh，themen！Whensheheardofthelossofmylittlefortune，thatnoblecreaturegotupasubscriptionforme，andwentroundherselftocollect。ThinkofwhatIowetoher！OughtItoletanotherdaypasswithoutwritingtomybenefactress？AmInotboundingratitudetomakeherhappyintheknowledgeof_my_happiness——Imeantherefugeopenedtomeinthishospitablehouse？"

Shetwistedherselfbackagaintothewriting—table，andwentonwithherletter。

Ihavenotattemptedtoconcealmystupidity。Letmenowrecordapartialrecoveryofmyintelligence。

ItwasnottobedeniedthatMissJillgallhaddiscoveredagoodreasonforwritingtoherfriend；butIwasatalosstounderstandwhysheshouldhavebeensoanxioustomentionthereason。Wasitpossible——afterthetalkwhichhadpassedbetweenus——thatshehadsomethingmischievoustosayinherletter，relatingtomyfatherortome？WassheafraidImightsuspectthis？Andhadshebeensocommunicativeforthepurposeofleadingmysuspicionsastray？Thesewerevagueguesses；but，tryasImight，IcouldarriveatnoclearerviewofwhatwaspassinginMissJillgall’smind。WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletolookoverhershoulder，withoutdiscovery！

Shefinishedherletter，andputtheaddress，andclosedtheenvelope。Thensheturnedroundtowardmeagain。

"Haveyougotaforeignpostagestamp，dear？"

IfIcouldlookatnothingelse，Iwasresolvedtolookatherenvelope。Itwasonlynecessarytogotothestudy，andtoapplytomyfather。Ireturnedwiththeforeignstamp，andIstuckitontheenvelopewithmyownhand。

Therewasnothingtointerest_me_intheaddress，asIoughttohaveforeseen，ifIhadnotbeentoomuchexcitedfortheexerciseofalittlecommonsense。MissJillgall’swonderfulfriendwasonlyremarkablebyheruglyforeignname——MRS。

TENBRUGGEN。

CHAPTERXVIII。

EUNICE’SDIARY。

HEREIam，writingmyhistoryofmyself，oncemore，bymyownbedside。SomeunexpectedeventshavehappenedwhileIhavebeenaway。Oneofthemistheabsenceofmysister。

Helenahaslefthomeonavisittoanortherntownbytheseaside。Sheisstayinginthehouseofaminister（oneofpapa’sfriends），andisoccupyingapositionofdignityinwhichI

shouldcertainlylosemyhead。TheministerandhiswifeanddaughtersproposetosetupaGirls’ScriptureClass，ontheplandevisedbypapa；andtheyareataloss，poorhelplesspeople，toknowhowtobegin。Helenahasvolunteeredtosetthethinggoing。

Andtheresheisnow，advisingeverybody，governingeverybody，encouragingeverybody——issuingdirections，findingfault，rewardingmerit——oh，dear，letmeputitallinoneword，andsay：thoroughlyenjoyingherself。

Anothereventhashappened，relatingtopapa。ItsodistressedmethatIevenforgottothinkofPhilip——foralittlewhile。

Travelingbyrailway（IsupposebecauseIamnotusedtoit）

givesmetheheadache。WhenIgottoourstationhere，Ithoughtitwoulddomemoregoodtowalkhomethantorideinthenoisyomnibus。Half—waybetweentherailwayandthetown，Imetoneofthedoctors。Heisamemberofourcongregation；andheitwaswhorecommendedpapa，sometimesince，togiveuphisworkasaministerandtakealongholidayinforeignparts。

"Iamgladtohavemetwithyou，"thedoctorsaid。"Yoursister，Ifind，isawayonavisit；andIwanttospeaktooneofyouaboutyourfather。"

Itseemedthathehadbeenobservingpapa，inchapel，fromwhathecalledhisownmedicalpointofview。Hedidnotconcealfrommethathehaddrawnconclusionswhichmadehimfeeluneasy。"Itmaybeanxiety，"hesaid，"oritmaybeoverwork。Ineithercase，yourfatherisinastateofnervousderangement，whichislikelytoleadtoseriousresults——unlesshetakestheadvicethatI

gavehimwhenhelastconsultedme。Theremustbenomorehesitationaboutit。Becarefulnottoirritatehim——butrememberthathemustrest。Youandyoursisterhavesomeinfluenceoverhim；hewon’tlistentome。"

Poordearpapa！Ididseeachangeinhimfortheworse——thoughI

hadonlybeenawayforsoshortatime。

WhenIputmyarmsroundhisneck，andkissedhim，heturnedpale，andthenflushedupsuddenly：thetearscameintohiseyes。

Oh，itwashardtofollowthedoctor’sadvice，andnottocry，too；butIsucceededincontrollingmyself。Isatonhisknee，andmadehimtellmeallthatIhavewrittenhereaboutHelena。

Thisledtoourtalkingnextofthenewlady，whoistolivewithusasamemberofthefamily。Ibegantofeellessuneasyattheprospectofbeingintroducedtothisstranger，whenIheardthatshewaspapa’scousin。Andwhenhementionedhername，andsawhowitamusedme，hispoorwornfacebrightenedintoasmile。"Goandfindher，"hesaid，"andintroduceyourself。Iwanttohear，Eunice，ifyouandmycousinarelikelytogetonwelltogether。"

TheservantstoldmethatMissJillgallwasinthegarden。

Isearchedhere，there，andeverywhere，andfailedtofindher。

Theplacewassoquiet，itlookedsodeliciouslypureandbright，aftersmokydrearyLondon，thatIsatdownatthefurtherendofthegardenandletmymindtakemebacktoPhilip。Whatwashedoingatthatmoment，whileIwasthinkingofhim？Perhapshewasinthecompanyofotheryoungladies，whodrewallhisthoughtsawaytothemselves？OrperhapshewaswritingtohisfatherinIreland，andsayingsomethingkindlyandprettilyaboutme？Orperhapshewaslookingforward，asanxiouslyasIdo，toourmeetingnextweek。

Ihavehadmyplans，andIhavechangedmyplans。

Ontherailwayjourney，IthoughtIwouldtellpapaatonceofthenewhappinesswhichseemstohaveputanewlifeintome。Itwouldhavebeendelightfultomakemyconfessiontothatfirstandbestanddearestoffriends；butmymeetingwiththedoctorspoileditall。Afterwhathehadsaidtome，Idiscoveredarisk。IfIventuredtotellpapathatmyheartwassetonayounggentlemanwhowasastrangertohim，couldIbesurethathewouldreceivemyconfessionfavorably？Therewasachancethatitmightirritatehim——andthefaultwouldthenbemineofdoingwhatIhadbeenwarnedtoavoid。ItmightbesaferineverywaytowaittillPhilippaidhisvisit，andheandpapahadbeenintroducedtoeachotherandcharmedwitheachother。CouldHelenaherselfhavearrivedatawiserconclusion？IdeclareI

feltproudofmyowndiscretion。

InthisenjoyableframeofmindIwasdisturbedbyawoman’svoice。Thetonewasatoneofdistress，andthewordsreachedmyearsfromtheendofthegarden："Please，miss，letmein。"

Ashrubberymarksthelimitofourlittlebitofpleasure—ground。

Ontheothersideofitthereisacottagestandingontheedgeofthecommon。Themostgood—naturedwomanintheworldliveshere。Sheisourlaundress——marriedtoastupidyoungfellownamedMolly，andblessedwithaplumpbabyassweet—temperedatherself。ThinkingitlikelythatthepiteousvoicewhichhaddisturbedmemightbethevoiceofMrs。Molly，Iwasastonishedtohearherappealingtoanybody（perhapstome？）to"letherin。"SoIpassedthroughtheshrubbery，wonderingwhetherthegatehadbeenlockedduringmyabsenceinLondon。No；itwasaseasytoopenasever。

Thecottagedoorwasnotclosed。

Isawouramiablelaundressinthepassage，onherknees，tryingtoopenaninnerdoorwhichseemedtobelocked。Shehadhereyeatthekeyhole；and，onceagain，shecalledout："Please，miss，letmein。"Iwaitedtoseeifthedoorwouldbeopened——nothinghappened。Iwaitedagain，tohearifsomepersoninsidewouldanswer——nobodyspoke。Butsomebody，orsomething，madeasoundofsplashingwaterontheothersideofthedoor。

Ishowedmyself，andaskedwhatwasthematter。

Mrs。Mollylookedatmehelplessly。Shesaid："MissEunice，it’sthebaby。"

"Whathasthebabydone？"Iinquired。

Mrs。Mollygotonherfeet，andwhisperedinmyear："Youknowhe’safinechild？"

"Yes。"

"Well，miss，he’sbewitchedalady。"

"Whatlady？"

"MissJillgall。"

TheverypersonIhadbeentryingtofind！Iaskedwhereshewas。

Thelaundresspointeddolefullytothelockeddoor："Inthere。"

"Andwhereisyourbaby？"

Thepoorwomanstillpointedtothedoor："I’mbeginningtodoubt，miss，whetheritismybaby。"

"Nonsense，Mrs。Molly。Ifitisn’tyours，whosebabycanitbe？"

"MissJillgall’s。"

Herpuzzledfacemadethissingularreplymorefunnystill。Thesplashingofwaterontheothersideofthedoorbeganagain。

"WhatisMissJillgalldoingnow？"Isaid。

"Washingthebaby，miss。Aweekago，shecameinhere，onemorning；verypleasantandkind，Imustown。Shefoundmeputtingonthebaby’sthings。Shesays：’Whatacherub！’whichItookasacompliment。Shesays：’Ishallcallagainto—morrow。’Shecalledagainsoearlythatshefoundthebabyinhiscrib。’Youbeagoodsoul，’shesays，’andgoaboutyourwork，andleavethechildtome。’Isays：’Yes，miss，butpleasetowaittillI’vemadehimfittobeseen。’Shesays：’That’sjustwhatImeantodomyself。’Istared；andIthinkanyotherpersonwouldhavedonethesameinmyplace。’Ifthere’sonethingmorethananotherIenjoy，’shesays，’it’smakingmyselfuseful。Mrs。

Molly，I’vetakenafancytoyourboy—baby，’shesays，’andI

meantomakemyselfusefulto_him。_’Ifyouwillbelieveme，MissJillgallhasonlyletmehaveoneopportunityofputtingmyownchildtidy。Shewaslatethismorning，andIgotmychance，andhadtheboyonmylap，dryinghim——wheninsheburstlikeablastofwind，andsnatchedthebabyawayfromme。’Thisisyournastytemper，’shesays；’IdeclareI’mashamedofyou！’Andtheresheis，withthedoorlockedagainstme，washingthechildalloveragainherself。TwiceI’veknocked，andaskedhertoletmein，andcan’tevengetananswer。Theydosaythere’sluckinoddnumbers；supposeItryagain？"Mrs。Mollyknocked，andtheproverbprovedtobetrue；shegotananswerfromMissJillgallatlast："Ifyoudon’tbequietandgoaway，youshan’thavethebabybackatall。"Whocouldhelpit？——Iburstoutlaughing。MissJillgall（asIsupposedfromthetoneofhervoice）tookseverenoticeofthisactofimpropriety。"Who’sthatlaughing？"shecalledout；"giveyourselfaname。"Igavemyname。Thedoorwasinstantlythrownopenwithabang。Papa’scousinappeared，inadisheveledstate，withsplashesofsoapandwateralloverher。

Sheheldthechildinonearm，andshethrewtheotherarmroundmyneck。"DearestEuneece，Ihavebeenlongingtoseeyou。HowdoyoulikeOurbaby？"

TothecuriousstoryofmyintroductiontoMissJillgall，IoughtperhapstoaddthatIhavegottobefriendswithheralready。I

amthefriendofanybodywhoamusesme。WhatwillHelenasaywhenshereadsthis？

CHAPTERXIX。

EUNICE’SDIARY。

WHENpeopleareinterestedinsomeeventthatiscoming，dotheyfindthedulldays，passedinwaitingforit，dayswhichtheyarenotabletorememberwhentheylookback？Thisismyunfortunatecase。Nightafternight，IhavegonetobedwithoutsomuchasopeningmyJournal。Therewasnothingworthwritingabout，nothingthatIcouldrecollect，untilthepostmancameto—day。I

randownstairs，whenIheardhisringatthebell，andstoppedMariaonherwaytothestudy。There，amongpapa’susualhandfulofletters，wasaletterforme。

"DEARMISSEUNICE：