第8章

"Yoursevertruly。"

IquotethepassagesinPhilip’sletterwhichmostdeeplyinterestedme——Iamhisdearmiss；andheismineevertruly。TheotherpartofthelettertoldmethathehadbeendetainedinLondon，andhelamentedit。Attheendwasadelightfulannouncementthathewascomingtomebytheafternoontrain。I

ranupstairstoseehowIlookedintheglass。

Myfirstfeelingwasregret。Forthethousandthtime，IwasobligedtoacknowledgethatIwasnotasprettyasHelena。Butthispassedoff。Acheeringreflectionoccurredtome。Philipwouldnothavefound，inmysister’sface，whatseemstohaveinterestedhiminmyface。Besides，thereismyfigure。

ThepityofitisthatIamsoignorantaboutsomethings。IfI

hadbeenallowedtoreadnovels，Imight（judgingbywhatpapasaidagainsttheminoneofhissermons）havefeltsureofmyownattractions；ImightevenhaveunderstoodwhatPhilipreallythoughtofme。However，mymindwasquiteunexpectedlysetateaseonthesubjectofmyfigure。Themannerinwhichithappenedwassoamusing——atleast，soamusingtome——thatIcannotresistmentioningit。

MysisterandIareforbiddentoreadnewspapers，aswellasnovels。ButtheteachersattheGirls’ScriptureClassaretoooldtobetreatedinthisway。Whenthemorninglessonswereover，oneofthemwasreadingthenewspapertotheother，intheemptyschoolroom；Ibeinginthepassageoutside，puttingonmycloak。

Itwasareportof"anapplicationmadetothemagistratesbytheladyofhisworshiptheMayor。"Hearingthis，Istoppedtolisten。Theladyofhisworship（whatafunnywayofdescribingaman’swife！）isreportedtobealittletoofondofnotoriety，andtolikehearingthesoundofherownvoiceonpublicoccasions。Butthisisonlymywriting；Ihadbettergetbacktothereport。"Inheraddresstothemagistrates，theMayoressstatedthatshehadseenadisgustingphotographintheshopwindowofastationer，latelyestablishedinthetown。Shedesiredtobringthispersonwithinreachofthelaw，andtohaveallhiscopiesoftheshamelessphotographdestroyed。Theusherofthecourtwasthereuponsenttopurchasethephotograph。"——Onsecondthoughts，Iprefergoingbacktomyownwritingagain；itissouninterestingtocopyotherpeople’swriting。Twoofthemagistratesweredoingjustice。Theylookedatthephotograph——andwhatdiditrepresent？ThefamousstatuecalledtheVenusde’Medici！Oneofthemagistratestookthisdiscoveryindignantly。Hewasshockedatthegrossignorancewhichcouldcalltheclassicidealofbeautyandgraceadisgustingwork。Theotheronemadepoliteallowances。Hethoughttheladywasmuchtobepitied；shewasevidentlytheinnocentvictimofaneglectededucation。Mrs。Mayorleftthecourtinarage，tellingthejusticessheknewwheretogetlaw。"IshallexposeVenus，"shesaid，"totheLordChancellor。"

WhentheScriptureClasshadbrokenupfortheday，dutyoughttohavetakenmehome。Curiosityledmeastray——Imean，ledmetothestationer’swindow。

ThereIfoundourtwoteachers，absorbedinthephotograph；

havinggottotheshopfirstbyashortcut。TheyseemedtothinkIhadtakenalibertywhomIjoinedthem。"Wearehere，"theywerecarefultoexplain，"togetalessonintheidealofbeautyandgrace。"Therewasquitealittlecrowdoftownsfolkcollectedbeforethewindow。Someofthemgiggled；andsomeofthemwonderedwhetheritwastakenfromthelife。Formyownpart，gratitudetoVenusobligesmetoownthatsheeffectedagreatimprovementinthestateofmymind。Sheencouragedme。Ifthatstumpylittlecreature——withnowaist，andoh，suchuncertainlegs！——representedtheidealofbeautyandgrace，Ihadreasonindeedtobesatisfiedwithmyownfigure，andtothinkitquitepossiblethatmysweetheart’sfavorableopinionofmewasnotill—bestowed。

IwasatthebedroomwindowwhenthetimeapproachedforPhilip’sarrival。

Quiteatthefarendoftheroad，Idiscoveredhim。Hewasonfoot；hewalkedlikeaking。NotthatIeversawaking，butI

havemyideal。Ah，whatasmilehegaveme，whenImadehimlookupbywavingmyhandkerchiefoutofthewindow！"Askforpapa，"I

whisperedasheascendedthehouse—steps。

Thenextthingtodowastowait，aspatientlyasIcould，tobesentfordownstairs。Mariacametomeinastateofexcitement。

"Oh，miss，whatahandsomeyounggentleman，andhowbeautifullydressed！Ishe——？"Insteadoffinishingwhatshehadtosay，shelookedatmewithaslysmile。Ilookedatherwithaslysmile。

Wewerecertainlyacoupleoffools。But，dearme，howhappysometimesafoolcanbe！

MyenjoymentofthatdelightfultimewascheckedwhenIwentintothedrawing—room。

Ihadexpectedtoseepapa’sfacemadebeautifulbyhiswinningsmile。Hewasnotonlyserious；heactuallyseemedtobeillateasewhenhelookedatme。Atthesametime，IsawnothingtomakemeconcludethatPhiliphadproducedanunfavorableimpression。Thetruthis，wewereallthreeonourbestbehavior，andweshowedit。PhiliphadbroughtwithhimaletterfromMrs。

Staveley，introducinghimtopapa。WespokeoftheStaveleys，oftheweather，oftheCathedral——andthenthereseemedtobenothingmorelefttotalkabout。

Inthesilencethatfollowed——whatadreadfulthingsilenceis！——papawassentfortoseesomebodywhohadcalledonbusiness。Hemadehisexcusesinthesweetestmanner，butstillseriously。WhenheandPhiliphadshakenhands，wouldheleaveustogether？No；hewaited。PoorPhiliphadnochoicebuttotakeleaveofme。Papathenwentoutbythedoorthatledintohisstudy，andIwasleftalone。

CananywordssayhowwretchedIfelt？

Ihadhopedsomuchfromthatfirstmeeting——andwhereweremyhopesnow？AprofanewishthatIhadneverbeenbornwasfindingitswayintomymind，whenthedooroftheroomwasopenedsoftly，fromthesideofthepassage。Maria，dearMaria，thebestfriendIhave，peepedin。Shewhispered："Gointothegarden，miss，andyouwillfindsomebodytherewhoisdyingtoseeyou。

Mindyoulethimoutbytheshrubberygate。"Isqueezedherhand；

Iaskedifshehadtriedtheshrubberygatewithasweetheartofherown。"Hundredsoftimes，miss。"

WasitwrongformetogotoPhilip，inthegarden？Oh，thereisnoendtoobjections！PerhapsIdidit_because_itwaswrong。

PerhapsIhadbeenkeptonmybestbehaviortoolongforhumanendurance。

Howsadlydisappointedhelooked！Andhowrashlyhehadplacedhimselfjustwherehecouldbeseenfromthebackwindows！Itookhisarmandledhimtotheendofthegarden。Therewewereoutofthereachofinquisitiveeyes；andtherewesatdowntogether，underthebigmulberrytree。

"Oh，Eunice，yourfatherdoesn’tlikeme！"

Thosewerehisfirstwords。Injusticetopapa（andalittleformyownsaketoo）Itoldhimhewasquitewrong。Isaid："Trustmyfather’sgoodness，trusthiskindness，asIdo。"

Hemadenoreply。Hissilencewassufficientlyexpressive；helookedatmefondly。

Imaybewrong，butfondlookssurelyrequireanacknowledgmentofsomekind？Isayoungwomanguiltyofboldnesswhoonlyfollowsherimpulses？Islippedmyhandintohishand。Philipseemedtolikeit。Wereturnedtoourconversation。

Hebegan："Tellme，dear，isMr。Gracedieualwaysasseriousasheisto—day？"

"Ohno！"

"Whenhetakesexercise，doesheride？ordoeshewalk？"

"Papaalwayswalks。"

"Byhimself？"

"Sometimesbyhimself。Sometimeswithme。Doyouwanttomeethimwhenhegoesout？"

"Yes。"

"Whenheisoutwithme？"

"No。Whenheisoutbyhimself。"

WasitpossibletotellmemoreplainlythatIwasnotwanted？I

didmybesttoexpressindignationbysnatchingmyhandawayfromhim。Hewascompletelytakenbysurprise。

"Eunice！don’tyouunderstandme？"

IwasasstupidandasdisagreeableasIcouldpossiblybe："No；

Idon’t！"

"Thenletmehelpyou，"hesaid，withapatiencewhichIhadnotdeserved。

UptothatmomentIhadbeenleaningagainstthebackofagardenchair。Somethingelsenowgotbetweenmeandmychair。Itstoleroundmywaist——itheldmegently——itstrengtheneditshold——itimprovedmytemper——itmademefittounderstandhim。Alldonebywhat？Onlyanarm！

Philipwenton：

"Iwanttoaskyourfathertodomethegreatestofallfavors——andthereisnotimetolose。Everyday，IexpecttogetaletterwhichmayrecallmetoIreland。"

Myheartsankatthishorridprospect；andinsomemysteriouswaymyheadmusthavefeltittoo。ImeanthatIfoundmyheadrestingonhisshoulder。Hewenton：

"HowamItogetmyopportunityofspeakingtoMr。Gracedieu？I

mustn’tcallonhimagainassoonasto—morrowornextday。ButI

mightmeethim，outwalkingalone，ifyouwilltellmehowtodoit。AnotetomyhotelisallIwant。Don’ttremble，mysweet。Ifyouarenotpresentatthetime，doyouseeanyobjectiontomyowningtoyourfatherthatIloveyou？"

Ifelthisdelicateconsiderationforme——Ididindeedfeelitgratefully。Ifheonlyspokefirst，howwellIshouldgetonwithpapaafterward！Theprospectbeforemewasexquisitelyencouraging。IagreedwithPhilipineverything；andIwaited（howeagerlywasonlyknowntomyself）tohearwhathewouldsaytomenext。Heprophesiednext：

"WhenIhavetoldyourfatherthatIloveyou，hewillexpectmetotellhimsomethingelse。Canyouguesswhatitis？"

IfIhadnotbeenconfused，perhapsImighthavefoundtheanswertothis。Asitwas，Ilefthimtoreplytohimself。Hedidit，inwordswhichIshallrememberaslongasIlive。

"DearestEunice，whenyourfatherhasheardmyconfession，hewillsuspectthatthereisanotherconfessiontofollowit——hewillwanttoknowifyouloveme。Myangel，willmyhopesbeyourhopestoo，whenIanswerhim？"

WhattherewasinthistomakemyheartbeatsoviolentlythatI

feltasifIwasbeingstifled，ismorethanIcantell。Heleanedsoclosetome，sotenderly，sodelightfullyclose，thatourfacesnearlytouched。Hewhispered："Sayyouloveme，inakiss！"

Hislipstouchedmylips，pressedthem，dweltonthem——oh，howcanItellofit！Somenewenchantmentoffeelingrandeliciouslythroughandthroughme。Iforgotmyownself；Ionlyknewofonepersonintheworld。Hewasmasterofmylips；hewasmasterofmyheart。Whenhewhispered，"kissme，"Ikissed。Whatamomentitwas！Afaintnessstoleoverme；IfeltasifIwasgoingtodiesomeexquisitedeath；Ilaidmyselfbackawayfromhim——Iwasnotabletospeak。Therewasnoneedforit；mythoughtsandhisthoughtswereone——heknewthatIwasquiteovercome；hesawthathemustleavemetorecovermyselfalone。Ipointedtotheshrubberygate。Wetookonelonglastlookateachotherforthatday；thetreeshidhim；Iwasleftbymyself。

CHAPTERXX。

EUNICE’SDIARY。

Howlongatimepassedbeforemycomposurecamebacktome，I

cannotremembernow。ItseemedasifIwaswaitingthroughsomeintervalofmylifethatwasamysterytomyself。Iwascontenttowait，andfeelthelighteveningairinthegardenwaftinghappinessoverme。Andallthishadcomefromakiss！IcancallthetimetomindwhenIusedtowonderwhypeoplemadesuchafussaboutkissing。

IhadbeenindebtedtoMariaformyfirsttasteofParadise。I

wasrecalledbyMariatotheworldthatIhadbeenaccustomedtolivein；theworldthatwasbeginningtofadeawayinmymemoryalready。Shehadbeensenttothegardeninsearchofme；andshehadawordofadvicetooffer，afternoticingmyfacewhenI

steppedoutoftheshadowofthetree："Trytolookmorelikeyourself，miss，beforeyouletthemseeyouatthetea—table。"

PapaandMissJillgallweresittingtogethertalking，whenI

openedthedoor。Theyleftoffwhentheysawme；andIsupposed，quitecorrectlyasitturnedout，thatIhadbeenoneofthesubjectsintheircourseofconversation。Mypoorfatherseemedtobesadlyanxiousandoutofsorts。MissJillgall，ifIhadbeeninthehumortoenjoyit，wouldhavebeenmoreamusingthanever。Oneofherfunnylittleeyespersistedinwinkingatme；

andherheavyfoothadsomethingtosaytomyfoot，underthetable，whichmeantagreatdealperhaps，butwhichonlysucceededinhurtingme。

Myfatherleftus；andMissJillgallexplainedherself。

"Iknow，dearestEuneece，thatwehaveonlybeenacquaintedforadayortwoandthatIoughtnotperhapstohaveexpectedyoutoconfideinmesosoon。CanItrustyounottobetraymeifIsetanexampleofconfidence？Ah，IseeIcantrustyou！And，mydear，Idosoenjoytellingsecretstoafriend。Hush！Yourfather，yourexcellentfather，hasbeentalkingtomeaboutyoungMr。Dunboyne。"

Sheprovokinglystoppedthere。Ientreatedhertogoon。Sheinvitedmetositonherknee。"Iwanttowhisper，"shesaid。Itwastooridiculous——butIdidit。MissJillgall’swhispertoldmeseriousnews。

"Theministerhassomereason，Euneece，fordisapprovingofMr。

Dunboyne；but，mindthis，Idon’tthinkhehasabadopinionoftheyoungmanhimself。HeisgoingtoreturnMr。Dunboyne’scall。

Oh，Idosohateformality；Ireallycan’tgoontalkingof_Mr。_

Dunboyne。TellmehisChristianname。Ah，whatanoblename！HowIlongtobeusefultohim！Tomorrow，mydear，aftertheoneo’clockdinner，yourpapawillcallonPhilip，athishotel。I

hopehewon’tbeout，justatthewrongtime。"

IresolvedtopreventthatunluckyaccidentbywritingtoPhilip。

IfMissJillgallwouldhaveallowedit，Ishouldhavebegunmyletteratonce。Butshehadmoretosay；andshewasstrongerthanIwas，andstillkeptmeonherknee。

"Italllooksbrightenoughsofar，doesn’tit，dearsister？Willyouletmebeyoursecondsister？Idosoloveyou，Euneece。

Thankyou！thankyou！Butthegloomysideofthepictureistocomenext！Theminister——no！nowIamyoursisterImustcallhimpapa；itmakesmefeelsoyoungagain！Well，then，papahasaskedmetobeyourcompanionwheneveryougoout。’Euneeceistooyoungandtooattractivetobewalkingaboutthisgreattown（inHelena’sabsence）byherself。’Thatwashowheputit。Slylyenough，ifonemaysaysoofsogoodaman。Andheusedyoursister（didn’the？）asakindofexcuse。Iwishyoursisterwasasniceasyouare。However，thepointis，whyamItobeyourcompanion？Because，dearchild，youandyouryounggentlemanarenottomakeappointmentsandtomeeteachotheralone。Oh，yes——that’sit！YourfatherisquitewillingtoreturnPhilip’scall；heproposes（asamatterofcivilitytoMrs。Staveley）toaskPhiliptodinner；but，markmywords，hedoesn’tmeantoletPhiliphaveyouforhiswife。"

Ijumpedoffherlap；itwashorribletohearher。"Oh，"Isaid，"_can_youberightaboutit？"MissJillgalljumpeduptoo。Shehasforeignwaysofshrugginghershouldersandmakingsignswithherhands。Onthisoccasionshelaidbothhandsontheupperpartofherdress，justbelowherthroat，andmysteriouslyshookherhead。

"Whenmyviewsaredirectedbymyaffections，"sheassuredme，"I

neverseewrong。Mybosomismystrongpoint。"

Shehasnobosom，poorsoul——butIunderstoodwhatshemeant。Itfailedtohaveanysoothingeffectonmyfeelings。Ifeltgrievedandangryandpuzzled，allinone。MissJillgallstoodlookingatme，withherhandsstillontheplacewhereherbosomwassupposedtobe。Shemademytemperhotterthanever。

"ImeantomarryPhilip，"Isaid。

"Certainly，mydearEuneece。Butpleasedon’tbesofierceaboutit。"

"Ifmyfatherdoesreallyobjecttomymarriage，"Iwenton，"itmustbebecausehedislikesPhilip。Therecanbenootherreason。"

"Oh，yes，dear——therecan。"

"Whatisthereason，then？"

"That，mysweetgirl，isoneofthethingsthatwehavegottofindout。"

Thepostofthismorningbroughtaletterfrommysister。Weweretoexpectherreturnbythenextday’strain。Thiswasgoodnews。

PhilipandImightstandinneedofcleverHelena’shelp，andwemightbesureofgettingitnow。

InwritingtoPhilip，Ihadaskedhimtoletmehearhowpapaandhehadgotonatthehotel。

Iwon’tsayhowoftenIconsultedmywatch，orhowoftenIlookedoutofthewindowforamanwithaletterinhishand。Itwillbebettertogetonatoncetothediscouragingendofit，whenthereportoftheinterviewreachedmeatlast。TwicePhiliphadattemptedtoaskformyhandinmarriage——andtwicemyfatherhad"deliberately，obstinately"（Philip’sownwords）changedthesubject。Eventhiswasnotall。AsifhewasdeterminedtoshowthatMissJillgallwasperfectlyright，andIperfectlywrong，papa（civiltoPhilipaslongashedidnottalkofMe）hadaskedhimtodinewithus，andPhiliphadacceptedtheinvitation！

Whatwerewetothinkofit？Whatwerewetodo？

Iwrotebacktomydearlove（socruellyused）totellhimthatHelenawasexpectedtoreturnonthenextday，andthatheropinionwouldbeofthegreatestvaluetobothofus。InapostscriptImentionedthehouratwhichweweregoingtothestationtomeetmysister。WhenIsay"we，"ImeanMissJillgallaswellasmyself。

Wefoundhimwaitingforusattherailway。Iamafraidheresentedpapa’sincomprehensibleresolutionnottogivehimahearing。Hewassilentandsullen。Icouldnotconcealthattoseethisstateoffeelingdistressedme。Heshowedhowtrulyhedeservedtobeloved——hebeggedmypardon，andhebecamehisownsweetselfagaindirectly。Iammoredeterminedtomarryhimthanever。

Whenthetrainenteredthestation，allthecarriageswerefull。

Iwentoneway，thinkingIhadseenHelena。MissJillgallwenttheotherway，underthesameimpression。Philipwasalittlewaybehindme。

Notseeingmysister，Ihadjustturnedback，whenayoungmanjumpedoutofacarriage，oppositePhilip，andrecognizedandshookhandswithhim。Iwasjustnearenoughtohearthestrangersay，"Lookatthegirlinourcarriage。"Philiplooked。"Whatacharmingcreature！"hesaid，andthencheckedhimselfforfeartheyoungladyshouldhearhim。Shehadjusthandedhertravelingbagandwrapstoaporter，andwasgettingout。Philippolitelyofferedhishandtohelpher。Shelookedmyway。Thecharmingcreatureofmysweetheart’sadmirationwas，tomyinfiniteamusement，Helenaherself。

CHAPTERXXI。

HELENA’SDIARY。

THEdayofmyreturnmarksanoccasionwhichIamnotlikelytoforget。HourshavepassedsinceIcamehome——andmyagitationstillforbidsthethoughtofrepose。

AsIsitatmydeskIseeEuniceinbed，sleepingpeacefully，exceptwhensheismurmuringenjoymentinsomehappydream。Towhatendhasmysisterbeenadvancingblindfold，and（whoknows？）

draggingmewithher，sincethatdisastrousvisittoourfriendsinLondon？Strangethatthereshouldbealeavenofsuperstitionin_my_nature！StrangethatIshouldfeelfearofsomething——I

hardlyknowwhat！

Ihavemetsomewhere（perhapsinmyhistoricalreading）withtheexpression："Achainofevents。"WasIatthebeginningofthatchain，whenIenteredtherailwaycarriageonmyjourneyhome？

Amongtheotherpassengerstherewasayounggentleman，accompaniedbyaladywhoprovedtobehissister。Theywerebothwell—bredpeople。Thebrotherevidentlyadmiredme，anddidhisbesttomakehimselfagreeable。Timepassedquicklyinpleasanttalk，andmyvanitywasflattered——andthatwasall。

Myfellow—travelersweregoingontoLondon。Whenthetrainreachedourstationtheyoungladysentherbrothertobuysomefruit，whichshesawinthewindowoftherefreshment—room。Thefirstmanwhomheencounteredontheplatformwasoneofhisfriends；towhomhesaidsomethingwhichIfailedtohear。WhenI

handedmytravelingbagandmywrapstotheporter，andshowedmyselfatthecarriagedoor，Iheardthefriendsay："Whatacharmingcreature！"HavingnothingtoconcealinajournalwhichIprotectbyalock，Imayownthatthestranger’spersonalappearancestruckme，andthatwhatIfeltthistimewasnotflatteredvanity，butgratifiedpride。Hewasyoung，hewasremarkablyhandsome，hewasadistinguished—lookingman。

Allthishappenedinonemoment。Inthemomentthatfollowed，I

foundmyselfinEunice’sarms。Thatodiousperson，MissJillgall，insistedonembracingmenext。AndthenIwasconsciousofanindescribablefeelingofsurprise。Eunicepresentedthedistinguished—lookinggentlemantomeasafriendofhers——Mr。

PhilipDunboyne。

"Ihadthehonorofmeetingyoursister，"hesaid，"inLondon，atMr。Staveley’shouse。"HewentontospeakeasilyandgracefullyofthejourneyIhadtaken，andofhisfriendwhohadbeenmyfellow—traveler；andheattendedustotherailwayomnibusbeforehetookhisleave。IobservedthatEunicehadsomethingtosaytohimconfidentially，beforetheyparted。Thiswasanotherexampleofmysister’schildishcharacter；sheisinstantlyfamiliarwithnewacquaintances，ifshehappenstolikethem。Ianticipatedsomeamusementfromhearinghowshehadcontrivedtoestablishconfidentialrelationswithahighly—cultivatedmanlikeMr。

Dunboyne。But，whileMissJillgallwaswithus，itwasjustaswelltokeepwithinthelimitsofcommonplaceconversation。

BeforewegotoutoftheomnibusIhad，however，observedoneundesirableresultofmyabsencefromhome。EuniceandMissJillgall——thelatterhaving，nodoubt，finelyflatteredtheformer——appearedtohavetakenastronglikingtoeachother。

Twocuriouscircumstancesalsocaughtmyattention。Isawachangeto，whatIcallself—assertion，inmysister’smanner；

somethingseemedtohaveraisedherinherownestimation。Then，again，MissJillgallwasnotlikehercustomaryself。Shehaddelightfulmomentsofsilence；andwhenEuniceaskedhowIlikedMr。Dunboyne，shelistenedtomyreplywithanappearanceofinterestinheruglyfacewhichwasquiteanewrevelationinmyexperienceofmyfather’scousin。

Theselittlediscoveries（afterwhatIhadalreadyobservedattherailway—station）oughtperhapstohavepreparedmeforwhatwastocome，whenmysisterandIwerealoneinourroom。ButEunice，whethershemeanttodoitornot，baffledmycustomarypenetration。Shelookedasifshehadplentyofnewstotellme——withsomeobstacleinthewayofdoingit，whichappearedtoamuseinsteadofannoyingher。IfthereisonethingmorethananotherthatIhate，itisbeingpuzzled。IaskedatonceifanythingremarkablehadhappenedduringEunice’svisittoLondon。

Shesmiledmischievously。"Ihavegotadelicioussurpriseforyou，mydear；andIdosoenjoyprolongingit。Tellme，Helena，whatdidyouproposeweshouldbothdowhenwefoundourselvesathomeagain？"

Mymemorywasatfault。Eunice’sgoodspiritsbecameabsolutelyboisterous。Shecalledout："Catch！"andtossedherjournalintomyhands，acrossthewholelengthoftheroom。"Weweretoreadeachother’sdiaries，"shesaid。"Thereisminetobeginwith。"

Innocentofanysuspicionofthetruestateofaffairs，IbeganthereadingofEunice’sjournal。

IfIhadnotseenthefamiliarhandwriting，nothingwouldhaveinducedmetobelievethatagirlbroughtupinapioushousehold，thewell—beloveddaughterofadistinguishedCongregationalMinister，couldhavewrittenthatshamelessrecordofpassionsunknowntoyoungladiesinrespectableEnglishlife。

Whattosay，whattodo，whenIhadclosedthebook，wasmorethanIfeltmyselfequaltodecide。MywretchedsistersparedmetheanxietywhichImightotherwisehavefelt。Itwasshewhofirstopenedherlips，afterthesilencethathadfallenonuswhileIwasreading。Thesewereliterallythewordsthatshesaid：

"Mydarling，whydon’tyoucongratulateme？"

Noargumentcouldhavepersuadedme，asthispersuadedme，thatallsisterlyremonstranceonmypartwouldbecompletelythrownaway。

"MydearEunice，"Isaid，"letmebegyoutoexcuseme。Iamwaiting——"

Theresheinterruptedme——and，oh，inwhatanimpudentmanner！

Shetookmychinbetweenherfingerandthumb，andliftedmydowncastface，andlookedatmewithanappearanceofeagerexpectationwhichIwasquiteatalosstounderstand。

"Youhavebeenawayfromhome，too。"shesaid。"DoIseeinthisseriousfacesomeastonishingnewswaitingtooverpowerme？Have_you_foundasweetheart？Are_you_engagedtobemarried？"

Ionlyputherhandawayfromme，andadvisedhertoreturntoherchair。Thisperfectlyharmlessproceedingseemedabsolutelytofrightenher。

"Oh，mydear，"sheburstout，"surelyyouarenotjealousofme？"

Therewasbutonepossiblereplytothis：Ilaughedatit。IsEunice’sheadturned？Shekissedme！

"Nowyoulaugh，"shesaid，"Ibegintounderstandyouagain；I

oughttohaveknownthatyouaresuperiortojealousy。But，dotellme，woulditbesoverywonderfulifothergirlsfoundsomethingtoenvyinmygoodluck？Justthinkofit！Suchahandsomeman，suchanagreeableman，suchacleverman，sucharichman——and，nottheleastofhismerits，by—the—by，amanwhoadmiresYou。Come！ifyouwon’tcongratulateme，congratulateyourselfonhavingsuchabrother—in—lawinprospect！"

Herhead_was_turned。Idrewthepoorsoul’sattentioncompassionatelytowhatIhadsaidamomentsince。

"Pardonme，dear，forremindingyouthatIhavenotyetrefusedtooffermycongratulations。IonlytoldyouIwaswaiting。"

"Forwhat？"