第14章

"MissHelenathought，"Isaid，"thattheladyrecognizedmeasapersonwhomshehadseenbefore。"

"Andwhatdidyouthinkyourself？"

"IthoughtMissHelenawaswrong。"

"Veryextraordinary！"Withthatremark，MissJillgalldroppedthesubject。Themeaningofherreiteratedinquirieswasnow，asitseemedtome，clearenough。ShewaseagertodiscoverhowIcouldhaveinspiredthedistrustofme，expressedinthecautionaddressedtoherbyherfriend。

Whenwereachedtheupperfloor，shepausedbeforetheMinister’sroom。

"Ibelievemanyyearshavepassed，"shesaid，"sinceyoulastsawMr。Gracedieu。Iamafraidyouhavefoundhimasadlychangedman？Youwon’tbeangrywithme，Ihope，foraskingmorequestions？IoweMr。Gracedieuadebtofgratitudewhichnodevotion，onmypart，caneverrepay。Youdon’tknowwhatafavorIshallconsiderit，ifyouwilltellmewhatyouthinkofhim。

Diditseemtoyouthathewasnotquitehimself？Idon’tmeaninhislooks，poordear——Imeaninhismind。"

Therewastruesorrowandsympathyinherface。IbelieveI

shouldhardlyhavethoughtherugly，ifwehadfirstmetatthatmoment。Thusfar，shehadonlyamusedme。IbeganreallytolikeMissJillgallnow。

"Imustnotconcealfromyou，"Ireplied，"thatthestateofMr。

Gracedieu’smindsurprisedanddistressedme。ButIoughtalsototellyouthatIsawhimperhapsathisworst。Thesubjectonwhichhewishedtospeakwithmewouldhaveagitatedanyman，inhisstateofhealth。Heconsultedmeabouthisdaughter’smarriage。"

MissJillgallsuddenlyturnedpale。

"Hisdaughter’smarriage？"sherepeated。"Oh，youfrightenme！"

"WhyshouldIfrightenyou？"

Sheseemedtofindsomedifficultyinexpressingherself。"I

hardlyknowhowtoputit，sir。Youwillexcuseme（won’tyou？）

ifIsaywhatIfeel。Youhaveinfluence——notthesortofinfluencethatfindsplacesforpeoplewhodon’tdeservethem，andgetsmentionedinthenewspapers——IonlymeaninfluenceoverMr。Gracedieu。That’swhatfrightensme。HowdoIknow——？Oh，dear，I’maskinganotherquestion！Allowme，foronce，tobeplainandpositive。I’mafraid，sir，youhaveencouragedtheMinistertoconsenttoHelena’smarriage。"

"Pardonme，"Ianswered，"youmeanEunice’smarriage。"

"No，sir！Helena。"

"No，madam！Eunice。"

"Whatdoeshemean？"saidMissJillgalltoherself。

Iheardher。"ThisiswhatImean，"Iasserted，inmymostpositivemanner。"TheonlysubjectonwhichtheMinisterhasconsultedmeisMissEunice’smarriage。"

Mytonelefthernoalternativebuttobelieveme。Shelookednotonlybewildered，butalarmed。"Oh，poorman，hashelosthimselfinsuchadreadfulwayasthat？"shesaidtoherself。"Idaren’tbelieveit！"Sheturnedtome。"Youhavebeentalkingwithhimforsometime。Pleasetrytoremember。WhileMr。GracedieuwasspeakingofEuneece，didhesaynothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister？"

Nottheslightesthintofanysuchthing，Iassuredher，hadreachedmyears。

"Then，"shecried，"Icantellyouwhathehasforgotten！Wekeptasmuchofthatmiserablestorytoourselvesaswecould，inmercytohim。Besides，hewasalwaysfondestofEuneece；shewouldliveinhismemorywhenhehadforgottentheother——thewretch，thetraitress，theplotter，thefiend！"MissJillgall’sgoodmannersslipped，asitwere，fromunderher；sheclinchedherfistsasafinalmeansofexpressinghersentiments。"ThewretchedEnglishlanguageisn’thalfstrongenoughforme，"shedeclaredwithalookoffury。

Itookaliberty。"MayIaskwhatMissHelenahasdone？"Isaid。

"_May_youask？Oh，Heavens！youmustask，youshallask。Mr。

Governor，ifyoureyesarenotopenedtoHelena’struecharacter，Icantellyouwhatshewilldo；shewilldeceiveyouintotakingherpart。Doyouthinkshewenttothestationoutofregardforthegreatman？Pooh！shewentwithaneyetoherowninterests；

andshemeanstomakethegreatmanuseful。ThankGod，Icanstopthat！"

Shecheckedherselfthere，andlookedsuspiciouslyatthedoorofMr。Gracedieu’sroom。

"Intheinterestofourconversation，"shewhispered，"wehavenotgivenathoughttotheplacewehavebeentalkingin。DoyouthinktheMinisterhasheardus？"

"Notifheisasleep——asIlefthim，"

MissJillgallshookherheadominously。"Thesafewayisthisway，"shesaid。"Comewithme。"

CHAPTERXXXV。

THEFUTURELOOKSGLOOMY。

MYever—helpfulguideledmetomyroom——welloutofMr。

Gracedieu’shearing，ifhehappenedtobeawake——attheotherendofthepassage。Havingopenedthedoor，shepausedonthethreshold。ThedecreesofthatmercilessEnglishdespot，Propriety，claimedherfortheirown。"Oh，dear！"shesaidtoherself，"oughtItogoin？"

Myinterestasaman（and，whatismore，anoldman）inthecomingdisclosurewastooserioustobetrifledwithinthisway。

Itookherarm，andledherintomyroomasifIwasatadinner—party，leadinghertothetable。Isitthegoodortheevilfortuneofmortalsthatthecomicsideoflife，andtheserioussideoflife，areperpetuallyincollisionwitheachother？Weburstoutlaughing，atamomentofgraveimportancetousboth。Perfectlyinappropriate，andperfectlynatural。Butwewereneitherofusphilosophers，andwewereashamedofourownmerrimentthemomentithadceased。

"WhenyouhearwhatIhavetotellyou，"MissJillgallbegan，"I

hopeyouwillthinkasIdo。WhathasslippedMr。Gracedieu’smemory，itmaybesafertosay——forheissometimesirritable，poordear——wherehewon’tknowanythingaboutit。"

WiththatshetoldthelamentablestoryofthedesertionofEunice。

InsilenceIlistened，fromfirsttolast。HowcouldItrustmyselftospeak，asImusthavespoken，inthepresenceofawoman？Thecruelinjuryinflictedonthepoorgirl，whohadinterestedandtouchedmeinthefirstinnocentyearofherlife——whohadgrowntowomanhoodtobethevictimoftwowretches，bothtrustedbyher，bothboundtoherbythesacreddebtoflove——sofiredmytemperthatIlongedtobewithinreachoftheman，withahorsewhipinmyhand。Seeinginmyface，asI

suppose，whatwaspassinginmymind，MissJillgallexpressedsympathyandadmirationinherownquaintway："Ah，Iliketoseeyousoangry！It’sgrandtoknowthatamanwhohasgovernedprisonershasgotsuchapityingheart。Letmetellyouonething，sir。Youwillbemoreangrythanever，whenyouseemysweetgirlto—morrow。Andmindthis——itisHelena’sdevouringvanity，Helena’swickedjealousyofhersister’sgoodfortune，thathasdonethemischief。Don’tbetoohardonPhilip？Idobelieve，ifthetruthwastold，heisashamedofhimself。"

IfeltinclinedtobeharderonPhilipthanever。"Whereishe？"

Iasked。

MissJillgallstarted。"Oh，Mr。Governor，don’tshowtheseveresideofyourself，aftertheprettycomplimentIhavejustpaidtoyou！Whatamasterfulvoice！andwhateyes，dearsir；whatterrifyingeyes！IfeelasifIwasoneofyourprisoners，andhadmisbehavedmyself。"

Irepeatedmyquestionwithimprovement，Ihope，inmylooksandtones："Don’tthinkmeobstinate，mydearlady。Ionlywanttoknowifheisinthistown。"

MissJillgallseemedtotakeacuriouspleasureindisappointingme；shehadnotforgottenmyunfortunateabruptnessoflookandmanner。"Youwon’tfindhimhere，"shesaid。

"PerhapshehasleftEngland？"

"Ifyoumustknow，sir，heisinLondon——withMr。Dunboyne。"

Thenamestartledme。

Inamomentmoreitrecalledtomymemoryaremarkableletter，addressedtomemanyyearsago，whichwillbefoundinmyintroductorynarrative。Thewriter——anIrishgentleman，namedDunboyneconfidedtomethathismarriagehadassociatedhimwiththemurderess，whohadthenbeenrecentlyexecuted，asbrother—in—lawtothatinfamouswoman。Thiscircumstancehehadnaturallykeptasecretfromeveryone，includinghisson，thenaboy。Ialonewasmadeanexceptiontothegeneralrule，becauseI

alonecouldtellhimwhathadbecomeofthepoorlittlegirl，whoinspiteofthedisgracefulendofhermotherwasstillhisniece。Ifthechildhadnotbeenprovidedfor，hefeltithisdutytotakechargeofhereducation，andtowatchoverherprospectsinthefuture。Suchhadbeenhisobjectinwritingtome；andsuchwasthesubstanceofhisletter。Ihadmerelyinformedhim，inreply，thathiskindintentionshadbeenanticipated，andthatthechild’sprosperousfuturewasassured。

MissJillgall’skeenobservationnoticedtheimpressionthathadbeenproduceduponme。"Mr。Dunboyne’snameseemstosurpriseyou。"shesaid。

"ThisisthefirsttimeIhaveheardyoumentionit，"Ianswered。

Shelookedasifshecouldhardlybelieveme。"Surelyyoumusthaveheardthename，"shesaid，"whenItoldyouaboutpoorEuneece？"

"No。"

"Well，then，Mr。Gracedieumusthavementionedit？"

"No。"

Thissecondreplyinthenegativeirritatedher。

"Atanyrate，"shesaid，sharply，"youappearedtoknowMr。

Dunboyne’sname，justnow。"

"Certainly！"

"Andyet，"shepersisted，"thenameseemedtocomeuponyouasasurprise。Idon’tunderstandit。IfIhavementionedPhilip’snameonce，Ihavementioneditadozentimes。"

Wewerecompletelyatcross—purposes。Shehadtakensomethingforgrantedwhichwasanunfathomablemysterytome。

"Well，"Iobjected，"ifyoudidmentionhisnameadozentimes——excusemeforaskingthequestion———whatthen？"

"Goodheavens！"criedMissJillgall，"doyoumeantosayyouneverguessedthatPhilipwasMr。Dunboyne’sson？"

Iwaspetrified。

Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！HowcouldIhaveguessedit？

Atalatertimeonly，thegoodlittlecreaturewhohadsoinnocentlydeceivedme，rememberedthatthemischiefmighthavebeenwroughtbytheforceofhabit。WhilehehadstillaclaimontheirregardthefamilyhadalwaysspokenofEunice’sunworthyloverbyhisChristianname；andwhathadbeenfamiliarintheirmouthsfelttheinfluenceofcustom，beforetimeenoughhadelapsedtomakethemthinkasreadilyoftheenemyastheyhadhithertothoughtofthefriend。

ButIwasignorantofthis：andthedisclosurebywhichIfoundmyselfsuddenlyconfrontedwasmorethanIcouldsupport。Forthemoment，speechwasbeyondme。

Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！

Whatapositionthatyoungmanhadoccupied，unsuspectedbyhisfather，unknowntohimself！keptinignoranceofthefamilydisgrace，hehadbeenaguestinthehouseofthemanwhohadconsoledhisinfamousauntontheeveofherexecution——whohadsavedhisunhappycousinfrompoverty，fromsorrow，fromshame。

Andbutonehumanbeingknewthis。Andthathumanbeingwasmyself！

Observingmyagitation，MissJillgallplacedherownconstructiononit。

"DoyouknowanythingbadofPhilip？"sheaskedeagerly。"Ifit’ssomethingthatwillpreventHelenafrommarryinghim，tellmewhatitis，Ibegandpray。"

Iknewnomoreof"Philip"（whomshestillcalledbyhisChristianname！）thanshehadtoldmeherself：therewasnohelpforitbuttodisappointher。AtthesametimeIwasunabletoconcealthatIwasillatease，andthatitmightbewelltoleavemebymyself。Afteralookroundthebedchambertoseethatnothingwaswantingtomycomfort，shemadeherquaintcurtsey，andleftmewithherowninimitableformoffarewell。

"Oh，indeed，Ihavebeenheretoolong！AndI’mafraidIhavebeenguilty，onceortwice，ofvulgarfamiliarity。Youwillexcuseme，Ihope。Thishasbeenanexcitinginterview——IthinkI

amgoingtocry。"

Sheranoutoftheroom；andcarriedawaywithhersomeofmykindliestfeelings，shortasthetimeofouracquaintancehadbeen。Whatawifeandwhatamotherwaslostthere——andallforwantofaprettyface！

Leftalone，mythoughtsinevitablyrevertedtoDunboynetheelder，andtoallthathadhappenedinMr。Gracedieu’sfamilysincetheIrishgentlemanhadwrittentomeinbygoneyears。

TheterriblechoiceofresponsibilitieswhichhadpreyedontheMinister’smindhadbeenforeseenbyMr。Dunboyne，whenhefirstthoughtofadoptinghisinfantniece，andhadwarnedhimtodreadwhatmighthappeninthefuture，ifhebroughtherupasamemberofthefamilywithhisownboy，andifthetwoyoungpeoplebecameatalaterperiodattachedtoeachother。Howhadthewiseforesight，whichofferedsuchacontrasttothepoorMinister’simpulsiveactofmercy，metwithitsreward？FateorProvidence（callitwhichwemay）hadbroughtDunboyne’ssonandthedaughterofthemurderesstogether；hadinspiredthosetwostrangerswithlove；andhademboldenedthemtoplighttheirtrothbyamarriageengagement。Wastheman’sbetrayalofthetrustplacedinhimbythefaithfulgirltobeesteemedafortunatecircumstancebythetwopersonswhoknewthetruestoryofherparentage，theMinisterandmyself？Couldwerejoiceinanactofinfidelitywhichhadembitteredanddarkenedthegentleharmlesslifeofthevictim？Orcouldwe，ontheotherhand，encouragetheruthlessdeceit，thehatefultreachery，whichhadputthewickedHelena——withnoexposuretodreadif_she_

married——intoherwrongedsister’splace？Impossible！Intheonecaseasintheother，impossible！

Equallyhopelessdidtheprospectappear，whenItriedtodeterminewhatmyownindividualcourseofactionoughttobe。

Inmycalmermoments，theideahadoccurredtomymindofgoingtoDunboynetheyounger，and，ifhehadanysenseofshameleft，exertingmyinfluencetoleadhimbacktohisbetrothedwife。HowcouldInowdothis，consistentlywithmydutytotheyoungman’sfather；knowingwhatIknew，andnotforgettingthatIhadmyselfadvisedMr。Gracedieutokeepthetruthconcealed，whenIwasequallyignorantofPhilipDunboyne’sparentageandofHelenaGracedieu’streachery？

EvenifeventssoordereditthatthemarriageofEunicemightyettakeplace——withoutanyinterferenceexertedtoproducethatresult，onewayortheother，onmypart——itwouldbejustasimpossibleformetospeakoutnow，asithadbeeninthelong—pastyearswhenIhadsocautiouslyansweredMr。Dunboyne’sletter。Butwhatwouldhethinkofmeifaccidentled，soonerorlater，tothedisclosurewhichIhadfeltboundtoconceal？ThemoreItriedtoforecastthechancesofthefuture，thedarkerandthedarkerwastheviewthatfacedme。

Tomysinkingheartandweariedmind，goodDameNaturepresentedamoreacceptableprospect，whenIhappenedtolookoutofthewindowofmyroom。ThereIsawthetreesandflowerbedsofagarden，temptingmeirresistiblyunderthecloudlesssunshineofafineday。Iwasonmywayout，torecoverheartandhope，whenaknockatthedoorstoppedme。

HadMissJillgallreturned？WhenIsaid"Comein，"Mr。Gracedieuopenedthedoor，andenteredtheroom。

Hewassoweakthathestaggeredasheapproachedme。Leadinghimtoachair，Inoticedawildlookinhiseyes，andaflushonhishaggardcheeks。Somethinghadhappened。

"Whenyouwerewithmeinmyroom，"hebegan，"didInottellyouthatIhadforgottensomething？"

"Certainlyyoudid。"

"Well，Ihavefoundthelostremembrance。Mymisfortune——Ioughttocallitthepunishmentformysins，isrecalledtomenow。Theworstcursethatcanfallonafatheristhecursethathascometome。Ihaveawickeddaughter。Myownchild，sir！myownchild！"

Hadhebeenawake，whileMissJillgallandIhadbeentalkingoutsidehisdoor？HadheheardheraskmeifMr。GracedieuhadsaidnothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister，whilehewasspeakingofEunice？Thewaytothelostremembrancehadperhapsbeenfoundthere。Inanycase，afterthatbitterallusiontohis"wickeddaughter"someresultmustfollow。HelenaGracedieuandadayofreckoningmightbenearertoeachotheralreadythanIhadventuredtohope。

Iwaitedanxiouslyforwhathemightsaytomenext。

CHAPTERXXXVI。

THEWANDERINGMIND。

FORthemoment，theMinisterdisappointedme。

Withoutspeaking，withoutevenlookingup，hetookouthispocketbook，andbegantowriteinit。Constantlyinterruptedeitherbyatremblinginthehandthatheldthepencil，orbyadifficulty（asIimagined）inexpressingthoughtsimperfectlyrealized——hispatiencegaveway；hedashedthebookonthefloor。

"Mymindisgone！"heburstout。"Oh，FatherinHeaven，letdeathdelivermefromabodywithoutamind！"

Whocouldhearhim，andbeguiltyofthecrueltyofpreachingself—control？Ipickedupthepocketbook，andofferedtohelphim。

"Doyouthinkyoucan？"heasked。

"Icanatleasttry。"

"Goodfellow！WhatshouldIdowithoutyou？Seenow；hereismydifficulty。Ihavegotsomanythingstosay，Iwanttoseparatethem——orelsetheywillallrunintoeachother。Lookatthebook，"mypoorfriendsaidmournfully；"theyhaverunintoeachotherinspiteofme。"

Theentriesprovedtobenearlyincomprehensible。HereandthereIdiscoveredsomescatteredwords，whichshowedthemselvesmoreorlessdistinctlyinthemidstofthesurroundingconfusion。ThefirstwordthatIcouldmakeoutwas"Education。"Helpedbythathint，Itrustedtoguess—worktoguidemeinspeakingtohim。Itwasnecessarytobepositive，orhewouldhavelostallfaithinme。

"Well？"hesaidimpatiently。

"Well，"Ianswered，"youhavesomethingtosaytomeabouttheeducationwhichyouhavegiventoyourdaughters。"

"Don’tputthemtogether！"hecried。"Dear，patient，sweetEunicemustnotbeconfoundedwiththatshe—devil——"

"Hush，hush，Mr。Gracedieu！BadlyasMissHelenahasbehaved，sheisyourownchild。"

"Irepudiateher，sir！Thinkforamomentofwhatshehasdone——andthenthinkofthereligiouseducationthatIhavegivenher。Heartless！Deceitful！Themostignorantcreatureinthelowestdensofthistowncouldhavedonenothingmorebaselycruel。Andthis，afteryearsonyearsofpatientChristianinstructiononmypart！Whatisreligion？Whatiseducation？I

readahorriblebookonce（Iforgetwhowastheauthor）；itcalledreligionsuperstition，andeducationemptyform。Idon’tknow；uponmywordIdon’tknowthatthebookmaynot——Oh，mytongue！Whydon’tIkeepaguardovermytongue？Areyouafather，too？Don’tinterruptme。Putyourselfinmyplace，andthinkofit。Heartless，deceitful，and_my_daughter。Givemethepocketbook；Iwanttoseewhichmemorandumcomesfirst。"

Hehadnowwroughthimselfintoastateofexcitement，whichrelievedhisspiritsofthedepressionthathadweighedonthemuptothistime。Hisharmlessvanity，always，asIsuspect，alatentqualityinhiskindlynature，hadalreadyrestoredhisconfidence。Withaself—sufficientsmileheconsultedhisownunintelligibleentries，andmadehisownwilddiscoveries。

"Ah，yes；’M’standsforMinister；Icomefirst。AmItoblame？

AmI——Godforgivememymanysins——amIheartless？AmI

deceitful？"

"Mygoodfriend，notevenyourenemiescouldsaythat！"

"Thankyou。Whocomesnext？"Heconsultedthebookagain。"Hermother，hersaintedmother，comesnext。Peoplesaysheislikehermother。Wasmywifeheartless？Wastheangelofmylifedeceitful？"

（"That，"Ithoughttomyself，"isexactlywhatyourwifewas——andexactlywhatreappearsinyourwife’schild。"）

"Wheredoesherwickednesscomefrom？"hewenton。"Notfromhermother；notfromme；notfromaneglectededucation。"Hesuddenlysteppeduptomeandlaidhishandsonmyshoulders；hisvoicedroppedtohoarse，moaning，awestrucktones。"ShallItellyouwhatitis？Apossessionofthedevil。"

Itwassoevidentlydesirabletopreventanycontinuationofsuchatrainofthoughtasthis，thatIcouldfeelnohesitationininterruptinghim。

"WillyouhearwhatIhavetosay？"Iaskedbluntly。

Hishumorchangedagain；hemademealowbow，andwentbacktohischair。"Iwillhearyouwithpleasure，"heansweredpolitely。

"YouarethemosteloquentmanIknow，withoneexception——myself。Ofcourse——myself。"

"Itismerewasteoftime，"Icontinued，"toregrettheexcellenteducationwhichyourdaughterhasmisused。"Makingthatreply，I

wastemptedtoaddanotherwordoftruth。Alleducationisatthemercyoftwopowerfulcounter—influences：theinfluenceoftemperament，andtheinfluenceofcircumstances。Butthiswasphilosophy。HowcouldIexpecthimtosubmittophilosophy？"WhatweknowofMissHelena，"Iwenton，"mustbeenoughforus。Shehasplotted，andshemeanstosucceed。Stopher。"

"Justmyidea！"hedeclaredfirmly。"Irefusemyconsenttothatabominablemarriage。"

Inthepopularphrase，Istruckwhiletheironwashot。"Youmustdomorethanthat，sir，"Itoldhim。

Hisvanitysuddenlytookthealarm——Iwasleadinghimrathertooundisguisedly。Hehandedhisbookbacktome。"Youwillfind，"hesaidloftily，"thatIhaveputitalldownthere。"

Ipretendedtofindit，andreadanimaginaryentrytothiseffect："Afterwhatshehasalreadydone，Helenaiscapableofmarryingindefianceofmywishesandcommands。Thismustbeconsideredandprovidedagainst。"Sofar，Ihadsucceededinflatteringhim。Butwhen（thinkingofhispaternalauthority）I

alludednexttohisdaughter’sage，hiseyesrestedonmewithalookofdownrightterror。

"Nomoreofthat！"hesaid。"Iwon’ttalkofthegirls’agesevenwithyou。"

Whatdidhemean？Itwasuselesstoask。Iwentonwiththematterinhand——stilldeliberatelyspeakingtohim，asImighthavespokentoamanwithanintellectasclearasmyown。Inmyexperience，thispracticegenerallystimulatesaweakintelligencetodoitsbest。Weallknowhowchildrenreceivetalkthatislowered，orbooksthatarelowered，totheirpresumedlevel。

"Ishalltakeitforgranted，"Icontinued，"thatMissHelenaisstillunderyourlawfulauthority。Shecanonlyarriveatherendsbymeansofarunawaymarriage。Inthatcase，muchdependsontheman。Youtoldmeyoucouldn’thelplikinghim。Thiswas，ofcourse，beforeyouknewoftheinfamousmannerinwhichhehasbehaved。Youmusthavechangedyouropinionnow。"

Heseemedtobeatalosshowtoreply。"Iamafraid，"hesaid，"theyoungmanwasdrawnintoitbyHelena。"

HerewasMissJillgall’sapologyforPhilipDunboynerepeatedinotherwords。DespisinganddetestingthefellowasIdid，Iwasforcedtoadmittomyselfthathemustberecommendedbypersonalattractionswhichitwouldbenecessarytoreckonwith。ItriedtogetsomemoreinformationfromMr。Gracedieu。

"Theexcuseyouhavejustmadeforhim，"Iresumed，"impliesthatheisaweakman；easilypersuaded，easilyled。"

TheMinisteransweredbynoddinghishead。

"Suchweaknessasthat，"Ipersisted，"isaviceinitself。Ithasledalready，sir，tothesaddestresults。"

Headmittedthisbyanothernod。

"Idon’twishtoshockyou，Mr。Gracedieu；butImustrecommendemployingthemeansthatpresentthemselves。Youmustpracticeonthisman’sweakness，forthesakeofthegoodthatmaycomeofit。IhearheisinLondonwithhisfather。Trythestronginfluence，andwritetohisfather。Thereisanotherreasonbesidesfordoingthis。ItisquitepossiblethatthetruthhasbeenconcealedfromMr。Dunboynetheelder。Takecarethatheisinformedofwhathasreallyhappened。Areyoulookingforpen，ink，andpaper？LetmeofferyouthewritingmaterialswhichI

useintraveling。"

Iplacedthembeforehim。Hetookupthepen；hearrangedthepaper；hewaseagertobegin。

Afterwritingafewwords，hestopped——reflected——triedagain——stoppedagain——toreupthelittlethathehaddone——andbegananewletter，endinginthesamemiserableresult。Itwasimpossibletowitnesshishelplessness，toseehowpitiablypatienthewasoverhisownincapacity，andtoletthemelancholyspectaclegoon。Iproposedtowritetheletter；authenticatingit，ofcourse，byhissignature。Whenheallowedmetotakethepen，heturnedawayhisface，ashamedtoletmeseewhathesuffered。Wasthisthesameman，whosegreatnaturehadsonoblyasserteditselfinthecondemnedcell？Poormortality！

Theletterwaseasilywritten。

IhadonlytoinformMr。Dunboyneofhisson’sconduct；

repeating，intheplainestlanguagethatIcoulduse，whatMissJillgallhadrelatedtome。Arrivedattheconclusion，I

contrivedtomakeMr。Gracedieuexpresshimselfinthesestrongterms："Iprotestagainstthemarriageinjusticetoyou，sir，aswellastomyself。Wecanneitherofuscontenttobeaccomplicesinanactofdomestictreasonofthebasestkind。"

Insilence，theMinisterreadtheletter，andattachedhissignaturetoit。Insilence，heroseandtookmyarm。Iaskedifhewishedtogotohisroom。Heonlyrepliedbyasign。Iofferedtositwithhim，andtrytocheerhim。Gratefully，hepressedmyhand：gently，heputmebackfromthedoor。Crushedbythemiserablediscoveryofthedecayofhisownfaculties！WhatcouldIdo？whatcouldIsay？Nothing！

MissJillgallwasinthedrawing—room。Withthenecessaryexplanations，Ishowedhertheletter。Shereaditwithbreathlessinterest。"ItterrifiesonetothinkhowmuchdependsonoldMr。Dunboyne，"shesaid。"Youknowhim。Whatsortofmanishe？"