第15章

Icouldonlyassureher（afterwhatIrememberedofhislettertome）thathewasamanwhomwecoulddependupon。

MissJillgallpossessedtreasuresofinformationtowhichIcouldlaynoclaim。Mr。Dunboyne，shetoldme，wasascholar，andawriter，andarichman。Hisviewsonmarriagewereliberalintheextreme。Lethissonfindgoodprinciples，goodtemper，andgoodlooks，inawife，andhewouldpromisetofindthemoney。

"Igettheseparticulars，"saidMissJillgall，"fromdearEuneece。Theyaresurelyencouraging？ThatHelenamaycarryoutMr。Dunboyne’sviewsinherpersonalappearanceis，Iregrettosay，whatIcan’tdeny。Butastotheotherqualifications，howhopefulistheprospect！Goodprinciples，andgoodtemper？Ha！

ha！HelenahastheprinciplesofJezebel，andthetemperofLadyMacbeth。"

Afterdashingoffthisstrikingsketchofcharacter，thefairartistaskedtolookatmyletteragain，andobservedthattheaddresswaswanting。"Icansetthisrightforyou，"sheresumed，"thanks，asbefore，tomysweetEuneece。And（don’tbeinahurry）Icanmakemyselfusefulinanotherway。Oh，howIdoenjoymakingmyselfuseful！Ifyoutrustyourlettertothebasketinthehall，Helena’slovelyeyes——capableofthemeanestconceivableactions——aresuretotakeapeepattheaddress。Inthatcase，doyouthinkyourletterwouldgettoLondon？Iamafraidyoudetectafaintinfusionofspitefulnessinthatquestion。Oh，forshame！I’llpostthelettermyself。"

CHAPTERXXXVII。

THESHAMELESSSISTER。

FORsomereason，whichmyunassistedpenetrationwasunabletodiscover，MissHelenaGracedieukeptoutofmyway。

Atdinner，onthedayofmyarrival，andatbreakfastonthenextmorning，shewaspresentofcourse；readytomakeherselfagreeableinamodestway，andprovidedwiththenecessarysupplyofcheerfulsmall—talk。Butthemealhavingcometoanend，shehadherdomesticexcuseready，andunostentatiouslydisappearedlikeawell—bredyounglady。Inevermetheronthestairs，neverfoundmyselfintrudingonherinthedrawing—room，nevercaughthergettingoutofmywayinthegarden。AsmuchatalossforanexplanationofthesemysteriesasIwas，MissJillgall’sinterestinmywelfareledhertocautionmeinavagueandgeneralway。

"Takemywordforit，dearMr。Governor，shehassomedesignonyou。Willyouallowaninsignificantoldmaidtoofferasuggestion？Oh，thankyou；Iwillventuretoadvise。Pleaselookbackatyourexperienceoftheveryworstfemaleprisoneryoueverhadtodealwith——andbeguidedaccordinglyifHelenacatchesyouataprivateinterview。"

Inlessthanhalfanhourafterward，Helenacaughtme。Iwaswritinginmyroom，whenthemaidservantcameinwithamessage：

"MissHelena’scompliments，sir，andwouldyoupleasespareherhalfanhour，downstairs？"

MyfirstexcusewasofcoursethatIwasengaged。Thiswasdisposedofbyasecondmessage，providedbeforehand，nodoubt，forananticipatedrefusal："MissHelenawishedmetosay，sir，thathertimeisyourtime。"Iwasstillobstinate；Ipleadednextthatmydaywasfilledup。Athirdmessagehadevidentlybeenprepared，evenforthisemergency："MissHelenawillregret，sir，havingthepleasuredeferred，butshewillleaveyoutomakeyourownappointmentforto—morrow。"PersistencysoinveterateasthisledtoaresultwhichMr。Gracedieu’scautiousdaughterhadnotperhapscontemplated：itputmeonmyguard。Thereseemedtobeachance，tosaytheleastofit，thatImightserveEunice’sinterestsifIdiscoveredwhattheenemyhadtosay。Ilockedupmywriting——declaredmyselfincapableofputtingMissHelenatoneedlessinconvenience——andfollowedthemaidtothelowerfloorofthehouse。

TheroomtowhichIwasconductedprovedtobeempty。Ilookedroundme。

IfIhadbeentoldthatamanlivedtherewhowasabsolutelyindifferenttoappearances，Ishouldhaveconcludedthathisviewswerefaithfullyrepresentedbyhisplaceofabode。Thechairsandtablesremindedmeofarailwaywaiting—room。Theshabbylittlebookcasewasthemuterecordofalifeindifferenttoliterature。Thecarpetwasofthatdreadfuldrabcolor，stillthecherishedfavoriteoftheaverageEnglishmind，inspiteofeveryprotestthatcanbeenteredagainstit，onbehalfofArt。

Theceiling，recentlywhitewashed；mademyeyesachewhentheylookedatit。Oneithersideofthewindow，flaccidgreencurtainshunghelplesslywithnothingtoloopthemup。Thewriting—deskandthepaper—case，viewedasspecimensofwoodwork，recalledtheready—madebedroomsonshowincheapshops。Thebooks，mostlyinslate—coloredbindings，weredevotedtotheliteraturewhichiscalledreligious；Ionlydiscoveredthreeworldlypublicationsamongthem——DomesticCookery，EtiquetteforLadies，andHintsontheBreedingofPoultry。Anuglylittleclock，tickingnoisilyinablackcase，andtwocandlesticksofbasemetalplacedoneithersideofit，completedtheornamentsonthechimney—piece。Neitherpicturesnorprintshidthebarrennessofthewalls。Isawnoneedleworkandnoflowers。Theoneobjectintheplacewhichshowedanypretensionstobeautywasalooking—glassinanelegantgiltframe——sacredtovanity，andworthyoftheofficethatitfilled。SuchwasHelenaGracedieu’ssitting—room。Ireallycouldnothelpthinking：Howlikeher！

Shecameinwithafaceperfectlyadaptedtothecircumstances——pleasedandsmiling；amiablydeferential，inconsiderationoftheclaimsofherfather’sguest——and，tomysurprise，insomedegreesuggestiveofoneofthoseincorrigiblefemaleprisoners，towhomMissJillgallhadreferredmewhensheofferedawordofadvice。

"Howkindofyoutocomesosoon！Excusemyreceivingyouinmyhousekeeping—room；weshallnotbeinterruptedhere。Veryplainlyfurnished，isitnot？Idislikeostentationanddisplay。

Ornamentsareoutofplaceinaroomdevotedtodomesticnecessities。Ihatedomesticnecessities。Younoticethelooking—glass？It’sapresent。Ishouldneverhaveputsuchathingup。Perhapsmyvanityexcusesit。"

Shepointedthelastremarkbyalookatherselfintheglass；

usingit，whileshedespisedit。Yes：therewasahandsomeface，payingheritsreflectedcompliment——butnotsowellmatchedasitmighthavebeenbyahandsomefigure。Herfeetweretoolarge；

hershouldersweretoohigh；thegracefulundulationsofawell—madegirlwereabsentwhenshewalked；andherbosomwas，tomymind，undulydevelopedforhertimeoflife。

Shesatdownbymewithherbacktothelight。Happeningtobeoppositetothewindow，Iofferedhertheadvantageofaclearviewofmyface。Shewaitedforme，andIwaitedforher——andtherewasanawkwardpausebeforewespoke。Shesettheexample。

"Isn’titcurious？"sheremarked。"Whentwopeoplehavesomethingparticulartosaytoeachother，andnothingtohinderthem，theyneverseemtoknowhowtosayit。Youaretheoldest，sir。Whydon’tyoubegin？"

"BecauseIhavenothingparticulartosay。"

"Inplainwords，youmeanthatImustbegin？"

"Ifyouplease。"

"Verywell。IwanttoknowwhetherIhavegivenyou（andMissJillgall，ofcourse）asmuchtimeasyouwant，andasmanyopportunitiesasyoucoulddesire？"

"Praygoon，MissHelena。"

"HaveInotsaidenoughalready？"

"Notenough，Iregrettosay，toconveyyourmeaningtome。"

Shedrewherchairalittlefurtherawayfromme。"Iamsadlydisappointed，"shesaid。"Ihadsuchahighopinionofyourperfectcandor。Ithoughttomyself：Thereissuchastrikingexpressionoffranknessinhisface。Anotherillusiongone！I

hopeyouwon’tthinkIamoffended，ifIsayaboldword。Iamonlyayounggirl，tobesure；butIamnotquitesuchafoolasyoutakemefor。DoyoureallythinkIdon’tknowthatMissJillgallhasbeentellingyoueverythingthatisbadaboutme；

puttingeverymistakethatIhavemade，everyfaultthatIhavecommitted，intheworstpossiblepointofview？Andyouhavelistenedtoher——quitenaturally！Andyouareprejudiced，stronglyprejudiced，againstme——whatelsecouldyoube，underthecircumstances？Idon’tcomplain；Ihavepurposelykeptoutofyourway，andoutofMissJillgall’sway；inshort，Ihaveaffordedyoueveryfacility，astheprospectusessay。Ionlywanttoknowifmyturnhascomeatlast。Oncemore，haveIgivenyoutimeenough，andopportunitiesenough？"

"Agreatdealmorethanenough。"

"Doyoumeanthatyouhavemadeupyourmindaboutmewithoutstoppingtothink？"

"ThatisexactlywhatImean。Anactoftreachery，MissHelena，_is_anactoftreachery；nohonestpersonneedhesitatetocondemnit。Iamsorryyousentforme。"

Igotuptogo。Withanironicalgestureofremonstrance，shesignedtometositdownagain。

"MustIremindyou，dearsir，ofourfamousnativevirtue？Fairplayissurelyduetoayoungpersonwhohasnobodytotakeherpart。Youtalkedoftreacheryjusthow。Idenythetreachery。

Pleasegivemeahearing。"

Ireturnedtomychair。

"Orwouldyoupreferwaiting，"shewentout，"tillmysistercomesherelaterintheday，andcontinueswhatMissJillgallhasbegun，withthegreatadvantageofbeingyoungandnice—looking？"

Whenthefemalemindgetsintothisstate，nowisemananswersthefemalequestions。

"AmItotakesilenceasmeaningGoon？"MissHelenainquired。

Ibeggedhertointerpretmysilenceinthesensemostagreeabletoherself。

Thisnaturallyencouragedher。Shemadeaproposal：

"Doyoumindchangingplaces，sir？"

"Justasyoulike，MissHelena。"

Wechangedchairs；thelightnowfellfullonherface。HadshedeliberatelychallengedmetolookintohersecretmindifI

could？Anythinglikethestarkinsensibilityofthatyounggirltoeveryrefinementoffeeling，toeverybecomingdoubtofherself，toeverycustomarytimidityofherageandsexinthepresenceofamanwhohadnotdisguisedhisunfavorableopinionofher，Inevermetwithinallmyexperienceoftheworldandofwomen。

"Iwishtobequitemistressofmyself，"sheexplained；"yourface，forsomereasonwhichIreallydon’tknow，irritatesme。

Thefactis，Ihavegreatprideinkeepingmytemper。Pleasemakeallowances。NowaboutMissJillgall。IsupposeshetoldyouhowmysisterfirstmetwithPhilipDunboyne？"

"Yes。"

"Shealsomentioned，perhaps，thathewasahighly—cultivatedman？"

"Shedid。"

"Nowweshallgeton。WhenPhilipcametoourtownhere，andsawmeforthefirsttime——Doyouobjecttomyspeakingfamiliarlyofhim，byhisChristianname？"

"Inthecaseofanyoneelseinyourposition，MissHelena，I

shouldventuretocallitbadtaste。"

Iwasprovokedintosayingthat。Itfailedentirelyasawell—meanteffortinthewayofimpliedreproof。MissHelenasmiled。

"Yougrantmealibertywhichyouwouldnotconcedetoanothergirl。"Thatwashowsheviewedit。"Wearegettingonbetteralready。ToreturntowhatIwassaying。WhenPhilipfirstsawme——Ihaveitfromhimself，mind——hefeltthatIshouldhavebeenhischoice，ifhehadmetwithmebeforehemetwithmysister。

Doyoublamehim？"

"Ifyouwilltakemyadvice，"Isaid，"youwillnotinquiretoocloselyintomyopinionofMr。PhilipDunboyne。"

"Perhapsyoudon’twishmetosayanymore？"shesuggested。

"Onthecontrary，praygoon，ifyoulike。"

Afterthatconcession，shewasamiabilityitself。"Oh，yes，"sheassuredme，"that’seasilydone。"Andshewentonaccordingly：

"Philiphavinginformedmeofthestateofhisaffections，I

naturallyfollowedhisexample。Infact，weexchangedconfessions。Ourmarriageengagementfollowedasamatterofcourse。Doyoublameme？"

"Iwillwaittillyouhavedone。"

"Ihavenomoretosay。"

Shemadethatamazingreplywithsuchperfectcomposure，thatI

begantofeartheremusthavebeensomemisunderstandingbetweenus。"Isthatreallyallyouhavetosayforyourself？"I

persisted。

Herpatiencewithmewasmostexemplary。Sheloweredherselftomylevel。Nottrustingtowordsonlyonthisoccasion，she（sotosay）beathermeaningintomyheadbygesticulatingonherfingers，asifshewaseducatingachild。

"PhilipandI，"shebegan，"arethevictimsofanaccident，whichkeptusapartwhenweoughttohavemettogether——wearenotresponsibleforanaccident。"Sheimpressedthisonmebytouchingherforefinger。"PhilipandIfellinlovewitheachotheratfirstsight——wearenotresponsibleforthefeelingsimplantedinournaturesbyanall—wiseProvidence。"Sheassistedmeinunderstandingthisbytouchinghermiddlefinger。"PhilipandIoweadutytoeachother，andacceptaresponsibilityunderthosecircumstances——theresponsibilityofgettingmarried。"A

touchonherthirdfinger，andanindulgentbow，announcedthatthelessonwasended。"Iamnotaclevermanlikeyou，"shemodestlyacknowledged，"butIaskyoutohelpus，whenyounextseemyfather，withsomeconfidence。Youknowexactlywhattosaytohim，bythistime。Nothinghasbeenforgotten。"

"Pardonme，"Isaid，"apersonhasbeenforgotten。"

"Indeed？Whatperson？"

"Yoursister。"

Alittleperplexedatfirst，MissHelenareflected，andrecoveredherself。

"Ah，yes，"shesaid；"IwasafraidImightbeobligedtotroubleyouforanexplanation——Iseeitnow。Youareshocked（veryproperly）whenfeelingsofenmityexistbetweennearrelations；

andyouwishtobeassuredthatIbearnomalicetowardEunice。

Sheisviolent，sheissulky，sheisstupid，sheisselfish；andshecruellyrefusestoliveinthesamehousewithme。Makeyourmindeasy，sir，Iforgivemysister。"

Letmenotattempttodisguiseit——MissHelenaGracedieuconfoundedme。

Ordinaryaudacityisoneofthoseformsofinsolencewhichmatureexperiencedismisseswithcontempt。Thisgirl’saudacitystruckdownallresistance，foroneshockingreason：itwasunquestionablysincere。Strongconvictionofherownvirtuestaredatmeinherproudanddaringeyes。Atthattime，IwasnotawareofwhatIhavelearnedsince。Thehorridhardeningofhermoralsensehadbeenaccomplishedbyherself。Inherdiary，therehasbeenfoundtheconfessionofasecretcourseofreading——withsupplementaryreflectionsflowingfromit，whichneedonlytobedescribedasworthyoftheirsource。

Apersoncapableofrepentanceandreformwould，inherplace，haveseenthatshehaddisgustedme。NotasuspicionofthisoccurredtoMissHelena。"Iseeyouareembarrassed，"sheremarked，"andIamatnolosstoaccountforit。YouaretoopolitetoacknowledgethatIhavenotmadeafriendofyouyet。

Oh，Imeantodoit！"

"No，"Isaid，"Ithinknot。"

"Weshallsee，"shereplied。"Soonerorlater，youwillfindyourselfsayingakindwordtomyfatherforPhilipandme。"Sherose，andtookaturnintheroom——andstopped，eyingmeattentively。"AreyouthinkingofEunice？"sheasked。

"Yes。"

"Shehasyoursympathy，Isuppose？"

"Myheart—feltsympathy。"

"Ineedn’taskhowIstandinyourestimation，afterthat。Prayexpressyourselffreely。Yourlooksconfessit——youviewmewithafeelingofaversion。"

"Iviewyouwithafeelingofhorror。"

Theexasperatinginfluencesofherlanguage，herlooks，andhertoneswould，asIventuretothink，havegottotheendofanotherman’sself—controlbeforethis。Anyway，shehadatlastirritatedmeintospeakingasstronglyasIfelt。WhatIsaidhadbeensoplainly（perhapssorudely）expressed，thatmisinterpretationofitseemedtobeimpossible。Shemistookme，nevertheless。Themostmercilessdisclosureofthedrearysideofhumandestinyissurelytobefoundinthefailureofwords，spokenorwritten，sotoanswertheirpurposethatwecantrustthem，inourattemptstocommunicatewitheachother。Evenwhenheseemstobeconnected，bythenearestanddearestrelations，withhisfellow—mortals，whatasolitarycreature，triedbythetestofsympathy，thehumanbeingreallyisintheteemingworldthatheinhabits！Affordingonemoreexampleoftheimpotenceofhumanlanguagetospeakforitself，mymisinterpretedwordshadfoundtheirwaytotheonesensitiveplaceinHelenaGracedieu’simpenetrablenature。Shebetrayeditinthequiveringandflushingofherhardface，andintheappealtothelooking—glasswhichescapedhereyesthenextmoment。Myhastyreplyhadrousedtheideaofacovertinsultaddressedtoherhandsomeface。Inotherwords，Ihadwoundedhervanity。Drivenbyresentment，outcamethesecretdistrustofmewhichhadbeenlurkinginthatcoldheart，fromthemomentwhenwefirstmet。

"Iinspireyouwithhorror，andEuniceinspiresyouwithcompassion，"shesaid。"That，Mr。Governor，isnotnatural。"

"MayIaskwhy？"

"Youknowwhy。"

"No。"

"Youwillhaveit？"

"Iwantanexplanation，MissHelena，ifthatiswhatyoumean。"

"Takeyourexplanation，then！Youarenotthestrangeryouaresaidtobetomysisterandtome。YourinterestinEuniceisapersonalinterestofsomekind。Idon’tpretendtoguesswhatitis。Asformyself，itisplainthatsomebodyelsehasbeensettingyouagainstme，beforeMissJillgallgotpossessionofyourprivateear。"

InalludingtoEunice，shehadblundered，strangelyenough，onsomethinglikethetruth。Butwhenshespokeofherself，theheadlongmalignityofhersuspicions——makingeveryallowancefortheangerthathadhurriedherintothem——seemedtocallforsomelittleprotestagainstafalseassertion。Itoldherthatshewascompletelymistaken。

"Iamcompletelyright，"sheanswered；"Isawit。"

"Sawwhat？"

"Sawyoupretendingtobeastrangertome。"

"WhendidIdothat？"

"Youdiditwhenwemetatthestation。"

Thereplywastooridiculousforthepreservationofanycontrolovermyownsenseofhumor。Itwaswrong；butitwasinevitable——Ilaughed。Shelookedatmewithafury，revealingaconcentrationofevilpassioninherwhichIhadnotseenyet。I

askedherpardon；Ibeggedhertothinkalittlebeforeshepersistedintakingaviewofmyconductunworthyofher，andunjusttomyself。

"UnjusttoYou！"sheburstout。"Whoareyou？Amanwhohasdrivenyourtradehasspiesalwaysathiscommand——yes！andknowshowtousethem。Youwereprimedwithprivateinformation——youhad，forallIknow，astolenphotographofmeinyourpocket——beforeeveryoucametoourtown。Doyoustilldenyit？

Oh，sir，whydegradeyourselfbytellingalie？"

Nosuchoutrageasthishadeverbeeninflictedonme，atanytimeinmylife。Myforbearancemust，Isuppose，havebeenmoreseverelytriedthanIwasawareofmyself。Withorwithoutexcuseforme，Iwasweakenoughtoletagirl’sspitefultonguestingme，and，worsestill，toletherseethatIfeltit。

"Youshallhavenosecondopportunity，MissGracedieu，ofinsultingme。"Withthatfoolishreply，Iopenedthedoorviolentlyandwentout。

Sheranafterme，triumphinginhavingrousedthetemperofamanoldenoughtohavebeenhergrandfather，andcaughtmebythearm。"Yourownconducthasexposedyou。"（Thatwasliterallyhowsheexpressedherself。）"Isawitinyoureyeswhenwemetatthestation。You，thestranger——youwhoallowedpoorignorantmetointroducemyself——youknewmeallthetime，knewmebysight！"

Ishookherhandoffwithaninconsiderableroughness，humiliatingtoremember。"It’sfalse！"Icried。"Iknewyoubyyourlikenesstoyourmother。"

Themomentthewordshadpassedmylips，Icametomysensesagain；Irememberedwhatfatalwordstheymightprovetobe，iftheyreachedtheMinister’sears。

Heardonlybyhisdaughter，myreplyseemedtocooltheheatofherangerinaninstant。

"Soyouknewmymother？"shesaid。"Myfathernevertoldusthat，whenhespokeofyourbeingsuchaveryoldfriendofhis。

Strange，tosaytheleastofit。"

Iwaswiseenough——nowwhenwisdomhadcometoolate——nottoattempttoexplainmyself，andnottogiveheranopportunityofsayingmore。"Weareneitherofusinastateofmind，"I

answered，"toallowthisinterviewtocontinue。Imusttrytorecovermycomposure；andIleaveyoutodothesame。"

Inthesolitudeofmyroom，Iwasabletolookmypositionfairlyintheface。

Mr。Gracedieu’swifehadcometome，inthelong—pasttime，withoutherhusband’sknowledge。Temptedtoacruelresolvebythematernaltriumphofhavinganinfantofherown，shehadresolvedtoridherselfofthepoorlittlerivalinherhusband’sfatherlyaffection，byconsigningtheadoptedchildtothekeepingofacharitableasylum。Shehaddaredtoaskmetohelpher。Ihadkeptthesecretofhershamefulvisit——Icanhonestlysay，fortheMinister’ssake。Andnow，longaftertimehaddoomedthoseeventstooblivion，theywererevived——andrevivedbyme。

Thankstomyfolly，Mr。Gracedieu’sdaughterknewwhatIhadconcealedfromMr。Gracedieuhimself。

Whatcoursedidrespectformyfriend，andrespectformyself，counselmetotake？

Icouldonlyseebeforemeachoiceoftwoevils。Towaitforevents——withthetoocertainprospectofavindictivebetrayalofmyindiscretionbyHelenaGracedieu。Ortotaketheinitiativeintomyownhands，andriskconsequenceswhichImightregrettotheendofmylife，bymakingmyconfessiontotheMinister。

BeforeIhaddecided，somebodyknockedatthedoor。Itwasthemaid—servantagain。WasitpossibleshehadbeensentbyHelena？

"Anothermessage？"

"Yes，sir。Mymasterwishestoseeyou。"

CHAPTERXXXVIII。

THEGIRLS’AGES。

HADtheMinister’sdesiretoseemebeeninspiredbyhisdaughter’sbetrayalofwhatIhadunfortunatelysaidtoher？

Althoughhewouldcertainlynotconsenttoreceiveherpersonally，shewouldbeatlibertytoadoptawrittenmethodofcommunicationwithhim，andthelettermightbeaddressedinsuchamannerastopiquehiscuriosity。IfHelena’svindictivepurposehadbeenalreadyaccomplished——andifMr。Gracedieuleftmenoalternativebuttopresenthisunworthywifeinhertruecharacter——IcanhonestlysaythatIdreadedtheconsequences，notastheymightaffectmyself，butastheymightaffectmyunhappyfriendinhisenfeebledstateofbodyandmind。

WhenIenteredhisroom，hewasstillinbed。

Thebed—curtainsweresodrawn，onthesidenearesttothewindow，astokeepthelightfromfallingtoobrightlyonhisweakeyes。Intheshadowthusthrownonhim，itwasnotpossibletoseehisfaceplainlyenough，fromtheopensideofthebed，toarriveatanydefiniteconclusionastowhatmightbepassinginhismind。Afterhavingbeenawakeforsomehoursduringtheearlierpartofthenight，hehadenjoyedalongandundisturbedsleep。"Ifeelstrongerthismorning，"hesaid，"andIwishtospeaktoyouwhilemymindisclear。"

Ifthequiettoneofhisvoicewasnotanassumedtone，hewassurelyignorantofallthathadpassedbetweenhisdaughterandmyself。

"Eunicewillbeheresoon，"heproceeded，"andIoughttoexplainwhyIhavesentforhertocomeandmeetyou。Ihavereasons，seriousreasons，mind，forwishingyoutocompareherpersonalappearancewithHelena’spersonalappearance，andthentotellmewhichofthetwo，onafaircomparison，lookstheeldest。PraybearinmindthatIattachthegreatestimportancetotheconclusionatwhichyoumayarrive。"

HespokemoreclearlyandcollectedlythanIhadheardhimspeakyet。

HereandthereIdetectedhesitationsandrepetitions，whichI

havepurposelypassedover。ThesubstanceofwhathesaidtomeisallthatIshallpresentinthisplace。CarefulasIhavebeentokeepmyrecordofeventswithinstrictlimits，IhavewrittenatalengthwhichIwasfarindeedfromcontemplatingwhenI

acceptedMr。Gracedieu’sinvitation。

Havingpromisedtocomplywiththestrangerequestwhichhehadaddressedtome，Iventuredtoremindhimofpastoccasionsonwhichhehadpointedlyabstained，whenthesubjectpresenteditself，fromspeakingofthegirls’ages。"Youhaveleftittomydiscretion，"Iadded，"todecideaquestioninwhichyouareseriouslyinterested，relatingtoyourdaughters。HaveInoexcuseforregrettingthatIhavenotbeenadmittedtoyourconfidencealittlemorefreely？"

"Youhaveeveryexcuse，"heanswered。"Butyoutroublemeallthesame。TherewassomethingelsethatIhadtosaytoyou——andyourcuriositygetsintheway。"

Hesaidthiswithasullenemphasis。Inmyposition，theworstofevilswassuspense。Itoldhimthatmycuriositycouldwait；andIbeggedthathewouldrelievehismindofwhatwaspressingonitatthemoment。

"Letmethinkalittle，"hesaid。