第20章

Artfulasshewas，Mrs。Tenbruggenfailedtoconcealamomentaryexpressionofreliefwhichbetrayeditself，partlyinhermanner，partlyinherface。Shehadascertained，toherowncompletesatisfaction，thatmyspeedydeparturewasaneventwhichmightbereliedon。

"ButIhavenotyetansweredyou，"sheresumed。"Totellthetruth，Iameagertotrymyhandsonyou。Massage，asIpracticeit，wouldlightenyourweight，andrestoreyourfigure；Imayevensaywouldlengthenyourlife。Youwillthinkofme，oneofthesedays，won’tyou？Inthemeanwhile——yes！Iamhereinmyprofessionalcapacity。Severalinterestingcases；andoneveryremarkableperson，broughttodeath’sdoorbythedoctors；arichmanwhoisliberalinpayinghisfees。ThereismyquarrelwithLondonandLondoners。Someoftheirpapers，medicalnewspapers，ofcourse，declarethatmyfeesareexorbitant；andthereisatendencyamongthepatients——Imeanthepatientswhoarerollinginriches——tofollowtheleadofthenewspapers。Iamnowormtobetroddenon，inthatway。TheLondonpeopleshallwaitforme，untiltheymissme——and，whenIdogoback，theywillfindthefeesincreased。_My_fingersandthumbs，Mr。Governor，arenottobeinsultedwithimpunity。"

MissJillgallnoddedherheadatme。Itwasaneloquentnod。

"Admiremyspiritedfriend，"wastheinterpretationIputonit。

Atthesametime，myprivatesentimentssuggestedthatMrs。

Tenbruggen’sreplywastooperfectlysatisfactory，viewedasanexplanation。Mysuspicionswerebynomeanssetatrest；andI

wasresolvednottoletthesubjectdropyet。"SpeakingofMr。

Gracedieu，andofthechancesofhispartialrecovery，"Isaid，"doyouthinktheMinisterwouldbenefitbyMassage？"

"Ihaven’tadoubtofit，ifyoucangetridofthedoctor。"

"Youthinkhewouldbeanobstacleintheway？"

"Therearesomemedicalmenwhoarehonorableexceptionstothegeneralrule；andhemaybeoneofthem，"Mrs。Tenbruggenadmitted。"Don’tbetoohopeful。Asadoctor，hebelongstothemosttyrannicaltrades—unioninexistence。MayImakeapersonalremark？"

"Certainly。"

"Ifindsomethinginyourmanner——praydon’tsupposethatIamangry——whichlookslikedistrust；Imean，distrustofMe。"

MissJillgall’severreadykindnessinterferedinmydefense：

"Oh，no，Elizabeth！Youarenotoftenmistaken；butindeedyouarewrongnow。Lookatmydistinguishedfriend。Iremembermycopybook，whenIwasasmallcreaturelearningtowrite，inEngland。Therewerefirstlinesthatwecopied，inbigletters，andoneofthemsaid，’DistrustIsMean。’Iknowayoungperson，whosenamebeginswithH，whoisonemassofmeanness。

But"——excellentSelinapaused，andpointedtomewithagestureoftriumph——"nomeannessthere！"

Mrs。TenbruggenwaitedtohearwhatIhadtosay，scornfullyinsensibletoMissJillgall’swell—meantinterruption。

"Youarenotaltogethermistaken，"Itoldher。"Ican’tsaythatmymindisinastateofdistrust，butIownthatyoupuzzleme。"

"How，ifyouplease？"

"MayIpresumethatyouremembertheoccasionwhenwemetatMr。

Gracedieu’shouse—door？YousawthatIfailedtorecognizeyou，andyourefusedtogiveyournamewhentheservantaskedforit。

Afewdaysafterward，Iheardyou（quiteaccidentally）forbidMissJillgalltomentionyournameinmyhearing。Iamatalosstounderstandit。"

Beforeshecouldanswerme，thechaisedrewupatthegateofthefarmhouse。Mrs。Tenbruggencarefullypromisedtoexplainwhathadpuzzledme，atthefirstopportunity。"Ifitescapesmymemory，"

shesaid，"prayremindmeofit。"

Ideterminedtoremindherofit。WhetherIcoulddependonhertotellmethetruth，mightbequiteanotherthing。

CHAPTERXLVIII

THEDECISIONOFEUNICE。

EUNICEranouttomeetus，andopenedthegate。ShewasinstantlyfoldedinMissJillgall’sarms。Onherrelease，shecametome，eagerfornewsofherfather’shealth。WhenIhadcommunicatedallthatIthoughtitrighttotellherofthedoctor’slastreport，shenoticedMrs。Tenbruggen。Theappearanceofastrangerseemedtoembarrassher。IleftMissJillgalltointroducethemtoeachother。

"DarlingEuneece，yourememberMrs。Tenbruggen’sname，Iamsure？

Elizabeth，thisismysweetgirl；Imentionedherinmyletterstoyou。"

"Ihopeshewillbe_my_sweetgirl，whenweknoweachotheralittlebetter。MayIkissyou，dear？Youhavelovelyeyes；butI

amsorrytoseethattheydon’tlooklikehappyeyes。YouwantMammaTenbruggentocheeryou。Whatacharmingoldhouse！"

SheputherarmroundEunice’swaistandledhertothehousedoor。Herenjoymentofthecreepersthattwinedtheirwayupthepillarsoftheporchwassimplyperfectionasapieceofacting。

Whenthefarmer’swifepresentedherself，Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoirresistiblyamiable，andtooksuchflatteringnoticeofthechildren，thattheharmlessBritishmatronactuallyblushedwithpleasure。"I’msure，ma’am，youmusthavechildrenofyourown，"

shesaid。Mrs。Tenbruggencasthereyesonthefloor，andsighedwithpatheticresignation。Asweetlittlefamily，andallcruellysweptawaybydeath。Iftheperformancemeantanything，itdidmostassuredlymeanthat。

"Whatwonderfulself—possession！"somebodywhisperedinmyear。

Thechildrenintheroomwerehealthy，well—behavedlittlecreatures——butthenameoftheinnocentoneamongthemwasSelina。

Beforedinnerwewereshownoverthefarm。

Thegoodwomanofthehouseledtheway，andMissJillgallandI

accompaniedher。Thechildrenranoninfrontofus。StillkeepingpossessionofEunice，Mrs。Tenbruggenfollowedatsomedistancebehind。Ilookedback，afternoverylonginterval，andsawthataseparationhadtakenplace。Mrs。Tenbruggenpassedme，notlookingsopleasantlyasusual，joinedthechildren，andwalkedwithtwoofthem，handinhand，apatternofmaternalamiability。Idroppedbackalittle，andgaveEuniceanopportunityofjoiningme；havingpurposelylefthertoformherownopinion，withoutanyadverseinfluenceexercisedonmypart。

"Isthatladyafriendofyours？"sheasked。"No；onlyanacquaintance。Whatdoyouthinkofher？"

"IthoughtIshouldlikeheratfirst；shewassokind，andseemedtotakesuchaninterestinme。Butshesaidsuchstrangethings——askedifIwasreckonedlikemymother，andwhichofuswastheeldest，mysisterormyself，andwhetherweweremyfather’sonlytwochildren，andifoneofuswasmorehisfavoritethantheother。WhatIcouldtellher，Ididtell。ButwhenIsaidIdidn’tknowwhichofuswastheoldest，shegavemeanimpudenttaponthecheek，andsaid，’Idon’tbelieveyou，child，’andleftme。HowcanSelinabesofondofher？Don’tmentionittoanyoneelse；IhopeIshallneverseeheragain。"

"Iwillkeepyoursecret，Eunice；andyoumustkeepmine。I

entirelyagreewithyou。"

"Youagreewithmeindislikingher？"

"Heartily。"

Wecouldsaynomoreatthattime。Ourfriendsinadvancewerewaitingforus。Wejoinedthematonce。

IfIhadfeltanydoubtofthepurposewhichhadreallyinducedMrs。TenbruggentoleaveLondon，allfurtheruncertaintyonmypartwasatanend。ShehadsomevileinterestofherowntoservebyidentifyingMr。Gracedieu’sadoptedchild——butwhatthenatureofthatinterestmightbe，itwasimpossibletoguess。Thefuture，whenIthoughtofitnow，filledmewithdismay。Amoreutterlyhelplesspositionthanmineitwasnoteasytoconceive。

TowarntheMinister，inhispresentcriticalstateofhealth，wassimplyimpossible。MyrelationswithHelenaforbademeeventoapproachher。And，asforSelina，shewaslittlelessthanameretoolinthehandsofherwell—belovedfriend。What，inGod’sname，wasItodo？

Atdinner—timewefoundthemasterofthehousewaitingtobiduswelcome。

Personallyspeaking，hepresentedaremarkablecontrasttothetypicalBritishfarmer。Hewasneitherbignorburly；hespokeEnglishaswellasIdid；andtherewasnothinginhisdresswhichwouldhavemadehimafitsubjectforapictureofrusticlife。Whenhespoke，hewasabletotalkonsubjectsunconnectedwithagriculturalpursuits；nordidIhearhimgrumbleabouttheweatherandthecrops。Itwaspleasanttoseethathiswifewasproudofhim，andthathewas，whatallfathersoughttobe，hischildren’sbestanddearestfriend。WhydoIdwellonthesedetails，relatingtoamanwhomIwasnotdestinedtoseeagain？

OnlybecauseIhadreasontofeelgratefultohim。Whenmyspiritsweredepressedbyanxiety，hemademymindeasyaboutEunice，aslongassheremainedinhishouse。

Thesocialarrangements，whenourmealwasover，fellofthemselvesintotherighttrain。

MissJillgallwentupstairs，withthemotherandthechildren，toseethenurseryandthebedrooms。Mrs。Tenbruggendiscoveredabondofunionbetweenthefarmerandherself；theywerebothskilledplayersatbackgammon，andtheysatdowntotryconclusionsattheirfavoritegame。Withoutanywearisomenecessityforexcusesorstratagems，Eunicetookmyarmandledmetothewelcomeretirementofherownsitting—room。

Icouldhonestlycongratulateher，whenIheardthatshewasestablishedatthefarmasamemberofthefamily。Whileshewasgovernesstothechildren，shewassafefromdangersthatmighthavethreatenedher，ifshehadbeencompelledbycircumstancestoreturntotheMinister’shouse。

TheentryinherJournal，whichshewasanxiousthatIshouldread，wasplacedbeforemenext。

Ifollowedthepoorchild’saccountofthefearfulnightthatshehadpassed，withaninterestthatheldmebreathlesstotheend。

Aterribledream，whichhadimpressedasenseofitsrealityonthesleeperbyreachingitsclimaxinsomnambulism——thiswastheobviousexplanation，nodoubt；andarationalmindwouldnothesitatetoacceptit。Butarationalmindisnotauniversalgift，eveninacountrywhichpridesitselfontheidol—worshipofFact。Thosegoodfriendswhoarealwaysbetteracquaintedwithourfaults，failings，andweaknessesthanwecanpretendtobeourselves，hadlongsincediscoveredthatmynaturewassuperstitious，andmyimaginationlikelytomisleadmeinthepresenceofeventswhichencouragedit。Well！IwasweakenoughtorecoilfromthepurelyrationalviewofallthatEunicehadsuffered，andheard，andseen，onthefatefulnightrecordedinherJournal。GoodandEvilwalkthewaysofthisunintelligibleworld，onthesamefreeconditions。Ifwecling，asmanyofusdo，tothecomfortingbeliefthatdepartedspiritscanministertoearthlycreaturesforgood——canbefeltmovinginus，inatrainofthought，andseenasvisiblemanifestations，inadream——withwhatpretenseofreasoncanwedenythatthesamefreedomofsupernaturalinfluencewhichisconcededtothedepartedspirit，workingforgood，isalsopermittedtothedepartedspirit，workingforevil？Ifthegravecannotwhollypartmotherandchild，whenthemother’slifehasbeengood，doeseternalannihilationseparatethem，whenthemother’slifehasbeenwicked？No！Ifthedepartedspiritcanbringwithitablessing，thedepartedspiritcanbringwithitacurse。IdarednotconfesstoEunicethattheinfluenceofhermurderess—mothermight，asIthoughtpossible，havebeensupernaturallypresentwhensheheardtemptationwhisperinginherear；butIdarednotdenyittomyself。AllthatIcouldsaytosatisfyandsustainher，Ididsay。AndwhenIdeclared——withmywholeheartdeclared——thatthenoblepassionwhichhadelevatedherwholebeing，andhadtriumphedoverthesoresttrialsthatdesertioncouldinflict，wouldstilltriumphtotheend，Isawhope，inthatbraveandtrueheart，showingitsbrightpromiseforthefutureinEunice’seyes。

SheclosedandlockedherJournal。Bycommonconsentwesoughtthereliefofchangingthesubject。EuniceaskedmeifitwasreallynecessarythatIshouldreturntoLondon。

IshrankfromtellingherthatIcouldbeofnofurtherusetoherfather，whileheregardedmewithanenmitywhichIhadnotdeserved。ButIsawnoreasonforconcealingthatitwasmypurposetoseePhilipDunboyne。

"Youtoldmeyesterday，"Iremindedher，"thatIwastosayyouhadforgivenhim。Doyoustillwishmetodothat？"

"IndeedIdo！"

"Haveyouthoughtofitseriously？Areyousureofnothavingbeenhurriedbyagenerousimpulseintosayingmorethanyoumean？"

"Ihavebeenthinkingofit，"shesaid，"throughthewakefulhoursoflastnight——andmanythingsareplaintome，whichIwasnotsureofinthetimewhenIwassohappy。Hehascausedmethebitterestsorrowofmylife，buthecan’tundothegoodthatI

owetohim。Hehasmadeabettergirlofme，inthetimewhenhislovewasmine。Idon’tforgetthat。Miserablyasithasended，I

don’tforgetthat。"

Hervoicetrembled；thetearsroseinhereyes。ItwasimpossibleformetoconcealthedistressthatIfelt。Thenoblecreaturesawit。"No，"shesaidfaintly；"Iamnotgoingtocry。Don’tlooksosorryforme。"Herhandpressedmyhandgently——_she_

pitied_me。_WhenIsawhowshestruggledtocontrolherself，anddidcontrolherself，IdeclaretoGodIcouldhavegonedownonmykneesbeforeher。

SheaskedtobeallowedtospeakofPhilipagain，andforthelasttime。

"WhenyoumeetwithhiminLondon，hemayperhapsaskifyouhaveseenEunice。"

"Mychild！heissuretoask。"

"Breakittohimgently——butdon’tlethimdeceivehimself。Inthisworld，hemustneverhopetoseemeagain。"

Itried——verygently——toremonstrate。"Atyourage，andathisage，"Isaid，"surelythereishope？"

"Thereisnohope。"Shepressedherhandonherheart。"Iknowit，Ifeelit，here。"

"Oh，Eunice，it’shardformetosaythat！"

"Iwilltrytomakeiteasierforyou。SaythatIhaveforgivenhim——andsaynomore。"

CHAPTERXLIX。

THEGOVERNORONHISGUARD。

AFTERleavingEunice，myonedesirewastobealone。Ihadmuchtothinkof，andIwantedanopportunityofrecoveringmyself。Onmywayoutofthehouse，insearchofthefirstsolitaryplacethatIcoulddiscover，Ipassedtheroominwhichwehaddined。

Thedoorwasajar。BeforeIcouldgetbyit，Mrs。Tenbruggensteppedoutandstoppedme。

"Willyoucomeinhereforamoment？"shesaid。"Thefarmerhasbeencalledaway，andIwanttospeaktoyou。"

Veryunwillingly——buthowcouldIhaverefusedwithoutgivingoffense？——Ienteredtheroom。

"Whenyounoticedmykeepingmynamefromyou，"Mrs。Tenbruggenbegan，"whileSelinawaswithus，youplacedmeinanawkwardposition。Ourlittlefriendisanexcellentcreature，buthertonguerunsawaywithhersometimes；Iamobligedtobecarefuloftakinghertooreadilyintomyconfidence。Forinstance，I

havenevertoldherwhatmynamewasbeforeImarried。Won’tyousitdown？"

Ihadpurposelyremainedstandingasahinttohernottoprolongtheinterview。Thehintwasthrownaway；Itookachair。

"Selina’slettershadinformedme，"sheresumed，"thatMr。

Gracedieuwasanervousinvalid。WhenIcametoEngland，IhadhopedtotrywhatMassagemightdotorelievehim。ThecureoftheirpopularpreachermighthaveadvertisedmethroughthewholeoftheCongregationalsect。ItwasessentialtomysuccessthatI

shouldpresentmyselfasastranger。Icouldtrusttimeandchange，andmymarriedname（certainlynotknowntoMr。

Gracedieu）tokeepupmyincognito。HewouldhaverefusedtoseemeifhehadknownthatIwasonceMissChance。"

Ibegantobeinterested。

Herewasanopportunity，perhaps，ofdiscoveringwhattheMinisterhadfailedtorememberwhenhehadbeenspeakingofthiswoman，andwhenIhadaskedifhehadeveroffendedher。Iwasespeciallycarefulinmakingmyinquiries。

"IrememberhowyouspoketoMr。Gracedieu，"Isaid，"whenyouandhemet，longago，inmyrooms。Butsurelyyoudon’tthinkhimcapableofvindictivelyrememberingsomethoughtlesswords，whichescapedyousixteenorseventeenyearssince？"

"Iamnotquitesuchafoolasthat，Mr。Governor。WhatIwasthinkingofwasanunpleasantcorrespondencebetweentheMinisterandmyself。BeforeIwassounfortunateastomeetwithMr。

Tenbruggen，IobtainedachanceofemploymentinapublicInstitution，onconditionthatIincludedaclergymanamongmyreferences。KnowingnobodyelsewhomIcouldapplyto，IrashlywrotetoMr。Gracedieu，andreceivedoneofthosecoldandcruelrefusalswhichonlythestrictestreligiousprinciplecanproduce。Iwasmortallyoffendedatthetime；andifyourfriendtheMinisterhadbeenwithinmyreach——"Shepaused，andfinishedthesentencebyasignificantgesture。

"Well，"Isaid，"heiswithinyourreachnow。"

"Andoutofhismind，"sheadded。"Besides，one’ssenseofinjurydoesn’tlast（exceptinnovelsandplays）throughaseriesofyears。Idon’tpityhim——andifanopportunityofshakinghishighpositionamonghisadmiringcongregationpresenteditself，I

daresayImightmakeamischievousreturnforhislettertome。

Inthemeanwhile，wemaydropthesubject。Isupposeyouunderstand，now，whyIconcealedmynamefromyou，andwhyIkeptoutofthehousewhileyouwereinit。"

Itwasplainenough，ofcourse。IfIhadknownheragain，orhadheardhername，ImighthavetoldtheMinisterthatMrs。

TenbruggenandMissChancewereoneandthesame。AndifIhadseenherandtalkedwithherinthehouse，mymemorymighthaveshownitselfcapableofimprovement。Havingpolitelypresentedtheexpressionofmythanks，Irosetogo。

Shestoppedmeatthedoor。

"Onewordmore，"shesaid，"whileSelinaisoutoftheway。I

needhardlytellyouthatIhavenottrustedherwiththeMinister’ssecret。YouandIare，asItakeit，theonlypeoplenowlivingwhoknowthetruthaboutthesetwogirls。Andwekeepouradvantage。"

"Whatadvantage？"Iasked。

"Don’tyouknow？"

"Idon’tindeed。"

"NomoredoI。Femalefolly，andaslipofthetongue；Iamoldandugly，butIamstillawoman。AboutMissEunice。Somebodyhastoldtheprettylittlefoolnevertotruststrangers。Youwouldhavebeenamused，ifyouhadheardthatslyyoungpersonprevaricatingwithme。Inonerespect，herappearancestrikesme。

Sheisnotlikeeitherthewretchwhowashanged，orthepoorvictimwhowasmurdered。Canshebetheadoptedchild？Orisittheothersister，whomIhavenotseenyet？Oh，come！come！Don’ttrytolookasifyoudidn’tknow。Thatisreallytooridiculous。"

"Youalludedjustnow，"Ianswered，"toour’advantage’inbeingtheonlypersonswhoknowthetruthaboutthetwogirls。Well，Mrs。Tenbruggen，Ikeep_my_advantage。"

"Inotherwords，"sherejoined，"youleavemetomakethediscoverymyself。Well，myfriend，Imeantodoit！"

Intheevening，myhotelofferedtometherefugeofwhichI

stoodinneed。Icouldthink，forthefirsttimethatday，withoutinterruption。

BeingresolvedtoseePhilip，Ipreparedmyselffortheinterviewbyconsultingmyextractsoncemore。Theletter，inwhichMrs。

Tenbruggenfigures，inspiredmewiththehopeofprotectionforMr。Gracedieu，attainablethroughnolessapersonthanHelenaherself。

Tobeginwith，shewouldcertainlysharePhilip’saversiontotheMasseuse，andherdislikeofMissJillgallwould，justaspossibly，extendtoMissJillgall’sfriend。ThehostilefeelingthussetupmightbetrustedtokeepwatchonMrs。Tenbruggen’sproceedings，withavigilancenotattainablebythecoarserobservationofaman。Intheevent，ofanimprovementintheMinister’shealth，IshouldhearofitbothfromthedoctorandfromMissJillgall，andinthatcaseIshouldinstantlyreturntomyunhappyfriendandputhimonhisguard。

IstartedforLondonbytheearlytraininthemorning。

MywayhomefromtheterminustookmepastthehotelatwhichtheelderMr。Dunboynewasstaying。Icalledonhim。Hewasreportedtobeengaged；thatistosay，immersedinhisbooks。TheaddressononeofPhilip’slettershadinformedmethathewasstayingatanotherhotel。Pursuingmyinquiriesinthisdirection，Imetwithaseveredisappointment。Mr。PhilipDunboynehadleftthehotelthatmorning；forwhatdestinationneitherthelandlordnorthewaitercouldtellme。

Thenextday’spostbroughtwithittheinformationwhichIhadfailedtoobtain。MissJillgallwrote，informingmeinherstrongestlanguagethatPhilipDunboynehadreturnedtoHelena。

IndignantSelinaadded："Helenameanstomakehimmarryher；andIpromiseyousheshallfail，ifIcanstopit。"

IntakingleaveofEunice，Ihadgivenhermyaddress；hadwarnedhertobecareful，ifsheandMrs。Tenbruggenhappenedtomeetagain，andhadbeggedhertowritetome，ortocometome，ifanythinghappenedtoalarmherinmyabsence。

Intwodaysmore，IreceivedalinefromEunice，writtenevidentlyinthegreatestagitation。

"Philiphasdiscoveredme。Hehasbeenhere，andhasinsistedonseeingme。Ihaverefused。Thegoodfarmerhassokindlytakenmypart。Icanwritenomore。"

CHAPTERL。

THENEWSFROMTHEFARM。

WHENInextheardfromMissJillgall，theintroductorypartofherlettermerelyremindedmethatPhilipDunboynewasestablishedinthetown，andthatHelenawasindailycommunicationwithhim。IshalldoSelinanoinjusticeifmyextractbeginswithhersecondpage。

"Youwillsympathize，Iamsure"（shewrites），"withtheindignationwhichurgedmetocallonPhilip，andtellhimthewaytothefarmhouse。ThinkofHelenabeingdeterminedtomarryhim，whetherhewantstoornot！Iamafraidthisisbadgrammar。

Butthereareoccasionswhenevenacultivatedladyfailsinhergrammar，andalmostenviesthementheirprivilegeofswearingwhentheyareinarage。Mystateofmindistrulyindescribable。

Griefmingleswithanger，whenItellyouthatmysweetEuneecehasdisappointedme，forthefirsttimesinceIhadthehappinessofknowingandadmiringher。Whatcanhavebeenthemotiveofherrefusaltoreceiveherpenitentlover？Isitpride？WearetoldthatSatanfellthroughpride。Euneecesatanic？Impossible！I

feelinclinedtogoandaskherwhathashardenedherheartagainstapooryoungmanwhobitterlyregretshisownfolly。Doyouthinkitwasbadadvicefromthefarmerorhiswife？Inthatcase，Ishallexertmyinfluence，andtakeheraway。Youwoulddothesame，wouldn’tyou？

"IamashamedtomentionthepoordearMinisterinapostscript。

Thetruthis，Idon’tverywellknowwhatIamabout。Mr。

Gracedieuisquiet，sleepsbetterthanhedid，eatswithakeenerappetite，givesnotrouble。But，alas，thatgloriousintellectisinastateofeclipse！Donotsuppose，becauseIwritefiguratively，thatIamnotsorryforhim。Heunderstandsnothing；heremembersnothing；hehasmyprayers。

"Youmightcometousagain，ifyouwouldonlybesokind。Itwouldmakenodifferencenow；thepoormanissosadlyaltered。I

mustadd，mostreluctantly，thatthedoctorrecommendsyourstayingathome。Betweenourselves，heislittlebetterthanacoward。Fancyhissaying；’No；wemustnotrunthatriskyet。’I

ambarelyciviltohim，andnomore。

"Inanyotheraffair（excusemefortroublingyouwithasecondpostscript），mysympathywithEuneecewouldhavepenetratedhermotives；Ishouldhavefeltwithherfeelings。ButIhaveneverbeeninlove；nogentlemangavemetheopportunitywhenIwasyoung。NowIammiddle—aged，neglecthasdoneitsdrearywork——myheartisanextinctcrater。Figurativeagain！Ihadbetterputmypenaway，andsayfarewellforthepresent。"

MissJillgallmaynowgiveplacetoEunice。Thesameday’spostbroughtmebothletters。

Ishouldbeunworthyindeedofthetrustwhichthisaffectionategirlhasplacedinme，ifIfailedtoreceiveherexplanationofherconducttowardPhilipDunboyne，asasacredsecretconfidedtomyfatherlyregard。Inthoselaterportionsofherletter，whicharenotaddressedtomeconfidentially，Eunicewritesasfollows：

"Igetnews——andwhatheartbreakingnews！——ofmyfather，bysendingamessengertoSelina。ItismorethaneverimpossiblethatIcanputmyselfinthewayofseeingHelenaagain。ShehaswrittentomeaboutPhilip，inatonesoshockinglyinsolentandcruel，thatIhavedestroyedherletter。Philip’svisittothefarm，discoveredIdon’tknowhow，seemstohaveinfuriatedher。

Sheaccusesmeofdoingallthatshemightherselfhavedoneinmyplace，andthreatensme——No！IamafraidofthewickedwhisperingsofthatsecondselfofmineifIthinkofit。TheywereneartotemptingmewhenIreadHelena’sletter。ButI