thinkthepictureescapedmealso；Idon’tremembernoticinganythingexcepttheyounggentleman，especiallywhenhetookoffhishattome。Helookedatmetwicebeforehewentaway。Igothotagain。IsaidtoMrs。Staveley：\"Whoishe？\"
Shelaughedatme。Isaidagain：\"Whoishe？\"Shesaid：\"HeisyoungMr。Dunboyne。\"Isaid：\"DoesheliveinLondon？\"Shelaughedagain。Isaidagain：\"DoesheliveinLondon？\"Shesaid：
\"Heishereforaholiday；heliveswithhisfatheratFairmount，inIreland。\"
YoungMr。Dunboyne——hereforaholiday——liveswithhisfatheratFairmount，inIreland。Ihavesaidthattomyselffiftytimesover。Andhereitis，sayingitselfforthefifty—firsttimeinmyJournal。Imustindeedbeasimpleton，asHelenasays。Ihadbettergotobedagain。
CHAPTERXIII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
NOTlongbeforeIlefthome，Iheardoneofourtwoservantstellingtheotheraboutapersonwhohadbeen\"bewitched。\"Areyoubewitchedwhenyoudon’tunderstandyourownself？Thathasbeenmycuriouscase，sinceIreturnedfromthepictureshow。
ThismorningItookmydrawingmaterialsoutofmybox，andtriedtomakeaportraitofyoungMr。Dunboynefromrecollection。I
succeededprettywellwithhisfrock—coatandcane；but，tryasI
might，hisfacewasbeyondme。IhaveneverdrawnanythingsobadlysinceIwasalittlegirl；Ialmostfeltreadytocry。WhatafoolIam！
ThismorningIreceivedaletterfrompapa——itwasinreplytoaletterthatIhadwrittentohim——sokind，sobeautifullyexpressed，solikehimself，thatIfeltinclinedtosendhimaconfessionofthestrangestateoffeelingthathascomeoverme，andtoaskhimtocomfortandadviseme。Onsecondthoughts，I
wasafraidtodoit。Afraidofpapa！Iamfurtherawayfromunderstandingmyselfthanever。
Mr。Dunboynepaidusavisitintheafternoon。Fortunately，beforewewentout。
IthoughtIwouldhaveagoodlookathim；soastoknowhisfacebetterthanIhadknownityet。Anotherdisappointmentwasinstoreforme。Withoutintendingit，Iamsure，hedidwhatnootheryoungmanhaseverdone——hemademefeelconfused。Insteadoflookingathim，Isatwithmyheaddown，andlistenedtohistalk。Hisvoice——thisishighpraise——remindedmeofpapa’svoice。Itseemedtopersuademeaspapapersuadeshiscongregation。Ifeltquiteateaseagain。Whenhewentaway，weshookhands。Hegavemyhandalittlesqueeze。Igavehimbackthesqueeze——withoutknowingwhy。Whenhewasgone，IwishedI
hadnotdoneit——withoutknowingwhy，either。
IheardhisChristiannameforthefirsttimeto—day。Mrs。
Staveleysaidtome：\"Wearegoingtohaveadinner—party。ShallIaskPhilipDunboyne？\"IsaidtoMrs。Staveley：\"Oh，do！\"
Sheisanoldwoman；hereyesaredim。Attimes，shecanlookmischievous。Shelookedatmemischievouslynow。IwishedIhadnotbeensoeagertohaveMr。Dunboyneaskedtodinner。
AfearhascometomethatImayhavedegradedmyself。Myspiritsaredepressed。This，aspapatellsusinhissermons，isamiserableworld。IamsorryIacceptedtheStaveleys’invitation。
IamsorryIwenttoseethepictures。Whenthatyoungmancomestodinner，IshallsayIhavegotaheadache，andshallstopupstairsbymyself。Idon’tthinkIlikehisChristianname。I
hateLondon。Ihateeverybody。
WhatIwroteupabove，yesterday，isnonsense。IthinkhisChristiannameisperfect。IlikeLondon。Iloveeverybody。
Hecametodinnerto—day。Isatnexttohim。Howbeautifuladress—coatis，andawhitecravat！Wetalked。HewantedtoknowwhatmyChristiannamewas。IwassopleasedwhenIfoundhewasoneofthefewpeoplewholikeit。Hishaircurlsnaturally。Incolor，itissomethingbetweenmyhairandHelena’s。Hewearshisbeard。Howmanly！Itcurlsnaturally，likehishair；itsmellsdeliciouslyofsomeperfumewhichisnewtome。Hehaswhitehands；hisnailslookasifhepolishedthem；IshouldliketopolishmynailsifIknewhow。WhateverIsaid，heagreedwithme；Ifeltsatisfiedwithmyownconversation，forthefirsttimeinmylife。Helenawon’tfindmeasimpletonwhenIgohome。Whatexquisitethingsdinner—partiesare！
Mysistertoldme（whenwesaidgood—by）tobeparticularinwritingdownmytrueopinionoftheStaveleys。HelenawishestocomparewhatshethinksofthemwithwhatIthinkofthem。
MyopinionofMr。Staveleyis——Idon’tlikehim。MyopinionofMissStaveleyis——Ican’tendureher。AsforMasterStaveley，mycleversisterwillunderstandthat_he_isbeneathnotice。But，oh，whatawonderfulwomanMrs。Staveleyis！Wewentouttogether，afterluncheontoday，forawalkinKensingtonGardens。
NeverhaveIheardanyconversationtocomparewithMrs。
Staveley’s。Helenashallenjoyithere，atsecondhand。Iamquitechangedintwothings。First：IthinkmoreofmyselfthanI
everdidbefore。Second：writingisnolongeradifficultytome。
Icouldfillahundredjournals，withoutoncestoppingtothink。
Mrs。Staveleybegannicely；\"Isuppose，Eunice，youhaveoftenbeentoldthatyouhaveagoodfigure，andthatyouwalkwell？\"
Isaid：\"Helenathinksmyfigureisbetterthanmyface。ButdoI
reallywalkwell？Nobodyevertoldmethat。\"
Sheanswered：\"PhilipDunboynethinksso。Hesaidtome，’I
resistthetemptationbecauseImightbewantinginrespectifI
gavewaytoit。ButIshouldliketofollowherwhenshegoesout——merelyforthepleasureofseeingherwalk。’\"
Istoodstockstill。Isaidnothing。Whenyouareasproudasapeacock（whichneverhappenedtomebefore），Ifindyoucan’tmoveandcan’ttalk。Youcanonlyenjoyyourself。
KindMrs。Staveleyhadmorethingstotellme。Shesaid：\"IaminterestedinPhilip。IlivednearFairmountinthetimebeforeI
wasmarried；andinthosedayshewasachild。Iwanthimtomarryacharminggirl，andbehappy。\"
WhatmademethinkdirectlyofMissStaveley？Whatmadememadtoknowifshewasthecharminggirl？Iwasboldenoughtoaskthequestion。Mrs。StaveleyturnedtomewiththatmischievouslookwhichIhavenoticedalready。IfeltasifIhadbeenrunningatthetopofmyspeed，andhadnotgotmybreathagain，yet。
Butthisgoodmotherlyfriendsetmeatmyease。Sheexplainedherself：\"Philipisnotmuchliked，poorfellow，inourhouse。Myhusbandconsidershimtobeweakandvainandfickle。Andmydaughteragreeswithherfather。TherearetimeswhensheisbarelyciviltoPhilip。Heistoogood—naturedtocomplain，but_I_seeit。Tellme，mydear，doyoulikePhilip？\"
\"OfcourseIdo！\"Outitcameinthosewords，beforeIcouldstopit。WastheresomethingunbecomingtoayoungladyinsayingwhatIhadjustsaid？Mrs。Staveleyseemedtobemoreamusedthanangrywithme。Shetookmyarmkindly，andledmealongwithher。\"Mydear，youareasclearascrystal，andastrueassteel。Youareafavoriteofminealready。\"
Whatadelightfulwoman！asIsaidjustnow。Iaskedifshereallylikedmeaswellasshelikedmysister。
Shesaid：\"Better。\"
Ididn’texpectthat，anddidn’twantit。Helenaismysuperior。
SheisprettierthanIam，clevererthanIam，betterworthlikingthanIam。Mrs。StaveleyshiftedthetalkbacktoPhilip。
IoughttohavesaidMr。Philip。No，Iwon’t；IshallcallhimPhilip。IfIhadaheartofstone，Ishouldfeelinterestedinhim，afterwhatMrs。Staveleyhastoldme。
Suchasadstory，insomerespects。Motherdead；nobrothersorsisters。Onlythefatherleft；helivesadismallifeonalonelystormycoast。Notasevereoldgentleman，forallthat。Hisreasonsfortakingtoretirementarereasons（soMrs。Staveleysays）whichnobodyknows。Heburieshimselfamonghisbooks，inanimmenselibrary；andheappearstolikeit。Hissonhasnotbeenbroughtup。likeotheryoungmen，atschoolandcollege。Heisagreatscholar，educatedathomebyhisfather。Tohearthisaccountofhislearningdepressedme。Itseemedtoputsuchadistancebetweenus。IaskedMrs。Staveleyifhethoughtmeignorant。AslongasIliveIshallrememberthereply：\"Hethinksyoucharming。\"
Anyothergirlwouldhavebeensatisfiedwiththis。Iamthemiserablecreaturewhoisalwaysmakingmistakes。MystupidcuriosityspoiledthecharmofMrs。Staveley’sconversation。Andyetitseemedtobeaharmlessquestion；IonlysaidIshouldliketoknowwhatprofessionPhilipbelongedto。
Mrs。Staveleyanswered：\"Noprofession。\"
Ifoolishlyputawrongmeaningonthis。Isaid：\"Isheidle？\"
Mrs。Staveleylaughed。\"Mydear，heisanonlyson——andhisfatherisarichman。\"
Thatstoppedme——atlast。
Wehaveenoughtoliveonincomfortathome——nomore。Papahastoldushimselfthatheisnot（andcanneverhopetobe）arichman。Thisisnottheworstofit。Lastyear，herefusedtomarryayoungcouple，bothbelongingtoourcongregation。Thiswasveryunlikehisusualkindself。HelenaandIaskedhimforhisreasons。Theywerereasonsthatdidnottakelongtogive。Theyounggentleman’sfatherwasarichman。Hehadforbiddenhissontomarryasweetgirl——becauseshehadnofortune。
Ihavenofortune。AndPhilip’sfatherisarichman。
ThebestthingIcandoistowipemypen，andshutupmyJournal，andgohomebythenexttrain。
IhaveagreatmindtoburnmyJournal。IttellsmethatIhadbetternotthinkofPhilipanymore。
Onsecondthoughts，Iwon’tdestroymyJournal；Iwillonlyputitaway。IfIlivetobeanoldwoman，itmayamusemetoopenmybookagain，andseehowfoolishthepoorwretchwaswhenshewasyoung。
Whatisthisachingpaininmyheart？
Idon’trememberitatanyothertimeinmylife。Isittrouble？
HowcanItell？——Ihavehadsolittletrouble。ItmustbemanyyearssinceIwaswretchedenoughtocry。Idon’tevenunderstandwhyIamcryingnow。Mylastsorrow，sofarasIcanremember，wasthetoothache。Othergirls’motherscomfortthemwhentheyarewretched。Ifmymotherhadlived——it’suselesstothinkaboutthat。Welosther，whileIandmysisterweretooyoungtounderstandourmisfortune。
IwishIhadneverseenPhilip。
Thisseemsanungratefulwish。Seeinghimatthepicture—showwasanewenjoyment。SittingnexttohimatdinnerwasahappinessthatIdon’trecollectfeeling，evenwhenPapahasbeenmostsweetandkindtome。Ioughttobeashamedofmyselftoconfessthis。ShallIwritetomysister？Buthowshouldsheknowwhatisthematterwithme，whenIdon’tknowitmyself？Besides，Helenaisangry；shewroteunkindlytomewhensheansweredmylastletter。
Thereisadreadfullonelinessinthisgreathouseatnight。I
hadbettersaymyprayers，andtrytosleep。Ifitdoesn’tmakemefeelhappier，itwillpreventmespoilingmyJournalbydroppingtearsonit。
Whataneveningofeveningsthishasbeen！Lastnightitwascryingthatkeptmeawake。To—nightIcan’tsleepforjoy。
Philipcalledonusagainto—day。HebroughtwithhimticketsfortheperformanceofanOratorio。Sacredmusicisnotforbiddenmusicamongourpeople。Mrs。StaveleyandMissStaveleywenttotheconcertwithus。PhilipandIsatnexttoeachother。
Mysisterisamusician——Iamnothing。Thatsoundsbitter；butI
don’tmeanitso。AllImeanis，thatIlikesimplelittlesongs，whichIcansingtomyselfbyrememberingthetune。There，mymusicalenjoymentends。Whenvoicesandinstrumentsburstouttogetherbyhundreds，Ifeelbewildered。Ialsogetattackedbyfidgets。Thislastmisfortuneissuretoovertakemewhenchorusesarebeingperformed。Theunfortunatepeopleemployedaremadetokeepsingingthesamewords，overandoverandoveragain，tillIfinditaperfectmiserytolistentothem。Thechoruseswereunendurableintheperformanceto—night。Thisisoneofthem：\"Hereweareallaloneinthewilderness——aloneinthewilderness——inthewildernessalone，alone，alone——hereweareinthewilderness——aloneinthewilderness——allallaloneinthewilderness，\"andsoon，tillIfeltinclinedtocallforthelearnedpersonwhowritesOratorios，andbeghimtogivethepoormusicamoregenerousallowanceofwords。
WheneverIlookedatPhilip，Ifoundhimlookingatme。Perhapshesawfromthefirstthatthemusicwaswearyingmusictomyignorantears。Withhisusualdelicacyhesaidnothingforsometime。Butwhenhecaughtmeyawning（thoughIdidmybesttohideit，foritlookedlikebeingungratefulforthetickets），thenhecouldrestrainhimselfnolonger。Hewhisperedinmyear：
\"Youaregettingtiredofthis。AndsoamI。\"
\"Iamtryingtolikeit，\"Iwhisperedback。
\"Don’ttry，\"heanswered。\"Let’stalk。\"
Hemeant，ofcourse，talkinwhispers。Wewereagooddealannoyed——especiallywhenthecharacterswereallaloneinthewilderness——byburstsofsingingandplayingwhichinterruptedusatthemostinterestingmoments。Philipperseveredwithamanlyfirmness。WhatcouldIdobutfollowhisexample——atadistance？
Hesaid：\"IsitreallytruethatyourvisittoMrs。Staveleyiscomingtoanend？\"
Ianswered：\"Itcomestoanendthedayafterto—morrow。\"
\"AreyousorrytobeleavingyourfriendsinLondon？\"
WhatImighthavesaidifhehadmadethatinquiryadayearlier，whenIwasthemostmiserablecreatureliving，Iwouldrathernottrytoguess。Beingquitehappyasthingswere，IcouldhonestlytellhimIwassorry。
\"Youcan’tpossiblybeassorryasIam，Eunice。MayIcallyoubyyourprettyname？\"
\"Yes，ifyouplease。\"
\"Eunice！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Youwillleaveablankinmylifewhenyougoaway——\"
Thereanotherchorusstoppedhim，justasIwaseagerformore。
ItwassuchadelightfullynewsensationtohearayounggentlemantellingmethatIhadleftablankinhislife。ThenextchangeintheOratoriobroughtupayounglady，singingalone。Somepeoplebehindusgrumbledatthesmallnessofhervoice。Wethoughthervoiceperfect。Itseemedtolenditselfsonicelytoourwhispers。
Hesaid：\"Willyouhelpmetothinkofyouwhileyouareaway？I
wanttoimaginewhatyourlifeisathome。Doyouliveinatownorinthecountry？\"
Itoldhimthenameofourtown。Whenwegiveapersoninformation，Ihavealwaysheardthatweoughttomakeitcomplete。SoImentionedouraddressinthetown。ButIwastroubledbyadoubt。Perhapshepreferredthecountry。Beinganxiousaboutthis，Isaid：\"WouldyouratherhaveheardthatI
liveinthecountry？\"
\"Livewhereyoumay，Eunice，theplacewillbeafavoriteplaceofmine。Besides，yourtownisfamous。Ithasapublicattractionwhichbringsvisitorstoit。\"
Imadeanotherofthosemistakeswhichnosensiblegirl，inmyposition，wouldhavecommitted。Iaskedifhealludedtoournewmarket—place。
Hesetmerightinthesweetestmanner：\"Ialludedtoabuildinghundredsofyearsolderthanyourmarket—place——yourbeautifulcathedral。\"
Fancymynothavingthoughtofthecathedral！ThisiswhatcomesofbeingaCongregationalist。IfIhadbelongedtotheChurchofEngland，Ishouldhaveforgottenthemarket—place，andrememberedthecathedral。NotthatIwanttobelongtotheChurchofEngland。Papa’schapelisgoodenoughforme。
Thesongsungbytheladywiththesmallvoicewassoprettythattheaudienceencoredit。Didn’tPhilipandIhelpthem！Withthesweetestsmilestheladysangitalloveragain。Thepeoplebehinduslefttheconcert。
Hesaid：\"Doyouknow，Itakethegreatestinterestincathedrals。Iproposetoenjoytheprivilegeandpleasureofseeing_your_cathedralearlynextweek。\"
IhadonlytolookathimtoseethatIwasthecathedral。Itwasnosurprisetohearnextthathethoughtof\"payinghisrespectstoMr。Gracedieu。\"Hebeggedmetotellhimwhatsortofreceptionhemighthopetomeetwithwhenhecalledatourhouse。
IgotsoexcitedindoingjusticetopapathatIquiteforgottowhisperwhenthenextquestioncame。PhilipwantedtoknowifMr。
Gracedieudislikedstrangers。WhenIanswered，\"Ohdear，no！\"I
saiditoutloud，sothatthepeopleheardme。Cruel，cruelpeople！Theyallturnedroundandstared。Onehideousoldwomanactuallysaid，\"Silence！\"MissStaveleylookeddisgusted。EvenkindMrs。Staveleyliftedhereyebrowsinastonishment。
Philip，dearPhilip，protectedandcomposedme。
Heheldmyhanddevotedlytilltheendoftheperformance。Whenheputusintothecarriage，Iwaslast。Hewhisperedinmyear：
\"Expectmenextweek。\"MissStaveleymightbeasill—naturedasshepleased，onthewayhome。Itdidn’tmatterwhatshesaid。TheEuniceofyesterdaymighthavebeenmortifiedandoffended。TheEuniceofto—daywasindifferenttothesharpestthingsthatcouldbesaidtoher。
Allthroughyesterday’sdelightfulevening，IneveroncethoughtofPhilip’sfather。WhenIwokethismorning，IrememberedthatoldMr。Dunboynewasarichman。Icouldeatnobreakfastforthinkingofthepoorgirlwhowasnotallowedtomarryheryounggentleman，becauseshehadnomoney。
Mrs。Staveleywaitedtospeaktometilltherestofthemhadleftustogether。IhadexpectedhertonoticethatIlookeddullanddismal。No！herclevernessgotatmysecretinquiteanotherway。
Shesaid：\"Howdoyoufeelaftertheconcert？Youmustbehardtopleaseindeedifyouwerenotsatisfiedwiththeaccompanimentslastnight。\"
\"TheaccompanimentsoftheOratorio？\"
\"No，mydear。TheaccompanimentsofPhilip。\"
IsupposeIoughttohavelaughed。Inmymiserablestateofmind，itwasnottobedone。Isaid：\"IhopeMr。Dunboyne’sfatherwillnothearhowkindhewastome。\"
Mrs。Staveleyaskedwhy。
Mybitternessoverflowedatmytongue。Isaid：\"Becausepapaisapoorman。\"
\"AndPhilip’spapaisarichman，\"saysMrs。Staveley，puttingmyownthoughtintowordsforme。\"Wheredoyougettheseideas，Eunice？Surely，youarenotallowedtoreadnovels？\"
\"Ohno！\"
\"Andyouhavecertainlyneverseenaplay？\"
\"Never。\"
\"Clearyourhead，child，ofthenonsensethathasgotintoit——I
can’tthinkhow。RichMr。Dunboynehastaughthisheirtodespisethebaseactofmarryingformoney。HeknowsthatPhilipwillmeetyoungladiesatmyhouse；andhehaswrittentomeonthesubjectofhisson’schoiceofawife。’LetPhilipfindgoodprinciples，goodtemper，andgoodlooks；andIpromisebeforehandtofindthemoney。’Thereiswhathesays。AreyousatisfiedwithPhilip’sfather，now？\"
Ijumpedupinastateofecstasy。JustasIhadthrownmyarmsroundMrs。Staveley’sneck，theservantcameinwithaletter，andhandedittome。
Helenahadwrittenagain，onthislastdayofmyvisit。Herletterwasfullofinstructionsforbuyingthingsthatshewants，beforeIleaveLondon。IreadonquietlyenoughuntilIcametothepostscript。Theeffectofitonmemaybetoldintwowords：
Iscreamed。Mrs。Staveleywasnaturallyalarmed。\"Badnews？\"sheasked。Beingquiteunabletoofferanopinion，Ireadthepostscriptoutloud，andlefthertojudgeforherself。
ThiswasHelena’snewsfromhome：
\"Imustprepareyouforasurprise，beforeyourreturn。Youwillfindastrangeladyestablishedathome。Don’tsupposethereisanyprospectofherbiddingusgood—by，ifweonlywaitlongenough。Sheisalready（withfather’sfullapproval）asmuchamemberofthefamilyasweare。Youshallformyourownunbiasedopinionofher，Eunice。Forthepresent，Isaynomore。\"
IaskedMrs。Staveleywhatshethoughtofmynewsfromhome。Shesaid：\"Yourfatherapprovesofthelady，mydear。Isupposeit’sgoodnews。\"
ButMrs。Staveleydidnotlookasifshebelievedinthegoodnews，forallthat。
CHAPTERXIV。
HELENA’SDIARY。
TO—DAYIwentasusualtotheScripture—classforgirls。Itwasharderworkthanever，teachingwithoutEunicetohelpme。
Indeed，Ifeltlonelyalldaywithoutmysister。WhenIgothome，Iratherhopedthatsomefriendmighthavecometoseeus，andhavebeenaskedtostaytotea。Thehousemaidopenedthedoortome。IaskedMariaifanybodyhadcalled。
\"Yes，miss；alady，toseethemaster。\"
\"Astranger？\"
\"Neversawherbefore，miss，inallmylife。\"Iputnomorequestions。Manyladiesvisitmyfather。TheycallitconsultingtheMinister。Headvisesthemintheirtroubles，andguidesthemintheirreligiousdifficulties，andsoon。Theycomeandgoinasortofsecrecy。SofarasIknow，theyaremostlyoldmaids，andtheywastetheMinister’stime。
Whenmyfathercameintotea，Ibegantofeelsomecuriosityabouttheladywhohadcalledonhim。Visitorsofthatsort，ingeneral，neverappeartodwellonhismindaftertheyhavegoneaway；heseestoomanyofthem，andistoowellaccustomedtowhattheyhavetosay。Onthisparticularevening，however，I
perceivedappearancesthatsetmethinking；helookedworriedandanxious。
\"Hasanythinghappened，father，tovexyou？\"Isaid。
\"Yes。\"
\"Istheladyconcernedinit？\"
\"Whatlady，mydear？\"
\"TheladywhocalledonyouwhileIwasout。\"
\"Whotoldyoushehadcalledonme？\"
\"IaskedMaria——\"
\"Thatwilldo，Helena，forthepresent。\"
Hedrankhisteaandwentbacktohisstudy，insteadofstayingawhile，andtalkingpleasantlyasusual。Myrespectsubmittedtohiswantofconfidenceinme；butmycuriositywasinastateofrevolt。IsentforMaria，andproceededtomakemyowndiscoveries，withthisresult：
Nootherpersonhadcalledatthehouse。Nothinghadhappened，exceptthevisitofthemysteriouslady。\"Shelookedbetweenyoungandold。And，ohdearme，shewascertainlynotpretty。Notdressednicely，tomymind；buttheydosaydressisamatteroftaste。\"
TryasImight，Icouldgetnomorethanthatoutofourstupidyounghousemaid。
Laterintheevening，thecookhadoccasiontoconsultmeaboutsupper。Thiswasapersonpossessingtheadvantagesofageandexperience。Iaskedifshehadseenthelady。Thecook’sreplypromisedsomethingnew：\"Ican’tsayIsawthelady；butIheardher。\"
\"Doyoumeanthatyouheardherspeaking？\"
\"No，miss——crying。\"
\"Wherewasshecrying？\"
\"Inthemaster’sstudy。\"
\"Howdidyoucometohearher？\"
\"AmItounderstand，miss，thatyoususpectmeoflistening？\"
Isalietoldbyalookasbadasalietoldbywords？Ilookedshockedatthebareideaofsuspectingarespectablepersonoflistening。Thecook’ssenseofhonorwassatisfied；shereadilyexplainedherself：\"Iwaspassingthedoor，miss，onmywayupstairs。\"
Heremydiscoveriescametoanend。Itwascertainlypossiblethatanafflictedmemberofmyfather’scongregationmighthavecalledonhimtobecomforted。Butheseesplentyofafflictedladies，withoutlookingworriedandanxiousaftertheyleavehim。
Stillsuspectingsomethingoutoftheordinarycourseofevents，Iwaitedhopefullyforournextmeetingatsupper—time。Nothingcameofit。Myfatherleftmebymyselfagain，whenthemealwasover。Heisalwayscourteoustohisdaughters；andhemadeanapology：\"Excuseme，Helena，Iwanttothink。\"
Iwenttobedinavilehumor，andsleptbadly；wondering，inthelongwakefulhours，whatnewrebuffIshouldmeetwithonthenextday。
AtbreakfastthismorningIwasagreeablysurprised。Nosignsofanxietyshowedthemselvesinmyfather’sface。Insteadofretiringtohisstudywhenwerosefromthetable，heproposedtakingaturninthegarden：\"Youarelookingpale，Helena，andyouwillbethebetterforalittlefreshair。Besides，Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou。\"
Excitement，Iamsure，isgoodforyoungwomen。Isawinhisface，Iheardinhislastwords，thatthemysteryoftheladywasatlasttoberevealed。Thesensationoflanguorandfatiguewhichfollowsadisturbednightleftmedirectly。