Myfatherwasstillatthewindow。
Inthatidlepositionhecouldhardlycomplainofmeforinterruptinghim，ifIventuredtotalkabouttheletterswhichI
hadputtogether。Ifmycuriositydispleasedhim，hehadonlytosayso，andtherewouldbeanendtoanyallusionsofminetothesubject。Myfirstideawastojoinhimatthewindow。Onreflection，andstillperceivingthathekepthisbackturnedonme，Ithoughtitmightbemoreprudenttoremainatthetable。
\"ThisMissChanceseemstobeanimpudentperson？\"Isaid。
\"Yes。\"
\"Wassheayoungwoman，whenyoumetwithher？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatsortofawomantolookat？Ugly？\"
\"No。\"
HerewerethreeanswerswhichEuniceherselfwouldhavebeenquickenoughtointerpretasthreewarningstosaynomore。I
feltalittlehurtbyhiskeepinghisbackturnedonme。Atthesametime，andnaturally，Ithink，IfoundmyinterestinMissChance（Idon’tsaymyfriendlyinterest）considerablyincreasedbymyfather’sunusuallyrudebehavior。Iwasalsoanimatedbyanirresistibledesiretomakehimturnroundandlookatme。
\"MissChance’sletterwaswrittenmanyyearsago，\"Iresumed。\"I
wonderwhathasbecomeofhersinceshewrotetoyou。\"
\"Iknownothingabouther。\"
\"Notevenwhethersheisaliveordead？\"
\"Noteventhat。Whatdothesequestionsmean，Helena？\"
\"Nothing，father。\"
Ideclarehelookedasifhesuspectedme！
\"Whydon’tyouspeakout？\"hesaid。\"HaveIevertaughtyoutoconcealyourthoughts？HaveIeverbeenahardfather，whodiscouragedyouwhenyouwishedtoconfideinhim？Whatareyouthinkingabout？Do_you_knowanythingofthiswoman？\"
\"Oh，father，whataquestion！IneverevenheardofhertillI
putthetornletterstogether。Ibegintowishyouhadnotaskedmetodoit。\"
\"SodoI。Itneverstruckmethatyouwouldfeelsuchextraordinary——Ihadalmostsaid，suchvulgar——curiosityaboutaworthlessletter。\"
Thisrousedmytemper。Whenayoungladyistoldthatsheisvulgar，ifshehasanyself—conceit——Imeanself—respect——shefeelsinsulted。Isaidsomethingsharpinmyturn。Itwasinthewayofargument。Idonotknowhowitmaybewithotheryoungpersons，IneverreasonsowellmyselfaswhenIamangry。
\"Youcallitaworthlessletter，\"Isaid，\"andyetyouthinkitworthpreserving。\"
\"Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat？\"heasked。
\"Nothingmore，\"Ianswered。
Hechangedagain。Afterhavinglookedunaccountablyangry，henowlookedunaccountablyrelieved。
\"Iwillsoonsatisfyyou，\"hesaid，\"thatIhaveagoodreasonforpreservingaworthlessletter。MissChance，mydear，isnotawomantobetrusted。Ifshesawheradvantageinmakingabaduseofmyreply，Iamafraidshewouldnothesitatetodoit。Evenifsheisnolongerliving，Idon’tknowintowhatvilehandsmylettermaynothavefallen，orhowitmightbefalsifiedforsomewickedpurpose。Doyouseenowhowacorrespondencemaybecomeaccidentallyimportant，thoughitisofnovalueinitself？\"
Icouldsay\"Yes\"tothiswithasafeconscience。
Butthereweresomeperplexitiesstillleftinmymind。ItseemedstrangethatMissChanceshould（apparently）havesubmittedtotheseverityofmyfather’sreply。\"Ishouldhavethought，\"I
saidtohim，\"thatshewouldhavesentyouanotherimpudentletter——orperhapshaveinsistedonseeingyou，andusinghertongueinsteadofherpen。\"
\"Shecoulddoneithertheonenortheother，Helena。MissChancewillneverfindoutmyaddressagain；Ihavetakengoodcareofthat。\"
Hespokeinaloudvoice，withaflushedface——asifitwasquiteatriumphtohavepreventedthiswomanfromdiscoveringhisaddress。Whatreasoncouldhehaveforbeingsoanxioustokeepherawayfromhim？CouldIventuretoconcludethattherewasamysteryinthelifeofamansoblameless，sotrulypious？Itshockedoneeventothinkofit。
Therewasasilencebetweenus，towhichthehousemaidofferedawelcomeinterruption。Dinnerwasready。
Hekissedmebeforewelefttheroom。\"Onewordmore，Helena，\"hesaid，\"andIhavedone。LettherebenomoretalkbetweenusaboutElizabethChance。\"
CHAPTERXVIL
HELENA’SDIARY。
MISSJILLGALLjoinedusatthedinner—table，inastateofexcitement，carryingabookinherhand。
Iaminclined，onreflection，tosuspectthatsheisquitecleverenoughtohavediscoveredthatIhateher——andthatmanyoftheaggravatingthingsshesaysanddoesareassumed，outofretaliation，forthepurposeofmakingmeangry。Thatuglyfaceisadoubleface，orIammuchmistaken。
Toreturntothedinner—table，MissJillgalladdressedherself，withanairofplayfulpenitence，tomyfather。
\"Dearcousin，IhopeIhavenotdonewrong。Helenaleftmeallbymyself。WhenIhadfinisheddarningthecurtain，Ireallydidn’tknowwhattodo。SoIopenedallthebedroomdoorsupstairsandlookedintotherooms。Inthebigroomwithtwobeds——oh，Iamsoashamed——Ifoundthisbook。Pleaselookatthefirstpage。\"
Myfatherlookedatthetitle—page：\"DoctorWatts’sHymns。Well，Selina，whatistheretobeashamedofinthis？\"
\"Oh，no！no！It’sthewrongpage。Dolookattheotherpage——theonethatcomesfirstbeforethatone。\"
Mypatientfatherturnedtotheblankpage。
\"Ah，\"hesaidquietly，\"myotherdaughter’snameiswritteninit——thedaughterwhomyouhavenotseen。Well？\"
MissJillgallclaspedherhandsdistractedly。\"It’smyignoranceI’msoashamedof。Dearcousin，forgiveme，enlightenme。Idon’tknowhowtopronounceyourotherdaughter’sname。DoyoucallherEuneece？\"
Thedinnerwasgettingcold。Iwasprovokedintosaying：\"No，wedon’t。\"
Shehadevidentlynotforgivenmeforleavingherbyherself。
\"Pardonme，Helena，whenIwantinformationIdon’tapplytoyou：
Isit，asitwere，atthefeetofyourlearnedfather。Dearcousin，isit——\"
Evenmyfatherdeclinedtowaitforhisdinneranylonger。
\"Pronounceitasyoulike，Selina。HerewesayEuni’ce——withtheaccentonthe’i’andwiththefinal’e’sounded：Eu—ni’—see。Letmegiveyousomesoup。\"
MissJillgallgroaned。\"Oh，howdifficultitseemstobe！Quitebeyondmypoorbrains！Ishallaskthedeargirl’sleavetocallherEuneece。Whatverystrongsoup！Isn’titratherawasteofmeat？Givemealittlemore，please。\"
IdiscoveredanotherofMissJillgall’speculiarities。Herappetitewasenormous，andherwaysweregreedy。Youheardhereathersoup。Shedevouredthefoodonherplatewithhereyesbeforesheputitintohermouth；andshecriticisedourEnglishcookeryinthemostimpudentmanner，underpretenseofaskinghumblyhowitwasdone。Therewas，however，sometemporarycompensationforthis。Wehadlessofhertalkwhileshewaseatingherdinner。
Withtheremovalofthecloth，sherecoveredtheuseofhertongue；andshehitontheonesubjectofallotherswhichprovestobethesoresttrialtomyfather’spatience。
\"Andnow，dearcousin，letustalkofyourotherdaughter，ourabsentEuneece。Idosolongtoseeher。Whenisshecomingback？\"
\"Inafewdaysmore。\"
\"HowgladIam！Anddotellme——whichisshe？Youroldestgirloryouryoungest？\"
\"Neithertheonenortheother，Selina。\"
\"Oh，myhead！myhead！Thisisevenworsethantheaccentonthe’i’andthefinal’e。’Stop！IamclevererthanIthoughtIwas。
Youmeanthatthegirlsaretwins。AretheybothsoexactlylikeeachotherthatIshan’tknowwhichiswhich？Whatfun！\"
WhenthesubjectofourageswasunluckilystartedatMrs。
Staveley’s，Ihadslippedoutofthedifficultyeasilybyassumingthecharacteroftheeldestsister——anexampleofreadytactwhichmydearstupidEunicedoesn’tunderstand。Inmyfather’spresence，itisneedlesstosaythatIkeptsilence，andleftittohim。Iwassorrytobeobligedtodothis。Owingtohissadstateofhealth，heiseasilyirritated——especiallybyinquisitivestrangers。
\"Imustleaveyou，\"heanswered，withouttakingtheslightestnoticeofwhatMissJillgallhadsaidtohim。\"Myworkiswaitingforme。\"
Shestoppedhimonhiswaytothedoor。\"Oh，tellme——can’tI
helpyou？\"
\"Thankyou；no。\"
\"Well——buttellmeonething。AmIrightaboutthetwins？\"
\"Youarewrong。\"
MissJillgall’sdemonstrativehandsflewupintotheairagain，andexpressedtheclimaxofastonishmentbyquiveringoverherhead。\"Thisispositivelymaddening，\"shedeclared。\"Whatdoesitmean？\"
\"Takemyadvice，cousin。Don’tattempttofindoutwhatitmeans。\"
Helefttheroom。MissJillgallappealedtome。Iimitatedmyfather’swisebrevityofexpression：\"Sorrytodisappointyou，Selina；Iknownomoreaboutitthanyoudo。Comeupstairs。\"
Everystepofthewayuptothedrawing—roomwasmarkedbyaprotestoraninquiry。DidIexpecthertobelievethatI
couldn’tsaywhichofuswastheelderofthetwo？thatIdidn’treallyknowwhatmyfather’smotivewasforthisextraordinarymystification？thatmysisterandIhadsubmittedtoberobbed，asitwere，ofourownages，andhadnotinsistedondiscoveringwhichofushadcomeintotheworldfirst？thatourfriendshadnotputanendtothissortofthingbycomparinguspersonally，anddiscoveringwhichwastheeldersisterbyinvestigationofourfaces？ToallthisIreplied：First，thatIdidcertainlyexpecthertobelievewhateverImightsay：Secondly，thatwhatshewaspleasedtocallthe\"mystification\"hadbegunwhenwewerebothchildren；thathabithadmadeitfamiliartousinthecourseofyears；andaboveall，thatweweretoofondofourgoodfathertoaskforexplanationswhichweknewbyexperiencewoulddistresshim：Thirdly，thatfriendsdidtrytodiscover，bypersonalexamination，whichwastheeldersister，anddifferedperpetuallyintheirconclusions；alsothatwehadamusedourselvesbytryingthesameexperimentbeforeourlooking—glasses，andthatEunicethoughtHelenawastheoldest，andHelenathoughtEunicewastheoldest：Fourthly（andfinally），thattheReverendMr。Gracedieu’scousinhadbetterdropthesubject，unlessshewasbentonmakingherpresenceinthehouseunendurabletotheReverendMr。Gracedieuhimself。
Iwriteitwithasenseofhumiliation；MissJillgalllistenedattentivelytoallIhadtosay——andthentookmecompletelybysurprise。Thisinquisitive，meddlesome，restless，impudentwomansuddenlytransformedherselfintoaperfectmodelofamiabilityanddecorum。Sheactuallysaidsheagreedwithme，andwasmuchobligedformygoodadvice！
Astupidyoungwoman，inmyplace，wouldhavediscoveredthatthiswasnotnatural，andthatMissJillgallwaspresentingherselftomeindisguise，toreachsomesecretendofherown。I
amnotastupidyoungwoman；IoughttohavehadatmyservicepenetrationenoughtoseethroughandthroughCousinSelina。
Well！CousinSelinawasanimpenetrablemysterytome。
Theonethingtobedonewastowatchher。Iwasatleastslyenoughtotakeupabook，andpretendtobereadingit。Howcontemptible！
Shelookedroundtheroom，anddiscoveredourprettywriting—table；apresenttomyfatherfromhiscongregation。
Afteralittleconsideration，shesatdowntowritealetter。
\"Whendoesthepostgoout？\"sheasked。
Imentionedthehour；andshebeganherletter。Beforeshecouldhavewrittenmorethanthefirsttwoorthreelines，sheturnedroundonherseat，andbegantalkingtome。
\"Doyoulikewritingletters，mydear？\"
\"Yes——butthenIhavenotmanyletterstowrite。\"
\"Onlyafewfriends，Helena，butthosefewworthytobeloved？Myowncaseexactly。Hasyourfathertoldyouofmytroubles？Ah，I
amgladofthat。ItsparesmethesadnecessityofconfessingwhatIhavesuffered。Oh，howgoodmyfriends，mynewfriends，weretomeinthatdulllittleBelgiantown！Oneofthemwasgenerositypersonified——ah，shehadsuffered，too！Avilehusbandwhohaddeceivedanddesertedher。Oh，themen！Whensheheardofthelossofmylittlefortune，thatnoblecreaturegotupasubscriptionforme，andwentroundherselftocollect。ThinkofwhatIowetoher！OughtItoletanotherdaypasswithoutwritingtomybenefactress？AmInotboundingratitudetomakeherhappyintheknowledgeof_my_happiness——Imeantherefugeopenedtomeinthishospitablehouse？\"
Shetwistedherselfbackagaintothewriting—table，andwentonwithherletter。
Ihavenotattemptedtoconcealmystupidity。Letmenowrecordapartialrecoveryofmyintelligence。
ItwasnottobedeniedthatMissJillgallhaddiscoveredagoodreasonforwritingtoherfriend；butIwasatalosstounderstandwhysheshouldhavebeensoanxioustomentionthereason。Wasitpossible——afterthetalkwhichhadpassedbetweenus——thatshehadsomethingmischievoustosayinherletter，relatingtomyfatherortome？WassheafraidImightsuspectthis？Andhadshebeensocommunicativeforthepurposeofleadingmysuspicionsastray？Thesewerevagueguesses；but，tryasImight，IcouldarriveatnoclearerviewofwhatwaspassinginMissJillgall’smind。WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletolookoverhershoulder，withoutdiscovery！
Shefinishedherletter，andputtheaddress，andclosedtheenvelope。Thensheturnedroundtowardmeagain。
\"Haveyougotaforeignpostagestamp，dear？\"
IfIcouldlookatnothingelse，Iwasresolvedtolookatherenvelope。Itwasonlynecessarytogotothestudy，andtoapplytomyfather。Ireturnedwiththeforeignstamp，andIstuckitontheenvelopewithmyownhand。
Therewasnothingtointerest_me_intheaddress，asIoughttohaveforeseen，ifIhadnotbeentoomuchexcitedfortheexerciseofalittlecommonsense。MissJillgall’swonderfulfriendwasonlyremarkablebyheruglyforeignname——MRS。
TENBRUGGEN。
CHAPTERXVIII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
HEREIam，writingmyhistoryofmyself，oncemore，bymyownbedside。SomeunexpectedeventshavehappenedwhileIhavebeenaway。Oneofthemistheabsenceofmysister。
Helenahaslefthomeonavisittoanortherntownbytheseaside。Sheisstayinginthehouseofaminister（oneofpapa’sfriends），andisoccupyingapositionofdignityinwhichI
shouldcertainlylosemyhead。TheministerandhiswifeanddaughtersproposetosetupaGirls’ScriptureClass，ontheplandevisedbypapa；andtheyareataloss，poorhelplesspeople，toknowhowtobegin。Helenahasvolunteeredtosetthethinggoing。
Andtheresheisnow，advisingeverybody，governingeverybody，encouragingeverybody——issuingdirections，findingfault，rewardingmerit——oh，dear，letmeputitallinoneword，andsay：thoroughlyenjoyingherself。
Anothereventhashappened，relatingtopapa。ItsodistressedmethatIevenforgottothinkofPhilip——foralittlewhile。
Travelingbyrailway（IsupposebecauseIamnotusedtoit）
givesmetheheadache。WhenIgottoourstationhere，Ithoughtitwoulddomemoregoodtowalkhomethantorideinthenoisyomnibus。Half—waybetweentherailwayandthetown，Imetoneofthedoctors。Heisamemberofourcongregation；andheitwaswhorecommendedpapa，sometimesince，togiveuphisworkasaministerandtakealongholidayinforeignparts。
\"Iamgladtohavemetwithyou，\"thedoctorsaid。\"Yoursister，Ifind，isawayonavisit；andIwanttospeaktooneofyouaboutyourfather。\"
Itseemedthathehadbeenobservingpapa，inchapel，fromwhathecalledhisownmedicalpointofview。Hedidnotconcealfrommethathehaddrawnconclusionswhichmadehimfeeluneasy。\"Itmaybeanxiety，\"hesaid，\"oritmaybeoverwork。Ineithercase，yourfatherisinastateofnervousderangement，whichislikelytoleadtoseriousresults——unlesshetakestheadvicethatI
gavehimwhenhelastconsultedme。Theremustbenomorehesitationaboutit。Becarefulnottoirritatehim——butrememberthathemustrest。Youandyoursisterhavesomeinfluenceoverhim；hewon’tlistentome。\"
Poordearpapa！Ididseeachangeinhimfortheworse——thoughI
hadonlybeenawayforsoshortatime。
WhenIputmyarmsroundhisneck，andkissedhim，heturnedpale，andthenflushedupsuddenly：thetearscameintohiseyes。
Oh，itwashardtofollowthedoctor’sadvice，andnottocry，too；butIsucceededincontrollingmyself。Isatonhisknee，andmadehimtellmeallthatIhavewrittenhereaboutHelena。
Thisledtoourtalkingnextofthenewlady，whoistolivewithusasamemberofthefamily。Ibegantofeellessuneasyattheprospectofbeingintroducedtothisstranger，whenIheardthatshewaspapa’scousin。Andwhenhementionedhername，andsawhowitamusedme，hispoorwornfacebrightenedintoasmile。\"Goandfindher，\"hesaid，\"andintroduceyourself。Iwanttohear，Eunice，ifyouandmycousinarelikelytogetonwelltogether。\"
TheservantstoldmethatMissJillgallwasinthegarden。
Isearchedhere，there，andeverywhere，andfailedtofindher。
Theplacewassoquiet，itlookedsodeliciouslypureandbright，aftersmokydrearyLondon，thatIsatdownatthefurtherendofthegardenandletmymindtakemebacktoPhilip。Whatwashedoingatthatmoment，whileIwasthinkingofhim？Perhapshewasinthecompanyofotheryoungladies，whodrewallhisthoughtsawaytothemselves？OrperhapshewaswritingtohisfatherinIreland，andsayingsomethingkindlyandprettilyaboutme？Orperhapshewaslookingforward，asanxiouslyasIdo，toourmeetingnextweek。
Ihavehadmyplans，andIhavechangedmyplans。
Ontherailwayjourney，IthoughtIwouldtellpapaatonceofthenewhappinesswhichseemstohaveputanewlifeintome。Itwouldhavebeendelightfultomakemyconfessiontothatfirstandbestanddearestoffriends；butmymeetingwiththedoctorspoileditall。Afterwhathehadsaidtome，Idiscoveredarisk。IfIventuredtotellpapathatmyheartwassetonayounggentlemanwhowasastrangertohim，couldIbesurethathewouldreceivemyconfessionfavorably？Therewasachancethatitmightirritatehim——andthefaultwouldthenbemineofdoingwhatIhadbeenwarnedtoavoid。ItmightbesaferineverywaytowaittillPhilippaidhisvisit，andheandpapahadbeenintroducedtoeachotherandcharmedwitheachother。CouldHelenaherselfhavearrivedatawiserconclusion？IdeclareI
feltproudofmyowndiscretion。
InthisenjoyableframeofmindIwasdisturbedbyawoman’svoice。Thetonewasatoneofdistress，andthewordsreachedmyearsfromtheendofthegarden：\"Please，miss，letmein。\"
Ashrubberymarksthelimitofourlittlebitofpleasure—ground。
Ontheothersideofitthereisacottagestandingontheedgeofthecommon。Themostgood—naturedwomanintheworldliveshere。Sheisourlaundress——marriedtoastupidyoungfellownamedMolly，andblessedwithaplumpbabyassweet—temperedatherself。ThinkingitlikelythatthepiteousvoicewhichhaddisturbedmemightbethevoiceofMrs。Molly，Iwasastonishedtohearherappealingtoanybody（perhapstome？）to\"letherin。\"SoIpassedthroughtheshrubbery，wonderingwhetherthegatehadbeenlockedduringmyabsenceinLondon。No；itwasaseasytoopenasever。
Thecottagedoorwasnotclosed。
Isawouramiablelaundressinthepassage，onherknees，tryingtoopenaninnerdoorwhichseemedtobelocked。Shehadhereyeatthekeyhole；and，onceagain，shecalledout：\"Please，miss，letmein。\"Iwaitedtoseeifthedoorwouldbeopened——nothinghappened。Iwaitedagain，tohearifsomepersoninsidewouldanswer——nobodyspoke。Butsomebody，orsomething，madeasoundofsplashingwaterontheothersideofthedoor。
Ishowedmyself，andaskedwhatwasthematter。
Mrs。Mollylookedatmehelplessly。Shesaid：\"MissEunice，it’sthebaby。\"
\"Whathasthebabydone？\"Iinquired。
Mrs。Mollygotonherfeet，andwhisperedinmyear：\"Youknowhe’safinechild？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，miss，he’sbewitchedalady。\"
\"Whatlady？\"
\"MissJillgall。\"
TheverypersonIhadbeentryingtofind！Iaskedwhereshewas。
Thelaundresspointeddolefullytothelockeddoor：\"Inthere。\"
\"Andwhereisyourbaby？\"
Thepoorwomanstillpointedtothedoor：\"I’mbeginningtodoubt，miss，whetheritismybaby。\"
\"Nonsense，Mrs。Molly。Ifitisn’tyours，whosebabycanitbe？\"
\"MissJillgall’s。\"
Herpuzzledfacemadethissingularreplymorefunnystill。Thesplashingofwaterontheothersideofthedoorbeganagain。
\"WhatisMissJillgalldoingnow？\"Isaid。
\"Washingthebaby，miss。Aweekago，shecameinhere，onemorning；verypleasantandkind，Imustown。Shefoundmeputtingonthebaby’sthings。Shesays：’Whatacherub！’whichItookasacompliment。Shesays：’Ishallcallagainto—morrow。’Shecalledagainsoearlythatshefoundthebabyinhiscrib。’Youbeagoodsoul，’shesays，’andgoaboutyourwork，andleavethechildtome。’Isays：’Yes，miss，butpleasetowaittillI’vemadehimfittobeseen。’Shesays：’That’sjustwhatImeantodomyself。’Istared；andIthinkanyotherpersonwouldhavedonethesameinmyplace。’Ifthere’sonethingmorethananotherIenjoy，’shesays，’it’smakingmyselfuseful。Mrs。
Molly，I’vetakenafancytoyourboy—baby，’shesays，’andI
meantomakemyselfusefulto_him。_’Ifyouwillbelieveme，MissJillgallhasonlyletmehaveoneopportunityofputtingmyownchildtidy。Shewaslatethismorning，andIgotmychance，andhadtheboyonmylap，dryinghim——wheninsheburstlikeablastofwind，andsnatchedthebabyawayfromme。’Thisisyournastytemper，’shesays；’IdeclareI’mashamedofyou！’Andtheresheis，withthedoorlockedagainstme，washingthechildalloveragainherself。TwiceI’veknocked，andaskedhertoletmein，andcan’tevengetananswer。Theydosaythere’sluckinoddnumbers；supposeItryagain？\"Mrs。Mollyknocked，andtheproverbprovedtobetrue；shegotananswerfromMissJillgallatlast：\"Ifyoudon’tbequietandgoaway，youshan’thavethebabybackatall。\"Whocouldhelpit？——Iburstoutlaughing。MissJillgall（asIsupposedfromthetoneofhervoice）tookseverenoticeofthisactofimpropriety。\"Who’sthatlaughing？\"shecalledout；\"giveyourselfaname。\"Igavemyname。Thedoorwasinstantlythrownopenwithabang。Papa’scousinappeared，inadisheveledstate，withsplashesofsoapandwateralloverher。
Sheheldthechildinonearm，andshethrewtheotherarmroundmyneck。\"DearestEuneece，Ihavebeenlongingtoseeyou。HowdoyoulikeOurbaby？\"
TothecuriousstoryofmyintroductiontoMissJillgall，IoughtperhapstoaddthatIhavegottobefriendswithheralready。I
amthefriendofanybodywhoamusesme。WhatwillHelenasaywhenshereadsthis？
CHAPTERXIX。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
WHENpeopleareinterestedinsomeeventthatiscoming，dotheyfindthedulldays，passedinwaitingforit，dayswhichtheyarenotabletorememberwhentheylookback？Thisismyunfortunatecase。Nightafternight，IhavegonetobedwithoutsomuchasopeningmyJournal。Therewasnothingworthwritingabout，nothingthatIcouldrecollect，untilthepostmancameto—day。I
randownstairs，whenIheardhisringatthebell，andstoppedMariaonherwaytothestudy。There，amongpapa’susualhandfulofletters，wasaletterforme。
\"DEARMISSEUNICE：