\"Waiting，ofcourse，tohearwhatmyfatherthinksofyourwonderfulgoodluck。\"
Thisexplanation，offeredwiththekindestintentions，producedanotherchangeinmyveryvariablesister。IhadextinguishedhergoodspiritsasImighthaveextinguishedalight。Shesatdownbyme，andsighedinthesaddestmanner。Theheartmustbehardindeedwhichcanresistthedistressofapersonwhoisdeartous。Iputmyarmroundher；shewasbecomingoncemoretheEunicewhomIsodearlyloved。
\"Mypoorchild，\"Isaid。\"don’tdistressyourselfbyspeakingofit；Iunderstand。YourfatherobjectstoyourmarryingMr。
Dunboyne。\"
Sheshookherhead。\"Ican’texactlysay，Helena，thatpapadoesthat。Heonlybehavesverystrangely。\"
\"AmIindiscreet，dear，ifIaskinwhatwayfather’sbehaviorhassurprisedyou？\"
Shewasquitewillingtoenlightenme。Itwasasimplelittlestorywhich，tomymind，sufficientlyexplainedthestrangebehaviorthathadpuzzledmyunfortunatesister。
TherecouldindeedbenodoubtthatmyfatherconsideredEunicefartoochildishincharacter，asyet，toundertakethedutiesofmatrimony。But，withhiscustomarydelicacy，anddreadofcausingdistresstoothers，hehaddeferredthedisagreeabledutyofcommunicatinghisopiniontoMr。Dunboyne。Theadversedecisionmust，however，besoonerorlaterannounced；andhehadarrangedtoinflictdisappointment，astenderlyasmightbe，athisowntable。
ConsideratelyleavingEuniceintheenjoymentofanyvainhopeswhichshemayhavefoundedontheeventofthedinner—party，I
passedtheeveninguntilsupper—timecameinthestudywithmyfather。
OurtalkwasmainlydevotedtotheworthypeoplewithwhomIhadbeenstaying，andwhosenewschoolsIhadhelpedtofound。Notawordwassaidrelatingtomysister，ortoMr。Dunboyne。PoorfatherlookedsosadlywearyandillthatIventured，afterwhatthedoctorhadsaidtoEunice，tohintatthevalueofrestandchangeofscenetoanoverworkedman。Oh，dearme，hefrowned，andwavedthesubjectawayfromhimimpatiently，withawan，palehand。
Aftersupper，Imadeanunpleasantdiscovery。Nothavingcompletelyfinishedtheunpackingofmyboxes，IleftMissJillgallandEuniceinthedrawing—room，andwentupstairs。InhalfanhourIreturned，andfoundtheroomempty。Whathadbecomeofthem？Itwasafinemoonlightnight；Isteppedintothebackdrawing—room，andlookedoutofthewindow。Theretheywere，walkingarm—in—armwiththeirheadsclosetogether，deepintalk。
WithmyknowledgeofMissJillgall，Icallthisabadsign。
Anoddthoughthasjustcometome。Iwonderwhatmighthavehappened，ifIhadbeenvisitingatMrs。Staveley’s，insteadofEunice，andifMr。Dunboynehadseenmefirst。
Absurd！ifIwasnottootiredtodoanythingmore，thoselastlinesshouldbescratchedout。
CHAPTERXXII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ISAIDsotoMissJillgall，andIsayitagainhere。NothingwillinducemetothinkillofHelena。
Mysisterisagooddealtired，andalittleoutoftemperaftertherailwayjourney。ThisisexactlywhathappenedtomewhenI
wenttoLondon。Iattributeherrefusaltoletmereadherjournal，aftershehadreadmine，entirelytothedisagreeableconsequencesoftravelingbyrailway。MissJillgallaccountedforitotherwise，inherownfunnymanner：\"Mysweetchild，yoursister’sdiaryisfullofabuseofpoorme。\"Ihumoredthejoke：
\"DearestSelina，keepadiaryofyourown，andfillitwithabuseofmysister。\"Thisseemedtobeadrollsayingatthetime。Butitdoesn’tlookparticularlyamusing，nowitiswrittendown。Wehadgingerwineatsupper，tocelebrateHelena’sreturn。AlthoughIonlydrankoneglass，Idaresayitmayhavegotintomyhead。
Howeverthatmaybe，whenthelovelymoonlighttemptedusintothegarden，therewasanendtoourjokes。Wehadsomethingtotalkaboutwhichstilldwellsdisagreeablyonmymind。
MissJillgallbeganit。
\"IfItrustyou，dearestEuneece，withmyownprecioussecrets，shallInever，never，neverlivetorepentit？\"
Itoldmygoodlittlefriendthatshemightdependonme，providedhersecretsdidnoharmtoanypersonwhomIloved。
Sheclaspedherhandsandlookedupatthemoon——Icanonlysupposethathersentimentsoverpoweredher。Shesaid，veryprettily，thatherheartandmyheartbeattogetherinheavenlyharmony。Itisneedlesstoaddthatthissatisfiedme。
MissJillgall’sgenerousconfidenceinmydiscretionwas，Iamafraid，notrewardedasitoughttohavebeen。Ifoundhertiresomeatfirst。
Shespokeofanexcellentfriend（alady），whohadhelpedher，atthetimewhenshelostherlittlefortune，byraisingasubscriptionprivatelytopaytheexpensesofherreturntoEngland。Herfriend’sname——notveryattractivetoEnglishears——wasMrs。Tenbruggen；theyhadfirstbecomeacquaintedunderinterestingcircumstances。MissJillgallhappenedtomentionthatmyfatherwasheronlylivingrelative；anditturnedoutthatMrs。Tenbruggenwasfamiliarwithhisname，andreverencedhisfameasapreacher。Whenhehadgenerouslyreceivedhispoorhelplesscousinunderhisownroof，MissJillgall’sgratitudeandsenseofdutyimpelledhertowriteandtellMrs。Tenbruggenhowhappyshewasasamemberofourfamily。
LetmeconfessthatIbegantolistenmoreattentivelywhenthenarrativereachedthispoint。
\"Idrewalittlepictureofourdomesticcirclehere，\"MissJillgallsaid，describingherletter；\"andImentionedthemysteryinwhichMr。Gracedieuconcealstheagesofyoutwodeargirls。Mrs。Tenbruggen——shallweshortenheruglynameandcallherMrs。T。？Verywell——Mrs。T。isaremarkablycleverwoman，andIlookedforinterestingresults，ifshewouldgiveheropinionofthemysteriouscircumstancementionedinmyletter。\"
Bythistime，Iwasalleagernesstohearmore。
\"Hasshewrittentoyou？\"Iasked。
MissJillgalllookedatmeaffectionately，andtookthereplyoutofherpocket。
\"Listen，Euneece；andyoushallhearherownwords。Thusshewrites：
\"’Yourletter，dearSelina，especiallyinterestsmebywhatitsaysaboutthe_two_MissGracedieus。’——Look，dear；sheunderlinesthewordTwo。Why，Ican’texplain。Canyou？Ah，I
thoughtnot。Well，letusgetbacktotheletter。Myaccomplishedfriendcontinuesintheseterms：
\"’Icanunderstandthesurprisewhichyouhavefeltatthestrangecoursetakenbytheirfather，asameansofconcealingthedifferencewhichtheremustbeintheagesoftheseyoungladies。Manyyearssince，Ihappenedtodiscoveraromanticincidentinthelifeofyourpopularpreacher，whichhehashisreasons，asIsuspect，forkeepingstrictlytohimself。IfImayventureonaboldguess，Ishouldsaythatanypersonwhocoulddiscoverwhichwastheoldestofthetwodaughters，wouldbealsolikelytodiscoverthetruenatureoftheromanceinMr。
Gracedieu’slife。’——Isn’tthatveryremarkable，Euneece？Youdon’tseemtoseeit——youfunnychild！Praypayparticularattentiontowhatcomesnext。Thesearetheclosingsentencesinmyfriend’sletter：
\"’Ifyoufindanythingnewtotellmewhichrelatestothisinterestingsubject，directyourletterasbefore——providedyouwritewithinaweekfromthepresenttime。Afterward，myletterswillbereceivedbytheEnglishphysicianwhosecardIinclose。
YouwillbepleasedtohearthatmyprofessionalinterestscallmetoLondonattheearliestmomentthatIcanspare。’——There。
dearchild，thelettercomestoanend。IdaresayyouwonderwhatMrs。T。means，whenshealludestoherprofessionalinterests？\"
No：Iwasnotwonderingaboutanything。Ithurtmetohearofastrangewomanexercisingheringenuityinguessingatmysteriesinpapa’slife。
ButMissJillgallwastooeagerlybentonsettingforththemeritsofherfriendtonoticethis。InowheardthatMrs。T。’smarriagehadturnedoutbadly，andthatshehadbeenreducedtoearnherownbread。Hermannerofdoingthiswassomethingquitenewtome。Shewentabout，fromoneplacetoanother，curingpeopleofallsortsofpainfulmaladies，byawayshehadofrubbingthemwithherhands。InBelgiumshewascalleda\"Masseuse。\"WhenIaskedwhatthismeantinEnglish，Iwastold，\"MedicalRubber，\"andthatthefameofMrs。T。’swonderfulcureshadreachedsomeofthemedicalnewspaperspublishedinLondon。
Afterlistening（Imustsayformyself）verypatiently，IwasboldenoughtoownthatmyinterestinwhatIhadjustheardwasnotquitesoplaintomeasIcouldhavewishedittobe。
MissJillgalllookedshockedatmystupidity。SheremindedmethattherewasamysteryinMrs。Tenbruggen’sletterandamysteryinpapa’sstrangeconducttowardPhilip。\"Puttwoandtwotogether，darling，\"shesaid；\"and，oneofthesedays，theymaymakefour。\"
Ifthismeantanything，itmeantthatthereasonwhichmadepapakeepHelena’sageandmyageunknowntoeverybodybuthimself，wasalsothereasonwhyheseemedtobesostrangelyunwillingtoletmebePhilip’swife。Ireallycouldnotenduretotakesuchaviewofitasthat，andbeggedMissJillgalltodropthesubject。
Shewasaskindasever。
\"Withallmyheart，dear。Butdon’tdeceiveyourself——thesubjectwillturnupagainwhenweleastexpectit。\"
CHAPTERXXIII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ONLYtwodaysnow，beforewegiveourlittledinner—party，andPhilipfindshisopportunityofspeakingtopapa。Oh，howIwishthatdayhadcomeandgone！
Itrynottotakegloomyviewsofthings；butIamnotquitesohappyasIhadexpectedtobewhenmydearwasinthesametownwithme。Ifpapahadencouragedhimtocallagain，wemighthavehadsomeprecioustimetoourselves。Asitis，wecanonlymeetinthedifferentshow—placesinthetown——withHelenaononeside，andMissJillgallontheother，totakecareofus。Idocallitcruelnottolettwoyoungpeopleloveeachother，withoutsettingthirdpersonstowatchthem。IfIwasQueenofEngland，Iwouldhaveprettyprivatebowersmadeforlovers，inthesummer，andnicewarmlittleroomstoholdtwo，inthewinter。Whynot？Whatharmcouldcomeofit，Ishouldliketoknow？
Thecathedralistheplaceofmeetingwhichwefindmostconvenient，underthecircumstances。Therearedelightfulnooksandcornersaboutthiscelebratedbuildinginwhichloverscanlagbehind。Ifwehadbeeninpapa’schapelIshouldhavehesitatedtoturnittosuchaprofaneuseasthis；thecathedraldoesn’tsomuchmatter。
ShallIownthatIfeltmyinferioritytoHelenaalittlekeenly？
ShecouldtellPhilipsomanythingsthatIshouldhavelikedtotellhimfirst。Mycleversistertaughthimhowtopronouncethenameofthebishopwhobeganbuildingthecathedral；sheledhimoverthecrypt，andtoldhimhowolditwas。Hewasinterestedinthecrypt；hetalkedtoHelena（nottome）ofhisambitiontowriteaworkoncathedralarchitectureinEngland；hemadearoughlittlesketchinhisbookofourfamoustombofsomeking。
Helenaknewthelateroyalpersonage’sname，andPhilipshowedhissketchtoherbeforeheshowedittome。HowcanIblamehim，whenIstoodtherethepictureofstupidity，tryingtorecollectsomethingthatImighttellhim，ifitwasonlytheDean’sname？
Helenamighthavewhisperedittome，Ithink。Sherememberedit，notI——andmentionedittoPhilip，ofcourse。Ikeptclosebyhimallthetime，andnowandthenhegavemealookwhichraisedmyspirits。Hemighthavegivenmesomethingbetterthanthat——I
meanakiss——whenwehadleftthecathedral，andwerebyourselvesforamomentinacorneroftheDean’sgarden。Buthemissedtheopportunity。PerhapshewasafraidoftheDeanhimselfcomingthatway，andhappeningtoseeus。However，IamfarfromthinkingtheworseofPhilip。Igavehisarmalittlesqueeze——andthatwasbetterthannothing。
HeandItookawalkalongthebankoftheriverto—day；mysisterandMissJillgalllookingafterusasusual。
Onourwaythroughthetown，Helenastoppedtogiveanorderatashop。Sheaskedustowaitforher。Thatbestofgoodcreatures，MissJillgall，whisperedinmyear：\"Goonbyyourselves，andleavemetowaitforher。\"Philipinterpretedthisactofkindnessinamannerwhichwouldhavevexedme，ifIhadnotunderstoodthatitwasoneofhisjokes。Hesaidtome：\"MissJillgallseesachanceofannoyingyoursister，andenjoystheprospect。\"
Well，awaywewenttogether；itwasjustwhatIwanted；itgavemeanopportunityofsayingsomethingtoPhilip，betweenourselves。
Icouldnowbegofhim，inhisinterestsandmine，tomakethebestofhimselfwhenhecametodinner。Cleverpeople，Itoldhim，werepeoplewhompapalikedandadmired。Isaid：\"Lethimsee，dear，howclever_you_are，andhowmanythingsyouknow——andyoucan’timaginewhatahighplaceyouwillhaveinhisopinion。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkIamtakingtoomuchonmyselfintellingyouhowtobehave。\"
HerelievedthatdoubtinamannerwhichIdespairofdescribing。
HiseyesrestedonmewithsuchalookofexquisitesweetnessandlovethatIwasobligedtoholdbyhisarm，Itrembledsowiththepleasureoffeelingit。
\"Idosincerelybelieve，\"hesaid，\"thatyouarethemostinnocentgirl，thesweetest，truestgirlthateverlived。IwishIwasabetterman，Eunice；IwishIwasgoodenoughtobeworthyofyou！\"
Tohearhimspeakofhimselfinthatwayjarredonme。Ifsuchwordshadfallenfromanyotherman’slips，Ishouldhavebeenafraidthathehaddonesomething，orthoughtsomething，ofwhichhehadreasontofeelashamed。WithPhilipthiswasimpossible。
Hewaseagertowalkonrapidly，andtoturnacornerinthepath，beforewecouldbeseen。\"Iwanttobealonewithyou，\"hesaid。
Ilookedback。Weweretoolate；HelenaandMissJillgallhadnearlyovertakenus。MysisterwasonthepointofspeakingtoPhilip，whensheseemedtochangehermind，andonlylookedathim。Insteadoflookingatherinreturn，hekepthiseyescastdownanddrewfiguresonthepathwaywithhisstick。IthinkHelenawasoutoftemper；shesuddenlyturnedmyway。\"Whydidn’tyouwaitforme？\"sheasked。
Philiptookherupsharply。\"IfEunicelikesseeingtheriverbetterthanwaitinginthestreet，\"hesaid，\"isn’tshefreetodoasshepleases？\"
Helenasaidnothingmore；Philipwalkedonslowlybyhimself。Notknowingwhattomakeofit，IturnedtoMissJillgall。
\"SurelyPhilipcan’thavequarreledwithHelena？\"Isaid。
MissJillgallansweredinanoddoff—handmanner：\"Nothe！Heisagreatdealmorelikelytohavequarreledwithhimself。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Supposeyouaskhimwhy？\"
Itwasnottobethoughtof；itwouldhavelookedlikepryingintohisthoughts。\"Selina！\"Isaid，\"thereissomethingoddaboutyouto—day。Whatisthematter？Idon’tunderstandyou。\"
\"Mypoordear，youwillfindyourselfunderstandingmebeforelong。\"IthoughtIsawsomethinglikepityinherfacewhenshesaidthat。
\"Mypoordear？\"Irepeated。\"Whatmakesyouspeaktomeinthatway？\"
\"Idon’tknow——I’mtired；I’manoldfool——I’llgobacktothehouse。\"
Withoutanotherword，sheleftme。IturnedtolookforPhilip，andsawthatmysisterhadjoinedhimwhileIhadbeenspeakingtoMissJillgall。ItpleasedmetofindthattheyweretalkinginafriendlywaywhenIjoinedthem。AquarrelbetweenHelenaandmyhusbandthatistobe——no，myhusbandthat_shall_be——wouldhavebeentoodistressing，toounnaturalImightalmostcallit。
Philiplookedalongthebackwardpath，andaskedwhathadbecomeofMissJillgall。\"Haveyouanyobjectiontofollowherexample？\"
hesaidtome，whenItoldhimthatSelinahadreturnedtothetown。\"Idon’tcareforthebanksofthisriver。\"
Helena，whousedtoliketheriveratothertimes，wasasreadyasPhiliptoleaveitnow。Ifancytheyhadbothbeenkindlywaitingtochangeourwalk，tillIcametothem，andtheycouldstudymywishestoo。OfcourseIwasreadytogowheretheypleased。IaskedPhilipiftherewasanythinghewouldliketosee，whenwegotintothestreetsagain。
CleverHelenasuggestedwhatseemedtobeastrangeamusementtooffertoPhilip。\"Let’stakehimtotheGirls’School，\"shesaid。
Itappearedtobeamatterofperfectindifferencetohim；hewas，whattheycall，ironical。\"Oh，yes，ofcourse。Deeplyinteresting！deeplyinteresting！\"Hesuddenlybrokeintothewildestgoodspirits，andtuckedmyhandunderhisarmwithagayetywhichitwasimpossibletoresist。\"Whataboyyouare！\"
Helenasaid，enjoyinghisdelightfulhilarityasIdid。
CHAPTERXXIV。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ONenteringtheschoolroomwelostourgayety，allinamoment。
Somethingunpleasanthadevidentlyhappened。
Twooftheeldestgirlsweresittingtogetherinacorner，separatedfromtherest，andlookingmostwickedlysulky。Theteacherswereattheotherendoftheroom，appearingtobeillatease。Andthere，standinginthemidstofthem，withhisfaceflushedandhiseyesangry——therewaspapa，sadlyunlikehisgentleselfinthedaysofhishealthandhappiness。Onformeroccasions，whentheexerciseofhisauthoritywasrequiredintheschool，hisforbearingtemperalwayssetthingsright。WhenIsawhimnow，Ithoughtofwhatthedoctorhadsaidofhishealth，onmywayhomefromthestation。
Papaadvancedtousthemomentweshowedourselvesatthedoor。
Heshookhands——cordiallyshookhands——withPhilip。Itwasdelightfultoseehim，delightfultohearhimsay：\"Praydon’tsuppose，Mr。Dunboyne，thatyouareintruding；remainwithusbyallmeansifyoulike。\"ThenhespoketoHelenaandtome，stillexcited，stillnotlikehimself：\"Youcouldn’thavecomehere，mydears，atatimewhenyourpresencewasmoreurgentlyneeded。\"Heturnedtotheteachers。\"Tellmydaughterswhathashappened；
tellthemwhytheyseemehere——shockedanddistressed，Idon’tdenyit。\"
Wenowheardthatthetwogirlsindisgracehadbrokentherules，andinsuchamannerastodeserveseverepunishment。
Oneofthemhadbeendiscoveredhidinganovelinherdesk。Theotherhadmisbehavedherselfmoreseriouslystill——shehadgonetothetheater。Insteadofexpressinganyregret，theyhadactuallydaredtocomplainofhavingtolearnpapa’simprovedcatechism。Theyhadevenaccusedhimoftreatingthemwithseverity，becausetheywerepoorgirlsbroughtuponcharity。\"Ifwehadbeenyoungladies，\"theywereaudaciousenoughtosay，\"moreindulgencewouldhavebeenshowntous；weshouldhavebeenallowedtoreadstoriesandtoseeplays。\"
AllthistimeIhadbeenaskingmyselfwhatpapameant，whenhetolduswecouldnothavecometotheschoolroomatabettertime。Hismeaningnowappeared。Whenhespoketotheoffendinggirls，hepointedtoHelenaandtome。
\"Herearemydaughters，\"hesaid。\"Youwillnotdenythattheyareyoungladies。Nowlisten。Theyshalltellyouthemselveswhethermyrulesmakeanydifferencebetweenthemandyou。
Helena！Eunice！doIallowyoutoreadnovels？doIallowyoutogototheplay？\"
Wesaid，\"No\"——andhopeditwasover。Buthehadnotdoneyet。HeturnedtoHelena。
\"Answersomeofthequestions，\"hewenton，\"frommyManualofChristianObligation，whichthegirlscallmycatechism。\"Heaskedoneofthequestions：\"Ifyouaretoldtodountoothersasyouwouldtheyshoulddountoyou，andifyoufindadifficultyinobeyingthatDivinePrecept，whatdoesyourdutyrequire？\"
ItismybeliefthatHelenahasthematerialsinherformakinganotherJoanofArc。Sherose，andansweredwithouttheslightestsignoftimidity：\"Mydutyrequiresmetogototheminister，andtoseekforadviceandencouragement。\"
\"Andifthesefail？\"
\"ThenIamtorememberthatmypastorismyfriend。Heclaimsnopriestlyauthorityorpriestlyinfallibility。Heismyfellow—Christianwholovesme。Hewilltellmehowhehashimselffailed；howhehasstruggledagainsthimself；andwhatablessedrewardhasfollowedhisvictory——apurifiedheart，apeacefulmind。\"
Thenpapareleasedmysister，aftershehadonlyrepeatedtwooutofalltheanswersinChristianObligation，whichwefirstbegantolearnwhenwewerechildren。Hethenaddressedhimselfagaintothegirls。
\"Iswhatyouhavejustheardapartofmycatechism？Hasmydaughterbeenexcusedfromrepeatingitbecausesheisayounglady？Whereisthedifferencebetweenthereligiouseducationwhichisgiventomyownchild，andthatgiventoyou？\"
Thewretchedgirlsstillsatsilentandobstinate，withtheirheadsdown。ItrembleagainasIwriteofwhathappenednext。
Papafixedhiseyesonme。Hesaid，outloud：\"Eunice！\"——andwaitedformetoriseandanswer，asmysisterhaddone。
Itwasentirelybeyondmypowertogetonmyfeet。
Philiphad（innocently，Iamsure）discouragedme；Isawdispleasure，Isawcontemptinhisface。Therewasadeadsilenceintheroom。Everybodylookedatme。Myheartbeatfuriously，myhandsturnedcold，thequestionsandanswersinChristianObligationallleftmymemorytogether。Ilookedimploringlyatpapa。
Forthefirsttimeinhislife，hewashardonme。Hiseyeswereasangryasever；theyshowedmenomercy。Oh，whathadcometome？whatevilspiritpossessedme？Ifeltresentment；horrid，undutifulresentment，atbeingtreatedinthiscruelway。Myfistsclinchedthemselvesinmylap，myfacefeltashotasfire。
Insteadofaskingmyfathertoexcuseme，Isaid：\"Ican’tdoit。\"Hewasastounded，aswellhemightbe。Iwentonfrombadtoworse。Isaid：\"Iwon’tdoit。\"
Hestoopedoverme；hewhispered：\"Iamgoingtoaskyousomething；Iinsistonyouranswering，YesorNo。\"Heraisedhisvoice，anddrewhimselfbacksothattheycouldallseeme。
\"Haveyoubeentaughtlikeyoursister？\"heasked。\"Hasthecatechismthathasbeenherreligiouslesson，forallherlife，beenyourreligiouslesson，forallyourlife，too？\"
Isaid：\"Yes\"——andIwasinsucharagethatIsaiditoutloud。
IfPhiliphadhandedmehiscane，andhadadvisedmetogivetheyounghussieswhowereanswerableforthisdreadfulstateofthingsagoodbeating，IbelieveIshouldhavedoneit。Papaturnedhisbackonmeandofferedthegirlsalastchance：\"Doyoufeelsorryforwhatyouhavedone？Doyouasktobeforgiven？\"
Neithertheonenortheotheransweredhim。Hecalledacrosstheroomtotheteachers：\"Thosetwopupilsareexpelledtheschool。\"
Boththewomenlookedhorrified。Theelderofthetwoapproachedhim，andtriedtopleadforamildersentence。Heansweredinonesternword：\"Silence！\"——andlefttheschoolroom，withoutevenapassingbowtoPhilip。Andthis，afterhehadcordiallyshakenhandswithmypoordear，nothalfanhourbefore。
Ioughttohavemadeaffectionateallowanceforhisnervousmiseries；Ioughttohaverunafterhim，andbeggedhispardon。
Theremustbesomethingwrong，Iamafraid，ingirlslovinganybodybuttheirfathers。WhenHelenaledthewayoutbyanotherdoor，IranafterPhilip；andIasked_him_toforgiveme。
Idon’tknowwhatIsaid；itwasallconfusion。Thefearofhavingforfeitedhisfondnessmust，Isuppose，haveshakenmymind。IrememberentreatingHelenatosayakindwordforme。Shewassoclever，shehadbehavedsowell，shehaddeservedthatPhilipshouldlistentoher。\"Oh，\"Icriedouttohimdesperately，\"whatmustyouthinkofme？\"
\"IwilltellyouwhatIthinkofyou，\"hesaid。\"Itisyourfatherwhoisinfault，Eunice——notyou。Nothingcouldhavebeeninworsetastethanhismanagementofthattrumperyaffairintheschoolroom；itwasacompletemistakefrombeginningtoend。Makeyourmindeasy；Idon’tblameYou。\"
\"Areyou，reallyandtruly，asfondofmeasever？\"
\"Yes，tobesure！\"
HelenaseemedtobehardlyasmuchinterestedinthishappyendingofmyanxietiesasImighthaveanticipated。Shewalkedonbyherself。Perhapsshewasthinkingofpoorpapa’sstrangeoutbreakofexcitement，andgrievingoverit。
Wehadonlyalittlewaytowalk，beforewepassedthedoorofPhilip’shotel。Hehadnotyetreceivedtheexpectedletterfromhisfather——thecruelletterwhichmightrecallhimtoIreland。
Itwasthenthehourofdeliverybyoursecondpost；hewenttolookattheletter—rackinthehall。HelenasawthatIwasanxious。Shewasaskindagainasever；sheconsentedtowaitwithmeforPhilip，atthedoor。
Hecameouttouswithanopenletterinhishand。
\"Frommyfather，atlast，\"hesaid——andgavemethelettertoread。Itonlycontainedthesefewlines：