\"Donotbealarmed，mydearboy，atthechangefortheworseinmyhandwriting。Iamsufferingformydevotiontothestudioushabitsofalifetime：myrighthandisattackedbythemaladycalledWriter’sCramp。Thedoctorherecandonothing。Hetellsmeofsomeforeignwoman，mentionedinhisnewspaper，whocuresnervousderangementsofallkindsbyhand—rubbing，andwhoiscomingtoLondon。Whenyounexthearfromme，ImaybeinLondontoo。\"——Theretheletterended。
OfcourseIknewwhotheforeignwoman，mentionedinthenewspaper，was。
ButwhatdoesMissJillgall’sfriendmattertome？Theoneimportantthingis，thatPhiliphasnotbeencalledbacktoIreland。Hereisafortunatecircumstance，whichperhapsmeansmoregoodluck。ImaybeMrs。PhilipDunboynebeforetheyearisout。
CHAPTERXXV。
HELENA’SDIARY。
THEYallnoticeathomethatIamlookingwornandhaggard。Thathideousoldmaid，MissJillgall，hadhermaliciouswelcomereadyformewhenwemetatbreakfastthismorning：\"DearHelena，whathasbecomeofyourbeauty？Onewouldthinkyouhadleftitinyourroom！\"PoordeludedEuniceshowedhersisterlysympathy：
\"Don’tjokeaboutit，Selina：can’tyouseethatHelenaisill？\"
I_have_beenill；illofmyownwickedness。
Buttherecoverytomytranquillitywillbringwithittherecoveryofmygoodlooks。MyfatalpassionforPhilippromisestobetheutterdestructionofeverythingthatisgoodinme。
Well！whatisgoodinmemaynotbeworthkeeping。Thereisafateinthesethings。IfIamdestinedtorobEuniceoftheonedearobjectofherloveandhope——howcanIresist？TheonekindthingIcandoistokeepherinignoranceofwhatiscoming，byactsofaffectionatedeceit。
Besides，ifshesuffers，Isuffertoo。InthelengthandbreadthofEngland，Idoubtifthereisamuchmorewickedyoungwomantobefoundthanmyself。Isitnothingtofeelthat，andtoendureitasIdo？
Uponmyword，thereisnoexcuseforme！
Isthissheerimpudence？No；itisthebentofmynature。Ihaveatendencytoself—examination，accompaniedbyonemerit——Idon’tsparemyself。
ThereareexcusesforEunice。Shelivesinafools’paradise；andsheseesinherloveraradiantcreature，shininginthehalothrownoverhimbyherownself—delusion，Nothingofthissortistobesaidforme。IseePhilipasheis。Mypenetrationlooksintothelowestdepthsofhischaracter——whenIamnotinhiscompany。Thereseemstobeafoundationofgood，somewhereinhisnature。Hedespisesandhateshimself（hehasconfessedittome），whenEuniceiswithhim——stillbelievinginherfalsesweetheart。Buthowlongdothesebetterinfluenceslast？Ihaveonlytoshowmyself，inmysister’sabsence，andPhilipisminebodyandsoul。Hisvanityandhisweaknesstakepossessionofhimthemomentheseesmyface。Heisoneofthosemen——eveninmylittleexperienceIhavemetwiththem——whoareborntobeledbywomen。IfEunicehadpossessedmystrengthofcharacter，hewouldhavebeentruetoherforlife。
OughtInot，injusticetomyself，tohaveliftedmyhearthighabovethereachofsuchacreatureasthis？CertainlyIought！I
knowit，Ifeelit。Andyet，thereissomefascinationinhavinghimwhichIamabsolutelyunabletoresist。
What，Iaskmyself，hasfedthenewflamewhichisburninginme？
Diditbeginwithgratifiedpride？ImightwellfeelproudwhenI
foundmyselfadmiredbyamanofhisbeauty，setoffbysuchmannersandsuchaccomplishmentsashis。Or，hasthegrowthofthismasterfulfeelingbeenencouragedbytheenvyandjealousystirredinme，whenIfoundEunice（myinferiorineveryrespect）
distinguishedbythedevotionofahandsomelover，andhavingabrilliantmarriageinview——whileIwasleftneglected，withnoprospectofchangingmytitlefromMisstoMrs。？Vaininquiries！
Mywickedheartseemstohavesecretsofitsown，andtokeepthemamysterytome。
Whathasbecomeofmyexcellenteducation？Idon’tcaretoinquire；Ihavegotbeyondthereachofgoodbooksandreligiousexamples。Amongmyotherblamableactionstheremaynowbereckoneddisobediencetomyfather。Ihavebeenreadingnovelsinsecret。
AtfirstItriedsomeofthefamousEnglishworks，publishedatapricewithinthereachofsmallpurses。Verywellwritten，nodoubt——butwithoneunpardonabledrawback，sofarasIamconcerned。Ourcelebratednativeauthorsaddressthemselvestogoodpeople，ortopenitentpeoplewhowanttobemadegood；nottowickedreaderslikeme。
Arrivingatthisconclusion，Itriedanotherexperiment。Inasmallbookseller’sshopIdiscoveredsomecheaptranslationsofFrenchnovels。Here，IfoundwhatIwanted——sympathywithsin。
Here，therewasopenedtomeanewworldinhabitedentirelybyunrepentantpeople；themagnificentwomendiabolicallybeautiful；
thesatanicmendeadtoeverysenseofvirtue，andalive——perhapsratherdirtilyalive——tothesplendidfascinationsofcrime。I
knownowthatLoveisaboveeverythingbutitself。Loveistheonelawthatweareboundtoobey。Howdeep！howconsoling！howadmirablytrue！ThenovelistsofEnglandhavereasonindeedtohidetheirheadsbeforethenovelistsofFrance。AllthatIhavefelt，andhavewrittenhere，isinspiredbythesewonderfulauthors。
Ihaverelievedmymind，andmaynowreturntothebusinessofmydiary——therecordofdomesticevents。
AnoverwhelmingdisappointmenthasfallenonEunice。Ourdinner—partyhasbeenputoff。
Thestateoffather’shealthisanswerableforthischangeinourarrangementsThatwretchedsceneattheschool，complicatedbymysister’sundutifulbehavioratthetime，soseriouslyexcitedhimthathepassedasleeplessnight，andkepthisbedroomthroughouttheday。Eunice’stotalwantofdiscretionadded，nodoubt，tohissufferings：sherudelyintrudedonhimtoexpressherregretandtoaskhispardon。Havingcarriedherpoint，shewasatleisuretocometome，andtoask（howamazinglysimpleofher！）
whatsheandPhilipweretodonext。
\"Wehadarrangeditallsonicely，\"thepoorwretchbegan。
\"Philipwastohavebeensocleverandagreeableatdinner，andwastohavechosenhistimesoverydiscreetly，thatpapawouldhavebeenreadytolistentoanythinghesaid。
Oh，weshouldhavesucceeded；Ihaven’tadoubtofit！Ouronlyhope，Helena，isinyou。Whatarewetodonow？\"
\"Wait，\"Ianswered。
\"Wait？\"sherepeated，hotly。\"Ismyhearttobebroken？and，whatismorecruelstill，isPhiliptobedisappointed？Iexpectedsomethingmoresensible，mydear，fromyou。Whatpossiblereasoncantherebeforwaiting？\"
Thereason——ifIcouldonlyhavementionedit——wasbeyonddispute。IwantedtimetoquietPhilip’suneasyconscience，andtohardenhisweakmindagainstoutburstsofviolence，onEunice’spart，whichwouldcertainlyexhibitthemselveswhenshefoundthatshehadlostherlover，andlosthimtome。Inthemeanwhile，Ihadtoproducemyreasonforadvisinghertowait。
Itwaseasilydone。Iremindedheroftheirritableconditionofourfather’snerves，andgaveitasmyopinionthathewouldcertainlysayNo，ifshewasunwiseenoughtoexcitehimonthesubjectofPhilip，inhispresentframeofmind。
Theseunanswerableconsiderationsseemedtoproducetherighteffectonher。\"Isupposeyouknowbest，\"wasallshesaid。Andthensheleftme。
Ilethergowithoutfeelinganydistrustofthisactofsubmissiononherpart；itwassuchacommonexperience，inmylife，tofindmysisterguidingherselfbymyadvice。Butexperienceisnotalwaystobetrusted。EventssoonshowedthatI
hadfailedtoestimateEunice’sresourcesofobstinacyandcunningattheirtruevalue。
HalfanhourlaterIheardthestreetdoorclosed，andlookedoutofthewindow。MissJillgallwasleavingthehouse；noonewaswithher。Mydislikeofthispersonledmeastrayoncemore。I
oughttohavesuspectedherofbeingbentonsomemischievouserrand，andtohavedevisedsomemeansofputtingmysuspicionstothetest。Ididnothingofthekind。InthemomentwhenI
turnedmyheadawayfromthewindow，MissJillgallwasapersonforgotten——andIwasapersonwhohadmadeaseriousmistake。
CHAPTERXXVI。
HELENA’SDIARY。
THEeventofto—daybeganwiththedeliveryofamessagesummoningmetomyfather’sstudy。Hehaddecided——toohastily，asIfeared——thathewassufficientlyrecoveredtoresumehisusualemployments。Iwaswritingtohisdictation，whenwewereinterrupted。MariaannouncedavisitfromMr。Dunboyne。
HithertoPhiliphadbeencontenttosendoneoftheservantsofthehoteltomakeinquiryafterMr。Gracedieu’shealth。Whyhadhenowcalledpersonally？Noticingthatfatherseemedtobeannoyed，ItriedtomakeanopportunityofreceivingPhilipmyself。\"Letmeseehim，\"Isuggested；\"Icaneasilysayyouareengaged。\"
Veryunwillingly，asitwaseasytosee，myfatherdeclinedtoallowthis。\"Mr。Dunboyne’svisitpaysmeacompliment，\"hesaid；
\"andImustreceivehim。\"Imadeashowofleavingtheroom，andwascalledbacktomychair。\"Thisisnotaprivateinterview，Helena；staywhereyouare。\"
Philipcamein——handsomerthanever，beautifullydressed——andpaidhisrespectstomyfatherwithhiscustomarygrace。Hewastoowell—bredtoallowanyvisiblesignsofembarrassmenttoescapehim。Butwhenheshookhandswithme，Ifeltalittletremblinginhisfingers，throughthedelicategloveswhichfittedhimlikeasecondskin。WasitthetrueobjectofhisvisittotrytheexperimentdesignedbyEuniceandhimself，anddeferredbythepostponementofourdinner—party？Impossiblesurelythatmysistercouldhavepracticedonhisweakness，andpersuadedhimtoreturntohisfirstlove！Iwaited，inbreathlessinterest，forhisnextwords。Theywerenotworthlisteningto。Oh，thepoorcommonplacecreature！
\"Iamglad，Mr。Gracedieu，toseethatyouarewellenoughtobeinyourstudyagain，\"hesaid。Thewritingmaterialsonthetableattractedhisattention。\"AmIoneoftheidlepeople，\"heasked，withhischarmingsmile，\"whoarealwaysinterruptingusefulemployment？\"
Hespoketomyfather，andhewasansweredbymyfather。Notoncehadheaddressedawordtome——no，notevenwhenweshookhands。
Iwasangryenoughtoforcehimintotakingsomenoticeofme，andtomakeanattempttoconfusehimatthesametime。
\"Haveyouseenmysister？\"Iasked。
\"No。\"
Itwastheshortestreplythathecouldchoose。Havingflungitatme，hestillpersistedinlookingatmyfatherandspeakingtomyfather：\"Doyouthinkoftryingchangeofair，Mr。Gracedieu，whenyoufeelstrongenoughtotravel？\"
\"Mydutieskeepmehere，\"fatheranswered；\"andIcannothonestlysaythatIenjoytraveling。Idislikemannersandcustomsthatarestrangetome；Idon’tfindthathotelsrewardmeforgivingupthecomfortsofmyownhouse。Howdoyoufindthehotelhere？\"
\"Isubmittothehotel，sir。Theyaresadsavagesinthekitchen；
theyputmushroomketchupintotheirsoup，andmustardandcayennepepperintotheirsalads。Iamhalf—starvedatdinner—time，butIdon’tcomplain。\"
Everywordhesaidwasanoffensetome。Withorwithoutreason，Iattackedhimagain。
\"Ihaveheardyouacknowledgethatthelandlordandlandladyareveryobligingpeople，\"Isaid。\"Whydon’tyouaskthemtoletyoumakeyourownsoupandmixyourownsalad？\"
IwonderedwhetherIshouldsucceedinattractinghisnotice，afterthis。Evenintheseprivatepages，myself—esteemfindsithardtoconfesswhathappened。IsucceededinremindingPhilipthathehadhisreasonsforrequestingmetoleavetheroom。
\"Willyouexcuseme，MissHelena，\"hesaid，\"ifIaskleavetospeaktoMr。Gracedieuinprivate？\"
Therightthingformetodowas，letmehope，thethingthatI
did。Irose，andwaitedtoseeifmyfatherwouldinterfere。HelookedatPhilipwithsuspicioninhisface，aswellassurprise。
\"MayIask，\"hesaid，coldly，\"whatistheobjectoftheinterview？\"
\"Certainly，\"Philipanswered，\"whenwearealone。\"Thiscoolreplyplacedmyfatherbetweentwoalternatives；hemusteithergiveway，orbeguiltyofanactofrudenesstoaguestinhisownhouse。Thechoicereservedformewasnarrowerstill——Ihadtodecidebetweenbeingtoldtogo，orgoingofmyownaccord。Ofcourse，Ileftthemtogether。
Thedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththenextroomwaspulledto，butnotclosed。Ontheothersideofit，IfoundEunice。
\"Listening！\"Isaid，inawhisper。
\"Yes，\"shewhisperedback。\"Youlisten，too！\"
IwassoindignantwithPhilip，andsoseriouslyinterestedinwhatwasgoingoninthestudy，thatIyieldedtotemptation。Webothdegradedourselves。Webothlistened。
Eunice’sbaseloverspokefirst。Judgingbythechangeinhisvoice，hemusthaveseensomethinginmyfather’sfacethatdauntedhim。Euniceheardit，too。\"He’sgettingnervous，\"shewhispered；\"he’llforgettosaytherightthingattherighttime。\"
\"Mr。Gracedieu，\"Philipbegan，\"Iwishtospeaktoyou——\"
Fatherinterruptedhim：\"Wearealonenow，Mr。Dunboyne。Iwanttoknowwhyyouconsultmeinprivate？\"
\"Iamanxioustoconsultyou，sir，onasubject——\"
\"Onwhatsubject？Anyreligiousdifficulty？\"
\"No。\"
\"AnythingIcandoforyouinthetown？\"
\"Notatall。Ifyouwillonlyallowme——\"
\"Iamstillwaiting，sir，toknowwhatitisabout。\"
Philip’svoicesuddenlybecameanangryvoice。\"Onceforall，Mr。
Gracedieu，\"hesaid，\"willyouletmespeak？It’saboutyourdaughter——\"
\"Nomoreofit，Mr。Dunboyne！\"（MyfatherwasnowasloudasPhilip。）\"Idon’tdesiretoholdaprivateconversationwithyouonthesubjectofmydaughter。\"
\"Ifyouhaveanypersonalobjectiontome，sir，besogoodastostateitplainly。\"
\"Youhavenorighttoaskmetodothat。\"
\"Yourefusetodoit？\"
\"Positively。\"
\"Youarenotverycivil，Mr。Gracedieu。\"
\"IfIspeakwithoutceremony，Mr。Dunboyne，youhaveyourselftothankforit。\"
Philiprepliedtothisinatoneofsavageirony。\"Youareaministerofreligion，andyouareanoldman。Twoprivileges——andyoupresumeonthemboth。Good—morning。\"
Idrewbackintoacorner，justintimetoescapediscoveryinthecharacterofalistener。Eunicenevermoved。WhenPhilipdashedintotheroom，bangingthedoorafterhim，shethrewherselfimpulsivelyonhisbreast：\"Oh，Philip！Philip！whathaveyoudone？Whydidn’tyoukeepyourtemper？\"
\"Didyouhearwhatyourfathersaidtome？\"heasked。
\"Yes，dear；butyououghttohavecontrolledyourself——youought，indeed，formysake。\"
Herarmswerestillroundhim。Itstruckmethathefeltherinfluence。\"Ifyouwishmetorecovermyself，\"hesaid，gently，\"youhadbetterletmego。\"
\"Oh，howcruel，Philip，toleavemewhenIamsowretched！Whydoyouwanttogo？\"
\"YoutoldmejustnowwhatIoughttodo，\"heanswered，stillrestraininghimself。\"IfIamtogetthebetterofmytemper，I
mustbeleftalone。\"
\"Ineversaidanythingaboutyourtemper，darling。\"
\"Didn’tyoutellmetocontrolmyself？\"
\"Oh，yes！Gobacktopapa。andbeghimtoforgiveyou。\"
\"I’llseehimdamnedfirst！\"
Ifeverastupidgirldeservedsuchananswerasthis，thegirlwasmysister。Ihadhitherto（withsomedifficulty）refrainedfrominterfering。ButwhenEunicetriedtofollowPhilipoutofthehouse，Icouldhesitatenolonger；Iheldherback。\"Youfool，\"Isaid；\"haven’tyoumademischiefenoughalready？\"
\"WhatamItodo？\"sheburstout，helplessly。
\"DowhatItoldyoutodoyesterday——wait。\"
Beforeshecouldreply，orIcouldsayanythingmore，thedoorthatledtothelandingwasopenedsoftlyandslyly，andMissJillgallpeepedin。Euniceinstantlyleftme，andrantothemeddlingoldmaid。Theywhisperedtoeachother。MissJillgall’sskinnyarmencircledmysister’swaist；theydisappearedtogether。
Iwasonlytoogladtogetridofthemboth，andtotaketheopportunityofwritingtoPhilip。IinsistedonanexplanationofhisconductwhileIwasinthestudy——tobegivenwithinanhour’stime，ataplacewhichIappointed。\"Youarenottoattempttojustifyyourselfinwriting，\"Iaddedinconclusion。
\"Letyourreplymerelyinformmeifyoucankeeptheappointment。
Therest，whenwemeet。\"
Mariatookthelettertothehotel，withinstructionstowait。
Philip’sreplyreachedmewithoutdelay。ItpledgedhimtojustifyhimselfasIhaddesired，andtokeeptheappointment。Myownbeliefisthattheeventofto—daywilldecidehisfutureandmine。
CHAPTERXXVII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
INDEED，Iamamostunfortunatecreature；everythingturnsoutbadlywithme。Mygood，truefriend，mydearSelina，hasbecometheobjectofahatefuldoubtinmysecretmind。Iamafraidsheiskeepingsomethingfromme。
Talkingwithheraboutmytroubles，IheardforthefirsttimethatshehadwrittenagaintoMrs。Tenbruggen。TheobjectofherletterwastotellherfriendofmyengagementtoyoungMr。
Dunboyne。Iaskedherwhyshehaddonethis。Theanswerinformedmethattherewasnoknowing，inthepresentstateofmyaffairs，howsoonImightnotwantthehelpofacleverwoman。Iought，I
suppose，tohavebeensatisfiedwiththis。Butthereseemedtobesomethingnotfullyexplainedyet。
Thenagain，aftertellingSelinawhatIheardinthestudy，andhowroughlyPhiliphadspokentomeafterward，Iaskedherwhatshethoughtofit。Shemadeanincomprehensiblereply：\"Mysweetchild，Imustn’tthinkofit——Iamtoofondofyou。\"
Itwasimpossibletomakeherexplainwhatthismeant。ShebegantotalkofPhilip；assuringme（whichwasquiteneedless）thatshehaddoneherbesttofortifyandencouragehim，beforehecalledonpapa。WhenIaskedhertohelpmeinanotherway——thatistosay，whenIwantedtofindoutwherePhilipwasatthatmoment——shehadnoadvicetogiveme。ItoldherthatIshouldnotenjoyamoment’seaseofminduntilIandmydearonewerereconciled。Sheonlyshookherheadanddeclaredthatshewassorryforme。WhenIhitontheideaofringingforMaria，thislittlewoman，sobright，andquickandeagertohelpmeatothertimes，said\"Ileaveittoyou，dear，\"andturnedtothepiano（closetowhichIwassitting），andplayedsoftlyandbadlystupidlittletunes。
\"Maria，didyouopenthedoorforMr。Dunboynewhenhewentawayjustnow？\"
\"No，miss。\"
Nothingbutill—luckforme！IfIhadbeenlefttomyowndevices，Ishouldnowhaveletthehousemaidgo。ButSelinacontrivedtogivemeahint，onastrangeplanofherown。Stillatthepiano，shebegantoconfusetalkingtoherselfwithplayingtoherself。Thenoteswent_tinkle，tinkle_——andthetonguemixedupwordswiththenotesinthisway：\"PerhapstheyhavebeentalkinginthekitchenaboutPhilip？\"
Thesuggestionwasnotlostonme。IsaidtoMaria——whowasstandingattheotherendoftheroom，nearthedoor——\"DidyouhappentohearwhichwayMr。Dunboynewentwhenheleftus？\"
\"Iknowwherehewas，miss，halfanhourago。\"
\"Wherewashe？\"
\"Atthehotel。\"
Selinawentonwithherhintsinthesamewayasbefore。\"Howdoessheknow——ah，howdoessheknow？\"wasthevocalpartoftheperformancethistime。Mycleverinquiriesfollowedthevocalpartasbefore：
\"HowdoyouknowthatMr。Dunboynewasatthehotel？\"
\"Iwassenttherewithaletterforhim，andwaitedfortheanswer。\"
Therewasnosuggestionrequiredthistime。Theonepossiblequestionwas：\"Whosentyou？\"
Mariareplied，afterfirstreservingacondition：\"Youwon’ttelluponme，miss？\"
Ipromisednottotell。Selinasuddenlyleftoffplaying。
\"Well，\"Irepeated，\"whosentyou？\"
\"MissHelena。\"
Selinalookedroundatme。Herlittleeyesseemedtohavesuddenlybecomebig，theystaredmesostrangelyintheface。I
don’tknowwhethershewasinastateoffrightorofwonder。Asformyself，Isimplylosttheuseofmytongue。Maria，havingnomorequestionstoanswer，discreetlyleftustogether。
WhyshouldHelenawritetoPhilipatall——andespeciallywithoutmentioningittome？HerewasariddlewhichwasmorethanI
couldguess。IaskedSelinatohelpme。Shemightatleasthavetried，Ithought；butshelookeduneasy，andmadeexcuses。
Isaid：\"SupposeIgotoHelena，andaskherwhyshewrotetoPhilip？\"AndSelinasaid：\"Supposeyoudo，dear。\"
IrangforMariaoncemore：\"Doyouknowwheremysisteris？\"
\"Justgoneout，miss。\"
Therewasnohelpforitbuttowaittillshecameback，andtogetthroughthetimeintheintervalasIbestmight。Butforonecircumstance，Imightnothaveknownwhattodo。Thetruthis，therewasafeelingofshameinmewhenIrememberedhavinglistenedatthestudydoor。Curiousnotionscomeintoone’shead——onedoesn’tknowhoworwhy。ItstruckmethatImightmakeakindofatonementforhavingbeenmeanenoughtolisten，ifI
wenttopapa，andofferedtokeephimcompanyinhissolitude。Ifwefellintopleasanttalk，Ihadaslyideaofmyown——ImeanttoputinagoodwordforpoorPhilip。
WhenIconfidedmydesigntoSelina，sheshutupthepianoandranacrosstheroomtome。Butsomehowshewasnotlikeheroldselfagain，yet。
\"Yougoodlittlesoul，youarealwaysright。Lookatmeagain，Euneece。Areyoubeginningtodoubtme？Oh，mydarling，don’tdothat！Itisn’tusingmefairly。Ican’tbearit——Ican’tbearit！\"
Itookherhand；Iwasonthepointofspeakingtoherwiththekindnessshedeservedfromme。Onasuddenshesnatchedherhandawayandranbacktothepiano。Whenshewasseatedonthemusic—stool，herfacewashiddenfromme。Atthatmomentshebrokeintoastrangecry——itbeganlikealaugh，anditendedlikeasob。
\"Goawaytopapa！Don’tmindme——I’macreatureofimpulse——ha！
ha！ha！alittlehysterical——thestateoftheweather——Igetridoftheseweaknesses，mydear，bysingingtomyself。Ihaveafavoritesong：’Myheartislight，mywillisfree。’——Goaway！
oh，forGod’ssake，goaway！\"
Ihadheardofhysterics，ofcourse；knowingnothingaboutthem，however，bymyownexperience。Whatcouldhavehappenedtoagitateherinthisextraordinarymanner？
HadHelena’sletteranythingtodowithit？WasmysisterindignantwithPhilipforswearinginmypresence；andhadshewrittenhimanangryletter，inherzealonmybehalf？ButSelinacouldnotpossiblyhaveseentheletter——andHelena（whoisoftenhardonmewhenIdostupidthings）showedlittleindulgenceforme，whenIwassounfortunateastoirritatePhilip。Igaveupthehopelessattempttogetatthetruthbyguessing，andwentawaytoforgetmytroubles，ifIcould，inmyfather’ssociety。
Afterknockingtwiceatthedoorofthestudy，andreceivingnoreply，Iventuredtolookin。
Thesofainthisroomstoodoppositethedoor。Papawasrestingonit，butnotincomfort。Thereweretwitchingmovementsinhisfeet，andheshiftedhisarmsthiswayandthatasifnorestfulposturecouldhefoundforthem。Butwhatfrightenedmewasthis。
Hiseyes，staringstraightatthedoorbywhichIhadgonein，hadaninquiringexpression，asifheactuallydidnotknowme！I
stoodmidwaybetweenthedoorandthesofa，doubtfulaboutgoingnearertohim。
Hesaid：\"Whoisit？\"Thistome——tohisowndaughter。Hesaid：
\"Whatdoyouwant？\"
Ireallycould_not_bearit。Iwentuptohim。Isaid：\"Papa，haveyouforgottenEunice？\"
Mynameseemed（ifonemaysaysuchathing）tobringhimtohimselfagain。Hesatuponthesofa——andlaughedasheansweredme。
\"Mydearchild，whatdelusionhasgotintothatprettylittleheadofyours？FancyherthinkingthatIhadforgottenmyowndaughter！Iwaslostinthought，Eunice。Forthemoment，Iwaswhattheycallanabsentman。DidIevertellyouthestoryoftheabsentman？Hewenttocalluponsomeacquaintanceofhis；
andwhentheservantsaid，’Whatname，sir？’Hecouldn’tanswer。
Hewasobligedtoconfessthathehadforgottenhisownname。Theservantsaid，’That’sverystrange。’Theabsentmanatoncerecoveredhimself。’That’sit！’hesaid：’mynameisStrange。’
Droll，isn’tit？IfIhadbeencallingonafriendto—day，I
daresay_I_mighthaveforgottenmyname，too。Muchtothinkof，Eunice——toomuchtothinkof。\"