Havingestablishedmyselfinmyowncountry，Ididnotforgettoletoldfriendsknowwheretheymightfindme。AmongthosetowhomIwrotewasanothercolleagueofpastyears，whostillheldhismedicalappointmentintheprison。WhenIreceivedthedoctor’sreply，itinclosedaletterdirectedtomeatmyoldquartersintheGovernor’srooms。WhocouldpossiblyhavesentalettertoanaddresswhichIhadleftfiveyearssince？MycorrespondentprovedtobenolessapersonthantheCongregationalMinister——thefriendwhomIhadestrangedfrommebythetoneinwhichIhadwrittentohim，onthelong—pastoccasionofhiswife’sdeath。
Itwasadistressinglettertoread。Ibegpermissiontogiveonlythesubstanceofitinthisplace。
Entreatingme，withtouchingexpressionsofhumilityandsorrow，toforgivehislongsilence，thewriterappealedtomyfriendlyremembranceofhim。Hewasinsoreneedofcounsel，underseriousdifficulties；andIwastheonlypersontowhomhecouldapplyforhelp。Inthedisorderedstateofhishealthatthattime，heventuredtohopethatIwouldvisithimathispresentplaceofabode，andwouldlethimhavethehappinessofseeingmeasspeedilyaspossible。Heconcludedwiththisextraordinarypostscript：
\"Whenyouseemydaughters，saynothingtoeitherofthemwhichrelates，inanyway，tothesubjectoftheirages。Youshallhearwhywhenwemeet。\"
Thereadingofthisletternaturallyremindedmeoftheclaimswhichmyfriend’snobleconducthadestablishedonmyadmirationandrespect，atthepasttimewhenwemetintheprison。Icouldnothesitatetogranthisrequest——strangelyasitwasexpressed，anddoubtfulastheprospectappearedtobeofmyansweringtheexpectationswhichhehadfoundedontherenewalofourintercourse。Answeringhisletterbytelegraph，Ipromisedtobewithhimonthenextday。
Onarrivingatthestation，IfoundthatIwastheonlytraveler，byafirst—classcarriage，wholeftthetrain。Ayounglady，remarkablebyhergoodlooksandgooddressing，seemedtohavenoticedthistriflingcircumstance。Sheapproachedmewithareadysmile。\"IbelieveIamspeakingtomyfather’sfriend，\"shesaid；\"mynameisHelenaGracedieu。\"
HerewasoneoftheMinister’stwo\"daughters\"；andthatoneofthetwo——asIdiscoveredthemomentIshookhandswithher——whowasmyfriend’sownchild。MissHelenarecalledtomehermother’sface，infinitelyimprovedbyyouthandhealth，andbyanaturalbeautywhichthatcruelanddeceitfulwomancouldneverhavepossessed。Theslantingforeheadandtheshifting，flashingeyes，thatIrecollectedintheparent，werereproduced（slightlyreproduced，Ioughttosay）inthechild。Asfortheotherfeatures，Ihadneverseenamorebeautifulnoseandmouth，oramoredelicately—shapedoutline，thanwaspresentedbythelowerpartoftheface。ButMissHelenasomehowfailedtocharmme。I
doubtifIshouldhavefalleninlovewithher，eveninthedayswhenIwasafoolishyoungman。
ThefirstquestionthatIput，aswedrovefromthestationtothehouse，relatednaturallytoherfather。
\"Heisveryill，\"shebegan；\"Iamafraidyoumustprepareyourselftoseeasadchange。Nerves。Themischieffirstshoweditself，thedoctortellsus，inderangementofhisnervoussystem。Hehasbeen，Iregrettotellyou，obstinateinrefusingtogiveuphispreachingandpastoralwork。Heoughttohavetriedrestattheseaside。Thingshavegoneonfrombadtoworse。
LastSunday，atthebeginningofhissermon，hebrokedown。Very，verysad，isitnot？Thedoctorsaysthatprecioustimehasbeenlost，andhemustmakeuphismindtoresignhischarge。Hewon’thearofit。Youarehisoldfriend。Pleasetrytopersuadehim。\"
Fluentlyspoken；thewordswellchosen；themelodiousvoiceremindingmeofthelateMrs。Gracedieu’sadvantagesinthatrespect；littlesighsjudiciouslythrowninhereandthere，justattherightplaces；everything，letmeown，thatcouldpresentadutifuldaughterasapatternofpropriety——andnothing，letmeadd，thatcouldproduceanimpressiononmyinsensibletemperament。IfIhadnotbeentoodiscreettorushatahastyconclusion，Imighthavebeeninclinedtosay：hermother’schild，everyinchofher！
TheinterestwhichIwasstillabletofeelinmyfriend’sdomesticaffairscenteredinthedaughterwhomhehadadopted。
InherinfancyIhadseenthechild，andlikedher；Iwastheonepersonliving（sincethedeathofMrs。Gracedieu）whoknewhowtheMinisterhadconcealedthesadsecretofherparentage；andI
wantedtodiscoverifthehereditarytainthadbeguntoshowitselfintheinnocentoffspringofthemurderess。JustasIwasconsideringhowImightharmlesslyspeakofMissHelena’s\"sister，\"MissHelenaherselfintroducedthesubject。
\"MayIask，\"sheresumed，\"ifyouweredisappointedwhenyoufoundnobodybutmetomeetyouatourstation？\"
Herewasanopportunityofpayingheracompliment，ifIhadbeenayoungerman，orifshehadproducedafavorableimpressiononme。Asitwas，Ihit——ifImaypraisemyself——onaningeniouscompromise。
\"WhatexcusecouldIhave，\"Iasked，\"forfeelingdisappointed？\"
\"Well，Ihearyouareanofficialpersonage——Ioughttosay，perhaps，aretiredofficialpersonage。Wemighthavereceivedyoumorerespectfully，if_both_myfather’sdaughtershadbeenpresentatthestation。It’snotmyfaultthatmysisterwasnotwithme。\"
Thetoneinwhichshesaidthisstrengthenedmyprejudiceagainsther。Ittoldmethatthetwogirlswerelivingtogetheronnoveryfriendlyterms；anditsuggested——justlyorunjustlyIcouldnotthendecide——thatMissHelenawastoblame。
\"Mysisterisawayfromhome。\"
\"Surely，MissHelena，thatisagoodreasonforhernotcomingtomeetme？\"
\"Ibegyourpardon——itisabadreason。Shehasbeensentawayfortherecoveryofherhealth——andthelossofherhealthisentirelyherownfault。\"
Whatdidthismattertome？Idecidedondroppingthesubject。Mymemoryreverted，however，topastoccasionsonwhichthelossof_my_healthhadbeenentirelymyownfault。Therewassomethinginthesepersonalrecollections，whichencouragedmyperversetendencytosympathizewithayoungladytowhomIhadnotyetbeenintroduced。Theyounglady’ssisterappearedtobediscouragedbymysilence。Shesaid：\"Ihopeyoudon’tthinktheworseofmeforwhatIhavejustmentioned？\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"Perhapsyouwillfailtoseeanyneedofmyspeakingofmysisteratall？Willyoukindlylisten，ifItrytoexplainmyself？\"
\"Withpleasure。\"
Sheslylysetthebestconstructiononmyperfectlycommonplacereply。
\"Thankyou，\"shesaid。\"Thefactis，myfather（Ican’timaginewhy）wishesyoutoseemysisteraswellasme。Hehaswrittentothefarmhouseatwhichsheisnowstaying，totellhertocomehometo—morrow。Itispossible——ifyourkindnessoffersmeanopportunity——thatImayasktobeguidedbyyourexperience，inalittlematterwhichinterestsme。Mysisterisrash，andreckless，andhasaterribletemper。Ishouldbeverysorryindeedifyouwereinducedtoformanunfavorableopinionofme，fromanythingyoumightnoticeifyouseeustogether。Youunderstandme，Ihope？\"
\"Iquiteunderstandyou。\"
Tosetmeagainsthersister，inherownprivateinterests——there，asIfeltsure，wasthemotiveunderwhichshewasacting。Ashardashermother，asselfishashermother，and，judgingfromthosetwobadqualities，probablyascruelashermother。ThatwashowIunderstoodMissHelenaGracedieu，whenourcarriagedrewupatherfather’shouse。
Amiddle—agedladywasonthedoorstep，whenwearrived，justringingthebell。Shelookedroundatusboth；beingevidentlyascompleteastrangertomyfaircompanionasshewastome。Whentheservantopenedthedoor，shesaid：
\"IsMissJillgallathome？\"
Atthesoundofthatoddname，MissHelenatossedherheaddisdainfully。Shetooknosortofnoticeofthestranger—ladywhowasatthedoorofherfather’shouse。Thisyoungperson’scontemptforMissJillgallappearedtoextendtoMissJillgall’sfriends。
Inthemeantime，theservant’sanswerwas：\"Notathome。\"
Themiddleagedladysaid：\"Doyouexpectherbacksoon？\"
\"Yes，ma’am。\"
\"Iwillcallagain，laterintheday。\"
\"Whatname，ifyouplease？\"
Theladystoleanotherlookatme，beforeshereplied。
\"Nevermindthename，\"shesaid——andwalkedaway。
CHAPTERXXXIII。
THEMINISTER’SMISFORTUNE。
\"Doyouknowthatlady？\"MissHelenaasked，asweenteredthehouse。
\"Sheisaperfectstrangertome，\"Ianswered。
\"Areyousureyouhavenotforgottenher？\"
\"WhydoyouthinkIhaveforgottenher？\"
\"Becausesheevidentlyrememberedyou。\"
Theladyhadnodoubtlookedatmetwice。Ifthismeantthatmyfacewasfamiliartoher，IcouldonlyrepeatwhatIhavealreadysaid。Never，tomyknowledge，hadIseenherbefore。
Leadingthewayupstairs，MissHelenaapologizedfortakingmeintoherfather’sbedroom。\"Heisabletositupinanarmchair，\"
shesaid；\"andhemightdomore，asIthink，ifhewouldexerthimself。Hewon’texerthimself。Verysad。Wouldyouliketolookatyourroom，beforeyouseemyfather？Itisquitereadyforyou。Wehope\"——shefavoredmewithafascinatingsmile，devotedtowinningmyheartwhenherinterestsrequiredit——\"wehopeyouwillpayusalongvisit；welookonyouasoneofourselves。\"
Ithankedher，andsaidIwouldshakehandswithmyoldfriendbeforeIwenttomyroom。Wepartedatthebedroomdoor。
ItisoutofmypowertodescribetheshockthatoverpoweredmewhenIfirstsawtheMinisteragain，afterthelongintervaloftimethathadseparatedus。Nothingthathisdaughtersaid，nothingthatImyselfanticipated，hadpreparedmeforthatlamentablechange。Forthemoment，Iwasnotsufficientlymasterofmyselftobeabletospeaktohim。Headdedtomyembarrassmentbythehumilityofhismanner，andtheformalelaborationofhisapologies。
\"IfeelpainfullythatIhavetakenalibertywithyou，\"hesaid，\"afterthelongestrangementbetweenus——forwhichmywantofChristianforbearanceistoblame。Forgiveit，sir，andforgetit。Ihopetoshowthatnecessityjustifiesmypresumption，insubjectingyoutoawearisomejourneyformysake。\"
Beginningtorecovermyself，Ibeggedthathewouldmakenomoreexcuses。Myinterruptionseemedtoconfusehim。
\"Iwishedtosay，\"hewenton，\"thatyouaretheonemanwhocanunderstandme。Thereismyonlyreasonforaskingtoseeyou，andlookingforwardasIdotoyouradvice。Yourememberthenight——orwasittheday？——beforethatmiserablewomanwashanged？YouweretheonlypersonpresentwhenIagreedtoadoptthepoorlittlecreature，stainedalready（onemaysay）byitsmother’sinfamy。IthinkyourwisdomforesawwhataterribleresponsibilityIwasundertaking；youtriedtopreventit。Well！
well！youhavebeeninmyconfidence——youonly。Mind！nobodyinthishouseknowsthatoneofthetwogirlsisnotreallymydaughter。Praystopme，ifyoufindmewanderingfromthepoint。
MywishistoshowthatyouaretheonlymanIcanopenmyheartto。She——\"Hepaused，asifinsearchofalostidea，andleftthesentenceuncompleted。\"Yes，\"hewenton，\"Iwasthinkingofmyadoptedchild。DidIevertellyouthatIbaptizedhermyself？
andbyagoodScripturenametoo——Eunice。Ah，sir，thatlittlehelplessbabyisagrown—upgirlnow；ofanagetoinspirelove，andtofeellove。Iblushtoacknowledgeit；Ihavebehavedwithawantofself—control，withacowardlyweakness。——No！Iam，indeed，wanderingthistime。IoughttohavetoldyoufirstthatIhavebeenbroughtfacetofacewiththepossibilityofEunice’smarriage。And，tomakeitworsestill，Ican’thelplikingtheyoungman。Hecomesofagoodfamily——excellentmanners，highlyeducated，plentyofmoney，agentlemanineverysenseoftheword。AndpoorlittleEuniceissofondofhim！Isn’titdreadfultobeobligedtocheckherdearly—lovedPhilip？Theyounggentleman’snameisPhilip。Doyoulikethename？IsayIamobligedtocheekhersweetheartintherudestmanner，whenallhewantstodoistoaskmemodestlyformysweetEunice’shand。Oh，whathaveInotsuffered，withoutawordofsympathytocomfortme，beforeIhadcourageenoughtowritetoyou！ShallImakeadreadfulconfession？Ifmyreligiousconvictionshadnotstoodinmyway，IbelieveIshouldhavecommittedsuicide。Putyourselfinmyplace。Trytoseeyourselfshrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation，whenthehappinessofaharmlessgirl——sodutiful，soaffectionate——dependedonawordofkindnessfromyourlips。
Andthatwordyouareafraidtospeak！Don’ttakeoffense，sir；I
meanmyself，notyou。Whydon’tyousaysomething？\"heburstoutfiercely，incapableofperceivingthathehadallowedmenoopportunityofspeakingtohim。\"GoodGod！don’tyouunderstandme，afterall？\"
Thesignsofmentalconfusioninhistalkhadsodistressedme，thatIhadnotbeencomposedenoughtofeelsureofwhathereallymeant，untilhedescribedhimselfas\"shrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation。\"Hearingthosewords，myknowledgeofthecircumstanceshelpedme；Irealizedwhathissituationreallywas。
\"Composeyourself，\"Isaid，\"Iunderstandyouatlast。\"
Hehadsuddenlybecomedistrustful。
\"Proveit，\"hemuttered，withafurtivelookatme。\"Iwanttobesatisfiedthatyouunderstandmyposition。\"
\"Thisisyourposition，\"Itoldhim。\"Youareplacedbetweentwodeplorablealternatives。IfyoutellthisyounggentlemanthatMissEunice’smotherwasacriminalhangedformurder，hisfamily——evenifhehimselfdoesn’trecoilfromit——willunquestionablyforbidthemarriage；andyouradopteddaughter’shappinesswillbethesacrifice。\"
\"True！\"hesaid。\"Frightfullytrue！Goon。\"
\"If，ontheotherhand，yousanctionthemarriage，andconcealthetruth，youcommitadeliberateactofdeceit；andyouleavethelivesoftheyoungcoupleatthemercyofapossiblediscovery，whichmightparthusbandandwife——castaslurontheirchildren——andbreakupthehousehold。\"
Heshudderedwhilehelistenedtome。\"Cometotheendofit，\"hecried。
Ihadnomoretosay，andIwasobligedtoanswerhimtothateffect。
\"Nomoretosay？\"hereplied。\"YouhavenottoldmeyetwhatI
mostwanttoknow。\"
Ididarashthing；Iaskedwhatitwasthathemostwantedtoknow。
\"Can’tyouseeitforyourself？\"hedemandedindignantly。
\"Supposeyouwereputbetweenthosetwoalternativeswhichyoumentionedjustnow。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Whatwouldyoudo，sir，inmyplace？Wouldyouownthedisgracefultruth——beforethemarriage——orruntherisk，andkeepthehorridstorytoyourself？\"
Eitherway，myreplymightleadtoseriousconsequences。I
hesitated。
Hethreatenedmewithhispoorfeeblehand。Itwasonlytheangerofamoment；hishumorchangedtosupplication。Heremindedmepiteouslyofbygonedays：\"Youusedtobeakind—heartedman。Hasagehardenedyou？Haveyounopityleftforyouroldfriend？Mypoorheartissadlyinwantofawordofwisdom，spokenkindly。\"
Whocouldhaveresistedthis？Itookhishand：\"Beatease，dearMinister。InyourplaceIshouldruntherisk，andkeepthathorridstorytomyself。\"
Hesankbackgentlyinhischair。\"Oh，thereliefofit！\"hesaid。\"HowcanIthankyouasIoughtforquietingmymind？\"
Iseizedtheopportunityofquietinghismindtogoodpurposebysuggestingachangeofsubject。\"Letushavedonewithserioustalkforthepresent，\"Iproposed。\"Ihavebeenanidlemanforthelastfiveyears，andIwanttotellyouaboutmytravels。\"
Hisattentionbegantowander，heevidentlyfeltnointerestinmytravels。\"Areyousure，\"heaskedanxiously，\"thatwehavesaidallweoughttosay？No！\"hecried，answeringhisownquestion。\"IbelieveIhaveforgottensomething——IamcertainI
haveforgottensomething。PerhapsImentioneditintheletterI
wrotetoyou。Haveyougotmyletter？\"
Ishowedittohim。Hereadtheletter，andgaveitbacktomewithaheavysigh。\"Notthere！\"hesaiddespairingly。\"Notthere！\"
\"Isthelostremembranceconnectedwithanybodyinthehouse？\"I
asked，tryingtohelphim。\"Doesitrelate，byanychance，tooneoftheyoungladies？\"
\"Youwonderfulman！Nothingescapesyou。Yes；thethingIhaveforgottenconcernsoneofthegirls。Stop！Letmegetatitbymyself。SurelyitrelatestoHelena？\"Hehesitated；hisfacecloudedoverwithanexpressionofanxiousthought。\"Yes；itrelatestoHelena，\"herepeated\"buthow？\"Hiseyesfilledwithtears。\"Iamashamedofmyweakness，\"hesaidfaintly。\"Youdon’tknowhowdreadfulitistoforgetthingsinthisway。\"
Theinjurythathismindhadsustainednowassumedanaspectthatwasseriousindeed。Thesubtlemachinery，whichstimulatesthememory，bymeansoftheassociationofideas，appearedtohavelostitsworkingpowerintheintellectofthisunhappyman。I
madethefirstsuggestionthatoccurredtome，ratherthanaddtohisdistressbyremainingsilent。
\"Ifwetalkofyourdaughter，\"Isaid，\"themerestaccident——awordspokenatrandomby。youorme——maybeallyourmemorywantstorouseit。\"
Heagreedeagerlytothis：\"Yes！Yes！Letmebegin。Helenametyou，Ithink，atthestation。Ofcourse，Irememberthat；itonlyhappenedafewhourssince。Well？\"hewenton，withachangeinhismannertoparentalpride，whichitwaspleasanttosee，\"didyouthinkmydaughterafinegirl？IhopeHelenadidn’tdisappointyou？\"
\"Quitethecontrary。\"Havingmadethatnecessaryreply，Isawmywaytokeepinghismindoccupiedbyaharmlesssubject。\"Itmust，however，beowned，\"Iwenton，\"thatyourdaughtersurprisedme。\"
\"Inwhatway？\"
\"Whenshementionedhername。Whocouldhavesupposedthatyou——aninveterateenemytotheRomanCatholicChurch——wouldhavechristenedyourdaughterbythenameofaRomanCatholicSaint？\"
Helistenedtothiswithasmile。HadIhappilyblunderedonsomeassociationwhichhismindwasstillabletopursue？
\"Youhappentobewrongthistime，\"hesaidpleasantly。\"InevergavemygirlthenameofHelena；and，whatismore，Ineverbaptizedher。Yououghttoknowthat。Yearsandyearsago，I
wrotetotellyouthatmypoorwifehadmademeaproudandhappyfather。AndsurelyIsaidthatthechildwasbornwhileshewasonavisittoherbrother’srectory。Doyourememberthenameoftheplace？Itoldyouitwasaremotelittlevillage，called——
Supposeweput_your_memorytoatest？Canyourememberthename？\"heasked，withamomentaryappearanceoftriumphshowingitself，poorfellow，inhisface。
Afterthetimethathadelapsed，thenamehadslippedmymemory。
WhenIconfessedthis，heexultedoverme，withanunalloyedpleasurewhichitwascheeringtosee。
\"_Your_memoryisfailingyounow，\"hesaid。\"ThenameisLongLanes。Andwhatdoyouthinkmywifedid——thisissocharacteristicofher！——whenIpresentedmyselfatherbedside。
Insteadofspeakingofourownbaby，sheremindedmeofthenamethatIhadgiventoouradopteddaughterwhenIbaptizedthechild。’Youchosetheugliestnamethatagirlcanhave，’shesaid。Ibeggedhertorememberthat’Eunice’wasanameinScripture。Shepersistedinspiteofme。（Whatfirmnessofcharacter！）’IdetestthenameofEunice！’shesaid；’andnowthatIhaveagirlofmyown，it’smyturntochoosethename；I
claimitasmyright。’Shewasbeginningtogetexcited；I
allowedhertohaveherownway，ofcourse。’Onlyletmeknow，’I
said，’whatthenameistobewhenyouhavethoughtofit。’Mydearsir，shehadthenameready，withoutthinkingaboutit：’Mybabyshallbecalledbythenamethatissweetestinmyears，thenameofmydearlostmother。’Wehad——whatshallIcallit？——aslightdifferenceofopinionwhenIheardthatthenamewastobeHelena。Ireallycould_not_reconcileittomyconsciencetobaptizeachildofminebythenameofaPopishsaint。Mywife’sbrothersetthingsrightbetweenus。Aworthygoodman；hediednotverylongago——Iforgetthedate。Nottodetainyouanylonger，therectorofLongLanesbaptizedourdaughter。Thatishowshecomesbyherun—Englishname；andsoithappensthatherbirthisregisteredinavillagewhichherfatherhasneverinhabited。Ihope，sir，youthinkalittlebetterofmymemorynow？\"
IwasafraidtotellhimwhatIreallydidthink。
Hewasnotfiftyyearsoldyet；andhehadjustexhibitedoneofthesadsymptomswhichmarkthebrokenmemoryofoldage。Leadhimbacktotheeventsofmanyyearsago，and（ashehadjustprovedtome）hecouldrememberwellandrelatecoherently。Butlethimattempttorecallcircumstanceswhichhadonlytakenplaceashorttimesince，andforgetfulnessandconfusionpresentedthelamentableresult，justasIhaverelatedit。
Theeffortthathehadmade，theagitationthathehadundergoneintalkingtome，hadconfirmedmyfearsthathewouldovertaskhiswastedstrength。Helaybackinhischair。\"Letusgoonwithourconversation，\"hemurmured。\"Wehaven’trecoveredwhatIhadforgotten，yet。\"Hiseyesclosed，andopenedagainlanguidly。
\"TherewassomethingIwantedtorecall——\"heresumed，\"andyouwerehelpingme。\"Hisweakvoicediedaway；hiswearyeyesclosedagain。Afterwaitinguntiltherecouldbenodoubtthathewasrestingpeacefullyinsleep，Ilefttheroom。
CHAPTERXXXIV。
THELIVELYOLDMAID。
APERFECTstrangertotheinteriorofthehouse（seeingthatmyexperiencebeganandendedwiththeMinister’sbedchamber），I
descendedthestairs，inthecharacterofaguestinsearchofdomesticinformation。
Onmywaydown，Iheardthedoorofaroomonthegroundflooropened，andawoman’svoicebelow，speakinginahurry：\"Mydear，Ihavenotamomenttospare；mypatientsarewaitingforme。\"Thiswasfollowedbyaconfidentialcommunication，judgingbythetone。\"Mind！notawordaboutmetothatoldgentleman！\"
Herpatientswerewaitingforher——hadIdiscoveredafemaledoctor？Andtherewassomeoldgentlemanwhomshewasnotwillingtotrust——surelyIwasnotthatmuch—injuredman？
Reachingthehalljustastheladysaidherlastwords，Icaughtaglimpseofherface，anddiscoveredthemiddle—agedstrangerwhohadcalledon\"MissJillgall，\"andhadpromisedtorepeathervisit。Asecondladywasatthedoor，withherbacktome，takingleaveofherfriend。Havingsaidgood—by，sheturnedround——andweconfrontedeachother。
Ifoundhertobealittleperson，wiryandactive；pasttheprimeoflife，anduglyenoughtoencourageprejudice，inpersonswhotakeasuperficialviewoftheirfellow—creatures。Lookingimpartiallyatthelittlesunkeneyeswhichrestedonmewithacomicalexpressionofembarrassment，Isawsignsthatsaid：Thereissomegoodhere，underadisagreeablesurface，ifyoucanonlyfindit。
Shesalutedmewithacarefully—performedcurtsey，andthrewopenthedoorofaroomonthegroundfloor。
\"Praywalkin，sir，andpermitmetointroducemyself。IamMr。
Gracedieu’scousin——MissJillgall。Proudindeedtomaketheacquaintanceofagentlemandistinguishedintheserviceofhiscountry——orperhapsIoughttosay，intheserviceoftheLaw。
TheGovernoroffershospitalitytoprisoners。AndwhointroducesprisonerstoboardandlodgingwiththeGovernor？——theLaw。
Beautifulweatherforthetimeofyear，isitnot？MayI
ask——haveyouseenyourroom？\"
TheembarrassmentwhichIhadalreadynoticedhadextendedbythistimetohervoiceandhermanner。Shewasevidentlytryingtotalkherselfintoastateofconfidence。ItseemedbuttooprobablethatIwasindeedthepersonmentionedbyherprudentfriendatthedoor。
HavingacknowledgedthatIhadnotseenmyroomyet，mypolitenessattemptedtoaddthattherewasnohurry。Thewirylittleladywasofthecontraryopinion；shejumpedoutofherchairasifshehadbeenshotoutofit。\"Prayletmemakemyselfuseful。Thedreamofmylifeistomakemyselfusefultoothers；
andtosuchamanasyou——Iconsidermyselfhonored。Besides，I
doenjoyrunningupanddownstairs。Thisway，dearsir；thiswaytoyourroom。\"
Sheskippedupthestairs，andstoppedonthefirstlanding。\"Doyouknow，Iamatimidperson，thoughImaynotlooklikeit。
Sometimes，curiositygetsthebetterofme——andthenIgrowbold。
Didyounoticealadywhowastakingleaveofmejustnowatthehousedoor？\"
IrepliedthatIhadseentheladyforamoment，butnotforthefirsttime。\"JustasIarrivedherefromthestation，\"Isaid，\"I
foundherpayingavisitwhenyouwerenotathome。\"
\"Yes——anddotellmeonethingmore。\"MyreadinessinansweringseemedtohaveinspiredMissJillgallwithconfidence。Iheardnomoreconfessionsofoverpoweringcuriosity。\"AmIright，\"sheproceeded，\"insupposingthatMissHelenaaccompaniedyou，onyourwayherefromthestation？\"
\"Quiteright。\"
\"Didshesayanythingparticular，whenshesawtheladyaskingformeatthedoor？\"