\"MissHelenathought，\"Isaid，\"thattheladyrecognizedmeasapersonwhomshehadseenbefore。\"
\"Andwhatdidyouthinkyourself？\"
\"IthoughtMissHelenawaswrong。\"
\"Veryextraordinary！\"Withthatremark，MissJillgalldroppedthesubject。Themeaningofherreiteratedinquirieswasnow，asitseemedtome，clearenough。ShewaseagertodiscoverhowIcouldhaveinspiredthedistrustofme，expressedinthecautionaddressedtoherbyherfriend。
Whenwereachedtheupperfloor，shepausedbeforetheMinister’sroom。
\"Ibelievemanyyearshavepassed，\"shesaid，\"sinceyoulastsawMr。Gracedieu。Iamafraidyouhavefoundhimasadlychangedman？Youwon’tbeangrywithme，Ihope，foraskingmorequestions？IoweMr。Gracedieuadebtofgratitudewhichnodevotion，onmypart，caneverrepay。Youdon’tknowwhatafavorIshallconsiderit，ifyouwilltellmewhatyouthinkofhim。
Diditseemtoyouthathewasnotquitehimself？Idon’tmeaninhislooks，poordear——Imeaninhismind。\"
Therewastruesorrowandsympathyinherface。IbelieveI
shouldhardlyhavethoughtherugly，ifwehadfirstmetatthatmoment。Thusfar，shehadonlyamusedme。IbeganreallytolikeMissJillgallnow。
\"Imustnotconcealfromyou，\"Ireplied，\"thatthestateofMr。
Gracedieu’smindsurprisedanddistressedme。ButIoughtalsototellyouthatIsawhimperhapsathisworst。Thesubjectonwhichhewishedtospeakwithmewouldhaveagitatedanyman，inhisstateofhealth。Heconsultedmeabouthisdaughter’smarriage。\"
MissJillgallsuddenlyturnedpale。
\"Hisdaughter’smarriage？\"sherepeated。\"Oh，youfrightenme！\"
\"WhyshouldIfrightenyou？\"
Sheseemedtofindsomedifficultyinexpressingherself。\"I
hardlyknowhowtoputit，sir。Youwillexcuseme（won’tyou？）
ifIsaywhatIfeel。Youhaveinfluence——notthesortofinfluencethatfindsplacesforpeoplewhodon’tdeservethem，andgetsmentionedinthenewspapers——IonlymeaninfluenceoverMr。Gracedieu。That’swhatfrightensme。HowdoIknow——？Oh，dear，I’maskinganotherquestion！Allowme，foronce，tobeplainandpositive。I’mafraid，sir，youhaveencouragedtheMinistertoconsenttoHelena’smarriage。\"
\"Pardonme，\"Ianswered，\"youmeanEunice’smarriage。\"
\"No，sir！Helena。\"
\"No，madam！Eunice。\"
\"Whatdoeshemean？\"saidMissJillgalltoherself。
Iheardher。\"ThisiswhatImean，\"Iasserted，inmymostpositivemanner。\"TheonlysubjectonwhichtheMinisterhasconsultedmeisMissEunice’smarriage。\"
Mytonelefthernoalternativebuttobelieveme。Shelookednotonlybewildered，butalarmed。\"Oh，poorman，hashelosthimselfinsuchadreadfulwayasthat？\"shesaidtoherself。\"Idaren’tbelieveit！\"Sheturnedtome。\"Youhavebeentalkingwithhimforsometime。Pleasetrytoremember。WhileMr。GracedieuwasspeakingofEuneece，didhesaynothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister？\"
Nottheslightesthintofanysuchthing，Iassuredher，hadreachedmyears。
\"Then，\"shecried，\"Icantellyouwhathehasforgotten！Wekeptasmuchofthatmiserablestorytoourselvesaswecould，inmercytohim。Besides，hewasalwaysfondestofEuneece；shewouldliveinhismemorywhenhehadforgottentheother——thewretch，thetraitress，theplotter，thefiend！\"MissJillgall’sgoodmannersslipped，asitwere，fromunderher；sheclinchedherfistsasafinalmeansofexpressinghersentiments。\"ThewretchedEnglishlanguageisn’thalfstrongenoughforme，\"shedeclaredwithalookoffury。
Itookaliberty。\"MayIaskwhatMissHelenahasdone？\"Isaid。
\"_May_youask？Oh，Heavens！youmustask，youshallask。Mr。
Governor，ifyoureyesarenotopenedtoHelena’struecharacter，Icantellyouwhatshewilldo；shewilldeceiveyouintotakingherpart。Doyouthinkshewenttothestationoutofregardforthegreatman？Pooh！shewentwithaneyetoherowninterests；
andshemeanstomakethegreatmanuseful。ThankGod，Icanstopthat！\"
Shecheckedherselfthere，andlookedsuspiciouslyatthedoorofMr。Gracedieu’sroom。
\"Intheinterestofourconversation，\"shewhispered，\"wehavenotgivenathoughttotheplacewehavebeentalkingin。DoyouthinktheMinisterhasheardus？\"
\"Notifheisasleep——asIlefthim，\"
MissJillgallshookherheadominously。\"Thesafewayisthisway，\"shesaid。\"Comewithme。\"
CHAPTERXXXV。
THEFUTURELOOKSGLOOMY。
MYever—helpfulguideledmetomyroom——welloutofMr。
Gracedieu’shearing，ifhehappenedtobeawake——attheotherendofthepassage。Havingopenedthedoor，shepausedonthethreshold。ThedecreesofthatmercilessEnglishdespot，Propriety，claimedherfortheirown。\"Oh，dear！\"shesaidtoherself，\"oughtItogoin？\"
Myinterestasaman（and，whatismore，anoldman）inthecomingdisclosurewastooserioustobetrifledwithinthisway。
Itookherarm，andledherintomyroomasifIwasatadinner—party，leadinghertothetable。Isitthegoodortheevilfortuneofmortalsthatthecomicsideoflife，andtheserioussideoflife，areperpetuallyincollisionwitheachother？Weburstoutlaughing，atamomentofgraveimportancetousboth。Perfectlyinappropriate，andperfectlynatural。Butwewereneitherofusphilosophers，andwewereashamedofourownmerrimentthemomentithadceased。
\"WhenyouhearwhatIhavetotellyou，\"MissJillgallbegan，\"I
hopeyouwillthinkasIdo。WhathasslippedMr。Gracedieu’smemory，itmaybesafertosay——forheissometimesirritable，poordear——wherehewon’tknowanythingaboutit。\"
WiththatshetoldthelamentablestoryofthedesertionofEunice。
InsilenceIlistened，fromfirsttolast。HowcouldItrustmyselftospeak，asImusthavespoken，inthepresenceofawoman？Thecruelinjuryinflictedonthepoorgirl，whohadinterestedandtouchedmeinthefirstinnocentyearofherlife——whohadgrowntowomanhoodtobethevictimoftwowretches，bothtrustedbyher，bothboundtoherbythesacreddebtoflove——sofiredmytemperthatIlongedtobewithinreachoftheman，withahorsewhipinmyhand。Seeinginmyface，asI
suppose，whatwaspassinginmymind，MissJillgallexpressedsympathyandadmirationinherownquaintway：\"Ah，Iliketoseeyousoangry！It’sgrandtoknowthatamanwhohasgovernedprisonershasgotsuchapityingheart。Letmetellyouonething，sir。Youwillbemoreangrythanever，whenyouseemysweetgirlto—morrow。Andmindthis——itisHelena’sdevouringvanity，Helena’swickedjealousyofhersister’sgoodfortune，thathasdonethemischief。Don’tbetoohardonPhilip？Idobelieve，ifthetruthwastold，heisashamedofhimself。\"
IfeltinclinedtobeharderonPhilipthanever。\"Whereishe？\"
Iasked。
MissJillgallstarted。\"Oh，Mr。Governor，don’tshowtheseveresideofyourself，aftertheprettycomplimentIhavejustpaidtoyou！Whatamasterfulvoice！andwhateyes，dearsir；whatterrifyingeyes！IfeelasifIwasoneofyourprisoners，andhadmisbehavedmyself。\"
Irepeatedmyquestionwithimprovement，Ihope，inmylooksandtones：\"Don’tthinkmeobstinate，mydearlady。Ionlywanttoknowifheisinthistown。\"
MissJillgallseemedtotakeacuriouspleasureindisappointingme；shehadnotforgottenmyunfortunateabruptnessoflookandmanner。\"Youwon’tfindhimhere，\"shesaid。
\"PerhapshehasleftEngland？\"
\"Ifyoumustknow，sir，heisinLondon——withMr。Dunboyne。\"
Thenamestartledme。
Inamomentmoreitrecalledtomymemoryaremarkableletter，addressedtomemanyyearsago，whichwillbefoundinmyintroductorynarrative。Thewriter——anIrishgentleman，namedDunboyneconfidedtomethathismarriagehadassociatedhimwiththemurderess，whohadthenbeenrecentlyexecuted，asbrother—in—lawtothatinfamouswoman。Thiscircumstancehehadnaturallykeptasecretfromeveryone，includinghisson，thenaboy。Ialonewasmadeanexceptiontothegeneralrule，becauseI
alonecouldtellhimwhathadbecomeofthepoorlittlegirl，whoinspiteofthedisgracefulendofhermotherwasstillhisniece。Ifthechildhadnotbeenprovidedfor，hefeltithisdutytotakechargeofhereducation，andtowatchoverherprospectsinthefuture。Suchhadbeenhisobjectinwritingtome；andsuchwasthesubstanceofhisletter。Ihadmerelyinformedhim，inreply，thathiskindintentionshadbeenanticipated，andthatthechild’sprosperousfuturewasassured。
MissJillgall’skeenobservationnoticedtheimpressionthathadbeenproduceduponme。\"Mr。Dunboyne’snameseemstosurpriseyou。\"shesaid。
\"ThisisthefirsttimeIhaveheardyoumentionit，\"Ianswered。
Shelookedasifshecouldhardlybelieveme。\"Surelyyoumusthaveheardthename，\"shesaid，\"whenItoldyouaboutpoorEuneece？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，then，Mr。Gracedieumusthavementionedit？\"
\"No。\"
Thissecondreplyinthenegativeirritatedher。
\"Atanyrate，\"shesaid，sharply，\"youappearedtoknowMr。
Dunboyne’sname，justnow。\"
\"Certainly！\"
\"Andyet，\"shepersisted，\"thenameseemedtocomeuponyouasasurprise。Idon’tunderstandit。IfIhavementionedPhilip’snameonce，Ihavementioneditadozentimes。\"
Wewerecompletelyatcross—purposes。Shehadtakensomethingforgrantedwhichwasanunfathomablemysterytome。
\"Well，\"Iobjected，\"ifyoudidmentionhisnameadozentimes——excusemeforaskingthequestion———whatthen？\"
\"Goodheavens！\"criedMissJillgall，\"doyoumeantosayyouneverguessedthatPhilipwasMr。Dunboyne’sson？\"
Iwaspetrified。
Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！HowcouldIhaveguessedit？
Atalatertimeonly，thegoodlittlecreaturewhohadsoinnocentlydeceivedme，rememberedthatthemischiefmighthavebeenwroughtbytheforceofhabit。WhilehehadstillaclaimontheirregardthefamilyhadalwaysspokenofEunice’sunworthyloverbyhisChristianname；andwhathadbeenfamiliarintheirmouthsfelttheinfluenceofcustom，beforetimeenoughhadelapsedtomakethemthinkasreadilyoftheenemyastheyhadhithertothoughtofthefriend。
ButIwasignorantofthis：andthedisclosurebywhichIfoundmyselfsuddenlyconfrontedwasmorethanIcouldsupport。Forthemoment，speechwasbeyondme。
Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！
Whatapositionthatyoungmanhadoccupied，unsuspectedbyhisfather，unknowntohimself！keptinignoranceofthefamilydisgrace，hehadbeenaguestinthehouseofthemanwhohadconsoledhisinfamousauntontheeveofherexecution——whohadsavedhisunhappycousinfrompoverty，fromsorrow，fromshame。
Andbutonehumanbeingknewthis。Andthathumanbeingwasmyself！
Observingmyagitation，MissJillgallplacedherownconstructiononit。
\"DoyouknowanythingbadofPhilip？\"sheaskedeagerly。\"Ifit’ssomethingthatwillpreventHelenafrommarryinghim，tellmewhatitis，Ibegandpray。\"
Iknewnomoreof\"Philip\"（whomshestillcalledbyhisChristianname！）thanshehadtoldmeherself：therewasnohelpforitbuttodisappointher。AtthesametimeIwasunabletoconcealthatIwasillatease，andthatitmightbewelltoleavemebymyself。Afteralookroundthebedchambertoseethatnothingwaswantingtomycomfort，shemadeherquaintcurtsey，andleftmewithherowninimitableformoffarewell。
\"Oh，indeed，Ihavebeenheretoolong！AndI’mafraidIhavebeenguilty，onceortwice，ofvulgarfamiliarity。Youwillexcuseme，Ihope。Thishasbeenanexcitinginterview——IthinkI
amgoingtocry。\"
Sheranoutoftheroom；andcarriedawaywithhersomeofmykindliestfeelings，shortasthetimeofouracquaintancehadbeen。Whatawifeandwhatamotherwaslostthere——andallforwantofaprettyface！
Leftalone，mythoughtsinevitablyrevertedtoDunboynetheelder，andtoallthathadhappenedinMr。Gracedieu’sfamilysincetheIrishgentlemanhadwrittentomeinbygoneyears。
TheterriblechoiceofresponsibilitieswhichhadpreyedontheMinister’smindhadbeenforeseenbyMr。Dunboyne，whenhefirstthoughtofadoptinghisinfantniece，andhadwarnedhimtodreadwhatmighthappeninthefuture，ifhebroughtherupasamemberofthefamilywithhisownboy，andifthetwoyoungpeoplebecameatalaterperiodattachedtoeachother。Howhadthewiseforesight，whichofferedsuchacontrasttothepoorMinister’simpulsiveactofmercy，metwithitsreward？FateorProvidence（callitwhichwemay）hadbroughtDunboyne’ssonandthedaughterofthemurderesstogether；hadinspiredthosetwostrangerswithlove；andhademboldenedthemtoplighttheirtrothbyamarriageengagement。Wastheman’sbetrayalofthetrustplacedinhimbythefaithfulgirltobeesteemedafortunatecircumstancebythetwopersonswhoknewthetruestoryofherparentage，theMinisterandmyself？Couldwerejoiceinanactofinfidelitywhichhadembitteredanddarkenedthegentleharmlesslifeofthevictim？Orcouldwe，ontheotherhand，encouragetheruthlessdeceit，thehatefultreachery，whichhadputthewickedHelena——withnoexposuretodreadif_she_
married——intoherwrongedsister’splace？Impossible！Intheonecaseasintheother，impossible！
Equallyhopelessdidtheprospectappear，whenItriedtodeterminewhatmyownindividualcourseofactionoughttobe。
Inmycalmermoments，theideahadoccurredtomymindofgoingtoDunboynetheyounger，and，ifhehadanysenseofshameleft，exertingmyinfluencetoleadhimbacktohisbetrothedwife。HowcouldInowdothis，consistentlywithmydutytotheyoungman’sfather；knowingwhatIknew，andnotforgettingthatIhadmyselfadvisedMr。Gracedieutokeepthetruthconcealed，whenIwasequallyignorantofPhilipDunboyne’sparentageandofHelenaGracedieu’streachery？
EvenifeventssoordereditthatthemarriageofEunicemightyettakeplace——withoutanyinterferenceexertedtoproducethatresult，onewayortheother，onmypart——itwouldbejustasimpossibleformetospeakoutnow，asithadbeeninthelong—pastyearswhenIhadsocautiouslyansweredMr。Dunboyne’sletter。Butwhatwouldhethinkofmeifaccidentled，soonerorlater，tothedisclosurewhichIhadfeltboundtoconceal？ThemoreItriedtoforecastthechancesofthefuture，thedarkerandthedarkerwastheviewthatfacedme。
Tomysinkingheartandweariedmind，goodDameNaturepresentedamoreacceptableprospect，whenIhappenedtolookoutofthewindowofmyroom。ThereIsawthetreesandflowerbedsofagarden，temptingmeirresistiblyunderthecloudlesssunshineofafineday。Iwasonmywayout，torecoverheartandhope，whenaknockatthedoorstoppedme。
HadMissJillgallreturned？WhenIsaid\"Comein，\"Mr。Gracedieuopenedthedoor，andenteredtheroom。
Hewassoweakthathestaggeredasheapproachedme。Leadinghimtoachair，Inoticedawildlookinhiseyes，andaflushonhishaggardcheeks。Somethinghadhappened。
\"Whenyouwerewithmeinmyroom，\"hebegan，\"didInottellyouthatIhadforgottensomething？\"
\"Certainlyyoudid。\"
\"Well，Ihavefoundthelostremembrance。Mymisfortune——Ioughttocallitthepunishmentformysins，isrecalledtomenow。Theworstcursethatcanfallonafatheristhecursethathascometome。Ihaveawickeddaughter。Myownchild，sir！myownchild！\"
Hadhebeenawake，whileMissJillgallandIhadbeentalkingoutsidehisdoor？HadheheardheraskmeifMr。GracedieuhadsaidnothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister，whilehewasspeakingofEunice？Thewaytothelostremembrancehadperhapsbeenfoundthere。Inanycase，afterthatbitterallusiontohis\"wickeddaughter\"someresultmustfollow。HelenaGracedieuandadayofreckoningmightbenearertoeachotheralreadythanIhadventuredtohope。
Iwaitedanxiouslyforwhathemightsaytomenext。
CHAPTERXXXVI。
THEWANDERINGMIND。
FORthemoment，theMinisterdisappointedme。
Withoutspeaking，withoutevenlookingup，hetookouthispocketbook，andbegantowriteinit。Constantlyinterruptedeitherbyatremblinginthehandthatheldthepencil，orbyadifficulty（asIimagined）inexpressingthoughtsimperfectlyrealized——hispatiencegaveway；hedashedthebookonthefloor。
\"Mymindisgone！\"heburstout。\"Oh，FatherinHeaven，letdeathdelivermefromabodywithoutamind！\"
Whocouldhearhim，andbeguiltyofthecrueltyofpreachingself—control？Ipickedupthepocketbook，andofferedtohelphim。
\"Doyouthinkyoucan？\"heasked。
\"Icanatleasttry。\"
\"Goodfellow！WhatshouldIdowithoutyou？Seenow；hereismydifficulty。Ihavegotsomanythingstosay，Iwanttoseparatethem——orelsetheywillallrunintoeachother。Lookatthebook，\"mypoorfriendsaidmournfully；\"theyhaverunintoeachotherinspiteofme。\"
Theentriesprovedtobenearlyincomprehensible。HereandthereIdiscoveredsomescatteredwords，whichshowedthemselvesmoreorlessdistinctlyinthemidstofthesurroundingconfusion。ThefirstwordthatIcouldmakeoutwas\"Education。\"Helpedbythathint，Itrustedtoguess—worktoguidemeinspeakingtohim。Itwasnecessarytobepositive，orhewouldhavelostallfaithinme。
\"Well？\"hesaidimpatiently。
\"Well，\"Ianswered，\"youhavesomethingtosaytomeabouttheeducationwhichyouhavegiventoyourdaughters。\"
\"Don’tputthemtogether！\"hecried。\"Dear，patient，sweetEunicemustnotbeconfoundedwiththatshe—devil——\"
\"Hush，hush，Mr。Gracedieu！BadlyasMissHelenahasbehaved，sheisyourownchild。\"
\"Irepudiateher，sir！Thinkforamomentofwhatshehasdone——andthenthinkofthereligiouseducationthatIhavegivenher。Heartless！Deceitful！Themostignorantcreatureinthelowestdensofthistowncouldhavedonenothingmorebaselycruel。Andthis，afteryearsonyearsofpatientChristianinstructiononmypart！Whatisreligion？Whatiseducation？I
readahorriblebookonce（Iforgetwhowastheauthor）；itcalledreligionsuperstition，andeducationemptyform。Idon’tknow；uponmywordIdon’tknowthatthebookmaynot——Oh，mytongue！Whydon’tIkeepaguardovermytongue？Areyouafather，too？Don’tinterruptme。Putyourselfinmyplace，andthinkofit。Heartless，deceitful，and_my_daughter。Givemethepocketbook；Iwanttoseewhichmemorandumcomesfirst。\"
Hehadnowwroughthimselfintoastateofexcitement，whichrelievedhisspiritsofthedepressionthathadweighedonthemuptothistime。Hisharmlessvanity，always，asIsuspect，alatentqualityinhiskindlynature，hadalreadyrestoredhisconfidence。Withaself—sufficientsmileheconsultedhisownunintelligibleentries，andmadehisownwilddiscoveries。
\"Ah，yes；’M’standsforMinister；Icomefirst。AmItoblame？
AmI——Godforgivememymanysins——amIheartless？AmI
deceitful？\"
\"Mygoodfriend，notevenyourenemiescouldsaythat！\"
\"Thankyou。Whocomesnext？\"Heconsultedthebookagain。\"Hermother，hersaintedmother，comesnext。Peoplesaysheislikehermother。Wasmywifeheartless？Wastheangelofmylifedeceitful？\"
（\"That，\"Ithoughttomyself，\"isexactlywhatyourwifewas——andexactlywhatreappearsinyourwife’schild。\"）
\"Wheredoesherwickednesscomefrom？\"hewenton。\"Notfromhermother；notfromme；notfromaneglectededucation。\"Hesuddenlysteppeduptomeandlaidhishandsonmyshoulders；hisvoicedroppedtohoarse，moaning，awestrucktones。\"ShallItellyouwhatitis？Apossessionofthedevil。\"
Itwassoevidentlydesirabletopreventanycontinuationofsuchatrainofthoughtasthis，thatIcouldfeelnohesitationininterruptinghim。
\"WillyouhearwhatIhavetosay？\"Iaskedbluntly。
Hishumorchangedagain；hemademealowbow，andwentbacktohischair。\"Iwillhearyouwithpleasure，\"heansweredpolitely。
\"YouarethemosteloquentmanIknow，withoneexception——myself。Ofcourse——myself。\"
\"Itismerewasteoftime，\"Icontinued，\"toregrettheexcellenteducationwhichyourdaughterhasmisused。\"Makingthatreply，I
wastemptedtoaddanotherwordoftruth。Alleducationisatthemercyoftwopowerfulcounter—influences：theinfluenceoftemperament，andtheinfluenceofcircumstances。Butthiswasphilosophy。HowcouldIexpecthimtosubmittophilosophy？\"WhatweknowofMissHelena，\"Iwenton，\"mustbeenoughforus。Shehasplotted，andshemeanstosucceed。Stopher。\"
\"Justmyidea！\"hedeclaredfirmly。\"Irefusemyconsenttothatabominablemarriage。\"
Inthepopularphrase，Istruckwhiletheironwashot。\"Youmustdomorethanthat，sir，\"Itoldhim。
Hisvanitysuddenlytookthealarm——Iwasleadinghimrathertooundisguisedly。Hehandedhisbookbacktome。\"Youwillfind，\"hesaidloftily，\"thatIhaveputitalldownthere。\"
Ipretendedtofindit，andreadanimaginaryentrytothiseffect：\"Afterwhatshehasalreadydone，Helenaiscapableofmarryingindefianceofmywishesandcommands。Thismustbeconsideredandprovidedagainst。\"Sofar，Ihadsucceededinflatteringhim。Butwhen（thinkingofhispaternalauthority）I
alludednexttohisdaughter’sage，hiseyesrestedonmewithalookofdownrightterror。
\"Nomoreofthat！\"hesaid。\"Iwon’ttalkofthegirls’agesevenwithyou。\"
Whatdidhemean？Itwasuselesstoask。Iwentonwiththematterinhand——stilldeliberatelyspeakingtohim，asImighthavespokentoamanwithanintellectasclearasmyown。Inmyexperience，thispracticegenerallystimulatesaweakintelligencetodoitsbest。Weallknowhowchildrenreceivetalkthatislowered，orbooksthatarelowered，totheirpresumedlevel。
\"Ishalltakeitforgranted，\"Icontinued，\"thatMissHelenaisstillunderyourlawfulauthority。Shecanonlyarriveatherendsbymeansofarunawaymarriage。Inthatcase，muchdependsontheman。Youtoldmeyoucouldn’thelplikinghim。Thiswas，ofcourse，beforeyouknewoftheinfamousmannerinwhichhehasbehaved。Youmusthavechangedyouropinionnow。\"
Heseemedtobeatalosshowtoreply。\"Iamafraid，\"hesaid，\"theyoungmanwasdrawnintoitbyHelena。\"
HerewasMissJillgall’sapologyforPhilipDunboynerepeatedinotherwords。DespisinganddetestingthefellowasIdid，Iwasforcedtoadmittomyselfthathemustberecommendedbypersonalattractionswhichitwouldbenecessarytoreckonwith。ItriedtogetsomemoreinformationfromMr。Gracedieu。
\"Theexcuseyouhavejustmadeforhim，\"Iresumed，\"impliesthatheisaweakman；easilypersuaded，easilyled。\"
TheMinisteransweredbynoddinghishead。
\"Suchweaknessasthat，\"Ipersisted，\"isaviceinitself。Ithasledalready，sir，tothesaddestresults。\"
Headmittedthisbyanothernod。
\"Idon’twishtoshockyou，Mr。Gracedieu；butImustrecommendemployingthemeansthatpresentthemselves。Youmustpracticeonthisman’sweakness，forthesakeofthegoodthatmaycomeofit。IhearheisinLondonwithhisfather。Trythestronginfluence，andwritetohisfather。Thereisanotherreasonbesidesfordoingthis。ItisquitepossiblethatthetruthhasbeenconcealedfromMr。Dunboynetheelder。Takecarethatheisinformedofwhathasreallyhappened。Areyoulookingforpen，ink，andpaper？LetmeofferyouthewritingmaterialswhichI
useintraveling。\"
Iplacedthembeforehim。Hetookupthepen；hearrangedthepaper；hewaseagertobegin。
Afterwritingafewwords，hestopped——reflected——triedagain——stoppedagain——toreupthelittlethathehaddone——andbegananewletter，endinginthesamemiserableresult。Itwasimpossibletowitnesshishelplessness，toseehowpitiablypatienthewasoverhisownincapacity，andtoletthemelancholyspectaclegoon。Iproposedtowritetheletter；authenticatingit，ofcourse，byhissignature。Whenheallowedmetotakethepen，heturnedawayhisface，ashamedtoletmeseewhathesuffered。Wasthisthesameman，whosegreatnaturehadsonoblyasserteditselfinthecondemnedcell？Poormortality！
Theletterwaseasilywritten。
IhadonlytoinformMr。Dunboyneofhisson’sconduct；
repeating，intheplainestlanguagethatIcoulduse，whatMissJillgallhadrelatedtome。Arrivedattheconclusion，I
contrivedtomakeMr。Gracedieuexpresshimselfinthesestrongterms：\"Iprotestagainstthemarriageinjusticetoyou，sir，aswellastomyself。Wecanneitherofuscontenttobeaccomplicesinanactofdomestictreasonofthebasestkind。\"
Insilence，theMinisterreadtheletter，andattachedhissignaturetoit。Insilence，heroseandtookmyarm。Iaskedifhewishedtogotohisroom。Heonlyrepliedbyasign。Iofferedtositwithhim，andtrytocheerhim。Gratefully，hepressedmyhand：gently，heputmebackfromthedoor。Crushedbythemiserablediscoveryofthedecayofhisownfaculties！WhatcouldIdo？whatcouldIsay？Nothing！
MissJillgallwasinthedrawing—room。Withthenecessaryexplanations，Ishowedhertheletter。Shereaditwithbreathlessinterest。\"ItterrifiesonetothinkhowmuchdependsonoldMr。Dunboyne，\"shesaid。\"Youknowhim。Whatsortofmanishe？\"