Icouldonlyassureher（afterwhatIrememberedofhislettertome）thathewasamanwhomwecoulddependupon。
MissJillgallpossessedtreasuresofinformationtowhichIcouldlaynoclaim。Mr。Dunboyne，shetoldme，wasascholar，andawriter，andarichman。Hisviewsonmarriagewereliberalintheextreme。Lethissonfindgoodprinciples，goodtemper，andgoodlooks，inawife，andhewouldpromisetofindthemoney。
\"Igettheseparticulars，\"saidMissJillgall，\"fromdearEuneece。Theyaresurelyencouraging？ThatHelenamaycarryoutMr。Dunboyne’sviewsinherpersonalappearanceis，Iregrettosay，whatIcan’tdeny。Butastotheotherqualifications，howhopefulistheprospect！Goodprinciples，andgoodtemper？Ha！
ha！HelenahastheprinciplesofJezebel，andthetemperofLadyMacbeth。\"
Afterdashingoffthisstrikingsketchofcharacter，thefairartistaskedtolookatmyletteragain，andobservedthattheaddresswaswanting。\"Icansetthisrightforyou，\"sheresumed，\"thanks，asbefore，tomysweetEuneece。And（don’tbeinahurry）Icanmakemyselfusefulinanotherway。Oh，howIdoenjoymakingmyselfuseful！Ifyoutrustyourlettertothebasketinthehall，Helena’slovelyeyes——capableofthemeanestconceivableactions——aresuretotakeapeepattheaddress。Inthatcase，doyouthinkyourletterwouldgettoLondon？Iamafraidyoudetectafaintinfusionofspitefulnessinthatquestion。Oh，forshame！I’llpostthelettermyself。\"
CHAPTERXXXVII。
THESHAMELESSSISTER。
FORsomereason，whichmyunassistedpenetrationwasunabletodiscover，MissHelenaGracedieukeptoutofmyway。
Atdinner，onthedayofmyarrival，andatbreakfastonthenextmorning，shewaspresentofcourse；readytomakeherselfagreeableinamodestway，andprovidedwiththenecessarysupplyofcheerfulsmall—talk。Butthemealhavingcometoanend，shehadherdomesticexcuseready，andunostentatiouslydisappearedlikeawell—bredyounglady。Inevermetheronthestairs，neverfoundmyselfintrudingonherinthedrawing—room，nevercaughthergettingoutofmywayinthegarden。AsmuchatalossforanexplanationofthesemysteriesasIwas，MissJillgall’sinterestinmywelfareledhertocautionmeinavagueandgeneralway。
\"Takemywordforit，dearMr。Governor，shehassomedesignonyou。Willyouallowaninsignificantoldmaidtoofferasuggestion？Oh，thankyou；Iwillventuretoadvise。Pleaselookbackatyourexperienceoftheveryworstfemaleprisoneryoueverhadtodealwith——andbeguidedaccordinglyifHelenacatchesyouataprivateinterview。\"
Inlessthanhalfanhourafterward，Helenacaughtme。Iwaswritinginmyroom，whenthemaidservantcameinwithamessage：
\"MissHelena’scompliments，sir，andwouldyoupleasespareherhalfanhour，downstairs？\"
MyfirstexcusewasofcoursethatIwasengaged。Thiswasdisposedofbyasecondmessage，providedbeforehand，nodoubt，forananticipatedrefusal：\"MissHelenawishedmetosay，sir，thathertimeisyourtime。\"Iwasstillobstinate；Ipleadednextthatmydaywasfilledup。Athirdmessagehadevidentlybeenprepared，evenforthisemergency：\"MissHelenawillregret，sir，havingthepleasuredeferred，butshewillleaveyoutomakeyourownappointmentforto—morrow。\"PersistencysoinveterateasthisledtoaresultwhichMr。Gracedieu’scautiousdaughterhadnotperhapscontemplated：itputmeonmyguard。Thereseemedtobeachance，tosaytheleastofit，thatImightserveEunice’sinterestsifIdiscoveredwhattheenemyhadtosay。Ilockedupmywriting——declaredmyselfincapableofputtingMissHelenatoneedlessinconvenience——andfollowedthemaidtothelowerfloorofthehouse。
TheroomtowhichIwasconductedprovedtobeempty。Ilookedroundme。
IfIhadbeentoldthatamanlivedtherewhowasabsolutelyindifferenttoappearances，Ishouldhaveconcludedthathisviewswerefaithfullyrepresentedbyhisplaceofabode。Thechairsandtablesremindedmeofarailwaywaiting—room。Theshabbylittlebookcasewasthemuterecordofalifeindifferenttoliterature。Thecarpetwasofthatdreadfuldrabcolor，stillthecherishedfavoriteoftheaverageEnglishmind，inspiteofeveryprotestthatcanbeenteredagainstit，onbehalfofArt。
Theceiling，recentlywhitewashed；mademyeyesachewhentheylookedatit。Oneithersideofthewindow，flaccidgreencurtainshunghelplesslywithnothingtoloopthemup。Thewriting—deskandthepaper—case，viewedasspecimensofwoodwork，recalledtheready—madebedroomsonshowincheapshops。Thebooks，mostlyinslate—coloredbindings，weredevotedtotheliteraturewhichiscalledreligious；Ionlydiscoveredthreeworldlypublicationsamongthem——DomesticCookery，EtiquetteforLadies，andHintsontheBreedingofPoultry。Anuglylittleclock，tickingnoisilyinablackcase，andtwocandlesticksofbasemetalplacedoneithersideofit，completedtheornamentsonthechimney—piece。Neitherpicturesnorprintshidthebarrennessofthewalls。Isawnoneedleworkandnoflowers。Theoneobjectintheplacewhichshowedanypretensionstobeautywasalooking—glassinanelegantgiltframe——sacredtovanity，andworthyoftheofficethatitfilled。SuchwasHelenaGracedieu’ssitting—room。Ireallycouldnothelpthinking：Howlikeher！
Shecameinwithafaceperfectlyadaptedtothecircumstances——pleasedandsmiling；amiablydeferential，inconsiderationoftheclaimsofherfather’sguest——and，tomysurprise，insomedegreesuggestiveofoneofthoseincorrigiblefemaleprisoners，towhomMissJillgallhadreferredmewhensheofferedawordofadvice。
\"Howkindofyoutocomesosoon！Excusemyreceivingyouinmyhousekeeping—room；weshallnotbeinterruptedhere。Veryplainlyfurnished，isitnot？Idislikeostentationanddisplay。
Ornamentsareoutofplaceinaroomdevotedtodomesticnecessities。Ihatedomesticnecessities。Younoticethelooking—glass？It’sapresent。Ishouldneverhaveputsuchathingup。Perhapsmyvanityexcusesit。\"
Shepointedthelastremarkbyalookatherselfintheglass；
usingit，whileshedespisedit。Yes：therewasahandsomeface，payingheritsreflectedcompliment——butnotsowellmatchedasitmighthavebeenbyahandsomefigure。Herfeetweretoolarge；
hershouldersweretoohigh；thegracefulundulationsofawell—madegirlwereabsentwhenshewalked；andherbosomwas，tomymind，undulydevelopedforhertimeoflife。
Shesatdownbymewithherbacktothelight。Happeningtobeoppositetothewindow，Iofferedhertheadvantageofaclearviewofmyface。Shewaitedforme，andIwaitedforher——andtherewasanawkwardpausebeforewespoke。Shesettheexample。
\"Isn’titcurious？\"sheremarked。\"Whentwopeoplehavesomethingparticulartosaytoeachother，andnothingtohinderthem，theyneverseemtoknowhowtosayit。Youaretheoldest，sir。Whydon’tyoubegin？\"
\"BecauseIhavenothingparticulartosay。\"
\"Inplainwords，youmeanthatImustbegin？\"
\"Ifyouplease。\"
\"Verywell。IwanttoknowwhetherIhavegivenyou（andMissJillgall，ofcourse）asmuchtimeasyouwant，andasmanyopportunitiesasyoucoulddesire？\"
\"Praygoon，MissHelena。\"
\"HaveInotsaidenoughalready？\"
\"Notenough，Iregrettosay，toconveyyourmeaningtome。\"
Shedrewherchairalittlefurtherawayfromme。\"Iamsadlydisappointed，\"shesaid。\"Ihadsuchahighopinionofyourperfectcandor。Ithoughttomyself：Thereissuchastrikingexpressionoffranknessinhisface。Anotherillusiongone！I
hopeyouwon’tthinkIamoffended，ifIsayaboldword。Iamonlyayounggirl，tobesure；butIamnotquitesuchafoolasyoutakemefor。DoyoureallythinkIdon’tknowthatMissJillgallhasbeentellingyoueverythingthatisbadaboutme；
puttingeverymistakethatIhavemade，everyfaultthatIhavecommitted，intheworstpossiblepointofview？Andyouhavelistenedtoher——quitenaturally！Andyouareprejudiced，stronglyprejudiced，againstme——whatelsecouldyoube，underthecircumstances？Idon’tcomplain；Ihavepurposelykeptoutofyourway，andoutofMissJillgall’sway；inshort，Ihaveaffordedyoueveryfacility，astheprospectusessay。Ionlywanttoknowifmyturnhascomeatlast。Oncemore，haveIgivenyoutimeenough，andopportunitiesenough？\"
\"Agreatdealmorethanenough。\"
\"Doyoumeanthatyouhavemadeupyourmindaboutmewithoutstoppingtothink？\"
\"ThatisexactlywhatImean。Anactoftreachery，MissHelena，_is_anactoftreachery；nohonestpersonneedhesitatetocondemnit。Iamsorryyousentforme。\"
Igotuptogo。Withanironicalgestureofremonstrance，shesignedtometositdownagain。
\"MustIremindyou，dearsir，ofourfamousnativevirtue？Fairplayissurelyduetoayoungpersonwhohasnobodytotakeherpart。Youtalkedoftreacheryjusthow。Idenythetreachery。
Pleasegivemeahearing。\"
Ireturnedtomychair。
\"Orwouldyoupreferwaiting，\"shewentout，\"tillmysistercomesherelaterintheday，andcontinueswhatMissJillgallhasbegun，withthegreatadvantageofbeingyoungandnice—looking？\"
Whenthefemalemindgetsintothisstate，nowisemananswersthefemalequestions。
\"AmItotakesilenceasmeaningGoon？\"MissHelenainquired。
Ibeggedhertointerpretmysilenceinthesensemostagreeabletoherself。
Thisnaturallyencouragedher。Shemadeaproposal：
\"Doyoumindchangingplaces，sir？\"
\"Justasyoulike，MissHelena。\"
Wechangedchairs；thelightnowfellfullonherface。HadshedeliberatelychallengedmetolookintohersecretmindifI
could？Anythinglikethestarkinsensibilityofthatyounggirltoeveryrefinementoffeeling，toeverybecomingdoubtofherself，toeverycustomarytimidityofherageandsexinthepresenceofamanwhohadnotdisguisedhisunfavorableopinionofher，Inevermetwithinallmyexperienceoftheworldandofwomen。
\"Iwishtobequitemistressofmyself，\"sheexplained；\"yourface，forsomereasonwhichIreallydon’tknow，irritatesme。
Thefactis，Ihavegreatprideinkeepingmytemper。Pleasemakeallowances。NowaboutMissJillgall。IsupposeshetoldyouhowmysisterfirstmetwithPhilipDunboyne？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Shealsomentioned，perhaps，thathewasahighly—cultivatedman？\"
\"Shedid。\"
\"Nowweshallgeton。WhenPhilipcametoourtownhere，andsawmeforthefirsttime——Doyouobjecttomyspeakingfamiliarlyofhim，byhisChristianname？\"
\"Inthecaseofanyoneelseinyourposition，MissHelena，I
shouldventuretocallitbadtaste。\"
Iwasprovokedintosayingthat。Itfailedentirelyasawell—meanteffortinthewayofimpliedreproof。MissHelenasmiled。
\"Yougrantmealibertywhichyouwouldnotconcedetoanothergirl。\"Thatwashowsheviewedit。\"Wearegettingonbetteralready。ToreturntowhatIwassaying。WhenPhilipfirstsawme——Ihaveitfromhimself，mind——hefeltthatIshouldhavebeenhischoice，ifhehadmetwithmebeforehemetwithmysister。
Doyoublamehim？\"
\"Ifyouwilltakemyadvice，\"Isaid，\"youwillnotinquiretoocloselyintomyopinionofMr。PhilipDunboyne。\"
\"Perhapsyoudon’twishmetosayanymore？\"shesuggested。
\"Onthecontrary，praygoon，ifyoulike。\"
Afterthatconcession，shewasamiabilityitself。\"Oh，yes，\"sheassuredme，\"that’seasilydone。\"Andshewentonaccordingly：
\"Philiphavinginformedmeofthestateofhisaffections，I
naturallyfollowedhisexample。Infact，weexchangedconfessions。Ourmarriageengagementfollowedasamatterofcourse。Doyoublameme？\"
\"Iwillwaittillyouhavedone。\"
\"Ihavenomoretosay。\"
Shemadethatamazingreplywithsuchperfectcomposure，thatI
begantofeartheremusthavebeensomemisunderstandingbetweenus。\"Isthatreallyallyouhavetosayforyourself？\"I
persisted。
Herpatiencewithmewasmostexemplary。Sheloweredherselftomylevel。Nottrustingtowordsonlyonthisoccasion，she（sotosay）beathermeaningintomyheadbygesticulatingonherfingers，asifshewaseducatingachild。
\"PhilipandI，\"shebegan，\"arethevictimsofanaccident，whichkeptusapartwhenweoughttohavemettogether——wearenotresponsibleforanaccident。\"Sheimpressedthisonmebytouchingherforefinger。\"PhilipandIfellinlovewitheachotheratfirstsight——wearenotresponsibleforthefeelingsimplantedinournaturesbyanall—wiseProvidence。\"Sheassistedmeinunderstandingthisbytouchinghermiddlefinger。\"PhilipandIoweadutytoeachother，andacceptaresponsibilityunderthosecircumstances——theresponsibilityofgettingmarried。\"A
touchonherthirdfinger，andanindulgentbow，announcedthatthelessonwasended。\"Iamnotaclevermanlikeyou，\"shemodestlyacknowledged，\"butIaskyoutohelpus，whenyounextseemyfather，withsomeconfidence。Youknowexactlywhattosaytohim，bythistime。Nothinghasbeenforgotten。\"
\"Pardonme，\"Isaid，\"apersonhasbeenforgotten。\"
\"Indeed？Whatperson？\"
\"Yoursister。\"
Alittleperplexedatfirst，MissHelenareflected，andrecoveredherself。
\"Ah，yes，\"shesaid；\"IwasafraidImightbeobligedtotroubleyouforanexplanation——Iseeitnow。Youareshocked（veryproperly）whenfeelingsofenmityexistbetweennearrelations；
andyouwishtobeassuredthatIbearnomalicetowardEunice。
Sheisviolent，sheissulky，sheisstupid，sheisselfish；andshecruellyrefusestoliveinthesamehousewithme。Makeyourmindeasy，sir，Iforgivemysister。\"
Letmenotattempttodisguiseit——MissHelenaGracedieuconfoundedme。
Ordinaryaudacityisoneofthoseformsofinsolencewhichmatureexperiencedismisseswithcontempt。Thisgirl’saudacitystruckdownallresistance，foroneshockingreason：itwasunquestionablysincere。Strongconvictionofherownvirtuestaredatmeinherproudanddaringeyes。Atthattime，IwasnotawareofwhatIhavelearnedsince。Thehorridhardeningofhermoralsensehadbeenaccomplishedbyherself。Inherdiary，therehasbeenfoundtheconfessionofasecretcourseofreading——withsupplementaryreflectionsflowingfromit，whichneedonlytobedescribedasworthyoftheirsource。
Apersoncapableofrepentanceandreformwould，inherplace，haveseenthatshehaddisgustedme。NotasuspicionofthisoccurredtoMissHelena。\"Iseeyouareembarrassed，\"sheremarked，\"andIamatnolosstoaccountforit。YouaretoopolitetoacknowledgethatIhavenotmadeafriendofyouyet。
Oh，Imeantodoit！\"
\"No，\"Isaid，\"Ithinknot。\"
\"Weshallsee，\"shereplied。\"Soonerorlater，youwillfindyourselfsayingakindwordtomyfatherforPhilipandme。\"Sherose，andtookaturnintheroom——andstopped，eyingmeattentively。\"AreyouthinkingofEunice？\"sheasked。
\"Yes。\"
\"Shehasyoursympathy，Isuppose？\"
\"Myheart—feltsympathy。\"
\"Ineedn’taskhowIstandinyourestimation，afterthat。Prayexpressyourselffreely。Yourlooksconfessit——youviewmewithafeelingofaversion。\"
\"Iviewyouwithafeelingofhorror。\"
Theexasperatinginfluencesofherlanguage，herlooks，andhertoneswould，asIventuretothink，havegottotheendofanotherman’sself—controlbeforethis。Anyway，shehadatlastirritatedmeintospeakingasstronglyasIfelt。WhatIsaidhadbeensoplainly（perhapssorudely）expressed，thatmisinterpretationofitseemedtobeimpossible。Shemistookme，nevertheless。Themostmercilessdisclosureofthedrearysideofhumandestinyissurelytobefoundinthefailureofwords，spokenorwritten，sotoanswertheirpurposethatwecantrustthem，inourattemptstocommunicatewitheachother。Evenwhenheseemstobeconnected，bythenearestanddearestrelations，withhisfellow—mortals，whatasolitarycreature，triedbythetestofsympathy，thehumanbeingreallyisintheteemingworldthatheinhabits！Affordingonemoreexampleoftheimpotenceofhumanlanguagetospeakforitself，mymisinterpretedwordshadfoundtheirwaytotheonesensitiveplaceinHelenaGracedieu’simpenetrablenature。Shebetrayeditinthequiveringandflushingofherhardface，andintheappealtothelooking—glasswhichescapedhereyesthenextmoment。Myhastyreplyhadrousedtheideaofacovertinsultaddressedtoherhandsomeface。Inotherwords，Ihadwoundedhervanity。Drivenbyresentment，outcamethesecretdistrustofmewhichhadbeenlurkinginthatcoldheart，fromthemomentwhenwefirstmet。
\"Iinspireyouwithhorror，andEuniceinspiresyouwithcompassion，\"shesaid。\"That，Mr。Governor，isnotnatural。\"
\"MayIaskwhy？\"
\"Youknowwhy。\"
\"No。\"
\"Youwillhaveit？\"
\"Iwantanexplanation，MissHelena，ifthatiswhatyoumean。\"
\"Takeyourexplanation，then！Youarenotthestrangeryouaresaidtobetomysisterandtome。YourinterestinEuniceisapersonalinterestofsomekind。Idon’tpretendtoguesswhatitis。Asformyself，itisplainthatsomebodyelsehasbeensettingyouagainstme，beforeMissJillgallgotpossessionofyourprivateear。\"
InalludingtoEunice，shehadblundered，strangelyenough，onsomethinglikethetruth。Butwhenshespokeofherself，theheadlongmalignityofhersuspicions——makingeveryallowancefortheangerthathadhurriedherintothem——seemedtocallforsomelittleprotestagainstafalseassertion。Itoldherthatshewascompletelymistaken。
\"Iamcompletelyright，\"sheanswered；\"Isawit。\"
\"Sawwhat？\"
\"Sawyoupretendingtobeastrangertome。\"
\"WhendidIdothat？\"
\"Youdiditwhenwemetatthestation。\"
Thereplywastooridiculousforthepreservationofanycontrolovermyownsenseofhumor。Itwaswrong；butitwasinevitable——Ilaughed。Shelookedatmewithafury，revealingaconcentrationofevilpassioninherwhichIhadnotseenyet。I
askedherpardon；Ibeggedhertothinkalittlebeforeshepersistedintakingaviewofmyconductunworthyofher，andunjusttomyself。
\"UnjusttoYou！\"sheburstout。\"Whoareyou？Amanwhohasdrivenyourtradehasspiesalwaysathiscommand——yes！andknowshowtousethem。Youwereprimedwithprivateinformation——youhad，forallIknow，astolenphotographofmeinyourpocket——beforeeveryoucametoourtown。Doyoustilldenyit？
Oh，sir，whydegradeyourselfbytellingalie？\"
Nosuchoutrageasthishadeverbeeninflictedonme，atanytimeinmylife。Myforbearancemust，Isuppose，havebeenmoreseverelytriedthanIwasawareofmyself。Withorwithoutexcuseforme，Iwasweakenoughtoletagirl’sspitefultonguestingme，and，worsestill，toletherseethatIfeltit。
\"Youshallhavenosecondopportunity，MissGracedieu，ofinsultingme。\"Withthatfoolishreply，Iopenedthedoorviolentlyandwentout。
Sheranafterme，triumphinginhavingrousedthetemperofamanoldenoughtohavebeenhergrandfather，andcaughtmebythearm。\"Yourownconducthasexposedyou。\"（Thatwasliterallyhowsheexpressedherself。）\"Isawitinyoureyeswhenwemetatthestation。You，thestranger——youwhoallowedpoorignorantmetointroducemyself——youknewmeallthetime，knewmebysight！\"
Ishookherhandoffwithaninconsiderableroughness，humiliatingtoremember。\"It’sfalse！\"Icried。\"Iknewyoubyyourlikenesstoyourmother。\"
Themomentthewordshadpassedmylips，Icametomysensesagain；Irememberedwhatfatalwordstheymightprovetobe，iftheyreachedtheMinister’sears。
Heardonlybyhisdaughter，myreplyseemedtocooltheheatofherangerinaninstant。
\"Soyouknewmymother？\"shesaid。\"Myfathernevertoldusthat，whenhespokeofyourbeingsuchaveryoldfriendofhis。
Strange，tosaytheleastofit。\"
Iwaswiseenough——nowwhenwisdomhadcometoolate——nottoattempttoexplainmyself，andnottogiveheranopportunityofsayingmore。\"Weareneitherofusinastateofmind，\"I
answered，\"toallowthisinterviewtocontinue。Imusttrytorecovermycomposure；andIleaveyoutodothesame。\"
Inthesolitudeofmyroom，Iwasabletolookmypositionfairlyintheface。
Mr。Gracedieu’swifehadcometome，inthelong—pasttime，withoutherhusband’sknowledge。Temptedtoacruelresolvebythematernaltriumphofhavinganinfantofherown，shehadresolvedtoridherselfofthepoorlittlerivalinherhusband’sfatherlyaffection，byconsigningtheadoptedchildtothekeepingofacharitableasylum。Shehaddaredtoaskmetohelpher。Ihadkeptthesecretofhershamefulvisit——Icanhonestlysay，fortheMinister’ssake。Andnow，longaftertimehaddoomedthoseeventstooblivion，theywererevived——andrevivedbyme。
Thankstomyfolly，Mr。Gracedieu’sdaughterknewwhatIhadconcealedfromMr。Gracedieuhimself。
Whatcoursedidrespectformyfriend，andrespectformyself，counselmetotake？
Icouldonlyseebeforemeachoiceoftwoevils。Towaitforevents——withthetoocertainprospectofavindictivebetrayalofmyindiscretionbyHelenaGracedieu。Ortotaketheinitiativeintomyownhands，andriskconsequenceswhichImightregrettotheendofmylife，bymakingmyconfessiontotheMinister。
BeforeIhaddecided，somebodyknockedatthedoor。Itwasthemaid—servantagain。WasitpossibleshehadbeensentbyHelena？
\"Anothermessage？\"
\"Yes，sir。Mymasterwishestoseeyou。\"
CHAPTERXXXVIII。
THEGIRLS’AGES。
HADtheMinister’sdesiretoseemebeeninspiredbyhisdaughter’sbetrayalofwhatIhadunfortunatelysaidtoher？
Althoughhewouldcertainlynotconsenttoreceiveherpersonally，shewouldbeatlibertytoadoptawrittenmethodofcommunicationwithhim，andthelettermightbeaddressedinsuchamannerastopiquehiscuriosity。IfHelena’svindictivepurposehadbeenalreadyaccomplished——andifMr。Gracedieuleftmenoalternativebuttopresenthisunworthywifeinhertruecharacter——IcanhonestlysaythatIdreadedtheconsequences，notastheymightaffectmyself，butastheymightaffectmyunhappyfriendinhisenfeebledstateofbodyandmind。
WhenIenteredhisroom，hewasstillinbed。
Thebed—curtainsweresodrawn，onthesidenearesttothewindow，astokeepthelightfromfallingtoobrightlyonhisweakeyes。Intheshadowthusthrownonhim，itwasnotpossibletoseehisfaceplainlyenough，fromtheopensideofthebed，toarriveatanydefiniteconclusionastowhatmightbepassinginhismind。Afterhavingbeenawakeforsomehoursduringtheearlierpartofthenight，hehadenjoyedalongandundisturbedsleep。\"Ifeelstrongerthismorning，\"hesaid，\"andIwishtospeaktoyouwhilemymindisclear。\"
Ifthequiettoneofhisvoicewasnotanassumedtone，hewassurelyignorantofallthathadpassedbetweenhisdaughterandmyself。
\"Eunicewillbeheresoon，\"heproceeded，\"andIoughttoexplainwhyIhavesentforhertocomeandmeetyou。Ihavereasons，seriousreasons，mind，forwishingyoutocompareherpersonalappearancewithHelena’spersonalappearance，andthentotellmewhichofthetwo，onafaircomparison，lookstheeldest。PraybearinmindthatIattachthegreatestimportancetotheconclusionatwhichyoumayarrive。\"
HespokemoreclearlyandcollectedlythanIhadheardhimspeakyet。
HereandthereIdetectedhesitationsandrepetitions，whichI
havepurposelypassedover。ThesubstanceofwhathesaidtomeisallthatIshallpresentinthisplace。CarefulasIhavebeentokeepmyrecordofeventswithinstrictlimits，IhavewrittenatalengthwhichIwasfarindeedfromcontemplatingwhenI
acceptedMr。Gracedieu’sinvitation。
Havingpromisedtocomplywiththestrangerequestwhichhehadaddressedtome，Iventuredtoremindhimofpastoccasionsonwhichhehadpointedlyabstained，whenthesubjectpresenteditself，fromspeakingofthegirls’ages。\"Youhaveleftittomydiscretion，\"Iadded，\"todecideaquestioninwhichyouareseriouslyinterested，relatingtoyourdaughters。HaveInoexcuseforregrettingthatIhavenotbeenadmittedtoyourconfidencealittlemorefreely？\"
\"Youhaveeveryexcuse，\"heanswered。\"Butyoutroublemeallthesame。TherewassomethingelsethatIhadtosaytoyou——andyourcuriositygetsintheway。\"
Hesaidthiswithasullenemphasis。Inmyposition，theworstofevilswassuspense。Itoldhimthatmycuriositycouldwait；andIbeggedthathewouldrelievehismindofwhatwaspressingonitatthemoment。
\"Letmethinkalittle，\"hesaid。