WhydidInottrytocalmher？Ihadvainlytriedtocalmher——I
whoknewwhohermotherwas，andwhathermotherhadbeen。
Atlast，shehadforcedthesenseofmydutyonme。Thesimplestwayofcalmingherwastoputherbackintheplacebymysidethatshehadleft。Itwasuselesstoreasonwithher，itwasimpossibletoanswerher。IhadmyownideaoftheonewayinwhichImightcharmEunicebacktohersweeterself。
\"LetustalkofPhilip，\"Isaid。
Thefierceflushonherfacesoftened，theswellingtroubleofherbosombegantosubside，asthatdearly—lovednamepassedmylips！Buttherewassomeinfluenceleftinherwhichresistedme。
\"No，\"shesaid；\"wehadbetternottalkofhim。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Ihavelostallmycourage。IfyouspeakofPhilip，youwillmakemecry。\"
Idrewhernearertome。Ifshehadbeenmyownchild，Idon’tthinkIcouldhavefeltforhermoretrulythanIfeltatthatmoment。Ionlylookedather；Ionlysaid：
\"Cry！\"
Thelovethatwasinherheartrose，andpoureditstendernessintohereyes。Ihadlongedtoseethetearsthatwouldcomforther。Thetearscame。
Therewassilencebetweenusforawhile。Itwaspossibleformetothink。
Intheabsenceofphysicalresemblancebetweenparentandchild，isanunfavorableinfluenceexercisedonthetendencytomoralresemblance？Assumingthepossibilityofsucharesultasthis，Eunice（entirelyunlikehermother）must，asIconcluded，havebeenpossessedofqualitiesformedtoresist，aswellasofqualitiesdoomedtoundergo，theinfectionofevil。While，therefore，Iresignedmyselftorecognizetheexistenceofthehereditarymaternaltaint，Ifirmlybelievedinthecounterbalancinginfluencesforgoodwhichhadbeenpartofthegirl’sbirthright。Theyhadbeenderived，perhaps，fromthebetterqualitiesinherfather’snature；theyhadbeencertainlydevelopedbythetendercare，thereligiousvigilance，whichhadguardedtheadoptedchildsolovinglyintheMinister’shousehold；andtheyhadservedtheirpurposeuntiltimebroughtwithitthechange，forwhichthetranquildomesticinfluenceswerenotprepared。Withthegreat，thevitaltransformation，whichmarkstheripeningofthegirlintothewoman’smaturityofthoughtandpassion，anewpowerforGood，strongenoughtoresistthelatentpowerforEvil，sprangintobeing，andshelteredEuniceunderthesupremacyofLove。Loveill—fatedandill—bestowed——butlovethatnoprofanationcouldstain，thatnohereditaryevilcouldconquer——theTrueLovethathadbeen，andwas，andwouldbe，theguardianangelofEunice’slife。
IfIamaskedwhetherIhaveventuredtofoundthisopiniononwhatIhaveobservedinoneinstanceonly，IreplythatIhavehadotheropportunitiesofinvestigation，andthatmyconclusionsarederivedfromexperiencewhichreferstomoreinstancesthanone。
Nomaninhissensescandoubtthatphysicalqualitiesaretransmittedfromparentstochildren。Butinheritanceofmoralqualitiesislesseasytotrace。Here，theexploringmindfindsitsprogressbesetbyobstacles。ThatthoseobstacleshavebeensometimesovercomeIdonotdeny。Moralresemblanceshavebeentracedbetweenparentsandchildren。While，however，Iadmitthis，Idoubttheconclusionwhichsees，ininheritanceofmoralqualities，apositiveinfluenceexercisedonmoraldestiny。Thereareinherentemotionalforcesinhumanitytowhichtheinheritedinfluencesmustsubmit；theyareessentiallyinfluencesundercontrol——influenceswhichcanbeencounteredandforcedback。
Thatwe，whoinhabitthislittleplanet，maybethedoomedcreaturesoffatality，fromthecradletothegrave，Iamnotpreparedtodispute。ButIabsolutelyrefusetobelievethatitisafatalitywithnohigheroriginthancanbefoundinouraccidentalobligationtoourfathersandmothers。
Stillabsorbedinthesespeculations，Iwasdisturbedbyatouchonmyarm。
Ilookedup。Eunice’seyeswerefixedonashrubbery，atsomelittledistancefromus，whichclosedtheviewofthegardenonthatside。Inoticedthatshewastrembling。NothingtoalarmherwasvisiblethatIcoulddiscover。Iaskedwhatshehadseentostartleher。Shepointedtotheshrubbery。
\"Lookagain，\"shesaid。
ThistimeIsawawoman’sdressamongtheshruhs。Thewomanherselfappearedinamomentmore。ItwasHelena。Shecarriedasmallportfolio，andsheapproacheduswithasmile。
CHAPTERXLI。
THEWHISPERINGVOICE。
ILOOKEDatEunice。Shehadrisen，startledbyherfirstsuspicionofthepersonwhowasapproachingusthroughtheshrubbery；butshekeptherplacenearme，onlychangingherpositionsoastoavoidconfrontingHelena。Herquickenedbreathingwasallthattoldmeoftheeffortshewasmakingtopreserveherself—control。
Entirelyfreefromunbecomingsignsofhurryandagitation，Helenaopenedherbusinesswithmebymeansofanapology。
\"Prayexcusemefordisturbingyou。Iamobligedtoleavethehouseononeofmytiresomedomesticerrands。Ifyouwillkindlypermitit，Iwishtoexpress，beforeIgo，myverysincereregretforwhatIwasrudeenoughtosay，whenIlasthadthehonorofseeingyou。MayIhopetobeforgiven？How—do—you—do，Eunice？
Haveyouenjoyedyourholidayinthecountry？\"
Euniceneithermovednoranswered。Havingsomedoubtofwhatmighthappenifthetwogirlsremainedtogether，IproposedtoHelenatoleavethegardenandtoletmehearwhatshehadtosay，inthehouse。
\"Quiteneedless，\"shereplied；\"Ishallnotdetainyouformorethanaminute。Pleaselookatthis。\"
Sheofferedtometheportfoliothatshehadbeencarrying，andpointedtoamorselofpaperattachedtoit，whichcontainedthisinscription：
\"Philip’sLettersToMe。Private。HelenaGracedieu。\"
\"Ihaveafavortoask，\"shesaid，\"andaproofofconfidenceinyoutooffer。Willyoubesogoodastolookoverwhatyoufindinmyportfolio？IamunwillingtogiveupthehopesthatIhadfoundedonourinterview，whenIaskedforit。Theletterswill，Iventuretothink，pleadmycausemoreconvincinglythanIwasabletopleaditformyself。Iwishtoforgetwhatpassedbetweenus，tothelastword。Tothelastword，\"sherepeatedemphatically——withalookwhichsufficientlyinformedmethatI
hadnotbeenbetrayedtoherfatheryet。\"Willyouindulgeme？\"
sheasked，andofferedherportfolioforthesecondtime。
Amoreimpudentbargaincouldnotwellhavebeenproposedtome。
Iwastoread，andtobefavorablyimpressedby，Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters；andMissHelenawastosaynothingofthatunluckyslipofthetongue，relatingtohermother，whichshehaddiscoveredtobeaseriousactofself—betrayal——thankstomyconfusionatthetime。IfIhadnotthoughtofEunice，andofthedesolateandlovelesslifetowhichthepoorgirlwassopatientlyresigned，IshouldhaverefusedtoreadMissGracedieu’slove—letters。
But，asthingswere，Iwasinfluencedbythehope（innocentlyencouragedbyEuniceherself）thatPhilipDunboynemightnotbesowhollyunworthyofthesweetgirlwhomhehadinjuredasIhadhithertobeentoohastilydisposedtobelieve。Toactonthisviewwiththepurposeofpromotingareconciliationwasimpossible，unlessIhadthemeansofformingacorrectestimateoftheman’scharacter。ItseemedtomethatIhadfoundthemeans。Afairchanceofputtinghissinceritytoatrustworthytest，wassurelyofferedbytheletters（theconfidentialletters）whichIhadbeenrequestedtoread。TofeelthisasstronglyasIfeltit，broughtmeatoncetoadecision。I
consentedtotaketheportfolio——onmyownconditions。
\"Understand，MissHelena，\"Isaid，\"thatImakenopromises。I
reservemyownopinion，andmyownrightofaction。\"
\"Iamnotafraidofyouropinionsoryouractions，\"sheansweredconfidently，\"ifyouwillonlyreadtheletters。Inthemeantime，letmerelievemysister，there，ofmypresence。Ihopeyouwillsoonrecover，Eunice，inthecountryair。\"
Iftheobjectofthewretchwastoexasperatehervictim，shehadcompletelyfailed。Euniceremainedasstillasastatue。Toallappearance，shehadnotevenheardwhathadbeensaidtoher。
Helenalookedatme，andtouchedherforeheadwithasignificantsmile。\"Sad，isn’tit？\"shesaid——andbowed，andwentbrisklyawayonherhouseholderrand。
Wewerealoneagain。
Still，Eunicenevermoved。Ispoketoher，andproducednoimpression。Beginningtofeelalarmed，Itriedtheeffectoftouchingher。Withawildcry，shestartedintoastateofanimation。Almostatthesamemoment，sheweaklyswayedtoandfroasifthepleasantbreezeinthegardenmovedheratitswill，liketheflowers。Iheldherup，andledhertotheseat。
\"Thereisnothingtobeafraidof，\"Isaid。\"Shehasgone。\"
Eunice’seyesrestedonmeinvacantsurprise。\"Howdoyouknow？\"
sheasked。\"Ihearher；butIneverseeher。Doyouseeher？\"
\"Mydearchild！ofwhatpersonareyouspeaking？\"
Sheanswered：\"Ofnoperson。IamspeakingofaVoicethatwhispersandtemptsme，whenHelenaisnear。\"
\"Whatvoice，Eunice？\"
\"ThewhisperingVoice。Itsaidtome，’Iamyourmother；’itcalledmeDaughterwhenIfirstheardit。Myfatherspeaksofmymother，theangel。Thatgoodspirithasnevercometomefromthebetterworld。Itisamock—motherwhocomestome——somespiritofevil。Listentothis。Iwasawakeinmybed。InthedarkIheardthemock—motherwhispering，closeatmyear。ShallItellyouhowsheansweredme，whenIlongedforlighttoseeherby，whenI
prayedtohertoshowherselftome？Shesaid：’MyfacewashiddenwhenIpassedfromlifetodeath；myfacenomortalcreaturemaysee。’Ihaveneverseenher——howcan_you_haveseenher？ButIheardheragain，justnow。ShewhisperedtomewhenHelenawasstandingthere——whereyouarestanding。Shefreezesthelifeinme。Didshefreezethelifein_you？_Didyouhearhertemptingme？Don’tspeakofit，ifyoudid。Oh，notaword！
notaword！\"
AmanwhohasgovernedaprisonmaysaywithMacbeth，\"Ihavesuppedfullwithhorrors。\"HardenedasIwas——oroughttohavebeen——theeffectofwhatIhadjustheardturnedmecold。IfI
hadnotknownittobeabsolutelyimpossible，ImighthavebelievedthatthecrimeandthedeathofthemurderesswereknowntoEunice，asbeingthecrimeandthedeathofhermother，andthatthehorriddiscoveryhadturnedherbrain。Thiswassimplyimpossible。Whatdiditmean？GoodGod！whatdiditmean？
Mysenseofmyownhelplessnesswasthefirstsenseinmethatrecovered。IthoughtofEunice’sdevotedlittlefriend。Awoman’ssympathyseemedtobeneedednow。Irosetoleadthewayoutofthegarden。
\"Selinawillthinkwearelost，\"Isaid。\"LetusgoandfindSelina。\"
\"Notfortheworld，\"shecried。
\"Whynot？\"
\"BecauseIdon’tfeelsureofmyself。ImighttellSelinasomethingwhichshemustneverknow；Ishouldbesosorrytofrightenher。Letmestopherewithyou。\"
Iresumedmyplaceatherside。
\"Letmetakeyourhand。\"
Igavehermyhand。Whatcomposinginfluencethissimpleactmay，ormaynot，haveexercised，itisimpossibletosay。Shewasquiet，shewassilent。Afteraninterval，Iheardherbreathealong—drawnsighofrelief。
\"IamafraidIhavesurprisedyou，\"shesaid。\"Helenabringsthedreadfultimebacktome——\"Shestoppedandshuddered。
\"Don’tspeakofHelena，mydear。\"
\"ButIamafraidyouwillthink——becauseIhavesaidstrangethings——thatIhavebeentalkingatrandom，\"sheinsisted。\"Thedoctorwillsaythat，ifyoumeetwithhim。HebelievesIamdeludedbyadream。Itriedtothinksomyself。Itwasofnouse；
Iamquitesureheiswrong。\"
Iprivatelydeterminedtowatchforthedoctor’sarrival，andtoconsultwithhim。Eunicewenton：
\"Ihavethestoryofaterriblenighttotellyou；butIhaven’tthecouragetotellitnow。Whyshouldn’tyoucomebackwithmetotheplacethatIamstayingat？Apleasantfarm—house，andsuchkindpeople。Youmightreadtheaccountofthatnightinmyjournal。Ishallnotregretthemiseryofhavingwrittenit，ifithelpsyoutofindouthowthishatefulsecondselfofminehascometome。Hush！Iwanttoaskyousomething。DoyouthinkHelenaisinthehouse？\"
\"No——shehasgoneout。\"
\"Didshesaythatherself？Areyousure？\"
\"Quitesure。\"
Shedecidedongoingbacktothefarm，whileHelenawasoutoftheway。Weleftthegardentogether。Forthefirsttime，mycompanionnoticedtheportfolio。Ihappenedtobecarryingitinthehandthatwasnearesttoher，asshewalkedbymyside。
\"Wheredidyougetthat？\"sheasked。
Itwasneedlesstoreplyinwords。Myhesitationspokeforme。
\"Carryitinyourotherhand，\"shesaid——\"thehandthat’sfurthestawayfromme。Idon’twanttoseeit！DoyoumindwaitingamomentwhileIfindSelina？Youwillgotothefarmwithus，won’tyou？\"
Ihadtolookovertheletters，inEunice’sowninterests；andI
beggedhertoletmedefermyvisittothefarmuntilthenextday。Sheconsented，aftermakingmepromisetokeepmyappointment。Itwasofsomeimportancetoher，shetoldme，thatIshouldmakeacquaintancewiththefarmerandhiswifeandchildren，andtellherhowIlikedthem。Herplansforthefuturedependedonwhatthosegoodpeoplemightbewillingtodo。Whenshehadrecoveredherhealth，itwasimpossibleforhertogohomeagainwhileHelenaremainedinthehouse。Shehadresolvedtoearnherownliving，ifshecouldgetemploymentasagoverness。Thefarmer’schildrenlikedher；shehadalreadyhelpedtheirmotherinteachingthem；andtherewasreasontohopethattheirfatherwouldseehiswaytoemployingherpermanently。HishouseofferedthegreatadvantageofbeingnearenoughtothetowntoenablehertohearnewsoftheMinister’sprogresstowardrecovery，andtoseehimherselfwhensafeopportunitiesoffered，fromtimetotime。Asforhersalary，whatdidshecareaboutmoney？Anythingwouldbeacceptable，ifthegoodmanwouldonlyrealizeherhopesforthefuture。
Itwasdishearteningtohearthathope，atherage，beganandendedwithinsuchnarrowlimitsasthese。Noprudentmanwouldhavetriedtopersuadeher，asInowdid，thattheideaofreconciliationofferedthebetterhopeofthetwo。
\"SupposeIseeMr。PhilipDunboynewhenIgobacktoLondon，\"I
began，\"whatshallIsaytohim？\"
\"SayIhaveforgivenhim。\"
\"Andsuppose，\"Iwenton，\"thattheblamereallyrests，whereyouallbelieveittorest，withHelena。Ifthatyoungmanreturnstoyou，trulyashamedofhimself，trulypenitent，willyou——？\"
Sheresolutelyinterruptedme：\"No！\"
\"Oh，Eunice，yousurelymeanYes？\"
\"ImeanNo！\"
\"Why？\"
\"Don’taskme！Good—bytillto—morrow。\"
CHAPTERXLII。
THEQUAINTPHILOSOPHER。
Nopersoncametomyroom，andnothinghappenedtointerruptmewhileIwasreadingMr。PhilipDunboyne’sletters。
Oneofthem，letmesayatonce，producedaverydisagreeableimpressiononme。IhaveunexpectedlydiscoveredMrs。
Tenbruggen——inapostscript。SheismakingalivingasaMedicalRubber（orMasseuse），andisinprofessionalattendanceonMr。
Dunboynetheelder。Moreofthis，alittlefurtheron。
HavinggonethroughthewholecollectionofyoungDunboyne’sletters，Isetmyselftoreviewthedifferingconclusionswhichthecorrespondencehadproducedonmymind。
Icallthepaperssubmittedtomeacorrespondence，becausethegreaterpartofPhilip’slettersexhibitnotesinpencil，evidentlyaddedbyHelena。Theseexpress，forthemostpart，theinterpretationwhichshehadplacedonpassagesthatperplexedordispleasedher；andtheyhave，asPhilip’srejoindersshow，beenemployedasmaterialswhenshewroteherreplies。
Onreflection，Ifindmyselftroubledbycomplexitiesandcontradictionsintheviewpresentedofthisyoungman’scharacter。TodecidepositivelywhetherIcanjustifytomyselfandtomyregardforEunice，anattempttoreunitethelovers，requiresmoretimeforconsiderationthanIcanreasonablyexpectthatHelena’spatiencewillallow。Havingaquiethourortwostillbeforeme，Ihavedeterminedtomakeextractsfromthelettersformyownuse；withtheintentionofreferringtothemwhileIamstillindoubtwhichwaymydecisionoughttoincline。
Ishallpresentthemhere，tospeakforthemselves。Isthereanyobjectiontothis？NonethatIcansee。
Inthefirstplace，thoseextractshaveavalueoftheirown。
Theyaddnecessaryinformationtothepresenthistoryofevents。
Inthesecondplace，IamundernoobligationtoMr。Gracedieu’sdaughterwhichforbidsmetomakeuseofherportfolio。ItoldherthatIonlyconsentedtoreceiveit，underreserveofmyownrightofaction——andherassenttothatstipulationwasexpressedintheclearestterms。
EXTRACTSFROMMR。PHILIPDUNBOYNE’SLETTERS。
FirstExtract。
Youblameme，dearHelena，fornothavingpaidproperattentiontothequestionsputtomeinyourlastletter。Ihaveonlybeenwaitingtomakeupmymind，beforeIreplied。
Firstquestion：DoIthinkitadvisablethatyoushouldwritetomyfather？No，mydear；Ibegyouwilldeferwriting，untilyouhearfrommeagain。
Secondquestion：Consideringthatheisstillastrangertoyou，isthereanyharminyouraskingmewhatsortofmanmyfatheris？Noharm，mysweetone；but，asyouwillpresentlysee，Iamafraidyouhaveaddressedyourselftothewrongperson。
Myfatheriskind，inhisownoddway——andlearned，andrich——amorehigh—mindedandhonorableman（asIhaveeveryreasontobelieve）doesn’tlive。Butifyouaskmewhichheprefers，hisbooksorhisson，IhopeIdohimnoinjusticewhenIanswer，hisbooks。HisreadingandhiswritingareobstaclesbetweenuswhichIhaveneverbeenabletoovercome。Thisisthemoretoberegrettedbecauseheischarming，onthefewoccasionswhenI
findhimdisengaged。IfyouwishIknewmoreaboutmyfather，weareincompleteagreementasusual——Iwish，too。
Butthereisadearfriendofyoursandmine，whoisjustthepersonwewanttohelpus。NeedIsaythatIalludetoMrs。
Staveley？
Icalledonheryesterday，notlongaftershehadpaidavisittomyfather。Luckhadfavoredher。Shearrivedjustatthetimewhenhungerhadobligedhimtoshutuphisbooks，andringforsomethingtoeat。Mrs。Staveleysecuredafavorablereceptionwithhercustomarytactanddelicacy。Hehadafowlforhisdinner。Sheknowshisweaknessofold；shevolunteeredtocarveitforhim。
IfIcanonlyrepeatwhatthiscleverwomantoldmeoftheirtalk，youwillhaveaportraitofMr。Dunboynetheelder——notperhapsahighly—finishedpicture，but，asIhopeandbelieve，agoodlikeness。
Mrs。Staveleybeganbycomplainingtohimoftheconductofhisson。Ihadpromisedtowritetoher，andIhadneverkeptmyword。Shehadreasonsforbeingespeciallyinterestedinmyplansandprospects，justthen；knowingmetobeattached（pleasetakenoticethatIamquotingherownlanguage）toacharmingfriendofhers，whomIhadfirstmetatherhouse。ToaggravatethedisappointmentthatIhadinflicted，theyoungladyhadneglectedher，too。Noletters，noinformation。Perhapsmyfatherwouldkindlyenlightenher？Wastheaffairgoingon？orwasitbrokenoff？
Myfatherheldouthisplateandaskedfortheotherwingofthefowl。\"Itisn’tabadoneforLondon，\"hesaid；\"won’tyouhavesomeyourself？\"
\"Idon’tseemtohaveinterestedyou，\"Mrs。Staveleyremarked。
\"Whatdidyouexpectmetobeinterestedin？\"myfatherinquired。
\"Iwasabsorbedinthefowl。Favormebyreturningtothesubject。\"
Mrs。Staveleyadmitsthatsheansweredthisrathersharply：\"Thesubject，sir，wasyourson’sadmirationforacharminggirl：oneofthedaughtersofMr。Gracedieu，thefamouspreacher。\"
Myfatheristoowell—bredtospeaktoaladywhilehisattentionisabsorbedbyafowl。Hefinishedthesecondwing，andthenheaskedif\"Philipwasengagedtobemarried。\"
\"Iamnotquitesure，\"Mrs。Staveleyconfessed。
\"Then，mydearfriend，wewillwaittillwe_are_sure。\"
\"But，Mr。Dunboyne，thereisreallynoneedtowait。Isupposeyoursoncomeshere，nowandthen，toseeyou？\"
\"Mysonismostattentive。Incourseoftimehewillcontrivetohitontherighthourforhisvisit。Atpresent，poorfellow，heinterruptsmeeveryday。\"
\"Supposehehitsupontherighttimeto—morrow？\"
\"Yes？\"
\"Youmightaskhimifheisengaged？\"
\"Pardonme。IthinkImightwaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking。\"
\"Whatanextraordinarymanyouare！\"
\"Oh，no，no——onlyaphilosopher。\"
ThistriedMrs。Staveley’stemper。Youknowwhataperfectlycandidpersonourfriendis。Sheownedtomethatshefeltinclinedtomakeherselfdisagreeable。\"That’sthrownawayuponme，\"shesaid：\"Idon’tknowwhataphilosopheris。\"
Letmepauseforamoment，dearHelena。Ihaveinexcusablyforgottentospeakofmyfather’spersonalappearance。Itwon’ttakelong。Ineedonlynoticeoneinterestingfeaturewhich，sotospeak，liftshisfaceoutofthecommon。Hehasaneloquentnose。Personspossessingthisrareadvantageareblestwithpowersofexpressionnotgrantedtotheirordinaryfellow—creatures。Myfather’snoseisamineofinformationtofriendsfamiliarlyacquaintedwithit。Itchangescolorlikeamodestyounglady’scheek。Itworksflexiblyfromsidetosideliketherudderofaship。Onthepresentoccasion，Mrs。Staveleysawitshifttowardtheleft—handsideofhisface。Asighescapedthepoorlady。Experiencetoldherthatmyfatherwasgoingtoholdforth。
\"Youdon’tknowwhataphilosopheris！\"herepeated。\"BesokindastolookatMe。Iamaphilosopher。\"
Mrs。Staveleybowed。
\"Andaphilosopher，mycharmingfriend，isamanwhohasdiscoveredasystemoflife。Somesystemsassertthemselvesinvolumes——mysystemassertsitselfintwowords：Neverthinkofanythinguntilyouhavefirstaskedyourselfifthereisanabsolutenecessityfordoingit，atthatparticularmoment。
Thinkingofthings，whenthingsneedn’tbethoughtof，isofferinganopportunitytoWorry；andWorryisthefavoriteagentofDeathwhenthedestroyerhandleshisworkinalingeringway，andachievesprematureresults。Neverlookback，andneverlookforward，aslongasyoucanpossiblyhelpit。Lookingbackleadsthewaytosorrow。Andlookingforwardendsinthecruelestofalldelusions：itencourageshope。Thepresenttimeistheprecioustime。Liveforthepassingday：thepassingdayisallthatwecanbesureof。Yousuggested，justnow，thatIshouldaskmysonifhewasengagedtobemarried。HowdoweknowwhatwearandtearofyournervoustextureIsucceededinsavingwhenIsaid。’WaittillPhilipmentionsitwithoutasking？’Thereisthepersonalapplicationofmysystem。Ihaveexplaineditinmytimetoeverywomanonthelistofmyacquaintance，includingthefemaleservants。Notoneofthemhasrewardedmebyadoptingmysystem。Howdoyoufeelaboutit？\"
Mrs。Staveleydeclinedtotellmewhethershehadofferedabrightexampleofgratitudetotherestofthesex。WhenIaskedwhy，shedeclaredthatitwasmyturnnowtotellherwhatIhadbeendoing。
Youwillanticipatewhatfollowed。Sheobjectedtothemysteryinwhichmyprospectsseemedtobeinvolved。InplainEnglish，wasI，orwasInot，engagedtomarryherdearEunice？Isaid，No。
WhatelsecouldIsay？IfIhadtoldMrs。Staveleythetruth，whensheinsistedonmyexplainingmyself，shewouldhavegonebacktomyfather，andwouldhaveappealedtohissenseofjusticetoforbidourmarriage。Findingmeobstinatelysilent，shehasdecidedonwritingtoEunice。Soweparted。Butdon’tbedisheartened。Onmywayoutofthehouse，ImetMr。Staveleycomingin，andhadalittletalkwithhim。Heandhiswifeandhisfamilyaregoingtotheseaside，nextweek。Mrs。Staveleyonceoutofourway，Icantellmyfatherofourengagementwithoutanyfearofconsequences。Ifshewritestohim，themomentheseesmynamementioned，andfindsviolentlanguageassociatedwithit，hewillhandthelettertome。\"Yourbusiness，Philip：don’tinterruptme。\"Hewillsaythat，andgobacktohisbooks。Thereismyfather，paintedtothelife！
Farewell，forthepresent。
RemarksbyH。G。——Philip’sgraceandgayetyofstylemightbeenviedbyanyprofessionalAuthor。Heamusesme，butherousesmysuspicionatthesametime。Thisslipperyloverofminetellsmetodeferwritingtohisfather，andgivesnoreasonforofferingthatstrangeadvicetotheyoungladywhoissoontobeamemberofthefamily。Isthismerelyonemoreinstanceoftheweaknessofhischaracter？Or，nowthatheisawayfrommyinfluence，ishebeginningtoregretEunicealready？
AddedbytheGovernor。——Itoohavemydoubts。IstheflippantnonsensewhichPhiliphaswritteninspiredbytheeffervescentgoodspiritsofahappyyoungman？Orisitassumedforapurpose？Inthislattercase，IshouldgladlyconcludethathewasregardinghisconducttoEunicewithbecomingemotionsofsorrowandshame。