Artfulasshewas，Mrs。Tenbruggenfailedtoconcealamomentaryexpressionofreliefwhichbetrayeditself，partlyinhermanner，partlyinherface。Shehadascertained，toherowncompletesatisfaction，thatmyspeedydeparturewasaneventwhichmightbereliedon。
\"ButIhavenotyetansweredyou，\"sheresumed。\"Totellthetruth，Iameagertotrymyhandsonyou。Massage，asIpracticeit，wouldlightenyourweight，andrestoreyourfigure；Imayevensaywouldlengthenyourlife。Youwillthinkofme，oneofthesedays，won’tyou？Inthemeanwhile——yes！Iamhereinmyprofessionalcapacity。Severalinterestingcases；andoneveryremarkableperson，broughttodeath’sdoorbythedoctors；arichmanwhoisliberalinpayinghisfees。ThereismyquarrelwithLondonandLondoners。Someoftheirpapers，medicalnewspapers，ofcourse，declarethatmyfeesareexorbitant；andthereisatendencyamongthepatients——Imeanthepatientswhoarerollinginriches——tofollowtheleadofthenewspapers。Iamnowormtobetroddenon，inthatway。TheLondonpeopleshallwaitforme，untiltheymissme——and，whenIdogoback，theywillfindthefeesincreased。_My_fingersandthumbs，Mr。Governor，arenottobeinsultedwithimpunity。\"
MissJillgallnoddedherheadatme。Itwasaneloquentnod。
\"Admiremyspiritedfriend，\"wastheinterpretationIputonit。
Atthesametime，myprivatesentimentssuggestedthatMrs。
Tenbruggen’sreplywastooperfectlysatisfactory，viewedasanexplanation。Mysuspicionswerebynomeanssetatrest；andI
wasresolvednottoletthesubjectdropyet。\"SpeakingofMr。
Gracedieu，andofthechancesofhispartialrecovery，\"Isaid，\"doyouthinktheMinisterwouldbenefitbyMassage？\"
\"Ihaven’tadoubtofit，ifyoucangetridofthedoctor。\"
\"Youthinkhewouldbeanobstacleintheway？\"
\"Therearesomemedicalmenwhoarehonorableexceptionstothegeneralrule；andhemaybeoneofthem，\"Mrs。Tenbruggenadmitted。\"Don’tbetoohopeful。Asadoctor，hebelongstothemosttyrannicaltrades—unioninexistence。MayImakeapersonalremark？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Ifindsomethinginyourmanner——praydon’tsupposethatIamangry——whichlookslikedistrust；Imean，distrustofMe。\"
MissJillgall’severreadykindnessinterferedinmydefense：
\"Oh，no，Elizabeth！Youarenotoftenmistaken；butindeedyouarewrongnow。Lookatmydistinguishedfriend。Iremembermycopybook，whenIwasasmallcreaturelearningtowrite，inEngland。Therewerefirstlinesthatwecopied，inbigletters，andoneofthemsaid，’DistrustIsMean。’Iknowayoungperson，whosenamebeginswithH，whoisonemassofmeanness。
But\"——excellentSelinapaused，andpointedtomewithagestureoftriumph——\"nomeannessthere！\"
Mrs。TenbruggenwaitedtohearwhatIhadtosay，scornfullyinsensibletoMissJillgall’swell—meantinterruption。
\"Youarenotaltogethermistaken，\"Itoldher。\"Ican’tsaythatmymindisinastateofdistrust，butIownthatyoupuzzleme。\"
\"How，ifyouplease？\"
\"MayIpresumethatyouremembertheoccasionwhenwemetatMr。
Gracedieu’shouse—door？YousawthatIfailedtorecognizeyou，andyourefusedtogiveyournamewhentheservantaskedforit。
Afewdaysafterward，Iheardyou（quiteaccidentally）forbidMissJillgalltomentionyournameinmyhearing。Iamatalosstounderstandit。\"
Beforeshecouldanswerme，thechaisedrewupatthegateofthefarmhouse。Mrs。Tenbruggencarefullypromisedtoexplainwhathadpuzzledme，atthefirstopportunity。\"Ifitescapesmymemory，\"
shesaid，\"prayremindmeofit。\"
Ideterminedtoremindherofit。WhetherIcoulddependonhertotellmethetruth，mightbequiteanotherthing。
CHAPTERXLVIII
THEDECISIONOFEUNICE。
EUNICEranouttomeetus，andopenedthegate。ShewasinstantlyfoldedinMissJillgall’sarms。Onherrelease，shecametome，eagerfornewsofherfather’shealth。WhenIhadcommunicatedallthatIthoughtitrighttotellherofthedoctor’slastreport，shenoticedMrs。Tenbruggen。Theappearanceofastrangerseemedtoembarrassher。IleftMissJillgalltointroducethemtoeachother。
\"DarlingEuneece，yourememberMrs。Tenbruggen’sname，Iamsure？
Elizabeth，thisismysweetgirl；Imentionedherinmyletterstoyou。\"
\"Ihopeshewillbe_my_sweetgirl，whenweknoweachotheralittlebetter。MayIkissyou，dear？Youhavelovelyeyes；butI
amsorrytoseethattheydon’tlooklikehappyeyes。YouwantMammaTenbruggentocheeryou。Whatacharmingoldhouse！\"
SheputherarmroundEunice’swaistandledhertothehousedoor。Herenjoymentofthecreepersthattwinedtheirwayupthepillarsoftheporchwassimplyperfectionasapieceofacting。
Whenthefarmer’swifepresentedherself，Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoirresistiblyamiable，andtooksuchflatteringnoticeofthechildren，thattheharmlessBritishmatronactuallyblushedwithpleasure。\"I’msure，ma’am，youmusthavechildrenofyourown，\"
shesaid。Mrs。Tenbruggencasthereyesonthefloor，andsighedwithpatheticresignation。Asweetlittlefamily，andallcruellysweptawaybydeath。Iftheperformancemeantanything，itdidmostassuredlymeanthat。
\"Whatwonderfulself—possession！\"somebodywhisperedinmyear。
Thechildrenintheroomwerehealthy，well—behavedlittlecreatures——butthenameoftheinnocentoneamongthemwasSelina。
Beforedinnerwewereshownoverthefarm。
Thegoodwomanofthehouseledtheway，andMissJillgallandI
accompaniedher。Thechildrenranoninfrontofus。StillkeepingpossessionofEunice，Mrs。Tenbruggenfollowedatsomedistancebehind。Ilookedback，afternoverylonginterval，andsawthataseparationhadtakenplace。Mrs。Tenbruggenpassedme，notlookingsopleasantlyasusual，joinedthechildren，andwalkedwithtwoofthem，handinhand，apatternofmaternalamiability。Idroppedbackalittle，andgaveEuniceanopportunityofjoiningme；havingpurposelylefthertoformherownopinion，withoutanyadverseinfluenceexercisedonmypart。
\"Isthatladyafriendofyours？\"sheasked。\"No；onlyanacquaintance。Whatdoyouthinkofher？\"
\"IthoughtIshouldlikeheratfirst；shewassokind，andseemedtotakesuchaninterestinme。Butshesaidsuchstrangethings——askedifIwasreckonedlikemymother，andwhichofuswastheeldest，mysisterormyself，andwhetherweweremyfather’sonlytwochildren，andifoneofuswasmorehisfavoritethantheother。WhatIcouldtellher，Ididtell。ButwhenIsaidIdidn’tknowwhichofuswastheoldest，shegavemeanimpudenttaponthecheek，andsaid，’Idon’tbelieveyou，child，’andleftme。HowcanSelinabesofondofher？Don’tmentionittoanyoneelse；IhopeIshallneverseeheragain。\"
\"Iwillkeepyoursecret，Eunice；andyoumustkeepmine。I
entirelyagreewithyou。\"
\"Youagreewithmeindislikingher？\"
\"Heartily。\"
Wecouldsaynomoreatthattime。Ourfriendsinadvancewerewaitingforus。Wejoinedthematonce。
IfIhadfeltanydoubtofthepurposewhichhadreallyinducedMrs。TenbruggentoleaveLondon，allfurtheruncertaintyonmypartwasatanend。ShehadsomevileinterestofherowntoservebyidentifyingMr。Gracedieu’sadoptedchild——butwhatthenatureofthatinterestmightbe，itwasimpossibletoguess。Thefuture，whenIthoughtofitnow，filledmewithdismay。Amoreutterlyhelplesspositionthanmineitwasnoteasytoconceive。
TowarntheMinister，inhispresentcriticalstateofhealth，wassimplyimpossible。MyrelationswithHelenaforbademeeventoapproachher。And，asforSelina，shewaslittlelessthanameretoolinthehandsofherwell—belovedfriend。What，inGod’sname，wasItodo？
Atdinner—timewefoundthemasterofthehousewaitingtobiduswelcome。
Personallyspeaking，hepresentedaremarkablecontrasttothetypicalBritishfarmer。Hewasneitherbignorburly；hespokeEnglishaswellasIdid；andtherewasnothinginhisdresswhichwouldhavemadehimafitsubjectforapictureofrusticlife。Whenhespoke，hewasabletotalkonsubjectsunconnectedwithagriculturalpursuits；nordidIhearhimgrumbleabouttheweatherandthecrops。Itwaspleasanttoseethathiswifewasproudofhim，andthathewas，whatallfathersoughttobe，hischildren’sbestanddearestfriend。WhydoIdwellonthesedetails，relatingtoamanwhomIwasnotdestinedtoseeagain？
OnlybecauseIhadreasontofeelgratefultohim。Whenmyspiritsweredepressedbyanxiety，hemademymindeasyaboutEunice，aslongassheremainedinhishouse。
Thesocialarrangements，whenourmealwasover，fellofthemselvesintotherighttrain。
MissJillgallwentupstairs，withthemotherandthechildren，toseethenurseryandthebedrooms。Mrs。Tenbruggendiscoveredabondofunionbetweenthefarmerandherself；theywerebothskilledplayersatbackgammon，andtheysatdowntotryconclusionsattheirfavoritegame。Withoutanywearisomenecessityforexcusesorstratagems，Eunicetookmyarmandledmetothewelcomeretirementofherownsitting—room。
Icouldhonestlycongratulateher，whenIheardthatshewasestablishedatthefarmasamemberofthefamily。Whileshewasgovernesstothechildren，shewassafefromdangersthatmighthavethreatenedher，ifshehadbeencompelledbycircumstancestoreturntotheMinister’shouse。
TheentryinherJournal，whichshewasanxiousthatIshouldread，wasplacedbeforemenext。
Ifollowedthepoorchild’saccountofthefearfulnightthatshehadpassed，withaninterestthatheldmebreathlesstotheend。
Aterribledream，whichhadimpressedasenseofitsrealityonthesleeperbyreachingitsclimaxinsomnambulism——thiswastheobviousexplanation，nodoubt；andarationalmindwouldnothesitatetoacceptit。Butarationalmindisnotauniversalgift，eveninacountrywhichpridesitselfontheidol—worshipofFact。Thosegoodfriendswhoarealwaysbetteracquaintedwithourfaults，failings，andweaknessesthanwecanpretendtobeourselves，hadlongsincediscoveredthatmynaturewassuperstitious，andmyimaginationlikelytomisleadmeinthepresenceofeventswhichencouragedit。Well！IwasweakenoughtorecoilfromthepurelyrationalviewofallthatEunicehadsuffered，andheard，andseen，onthefatefulnightrecordedinherJournal。GoodandEvilwalkthewaysofthisunintelligibleworld，onthesamefreeconditions。Ifwecling，asmanyofusdo，tothecomfortingbeliefthatdepartedspiritscanministertoearthlycreaturesforgood——canbefeltmovinginus，inatrainofthought，andseenasvisiblemanifestations，inadream——withwhatpretenseofreasoncanwedenythatthesamefreedomofsupernaturalinfluencewhichisconcededtothedepartedspirit，workingforgood，isalsopermittedtothedepartedspirit，workingforevil？Ifthegravecannotwhollypartmotherandchild，whenthemother’slifehasbeengood，doeseternalannihilationseparatethem，whenthemother’slifehasbeenwicked？No！Ifthedepartedspiritcanbringwithitablessing，thedepartedspiritcanbringwithitacurse。IdarednotconfesstoEunicethattheinfluenceofhermurderess—mothermight，asIthoughtpossible，havebeensupernaturallypresentwhensheheardtemptationwhisperinginherear；butIdarednotdenyittomyself。AllthatIcouldsaytosatisfyandsustainher，Ididsay。AndwhenIdeclared——withmywholeheartdeclared——thatthenoblepassionwhichhadelevatedherwholebeing，andhadtriumphedoverthesoresttrialsthatdesertioncouldinflict，wouldstilltriumphtotheend，Isawhope，inthatbraveandtrueheart，showingitsbrightpromiseforthefutureinEunice’seyes。
SheclosedandlockedherJournal。Bycommonconsentwesoughtthereliefofchangingthesubject。EuniceaskedmeifitwasreallynecessarythatIshouldreturntoLondon。
IshrankfromtellingherthatIcouldbeofnofurtherusetoherfather，whileheregardedmewithanenmitywhichIhadnotdeserved。ButIsawnoreasonforconcealingthatitwasmypurposetoseePhilipDunboyne。
\"Youtoldmeyesterday，\"Iremindedher，\"thatIwastosayyouhadforgivenhim。Doyoustillwishmetodothat？\"
\"IndeedIdo！\"
\"Haveyouthoughtofitseriously？Areyousureofnothavingbeenhurriedbyagenerousimpulseintosayingmorethanyoumean？\"
\"Ihavebeenthinkingofit，\"shesaid，\"throughthewakefulhoursoflastnight——andmanythingsareplaintome，whichIwasnotsureofinthetimewhenIwassohappy。Hehascausedmethebitterestsorrowofmylife，buthecan’tundothegoodthatI
owetohim。Hehasmadeabettergirlofme，inthetimewhenhislovewasmine。Idon’tforgetthat。Miserablyasithasended，I
don’tforgetthat。\"
Hervoicetrembled；thetearsroseinhereyes。ItwasimpossibleformetoconcealthedistressthatIfelt。Thenoblecreaturesawit。\"No，\"shesaidfaintly；\"Iamnotgoingtocry。Don’tlooksosorryforme。\"Herhandpressedmyhandgently——_she_
pitied_me。_WhenIsawhowshestruggledtocontrolherself，anddidcontrolherself，IdeclaretoGodIcouldhavegonedownonmykneesbeforeher。
SheaskedtobeallowedtospeakofPhilipagain，andforthelasttime。
\"WhenyoumeetwithhiminLondon，hemayperhapsaskifyouhaveseenEunice。\"
\"Mychild！heissuretoask。\"
\"Breakittohimgently——butdon’tlethimdeceivehimself。Inthisworld，hemustneverhopetoseemeagain。\"
Itried——verygently——toremonstrate。\"Atyourage，andathisage，\"Isaid，\"surelythereishope？\"
\"Thereisnohope。\"Shepressedherhandonherheart。\"Iknowit，Ifeelit，here。\"
\"Oh，Eunice，it’shardformetosaythat！\"
\"Iwilltrytomakeiteasierforyou。SaythatIhaveforgivenhim——andsaynomore。\"
CHAPTERXLIX。
THEGOVERNORONHISGUARD。
AFTERleavingEunice，myonedesirewastobealone。Ihadmuchtothinkof，andIwantedanopportunityofrecoveringmyself。Onmywayoutofthehouse，insearchofthefirstsolitaryplacethatIcoulddiscover，Ipassedtheroominwhichwehaddined。
Thedoorwasajar。BeforeIcouldgetbyit，Mrs。Tenbruggensteppedoutandstoppedme。
\"Willyoucomeinhereforamoment？\"shesaid。\"Thefarmerhasbeencalledaway，andIwanttospeaktoyou。\"
Veryunwillingly——buthowcouldIhaverefusedwithoutgivingoffense？——Ienteredtheroom。
\"Whenyounoticedmykeepingmynamefromyou，\"Mrs。Tenbruggenbegan，\"whileSelinawaswithus，youplacedmeinanawkwardposition。Ourlittlefriendisanexcellentcreature，buthertonguerunsawaywithhersometimes；Iamobligedtobecarefuloftakinghertooreadilyintomyconfidence。Forinstance，I
havenevertoldherwhatmynamewasbeforeImarried。Won’tyousitdown？\"
Ihadpurposelyremainedstandingasahinttohernottoprolongtheinterview。Thehintwasthrownaway；Itookachair。
\"Selina’slettershadinformedme，\"sheresumed，\"thatMr。
Gracedieuwasanervousinvalid。WhenIcametoEngland，IhadhopedtotrywhatMassagemightdotorelievehim。ThecureoftheirpopularpreachermighthaveadvertisedmethroughthewholeoftheCongregationalsect。ItwasessentialtomysuccessthatI
shouldpresentmyselfasastranger。Icouldtrusttimeandchange，andmymarriedname（certainlynotknowntoMr。
Gracedieu）tokeepupmyincognito。HewouldhaverefusedtoseemeifhehadknownthatIwasonceMissChance。\"
Ibegantobeinterested。
Herewasanopportunity，perhaps，ofdiscoveringwhattheMinisterhadfailedtorememberwhenhehadbeenspeakingofthiswoman，andwhenIhadaskedifhehadeveroffendedher。Iwasespeciallycarefulinmakingmyinquiries。
\"IrememberhowyouspoketoMr。Gracedieu，\"Isaid，\"whenyouandhemet，longago，inmyrooms。Butsurelyyoudon’tthinkhimcapableofvindictivelyrememberingsomethoughtlesswords，whichescapedyousixteenorseventeenyearssince？\"
\"Iamnotquitesuchafoolasthat，Mr。Governor。WhatIwasthinkingofwasanunpleasantcorrespondencebetweentheMinisterandmyself。BeforeIwassounfortunateastomeetwithMr。
Tenbruggen，IobtainedachanceofemploymentinapublicInstitution，onconditionthatIincludedaclergymanamongmyreferences。KnowingnobodyelsewhomIcouldapplyto，IrashlywrotetoMr。Gracedieu，andreceivedoneofthosecoldandcruelrefusalswhichonlythestrictestreligiousprinciplecanproduce。Iwasmortallyoffendedatthetime；andifyourfriendtheMinisterhadbeenwithinmyreach——\"Shepaused，andfinishedthesentencebyasignificantgesture。
\"Well，\"Isaid，\"heiswithinyourreachnow。\"
\"Andoutofhismind，\"sheadded。\"Besides，one’ssenseofinjurydoesn’tlast（exceptinnovelsandplays）throughaseriesofyears。Idon’tpityhim——andifanopportunityofshakinghishighpositionamonghisadmiringcongregationpresenteditself，I
daresayImightmakeamischievousreturnforhislettertome。
Inthemeanwhile，wemaydropthesubject。Isupposeyouunderstand，now，whyIconcealedmynamefromyou，andwhyIkeptoutofthehousewhileyouwereinit。\"
Itwasplainenough，ofcourse。IfIhadknownheragain，orhadheardhername，ImighthavetoldtheMinisterthatMrs。
TenbruggenandMissChancewereoneandthesame。AndifIhadseenherandtalkedwithherinthehouse，mymemorymighthaveshownitselfcapableofimprovement。Havingpolitelypresentedtheexpressionofmythanks，Irosetogo。
Shestoppedmeatthedoor。
\"Onewordmore，\"shesaid，\"whileSelinaisoutoftheway。I
needhardlytellyouthatIhavenottrustedherwiththeMinister’ssecret。YouandIare，asItakeit，theonlypeoplenowlivingwhoknowthetruthaboutthesetwogirls。Andwekeepouradvantage。\"
\"Whatadvantage？\"Iasked。
\"Don’tyouknow？\"
\"Idon’tindeed。\"
\"NomoredoI。Femalefolly，andaslipofthetongue；Iamoldandugly，butIamstillawoman。AboutMissEunice。Somebodyhastoldtheprettylittlefoolnevertotruststrangers。Youwouldhavebeenamused，ifyouhadheardthatslyyoungpersonprevaricatingwithme。Inonerespect，herappearancestrikesme。
Sheisnotlikeeitherthewretchwhowashanged，orthepoorvictimwhowasmurdered。Canshebetheadoptedchild？Orisittheothersister，whomIhavenotseenyet？Oh，come！come！Don’ttrytolookasifyoudidn’tknow。Thatisreallytooridiculous。\"
\"Youalludedjustnow，\"Ianswered，\"toour’advantage’inbeingtheonlypersonswhoknowthetruthaboutthetwogirls。Well，Mrs。Tenbruggen，Ikeep_my_advantage。\"
\"Inotherwords，\"sherejoined，\"youleavemetomakethediscoverymyself。Well，myfriend，Imeantodoit！\"
Intheevening，myhotelofferedtometherefugeofwhichI
stoodinneed。Icouldthink，forthefirsttimethatday，withoutinterruption。
BeingresolvedtoseePhilip，Ipreparedmyselffortheinterviewbyconsultingmyextractsoncemore。Theletter，inwhichMrs。
Tenbruggenfigures，inspiredmewiththehopeofprotectionforMr。Gracedieu，attainablethroughnolessapersonthanHelenaherself。
Tobeginwith，shewouldcertainlysharePhilip’saversiontotheMasseuse，andherdislikeofMissJillgallwould，justaspossibly，extendtoMissJillgall’sfriend。ThehostilefeelingthussetupmightbetrustedtokeepwatchonMrs。Tenbruggen’sproceedings，withavigilancenotattainablebythecoarserobservationofaman。Intheevent，ofanimprovementintheMinister’shealth，IshouldhearofitbothfromthedoctorandfromMissJillgall，andinthatcaseIshouldinstantlyreturntomyunhappyfriendandputhimonhisguard。
IstartedforLondonbytheearlytraininthemorning。
MywayhomefromtheterminustookmepastthehotelatwhichtheelderMr。Dunboynewasstaying。Icalledonhim。Hewasreportedtobeengaged；thatistosay，immersedinhisbooks。TheaddressononeofPhilip’slettershadinformedmethathewasstayingatanotherhotel。Pursuingmyinquiriesinthisdirection，Imetwithaseveredisappointment。Mr。PhilipDunboynehadleftthehotelthatmorning；forwhatdestinationneitherthelandlordnorthewaitercouldtellme。
Thenextday’spostbroughtwithittheinformationwhichIhadfailedtoobtain。MissJillgallwrote，informingmeinherstrongestlanguagethatPhilipDunboynehadreturnedtoHelena。
IndignantSelinaadded：\"Helenameanstomakehimmarryher；andIpromiseyousheshallfail，ifIcanstopit。\"
IntakingleaveofEunice，Ihadgivenhermyaddress；hadwarnedhertobecareful，ifsheandMrs。Tenbruggenhappenedtomeetagain，andhadbeggedhertowritetome，ortocometome，ifanythinghappenedtoalarmherinmyabsence。
Intwodaysmore，IreceivedalinefromEunice，writtenevidentlyinthegreatestagitation。
\"Philiphasdiscoveredme。Hehasbeenhere，andhasinsistedonseeingme。Ihaverefused。Thegoodfarmerhassokindlytakenmypart。Icanwritenomore。\"
CHAPTERL。
THENEWSFROMTHEFARM。
WHENInextheardfromMissJillgall，theintroductorypartofherlettermerelyremindedmethatPhilipDunboynewasestablishedinthetown，andthatHelenawasindailycommunicationwithhim。IshalldoSelinanoinjusticeifmyextractbeginswithhersecondpage。
\"Youwillsympathize，Iamsure\"（shewrites），\"withtheindignationwhichurgedmetocallonPhilip，andtellhimthewaytothefarmhouse。ThinkofHelenabeingdeterminedtomarryhim，whetherhewantstoornot！Iamafraidthisisbadgrammar。
Butthereareoccasionswhenevenacultivatedladyfailsinhergrammar，andalmostenviesthementheirprivilegeofswearingwhentheyareinarage。Mystateofmindistrulyindescribable。
Griefmingleswithanger，whenItellyouthatmysweetEuneecehasdisappointedme，forthefirsttimesinceIhadthehappinessofknowingandadmiringher。Whatcanhavebeenthemotiveofherrefusaltoreceiveherpenitentlover？Isitpride？WearetoldthatSatanfellthroughpride。Euneecesatanic？Impossible！I
feelinclinedtogoandaskherwhathashardenedherheartagainstapooryoungmanwhobitterlyregretshisownfolly。Doyouthinkitwasbadadvicefromthefarmerorhiswife？Inthatcase，Ishallexertmyinfluence，andtakeheraway。Youwoulddothesame，wouldn’tyou？
\"IamashamedtomentionthepoordearMinisterinapostscript。
Thetruthis，Idon’tverywellknowwhatIamabout。Mr。
Gracedieuisquiet，sleepsbetterthanhedid，eatswithakeenerappetite，givesnotrouble。But，alas，thatgloriousintellectisinastateofeclipse！Donotsuppose，becauseIwritefiguratively，thatIamnotsorryforhim。Heunderstandsnothing；heremembersnothing；hehasmyprayers。
\"Youmightcometousagain，ifyouwouldonlybesokind。Itwouldmakenodifferencenow；thepoormanissosadlyaltered。I
mustadd，mostreluctantly，thatthedoctorrecommendsyourstayingathome。Betweenourselves，heislittlebetterthanacoward。Fancyhissaying；’No；wemustnotrunthatriskyet。’I
ambarelyciviltohim，andnomore。
\"Inanyotheraffair（excusemefortroublingyouwithasecondpostscript），mysympathywithEuneecewouldhavepenetratedhermotives；Ishouldhavefeltwithherfeelings。ButIhaveneverbeeninlove；nogentlemangavemetheopportunitywhenIwasyoung。NowIammiddle—aged，neglecthasdoneitsdrearywork——myheartisanextinctcrater。Figurativeagain！Ihadbetterputmypenaway，andsayfarewellforthepresent。\"
MissJillgallmaynowgiveplacetoEunice。Thesameday’spostbroughtmebothletters。
Ishouldbeunworthyindeedofthetrustwhichthisaffectionategirlhasplacedinme，ifIfailedtoreceiveherexplanationofherconducttowardPhilipDunboyne，asasacredsecretconfidedtomyfatherlyregard。Inthoselaterportionsofherletter，whicharenotaddressedtomeconfidentially，Eunicewritesasfollows：
\"Igetnews——andwhatheartbreakingnews！——ofmyfather，bysendingamessengertoSelina。ItismorethaneverimpossiblethatIcanputmyselfinthewayofseeingHelenaagain。ShehaswrittentomeaboutPhilip，inatonesoshockinglyinsolentandcruel，thatIhavedestroyedherletter。Philip’svisittothefarm，discoveredIdon’tknowhow，seemstohaveinfuriatedher。
Sheaccusesmeofdoingallthatshemightherselfhavedoneinmyplace，andthreatensme——No！IamafraidofthewickedwhisperingsofthatsecondselfofmineifIthinkofit。TheywereneartotemptingmewhenIreadHelena’sletter。ButI