thoughtofwhatyousaid，afterIhadshownyoumyJournal；andyourwordstookmymemorybacktothedayswhenIwashappywithPhilip。Thetrialandtheterrorpassedaway。
\"Consolationhascometomefromthebestofgoodwomen。Mrs。
Staveleywritesaslovinglyasmymothermighthavewritten，ifdeathhadsparedher。IhaverepliedwithallthegratitudethatIreallyfeel，butwithouttakingadvantageoftheserviceswhichsheoffers。Mrs。Staveleyhasitinhermind，asyouhaditinyourmind，tobringPhilipbacktome。Doessheforget，doyouforget，thatHelenaclaimshim？Butyoubothmeankindly，andI
loveyoubothfortheinterestthatyoufeelinme。
\"Thefarmer’swife——deargoodsoul！——hardlyunderstandsmesowellasherhusbanddoes。SheconfessestopityingPhilip。’Heissowretched，’shesays。’And，dearheart，howhandsome，andwhatnice，winningmanners！Idon’tthinkIshouldhavehadyourcourage，inyourplace。Totellthetruth，IshouldhavejumpedforjoywhenIsawhimatthedoor；andIshouldhaverundowntolethimin——andperhapsbeensorryforitafterward。Ifyoureallywishtoforgethim，mydear，IwilldoallIcantohelpyou。’
\"Thesearetriflingthingstomention，butIamafraidyoumaythinkIamunhappy——andIwanttopreventthat。
\"Ihavesomuchtobethankfulfor，andthechildrenaresofondofme。WhetherIteachthemaswellasImighthavedone，ifI
hadbeenamorelearnedgirl，mayperhapsbedoubtful。Theydomorefortheirgoverness，Iamafraid，thantheirgovernessdoesforthem。Whentheycomeintomyroominthemorning，androusemewiththeirkisses，thehourofwaking，whichusedtobesohardtoendureafterPhilipleftme，isnowthehappiesthourofmyday。\"
Withthatreassuringviewofherlifeasagoverness，thepoorchild’slettercomestoanend。
CHAPTERLI。
THETRIUMPHOFMRS。TENBRUGGEN。
MISSJILLGALLappearsagain，afteraninterval，onthefieldofmyextracts。Mypleasantfrienddeservesthistimeaseriousreception。SheinformsmethatMrs。TenbruggenhasbeguntheinquirieswhichIhavethebestreasontodread——forIaloneknowtheendwhichtheyaredesignedtoreach。
Thearrivalofthisnewsaffectedmeintwodifferentways。
ItwasdiscouragingtofindthatcircumstanceshadnotjustifiedmyrelianceonHelena’senmityasacounter—influencetoMrs。
Tenbruggen。Ontheotherhand，itwasarelieftobeassuredthatmyreturntoLondonwouldserve，ratherthancompromise，theinterestswhichitwasmychiefanxietytodefend。IhadforeseenthatMrs。Tenbruggenwouldwaittosetherenterpriseonfoot，untilIwasoutofherway；andIhadcalculatedonmyabsenceasaneventwhichwouldatleastputanendtosuspensebyencouraginghertobegin。
ThefirstsentencesinMissJillgall’sletterexplainthenatureofherinterestintheproceedingsofherfriend，andare，onthataccount，worthreading。
\"Thingsaresadlychangedfortheworse\"（Selinawrites）；\"butI
don’tforgetthatPhilipwasonceengagedtoEuneece，andthatMr。Gracedieu’sextraordinaryconducttowardhimpuzzledusall。
ThemodeofdiscoverywhichdearElizabethsuggestedbyletter，atthattime，appearstobethemodewhichsheisfollowingnow。
WhenIaskedwhy，shesaid：’PhilipmayreturntoEuneece；theMinistermayrecover——andwillbeallthemorelikelytodosoifhetriesMassage。Inthatcase，hewillprobablyrepeattheconductwhichsurprisedyou；andyournaturalcuriositywillaskmeagaintofindoutwhatitmeans。AmIyourfriend，Selina，oramInot？’Thiswassodelightfullykind，andsoirresistiblyconclusive，thatIkissedherinatransportofgratitude。WithwhatbreathlessinterestIhavewatchedherprogresstowardpenetratingthemysteryofthegirls’ages，itisquiteneedlesstotellyou。\"
Mrs。Tenbruggen’smethodofkeepingMissJillgallinignoranceofwhatshewasreallyabout，andMissJillgall’sadmirableconfidenceintheintegrityofMrs。Tenbruggen，beingnowsetforthonthebestauthority，anexactpresentationofthestateofaffairswillbecompletedifIaddawordmore，relatingtothepositionsactuallyoccupiedtowardMrs。Tenbruggen’senterprise，bymycorrespondentandmyself。
Onherside，MissJillgallwasentirelyignorantthatoneofthetwogirlswasnotMr。Gracedieu’sdaughter，buthisadoptedchild。Onmyside，IwasentirelyignorantofMrs。Tenbruggen’spurposeinendeavoringtoidentifythedaughterofthemurderess。
Speakingofmyself，individually，letmeaddthatIonlywaitedtheeventtoprotectthehelplessones——mypoordementedfriend，andtheorphanwhomhismercyreceivedintohisheartandhishome。
MissJillgallgoesonwithhercuriousstory，asfollows：
\"Alwaysdesirousofmakingmyselfuseful，IthoughtIwouldgivemydearElizabethahintwhichmightsavetimeandtrouble。’Whynotbegin，’Isuggested，’byaskingtheGovernortohelpyou？’
Thatwonderfulwomanneverforgetsanything。Shehadalreadyappliedtoyou，withoutsuccess。
\"Inmynextattempttobeuseful，Ididviolencetomymostcherishedconvictions，bypresentingthewretchHelenatotheadmirableElizabeth。Thattheformerwouldbecoldasice，inherreceptionofanyfriendofmine，wasnothingwonderful。Mrs。
Tenbruggenpasseditoverwiththegracefulcomposureofawomanoftheworld。InthecourseofconversationwithHelena，sheslippedinaquestion：’MightIaskifyouareolderthanyoursister？’Theanswerwas，ofcourse：’Idon’tknow。’Andhere，foronce，themostdeceitfulgirlinexistencespokethetruth。
\"Whenwewerealoneagain，Elizabethmadearemark：’Ifpersonalappearancecoulddecidethequestion，’shesaid，’thedisagreeableyoungwomanistheoldestofthetwo。Thenextthingtobedoneistodiscoveriflooksaretobetrustedinthiscase。’
\"Myfriend’slawyerreceivedconfidentialinstructions（notshowntome，whichseemsratherhard）totracethetwoMissGracedieus’
registersofbirth。Elizabethdescribedthisproceeding（notveryintelligiblytomymind）asameansoffindingoutwhichofthegirlscouldbeidentifiedbynameastheelderofthetwo。
\"Thereportarrivedthismorning。Iwasonlyinformedthattheresult，inonecase，hadentirelydefeatedtheinquiries。Intheothercase，ElizabethhadhelpedheragentbyreferringhimtoaBirth，advertisedinthecustomarycolumnsofthe_Times_
newspaper。Evenhere，therewasafatalobstacle。ThenameoftheplaceinwhichMr。Gracedieu’sdaughterhadbeenbornwasnotadded，asusual。
\"Istilltriedtobeuseful。HadmyfriendknowntheMinister’swife？MyfriendhadneverevenseentheMinister’swife。And，asifbyafatality，herportraitwasnolongerinexistence。I
couldonlymentionthatHelenawaslikehermother。ButElizabethseemedtoattachverylittleimportancetomyevidence，ifImaycallitbysograndaname。’Peoplehavesuchstrangeideasaboutlikenesses，’shesaid，’andarriveatsuchcontradictoryconclusions。Onecanonlytrustone’sowneyesinamatterofthatkind。’
\"Myfriendnextaskedmeaboutourdomesticestablishment。Wehadonlyacookandahousemaid。Iftheywereoldservantswhohadknownthegirlsaschildren，theymightbemadeofsomeuse。Ourluckwasassteadilyagainstusasever。TheyhadbothbeenengagedwhenMr。Gracedieuassumedhisnewpastoralduties，afterhavingresidedwithhiswifeathernativeplace。
\"IaskedElizabethwhatsheproposedtodonext。
\"Shedeferredheranswer，untilIhadfirsttoldherwhetherthevisitofthedoctormightbeexpectedonthatday。Icouldreplytothisinthenegative。Elizabeth，thereupon，madeastartlingrequest；shebeggedmetointroducehertoMr。Gracedieu。
\"Isaid：’Surely，youhaveforgottenthesadstateofhismind？’
No；sheknewperfectlywellthathewasimbecile。’Iwanttotry，’sheexplained，’ifIcanrousehimforafewminutes。’
\"’ByMassage？’Iinquired。
\"Sheburstoutlaughing。’Massage，mydear，doesn’tactinthatway。Itisanelaborateprocess，pursuedpatientlyforweekstogether。Butmyhandshavemorethanoneaccomplishmentattheirfinger—ends。Oh，makeyourmindeasy！Ishalldonoharm，ifIdonogood。Takeme。Selina，totheMinister。’
\"Wewenttohisroom。Don’tblamemeforgivingway；IamtoofondofElizabethtobeabletodisappointher。
\"Itwasasadsightwhenwewentin。Hewasquitehappy，playinglikeachild，atcup—and—ball。Theattendantretiredatmyrequest。IintroducedMrs。Tenbruggen。Hesmiledandshookhandswithher。Hesaid：’AreyouaChristianoraPagan？Youareverypretty。Howmanytimescanyoucatchtheballinthecup？’Theefforttotalktoherendedthere。Hewentonwithhisgame，andseemedtoforgetthattherewasanybodyintheroom。Itmademyheartachetorememberwhathewas——andtoseehimnow。
\"Elizabethwhispered：’Leavemealonewithhim。’
\"Idon’tknowwhyIdidsucharudething——Ihesitated。
\"ElizabethaskedmeifIhadnoconfidenceinher。Iwasashamedofmyself；Ileftthemtogether。
\"Alonghalf—hourpassed。Feelingalittleuneasy，Iwentupstairsagainandlookedintotheroom。Hewasleaningbackinhischair；hisplaythingwasonthefloor，andhewaslookingvacantlyatthelightthatcameinthroughthewindow。IfoundMrs。Tenbruggenattheotherendoftheroom，intheactofringingthebell。Nothingintheleastoutoftheordinarywayseemedtohavehappened。Whentheattendanthadansweredthebell，welefttheroomtogether。Mr。Gracedieutooknonoticeofus。
\"’Well，’Isaid，’howhasitended？’
\"QuitecalmlymynobleElizabethanswered：’Intotalfailure。’
\"’Whatdidyousaytohimafteryousentmeaway？’
\"’Itried，ineverypossibleway，togethimtotellmewhichofhistwodaughterswastheoldest。’
\"’Didherefusetoanswer？’
\"’Hewasonlytooreadytoanswer。First，hesaidHelenawastheoldest——thenhecorrectedhimself，anddeclaredthatEunicewastheoldest——thenhesaidtheyweretwins——thenhewentbacktoHelenaandEunice。Nowonewastheoldest，andnowtheother。Herangthechangesonthosetwonames，Ican’ttellyouhowoften，andseemedtothinkitabettergamethancup—and—ball。’
\"’Whatistobedone？’
\"’Nothingistobedone，Selina。’
\"’What！’Icried，’yougiveitup？’
\"Myheroicfriendanswered：’IknowwhenIambeaten，mydear——I
giveitup。’Shelookedatherwatch；itwastimetooperateonthemusclesofoneofherpatients。Awayshewent，onhergloriousmissionofMassage，withoutamurmurofregret。Whatstrengthofmind！But，oh，dear，whatadisappointmentforpoorlittleme！OnonethingIamdetermined。IfIfindmyselfgettingpuzzledorfrightened，Ishallinstantlywritetoyou。\"
Withthatexpressionofconfidenceinme，Selina’snarrativecametoanend。IwishIcouldhavebelieved，asshedid，thattheobjectofheradmirationhadbeentellingherthetruth。
Afewdayslater，Mrs。TenbruggenhonoredmewithavisitatmyhouseintheneighborhoodofLondon。Thankstothiscircumstance，IamabletoaddapostscriptwhichwillcompletetherevelationsinMissJillgall’sletter。
TheillustriousMasseuse，havingmuchtoconcealfromherfaithfulSelina，waswellawarethatshehadonlyonethingtokeephiddenfromme；namely，theadvantagewhichshewouldhavegainedifherinquirieshadmetwithsuccess。
\"IthoughtImighthavegotatwhatIwanted，\"shetoldme，\"bymesmerizingourreverendfriend。Heisasweakasawoman；I
threwhimintohysterics，andhadtogiveitup，andquiethim，orhewouldhavealarmedthehouse。Youlookasifyoudon’tbelieveinmesmerism。\"
\"Mylooks，Mrs。Tenbruggen，exactlyexpressmyopinion。Mesmerismisahumbug！\"
\"YouamusingoldTory！ShallIthrowyouintoastateoftrance？
No！I’llgiveyouashockofanotherkind——ashockofsurprise。I
knowasmuchasyoudoaboutMr。Gracedieu’sdaughters。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？\"
\"IthinkIshouldliketohearyoutellme，whichistheadoptedchild。\"
\"Helena，tobesure！\"
Hermannerwasdefiant，hertonewaspositive；Idoubtedboth。
Underthesurfaceofherassumedconfidence，Isawsomethingwhichtoldmethatshewastryingtoreadmythoughtsinmyface。
Manyotherwomenhadtriedtodothat。TheysucceededwhenIwasyoung。WhenIhadreachedthewrongsideoffifty，myfacehadlearneddiscretion，andtheyfailed。
\"Howdidyouarriveatyourdiscovery？\"Iasked。\"Iknowofnobodywhocouldhavehelpedyou。\"
\"Ihelpedmyself，sir！Ireasoneditout。Awonderfulthingforawomantodo，isn’tit？Iwonderwhetheryoucouldfollowtheprocess？\"
Myreplytothiswasmadebyabow。Iwassureofmycommandovermyface；butperfectcontrolofthevoiceisararepower。Hereandthere，agreatactororagreatcriminalpossessesit。
Mrs。Tenbruggen’svanitytookmeintoherconfidence。\"Inthefirstplace，\"shesaid，\"Helenaisplainlythewickedoneofthetwo。IwasnotprejudicedbywhatSelinahadtoldmeofher：I
sawit，andfeltit，beforeIhadbeenfiveminutesinhercompany。Iflyingtongueseverprovokeheraslyingtonguesprovokedhermother，shewillfollowhermother’sexample。Verywell。Now——inthesecondplace——thoughitisveryslight，thereisacertainsomethinginherhairandhercomplexionwhichremindsmeofthemurderess：thereisnootherresemblance，I
admit。Inthethirdplace，thegirls’namespointtothesameconclusion。Mr。GracedieuisaProtestantandaDissenter。WouldhecallachildofhisownbythenameofaRomanCatholicsaint？
No！hewouldpreferanameintheBible；Euniceis_his_child。
AndHelenawasoncethebabywhomIcarriedintotheprison。Doyoudenythat？\"
\"Idon’tdenyit。\"
Onlyfourwords！Buttheyweredeceitfullyspoken，andthedeceit——practicedinEunice’sinterest，itisneedlesstosay——succeeded。Mrs。Tenbruggen’sobjectinvisitingmewasattained；IhadconfirmedherbeliefinthedelusionthatHelenawastheadoptedchild。
Shegotuptotakeherleave。IaskedifsheproposedremaininginLondon。No；shewasreturningtohercountrypatientsthatnight。
AsIattendedhertothehouse—door，sheturnedtomewithhermischievoussmile。\"IhavetakensometroubleinfindingtheclewtotheMinister’smystery，\"shesaid。\"Don’tyouwonderwhy？\"
\"IfIdidwonder，\"Ianswered，\"wouldyoutellmewhy？\"
Shelaughedatthebareideaofit。\"Anotherlesson，\"shesaid，\"toassistahelplessmaninstudyingtheweakersex。Ihavealreadyshownyouthatawomancanreason。Learnnextthatawomancankeepasecret。Good—by。Godblessyou！\"
OftheeventswhichfollowedMrs。Tenbruggen’svisititisnotpossibleforme，Iamthankfultosay，tospeakfrompersonalexperience。OughtItoconcludewithanexpressionofrepentancefortheactofdeceptiontowhichIhavealreadypleadedguilty？
Idon’tknow。Yes！theforceofcircumstancesdoesreallycompelmetosayit，andsayitseriously——Ideclare，onmywordofhonor，Idon’tknow。
Thirdperiod：1876。
_HELENA’SDIARYRESUMED。_
CHAPTERLII。
HELENA’SDIARYRESUMED。
WHILEmyfatherremainsinhispresenthelplesscondition，somebodymustassumeapositionofcommandinthishouse。Therecannotbeamoment’sdoubtthatIamthepersontodoit。
Inmyagitatedstateofmind，sometimesdoubtfulofPhilip，sometimeshopefulofhim，IfindMrs。Tenbruggensimplyunendurable。Afemaledoctoris，underanycircumstances，acreaturewhomIdetest。Sheis，atherverybest，abadimitationofaman。TheMedicalRubberisworsethanthis；sheisabadimitationofamountebank。Hergrinninggood—humor，adoptednodoubttopleasethefoolswhoareherpatients，andherimpudentenjoymentofhearingherselftalk，makemeregretforthefirsttimeinmylifethatIamayounglady。IfIbelongedtothelowestorderofthepopulation，ImighttakethefirststickI
couldfind，andenjoytheluxuryofgivingMrs。Tenbruggenagoodbeating。
Sheliterallyhauntsthehouse，encouraged，ofcourse，byherwretchedlittledupe，MissJillgall。Onlythismorning，Itriedwhatabroadhintwoulddotowardsuggestingthathervisitshadbettercometoanend。
\"Really，Mrs。Tenbruggen，\"Isaid，\"ImustrequestMissJillgalltomoderateherselfishenjoymentofyourcompany，foryourownsake。Yourtimeistoovaluable，inaprofessionalsense，tobewastedonanidlewomanwhohasnosympathywithyourpatients，waitingforreliefperhaps，andwaitinginvain。
Shelistenedtothis，allsmilesandgood—humor：\"Mydear，doyouknowhowImightansweryou，ifIwasanill—naturedwoman？\"
\"Ihavenocuriositytohearit，Mrs。Tenbruggen。\"
\"Imightaskyou，\"shepersisted，\"toallowmetomindmyownbusiness。ButIamincapableofmakinganungratefulreturnfortheinterestwhichyoutakeinmymedicalwelfare。Letmeventuretoaskifyouunderstandthevalueoftime。\"
\"Areyougoingtosaymuchmore，Mrs。Tenbruggen？\"
\"Iamgoingtomakeasensibleremark，mychild。Ifyoufeeltired，permitme——hereisachair。FatherTime，dearMissGracedieu，hasalwaysbeenagoodfriendofmine，becauseIknowhowtomakethebestuseofhim。Theauthorofthefamoussaying_Tempusfugit_（youunderstandLatin，ofcourse）was，Itakeleavetothink，anidleman。ThemoreIhavetodo，thereadierTimeistowaitforme。Letmeimpressthisonyourmindbysomeinterestingexamples。Thegreatestconquerorofthecentury——Napoleon——hadtimeenoughforeverything。Thegreatestnovelistofthecentury——SirWalterScott——hadtimeenoughforeverything。Atmyhumbledistance，Iimitatethoseillustriousmen，andmypatientsnevercomplainofme。\"
\"Haveyoudone？\"Iasked。
\"Yes，dear——forthepresent。\"
\"Youareacleverwoman，Mrs。Tenbruggenandyouknowit。Youhaveaneloquenttongue，andyouknowit。Butyouaresomethingelse，whichyoudon’tseemtobeawareof。YouareaBore。\"
Sheburstoutlaughing，withtheairofawomanwhothoroughlyenjoyedagoodjoke。IlookedbackwhenIlefttheroom，andsawthefriendofFatherTimeintheeasychairopeningournewspaper。
Thisisaspecimenofthecustomaryencounterofourwits。I
placeitonrecordinmyJournal，toexcusemyself_to_myself。
Whensheleftusatlast，laterintheday，Isentaletterafterhertothehotel。Nothavingkeptacopyofit，letmepresentthesubstance，likeasermon，underthreeheads：Ibeggedtobeexcusedforspeakingplainly；Ideclaredthattherewasatotalwantofsympathybetweenus，onmyside；andIproposedthatsheshoulddeprivemeoffutureopportunitiesofreceivingherinthishouse。Thereplyarrivedimmediatelyintheseterms：\"Yourletterreceived，deargirl。Iamnotintheleastangry；partlybecauseIamveryfondofyou，partlybecauseIknowthatyouwillaskmetocomebackagain。P。S——Philipsendshislove。\"
Thislastpieceofinsolencewasunquestionablyalie。Philipdetestsher。Theyarebothstayingatthesamehotel。ButI
happentoknowthathewon’tevenlookather，iftheymeetbyaccidentonthestairs。
Peoplewhocanenjoythemelancholyspectacleofhumannatureinastateofdegradationwouldbeatalosswhichexhibitiontoprefer——anuglyoldmaidinarage，oranuglyoldmaidintears。
MissJillgallpresentedherselfinbothcharacterswhensheheardwhathadhappened。Tomymind，Mrs。Tenbruggen’sbosom—friendisacreaturenotfittobeseenorheardwhensheloseshertemper。
Ionlytoldhertoleavetheroom。Tomygreatamusement，sheshookherbonyfistatme，andexpressedafranticwish：\"Oh，ifIwasrichenoughtoleavethiswickedhouse！\"Iwonderwhetherthereisinsanity（aswellaspoverty）inMissJillgall’sfamily？
Lastnightmymindwasinaharassedstate。Philipwas，asusual，thecauseofit。
PerhapsIactedindiscreetlywhenIinsistedonhisleavingLondon，andreturningtothisplace。ButwhatelsecouldIhavedone？Itwasnotmerelymyinterest，itwasanactofdownrightnecessity，towithdrawhimfromtheinfluenceofhishatefulfather——whomInowregardastheoneseriousobstacletomymarriage。ThereisnoprospectofbeingridofMr。DunboynetheelderbyhisreturningtoIreland。
Heistryinganewremedyforhiscrippledhand——electricity。I
wishitwaslightning，tokillhim！IfIhadgiventhatwickedoldmanthechance，Iamfirmlyconvincedhewouldnothaveletadaypasswithoutdoinghisbesttodepreciatemeinhisson’sestimation。Besides，therewastherisk，ifIhadallowedPhiliptoremainlongawayfromme，oflosing——no，whileIkeepmybeautyIcannotbeinsuchdangerasthat——letmesay，ofpermittingtimeandabsencetoweakenmyholdonhim。Howeversullenandsilenthemaybe，whenwemeet——andIfindhiminthatconditionfartoooften——Ican，soonerorlater，recallhimtohisbrighterself。Myeyespreservetheircharm，mytalkcanstillamusehim，and，bettereventhanthat，Ifeeltheansweringthrillinhim，whichtellsmehowpreciousmykissesare——nottoolavishlybestowed！ButthetimewhenIamobligedtoleavehimtohimselfisthetimethatIdread。HowdoIknowthathisthoughtsarenotwanderingawaytoEunice？Hedeniesit；hedeclaresthatheonlywenttothefarmhousetoexpresshisregretforhisownthoughtlessconduct，andtoofferherthebrotherlyregardduetothesisterofhispromisedwife。CanIbelieveit？Oh，whatwouldInotgivetobeabletobelieveit！HowcanIfeelsurethatherrefusaltoseehimwasnotacunningdevicetomakehimlongforanotherinterview，andplanperhapsinprivatetogobackandtryagain。Marriage！Nothingwillquietthesefrightfuldoubtsofmine，nothingwillrewardmeforallthatIhavesuffered，nothingwillwarmmyheartwiththedelightfulsenseoftriumphoverEunice，butmymarriagetoPhilip。Andwhatdoeshesay，whenIurgeitonhim？——yes，Ihavefallenaslowasthat，inthedespairwhichsometimespossessesme。Hehashisanswer，alwaysthesame，andalwaysready：\"Howarewetolive？whereisthemoney？\"ThemaddeningpartofitisthatIcannotaccusehimofraisingobjectionsthatdon’texist。Wearepoorerthaneverhere，sincemyfather’sillness——andPhilip’sallowanceisbarelyenoughtosufficehimasasingleman。Oh，howIhatetherich！
Itwasuselesstothinkofgoingtobed。HowcouldIhopetosleep，withmyheadthrobbing，andmythoughtsinthisdisturbedstate？Iputonmycomfortabledressing—gown，andsatdowntotrywhatreadingwoulddotoquietmymind。
IhadborrowedthebookfromtheLibrary，towhichIhavebeenasubscriberinsecretforsometimepast。Itwasanoldvolume，fullofwhatweshouldnowcallGossip；relatingstrangeadventures，andscandalousincidentsinfamilyhistorywhichhadbeenconcealedfrompublicnotice。
Oneoftheselastromancesinreallifecaughtastrongholdonmyinterest。
Itwasastrangecaseofintendedpoisoning，whichhadneverbeencarriedout。Ayoungmarriedladyofrank，whosenamewasconcealedunderaninitialletter，hadsufferedsomeunendurablewrong（whichwasnotmentioned）atthehandsofherhusband’smother。Thewifewasdescribedasawomanofstrongpassions，whohaddeterminedonaterriblerevengebytakingthelifeofhermother—in—law。Thereweredifficultiesinthewayofhercommittingthecrimewithoutanaccomplicetohelpher；andshedecidedontakinghermaid，anelderlywoman，intoherconfidence。Thepoisonwassecretlyobtainedbythisperson；andthesafestmannerofadministeringitwasunderdiscussionbetweenthemistressandthemaid，whenthedooroftheroomwassuddenlyopened。Thehusband，accompaniedbyhisbrother，rushedin，andchargedhiswifewithplottingthemurderofhismother。
Theyounglady（shewasonlytwenty—three）musthavebeenapersonofextraordinarycourageandresolution。Shesawatoncethathermaidhadbetrayedher，and，withastonishingpresenceofmind，sheturnedonthetraitress，andsaidtoherhusband：
\"Thereisthewretchwhohasbeentryingtopersuademetopoisonyourmother！\"Asithappened，theoldlady’stemperwasviolentandoverbearing；andthemaidhadcomplainedofbeingill—treatedbyher，inthehearingoftheotherservants。Thecircumstancesmadeitimpossibletodecidewhichofthetwowasreallytheguiltywoman。Theservantwassentaway，andthehusbandandwifeseparatedsoonafterward，undertheexcuseofincompatibilityoftemper。Yearspassed；andthetruthwasonlydiscoveredbythedeath—bedconfessionofthewife。Aremarkablestory，whichhasmadesuchanimpressiononmethatIhavewrittenitinmyJournal。Iamnotrichenoughtobuythebook。
Forthelasttwodays，Ihavebeenconfinedtomyroomwithabadfeverishcold——caught，asIsuppose，bysittingatanopenwindowreadingmybooktillnearlythreeo’clockinthemorning。IsentanotetoPhilip，tellinghimofmyillness。Onthefirstday，hecalledtoinquireafterme。Onthesecondday，novisit，andnoletter。Hereisthethirdday——andnonewsofhimasyet。Iambetter，butnotfittogoout。Letmewaitanotherhour，and，ifthatexertionofpatiencemeetswithnoreward，Ishallsendanotetothehotel。
NonewsofPhilip。Ihavesenttothehotel。Theservanthasjustreturned，bringingmebackmynote。ThewaiterinformedherthatMr。DunboynehadgoneawaytoLondonbythemorningtrain。Noapologyorexplanationleftforme。
_Can_hehavedesertedme？IaminsuchafrenzyofdoubtandragethatIcanhardlywritethathorriblequestion。Isitpossible——oh，Ifeelit_is_possiblethathehasgoneawaywithEunice。DoIknowwheretofindthem？ifIdidknow，whatcouldI
do？IfeelasifIcouldkillthemboth！