saidtoher：\"Elizabeth，youappeartohavechangedyouropinionofthetwogirls，sinceIsawyou。\"Sheanswered，withadelightfulcandorwhichremindedmeofoldtimes：\"Completely！\"I
said：\"Awomanofyourintellectualcaliber，dear，doesn’tchangehermindwithoutagoodreasonforit。\"Elizabethcordiallyagreedwithme。I
venturedtobealittlemoreexplicit：\"Youhavenodoubtmadesomeinterestingdiscovery。\"Elizabethagreedagain；andI
venturedagain：\"IsupposeImaynotaskwhatthediscoveryis？\"
\"No，Selina，youmaynotask。\"
Thisiscurious；butitisnothingtowhatIhavegottotellyounext。JustasIwaslongingtotakehertomybosomagainasmyfriendandconfidante，Elizabethhasdisappeared。And，alas！
alas！thereisareasonforitwhichnosympatheticpersoncandispute。
Ihavejustreceivedsomeoverwhelmingnews，intheformofaneatparcel，addressedtomyself。
Therehasbeenascandalatthehotel。Thatmonsterinhumanform，Elizabeth’shusband，isawareofhiswife’sprofessionalfame，hasheardofthelargesumsofmoneywhichsheearnsasthegreatestlivingprofessorofmassage，hasbeenlongonthelookoutforher，andhasdiscoveredheratlast。Hehasnotonlyforcedhiswayintohersitting—roomatthehotel；heinsistsonherlivingwithhimagain；hermoneybeingtheattraction，itisneedlesstosay。Ifsherefuses，hethreatensherwiththelaw，thebarbarouslaw，which，tousehisowncoarseexpression，will\"restorehisconjugalrights。\"
AllthisIgatherfromthenarrativeofmyunhappyfriend，whichformsoneofthetwoinclosuresinherparcel。Shehasalreadymadeherescape。Ha！themandoesn’tlivewhocancircumventElizabeth。TheEnglishCourtofLawisn’tbuiltwhichcancatchherwhensheroamsthefreeandgloriousContinent。
Thevastnessofthisamazingwoman’smindiswhatImustpausetoadmire。Inthefrightfulcatastrophethathasbefallenher，shecanstillthinkofPhilipandEuneece。Sheiseagertohearoftheirmarriage，andrenouncesHelenawithherwholeheart。\"ItoowasdeceivedbythatcunningyoungWoman，\"shewrites。\"Bewareofher，Selina。UnlessIammuchmistaken，sheisgoingtoendbadly。TakecareofPhilip，takecareofEuneece。Ifyouwanthelp，applyatoncetomyfavoriteheroinreallife，TheGovernor。\"Idon’tpresumetocorrectElizabeth’slanguage。I
shouldhavecalledyouTheidoloftheWomen。
Thesecondinclosurecontains，asIsuppose，aweddingpresent。
Itiscarefullysealed——itfeelsnobiggerthananordinaryletter——anditcontainsaninscriptionwhichyourhighly—cultivatedintelligencemaybeabletoexplain。Icopyitasfollows：
\"Tobeinclosedinanotherenvelope，addressedtoMr。Dunboynetheelder，atPercy’sPrivateHotel，London，anddeliveredbyatrustworthymessenger，onthedaywhenMr。PhilipDunboyneismarriedtoMissEuniceGracedieu。PlacedmeanwhileunderthecareofMissSelinaJillgall。\"
WhyisthismysteriouslettertobesenttoPhilip’sfather？I
wonderwhetherthatcircumstancewillpuzzleyouasithaspuzzledme。
Ihavekeptmyreportback，soastosendyouthelastnewsrelatingtoPhilip’sstateofhealth。Tomygreatregret，hisillnessseemstohavemadeaseriousadvancesinceyesterday。
WhenIaskifheisinpain，hesays：\"Itisn’texactlypain；I
feelasifIwassinking。SometimesIamgiddy；andsometimesI
findmyselffeelingthirstyandsick。\"IhavenoopportunityoflookingafterhimasIcouldwish；forHelenainsistsonnursinghim，assistedbythehousemaid。Mariaisaverygoodgirlinherway，buttoostupidtobeofmuchuse。Ifheisnotbetterto—morrow，Ishallinsistonsendingforthedoctor。
Heisnobetter；andhewishestohavemedicalhelp。Helenadoesn’tseemtounderstandhisillness。ItwasnotuntilPhiliphadinsistedonseeinghimthatsheconsentedtosendforthedoctor。
Youhadsometalkwiththisexperiencedphysicianwhenyouwerehere，andyouknowwhataclevermanheis。WhenItellyouthathehesitatestosaywhatisthematterwithPhilip，youwillfeelasmuchalarmedasIdo。IwillwaittosendthistothepostuntilIcanwriteinamoredefiniteway。
Twodaysmorehavepassed。Thedoctorhasputtwoverystrangequestionstome。
Heasked，first，iftherewasanybodystayingwithusbesidestheregularmembersofthehousehold。Isaidwehadnovisitor。Hewantedtoknow，next，ifMr。PhilipDunboynehadmadeanyenemiessincehehasbeenlivinginourtown。IsaidnonethatIknewof——andItookthelibertyofaskingwhathemeant。Heansweredtothis，thathehasafewmoreinquiriestomake，andthathewilltellmewhathemeansto—morrow。
ForGod’ssakecomehereassoonasyoupossiblycan。Thewholeburdenisthrownonme——andIamquiteunequaltoit。
Ireceivedthedoctorto—dayinthedrawing—room。Tomyamazement，hebeggedleavetospeakwithmeinthegarden。WhenI
askedwhy，heanswered：\"Idon’twanttohavealisteneratthedoor。Comeoutonthelawn，wherewecanbesurethatwearealone。\"
Whenwewereinthegarden，henoticedthatIwastrembling。
\"Rouseyourcourage，MissJillgall，\"hesaid。\"IntheMinister’shelplessstatethereisnobodywhomIcanspeaktobutyourself。\"
IventuredtoremindhimthathemightspeaktoHelenaaswellastomyself。
HelookedasblackasthunderwhenImentionedhername。Allhesaidwas，\"No！\"But，oh，ifyouhadheardhisvoice——andhesogentleandsweet—temperedatothertimes——youwouldhavefelt，asIdid，thathehadHelenainhismind！
\"Now，listentothis，\"hewenton。\"EverythingthatmyartcandoforMr。PhilipDunboyne，whileIamathisbedside，isundonewhileIamawaybysomeotherperson。Heisworseto—daythanI
haveseenhimyet。\"
\"Oh，sir，doyouthinkhewilldie？\"
\"Hewillcertainlydieunlesstherightmeansaretakentosavehim，andtakenatonce。Itismydutynottoflinchfromtellingyouthetruth。IhavemadeadiscoverysinceyesterdaywhichsatisfiesmethatIamright。SomebodyistryingtopoisonMr。
Dunboyne；andsomebodywillsucceedunlessheisremovedfromthishouse。\"
Iamapoorfeeblecreature。Thedoctorcaughtme，orIshouldhavedroppedonthegrass。Itwasnotafainting—fit。IonlyshookandshiveredsothatIwastooweaktostandup。Encouragedbythedoctor，IrecoveredsufficientlytobeabletoaskhimwherePhilipwastobetakento。Hesaid：\"Tothehospital。Nopoisonercanfollowmypatientthere。Persuadehimtoletmetakehimaway，whenIcallagaininanhour’stime。\"
AssoonasIcouldholdapen，Isentatelegramtoyou。Pray，praycomebytheearliesttrain。IalsotelegraphedtooldMr。
Dunboyne，atthehotelinLondon。
ItwasimpossibleformetofaceHelena；IownIwasafraid。ThecookkindlywentupstairstoseewhowasinPhilip’sroom。Itwasthehousemaid’sturntolookafterhimforawhile。Iwentinstantlytohisbedside。
Therewasnopersuadinghimtoallowhimselftobetakentothehospital。\"Iamdying，\"hesaid。\"Ifyouhaveanypityforme，sendforEuneece。Letmeseeheroncemore，letmehearhersaythatsheforgivesme，beforeIdie。\"
Ihesitated。ItwastooterribletothinkofEuneeceinthesamehousewithhersister。Herlifemightbeindanger！Philipgavemealook，adreadfulghastlylook。\"Ifyourefuse，\"hesaidwildly，\"thegravewon’tholdme。I’llhauntyoufortherestofyourlife。\"
\"Sheshallhearthatyouareill，\"Ianswered——andranoutoftheroombeforehecouldspeakagain。
WhatIhadpromisedtowrite，Ididwrite。But，placedbetweenEuneece’sdangerandPhilip’sdanger，myheartwasallforEuneece。WouldHelenaspareher，ifshecametoPhilip’sbedside？
InsuchterrorasIneverfeltbeforeinmylife，Iaddedawordmore，entreatinghernottoleavethefarm。IpromisedtokeepherregularlyinformedonthesubjectofPhilip’sillness；andI
mentionedthatIexpectedtheGovernortoreturntousimmediately。\"Donothing，\"Iwrote，\"withouthisadvice。\"Myletterhavingbeencompleted，Isentthecookawaywithit，inachaise。Shebelongedtotheneighborhood，andsheknewthefarmhousewell。
Nearlytwohoursafterward，Iheardthechaisestopatthedoor，andranout，impatienttohearhowmysweetgirlhadreceivedmyletter。Godhelpusall！WhenIopenedthedoor，thefirstpersonwhomIsawwasEuneeceherself。
CHAPTERLIX。
DEFENSE。
ONEsurprisefollowedanother，afterIhadencounteredEuneeceatthedoor。
Whenmyfondnesshadexcusedherforsettingthewell—meantadviceinmyletteratdefiance，Iwasconsciousofexpectingtoseeherintears；eager，distressinglyeager，tohearwhathopetheremightbeofPhilip’srecovery。Isawnotears，Iheardnoinquiries。Shewaspale，andquiet，andsilent。Notawordfellfromherwhenwemet，notawordwhenshekissedme，notawordwhensheledthewayintothenearestroom——thedining—room。Itwasonlywhenwewereshutintogetherthatshespoke。
\"WhichisPhilip’sroom？\"sheasked。
Insteadofwantingtoknowhowhewas，shedesiredtoknowwherehewas！Ipointedtowardthebackdining—room，whichhadbeenmadeintoabedroomforPhilip。Hehadchosenithimself，whenhefirstcametostaywithus，becausethewindowopenedintothegarden。andhecouldslipoutandsmokeatanyhourofthedayornight，whenhepleased。
\"Whoiswithhimnow？\"wasthenextstrangethingthissadly—changedgirlsaidtome。
\"Mariaistakingherturn，\"Ianswered；\"sheassistsinnursingPhilip。\"
\"Whereis——？\"Euneecegotnofurtherthanthat。Herbreathquickened，hercolorfadedaway。Ihadseenpeoplelookasshewaslookingnow，whentheysufferedundersomesuddenpain。
BeforeIcouldoffertohelpher，sherallied，andwenton：
\"Where，\"shebeganagain，\"istheothernurse？\"
\"YoumeanHelena？\"Isaid。
\"ImeanthePoisoner。\"
WhenIremindyou，dearMr。Governor，thatmyletterhadcarefullyconcealedfromherthehorriblediscoverymadebythedoctor，yourimaginationwillpicturemystateofmind。ShesawthatIwasoverpowered。Hersweetnature，sostrangelyfrozenupthusfar，meltedatlast。\"Youdon’tknowwhatIhaveheard，\"shesaid，\"youdon’tknowwhatthoughtshavebeenrousedinme。\"Sheleftherchair，andsatonmykneewiththefamiliarityofthedearoldtimes，andtooktheletterthatIhadwrittentoherfromherpocket。
\"Lookatityourself，\"shesaid，\"andtellmeifanybodycouldreadit，andnotseethatyouwereconcealingsomething。Mydear，Ihavedrivenroundbythedoctor’shouse——Ihaveseenhim——I
havepersuadedhim，orperhapsIoughttosaysurprisedhim，intotellingmethetruth。Butthekindoldmanisobstinate。Hewouldn’tbelievemewhenItoldhimIwasonmywayheretosavePhilip’slife。Hesaid：’Mychild，youwillonlyputyourownlifeinjeopardy。IfIhadnotseenthatdanger，Ishouldneverhavetoldyouofthedreadfulstateofthingsathome。Gobacktothegoodpeopleatthefarm，andleavethesavingofPhiliptome。’\"
\"Hewasright，Euneece，entirelyright。\"
\"No，dear，hewaswrong。Ibeggedhimtocomehere，andjudgeforhimself；andIaskyoutodothesame。\"
Iwasobstinate。\"Goback！\"Ipersisted。\"Gobacktothefarm！\"
\"CanIseePhilip？\"sheasked。
Ihaveheardsomeinsolentmensaythatwomenarelikecats。Iftheymeanthatwedo，figurativelyspeaking，scratchattimes，I
amafraidtheyarenotaltogetherwrong。AnirresistibleimpulsemademesaytopoorEuneece：\"Thisisachangeindeed，sinceyourefusedtoreceivePhilip。\"
\"Istherenochangeinthecircumstances？\"sheaskedsadly。
\"Isn’theillandindanger？\"
Ibeggedhertoforgiveme；IsaidImeantnoharm。
\"Igavehimuptomysister，\"shecontinued，\"whenIbelievedthathishappinessdepended，notonme，butonher。Itakehimbacktomyself，whenheisatthemercyofademonwhothreatenshislife。Come，Selina，letusgotoPhilip。\"
Sheputherarmroundme，andmademegetupfrommychair。Iwassoeasilypersuadedbyher，thatthefearofwhatHelena’sjealousyandHelena’sangermightdowasscarcelypresentinmythoughts。Thedoorofcommunicationwaslockedonthesideofthebedchamber。Iwentintothehall，toenterPhilip’sroombytheotherdoor。Shefollowed，waitingbehindme。IheardwhatpassedbetweenthemwhenMariawentouttoher。
\"WhereisMissGracedieu？\"
\"Restingupstairs，miss，inherroom。\"
\"Lookattheclock，andtellmewhenyouexpecthertocomedownhere。\"
\"Iamtocallher，miss，intenminutesmore。\"
\"Waitinthedining—room，Maria，tillIcomebacktoyou。\"
Shejoinedme。IheldthedooropenforhertogointoPhilip’sroom。Itwasnotoutofcuriosity；thefeelingthaturgedmewassympathy，whenIwaitedamomenttoseetheirfirstmeeting。Shebentoverthepoor，pallid，trembling，sufferingman，andraisedhiminherarms，andlaidhisheadonherbosom。\"MyPhilip！\"Shemurmuredthosewordsinakiss。Iclosedthedoor，Ihadagoodcry；and，oh，howitcomfortedme！
Therewasonlyaminutetosparewhenshecameoutoftheroom。
Mariawaswaitingforher。Euneecesaid，asquietlyasever：\"GoandcallMissGracedieu。\"
Thegirllookedather，andsaw——Idon’tknowwhat。Mariabecamealarmed。Butshewentupthestairs，andreturnedinhastetotellusthatheryoungmistresswascomingdown。
ThefaintrustlingofHelena’sdressassheleftherroomreachedusinthesilence。Iremainedattheopendoorofthedining—room，andMariaapproachedandstoodnearme。Wewerebothfrightened。Euneecesteppedforward，andstoodonthematatthefootofthestairs，waiting。Herbackwastowardme；Icouldonlyseethatshewasasstillasastatue。Therustlingofthedresscamenearer。Oh，heavens！whatwasgoingtohappen？Myteethchatteredinmyhead；IheldbyMaria’sshoulder。Dropsofperspirationshowedthemselvesonthegirl’sforehead；shestaredinvacantterrorattheslimlittlefigure，postedfirmandstillonthemat。
Helenaturnedthecornerofthestairs，andwaitedamomentonthelastlanding，andsawhersister。
\"Youhere？\"shesaid。\"Whatdoyouwant？\"
Therewasnoreply。Helenadescended，untilshereachedthelaststairbutone。There，shestopped。Herstaringeyesgrewlargeandwild；herhandshookasshestretcheditout，feelingforthebanister；shestaggeredasshecaughtatit，andheldherselfup。
Thesilencewasstillunbroken。Somethinginme，strongerthanmyself，drewmystepsalongthehallnearerandnearertothestair，tillIcouldseethefacewhichhadstruckthatmurderouswretchwithterror。
Ilooked。
No！itwasnotmysweetgirl；itwasahorridtransformationofher。Isawafearfulcreature，withglitteringeyesthatthreatenedsomeunimaginablevengeance。Herlipsweredrawnback；
theyshowedherclinchedteeth。Aburningredflushdyedherface。Thehairofherheadrose，littlebylittle，slowly。And，mostdreadfulsightofall，sheseemed，inthestillnessofthehouse，tobe_listeningtosomething。_IfIcouldhavemoved，I
shouldhavefledtothefirstplaceofrefugeIcouldfind。IfI
couldhaveraisedmyvoice，Ishouldhavecriedforhelp。Icoulddoneithertheonenortheother。Icouldonlylook，look，look；
heldbythehorrorofitwithahandofiron。
Helenamusthaverousedhercourage，andresistedherterror。I
heardherspeak：
\"Letmeby！\"
\"No。\"
Slowly，steadily，inawhisper，Euneecemadethatreply。
Helenatriedoncemore——stillfightingagainstherownterror：I
knewitbythetremblingofhervoice。
\"Letmeby，\"sherepeated；\"IamonmywaytoPhilip’sroom。\"
\"YouwillneverenterPhilip’sroomagain。\"
\"Whowillstopme？\"
\"Iwill。\"
Shehadspokeninthesamesteadywhisperthroughout——butnowshemoved。Isawhersetherfootonthefirststair。IsawthehorridglitterinhereyesflashcloseintoHelena’sface。I
heardhersay：
\"Poisoner，gobacktoyourroom。\"
Silentandshuddering，Helenashrankawayfromher——dauntedbyherglitteringeyes；masteredbyherliftedhandpointingupthestairs。
Helenaslowlyascendedtillshereachedthelanding。Sheturnedandlookeddown；shetriedtospeak。Thepointinghandstruckherdumb，anddroveherupthenextflightofstairs。Shewaslosttoview。Onlythesmallrustlingsoundofthedresswastobeheard，growingfainterandfainter；thenanintervalofstillness；thenthenoiseofadooropenedandclosedagain；thennosoundmore——butachangetobeseen：thetransformedcreaturewascrouchingonherknees，stillandsilent，herfacecoveredbyherhands。Iwasafraidtoapproachher；Iwasafraidtospeaktoher。Afteratime，sherose。Suddenly，swiftly，withherheadturnedawayfromme，sheopenedthedoorofPhilip’sroom——andwasgone。
Ilookedround。TherewasonlyMariainthelonelyhall。ShallI
trytotellyouwhatmysensationswere？Itmaysoundstrangely，butitistrue——Ifeltlikeasleeper，whohashalf—awakenedfromadream。
CHAPTERLX。
DISCOVERY。
ALITTLElater，onthateventfulday，whenIwasmostinneedofallthatyourwisdomandkindnesscoulddotoguideme，camethetelegramwhichannouncedthatyouwerehelplessunderanattackofgout。AssoonasIhadinsomedegreegotovermydisappointment，IrememberedhavingtoldEuneeceinmyletterthatIexpectedherkindoldfriendtocometous。WiththetelegraminmyhandIknockedsoftlyatPhilip’sdoor。
ThevoicethatbademecomeinwasthegentlevoicethatIknewsowell。Philipwassleeping。There，byhisbedside，withhishandrestinginherhand，wasEuneece，socompletelyrestoredtoherownsweetselfthatIcouldhardlybelievewhatIhadseen，notanhoursince。Shetalkedofyou，whenIshowedheryourmessage，withaffectionateinterestandregret。Lookback，myadmirablefriend，atwhatIhavewrittenonthetwoorthreepageswhichprecedethis，andexplaintheastoundingcontrastifyoucan。
IwasleftalonetowatchbyPhilip，whileEuneecewentawaytoseeherfather。Soonafterward，Mariatookmyplace；Ihadbeensentfortothenextroomtoreceivethedoctor。
Helookedcare—wornandgrieved。IsaidIwasafraidhehadbroughtbadnewswithhim。
\"Theworstpossiblenews，\"heanswered。\"Aterribleexposurethreatensthisfamily，andIampowerlesstopreventit，\"
HethenaskedmetorememberthedaywhenIhadbeensurprisedbythesingularquestionswhichhehadputtome，andwhenhehadengagedtoexplainhimselfafterhehadmadesomeinquiries。Why，andhow，hehadsetthoseinquiriesonfootwaswhathehadnowtotell。Iwillrepeatwhathesaid，inhisownwords，asnearlyasIcanrememberthem。WhilehewasinattendanceonPhilip，hehadobservedsymptomswhichmadehimsuspectthatDigitalishadbeengiventotheyoungman，indosesoftenrepeated。Casesofattemptedpoisoningbythismedicineweresorare，thathefeltboundtoputhissuspicionstothetestbygoingroundamongthechemists’sshops——exceptingofcoursetheshopatwhichhisownprescriptionsweremadeup——andaskingiftheyhadlatelydispensedanypreparationofDigitalis，orderedperhapsinalargerquantitythanusual。Atthesecondshophevisited，thechemistlaughed。\"Why，doctor，\"hesaid，\"haveyouforgottenyourownprescription？\"Afterthis，theprescriptionwasaskedfor，andproduced。Itwasonthepaperusedbythedoctor——paperwhichhadhisaddressprintedatthetop，andanoticeadded，tellingpatientswhocametoconsulthimforthesecondtimetobringtheirprescriptionswiththem。Then，therefollowedinwriting：
\"TinctureofDigitalis，oneounce\"——withhissignatureattheend，notbadlyimitated，butaforgerynevertheless。Thechemistnoticedtheeffectwhichthisdiscoveryhadproducedonthedoctor，andaskedifthatwashissignature。Hecouldhardly，asanhonestman，haveassertedthataforgerywasasignatureofhisownwriting。Sohemadethetruereply，andaskedwhohadpresentedtheprescription。Thechemistcalledtohisassistanttocomeforward。\"Didyoutellmethatyouknew，bysight，theyoungladywhobroughtthisprescription？\"Theassistantadmittedit。\"DidyoutellmeshewasMissHelenaGracedieu？\"\"Idid。\"
\"Areyousureofnothavingmadeanymistake？\"\"Quitesure。\"Thechemistthensaid：\"ImyselfsuppliedtheTinctureofDigitalis，andtheyoungladypaidforit，andtookitawaywithher。YouhavehadalltheinformationthatIcangiveyou，sir；andImaynowask，ifyoucanthrowanylightonthematter。\"OurgoodfriendthoughtofthepoorMinister，sosorelyafflicted，andofthefamousnamesosincerelyrespectedinthetownandinthecountryround，andsaidhecouldnotundertaketogiveanimmediateanswer。Thechemistwasexcessivelyangry。\"YouknowaswellasIdo，\"hesaid，\"thatDigitalis，givenincertaindoses，isapoison，andyoucannotdenythatIhonestlybelievedmyselftobedispensingyourprescription。Whileyouarehesitatingtogivemeananswer，mycharactermaysuffer；Imaybesuspectedmyself。\"Heendedindeclaringheshouldconsulthislawyer。Thedoctorwenthome，andquestionedhisservant。ThemanrememberedthedayofMissHelena’svisitintheafternoon，andtheintentionthatsheexpressedofwaitingforhismaster’sreturn。
Hehadshownherintotheparlorwhichopenedintotheconsulting—room。Noothervisitorwasinthehouseatthattime，orhadarrivedduringtherestoftheday。Thedoctor’sownexperience，whenhegothome，ledhimtoconcludethatHelenahadgoneintotheconsulting—room。Hehadenteredthatroom，forthepurposeofwritingsomeprescriptions，andhadfoundtheleavesofpaperthatheuseddiminishedinnumber。Afterwhathehadheard，andwhathehaddiscovered（tosaynothingofwhathesuspected），itoccurredtohimtolookalongtheshelvesofhismedicallibrary。Hefoundavolume（treatingofPoisons）withaslipofpaperleftbetweentheleaves；thepoisondescribedattheplacesomarkedbeingDigitalis，andthepaperusedbeingoneofhisownprescription—papers。\"If，asIfear，alegalinvestigationintoHelena’sconductisapossibleevent，\"thedoctorconcluded，\"thereistheevidencethatIshallbeobligedtogive，whenIamcalledasawitness。\"
ItismybeliefthatIcouldhavefeltnogreaterdismay，ifthelongarmoftheLawhadlaiditsholdonmewhilehewasspeaking。Iaskedwhatwastobedone。
\"Ifsheleavesthehouseatonce，\"thedoctorreplied，\"shemayescapetheinfamyofbeingchargedwithanattemptatmurderbypoison；and，inherabsence，IcananswerforPhilip’slife。I
don’turgeyoutowarnher，becausethatmightbeadangerousthingtodo。Itisforyoutodecide，asamemberofthefamily，whetheryouwillruntherisk。\"
ItriedtospeaktohimofEuneece，andtotellhimwhatIhadalreadyrelatedtoyourself。Hewasinnohumortolistentome。
\"Keepitforafittertime，\"heanswered；\"andthinkofwhatI
havejustsaidtoyou。\"Withthat，heleftme，onhiswaytoPhilip’sroom。
Mentalexertionwascompletelybeyondme。Canyouunderstandapoormiddle—agedspinsterbeingfrightenedintodoingadangerousthing？Thatmayseemtobenonsense。ButifyouaskwhyItookamorselofpaper，andwrotethewarningwhichIwasafraidtocommunicatebywordofmouth——whyIwentupstairswithmykneesknockingtogether，andopenedthedoorofHelena’sroomjustwideenoughtoletmyhandpassthrough——whyIthrewthepaperin，andbangedthedoortoagain，andrandownstairsasIhaveneverrunsinceIwasalittlegirl——Icanonlysay，inthewayofexplanation，whatIhavesaidalready：Iwasfrightenedintodoingit。
WhatIhavewritten，thusfar，Ishallsendtoyoubyto—night’spost。
Thedoctorcamebacktome，afterhehadseenPhilip，andspokenwithEuneece。Hewasveryangry；and，Imustown，notwithoutreason。Philiphadflatlyrefusedtolethimselfberemovedtothehospital；andEuneece——\"ameregirl\"——haddeclaredthatshewouldbeanswerableforconsequences！Thedoctorwarnedmethathemeanttowithdrawfromthecase，andtomakehisdeclarationbeforethemagistrates。Atmyentreatiesheconsentedtoreturnintheevening，andtojudgebyresultsbeforetakingtheterriblestepthathehadthreatened。
WhileIremainedathomeonthewatch，keepingthedoorsofbothroomslocked，EunicewentouttogetPhilip’smedicine。Shecameback，followedbyaboycarryingaportableapparatusforcooking。\"AllthatPhilipwants，andallthatwewant，\"sheexplained，\"wecanprovideforourselves。Givemeamorselofpapertowriteon。\"
Unhookingthelittlepencilattachedtoherwatch—chain，shepausedandlookedtowardthedoor。\"Somebodylistening，\"shewhispered。\"Letthemlisten。\"Shewrotealistofnecessaries，inthewayofthingstoeatandthingstodrink，andaskedmetogooutandgetthemmyself。\"Idon’tdoubttheservants，\"shesaid，speakingdistinctlyenoughtobeheardoutside；\"butIamafraidofwhataPoisoner’scunningandaPoisoner’sdesperationmaydo，inakitchenwhichisopentoher。\"Iwentawayonmyerrand——discoveringnolisteneroutside，Ineedhardlysay。Onmyreturn，IfoundthedoorofcommunicationwithPhilip’sroomclosed，butnolongerlocked。\"Wecannowattendonhiminturn，\"
shesaid，\"withoutopeningeitherofthedoorswhichleadintothehall。Atnightwecanrelieveeachother，andeachofuscangetsleepaswewantitinthelargearmchairinthedining—room。
Philipmustbesafeunderourcharge，orthedoctorwillinsistontakinghimtothehospital。WhenwewantMaria’shelp，fromtimetotime，wecanemployherunderourownsuperintendence。
Haveyouanythingelse，Selina，tosuggest？\"