Therewasnothinglefttosuggest。Youngandinexperiencedasshewas，how（Iasked）hadshecontrivedtothinkofallthis？Sheanswered，simply\"I’msureIdon’tknow；mythoughtscametomewhileIwaslookingatPhilip。\"
SoonafterwardIfoundanopportunityofinquiringifHelenahadleftthehouse。Shehadjustrungherbell；andMariahadfoundher，quietlyreading，inherroom。Hoursafterward，whenIwasonthewatchatnight，IheardPhilip’sdoorsoftlytriedfromtheoutside。Herdreadfulpurposehadnotbeengivenup，evenyet。
Thedoctorcameintheevening，ashehadpromised，andfoundanimprovementinPhilip’shealth。Imentionedwhatprecautionswehadtaken，andthattheyhadbeendevisedbyEuneece。\"Areyougoingtowithdrawfromthecase？\"Iasked。\"Iamcomingbacktothecase，\"heanswered，\"to—morrowmorning。\"
IthadbeenadisappointmenttometoreceivenoanswertothetelegramwhichIhadsenttoMr。Dunboynetheelder。Thenextday’spostbroughttheexplanationinalettertoPhilipfromhisfather，directedtohimatthehotelhere。Thisshowedthatmytelegram，givingmyaddressatthishouse，hadnotbeenreceived。
Mr。DunboyneannouncedthathehadreturnedtoIreland，findingtheairofLondonunendurable，afterthesea—breezesathome。IfPhiliphadalreadymarried，hisfatherwouldleavehimtoalifeofgenteelpovertywithHelenaGracedieu。Ifhehadthoughtbetterofit，hiswelcomewaswaitingforhim。
LittledidMr。Dunboyneknowwhatchangeshadtakenplacesinceheandhissonhadlastmet，andwhathopemightyetpresentitselfofbrighterdaysforpoorEuneece！Ithoughtofwritingtohim。Buthowwouldthatcrabbedoldmanreceiveaconfidentialletterfromaladywhowasastranger？
MydoubtsweresetatrestbyPhiliphimself。Heaskedmetowriteafewlinesofreplytohisfather；declaringthathismarriagewithHelenawasbrokenoff——thathehadnotgivenupallhopeofbeingpermittedtoofferthesincereexpressionofhispenitencetoEuneece——andthathewouldgladlyclaimhiswelcome，assoonashewaswellenoughtoundertakethejourneytoIreland。Whenhehadsignedtheletter，IwassopleasedthatI
madeasmartremark。Isaid：\"Thisisatreatyofpeacebetweenfatherandson。\"
Whenthedoctorarrivedinthemorning，andfoundthechangeforthebetterinhispatientconfirmed，hedidjusticetousatlast。Hespokekindly，andevengratefully，toEuneece。Nomoreallusionstothehospitalasaplaceofsafetyescapedhim。HeaskedmecautiouslyfornewsofHelena。Icouldonlytellhimthatshehadgoneoutathercustomarytime，andhadreturnedathercustomarytime。Hedidnotattempttoconcealthatmyreplyhadmadehimuneasy。
\"AreyoustillafraidthatshemaysucceedinpoisoningPhilip？\"
Iasked。
\"Iamafraidofhercunning，\"hesaid。\"IfsheischargedwithattemptingtopoisonyoungDunboyne，shehassomesystemofdefense，youmayrelyonit，forwhichwearenotprepared。
There，inmyopinion，isthetruereasonforherextraordinaryinsensibilitytoherowndanger。\"
Twomoredayspassed，andwewerestillsafeundertheprotectionoflockandkey。
Ontheeveningofthesecondday（whichwasaMonday）Mariacametomeingreattribulation。Oninquiringwhatwasthematter，I
receivedadisquietingreply：\"MissHelenaistemptingme。SheissomiserableatbeingpreventedfromseeingMr。Philip，andhelpingtonursehim，thatitisquitedistressingtoseeher。Atthesametime，miss，it’shardonapoorservant。Sheasksmetotakethekeysecretlyoutofthedoor，andlendittoheratnightforafewminutesonly。I’mreallyafraidIshallbeledintodoingit，ifshegoesonpersuadingmemuchlonger。\"
IcommendedMariaforfeelingscrupleswhichprovedhertobethebestofgoodgirls，andpromisedtorelieveherfromallfearoffuturetemptation。Thiswaseasilydone。EuneecekeptthekeyofPhilip’sdoorinherpocket；andIkeptthekeyofthedining—roomdoorinmine。
CHAPTERLXI。
ATROCITY。
ONthenextday，aTuesdayintheweek，aneventtookplacewhichEuneeceandIviewedwithdistrust。Earlyintheafternoon，ayoungmancalledwithanoteforHelena。Itwastobegiventoherimmediately，andnoanswerwasrequired。
Mariahadjustclosedthehousedoor，andwasonherwayupstairswiththeletter，whenshewascalledbackbyanotherringatthebell。Ourvisitorwasthedoctor。HespoketoMariainthehall：
\"IthinkIseeanoteinyourhand。Wasitgiventoyoubytheyoungmanwhohasjustleftthehouse？\"
\"Yes，sir。
\"Ifhe’syoursweetheart，mydear，Ihavenothingmoretosay。\"
\"Goodgracious，doctor，howyoudotalk！Ineversawtheyoungmanbeforeinmylife。\"
\"Inthatcase，Maria，Iwillaskyoutoletmelookattheaddress。Aha！Mischief！\"
ThemomentIheardthatIthrewopenthedining—roomdoor。
Curiosityisnoteasilysatisfied。Whenithears，itwantstosee；whenitsees，itwantstoknow。Everyladywillagreewithmeinthisobservation。
\"Praycomein，\"Isaid。
\"Oneminute，MissJillgall。Mygirl，whenyougiveMissHelenathatnote，trytogetaslylookatherwhensheopensit，andcomeandtellmewhatyouhaveseen。\"Hejoinedmeinthedining—room，andclosedthedoor。\"Theotherday，\"hewenton，\"whenItoldyouwhatIhaddiscoveredinthechemist’sshop，I
thinkImentionedayoungmanwhowascalledtospeaktoaquestionofidentity——anassistantwhoknewMissHelenaGracedieubysight。\"
\"Yes，yes！\"
\"ThatyoungmanleftthenotewhichMariahasjusttakenupstairs。\"
\"Whowroteit，doctor，andwhatdoesitsay？\"
\"Questionsnaturallyasked，MissJillgall——andnoteasilyanswered。WhereisEunice？Herquickwitmighthelpus。\"
ShehadgoneouttobuysomefruitandflowersforPhilip。
Thedoctoracceptedhisdisappointmentresignedly。\"Letustrywhatwecandowithouther，\"hesaid。\"Thatyoungman’smasterhasbeeninconsultation（youmayrememberwhy）withhislawyer，andHelenamaybethreatenedbyaninvestigationbeforethemagistrates。Ifthiswildguessofmineturnsouttohavehitthemark，thepoisonerupstairshasgotawarning。\"
Iaskedifthechemisthadwrittenthenote。FoolishenoughofmewhenIcametothinkofit。ThechemistwouldscarcelyactafriendlyparttowardHelena，whenshewasanswerablefortheawkwardpositioninwhichhehadplacedhimself。Perhapstheyoungmanwhohadleftthewarningwasalsothewriterofthewarning。ThedoctorremindedmethathewasallbutastrangertoHelena。\"Wearenotusuallyinterested，\"heremarked，\"inapersonwhomweonlyknowbysight。\"
\"Rememberthatheisayoungman，\"Iventuredtosay。Thiswasastronghint，butthedoctorfailedtoseeit。Hehadevidentlyforgottenhisownyouth。Imadeanotherattempt。
\"AndvileasHelenais，\"Icontinued，\"wecannotdenythatthisdisgracetohersexisahandsomeyounglady。\"
Hesawitatlast。\"Woman’swit！\"hecried。\"Youhavehitit，MissJillgall。Theyoungfoolissmittenwithher，andhasgivenherachanceofmakingherescape。\"
\"Doyouthinkshewilltakethechance？\"
\"Foralloursakes，IprayGodshemay！ButIdon’tfeelsureaboutit。\"
\"Why？\"
\"RecollectwhatyouandEunicehavedone。Youhaveshownyoursuspicionofherwithoutanattempttoconcealit。Ifyouhadputherinprisonyoucouldnothavemorecompletelydefeatedherinfernaldesign。Doyouthinksheisalikelypersontosubmittothat，withoutanefforttobeevenwithyou？\"
Justashesaidthoseterrifyingwords，Mariacamebacktous。Heaskedatoncewhathadkepthersolongupstairs。
Thegirlhadevidentlysomethingtosay，whichhadinflatedher（ifImayusesuchanexpression）withasenseofherownimportance。
\"Pleasetoletmetellit，sir，\"sheanswered，\"inmyownway。
MissHelenaturnedaspaleasasheswhensheopenedtheletter，andthenshetookaturnintheroom，andthenshelookedatmewithasmile——well，miss，IcanonlysaythatIfeltthatsmileinthesmallofmyback。Itriedtogettothedoor。Shestoppedme。Shesays：’Where’sMissEunice？’Isays：’Goneout。’Shesays：’Isthereanybodyinthedrawing—room？’Isays：’No，miss。’
Shesays：’TellMissJillgallIwanttospeaktoher，andsayI
amwaitinginthedrawing—room。’It’severywordofittrue！And，ifapoorservantmaygiveanopinion，Idon’tlikethelookofit。\"
ThedoctordismissedMaria。\"Whateveritis，\"hesaidtome，\"youmustgoandhearit。\"
Iamnotacourageouswoman；Iexpressedmyselfasbeingwillingtogotoher，ifthedoctorwentwithme。Hesaidthatwasimpossible；shewouldprobablyrefusetospeakbeforeanywitness；andcertainlybeforehim。ButhepromisedtolookafterPhilipinmyabsence，andtowaitbelowifitreallysohappenedthatIwantedhim。Ineedonlyringthebell，andhewouldcometomethemomentheheardit。Suchkindnessasthisrousedmycourage，Isuppose。Atanyrate，Iwentupstairs。
Shewasstandingbythefire—place，withherelbowonthechimney—piece，andherhead，restingonherhand。Istoppedjustinsidethedoor，waitingtohearwhatshehadtosay。Inthispositionherside—faceonlywaspresentedtome。Itwasaghastlyface。TheeyethatIcouldseeturnedwickedlyonmewhenIcamein——thenturnedawayagain。Otherwise，shenevermoved。IconfessItrembled，butIdidmybesttodisguiseit。
Shebrokeoutsuddenlywithwhatshehadtosay：\"Iwon’tallowthisstateofthingstogoonanylonger。Myhorrorofanexposurewhichwilldisgracethefamilyhaskeptmesilent，wronglysilent，sofar。Philip’slifeisindanger。Iamforgettingmydutytomyaffiancedhusband，ifIallowmyselftobekeptawayfromhimanylonger。Openthoselockeddoors，andrelievemefromthesightofyou。Openthedoors，Isay，oryouwillbothofyou——youtheaccomplice，shethewretchwhodirectsyou——repentittotheendofyourlives。\"
Inmyownmind，Iaskedmyselfifshehadgonemad。ButIonlyanswered：\"Idon’tunderstandyou。\"
Shesaidagain：\"YouareEunice’saccomplice。\"
\"Accompliceinwhat？\"Iasked。
Sheturnedherheadslowlyandfacedme。Ishrankfromlookingather。
\"Allthecircumstancesproveit，\"shewenton。\"IhavesupplantedEuniceinPhilip’saffection。Shewasonceengagedtomarryhim；
Iamengagedtomarryhimnow。Sheisresolvedthatheshallnevermakemehiswife。HewilldieifIdelayanylonger。HewilldieifIdon’tcrushher，likethereptilesheis。Shecomeshere——andwhatdoesshedo？Keepshimprisonerunderherownsuperintendence。Whogetshismedicine？Shegetsit。Whocookshisfood？Shecooksit。Thedoorsarelocked。Imightbeawitnessofwhatgoeson；andIamkeptout。Theservantswhooughttowaitonhimarekeptout。Shecandowhatshelikeswithhismedicine；shecandowhatshelikeswithhisfood：sheisinfuriatedwithhimfordesertingher，andpromisingtomarryme。
Givehimbacktomycare；or，dreadfulasitistodenouncemyownsister，Ishallclaimprotectionfromthemagistrates。\"
Ilostallfearofher：Isteppedcloseuptotheplaceatwhichshewasstanding；Icriedout：\"Ofwhat，inGod’sname，doyouaccuseyoursister？\"
Sheanswered：\"IaccuseherofpoisoningPhilipDunboyne。\"
Iranoutoftheroom；Irushedheadlongdownthestairs。Thedoctorheardme，andcamerunningintothehall。Icaughtholdofhimlikeamadwoman。\"Euneece！\"Mybreathwasgone；Icouldonlysay：\"Euneece！\"
Hedraggedmeintothedining—room。Therewaswineontheside—board，whichhehadorderedmedicallyforPhilip。Heforcedmetodrinksomeofit。Itranthroughmelikefire；ithelpedmetospeak。\"Nowtellme，\"hesaid，\"whathasshedonetoEunice？\"
\"Shebringsahorribleaccusationagainsther，\"Ianswered。
\"Whatistheaccusation？\"Itoldhim。
Helookedmethroughandthrough。\"Takecare！\"hesaid。\"Nohysterics，noexaggeration。Youmayleadtodreadfulconsequencesifyouarenotsureofyourself。Ifit’sreallytrue，sayitagain。\"Isaiditagain——quietlythistime。
Hisfacestartledme；itwaswhitewithrage。Hesnatchedhishatoffthehalltable。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"Iasked。
\"Myduty。\"HewasoutofthehousebeforeIcouldspeaktohimagain。
ThirdPeriod_（concluded）。_
_TROUBLESANDTRIUMPHSOFTHEFAMILY，RELATEDBYTHEGOVERNOR。_
CHAPTERLXII。
THESENTENCEPRONOUNCED。
MARTYRStogoutknow，bysadexperience，thattheysufferunderoneofthemostcapriciousofmaladies。Anattackofthisdiseasewillshift，inthemostunaccountablemanner，fromonepartofthebodytoanother；or，itwillreleasethevictimwhenthereiseveryreasontofearthatitisabouttostrengthenitsholdonhim；or，havingshownthefairestpromiseofsubmittingtomedicaltreatment，itwillcruellylaythepatientprostrateagaininastateofrelapse。Adversefortune，inmycase，subjectedmetothislastandworsttrialofendurance。Twomonthspassed——monthsofpainaggravatedbyanxiety——beforeIwasabletohelpEuniceandMissJillgallpersonallywithmysympathyandadvice。
Duringthisinterval，IheardregularlyfromthefriendlyandfaithfulSelina。
Terrorandsuspense，courageouslyendureddayafterday，seemtohavebrokendownherresistance，poorsoul，whenEunice’sgoodnameandEunice’stranquillitywerethreatenedbythemostinfamousoffalseaccusations。Fromthattime，MissJillgall’smethodofexpressingherselfbetrayedagradualdeterioration。I
shallavoidpresentingatadisadvantageacorrespondentwhohasclaimsonmygratitude，ifIgivethesubstanceonlyofwhatshewrote——assistedbythenewspaperwhichshesenttome，whilethelegalproceedingswereinprogress。
Honestindignationdoessometimescounseluswisely。WhenthedoctorleftMissJillgall，inangerandinhaste，hehaddeterminedontakingthecoursefromwhich，asahumanemanandafaithfulfriend，hehadhithertorecoiled。Itwasnotime，now，toshrinkfromtheprospectofanexposure。TheonehopeofsuccessfullyencounteringthevindictivewickednessofHelenalayintheresolutiontobebeforehandwithher，intheappealtothemagistrateswithwhichshehadthreatenedEuniceandMissJillgall。Thedoctor’ssworninformationstatedthewholeterriblecaseofthepoisoning，rangingfromhisfirstsuspicionsandtheirconfirmation，toHelena’satrociousattempttoaccuseherinnocentsisterofherownguilt。Sofirmlywerethemagistratesconvincedoftheseriousnatureofthecasethusstated，thattheydidnothesitatetoissuetheirwarrant。Amongthewitnesseswhoseattendancewasimmediatelysecured，bythelegaladvisertowhomthedoctorapplied，werethefarmerandhiswife。
Helenawasarrestedwhileshewasdressingtogoout。Hercomposurewasnotforamomentdisturbed。\"Iwasonmyway，\"shesaidcoolly，\"tomakeastatementbeforethejustices。ThesoonertheyhearwhatIhavetosaythebetter。\"
Theattemptofthisshamelesswretchto\"turnthetables\"onpoorEunice——suggested，asIafterwarddiscovered，bytherecordoffamilyhistorywhichshehadquotedinherjournal——wasdefeatedwithease。ThefarmerandhiswifeprovedthedateatwhichEunicehadleftherplaceofresidenceundertheirroof。Thedoctor’sevidencefollowed。Heproved，bytheproductionofhisprofessionaldiary，thatthediscoveryoftheattempttopoisonhispatienthadtakenplacebeforethedayofEunice’sdeparturefromthefarm，andthatthefirstimprovementinMr。PhilipDunboyne’sstateofhealthhadshownitselfafterthatyounglady’sarrivaltoperformthedutiesofanurse。Tothewiseprecautionswhichshehadtaken——pervertedbyHelenatothepurposeofafalseaccusation——thedoctorattributedthepreservationoftheyoungman’slife。
Havingproducedtheworstpossibleimpressiononthemindsofthemagistrates，Helenawasremanded。Herlegaladviserhadpredictedthisresult；butthevindictiveobstinacyofhisclienthadsetbothexperienceandremonstranceatdefiance。
Attherenewedexamination，thelineofdefenseadoptedbytheprisoner’slawyerprovedtobe——mistakenidentity。
Itwasassertedthatshehadneverenteredthechemist’sshop；
also，thattheassistanthadwronglyidentifiedsomeotherladyasMissHelenaGracedieu；also，thattherewasnotanatomofevidencetoconnectherwiththestealingofthedoctor’sprescription—paperandtheforgeryofhiswriting。Otherassertionstothesamepurposefollowed，onwhichitisneedlesstodwell。
Thecasefortheprosecutionwas，happily，incompetenthands。
Withtheexceptionofonewitness，cross—examinationaffordednomaterialhelptotheevidenceforthedefense。
ThechemistsworepositivelytothepersonalappearanceofHelena，asbeingthepersonalappearanceoftheladywhohadpresentedtheprescription。Hisassistant，pressedonthequestionofidentity，brokedownundercross—examination——purposely，asitwaswhispered，servingtheinterestsoftheprisoner。Butthevictory，sofargainedbythedefense，wassuccessfullycontestedbythestatementofthenextwitness，arespectabletradesmaninthetown。Hehadseenthenewspaperreportofthefirstexamination，andhadvolunteeredtopresenthimselfasawitness。AmemberofMr。Gracedieu’scongregation，hispewinthechapelwassosituatedastogivehimaviewoftheminister’sdaughtersoccupyingtheirpew。HehadseentheprisoneroneverySunday，foryearspast；andhesworethathewaspassingthedoorofthechemist’sshop，atthemomentwhenshesteppedoutintothestreet，havingabottlecoveredwiththecustomarywhitepaperinherhand。Thedoctorandhisservantwerethenextwitnessescalled。Theywereseverelycross—examined。Someoftheirstatements——questionedtechnicallywithsuccess——receivedunexpectedandpowerfulsupport，duetothediscoveryandproductionoftheprisoner’sdiary。Theentries，guardedlyassomeofthemwerewritten，revealedhermotiveforattemptingtopoisonPhilipDunboyne；
provedthatshehadpurposelycalledonthedoctorwhensheknewthathewouldbeout，thatshehadenteredtheconsulting—room，andexaminedthemedicalbooks，hadfound（touseherownwrittenwords）\"avolumethatinterestedher，\"andhadusedtheprescription—papersforthepurposeofmakingnotes。Thenotesthemselveswerenottobefound；theyhaddoubtlessbeendestroyed。Enough，andmorethanenough，remainedtomakethecasefortheprosecutioncomplete。ThemagistratescommittedHelenaGracedieufortrialatthenextassizes。
Iarrivedinthetown，aswellasIcanremember，aboutaweekafterthetrialhadtakenplace。
Foundguilty，theprisonerhadbeenrecommendedtomercybythejury——partlyinconsiderationofheryouth；partlyasanexpressionofsympathyandrespectforherunhappyfather。Thejudge（afatherhimself）passedalenientsentence。Shewascondemnedtoimprisonmentfortwoyears。Thecarefulmatronofthejailhadprovidedherselfwithabottleofsmelling—salts，inthefearthattheremightbeneedforitwhenHelenaheardhersentencepronounced。Nottheslightestsignofagitationappearedinherfaceorher。manner。Sheliedtothelast；assertingherinnocenceinafirmvoice，andreturningfromthedocktotheprisonwithoutrequiringassistancefromanybody。
Relatingtheseparticularstome，inastateofungovernableexcitement，goodMissJillgallendedwithalittleconfessionofherown，whichoperatedasarelieftomyoverburdenedmindafterwhatIhadjustheard。
\"Iwouldn’townit，\"shesaid，\"toanybodybutadearfriend。Onething，inthedreadfuldisgracethathasfallenonus，Iamquiteatalosstoaccountfor。ThinkofMr。Gracedieu’sdaughterbeingoneofthosecriminalcreaturesonwhomitwasonceyourterribledutytoturnthekey！Whydidn’tshecommitsuicide？\"
\"Mydearlady，nothoroughlywickedcreatureeveryetcommittedsuicide。Self—destruction，whenitisnotanactofmadness，impliessomeacutenessoffeeling——sensibilitytoremorseortoshame，orperhapsadistortedideaofmakingatonement。Thereisnosuchthingasremorseorshame，orhopeofmakingatonement，inHelena’snature。\"
\"Butwhenshecomesoutofprison，whatwillshedo？\"
\"Don’talarmyourself，mygoodfriend。Shewilldoverywell。\"
\"Oh，hush！hush！Poeticaljustice，Mr。Governor！\"
\"Poeticalfiddlesticks，MissJillgall。\"
CHAPTERLXIII。
THEOBSTACLEREMOVED。
WHENthesubjectofthetrialwashappilydismissed，myfirstinquiryrelatedtoEunice。Thereplywasmadewithanominousaccompanimentofsighsandsadlooks。Eunicehadgonebacktoherdutiesasgovernessatthefarm。Hearingthis，IaskednaturallywhathadbecomeofPhilip。
Melancholynews，again，wasthenewsthatInowheard。
Mr。Dunboynetheelderhaddiedsuddenly，athishouseinIreland，whilePhilipwasonhiswayhome。Whenthefuneralceremonyhadcometoanend，thewillwasread。Ithadbeenmadeonlyafewdaysbeforethetestator’sdeath；andtheclausewhichleftallhispropertytohissonwasprecededbyexpressionsofpaternalaffection，atatimewhenPhilipwasinsoreneedofconsolation。Afteralludingtoaletter，receivedfromhisson，theoldmanadded：\"Ialwayslovedhim，withoutcaringtoconfessit；Idetestscenesofsentiment，kissings，embracings，tears，andthatsortofthing。ButPhiliphasyieldedtomywishes，andhasbrokenoffamarriagewhichwouldhavemadehim，aswellasme，wretchedforlife。Afterthis，Imayspeakmymindfrommygrave，andmaytellmyboythatIlovedhim。Ifthewishislikelytobeofanyuse，Iwilladd（onthechance）——Godblesshim。\"
\"DoesPhilipsubmittoseparationfromEunice？\"Iasked。\"DoeshestayinIreland？\"
\"Nothe，poorfellow！Hewillbehereto—morrowornextday。WhenIlastwrote，\"MissJillgallcontinued，\"ItoldhimIhopedtoseeyouagainsoon。Ifyoucan’thelpus（ImeanwithEunice）
thatunluckyyoungmanwilldosomedesperatething。HewilljointhosemadmenatlargewhodisturbpoorsavagesinAfrica，orgonowheretofindnothingintheArcticregions。
\"WhateverIcando，MissJillgall，shallbegladlydone。IsitreallypossiblethatEunicerefusestomarryhim，afterhavingsavedhislife？\"
\"Alittlepatience，please，Mr。Governor；letPhiliptellhisownstory。IfItrytodoit，Ishallonlycry——andwehavehadtearsenoughlately，inthishouse。\"
Furtherconsultationbeingthusdeferred，IwentupstairstotheMinister’sroom。
Hewassittingbythewindow，inhisfavoritearmchair，absorbedinknitting！Thepersonwhoattendedonhim，agood—natured，patientfellow，hadbeenasailorinhisyoungerdays，andhadtaughtMr。Gracedieuhowtousetheneedles。\"Youseeitamuseshim，\"themansaid，kindly。\"Don’tnoticehismistakes，hethinksthereisn’tsuchanotherintheworldforknittingashimself。
Youcansee，sir，howhestickstoit。\"HewassoabsorbedoverhisemploymentthatIhadtospeaktohimtwice，beforeIcouldinducehimtolookatme。Theutterruinofhisintellectdidnotappeartohaveexercisedanydisastrousinfluenceoverhisbodilyhealth。Onthecontrary，hehadgrownfattersinceIhadlastseenhim；hiscomplexionhadlostthepallorthatI
remembered——therewascolorinhischeeks。
\"Don’tyourememberyouroldfriend？\"Isaid。Hesmiled，andnodded，andrepeatedthewords：
\"Yes，yes，myoldfriend。\"Itwasonlytooplainthathehadnottheleastrecollectionofme。\"Hismemoryisgone，\"themansaid。
\"Whenheputsawayhisknitting，atnight，Ihavetofinditforhiminthemorning。But，there！he’shappy——enjoyshisvictuals，likessittingoutinthegardenandwatchingthebirds。There’sbeenadealoftroubleinthefamily，sir；andithasallpassedoverhimlikeawetspongeoveraslate。\"Theoldsailorwasright。Ifthatwreckofamanhadbeencapableoffeelingandthinking，hisdaughter’sdisgracewouldhavebrokenhisheart。Inaworldofsinandsorrow，ispeaceableimbecilityalwaystobepitied？Ihaveknownmenwhowouldhaveanswered，withouthesitation：\"Itistobeenvied。\"Andwhere（somepersonsmightsay）wasthepoorMinister’srewardfortheactofmercywhichhadsavedEuniceinherinfancy？Whereitoughttobe！Amanwhoworthilyperformsagoodactionfindshisrewardintheactionitself。
Atbreakfast，onthenextday，thetalktouchedonthosepassagesinHelena’sdiary，whichhadbeenproducedincourtasevidenceagainsther。
Iexpressedawishtoseewhatrevelationofadepravednaturetheentriesinthediarymightpresent；andmycuriositywasgratified。Atafittertime，Imayfindanopportunityofalludingtotheimpressionproducedonmebythediary。Inthemeanwhile，theeventofPhilip’sreturnclaimsnoticeinthefirstplace。
Thepoorfellowwassogladtoseemethatheshookhandsasheartilyasifwehadknowneachotherfromthetimewhenhewasaboy。
\"DoyourememberhowkindlyyouspoketomewhenIcalledonyouinLondon？\"heasked。\"IfIhaverepeatedthosewordsonce——butperhapsyoudon’trememberthem？Yousaid：’IfIwasasyoungasyouare，Ishouldnotdespair。’Well！Ihavesaidthattomyselfoverandoveragain，forahundredtimesatleast。Eunicewilllistentoyou，sir，whenshewilllistentonobodyelse。ThisisthefirsthappymomentIhavehadforweekspast。\"
IsupposeImusthavelookedgladtohearthat。Anyway，Philipshookhandswithmeagain。
MissJillgallwaspresent。Thegentle—heartedoldmaidwassotouchedbyourmeetingthatsheabandonedherselftothegenialimpulseofthemoment，andgavePhilipakiss。Theoutragedclaimsofproprietyinstantlyseizedonher。Sheblushedasifthelong—lostdaysofhergirlhoodhadbeenfoundagain，andranoutoftheroom。