Havingestablishedmyselfinmyowncountry，Ididnotforgettoletoldfriendsknowwheretheymightfindme。AmongthosetowhomIwrotewasanothercolleagueofpastyears，whostillheldhismedicalappointmentintheprison。WhenIreceivedthedoctor’sreply，itinclosedaletterdirectedtomeatmyoldquartersintheGovernor’srooms。WhocouldpossiblyhavesentalettertoanaddresswhichIhadleftfiveyearssince？MycorrespondentprovedtobenolessapersonthantheCongregationalMinister——thefriendwhomIhadestrangedfrommebythetoneinwhichIhadwrittentohim，onthelong—pastoccasionofhiswife’sdeath。
　　Itwasadistressinglettertoread。Ibegpermissiontogiveonlythesubstanceofitinthisplace。
　　Entreatingme，withtouchingexpressionsofhumilityandsorrow，toforgivehislongsilence，thewriterappealedtomyfriendlyremembranceofhim。Hewasinsoreneedofcounsel，underseriousdifficulties；andIwastheonlypersontowhomhecouldapplyforhelp。Inthedisorderedstateofhishealthatthattime，heventuredtohopethatIwouldvisithimathispresentplaceofabode，andwouldlethimhavethehappinessofseeingmeasspeedilyaspossible。Heconcludedwiththisextraordinarypostscript：
　　"Whenyouseemydaughters，saynothingtoeitherofthemwhichrelates，inanyway，tothesubjectoftheirages。Youshallhearwhywhenwemeet。"
　　Thereadingofthisletternaturallyremindedmeoftheclaimswhichmyfriend’snobleconducthadestablishedonmyadmirationandrespect，atthepasttimewhenwemetintheprison。Icouldnothesitatetogranthisrequest——strangelyasitwasexpressed，anddoubtfulastheprospectappearedtobeofmyansweringtheexpectationswhichhehadfoundedontherenewalofourintercourse。Answeringhisletterbytelegraph，Ipromisedtobewithhimonthenextday。
　　Onarrivingatthestation，IfoundthatIwastheonlytraveler，byafirst—classcarriage，wholeftthetrain。Ayounglady，remarkablebyhergoodlooksandgooddressing，seemedtohavenoticedthistriflingcircumstance。Sheapproachedmewithareadysmile。"IbelieveIamspeakingtomyfather’sfriend，"shesaid；"mynameisHelenaGracedieu。"
　　HerewasoneoftheMinister’stwo"daughters"；andthatoneofthetwo——asIdiscoveredthemomentIshookhandswithher——whowasmyfriend’sownchild。MissHelenarecalledtomehermother’sface，infinitelyimprovedbyyouthandhealth，andbyanaturalbeautywhichthatcruelanddeceitfulwomancouldneverhavepossessed。Theslantingforeheadandtheshifting，flashingeyes，thatIrecollectedintheparent，werereproduced（slightlyreproduced，Ioughttosay）inthechild。Asfortheotherfeatures，Ihadneverseenamorebeautifulnoseandmouth，oramoredelicately—shapedoutline，thanwaspresentedbythelowerpartoftheface。ButMissHelenasomehowfailedtocharmme。I
　　doubtifIshouldhavefalleninlovewithher，eveninthedayswhenIwasafoolishyoungman。
　　ThefirstquestionthatIput，aswedrovefromthestationtothehouse，relatednaturallytoherfather。
　　"Heisveryill，"shebegan；"Iamafraidyoumustprepareyourselftoseeasadchange。Nerves。Themischieffirstshoweditself，thedoctortellsus，inderangementofhisnervoussystem。Hehasbeen，Iregrettotellyou，obstinateinrefusingtogiveuphispreachingandpastoralwork。Heoughttohavetriedrestattheseaside。Thingshavegoneonfrombadtoworse。
　　LastSunday，atthebeginningofhissermon，hebrokedown。Very，verysad，isitnot？Thedoctorsaysthatprecioustimehasbeenlost，andhemustmakeuphismindtoresignhischarge。Hewon’thearofit。Youarehisoldfriend。Pleasetrytopersuadehim。"
　　Fluentlyspoken；thewordswellchosen；themelodiousvoiceremindingmeofthelateMrs。Gracedieu’sadvantagesinthatrespect；littlesighsjudiciouslythrowninhereandthere，justattherightplaces；everything，letmeown，thatcouldpresentadutifuldaughterasapatternofpropriety——andnothing，letmeadd，thatcouldproduceanimpressiononmyinsensibletemperament。IfIhadnotbeentoodiscreettorushatahastyconclusion，Imighthavebeeninclinedtosay：hermother’schild，everyinchofher！
　　TheinterestwhichIwasstillabletofeelinmyfriend’sdomesticaffairscenteredinthedaughterwhomhehadadopted。
　　InherinfancyIhadseenthechild，andlikedher；Iwastheonepersonliving（sincethedeathofMrs。Gracedieu）whoknewhowtheMinisterhadconcealedthesadsecretofherparentage；andI
　　wantedtodiscoverifthehereditarytainthadbeguntoshowitselfintheinnocentoffspringofthemurderess。JustasIwasconsideringhowImightharmlesslyspeakofMissHelena’s"sister，"MissHelenaherselfintroducedthesubject。
　　"MayIask，"sheresumed，"ifyouweredisappointedwhenyoufoundnobodybutmetomeetyouatourstation？"
　　Herewasanopportunityofpayingheracompliment，ifIhadbeenayoungerman，orifshehadproducedafavorableimpressiononme。Asitwas，Ihit——ifImaypraisemyself——onaningeniouscompromise。
　　"WhatexcusecouldIhave，"Iasked，"forfeelingdisappointed？"
　　"Well，Ihearyouareanofficialpersonage——Ioughttosay，perhaps，aretiredofficialpersonage。Wemighthavereceivedyoumorerespectfully，if_both_myfather’sdaughtershadbeenpresentatthestation。It’snotmyfaultthatmysisterwasnotwithme。"
　　Thetoneinwhichshesaidthisstrengthenedmyprejudiceagainsther。Ittoldmethatthetwogirlswerelivingtogetheronnoveryfriendlyterms；anditsuggested——justlyorunjustlyIcouldnotthendecide——thatMissHelenawastoblame。
　　"Mysisterisawayfromhome。"
　　"Surely，MissHelena，thatisagoodreasonforhernotcomingtomeetme？"
　　"Ibegyourpardon——itisabadreason。Shehasbeensentawayfortherecoveryofherhealth——andthelossofherhealthisentirelyherownfault。"
　　Whatdidthismattertome？Idecidedondroppingthesubject。Mymemoryreverted，however，topastoccasionsonwhichthelossof_my_healthhadbeenentirelymyownfault。Therewassomethinginthesepersonalrecollections，whichencouragedmyperversetendencytosympathizewithayoungladytowhomIhadnotyetbeenintroduced。Theyounglady’ssisterappearedtobediscouragedbymysilence。Shesaid："Ihopeyoudon’tthinktheworseofmeforwhatIhavejustmentioned？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"Perhapsyouwillfailtoseeanyneedofmyspeakingofmysisteratall？Willyoukindlylisten，ifItrytoexplainmyself？"
　　"Withpleasure。"
　　Sheslylysetthebestconstructiononmyperfectlycommonplacereply。
　　"Thankyou，"shesaid。"Thefactis，myfather（Ican’timaginewhy）wishesyoutoseemysisteraswellasme。Hehaswrittentothefarmhouseatwhichsheisnowstaying，totellhertocomehometo—morrow。Itispossible——ifyourkindnessoffersmeanopportunity——thatImayasktobeguidedbyyourexperience，inalittlematterwhichinterestsme。Mysisterisrash，andreckless，andhasaterribletemper。Ishouldbeverysorryindeedifyouwereinducedtoformanunfavorableopinionofme，fromanythingyoumightnoticeifyouseeustogether。Youunderstandme，Ihope？"
　　"Iquiteunderstandyou。"
　　Tosetmeagainsthersister，inherownprivateinterests——there，asIfeltsure，wasthemotiveunderwhichshewasacting。Ashardashermother，asselfishashermother，and，judgingfromthosetwobadqualities，probablyascruelashermother。ThatwashowIunderstoodMissHelenaGracedieu，whenourcarriagedrewupatherfather’shouse。
　　Amiddle—agedladywasonthedoorstep，whenwearrived，justringingthebell。Shelookedroundatusboth；beingevidentlyascompleteastrangertomyfaircompanionasshewastome。Whentheservantopenedthedoor，shesaid：
　　"IsMissJillgallathome？"
　　Atthesoundofthatoddname，MissHelenatossedherheaddisdainfully。Shetooknosortofnoticeofthestranger—ladywhowasatthedoorofherfather’shouse。Thisyoungperson’scontemptforMissJillgallappearedtoextendtoMissJillgall’sfriends。
　　Inthemeantime，theservant’sanswerwas："Notathome。"
　　Themiddleagedladysaid："Doyouexpectherbacksoon？"
　　"Yes，ma’am。"
　　"Iwillcallagain，laterintheday。"
　　"Whatname，ifyouplease？"
　　Theladystoleanotherlookatme，beforeshereplied。
　　"Nevermindthename，"shesaid——andwalkedaway。
　　CHAPTERXXXIII。
　　THEMINISTER’SMISFORTUNE。
　　"Doyouknowthatlady？"MissHelenaasked，asweenteredthehouse。
　　"Sheisaperfectstrangertome，"Ianswered。
　　"Areyousureyouhavenotforgottenher？"
　　"WhydoyouthinkIhaveforgottenher？"
　　"Becausesheevidentlyrememberedyou。"
　　Theladyhadnodoubtlookedatmetwice。Ifthismeantthatmyfacewasfamiliartoher，IcouldonlyrepeatwhatIhavealreadysaid。Never，tomyknowledge，hadIseenherbefore。
　　Leadingthewayupstairs，MissHelenaapologizedfortakingmeintoherfather’sbedroom。"Heisabletositupinanarmchair，"
　　shesaid；"andhemightdomore，asIthink，ifhewouldexerthimself。Hewon’texerthimself。Verysad。Wouldyouliketolookatyourroom，beforeyouseemyfather？Itisquitereadyforyou。Wehope"——shefavoredmewithafascinatingsmile，devotedtowinningmyheartwhenherinterestsrequiredit——"wehopeyouwillpayusalongvisit；welookonyouasoneofourselves。"
　　Ithankedher，andsaidIwouldshakehandswithmyoldfriendbeforeIwenttomyroom。Wepartedatthebedroomdoor。
　　ItisoutofmypowertodescribetheshockthatoverpoweredmewhenIfirstsawtheMinisteragain，afterthelongintervaloftimethathadseparatedus。Nothingthathisdaughtersaid，nothingthatImyselfanticipated，hadpreparedmeforthatlamentablechange。Forthemoment，Iwasnotsufficientlymasterofmyselftobeabletospeaktohim。Headdedtomyembarrassmentbythehumilityofhismanner，andtheformalelaborationofhisapologies。
　　"IfeelpainfullythatIhavetakenalibertywithyou，"hesaid，"afterthelongestrangementbetweenus——forwhichmywantofChristianforbearanceistoblame。Forgiveit，sir，andforgetit。Ihopetoshowthatnecessityjustifiesmypresumption，insubjectingyoutoawearisomejourneyformysake。"
　　Beginningtorecovermyself，Ibeggedthathewouldmakenomoreexcuses。Myinterruptionseemedtoconfusehim。
　　"Iwishedtosay，"hewenton，"thatyouaretheonemanwhocanunderstandme。Thereismyonlyreasonforaskingtoseeyou，andlookingforwardasIdotoyouradvice。Yourememberthenight——orwasittheday？——beforethatmiserablewomanwashanged？YouweretheonlypersonpresentwhenIagreedtoadoptthepoorlittlecreature，stainedalready（onemaysay）byitsmother’sinfamy。IthinkyourwisdomforesawwhataterribleresponsibilityIwasundertaking；youtriedtopreventit。Well！
　　well！youhavebeeninmyconfidence——youonly。Mind！nobodyinthishouseknowsthatoneofthetwogirlsisnotreallymydaughter。Praystopme，ifyoufindmewanderingfromthepoint。
　　MywishistoshowthatyouaretheonlymanIcanopenmyheartto。She——"Hepaused，asifinsearchofalostidea，andleftthesentenceuncompleted。"Yes，"hewenton，"Iwasthinkingofmyadoptedchild。DidIevertellyouthatIbaptizedhermyself？
　　andbyagoodScripturenametoo——Eunice。Ah，sir，thatlittlehelplessbabyisagrown—upgirlnow；ofanagetoinspirelove，andtofeellove。Iblushtoacknowledgeit；Ihavebehavedwithawantofself—control，withacowardlyweakness。——No！Iam，indeed，wanderingthistime。IoughttohavetoldyoufirstthatIhavebeenbroughtfacetofacewiththepossibilityofEunice’smarriage。And，tomakeitworsestill，Ican’thelplikingtheyoungman。Hecomesofagoodfamily——excellentmanners，highlyeducated，plentyofmoney，agentlemanineverysenseoftheword。AndpoorlittleEuniceissofondofhim！Isn’titdreadfultobeobligedtocheckherdearly—lovedPhilip？Theyounggentleman’snameisPhilip。Doyoulikethename？IsayIamobligedtocheekhersweetheartintherudestmanner，whenallhewantstodoistoaskmemodestlyformysweetEunice’shand。Oh，whathaveInotsuffered，withoutawordofsympathytocomfortme，beforeIhadcourageenoughtowritetoyou！ShallImakeadreadfulconfession？Ifmyreligiousconvictionshadnotstoodinmyway，IbelieveIshouldhavecommittedsuicide。Putyourselfinmyplace。Trytoseeyourselfshrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation，whenthehappinessofaharmlessgirl——sodutiful，soaffectionate——dependedonawordofkindnessfromyourlips。
　　Andthatwordyouareafraidtospeak！Don’ttakeoffense，sir；I
　　meanmyself，notyou。Whydon’tyousaysomething？"heburstoutfiercely，incapableofperceivingthathehadallowedmenoopportunityofspeakingtohim。"GoodGod！don’tyouunderstandme，afterall？"
　　Thesignsofmentalconfusioninhistalkhadsodistressedme，thatIhadnotbeencomposedenoughtofeelsureofwhathereallymeant，untilhedescribedhimselfas"shrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation。"Hearingthosewords，myknowledgeofthecircumstanceshelpedme；Irealizedwhathissituationreallywas。
　　"Composeyourself，"Isaid，"Iunderstandyouatlast。"
　　Hehadsuddenlybecomedistrustful。
　　"Proveit，"hemuttered，withafurtivelookatme。"Iwanttobesatisfiedthatyouunderstandmyposition。"
　　"Thisisyourposition，"Itoldhim。"Youareplacedbetweentwodeplorablealternatives。IfyoutellthisyounggentlemanthatMissEunice’smotherwasacriminalhangedformurder，hisfamily——evenifhehimselfdoesn’trecoilfromit——willunquestionablyforbidthemarriage；andyouradopteddaughter’shappinesswillbethesacrifice。"
　　"True！"hesaid。"Frightfullytrue！Goon。"
　　"If，ontheotherhand，yousanctionthemarriage，andconcealthetruth，youcommitadeliberateactofdeceit；andyouleavethelivesoftheyoungcoupleatthemercyofapossiblediscovery，whichmightparthusbandandwife——castaslurontheirchildren——andbreakupthehousehold。"
　　Heshudderedwhilehelistenedtome。"Cometotheendofit，"hecried。
　　Ihadnomoretosay，andIwasobligedtoanswerhimtothateffect。
　　"Nomoretosay？"hereplied。"YouhavenottoldmeyetwhatI
　　mostwanttoknow。"
　　Ididarashthing；Iaskedwhatitwasthathemostwantedtoknow。
　　"Can’tyouseeitforyourself？"hedemandedindignantly。
　　"Supposeyouwereputbetweenthosetwoalternativeswhichyoumentionedjustnow。"
　　"Well？"
　　"Whatwouldyoudo，sir，inmyplace？Wouldyouownthedisgracefultruth——beforethemarriage——orruntherisk，andkeepthehorridstorytoyourself？"
　　Eitherway，myreplymightleadtoseriousconsequences。I
　　hesitated。
　　Hethreatenedmewithhispoorfeeblehand。Itwasonlytheangerofamoment；hishumorchangedtosupplication。Heremindedmepiteouslyofbygonedays："Youusedtobeakind—heartedman。Hasagehardenedyou？Haveyounopityleftforyouroldfriend？Mypoorheartissadlyinwantofawordofwisdom，spokenkindly。"
　　Whocouldhaveresistedthis？Itookhishand："Beatease，dearMinister。InyourplaceIshouldruntherisk，andkeepthathorridstorytomyself。"
　　Hesankbackgentlyinhischair。"Oh，thereliefofit！"hesaid。"HowcanIthankyouasIoughtforquietingmymind？"
　　Iseizedtheopportunityofquietinghismindtogoodpurposebysuggestingachangeofsubject。"Letushavedonewithserioustalkforthepresent，"Iproposed。"Ihavebeenanidlemanforthelastfiveyears，andIwanttotellyouaboutmytravels。"
　　Hisattentionbegantowander，heevidentlyfeltnointerestinmytravels。"Areyousure，"heaskedanxiously，"thatwehavesaidallweoughttosay？No！"hecried，answeringhisownquestion。"IbelieveIhaveforgottensomething——IamcertainI
　　haveforgottensomething。PerhapsImentioneditintheletterI
　　wrotetoyou。Haveyougotmyletter？"
　　Ishowedittohim。Hereadtheletter，andgaveitbacktomewithaheavysigh。"Notthere！"hesaiddespairingly。"Notthere！"
　　"Isthelostremembranceconnectedwithanybodyinthehouse？"I
　　asked，tryingtohelphim。"Doesitrelate，byanychance，tooneoftheyoungladies？"
　　"Youwonderfulman！Nothingescapesyou。Yes；thethingIhaveforgottenconcernsoneofthegirls。Stop！Letmegetatitbymyself。SurelyitrelatestoHelena？"Hehesitated；hisfacecloudedoverwithanexpressionofanxiousthought。"Yes；itrelatestoHelena，"herepeated"buthow？"Hiseyesfilledwithtears。"Iamashamedofmyweakness，"hesaidfaintly。"Youdon’tknowhowdreadfulitistoforgetthingsinthisway。"
　　Theinjurythathismindhadsustainednowassumedanaspectthatwasseriousindeed。Thesubtlemachinery，whichstimulatesthememory，bymeansoftheassociationofideas，appearedtohavelostitsworkingpowerintheintellectofthisunhappyman。I
　　madethefirstsuggestionthatoccurredtome，ratherthanaddtohisdistressbyremainingsilent。
　　"Ifwetalkofyourdaughter，"Isaid，"themerestaccident——awordspokenatrandomby。youorme——maybeallyourmemorywantstorouseit。"
　　Heagreedeagerlytothis："Yes！Yes！Letmebegin。Helenametyou，Ithink，atthestation。Ofcourse，Irememberthat；itonlyhappenedafewhourssince。Well？"hewenton，withachangeinhismannertoparentalpride，whichitwaspleasanttosee，"didyouthinkmydaughterafinegirl？IhopeHelenadidn’tdisappointyou？"
　　"Quitethecontrary。"Havingmadethatnecessaryreply，Isawmywaytokeepinghismindoccupiedbyaharmlesssubject。"Itmust，however，beowned，"Iwenton，"thatyourdaughtersurprisedme。"
　　"Inwhatway？"
　　"Whenshementionedhername。Whocouldhavesupposedthatyou——aninveterateenemytotheRomanCatholicChurch——wouldhavechristenedyourdaughterbythenameofaRomanCatholicSaint？"
　　Helistenedtothiswithasmile。HadIhappilyblunderedonsomeassociationwhichhismindwasstillabletopursue？
　　"Youhappentobewrongthistime，"hesaidpleasantly。"InevergavemygirlthenameofHelena；and，whatismore，Ineverbaptizedher。Yououghttoknowthat。Yearsandyearsago，I
　　wrotetotellyouthatmypoorwifehadmademeaproudandhappyfather。AndsurelyIsaidthatthechildwasbornwhileshewasonavisittoherbrother’srectory。Doyourememberthenameoftheplace？Itoldyouitwasaremotelittlevillage，called——
　　Supposeweput_your_memorytoatest？Canyourememberthename？"heasked，withamomentaryappearanceoftriumphshowingitself，poorfellow，inhisface。
　　Afterthetimethathadelapsed，thenamehadslippedmymemory。
　　WhenIconfessedthis，heexultedoverme，withanunalloyedpleasurewhichitwascheeringtosee。
　　"_Your_memoryisfailingyounow，"hesaid。"ThenameisLongLanes。Andwhatdoyouthinkmywifedid——thisissocharacteristicofher！——whenIpresentedmyselfatherbedside。
　　Insteadofspeakingofourownbaby，sheremindedmeofthenamethatIhadgiventoouradopteddaughterwhenIbaptizedthechild。’Youchosetheugliestnamethatagirlcanhave，’shesaid。Ibeggedhertorememberthat’Eunice’wasanameinScripture。Shepersistedinspiteofme。（Whatfirmnessofcharacter！）’IdetestthenameofEunice！’shesaid；’andnowthatIhaveagirlofmyown，it’smyturntochoosethename；I
　　claimitasmyright。’Shewasbeginningtogetexcited；I
　　allowedhertohaveherownway，ofcourse。’Onlyletmeknow，’I
　　said，’whatthenameistobewhenyouhavethoughtofit。’Mydearsir，shehadthenameready，withoutthinkingaboutit：’Mybabyshallbecalledbythenamethatissweetestinmyears，thenameofmydearlostmother。’Wehad——whatshallIcallit？——aslightdifferenceofopinionwhenIheardthatthenamewastobeHelena。Ireallycould_not_reconcileittomyconsciencetobaptizeachildofminebythenameofaPopishsaint。Mywife’sbrothersetthingsrightbetweenus。Aworthygoodman；hediednotverylongago——Iforgetthedate。Nottodetainyouanylonger，therectorofLongLanesbaptizedourdaughter。Thatishowshecomesbyherun—Englishname；andsoithappensthatherbirthisregisteredinavillagewhichherfatherhasneverinhabited。Ihope，sir，youthinkalittlebetterofmymemorynow？"
　　IwasafraidtotellhimwhatIreallydidthink。
　　Hewasnotfiftyyearsoldyet；andhehadjustexhibitedoneofthesadsymptomswhichmarkthebrokenmemoryofoldage。Leadhimbacktotheeventsofmanyyearsago，and（ashehadjustprovedtome）hecouldrememberwellandrelatecoherently。Butlethimattempttorecallcircumstanceswhichhadonlytakenplaceashorttimesince，andforgetfulnessandconfusionpresentedthelamentableresult，justasIhaverelatedit。
　　Theeffortthathehadmade，theagitationthathehadundergoneintalkingtome，hadconfirmedmyfearsthathewouldovertaskhiswastedstrength。Helaybackinhischair。"Letusgoonwithourconversation，"hemurmured。"Wehaven’trecoveredwhatIhadforgotten，yet。"Hiseyesclosed，andopenedagainlanguidly。
　　"TherewassomethingIwantedtorecall——"heresumed，"andyouwerehelpingme。"Hisweakvoicediedaway；hiswearyeyesclosedagain。Afterwaitinguntiltherecouldbenodoubtthathewasrestingpeacefullyinsleep，Ilefttheroom。
　　CHAPTERXXXIV。
　　THELIVELYOLDMAID。
　　APERFECTstrangertotheinteriorofthehouse（seeingthatmyexperiencebeganandendedwiththeMinister’sbedchamber），I
　　descendedthestairs，inthecharacterofaguestinsearchofdomesticinformation。
　　Onmywaydown，Iheardthedoorofaroomonthegroundflooropened，andawoman’svoicebelow，speakinginahurry："Mydear，Ihavenotamomenttospare；mypatientsarewaitingforme。"Thiswasfollowedbyaconfidentialcommunication，judgingbythetone。"Mind！notawordaboutmetothatoldgentleman！"
　　Herpatientswerewaitingforher——hadIdiscoveredafemaledoctor？Andtherewassomeoldgentlemanwhomshewasnotwillingtotrust——surelyIwasnotthatmuch—injuredman？
　　Reachingthehalljustastheladysaidherlastwords，Icaughtaglimpseofherface，anddiscoveredthemiddle—agedstrangerwhohadcalledon"MissJillgall，"andhadpromisedtorepeathervisit。Asecondladywasatthedoor，withherbacktome，takingleaveofherfriend。Havingsaidgood—by，sheturnedround——andweconfrontedeachother。
　　Ifoundhertobealittleperson，wiryandactive；pasttheprimeoflife，anduglyenoughtoencourageprejudice，inpersonswhotakeasuperficialviewoftheirfellow—creatures。Lookingimpartiallyatthelittlesunkeneyeswhichrestedonmewithacomicalexpressionofembarrassment，Isawsignsthatsaid：Thereissomegoodhere，underadisagreeablesurface，ifyoucanonlyfindit。
　　Shesalutedmewithacarefully—performedcurtsey，andthrewopenthedoorofaroomonthegroundfloor。
　　"Praywalkin，sir，andpermitmetointroducemyself。IamMr。
　　Gracedieu’scousin——MissJillgall。Proudindeedtomaketheacquaintanceofagentlemandistinguishedintheserviceofhiscountry——orperhapsIoughttosay，intheserviceoftheLaw。
　　TheGovernoroffershospitalitytoprisoners。AndwhointroducesprisonerstoboardandlodgingwiththeGovernor？——theLaw。
　　Beautifulweatherforthetimeofyear，isitnot？MayI
　　ask——haveyouseenyourroom？"
　　TheembarrassmentwhichIhadalreadynoticedhadextendedbythistimetohervoiceandhermanner。Shewasevidentlytryingtotalkherselfintoastateofconfidence。ItseemedbuttooprobablethatIwasindeedthepersonmentionedbyherprudentfriendatthedoor。
　　HavingacknowledgedthatIhadnotseenmyroomyet，mypolitenessattemptedtoaddthattherewasnohurry。Thewirylittleladywasofthecontraryopinion；shejumpedoutofherchairasifshehadbeenshotoutofit。"Prayletmemakemyselfuseful。Thedreamofmylifeistomakemyselfusefultoothers；
　　andtosuchamanasyou——Iconsidermyselfhonored。Besides，I
　　doenjoyrunningupanddownstairs。Thisway，dearsir；thiswaytoyourroom。"
　　Sheskippedupthestairs，andstoppedonthefirstlanding。"Doyouknow，Iamatimidperson，thoughImaynotlooklikeit。
　　Sometimes，curiositygetsthebetterofme——andthenIgrowbold。
　　Didyounoticealadywhowastakingleaveofmejustnowatthehousedoor？"
　　IrepliedthatIhadseentheladyforamoment，butnotforthefirsttime。"JustasIarrivedherefromthestation，"Isaid，"I
　　foundherpayingavisitwhenyouwerenotathome。"
　　"Yes——anddotellmeonethingmore。"MyreadinessinansweringseemedtohaveinspiredMissJillgallwithconfidence。Iheardnomoreconfessionsofoverpoweringcuriosity。"AmIright，"sheproceeded，"insupposingthatMissHelenaaccompaniedyou，onyourwayherefromthestation？"
　　"Quiteright。"
　　"Didshesayanythingparticular，whenshesawtheladyaskingformeatthedoor？"