"MissHelenathought，"Isaid，"thattheladyrecognizedmeasapersonwhomshehadseenbefore。"
　　"Andwhatdidyouthinkyourself？"
　　"IthoughtMissHelenawaswrong。"
　　"Veryextraordinary！"Withthatremark，MissJillgalldroppedthesubject。Themeaningofherreiteratedinquirieswasnow，asitseemedtome，clearenough。ShewaseagertodiscoverhowIcouldhaveinspiredthedistrustofme，expressedinthecautionaddressedtoherbyherfriend。
　　Whenwereachedtheupperfloor，shepausedbeforetheMinister’sroom。
　　"Ibelievemanyyearshavepassed，"shesaid，"sinceyoulastsawMr。Gracedieu。Iamafraidyouhavefoundhimasadlychangedman？Youwon’tbeangrywithme，Ihope，foraskingmorequestions？IoweMr。Gracedieuadebtofgratitudewhichnodevotion，onmypart，caneverrepay。Youdon’tknowwhatafavorIshallconsiderit，ifyouwilltellmewhatyouthinkofhim。
　　Diditseemtoyouthathewasnotquitehimself？Idon’tmeaninhislooks，poordear——Imeaninhismind。"
　　Therewastruesorrowandsympathyinherface。IbelieveI
　　shouldhardlyhavethoughtherugly，ifwehadfirstmetatthatmoment。Thusfar，shehadonlyamusedme。IbeganreallytolikeMissJillgallnow。
　　"Imustnotconcealfromyou，"Ireplied，"thatthestateofMr。
　　Gracedieu’smindsurprisedanddistressedme。ButIoughtalsototellyouthatIsawhimperhapsathisworst。Thesubjectonwhichhewishedtospeakwithmewouldhaveagitatedanyman，inhisstateofhealth。Heconsultedmeabouthisdaughter’smarriage。"
　　MissJillgallsuddenlyturnedpale。
　　"Hisdaughter’smarriage？"sherepeated。"Oh，youfrightenme！"
　　"WhyshouldIfrightenyou？"
　　Sheseemedtofindsomedifficultyinexpressingherself。"I
　　hardlyknowhowtoputit，sir。Youwillexcuseme（won’tyou？）
　　ifIsaywhatIfeel。Youhaveinfluence——notthesortofinfluencethatfindsplacesforpeoplewhodon’tdeservethem，andgetsmentionedinthenewspapers——IonlymeaninfluenceoverMr。Gracedieu。That’swhatfrightensme。HowdoIknow——？Oh，dear，I’maskinganotherquestion！Allowme，foronce，tobeplainandpositive。I’mafraid，sir，youhaveencouragedtheMinistertoconsenttoHelena’smarriage。"
　　"Pardonme，"Ianswered，"youmeanEunice’smarriage。"
　　"No，sir！Helena。"
　　"No，madam！Eunice。"
　　"Whatdoeshemean？"saidMissJillgalltoherself。
　　Iheardher。"ThisiswhatImean，"Iasserted，inmymostpositivemanner。"TheonlysubjectonwhichtheMinisterhasconsultedmeisMissEunice’smarriage。"
　　Mytonelefthernoalternativebuttobelieveme。Shelookednotonlybewildered，butalarmed。"Oh，poorman，hashelosthimselfinsuchadreadfulwayasthat？"shesaidtoherself。"Idaren’tbelieveit！"Sheturnedtome。"Youhavebeentalkingwithhimforsometime。Pleasetrytoremember。WhileMr。GracedieuwasspeakingofEuneece，didhesaynothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister？"
　　Nottheslightesthintofanysuchthing，Iassuredher，hadreachedmyears。
　　"Then，"shecried，"Icantellyouwhathehasforgotten！Wekeptasmuchofthatmiserablestorytoourselvesaswecould，inmercytohim。Besides，hewasalwaysfondestofEuneece；shewouldliveinhismemorywhenhehadforgottentheother——thewretch，thetraitress，theplotter，thefiend！"MissJillgall’sgoodmannersslipped，asitwere，fromunderher；sheclinchedherfistsasafinalmeansofexpressinghersentiments。"ThewretchedEnglishlanguageisn’thalfstrongenoughforme，"shedeclaredwithalookoffury。
　　Itookaliberty。"MayIaskwhatMissHelenahasdone？"Isaid。
　　"_May_youask？Oh，Heavens！youmustask，youshallask。Mr。
　　Governor，ifyoureyesarenotopenedtoHelena’struecharacter，Icantellyouwhatshewilldo；shewilldeceiveyouintotakingherpart。Doyouthinkshewenttothestationoutofregardforthegreatman？Pooh！shewentwithaneyetoherowninterests；
　　andshemeanstomakethegreatmanuseful。ThankGod，Icanstopthat！"
　　Shecheckedherselfthere，andlookedsuspiciouslyatthedoorofMr。Gracedieu’sroom。
　　"Intheinterestofourconversation，"shewhispered，"wehavenotgivenathoughttotheplacewehavebeentalkingin。DoyouthinktheMinisterhasheardus？"
　　"Notifheisasleep——asIlefthim，"
　　MissJillgallshookherheadominously。"Thesafewayisthisway，"shesaid。"Comewithme。"
　　CHAPTERXXXV。
　　THEFUTURELOOKSGLOOMY。
　　MYever—helpfulguideledmetomyroom——welloutofMr。
　　Gracedieu’shearing，ifhehappenedtobeawake——attheotherendofthepassage。Havingopenedthedoor，shepausedonthethreshold。ThedecreesofthatmercilessEnglishdespot，Propriety，claimedherfortheirown。"Oh，dear！"shesaidtoherself，"oughtItogoin？"
　　Myinterestasaman（and，whatismore，anoldman）inthecomingdisclosurewastooserioustobetrifledwithinthisway。
　　Itookherarm，andledherintomyroomasifIwasatadinner—party，leadinghertothetable。Isitthegoodortheevilfortuneofmortalsthatthecomicsideoflife，andtheserioussideoflife，areperpetuallyincollisionwitheachother？Weburstoutlaughing，atamomentofgraveimportancetousboth。Perfectlyinappropriate，andperfectlynatural。Butwewereneitherofusphilosophers，andwewereashamedofourownmerrimentthemomentithadceased。
　　"WhenyouhearwhatIhavetotellyou，"MissJillgallbegan，"I
　　hopeyouwillthinkasIdo。WhathasslippedMr。Gracedieu’smemory，itmaybesafertosay——forheissometimesirritable，poordear——wherehewon’tknowanythingaboutit。"
　　WiththatshetoldthelamentablestoryofthedesertionofEunice。
　　InsilenceIlistened，fromfirsttolast。HowcouldItrustmyselftospeak，asImusthavespoken，inthepresenceofawoman？Thecruelinjuryinflictedonthepoorgirl，whohadinterestedandtouchedmeinthefirstinnocentyearofherlife——whohadgrowntowomanhoodtobethevictimoftwowretches，bothtrustedbyher，bothboundtoherbythesacreddebtoflove——sofiredmytemperthatIlongedtobewithinreachoftheman，withahorsewhipinmyhand。Seeinginmyface，asI
　　suppose，whatwaspassinginmymind，MissJillgallexpressedsympathyandadmirationinherownquaintway："Ah，Iliketoseeyousoangry！It’sgrandtoknowthatamanwhohasgovernedprisonershasgotsuchapityingheart。Letmetellyouonething，sir。Youwillbemoreangrythanever，whenyouseemysweetgirlto—morrow。Andmindthis——itisHelena’sdevouringvanity，Helena’swickedjealousyofhersister’sgoodfortune，thathasdonethemischief。Don’tbetoohardonPhilip？Idobelieve，ifthetruthwastold，heisashamedofhimself。"
　　IfeltinclinedtobeharderonPhilipthanever。"Whereishe？"
　　Iasked。
　　MissJillgallstarted。"Oh，Mr。Governor，don’tshowtheseveresideofyourself，aftertheprettycomplimentIhavejustpaidtoyou！Whatamasterfulvoice！andwhateyes，dearsir；whatterrifyingeyes！IfeelasifIwasoneofyourprisoners，andhadmisbehavedmyself。"
　　Irepeatedmyquestionwithimprovement，Ihope，inmylooksandtones："Don’tthinkmeobstinate，mydearlady。Ionlywanttoknowifheisinthistown。"
　　MissJillgallseemedtotakeacuriouspleasureindisappointingme；shehadnotforgottenmyunfortunateabruptnessoflookandmanner。"Youwon’tfindhimhere，"shesaid。
　　"PerhapshehasleftEngland？"
　　"Ifyoumustknow，sir，heisinLondon——withMr。Dunboyne。"
　　Thenamestartledme。
　　Inamomentmoreitrecalledtomymemoryaremarkableletter，addressedtomemanyyearsago，whichwillbefoundinmyintroductorynarrative。Thewriter——anIrishgentleman，namedDunboyneconfidedtomethathismarriagehadassociatedhimwiththemurderess，whohadthenbeenrecentlyexecuted，asbrother—in—lawtothatinfamouswoman。Thiscircumstancehehadnaturallykeptasecretfromeveryone，includinghisson，thenaboy。Ialonewasmadeanexceptiontothegeneralrule，becauseI
　　alonecouldtellhimwhathadbecomeofthepoorlittlegirl，whoinspiteofthedisgracefulendofhermotherwasstillhisniece。Ifthechildhadnotbeenprovidedfor，hefeltithisdutytotakechargeofhereducation，andtowatchoverherprospectsinthefuture。Suchhadbeenhisobjectinwritingtome；andsuchwasthesubstanceofhisletter。Ihadmerelyinformedhim，inreply，thathiskindintentionshadbeenanticipated，andthatthechild’sprosperousfuturewasassured。
　　MissJillgall’skeenobservationnoticedtheimpressionthathadbeenproduceduponme。"Mr。Dunboyne’snameseemstosurpriseyou。"shesaid。
　　"ThisisthefirsttimeIhaveheardyoumentionit，"Ianswered。
　　Shelookedasifshecouldhardlybelieveme。"Surelyyoumusthaveheardthename，"shesaid，"whenItoldyouaboutpoorEuneece？"
　　"No。"
　　"Well，then，Mr。Gracedieumusthavementionedit？"
　　"No。"
　　Thissecondreplyinthenegativeirritatedher。
　　"Atanyrate，"shesaid，sharply，"youappearedtoknowMr。
　　Dunboyne’sname，justnow。"
　　"Certainly！"
　　"Andyet，"shepersisted，"thenameseemedtocomeuponyouasasurprise。Idon’tunderstandit。IfIhavementionedPhilip’snameonce，Ihavementioneditadozentimes。"
　　Wewerecompletelyatcross—purposes。Shehadtakensomethingforgrantedwhichwasanunfathomablemysterytome。
　　"Well，"Iobjected，"ifyoudidmentionhisnameadozentimes——excusemeforaskingthequestion———whatthen？"
　　"Goodheavens！"criedMissJillgall，"doyoumeantosayyouneverguessedthatPhilipwasMr。Dunboyne’sson？"
　　Iwaspetrified。
　　Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！HowcouldIhaveguessedit？
　　Atalatertimeonly，thegoodlittlecreaturewhohadsoinnocentlydeceivedme，rememberedthatthemischiefmighthavebeenwroughtbytheforceofhabit。WhilehehadstillaclaimontheirregardthefamilyhadalwaysspokenofEunice’sunworthyloverbyhisChristianname；andwhathadbeenfamiliarintheirmouthsfelttheinfluenceofcustom，beforetimeenoughhadelapsedtomakethemthinkasreadilyoftheenemyastheyhadhithertothoughtofthefriend。
　　ButIwasignorantofthis：andthedisclosurebywhichIfoundmyselfsuddenlyconfrontedwasmorethanIcouldsupport。Forthemoment，speechwasbeyondme。
　　Hisson！Dunboyne’sson！
　　Whatapositionthatyoungmanhadoccupied，unsuspectedbyhisfather，unknowntohimself！keptinignoranceofthefamilydisgrace，hehadbeenaguestinthehouseofthemanwhohadconsoledhisinfamousauntontheeveofherexecution——whohadsavedhisunhappycousinfrompoverty，fromsorrow，fromshame。
　　Andbutonehumanbeingknewthis。Andthathumanbeingwasmyself！
　　Observingmyagitation，MissJillgallplacedherownconstructiononit。
　　"DoyouknowanythingbadofPhilip？"sheaskedeagerly。"Ifit’ssomethingthatwillpreventHelenafrommarryinghim，tellmewhatitis，Ibegandpray。"
　　Iknewnomoreof"Philip"（whomshestillcalledbyhisChristianname！）thanshehadtoldmeherself：therewasnohelpforitbuttodisappointher。AtthesametimeIwasunabletoconcealthatIwasillatease，andthatitmightbewelltoleavemebymyself。Afteralookroundthebedchambertoseethatnothingwaswantingtomycomfort，shemadeherquaintcurtsey，andleftmewithherowninimitableformoffarewell。
　　"Oh，indeed，Ihavebeenheretoolong！AndI’mafraidIhavebeenguilty，onceortwice，ofvulgarfamiliarity。Youwillexcuseme，Ihope。Thishasbeenanexcitinginterview——IthinkI
　　amgoingtocry。"
　　Sheranoutoftheroom；andcarriedawaywithhersomeofmykindliestfeelings，shortasthetimeofouracquaintancehadbeen。Whatawifeandwhatamotherwaslostthere——andallforwantofaprettyface！
　　Leftalone，mythoughtsinevitablyrevertedtoDunboynetheelder，andtoallthathadhappenedinMr。Gracedieu’sfamilysincetheIrishgentlemanhadwrittentomeinbygoneyears。
　　TheterriblechoiceofresponsibilitieswhichhadpreyedontheMinister’smindhadbeenforeseenbyMr。Dunboyne，whenhefirstthoughtofadoptinghisinfantniece，andhadwarnedhimtodreadwhatmighthappeninthefuture，ifhebroughtherupasamemberofthefamilywithhisownboy，andifthetwoyoungpeoplebecameatalaterperiodattachedtoeachother。Howhadthewiseforesight，whichofferedsuchacontrasttothepoorMinister’simpulsiveactofmercy，metwithitsreward？FateorProvidence（callitwhichwemay）hadbroughtDunboyne’ssonandthedaughterofthemurderesstogether；hadinspiredthosetwostrangerswithlove；andhademboldenedthemtoplighttheirtrothbyamarriageengagement。Wastheman’sbetrayalofthetrustplacedinhimbythefaithfulgirltobeesteemedafortunatecircumstancebythetwopersonswhoknewthetruestoryofherparentage，theMinisterandmyself？Couldwerejoiceinanactofinfidelitywhichhadembitteredanddarkenedthegentleharmlesslifeofthevictim？Orcouldwe，ontheotherhand，encouragetheruthlessdeceit，thehatefultreachery，whichhadputthewickedHelena——withnoexposuretodreadif_she_
　　married——intoherwrongedsister’splace？Impossible！Intheonecaseasintheother，impossible！
　　Equallyhopelessdidtheprospectappear，whenItriedtodeterminewhatmyownindividualcourseofactionoughttobe。
　　Inmycalmermoments，theideahadoccurredtomymindofgoingtoDunboynetheyounger，and，ifhehadanysenseofshameleft，exertingmyinfluencetoleadhimbacktohisbetrothedwife。HowcouldInowdothis，consistentlywithmydutytotheyoungman’sfather；knowingwhatIknew，andnotforgettingthatIhadmyselfadvisedMr。Gracedieutokeepthetruthconcealed，whenIwasequallyignorantofPhilipDunboyne’sparentageandofHelenaGracedieu’streachery？
　　EvenifeventssoordereditthatthemarriageofEunicemightyettakeplace——withoutanyinterferenceexertedtoproducethatresult，onewayortheother，onmypart——itwouldbejustasimpossibleformetospeakoutnow，asithadbeeninthelong—pastyearswhenIhadsocautiouslyansweredMr。Dunboyne’sletter。Butwhatwouldhethinkofmeifaccidentled，soonerorlater，tothedisclosurewhichIhadfeltboundtoconceal？ThemoreItriedtoforecastthechancesofthefuture，thedarkerandthedarkerwastheviewthatfacedme。
　　Tomysinkingheartandweariedmind，goodDameNaturepresentedamoreacceptableprospect，whenIhappenedtolookoutofthewindowofmyroom。ThereIsawthetreesandflowerbedsofagarden，temptingmeirresistiblyunderthecloudlesssunshineofafineday。Iwasonmywayout，torecoverheartandhope，whenaknockatthedoorstoppedme。
　　HadMissJillgallreturned？WhenIsaid"Comein，"Mr。Gracedieuopenedthedoor，andenteredtheroom。
　　Hewassoweakthathestaggeredasheapproachedme。Leadinghimtoachair，Inoticedawildlookinhiseyes，andaflushonhishaggardcheeks。Somethinghadhappened。
　　"Whenyouwerewithmeinmyroom，"hebegan，"didInottellyouthatIhadforgottensomething？"
　　"Certainlyyoudid。"
　　"Well，Ihavefoundthelostremembrance。Mymisfortune——Ioughttocallitthepunishmentformysins，isrecalledtomenow。Theworstcursethatcanfallonafatheristhecursethathascometome。Ihaveawickeddaughter。Myownchild，sir！myownchild！"
　　Hadhebeenawake，whileMissJillgallandIhadbeentalkingoutsidehisdoor？HadheheardheraskmeifMr。GracedieuhadsaidnothingofHelena’sinfamousconducttohersister，whilehewasspeakingofEunice？Thewaytothelostremembrancehadperhapsbeenfoundthere。Inanycase，afterthatbitterallusiontohis"wickeddaughter"someresultmustfollow。HelenaGracedieuandadayofreckoningmightbenearertoeachotheralreadythanIhadventuredtohope。
　　Iwaitedanxiouslyforwhathemightsaytomenext。
　　CHAPTERXXXVI。
　　THEWANDERINGMIND。
　　FORthemoment，theMinisterdisappointedme。
　　Withoutspeaking，withoutevenlookingup，hetookouthispocketbook，andbegantowriteinit。Constantlyinterruptedeitherbyatremblinginthehandthatheldthepencil，orbyadifficulty（asIimagined）inexpressingthoughtsimperfectlyrealized——hispatiencegaveway；hedashedthebookonthefloor。
　　"Mymindisgone！"heburstout。"Oh，FatherinHeaven，letdeathdelivermefromabodywithoutamind！"
　　Whocouldhearhim，andbeguiltyofthecrueltyofpreachingself—control？Ipickedupthepocketbook，andofferedtohelphim。
　　"Doyouthinkyoucan？"heasked。
　　"Icanatleasttry。"
　　"Goodfellow！WhatshouldIdowithoutyou？Seenow；hereismydifficulty。Ihavegotsomanythingstosay，Iwanttoseparatethem——orelsetheywillallrunintoeachother。Lookatthebook，"mypoorfriendsaidmournfully；"theyhaverunintoeachotherinspiteofme。"
　　Theentriesprovedtobenearlyincomprehensible。HereandthereIdiscoveredsomescatteredwords，whichshowedthemselvesmoreorlessdistinctlyinthemidstofthesurroundingconfusion。ThefirstwordthatIcouldmakeoutwas"Education。"Helpedbythathint，Itrustedtoguess—worktoguidemeinspeakingtohim。Itwasnecessarytobepositive，orhewouldhavelostallfaithinme。
　　"Well？"hesaidimpatiently。
　　"Well，"Ianswered，"youhavesomethingtosaytomeabouttheeducationwhichyouhavegiventoyourdaughters。"
　　"Don’tputthemtogether！"hecried。"Dear，patient，sweetEunicemustnotbeconfoundedwiththatshe—devil——"
　　"Hush，hush，Mr。Gracedieu！BadlyasMissHelenahasbehaved，sheisyourownchild。"
　　"Irepudiateher，sir！Thinkforamomentofwhatshehasdone——andthenthinkofthereligiouseducationthatIhavegivenher。Heartless！Deceitful！Themostignorantcreatureinthelowestdensofthistowncouldhavedonenothingmorebaselycruel。Andthis，afteryearsonyearsofpatientChristianinstructiononmypart！Whatisreligion？Whatiseducation？I
　　readahorriblebookonce（Iforgetwhowastheauthor）；itcalledreligionsuperstition，andeducationemptyform。Idon’tknow；uponmywordIdon’tknowthatthebookmaynot——Oh，mytongue！Whydon’tIkeepaguardovermytongue？Areyouafather，too？Don’tinterruptme。Putyourselfinmyplace，andthinkofit。Heartless，deceitful，and_my_daughter。Givemethepocketbook；Iwanttoseewhichmemorandumcomesfirst。"
　　Hehadnowwroughthimselfintoastateofexcitement，whichrelievedhisspiritsofthedepressionthathadweighedonthemuptothistime。Hisharmlessvanity，always，asIsuspect，alatentqualityinhiskindlynature，hadalreadyrestoredhisconfidence。Withaself—sufficientsmileheconsultedhisownunintelligibleentries，andmadehisownwilddiscoveries。
　　"Ah，yes；’M’standsforMinister；Icomefirst。AmItoblame？
　　AmI——Godforgivememymanysins——amIheartless？AmI
　　deceitful？"
　　"Mygoodfriend，notevenyourenemiescouldsaythat！"
　　"Thankyou。Whocomesnext？"Heconsultedthebookagain。"Hermother，hersaintedmother，comesnext。Peoplesaysheislikehermother。Wasmywifeheartless？Wastheangelofmylifedeceitful？"
　　（"That，"Ithoughttomyself，"isexactlywhatyourwifewas——andexactlywhatreappearsinyourwife’schild。"）
　　"Wheredoesherwickednesscomefrom？"hewenton。"Notfromhermother；notfromme；notfromaneglectededucation。"Hesuddenlysteppeduptomeandlaidhishandsonmyshoulders；hisvoicedroppedtohoarse，moaning，awestrucktones。"ShallItellyouwhatitis？Apossessionofthedevil。"
　　Itwassoevidentlydesirabletopreventanycontinuationofsuchatrainofthoughtasthis，thatIcouldfeelnohesitationininterruptinghim。
　　"WillyouhearwhatIhavetosay？"Iaskedbluntly。
　　Hishumorchangedagain；hemademealowbow，andwentbacktohischair。"Iwillhearyouwithpleasure，"heansweredpolitely。
　　"YouarethemosteloquentmanIknow，withoneexception——myself。Ofcourse——myself。"
　　"Itismerewasteoftime，"Icontinued，"toregrettheexcellenteducationwhichyourdaughterhasmisused。"Makingthatreply，I
　　wastemptedtoaddanotherwordoftruth。Alleducationisatthemercyoftwopowerfulcounter—influences：theinfluenceoftemperament，andtheinfluenceofcircumstances。Butthiswasphilosophy。HowcouldIexpecthimtosubmittophilosophy？"WhatweknowofMissHelena，"Iwenton，"mustbeenoughforus。Shehasplotted，andshemeanstosucceed。Stopher。"
　　"Justmyidea！"hedeclaredfirmly。"Irefusemyconsenttothatabominablemarriage。"
　　Inthepopularphrase，Istruckwhiletheironwashot。"Youmustdomorethanthat，sir，"Itoldhim。
　　Hisvanitysuddenlytookthealarm——Iwasleadinghimrathertooundisguisedly。Hehandedhisbookbacktome。"Youwillfind，"hesaidloftily，"thatIhaveputitalldownthere。"
　　Ipretendedtofindit，andreadanimaginaryentrytothiseffect："Afterwhatshehasalreadydone，Helenaiscapableofmarryingindefianceofmywishesandcommands。Thismustbeconsideredandprovidedagainst。"Sofar，Ihadsucceededinflatteringhim。Butwhen（thinkingofhispaternalauthority）I
　　alludednexttohisdaughter’sage，hiseyesrestedonmewithalookofdownrightterror。
　　"Nomoreofthat！"hesaid。"Iwon’ttalkofthegirls’agesevenwithyou。"
　　Whatdidhemean？Itwasuselesstoask。Iwentonwiththematterinhand——stilldeliberatelyspeakingtohim，asImighthavespokentoamanwithanintellectasclearasmyown。Inmyexperience，thispracticegenerallystimulatesaweakintelligencetodoitsbest。Weallknowhowchildrenreceivetalkthatislowered，orbooksthatarelowered，totheirpresumedlevel。
　　"Ishalltakeitforgranted，"Icontinued，"thatMissHelenaisstillunderyourlawfulauthority。Shecanonlyarriveatherendsbymeansofarunawaymarriage。Inthatcase，muchdependsontheman。Youtoldmeyoucouldn’thelplikinghim。Thiswas，ofcourse，beforeyouknewoftheinfamousmannerinwhichhehasbehaved。Youmusthavechangedyouropinionnow。"
　　Heseemedtobeatalosshowtoreply。"Iamafraid，"hesaid，"theyoungmanwasdrawnintoitbyHelena。"
　　HerewasMissJillgall’sapologyforPhilipDunboynerepeatedinotherwords。DespisinganddetestingthefellowasIdid，Iwasforcedtoadmittomyselfthathemustberecommendedbypersonalattractionswhichitwouldbenecessarytoreckonwith。ItriedtogetsomemoreinformationfromMr。Gracedieu。
　　"Theexcuseyouhavejustmadeforhim，"Iresumed，"impliesthatheisaweakman；easilypersuaded，easilyled。"
　　TheMinisteransweredbynoddinghishead。
　　"Suchweaknessasthat，"Ipersisted，"isaviceinitself。Ithasledalready，sir，tothesaddestresults。"
　　Headmittedthisbyanothernod。
　　"Idon’twishtoshockyou，Mr。Gracedieu；butImustrecommendemployingthemeansthatpresentthemselves。Youmustpracticeonthisman’sweakness，forthesakeofthegoodthatmaycomeofit。IhearheisinLondonwithhisfather。Trythestronginfluence，andwritetohisfather。Thereisanotherreasonbesidesfordoingthis。ItisquitepossiblethatthetruthhasbeenconcealedfromMr。Dunboynetheelder。Takecarethatheisinformedofwhathasreallyhappened。Areyoulookingforpen，ink，andpaper？LetmeofferyouthewritingmaterialswhichI
　　useintraveling。"
　　Iplacedthembeforehim。Hetookupthepen；hearrangedthepaper；hewaseagertobegin。
　　Afterwritingafewwords，hestopped——reflected——triedagain——stoppedagain——toreupthelittlethathehaddone——andbegananewletter，endinginthesamemiserableresult。Itwasimpossibletowitnesshishelplessness，toseehowpitiablypatienthewasoverhisownincapacity，andtoletthemelancholyspectaclegoon。Iproposedtowritetheletter；authenticatingit，ofcourse，byhissignature。Whenheallowedmetotakethepen，heturnedawayhisface，ashamedtoletmeseewhathesuffered。Wasthisthesameman，whosegreatnaturehadsonoblyasserteditselfinthecondemnedcell？Poormortality！
　　Theletterwaseasilywritten。
　　IhadonlytoinformMr。Dunboyneofhisson’sconduct；
　　repeating，intheplainestlanguagethatIcoulduse，whatMissJillgallhadrelatedtome。Arrivedattheconclusion，I
　　contrivedtomakeMr。Gracedieuexpresshimselfinthesestrongterms："Iprotestagainstthemarriageinjusticetoyou，sir，aswellastomyself。Wecanneitherofuscontenttobeaccomplicesinanactofdomestictreasonofthebasestkind。"
　　Insilence，theMinisterreadtheletter，andattachedhissignaturetoit。Insilence，heroseandtookmyarm。Iaskedifhewishedtogotohisroom。Heonlyrepliedbyasign。Iofferedtositwithhim，andtrytocheerhim。Gratefully，hepressedmyhand：gently，heputmebackfromthedoor。Crushedbythemiserablediscoveryofthedecayofhisownfaculties！WhatcouldIdo？whatcouldIsay？Nothing！
　　MissJillgallwasinthedrawing—room。Withthenecessaryexplanations，Ishowedhertheletter。Shereaditwithbreathlessinterest。"ItterrifiesonetothinkhowmuchdependsonoldMr。Dunboyne，"shesaid。"Youknowhim。Whatsortofmanishe？"