Icouldonlyassureher（afterwhatIrememberedofhislettertome）thathewasamanwhomwecoulddependupon。
　　MissJillgallpossessedtreasuresofinformationtowhichIcouldlaynoclaim。Mr。Dunboyne，shetoldme，wasascholar，andawriter，andarichman。Hisviewsonmarriagewereliberalintheextreme。Lethissonfindgoodprinciples，goodtemper，andgoodlooks，inawife，andhewouldpromisetofindthemoney。
　　"Igettheseparticulars，"saidMissJillgall，"fromdearEuneece。Theyaresurelyencouraging？ThatHelenamaycarryoutMr。Dunboyne’sviewsinherpersonalappearanceis，Iregrettosay，whatIcan’tdeny。Butastotheotherqualifications，howhopefulistheprospect！Goodprinciples，andgoodtemper？Ha！
　　ha！HelenahastheprinciplesofJezebel，andthetemperofLadyMacbeth。"
　　Afterdashingoffthisstrikingsketchofcharacter，thefairartistaskedtolookatmyletteragain，andobservedthattheaddresswaswanting。"Icansetthisrightforyou，"sheresumed，"thanks，asbefore，tomysweetEuneece。And（don’tbeinahurry）Icanmakemyselfusefulinanotherway。Oh，howIdoenjoymakingmyselfuseful！Ifyoutrustyourlettertothebasketinthehall，Helena’slovelyeyes——capableofthemeanestconceivableactions——aresuretotakeapeepattheaddress。Inthatcase，doyouthinkyourletterwouldgettoLondon？Iamafraidyoudetectafaintinfusionofspitefulnessinthatquestion。Oh，forshame！I’llpostthelettermyself。"
　　CHAPTERXXXVII。
　　THESHAMELESSSISTER。
　　FORsomereason，whichmyunassistedpenetrationwasunabletodiscover，MissHelenaGracedieukeptoutofmyway。
　　Atdinner，onthedayofmyarrival，andatbreakfastonthenextmorning，shewaspresentofcourse；readytomakeherselfagreeableinamodestway，andprovidedwiththenecessarysupplyofcheerfulsmall—talk。Butthemealhavingcometoanend，shehadherdomesticexcuseready，andunostentatiouslydisappearedlikeawell—bredyounglady。Inevermetheronthestairs，neverfoundmyselfintrudingonherinthedrawing—room，nevercaughthergettingoutofmywayinthegarden。AsmuchatalossforanexplanationofthesemysteriesasIwas，MissJillgall’sinterestinmywelfareledhertocautionmeinavagueandgeneralway。
　　"Takemywordforit，dearMr。Governor，shehassomedesignonyou。Willyouallowaninsignificantoldmaidtoofferasuggestion？Oh，thankyou；Iwillventuretoadvise。Pleaselookbackatyourexperienceoftheveryworstfemaleprisoneryoueverhadtodealwith——andbeguidedaccordinglyifHelenacatchesyouataprivateinterview。"
　　Inlessthanhalfanhourafterward，Helenacaughtme。Iwaswritinginmyroom，whenthemaidservantcameinwithamessage：
　　"MissHelena’scompliments，sir，andwouldyoupleasespareherhalfanhour，downstairs？"
　　MyfirstexcusewasofcoursethatIwasengaged。Thiswasdisposedofbyasecondmessage，providedbeforehand，nodoubt，forananticipatedrefusal："MissHelenawishedmetosay，sir，thathertimeisyourtime。"Iwasstillobstinate；Ipleadednextthatmydaywasfilledup。Athirdmessagehadevidentlybeenprepared，evenforthisemergency："MissHelenawillregret，sir，havingthepleasuredeferred，butshewillleaveyoutomakeyourownappointmentforto—morrow。"PersistencysoinveterateasthisledtoaresultwhichMr。Gracedieu’scautiousdaughterhadnotperhapscontemplated：itputmeonmyguard。Thereseemedtobeachance，tosaytheleastofit，thatImightserveEunice’sinterestsifIdiscoveredwhattheenemyhadtosay。Ilockedupmywriting——declaredmyselfincapableofputtingMissHelenatoneedlessinconvenience——andfollowedthemaidtothelowerfloorofthehouse。
　　TheroomtowhichIwasconductedprovedtobeempty。Ilookedroundme。
　　IfIhadbeentoldthatamanlivedtherewhowasabsolutelyindifferenttoappearances，Ishouldhaveconcludedthathisviewswerefaithfullyrepresentedbyhisplaceofabode。Thechairsandtablesremindedmeofarailwaywaiting—room。Theshabbylittlebookcasewasthemuterecordofalifeindifferenttoliterature。Thecarpetwasofthatdreadfuldrabcolor，stillthecherishedfavoriteoftheaverageEnglishmind，inspiteofeveryprotestthatcanbeenteredagainstit，onbehalfofArt。
　　Theceiling，recentlywhitewashed；mademyeyesachewhentheylookedatit。Oneithersideofthewindow，flaccidgreencurtainshunghelplesslywithnothingtoloopthemup。Thewriting—deskandthepaper—case，viewedasspecimensofwoodwork，recalledtheready—madebedroomsonshowincheapshops。Thebooks，mostlyinslate—coloredbindings，weredevotedtotheliteraturewhichiscalledreligious；Ionlydiscoveredthreeworldlypublicationsamongthem——DomesticCookery，EtiquetteforLadies，andHintsontheBreedingofPoultry。Anuglylittleclock，tickingnoisilyinablackcase，andtwocandlesticksofbasemetalplacedoneithersideofit，completedtheornamentsonthechimney—piece。Neitherpicturesnorprintshidthebarrennessofthewalls。Isawnoneedleworkandnoflowers。Theoneobjectintheplacewhichshowedanypretensionstobeautywasalooking—glassinanelegantgiltframe——sacredtovanity，andworthyoftheofficethatitfilled。SuchwasHelenaGracedieu’ssitting—room。Ireallycouldnothelpthinking：Howlikeher！
　　Shecameinwithafaceperfectlyadaptedtothecircumstances——pleasedandsmiling；amiablydeferential，inconsiderationoftheclaimsofherfather’sguest——and，tomysurprise，insomedegreesuggestiveofoneofthoseincorrigiblefemaleprisoners，towhomMissJillgallhadreferredmewhensheofferedawordofadvice。
　　"Howkindofyoutocomesosoon！Excusemyreceivingyouinmyhousekeeping—room；weshallnotbeinterruptedhere。Veryplainlyfurnished，isitnot？Idislikeostentationanddisplay。
　　Ornamentsareoutofplaceinaroomdevotedtodomesticnecessities。Ihatedomesticnecessities。Younoticethelooking—glass？It’sapresent。Ishouldneverhaveputsuchathingup。Perhapsmyvanityexcusesit。"
　　Shepointedthelastremarkbyalookatherselfintheglass；
　　usingit，whileshedespisedit。Yes：therewasahandsomeface，payingheritsreflectedcompliment——butnotsowellmatchedasitmighthavebeenbyahandsomefigure。Herfeetweretoolarge；
　　hershouldersweretoohigh；thegracefulundulationsofawell—madegirlwereabsentwhenshewalked；andherbosomwas，tomymind，undulydevelopedforhertimeoflife。
　　Shesatdownbymewithherbacktothelight。Happeningtobeoppositetothewindow，Iofferedhertheadvantageofaclearviewofmyface。Shewaitedforme，andIwaitedforher——andtherewasanawkwardpausebeforewespoke。Shesettheexample。
　　"Isn’titcurious？"sheremarked。"Whentwopeoplehavesomethingparticulartosaytoeachother，andnothingtohinderthem，theyneverseemtoknowhowtosayit。Youaretheoldest，sir。Whydon’tyoubegin？"
　　"BecauseIhavenothingparticulartosay。"
　　"Inplainwords，youmeanthatImustbegin？"
　　"Ifyouplease。"
　　"Verywell。IwanttoknowwhetherIhavegivenyou（andMissJillgall，ofcourse）asmuchtimeasyouwant，andasmanyopportunitiesasyoucoulddesire？"
　　"Praygoon，MissHelena。"
　　"HaveInotsaidenoughalready？"
　　"Notenough，Iregrettosay，toconveyyourmeaningtome。"
　　Shedrewherchairalittlefurtherawayfromme。"Iamsadlydisappointed，"shesaid。"Ihadsuchahighopinionofyourperfectcandor。Ithoughttomyself：Thereissuchastrikingexpressionoffranknessinhisface。Anotherillusiongone！I
　　hopeyouwon’tthinkIamoffended，ifIsayaboldword。Iamonlyayounggirl，tobesure；butIamnotquitesuchafoolasyoutakemefor。DoyoureallythinkIdon’tknowthatMissJillgallhasbeentellingyoueverythingthatisbadaboutme；
　　puttingeverymistakethatIhavemade，everyfaultthatIhavecommitted，intheworstpossiblepointofview？Andyouhavelistenedtoher——quitenaturally！Andyouareprejudiced，stronglyprejudiced，againstme——whatelsecouldyoube，underthecircumstances？Idon’tcomplain；Ihavepurposelykeptoutofyourway，andoutofMissJillgall’sway；inshort，Ihaveaffordedyoueveryfacility，astheprospectusessay。Ionlywanttoknowifmyturnhascomeatlast。Oncemore，haveIgivenyoutimeenough，andopportunitiesenough？"
　　"Agreatdealmorethanenough。"
　　"Doyoumeanthatyouhavemadeupyourmindaboutmewithoutstoppingtothink？"
　　"ThatisexactlywhatImean。Anactoftreachery，MissHelena，_is_anactoftreachery；nohonestpersonneedhesitatetocondemnit。Iamsorryyousentforme。"
　　Igotuptogo。Withanironicalgestureofremonstrance，shesignedtometositdownagain。
　　"MustIremindyou，dearsir，ofourfamousnativevirtue？Fairplayissurelyduetoayoungpersonwhohasnobodytotakeherpart。Youtalkedoftreacheryjusthow。Idenythetreachery。
　　Pleasegivemeahearing。"
　　Ireturnedtomychair。
　　"Orwouldyoupreferwaiting，"shewentout，"tillmysistercomesherelaterintheday，andcontinueswhatMissJillgallhasbegun，withthegreatadvantageofbeingyoungandnice—looking？"
　　Whenthefemalemindgetsintothisstate，nowisemananswersthefemalequestions。
　　"AmItotakesilenceasmeaningGoon？"MissHelenainquired。
　　Ibeggedhertointerpretmysilenceinthesensemostagreeabletoherself。
　　Thisnaturallyencouragedher。Shemadeaproposal：
　　"Doyoumindchangingplaces，sir？"
　　"Justasyoulike，MissHelena。"
　　Wechangedchairs；thelightnowfellfullonherface。HadshedeliberatelychallengedmetolookintohersecretmindifI
　　could？Anythinglikethestarkinsensibilityofthatyounggirltoeveryrefinementoffeeling，toeverybecomingdoubtofherself，toeverycustomarytimidityofherageandsexinthepresenceofamanwhohadnotdisguisedhisunfavorableopinionofher，Inevermetwithinallmyexperienceoftheworldandofwomen。
　　"Iwishtobequitemistressofmyself，"sheexplained；"yourface，forsomereasonwhichIreallydon’tknow，irritatesme。
　　Thefactis，Ihavegreatprideinkeepingmytemper。Pleasemakeallowances。NowaboutMissJillgall。IsupposeshetoldyouhowmysisterfirstmetwithPhilipDunboyne？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Shealsomentioned，perhaps，thathewasahighly—cultivatedman？"
　　"Shedid。"
　　"Nowweshallgeton。WhenPhilipcametoourtownhere，andsawmeforthefirsttime——Doyouobjecttomyspeakingfamiliarlyofhim，byhisChristianname？"
　　"Inthecaseofanyoneelseinyourposition，MissHelena，I
　　shouldventuretocallitbadtaste。"
　　Iwasprovokedintosayingthat。Itfailedentirelyasawell—meanteffortinthewayofimpliedreproof。MissHelenasmiled。
　　"Yougrantmealibertywhichyouwouldnotconcedetoanothergirl。"Thatwashowsheviewedit。"Wearegettingonbetteralready。ToreturntowhatIwassaying。WhenPhilipfirstsawme——Ihaveitfromhimself，mind——hefeltthatIshouldhavebeenhischoice，ifhehadmetwithmebeforehemetwithmysister。
　　Doyoublamehim？"
　　"Ifyouwilltakemyadvice，"Isaid，"youwillnotinquiretoocloselyintomyopinionofMr。PhilipDunboyne。"
　　"Perhapsyoudon’twishmetosayanymore？"shesuggested。
　　"Onthecontrary，praygoon，ifyoulike。"
　　Afterthatconcession，shewasamiabilityitself。"Oh，yes，"sheassuredme，"that’seasilydone。"Andshewentonaccordingly：
　　"Philiphavinginformedmeofthestateofhisaffections，I
　　naturallyfollowedhisexample。Infact，weexchangedconfessions。Ourmarriageengagementfollowedasamatterofcourse。Doyoublameme？"
　　"Iwillwaittillyouhavedone。"
　　"Ihavenomoretosay。"
　　Shemadethatamazingreplywithsuchperfectcomposure，thatI
　　begantofeartheremusthavebeensomemisunderstandingbetweenus。"Isthatreallyallyouhavetosayforyourself？"I
　　persisted。
　　Herpatiencewithmewasmostexemplary。Sheloweredherselftomylevel。Nottrustingtowordsonlyonthisoccasion，she（sotosay）beathermeaningintomyheadbygesticulatingonherfingers，asifshewaseducatingachild。
　　"PhilipandI，"shebegan，"arethevictimsofanaccident，whichkeptusapartwhenweoughttohavemettogether——wearenotresponsibleforanaccident。"Sheimpressedthisonmebytouchingherforefinger。"PhilipandIfellinlovewitheachotheratfirstsight——wearenotresponsibleforthefeelingsimplantedinournaturesbyanall—wiseProvidence。"Sheassistedmeinunderstandingthisbytouchinghermiddlefinger。"PhilipandIoweadutytoeachother，andacceptaresponsibilityunderthosecircumstances——theresponsibilityofgettingmarried。"A
　　touchonherthirdfinger，andanindulgentbow，announcedthatthelessonwasended。"Iamnotaclevermanlikeyou，"shemodestlyacknowledged，"butIaskyoutohelpus，whenyounextseemyfather，withsomeconfidence。Youknowexactlywhattosaytohim，bythistime。Nothinghasbeenforgotten。"
　　"Pardonme，"Isaid，"apersonhasbeenforgotten。"
　　"Indeed？Whatperson？"
　　"Yoursister。"
　　Alittleperplexedatfirst，MissHelenareflected，andrecoveredherself。
　　"Ah，yes，"shesaid；"IwasafraidImightbeobligedtotroubleyouforanexplanation——Iseeitnow。Youareshocked（veryproperly）whenfeelingsofenmityexistbetweennearrelations；
　　andyouwishtobeassuredthatIbearnomalicetowardEunice。
　　Sheisviolent，sheissulky，sheisstupid，sheisselfish；andshecruellyrefusestoliveinthesamehousewithme。Makeyourmindeasy，sir，Iforgivemysister。"
　　Letmenotattempttodisguiseit——MissHelenaGracedieuconfoundedme。
　　Ordinaryaudacityisoneofthoseformsofinsolencewhichmatureexperiencedismisseswithcontempt。Thisgirl’saudacitystruckdownallresistance，foroneshockingreason：itwasunquestionablysincere。Strongconvictionofherownvirtuestaredatmeinherproudanddaringeyes。Atthattime，IwasnotawareofwhatIhavelearnedsince。Thehorridhardeningofhermoralsensehadbeenaccomplishedbyherself。Inherdiary，therehasbeenfoundtheconfessionofasecretcourseofreading——withsupplementaryreflectionsflowingfromit，whichneedonlytobedescribedasworthyoftheirsource。
　　Apersoncapableofrepentanceandreformwould，inherplace，haveseenthatshehaddisgustedme。NotasuspicionofthisoccurredtoMissHelena。"Iseeyouareembarrassed，"sheremarked，"andIamatnolosstoaccountforit。YouaretoopolitetoacknowledgethatIhavenotmadeafriendofyouyet。
　　Oh，Imeantodoit！"
　　"No，"Isaid，"Ithinknot。"
　　"Weshallsee，"shereplied。"Soonerorlater，youwillfindyourselfsayingakindwordtomyfatherforPhilipandme。"Sherose，andtookaturnintheroom——andstopped，eyingmeattentively。"AreyouthinkingofEunice？"sheasked。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Shehasyoursympathy，Isuppose？"
　　"Myheart—feltsympathy。"
　　"Ineedn’taskhowIstandinyourestimation，afterthat。Prayexpressyourselffreely。Yourlooksconfessit——youviewmewithafeelingofaversion。"
　　"Iviewyouwithafeelingofhorror。"
　　Theexasperatinginfluencesofherlanguage，herlooks，andhertoneswould，asIventuretothink，havegottotheendofanotherman’sself—controlbeforethis。Anyway，shehadatlastirritatedmeintospeakingasstronglyasIfelt。WhatIsaidhadbeensoplainly（perhapssorudely）expressed，thatmisinterpretationofitseemedtobeimpossible。Shemistookme，nevertheless。Themostmercilessdisclosureofthedrearysideofhumandestinyissurelytobefoundinthefailureofwords，spokenorwritten，sotoanswertheirpurposethatwecantrustthem，inourattemptstocommunicatewitheachother。Evenwhenheseemstobeconnected，bythenearestanddearestrelations，withhisfellow—mortals，whatasolitarycreature，triedbythetestofsympathy，thehumanbeingreallyisintheteemingworldthatheinhabits！Affordingonemoreexampleoftheimpotenceofhumanlanguagetospeakforitself，mymisinterpretedwordshadfoundtheirwaytotheonesensitiveplaceinHelenaGracedieu’simpenetrablenature。Shebetrayeditinthequiveringandflushingofherhardface，andintheappealtothelooking—glasswhichescapedhereyesthenextmoment。Myhastyreplyhadrousedtheideaofacovertinsultaddressedtoherhandsomeface。Inotherwords，Ihadwoundedhervanity。Drivenbyresentment，outcamethesecretdistrustofmewhichhadbeenlurkinginthatcoldheart，fromthemomentwhenwefirstmet。
　　"Iinspireyouwithhorror，andEuniceinspiresyouwithcompassion，"shesaid。"That，Mr。Governor，isnotnatural。"
　　"MayIaskwhy？"
　　"Youknowwhy。"
　　"No。"
　　"Youwillhaveit？"
　　"Iwantanexplanation，MissHelena，ifthatiswhatyoumean。"
　　"Takeyourexplanation，then！Youarenotthestrangeryouaresaidtobetomysisterandtome。YourinterestinEuniceisapersonalinterestofsomekind。Idon’tpretendtoguesswhatitis。Asformyself，itisplainthatsomebodyelsehasbeensettingyouagainstme，beforeMissJillgallgotpossessionofyourprivateear。"
　　InalludingtoEunice，shehadblundered，strangelyenough，onsomethinglikethetruth。Butwhenshespokeofherself，theheadlongmalignityofhersuspicions——makingeveryallowancefortheangerthathadhurriedherintothem——seemedtocallforsomelittleprotestagainstafalseassertion。Itoldherthatshewascompletelymistaken。
　　"Iamcompletelyright，"sheanswered；"Isawit。"
　　"Sawwhat？"
　　"Sawyoupretendingtobeastrangertome。"
　　"WhendidIdothat？"
　　"Youdiditwhenwemetatthestation。"
　　Thereplywastooridiculousforthepreservationofanycontrolovermyownsenseofhumor。Itwaswrong；butitwasinevitable——Ilaughed。Shelookedatmewithafury，revealingaconcentrationofevilpassioninherwhichIhadnotseenyet。I
　　askedherpardon；Ibeggedhertothinkalittlebeforeshepersistedintakingaviewofmyconductunworthyofher，andunjusttomyself。
　　"UnjusttoYou！"sheburstout。"Whoareyou？Amanwhohasdrivenyourtradehasspiesalwaysathiscommand——yes！andknowshowtousethem。Youwereprimedwithprivateinformation——youhad，forallIknow，astolenphotographofmeinyourpocket——beforeeveryoucametoourtown。Doyoustilldenyit？
　　Oh，sir，whydegradeyourselfbytellingalie？"
　　Nosuchoutrageasthishadeverbeeninflictedonme，atanytimeinmylife。Myforbearancemust，Isuppose，havebeenmoreseverelytriedthanIwasawareofmyself。Withorwithoutexcuseforme，Iwasweakenoughtoletagirl’sspitefultonguestingme，and，worsestill，toletherseethatIfeltit。
　　"Youshallhavenosecondopportunity，MissGracedieu，ofinsultingme。"Withthatfoolishreply，Iopenedthedoorviolentlyandwentout。
　　Sheranafterme，triumphinginhavingrousedthetemperofamanoldenoughtohavebeenhergrandfather，andcaughtmebythearm。"Yourownconducthasexposedyou。"（Thatwasliterallyhowsheexpressedherself。）"Isawitinyoureyeswhenwemetatthestation。You，thestranger——youwhoallowedpoorignorantmetointroducemyself——youknewmeallthetime，knewmebysight！"
　　Ishookherhandoffwithaninconsiderableroughness，humiliatingtoremember。"It’sfalse！"Icried。"Iknewyoubyyourlikenesstoyourmother。"
　　Themomentthewordshadpassedmylips，Icametomysensesagain；Irememberedwhatfatalwordstheymightprovetobe，iftheyreachedtheMinister’sears。
　　Heardonlybyhisdaughter，myreplyseemedtocooltheheatofherangerinaninstant。
　　"Soyouknewmymother？"shesaid。"Myfathernevertoldusthat，whenhespokeofyourbeingsuchaveryoldfriendofhis。
　　Strange，tosaytheleastofit。"
　　Iwaswiseenough——nowwhenwisdomhadcometoolate——nottoattempttoexplainmyself，andnottogiveheranopportunityofsayingmore。"Weareneitherofusinastateofmind，"I
　　answered，"toallowthisinterviewtocontinue。Imusttrytorecovermycomposure；andIleaveyoutodothesame。"
　　Inthesolitudeofmyroom，Iwasabletolookmypositionfairlyintheface。
　　Mr。Gracedieu’swifehadcometome，inthelong—pasttime，withoutherhusband’sknowledge。Temptedtoacruelresolvebythematernaltriumphofhavinganinfantofherown，shehadresolvedtoridherselfofthepoorlittlerivalinherhusband’sfatherlyaffection，byconsigningtheadoptedchildtothekeepingofacharitableasylum。Shehaddaredtoaskmetohelpher。Ihadkeptthesecretofhershamefulvisit——Icanhonestlysay，fortheMinister’ssake。Andnow，longaftertimehaddoomedthoseeventstooblivion，theywererevived——andrevivedbyme。
　　Thankstomyfolly，Mr。Gracedieu’sdaughterknewwhatIhadconcealedfromMr。Gracedieuhimself。
　　Whatcoursedidrespectformyfriend，andrespectformyself，counselmetotake？
　　Icouldonlyseebeforemeachoiceoftwoevils。Towaitforevents——withthetoocertainprospectofavindictivebetrayalofmyindiscretionbyHelenaGracedieu。Ortotaketheinitiativeintomyownhands，andriskconsequenceswhichImightregrettotheendofmylife，bymakingmyconfessiontotheMinister。
　　BeforeIhaddecided，somebodyknockedatthedoor。Itwasthemaid—servantagain。WasitpossibleshehadbeensentbyHelena？
　　"Anothermessage？"
　　"Yes，sir。Mymasterwishestoseeyou。"
　　CHAPTERXXXVIII。
　　THEGIRLS’AGES。
　　HADtheMinister’sdesiretoseemebeeninspiredbyhisdaughter’sbetrayalofwhatIhadunfortunatelysaidtoher？
　　Althoughhewouldcertainlynotconsenttoreceiveherpersonally，shewouldbeatlibertytoadoptawrittenmethodofcommunicationwithhim，andthelettermightbeaddressedinsuchamannerastopiquehiscuriosity。IfHelena’svindictivepurposehadbeenalreadyaccomplished——andifMr。Gracedieuleftmenoalternativebuttopresenthisunworthywifeinhertruecharacter——IcanhonestlysaythatIdreadedtheconsequences，notastheymightaffectmyself，butastheymightaffectmyunhappyfriendinhisenfeebledstateofbodyandmind。
　　WhenIenteredhisroom，hewasstillinbed。
　　Thebed—curtainsweresodrawn，onthesidenearesttothewindow，astokeepthelightfromfallingtoobrightlyonhisweakeyes。Intheshadowthusthrownonhim，itwasnotpossibletoseehisfaceplainlyenough，fromtheopensideofthebed，toarriveatanydefiniteconclusionastowhatmightbepassinginhismind。Afterhavingbeenawakeforsomehoursduringtheearlierpartofthenight，hehadenjoyedalongandundisturbedsleep。"Ifeelstrongerthismorning，"hesaid，"andIwishtospeaktoyouwhilemymindisclear。"
　　Ifthequiettoneofhisvoicewasnotanassumedtone，hewassurelyignorantofallthathadpassedbetweenhisdaughterandmyself。
　　"Eunicewillbeheresoon，"heproceeded，"andIoughttoexplainwhyIhavesentforhertocomeandmeetyou。Ihavereasons，seriousreasons，mind，forwishingyoutocompareherpersonalappearancewithHelena’spersonalappearance，andthentotellmewhichofthetwo，onafaircomparison，lookstheeldest。PraybearinmindthatIattachthegreatestimportancetotheconclusionatwhichyoumayarrive。"
　　HespokemoreclearlyandcollectedlythanIhadheardhimspeakyet。
　　HereandthereIdetectedhesitationsandrepetitions，whichI
　　havepurposelypassedover。ThesubstanceofwhathesaidtomeisallthatIshallpresentinthisplace。CarefulasIhavebeentokeepmyrecordofeventswithinstrictlimits，IhavewrittenatalengthwhichIwasfarindeedfromcontemplatingwhenI
　　acceptedMr。Gracedieu’sinvitation。
　　Havingpromisedtocomplywiththestrangerequestwhichhehadaddressedtome，Iventuredtoremindhimofpastoccasionsonwhichhehadpointedlyabstained，whenthesubjectpresenteditself，fromspeakingofthegirls’ages。"Youhaveleftittomydiscretion，"Iadded，"todecideaquestioninwhichyouareseriouslyinterested，relatingtoyourdaughters。HaveInoexcuseforregrettingthatIhavenotbeenadmittedtoyourconfidencealittlemorefreely？"
　　"Youhaveeveryexcuse，"heanswered。"Butyoutroublemeallthesame。TherewassomethingelsethatIhadtosaytoyou——andyourcuriositygetsintheway。"
　　Hesaidthiswithasullenemphasis。Inmyposition，theworstofevilswassuspense。Itoldhimthatmycuriositycouldwait；andIbeggedthathewouldrelievehismindofwhatwaspressingonitatthemoment。
　　"Letmethinkalittle，"hesaid。