Iwaitedanxiouslyforthedecisionatwhichhemightarrive。
　　Nothingcameofittojustifymymisgivings。"LeavewhatIhaveinmymindtoripeninmymind，"hesaid。"Themysteryaboutthegirls’agesseemstoirritateyou。IfIputmygoodfriend’stempertoanyfurthertrial，hewillbeofnousetome。Nevermindifmyheadswims；I’musedtothat。Nowlisten！"
　　Strangeastheprefacewas，theexplanationthatfollowedwasstrangeryet。Iofferashortenedandsimplifiedversion，givingaccuratelythesubstanceofwhatIheard。
　　TheMinisterenteredwithoutreserveonthemysterioussubjectoftheages。Eunice，heinformedme，wasnearlytwoyearsolderthanHelena。Ifsheoutwardlyshowedhersuperiorityofage，anypersonacquaintedwiththecircumstancesunderwhichtheadoptedinfanthadbeenreceivedintoMr。Gracedieu’schildlesshousehold，needonlycomparetheso—calledsistersinafter—life，andwouldthereuponidentifytheeldest—lookingyoungladyofthetwoastheoffspringofthewomanwhohadbeenhangedformurder。
　　Withsuchamisfortuneasthispresentingitselfasapossibleprospect，theMinisterwasboundtopreventthegirlsfromignorantlybetrayingeachotherbyallusionstotheiragesandtheirbirthdays。Aftermuchthought，hehaddevisedadesperatemeansofmeetingthedifficulty——alreadymadeknown，asIamtold，fortheinformationofstrangerswhomayreadthepagesthathavegonebeforemine。Myfriend’splanofproceedinghad，bythenatureofit，exposedhimtoinjuriouscomment，toembarrassingquestions，andtodoubtsandmisconceptions，allpatientlyenduredinconsiderationofthesecuritythathadbeenattained。Proudofhisexplanation，Mr。Gracedieu’svanitycalleduponmetoacknowledgethatmycuriosityhadbeensatisfied，andmydoubtscompletelysetatrest。
　　No：myobstinatecommonsensewasnotreducedtosubmission，evenyet。Lookingbackoveralapseofseventeenyears，Iaskedwhathadhappened，inthatlonginterval，tojustifytheanxietieswhichstillappearedtotroublemyfriend。
　　Thistime，myharmlesscuriositycouldbegratifiedbyareplyexpressedinthreewords——nothinghadhappened。
　　Thenwhat，inHeaven’sname，wastheMinisterafraidof？
　　Hisvoicedroppedtoawhisper。Hesaid："Iamafraidofthewomen。"
　　Whowerethewomen？
　　TwoofthemactuallyprovedtobetheservantsemployedinMr。
　　Gracedieu’shouse，atthebygonetimewhenbehadbroughtthechildhomewithhimfromtheprison！Topointouttheabsurdityofthereasonsthathegaveforfearingwhatfemalecuriositymightyetattempt，ifcircumstanceshappenedtoencourageit，wouldhavebeenamerewasteofwords。Dismissingthesubject，I
　　nextascertainedthattheMinister’sdoubtsextendedeventothetwofemalewarders，whohadbeenappointedtowatchthemurderessinturn，duringherlastdaysinprison。Ieasilyrelievedhismindinthiscase。Oneofthewarderswasdead。TheotherhadmarriedafarmerinAustralia。Hadweexhaustedthelistofsuspectedpersonsyet？No：therewasonemoreleft；andtheMinisterdeclaredthathehadfirstmetwithherinmyofficialresidence，atthetimewhenIwasGovernoroftheprison。
　　"Shepresentedherselftomebyname，"hesaid；"andshespokerudely。AMiss——"Hepausedtoconsulthismemory，andthistime（thanksperhapstohisnight’srest）hismemoryansweredtheappeal。"Ihavegotit！"hecried——"MissChance。"
　　Myfriendhadinterestedmeinhisimaginaryperilsatlast。Itwasjustpossiblethathemighthaveaformidablepersontodealwithnow。
　　DuringmyresidenceatFlorence，theChaplainandIhadtakenmanyaretrospectivelook（asoldmenwill）atpasteventsinourlives。Myformercolleaguespokeofthetimewhenhehadperformedclericaldutyforhisfriend，therectorofaparishchurchinLondon。NeitherhenorIhadheardagainofthe"MissChance"ofourdisagreeableprisonexperience，whomhehadmarriedtothedashingDutchgentleman，Mr。Tenbruggen。Wecouldonlywonderwhathadbecomeofthatmysteriousmarriedpair。
　　Mr。Gracedieubeingundoubtedlyignorantofthewoman’smarriage，itwasnoteasytosaywhattheconsequencemightbe，inhisexcitablestate，ifIinformedhimofit。Hewould，inallprobability，concludethatIknewmoreofthewomanthanhedid。
　　Idecidedonkeepingmyowncounsel，forthepresentatleast。
　　Passingatonce，therefore，totheoneconsiderationofanyimportance，IendeavoredtofindoutwhetherMr。GracedieuandMrs。Tenbruggenhadmet，orhadcommunicatedwitheachotherinanyway，duringthelongperiodofseparationthathadtakenplacebetweentheMinisterandmyself。Ifhehadbeensounluckyastooffendher，shewasbeyondalldoubtanenemytobedreaded。Apart，however，fromamisfortuneofthiskind，shewouldrank，inmyopinion，withtheotherharmlessobjectsofMr。
　　Gracedieu’sdistrust。
　　Inmakingmyinquiries，IfoundthatIhadanobstacletocontendwith。
　　Whilehefelttherenovatinginfluenceofthereposethatheenjoyed，theMinisterhadbeenabletothinkandtoexpresshimselfwithlessdifficultythanusual。Butthereservesofstrength，onwhichtheusefulexerciseofhismemorydepended，begantofailhimastheinterviewproceeded。Hedistinctlyrecollectedthat"somethingunpleasanthadpassedbetweenthataudaciouswomanandhimself。"Butatwhatdate——andwhetherbywordofmouthorbycorrespondence——wasmorethanhismemorycouldnowrecall。Hebelievedbewasnotmistakenintellingmethathe"hadbeenintwomindsabouther。"Atonetime，hewassatisfiedthathehadtakenwisemeasuresforhisownsecurity，ifsheattemptedtoannoyhim。Buttherewasanotherandalatertime，whendoubtsandfearshadlaidholdofhimagain。IfI
　　wantedtoknowhowthishadhappened，hefancieditwasthroughadream；andifIaskedwhatthedreamwas，hecouldonlybegandpraythatIwouldsparehispoorhead。
　　Unwillingevenyettosubmitunconditionallytodefeat，itoccurredtometotryalastexperimentonmyfriend，withoutcallingforanymentaleffortonhisownpart。The"MissChance"
　　offormerdaysmight，byabarepossibility，havewrittentohim。
　　Iaskedaccordinglyifhewasinthehabitofkeepinghisletters，andifhewouldallowme（whenhehadrestedalittle）
　　tolaythemopenbeforehim，sothathecouldlookatthesignatures。"Youmightfindthelostrecollectioninthatway，"I
　　suggested，"atthebottomofoneofyourletters。"
　　Hewasinthatstateofweariness，poorfellow，inwhichamanwilldoanythingforthesakeofpeace。Pointingtoacabinetinhisroom，hegavemeakeytakenfromalittlebasketonhisbed。
　　"Lookforyourself，"hesaid。Aftersomehesitation——forI
　　naturallyrecoiledfromexamininganotherman’scorrespondence——I
　　decidedonopeningthecabinet，atanyrate。
　　Theletters——alargecollection——were，tomyrelief，allneatlyfolded，andindorsedwiththenamesofthewriters。IcouldrunharmlesslythroughbundleafterbundleinsearchoftheonenamethatIwanted，andstillrespecttheprivacyoftheletters。Myperseverancedeservedareward——andfailedtogetit。ThenameI
　　wantedsteadilyeludedmysearch。Arrivingattheuppershelfofthecabinet，IfounditsohighthatIcouldbarelyreachitwithmyhand。Insteadofgettingmoreletterstolookover，Ipulleddowntwonewspapers。
　　Oneofthemwasanoldcopyofthe_Times，_datingbackasfarasthe13thDecember，1858。Itwascarefullyfolded，longwise，withthetitle—pageuppermost。Onthefirstcolumn，attheleft—handsideofthesheet，appearedthecustomaryannouncementsofBirths。Amarkwithabluepencil，againstoneoftheadvertisements，attractedmyattention。Ireadtheselines：
　　"Onthe10thinst。，thewifeoftheRev。AbelGracedieu，ofadaughter。"
　　Thesecondnewspaperborealaterdate，andcontainednothingthatinterestedme。Inaturallyassumedthattheadvertisementinthe_Times_hadbeeninsertedatthedesireofMrs。Gracedieu；
　　and，afterallthatIhadheard，therewaslittledifficultyinattributingthecuriousomissionoftheplaceinwhichthechildhadbeenborntothecautionofherhusband。IfMrs。Tenbruggen（thenMissChance）hadhappenedtoseetheadvertisementinthegreatLondonnewspaper，Mr。Gracedieumightyethavegoodreasontocongratulatehimselfonhisprudentmethodofprovidingagainstmischievouscuriosity。
　　Iturnedtowardthebedandlookedathim。Hiseyeswereclosed。
　　Washesleeping？Orwashetryingtorememberwhathehaddesiredtosaytome，whenthedemandswhichImadeonhismemoryhadobligedhimtowaitforalateropportunity？
　　Eitherway，therewassomethingthatquickenedmysympathies，inthespectacleofhishelplessrepose。Itsuggestedtomepersonalreasonsforhisanxieties，whichhehadnotmentioned，andwhichIhadnotthoughtof，uptothistime。Ifthediscoverythathedreadedtookplace，hishouseholdwouldbebrokenup，andhispositionaspastorwouldsufferintheestimationoftheflock。
　　Hisowndaughterwouldrefusetoliveunderthesameroofwiththedaughterofaninfamouswoman。Popularopinion，amonghiscongregation，judgingamanwhohadpassedoffthechildofotherparentsashisown，wouldfindthatmanguiltyofanactofdeliberatedeceit。
　　Stilloppressedbyreflectionswhichpointedtothefutureinthisdiscouragingway，Iwasstartledbyavoiceoutsidethedoor——asweet，sadvoice——saying，"MayIcomein？"
　　TheMinister’seyesopenedinstantly：heraisedhimselfinhisbed。
　　"Eunice，atlast！"hecried。"Letherin。"
　　CHAPTERXXXIX。
　　THEADOPTEDCHILD
　　IOPENEDthedoor。
　　Eunicepassedmewiththesuddennessalmostofaflashoflight。
　　WhenIturnedtowardthebed，herarmswereroundherfather’sneck。"Oh，poorpapa，howillyoulook！"Commonplaceexpressionsoffondness，andnomore；butthetonegavethemacharmthatsubduedme。NeverhadIfeltsoindulgenttowardMr。Gracedieu’sunreasonablefearsaswhenIsawhimintheembraceofhisadopteddaughter。Shehadalreadyremindedmeofthebygonedaywhenabrightlittlechildhadsatonmykneeandlistenedtothetickingofmywatch。
　　TheMinistergentlyliftedherheadfromhisbreast。"Mydarling，"hesaid，"youdon’tseemyoldfriend。Lovehim，andlookuptohim，Eunice。Hewillbeyourfriend，too，whenIamgone。"
　　Shecametomeandofferedhercheektobekissed。Itwassadlypale，poorsoul——andIcouldguesswhy。Butherheartwasnowfullofherfather。"Doyouthinkheisseriouslyill？"shewhispered。WhatIoughttohavesaidIdon’tknow。Hereyes，thesweetest，truest，loveliesteyesIeversawinahumanface，werepleadingwithme。Letmyenemiesmaketheworstofit，iftheylike——Ididcertainlylie。AndifIdeservedmypunishment，Igotit；thepoorchildbelievedme！"NowIamhappier，"shesaid，gratefully。"Onlytohearyourvoiceseemstoencourageme。Onourwayhere，Selinadidnothingbuttalkofyou。ShetoldmeI
　　shouldn’thavetimetofeelafraidofthegreatman；hewouldmakemefondofhimdirectly。Isaid，’Areyoufondofhim？’Shesaid，’Madlyinlovewithhim，mydear。’Mylittlefriendreallythinksyoulikeher，andisveryproudofitTherearesomepeoplewhocallherugly。Ihopeyoudon’tagreewiththem？"
　　IbelieveIshouldhaveliedagain，ifMr。Gracedieuhadnotcalledmetothebedside"Howdoesshestrikeyou？"hewhispered，eagerly。"Isittoosoontoaskifsheshowsherageinherface？"
　　"Neitherinherfacenorherfigure，"Ianswered："itastonishesmethatyoucaneverhavedoubtedit。Nostranger，judgingbypersonalappearance，couldfailtomakethemistakeofthinkingHelenatheoldestofthetwo。"
　　HelookedfondlyatEunice。"Herfigureseemstobearoutwhatyousay，"hewenton。"Almostchildish，isn’tit？"
　　Icouldnotagreetothat。Slim，supple，simplygracefulineverymovement，Eunice’sfigure，inthecharmoffirstyouth，onlywaiteditsperfectdevelopment。Mostmen，lookingatherasshestoodattheotherendoftheroomwithherbacktowardus，wouldhaveguessedheragetobesixteen。
　　FindingthatIfailedtoagreewithhim，Mr。Gracedieu’smisgivingsreturned。"Youspeakveryconfidently，"hesaid，"consideringthatyouhavenotseenthegirlstogether。Thinkwhatadreadfulblowitwouldbetomeifyoumadeamistake。"
　　Ideclared，withperfectsincerity，thattherewasnofearofamistake。Thebareideaofmakingtheproposedcomparisonwashatefultome。IfHelenaandIhadhappenedtomeetatthatmoment，Ishouldhaveturnedawayfromherbyinstinct——shewouldhavedisturbedmyimpressionsofEunice。
　　TheMinistersignedtometomovealittlenearertohim。"Imustsayit，"hewhispered，"andIamafraidofherhearingme。Isthereanythinginherfacethatremindsyouofhermiserablemother？"
　　Ihadhardlypatiencetoanswerthequestion：itwassimplypreposterous。Herhairwasbymanyshadesdarkerthanhermother’shair；hereyeswereofadifferentcolor。Therewasanexquisitetendernessandsincerityintheirexpression——madeadditionallybeautiful，tomymind，byagentle，uncomplainingsadness。ItwasimpossibleeventothinkoftheeyesofthemurderesswhenIlookedatherchild。Eunice’slowerfeatures，again，hadnoneofhermother’sregularityofproportion。Hersmile，simpleandsweet，andsoonpassingaway，wascertainlynotaninheritedsmileonthematernalside。Whethersheresembledherfather，Iwasunabletoconjecture——havingneverseenhim。
　　Theonethingcertainwas，thatnotthefaintesttrace，infeatureorexpression，ofEunice’smotherwastobeseeninEuniceherself。Ofthetwogirls，Helena——judgingbysomethinginthecolorofherhair，andbysomethingintheshadeofhercomplexion——mightpossiblyhavesuggested，inthoseparticularsonly，apurelyaccidentalresemblancetomyterribleprisonerofpasttimes。
　　TherevivalofMr。Gracedieu’sspiritsindicatedatemporarychangeonly，andwasalreadybeginningtopassaway。TheeyeswhichhadlookedlovinglyatEunicebegantolooklanguidlynow：
　　hisheadsankonthepillowwithasighofweakcontent。"Mypleasurehasbeenalmosttoomuchforme，"hesaid。"Leavemeforawhiletorest，andgetusedtoit。"
　　Eunicekissedhisforehead——andwelefttheroom。
　　CHAPTERXL。
　　THEBRUISEDHEART。
　　WHENwesteppedoutonthelanding，Iobservedthatmycompanionpaused。Shelookedatthetwoflightsofstairsbelowusbeforeshedescendedthem。Itoccurredtomethattheremustbesomebodyinthehousewhomshewasanxioustoavoid。
　　Arrivedatthelowerhall，shepausedagain，andproposedinawhisperthatweshouldgointothegarden。Asweadvancedalongthebackwarddivisionofthehall，IsawhereyesturndistrustfullytowardthedooroftheroominwhichHelenahadreceivedme。Atlast，myslowperceptionsfeltwithherandunderstoodher。Eunice’ssensitivenaturerecoiledfromachancemeetingwiththewretchwhohadlaidwasteallthathadoncebeenhappyandhopefulinthatharmlessyounglife。
　　"WillyoucomewithmetothepartofthegardenthatIamfondestof？"sheasked。
　　Iofferedhermyarm。Sheledmeinsilencetoarusticseat，placedundertheshadeofamulberrytree。Isawachangeinherfaceaswesatdown——atenderandbeautifulchange。Atthatmomentthegirl’sheartwasfarawayfromme。Therewassomeassociationwiththiscornerofthegarden，onwhichIfeltthatImustnotintrude。
　　"Iwasonceveryhappyhere，"shesaid。"Whenthetimeoftheheartachecamesoonafter，Iwasafraidtolookattheoldtreeandthebenchunderit。Butthatisallovernow。Iliketorememberthehoursthatwereoncedeartome，andtoseetheplacethatrecallsthem。DoyouknowwhoIamthinkingof？Don’tbeafraidofdistressingme。Inevercrynow。"
　　"Mydearchild，Ihaveheardyoursadstory——butIcan’ttrustmyselftospeakofit。"
　　"Becauseyouaresosorryforme？"
　　"NowordscansayhowsorryIam！"
　　"ButyouarenotangrywithPhilip？"
　　"Notangry！Mypoordear，IamafraidtotellyouhowangryIamwithhim。"
　　"Oh，no！Youmustn’tsaythat。Ifyouwishtobekindtome——andIamsureyoudowishit——don’tthinkbitterlyofPhilip。"
　　WhenIrememberthatthefirstfeelingsherousedinmewasnothingworthierofaprofessingChristianthanastonishment，I
　　dropinmyownestimationtothelevelofasavage。"Doyoureallymean，"Iwasbaseenoughtoask，"thatyouhaveforgivenhim？"
　　Shesaid，gently："HowcouldIhelpforgivinghim？"
　　Themanwhocouldhavebeenblessedwithsuchloveasthis，andwhocouldhavecastitawayfromhim，canhavebeennothingbutanidiot。Onthatground——thoughIdarednotconfessittoEunice——Iforgavehim，too。
　　"DoIsurpriseyou？"sheaskedsimply。"Perhapslovewillbearanyhumiliation。OrperhapsIamonlyapoorweakcreature。Youdon’tknowwhatacomfortitwastometokeepthefewlettersthatIreceivedfromPhilip。WhenIheardthathehadgoneaway，Igavehislettersthekissthatbadehimgood—by。Thatwasthetime，Ithink，whenmypoorbruisedheartgotusedtothepain；I
　　begantofeelthattherewasoneconsolationstillleftforme——I
　　mightendinforgivinghim。WhydoItellyouallthis？Ithinkyoumusthavebewitchedme。IsthisreallythefirsttimeIhaveseenyou？"
　　Sheputherlittletremblinghandintomine；Iliftedittomylips，andkissedit。SorelywasItemptedtoownthatIhadpitiedandlovedherinherinfancy。Itwasalmostonmylipstosay："Irememberyouaneasily—pleasedlittlecreature，amusingyourselfwiththebrokentoyswhichwereoncetheplaythingsofmyownchildren。"IbelieveIshouldhavesaidit，ifIcouldhavetrustedmyselftospeakcomposedlytoher。Thiswasnottobedone。OldasIwas，versedasIwasinthehardknowledgeofhowtokeepthemaskoninthehourofneed，thiswasnottobedone。
　　StilltryingtounderstandthatIwaslittlebetterthanastrangertoher，andstillbentonfindingthesecretofthesympathythatunitedus，Euniceputastrangequestiontome。
　　"Whenyouwereyoungyourself，"shesaid，"didyouknowwhatitwastolove，andtobeloved——andthentoloseitall？"
　　Itisnotgiventomanymentomarrythewomanwhohasbeentheobjectoftheirfirstlove。Myearlylifehadbeendarkenedbyasadstory；neverconfidedtoanylivingcreature；banishedresolutelyfrommyownthoughts。Forfortyyearspast，thatpartofmyburiedselfhadlainquietinitsgrave——andthechancetouchofaninnocenthandhadraisedthedead，andsetusfacetofaceagain！DidIknowwhatitwastolove，andtobeloved，andthentoloseitall？"Toowell，mychild；toowell！"
　　ThatwasallIcouldsaytoher。Inthelastdaysofmylife，I
　　shrankfromspeakingofit。WhenIhadfirstfeltthatcalamity，andhadfeltitmostkeenly，Imighthavegivenananswerworthierofme，andworthierofher。
　　Shedroppedmyhand，andsatbymeinsilence，thinking。HadI——withoutmeaningit，Godknows！——hadIdisappointedher？
　　"Didyouexpectmetotellmyownsadstory，"Isaid，"asfranklyandastrustfullyasyouhavetoldyours？"
　　"Oh，don’tthinkthat！Iknowwhataneffortitwastoyoutoanswermeatall。Yes，indeed！IwonderwhetherImayasksomething。Thesorrowyouhavejusttoldmeofisnottheonlyone——isit？Youhavehadothertroubles？"
　　"Manyofthem。"
　　"Therearetimes，"shewenton，"whenonecan’thelpthinkingofone’sownmiserableself。Itrytobecheerful，butthosetimescomenowandthen。"
　　Shestopped，andlookedatmewithapalefearconfessingitselfinherface。
　　"YouknowwhoSelinais？"sheresumed。"Myfriend！TheonlyfriendIhad，tillyoucamehere。"
　　Iguessedthatshewasspeakingofthequaint，kindlylittlewoman，whoseuglysurnamehadbeenhithertotheonlynameknowntome。
　　"Selinahas，Idaresay，toldyouthatIhavebeenill，"shecontinued，"andthatIamstayinginthecountryforthebenefitofmyhealth。"
　　Itwasplainthatshehadsomethingtosaytome，farmoreimportantthanthis，andthatshewasdwellingontriflestogaintimeandcourage。Hopingtohelpher，Idweltontrifles，too；
　　askingcommonplacequestionsaboutthepartofthecountryinwhichshewasstaying。Sheansweredabsently——then，littlebylittle，impatiently。TheonepoorproofofkindnessthatIcouldoffer，now，wastosaynomore。
　　"DoyouknowwhatastrangecreatureIam？"shebrokeout。"ShallImakeyouangrywithme？orshallImakeyoulaughatme？WhatI
　　haveshrunkfromconfessingtoSelina——whatIdarenotconfesstomyfather——Imust，andwill，confesstoYou。"
　　Therewasalookofhorrorinherfacethatalarmedme。Idrewhertomesothatshecouldrestherheadonmyshoulder。Myownagitationthreatenedtogetthebetterofme。ForthefirsttimesinceIhadseenthissweetgirl，Ifoundmyselfthinkingofthebloodthatraninherveins，andofthenatureofthemotherwhohadborneher。
　　"DidyounoticehowIbehavedupstairs？"shesaid。"Imeanwhenweleftmyfather，andcameoutonthelauding。"
　　Itwaseasilyrecollected；Ibeggedhertogoon。
　　"BeforeIwentdownstairs，"sheproceeded，"yousawmelookandlisten。DidyouthinkIwasafraidofmeetingsomeperson？anddidyouguesswhoitwasIwantedtoavoid？"
　　"Iguessedthat——andIunderstoodyou。"
　　"No！Youarenotwickedenoughtounderstandme。Willyoudomeafavor？Iwantyoutolookatme。"
　　Itwassaidseriously。Sheliftedherheadforamoment，sothatIcouldexamineherface。
　　"Doyouseeanything，"sheasked，"whichmakesyoufearthatIamnotinmyrightmind？"
　　"GoodGod！howcanyouasksuchahorriblequestion？
　　Shelaidherheadbackonmyshoulderwithasadlittlesighofresignation。"Ioughttohaveknownbetter，"shesaid；"thereisnosucheasywayoutofitasthat。Tellme——isthereonekindofwickednessmoredeceitfulthananother？Canitbehidinapersonforyearstogether，andshowitselfwhenatimeofsuffering——no；
　　Imeanwhenasenseofinjurycomes？Didyoueverseethat，whenyouweremasterintheprison？"
　　Ihadseenit——and，afteramoment’sdoubt，IsaidIhadseenit。
　　"Didyoupitythosepoorwretches？"
　　"Certainly！Theydeservedpity。"
　　"Iamoneofthem！"shesaid。"Pity_me。_IfHelenalooksatme——ifHelenaspeakstome——ifIonlyseeHelenabyaccident——doyouknowwhatshedoes？Shetemptsme！Temptsmetododreadfulthings！Temptsme——"Thepoorchildthrewherarmsroundmyneck，andwhisperedthenextfatalwordsinmyear。
　　Themother！PreparedasIwasfortheaccurseddiscovery，thehorrorofitshookme。
　　Sheleftme，andstartedtoherfeet。Theinheritedenergyshoweditselfinfuriousprotestagainsttheinheritedevil。"Whatdoesitmean？"shecried。"I’llsubmittoanything。I’llbearmyhardlotpatiently，ifyouwillonlytellmewhatitmeans。Wheredoesthishorridtransformationofmeoutofmyselfcomefrom？Lookatmygoodfather。Inallthisworldthereisnomansoperfectasheis。Andoh，howhehastaughtme！thereisn’tasinglegoodthingthatIhavenotlearnedfromhimsinceIwasalittlechild。Didyoueverhearhimspeakofmymother？Youmusthaveheardhim。Mymotherwasanangel。Icouldneverbeworthyofheratmybest——butIhavetried！Ihavetried！Thewickedestgirlintheworlddoesn’thaveworsethoughtsthanthethoughtsthathavecometome。Sincewhen？SinceHelena——oh，howcanIcallherbyhernameasifIstilllovedher？Sincemysister——canshebemysister，Iaskmyselfsometimes！Sincemyenemy——there’sthewordforher——sincemyenemytookPhilipawayfromme。Whatdoesitmean？Ihaveaskedinmyprayers——andhavegotnoanswer。Iaskyou。Whatdoesitmean？Youmusttellme！Youshalltellme！Whatdoesitmean？"