Myfathergavemehisarm，andwewalkedslowlyupanddownthelawn。
　　"Whenthatladycalledonmeyesterday，"hebegan，"youwantedtoknowwhoshewas，andyouweresurprisedanddisappointedwhenI
　　refusedtogratifyyourcuriosity。Mysilencewasnotaselfishsilence，Helena。Iwasthinkingofyouandyoursister；andIwasatalosshowtoactforthebest。Youshallhearwhymychildrenwereinmymind，presently。ImusttellyoufirstthatIhavearrivedatadecision；Ihopeandbelieveonreasonablegrounds。
　　Askmeanyquestionsyouplease；mysilencewillbenolongeranobstacleinyourway。"
　　ThiswassoveryencouragingthatIsaidatonce："Ishouldliketoknowwhotheladyis。"
　　"Theladyisrelatedtome，"heanswered。"Wearecousins。"
　　HerewasadisclosurethatIhadnotanticipated。InthelittlethatIhaveseenoftheworld，Ihaveobservedthatcousins——whentheyhappentobebroughttogetherunderinterestingcircumstances——canremembertheirrelationship，andforgettheirrelationship，justasitsuitsthem。"Isyourcousinamarriedlady？"Iventuredtoinquire。
　　"No。"
　　Shortasitwas，thatreplymightperhapsmeanmorethanappearedonthesurface。Thecookhadheardtheladycrying。Whatsortoftenderagitationwasanswerableforthosetears？Wasitpossible，barelypossible，thatEuniceandImightgotobed，onenight，awidower’sdaughters，andwakeupthenextdaytodiscoverastepmother？
　　"HaveIormysistereverseenthelady？"Iasked。
　　"Never。Shehasbeenlivingabroad；andIhavenotseenhermyselfsincewewerebothyoungpeople。"
　　Myexcellentinnocentfather！NotthefaintestideaofwhatIhadbeenthinkingofwasinhismind。Littledidhesuspecthowwelcomewasthereliefthathehadaffordedtohisdaughter’swickeddoubtsofhim。Buthehadnotsaidawordyetabouthiscousin’spersonalappearance。Theremightberemainsofgoodlookswhichthehousemaidwastoostupidtodiscover。
　　"Afterthelongintervalthathaspassedsinceyoumet，"Isaid，"Isupposeshehasbecomeanoldwoman？"
　　"No，mydear。Letussay，amiddle—agedwoman。"
　　"Perhapssheisstillanattractiveperson？"
　　Hesmiled。"Iamafraid，Helena，thatwouldneverhavebeenaveryaccuratedescriptionofher。"
　　InowknewallthatIwantedtoknowaboutthisalarmingperson，exceptingonelastmorselofinformationwhichmyfatherhadstrangelyforgotten。
　　"Wehavebeentalkingabouttheladyforsometime，"Isaid；"andyouhavenotyettoldmehername。"
　　Fatherlookedalittleembarrassed"It’snotaveryprettyname，"
　　heanswered。"Mycousin，myunfortunatecousin，is——MissJillgall。"
　　Iburstoutwithsuchaloud"Oh！"thathelaughed。Icaughttheinfection，andlaughedlouderstill。BlessMissJillgall！Theinterviewpromisedtobecomeaneasyoneforbothofus，thankstohername。Iwasingoodspirits，andImadenoattempttorestrainthem。"ThenexttimeMissJillgallhonorsyouwithavisit，"Isaid，"youmustgivemeanopportunityofbeingpresentedtoher。"
　　Hemadeastrangereply："Youmayfindyouropportunity，Helena，soonerthanyouanticipate。"
　　Didthismeanthatshewasgoingtocallagaininadayortwo？I
　　amafraidIspokeflippantly。Isaid："Oh，father，anotherladyfascinatedbythepopularpreacher？"
　　Thegardenchairswerenearus。Hesignedtomegravelytobeseatedbyhisside，andsaidtohimself："Thisismyfault。"
　　"Whatisyourfault？"Iasked。
　　"Ihaveleftyouinignorance，mydear，ofmycousin’ssadstory。
　　Itissoontold；and，ifitchecksyourmerriment，itwillmakeamendsbydeservingyoursympathy。Iwasindebtedtoherfather，whenIwasaboy，foractsofkindnesswhichIcanneverforget。
　　Hewastwicemarried。Thedeathofhisfirstwifelefthimwithonechild——oncemyplayfellow；nowtheladywhosevisithasexcitedyourcuriosity。HissecondwifewasaBelgian。ShepersuadedhimtosellhisbusinessinLondon，andtoinvestthemoneyinapartnershipwithabrotherofhers，establishedasasugar—refineratAntwerp。ThelittledaughteraccompaniedherfathertoBelgium。Areyouattendingtome，Helena？"
　　Iwaswaitingfortheinterestingpartofthestory，andwaswonderingwhenhewouldgettoit。
　　"Astimewenton，"heresumed，"thenewpartnerfoundthatthevalueofthebusinessatAntwerphadbeengreatlyoverrated。
　　Afteralongstrugglewithadversecircumstances，hedecidedonwithdrawingfromthepartnershipbeforethewholeofhiscapitalwaslostinafailingcommercialspeculation。Theendofitwasthatheretired，withhisdaughter，toasmalltowninEastFlanders；thewreckofhispropertyhavinglefthimwithanincomeofnomorethantwohundredpoundsayear。"
　　IshowedmyfatherthatIwasattendingtohimnow，byinquiringwhathadbecomeoftheBelgianwife。Thosenervousquiverings，whichEunicehasmentionedinherdiary，begantoappearinhisface。
　　"Itistooshamefulastory，"hesaid，"tobetoldtoayounggirl。Themarriagewasdissolvedbylaw；andthewifewasthepersontoblame。Iamsure，Helena，youdon’twishtohearanymoreof_this_partofthestory。"
　　Ididwish。ButIsawthatheexpectedmetosayNo——soIsaidit。
　　"Thefatheranddaughter，"hewenton，"neversomuchasthoughtofreturningtotheirowncountry。TheyweretoopoortolivecomfortablyinEngland。InBelgiumtheirincomewassufficientfortheirwants。Onthefather’sdeath，thedaughterremainedinthetown。Shehadfriendsthere，andfriendsnowhereelse；andshemighthavelivedabroadtotheendofherdays，butforacalamitytowhichweareallliable。Alongandseriousillnesscompletelyprostratedher。Skilledmedicalattendance，costinglargesumsofmoneyforthedoctors’travelingexpenses，wasimperativelyrequired。Experiencednurses，summonedfromadistanthospital，wereinattendancenightandday。Luxuries，farbeyondthereachofherlittleincome，wereabsolutelyrequiredtosupportherwastedstrengthatthetimeofhertediousrecovery。Inoneword，herresourcesweresadlydiminished，whenthepoorcreaturehadpaidherdebts，andhadregainedherholdonlife。Atthattime，sheunhappilymetwiththemanwhohasruinedher。"
　　Itwasgettinginterestingatlast。"Ruinedher？"Irepeated。"Doyoumeanthatherobbedher？"
　　"That，Helena，isexactlywhatImean——andmanyandmanyahelplesswomanhasbeenrobbedinthesameway。ThemanofwhomI
　　amnowspeakingwasalawyerinlargepractice。Heboreanexcellentcharacter，andwashighlyrespectedforhisexemplarylife。Mycousin（notatalladiscreetperson，Iamboundtoadmit）wasinducedtoconsulthimonherpecuniaryaffairs。Heexpressedthemostgeneroussympathy——offeredtoemployherlittlecapitalinhisbusiness——andpledgedhimselftopayherdoubletheinterestforhermoney，whichshehadbeeninthehabitofreceivingfromthesoundinvestmentchosenbyherfather。"
　　"Andofcoursehegotthemoney，andneverpaidtheinterest？"
　　Eagertoheartheend，Iinterruptedthestoryinthoseinconsideratewords。Myfather’sanswerquietlyreprovedme。
　　"Hepaidtheinterestregularlyaslongashelived。"
　　"Andwhathappenedwhenhedied？"
　　"Hediedabankrupt；thesecretprofligacyofhislifewasatlastexposed。Nothing，actuallynothing，wasleftforhiscreditors。Theunfortunatecreature，whoseuglynamehasamusedyou，mustgethelpsomewhere，ormustgototheworkhouse。"
　　IfIhadbeeninastateofmindtoattendtotrifles，thiswouldhaveexplainedthereasonwhythecookhadheardMissJillgallcrying。Buttheprospectbeforeme——theunendurableprospectofhavingastrangewomaninthehouse——hadshoweditselftooplainlytobemistaken。Icouldthinkofnothingelse。WithinfinitedifficultyIassumedamomentaryappearanceofcomposure，andsuggestedthatMissJillgall’sforeignfriendsmighthavedonesomethingtohelpher。
　　Myfatherdefendedherforeignfriends。"Mydear，theywerepoorpeople，anddidalltheycouldaffordtodo。Butfortheirkindness，mycousinmightnothavebeenabletoreturntoEngland。"
　　"Andtocastherselfonyourmercy，"Iadded，"inthecharacterofahelplesswoman。"
　　"No，Helena！Nottocastherselfonmymercy——buttofindmyhouseopentoher，asherfather’shousewasopentomeinthebygonetime。Iamheronlysurvivingrelative；and，whileIlive，sheshallnotbeahelplesswoman。"
　　IbegantowishthatIhadnotspokenoutsoplainly。Myfather’ssweettemper——IdososincerelywishIhadinheritedit！——madethekindestallowancesforme。
　　"Iunderstandthemomentarybitternessoffeelingthathasescapedyou，"hesaid；"ImayalmostsaythatIexpectedit。MyonlyhesitationinthismatterhasbeencausedbymysenseofwhatIowetomychildren。Itwasputtingyourendurance，andyoursister’sendurance，toatrialtoexpectyoutoreceiveastranger（andthatstrangernotayounggirllikeyourselves）asoneofthehousehold，livingwithyouintheclosestintimacyoffamilylife。Theconsiderationwhichhasdecidedmedoesjustice，Ihope，toyouandEunice，aswellastomyself。Ithinkthatsomeallowanceisduefrommydaughterstothefatherwhohasalwaysmadelovingallowancefor_them。_AmIwronginbelievingthatmygoodchildrenhavenotforgottenthis，andhaveonlywaitedfortheoccasiontofeelthepleasureofrewardingme？"
　　Itwasbeautifullyput。Therewasbutonethingtobedone——I
　　kissedhim。Andtherewasbutonethingtobesaid。IaskedatwhattimewemightexpecttoreceiveMissJillgall。
　　"Sheisstaying，Helena，atasmallhotelinthetown。Ihavealreadysenttosaythatwearewaitingtoseeher。Perhapsyouwilllookatthesparebedroom？"
　　"Itshallbegotready，father，directly。"
　　Iranintothehouse；IrushedupstairsintotheroomthatisEunice’sandmine；Ilockedthedoor，andthenIgavewaytomyrage，beforeitstifledme。Istampedonthefloor，Iclinchedmyfists，Icastmyselfonthebed，IreviledthathatefulwomanbyeveryhardwordthatIcouldthrowather。Oh，theluxuryofit！
　　theluxuryofit！
　　Coldwaterandmyhairbrushsoonmademefittobeseenagain。
　　Asforthespareroom，itlookedagreatdealtoocomfortableforanincubusfromforeignparts。TheoneimprovementthatIcouldhavemade，ifafriendofminehadbeenexpected，wassuggestedbythewindow—curtains。Iwaslookingatatornplaceinoneofthem，anddeterminedtoleaveitunrepaired，whenIfeltanarmslippedroundmywaistfrombehind。Avoice，soclosethatittickledmyneck，said："Deargirl，whatfriendsweshallbe！"I
　　turnedround，andconfrontedMissJillgall。
　　CHAPTERXV。
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　IFIamnotagoodgirl，whereisagoodgirltobefound？ThisisinEunice’sstyle。Itsometimesamusesmetomimicmysimplesister。
　　Ihavejusttornthreepagesoutofmydiary，indeferencetotheexpressionofmyfather’swishes。Hetookthefirstopportunitywhichhiscousinpermittedhimtoenjoyofspeakingtomeprivately；andhisobjectwastocautionmeagainsthastilyrelyingonfirstimpressionsofanybody——especiallyofMissJillgall。"Waitforadayortwo，"hesaid；"andthenformyourestimateofthenewmemberofourhousehold。"
　　Thestormystateofmytemperhadpassedaway，andhadleftmyatmospherecalmagain。IcouldfeelthatIhadreceivedgoodadvice；butunluckilyitreachedmetoolate。
　　IhadformedmyestimateofMissJillgall，andhadputitinwritingformyownsatisfaction，atleastanhourbeforemyfatherfoundhimselfatlibertytospeaktome。Idon’tagreewithhimindistrustingfirstimpressions；andIhadproposedtoputmyopiniontothetest，byreferringtowhatIhadwrittenabouthiscousinatalatertime。However，afterwhathehadsaidtome，Ifeltboundinfilialdutytotakethepagesoutofmybook，andtolettwodayspassbeforeIpresumedtoenjoytheluxuryofhatingMissJillgall。
　　OnonethingIamdetermined：Euniceshallnotformahastyopinion，either。Sheshallundergothesameseveredisciplineofself—restrainttowhichhersisterisobligedtosubmit。Letusbejust，assomebodysays，beforewearegenerous。Nomoreforto—day。
　　Iopenmydiaryagain——aftertheprescribedintervalhaselapsed。
　　Thefirstimpressionproducedonmebythenewmemberofourhouseholdremainsentirelyunchanged。
　　HaveIalreadymadetheremarkthat，whenoneremovesapagefromabook，itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatonedestroysthepageafterward？ordidIleavethistobeinferred？Ineithercase，mycourseofproceedingwasthesame。Iorderedsomepastetobemade。ThenIunlockedadrawer，andfoundmypoorill—usedleaves，andputthembackinmyJournal。Anactofjusticeissurelynotthelesspraiseworthybecauseitisanactofjusticedonetoone’sself。
　　Myfatherhasoftentoldmethathereviseshiswritingsonreligioussubjects。Imayharmlesslyimitatethatgoodexample，byrevisingmyrestoredentry。Itisnowasufficientlyremarkableperformancetobedistinguishedbyatitle。Letmecallit：
　　ImpressionsofMissJillgall。
　　Myfirstimpressionwasastrongone——itwasproducedbythestateofthislady’sbreath。Inotherwords，Iwasobligedtoletherkissme。Itisadutytobeconsideratetowardhumaninfirmity。IwillonlysaythatIthoughtIshouldhavefainted。
　　Mysecondimpressiondrawsaportrait，andproducesastrikinglikeness。
　　Figure，littleandlean——hairofadirtydrabcolorwhichweseeinstring——smalllightgrayeyes，slyandrestless，anddeeplysunkinthehead——prominentcheekbones，andafloridcomplexion——aninquisitivenose，turningupattheend——alargemouthandaservilesmile——raw—lookinghands，decoratedwithblackmittens——amisfittingwhitejacketandalimpskirt——mannersfamiliar——tempercleverlyhidden——voicetooirritatingtobementioned。Whoseportraitisthis？ItistheportraitofMissJillgall，takeninwords。
　　Hertruecharacterisnoteasytodiscover；Isuspectthatitwillonlyshowitselflittlebylittle。Thatsheisabornmeddlerinotherpeople’saffairs，IthinkIcanseealready。I
　　alsofoundoutthatshetrustedtoflatteryastheeasiestmeansofmakingherselfagreeable。Shetriedherfirstexperimentonmyself。
　　"Youcharminggirl，"shebegan，"yourbrightfaceencouragesmetoaskafavor。Praymakemeuseful！Theoneaspirationofmylifeistobeuseful。Unlessyouemploymeinthatway，Ihavenorighttointrudemyselfintoyourfamilycircle。Yes，yes，Iknowthatyourfatherhasopenedhishouseandhishearttome。ButI
　　darenotfoundanyclaim——yournameisHelena，isn’tit？DearHelena，IdarenotfoundanyclaimonwhatIowetoyourfather’skindness。"
　　"Whynot？"Iinquired。
　　"Becauseyourfatherisnotaman——"
　　Iwasrudeenoughtointerrupther："Whatishe，then？"
　　"Anangel，"MissJillgallanswered，solemnly。"Adestituteearthlycreaturelikememustnotlookupashighasyourfather。
　　Imightbedazzled。"
　　ThiswasrathermorethanIcouldendurepatiently。"Letustry，"
　　Isuggested，"ifwecan’tunderstandeachother，atstarting。"
　　MissJillgall’slittleeyestwinkledintheirbonycaverns。"TheverythingIwasgoingtopropose！"sheburstout。
　　"Verywell，"Iwenton；"then，letmetellyouplainlythatflatteryisnotrelishedinthishouse。"
　　"Flattery？"Sheputherhandtoherheadassherepeatedtheword，andlookedquitebewildered。"DearHelena，IhavelivedallmylifeinEastFlanders，andmyownlanguageisoccasionallystrangetome。CanyoutellmewhatflatteryisinFlemish？"
　　"Idon’tunderstandFlemish。"
　　"Howveryprovoking！Youdon’tunderstandFlemish，andIdon’tunderstandFlattery。Ishouldsoliketoknowwhatitmeans。Ah，Iseebooksinthislovelyroom。Isthereadictionaryamongthem？"Shedartedtothebookcase，anddiscoveredadictionary。
　　"NowIshallunderstandFlattery，"sheremarked——"andthenweshallunderstandeachother。Oh，letmefinditformyself！"Sheranherrawredfingeralongthealphabeticalheadingsatthetopofeachpage。"’FAD。’Thatwon’tdo。’FIE。’Furtheronstill。
　　’FLE。’Toofartheotherway。’FLA。’Hereweare！’Flattery：
　　Falsepraise。Commendationbestowedforthepurposeofgainingfavorandinfluence。’Oh，Helena，howcruelofyou！"Shedroppedthebook，andsankintoachair——thepicture，ifsuchathingcanbe，ofabroken—heartedoldmaid。
　　Ishouldmostassuredlyhavetakentheopportunityofleavinghertoherowndevices，ifIhadbeenfreetoactasIpleased。Butmyinterestsasadaughterforbademetomakeanenemyofmyfather’scousin，onthefirstdaywhenshehadenteredthehouse。
　　Imadeanapology，veryneatlyexpressed。
　　Shejumpedup——letmedoherjustice；MissJillgallisasnimbleasamonkey——and（Faugh！）shekissedmeforthesecondtime。IfI
　　hadbeenaman，IamafraidIshouldhavecalledforthatdeadlypoison（wearealltemperancepeopleinthishouse）knownbythenameofBrandy。
　　"Ifyouwillmakemeloveyou，"MissJillgallexplained，"youmustexpecttobekissed。Deargirl，letusgobacktomypoorlittlepetition。Oh，domakemeuseful！TherearesomanythingsIcando：youwillfindmeatreasureinthehouse。Iwriteagoodhand；Iunderstandpolishingfurniture；Icandresshair（lookatmyownhair）；Iplayandsingalittlewhenpeoplewanttobeamused；Icanmixasaladandknitstockings——whoisthis？"
　　Thecookcamein，atthemoment，toconsultme；Iintroducedher。
　　"And，oh，"criedMissJillgall，inecstasy，"Icancook！Do，please，letmeseethekitchen。"
　　Thecook’sfaceturnedred。Shehadcometometomakeaconfession；andshehadnot（assheafterwardsaid）bargainedforthepresenceofastranger。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshetookthelibertyofwhisperingtome："Imustaskyou，miss，toletmesendupthecauliflowerplainboiled；Idon’tunderstandthedirectionsinthebookfordoingitintheforeignway。"
　　MissJillgall’sears——perhapsbecausetheyaresolarge——possessaquicknessofhearingquiteunparalleledinmyexperience。Notonewordofthecook’swhisperedconfessionhadescapedher。
　　"Here，"shedeclared，"isanopportunityofmakingmyselfuseful！
　　Whatisthecook’sname？Hannah？Takemedownstairs，Hannah，andI’llshowyouhowtodothecauliflowerintheforeignway。Sheseemstohesitate。Isitpossiblethatshedoesn’tbelieveme？
　　Listen，Hannah，andjudgeforyourselfifIamdeceivingyou。
　　Haveyouboiledthecauliflower？Verywell；thisiswhatyoumustdonext。Takefourouncesofgratedcheese，twoouncesofbestbutter，theyolksoffoureggs，alittlebitofglaze，lemon—juice，nutmeg——dear，dear，howblackshelooks。WhathaveI
　　saidtooffendher？"
　　Thecookpassedovertheladywhohadpresumedtoinstructher，asifnosuchpersonhadbeenpresent，andaddressedherselftome："IfIamtobeinterferedwithinmyownkitchen，miss，I
　　willaskyoutosuityourselfatamonth’snotice。"
　　MissJillgallwrungherhandsindespair。
　　"Imeantsokindly，"shesaid；"andIseemtohavemademischief。
　　Withthebestintentions，Helena，Ihavesetyouandyourservantatvariance。Ireallydidn’tknowyouhadsuchatemper，Hannah，"
　　shedeclared，followingthecooktothedoor。"I’msurethere’snothingIamnotreadytodotomakeitupwithyou。Perhapsyouhavenotgotthecheesedownstairs？I’mreadytogooutandbuyitforyou。Icouldshowyouhowtokeepeggssweetandfreshforweekstogether。Yourgowndoesn’tfitverywell；Ishallbegladtoimproveit，ifyouwillleaveitoutformeafteryouhavegonetobed。There！"criedMissJillgall，asthecookmajesticallylefttheroom，withoutevenlookingather，"Ihavedonemybesttomakeitup，andyouseehowmyadvancesarereceived。WhatmorecouldIhavedone？Ireallyaskyou，dear，asafriend，whatmore_could_Ihavedone？"
　　Ihaditonthetipofmytonguetosay："Thecookdoesn’taskyoutobuycheeseforher，ortoteachherhowtokeepeggs，ortoimprovethefitofhergown；allshewantsistohaveherkitchentoherself。"Buthereagainitwasnecessarytorememberthatthisodiouspersonwasmyfather’sguest。
　　"Praydon’tdistressyourself，"Ibegan；"Iamsureyouarenottoblame，MissJillgall——"
　　"Oh，don’t！"
　　"Don’t——what？"
　　"Don’tcallmeMissJillgall。IcallyouHelena。CallmeSelina。"
　　Ihadreallynotsupposeditpossiblethatshecouldbemoreunendurablethanever。WhenshementionedherChristianname，shesucceededneverthelessinproducingthatresult。Inthewholelistofwomen’snames，isthereanyonetobefoundsoabsolutelysickeningas"Selina"？Iforcedmyselftopronounceit；Imadeanotherneatly—expressedapology；IsaidEnglishservantsweresoverypeculiar。Selinawasmorethansatisfied；shewasquitedelighted。
　　"Isthatit，indeed？AnexplanationwasallIwanted。Howgoodofyou！Andnowtellme——istherenochance，inthehouseoroutofthehouse，ofmymakingmyselfuseful？Oh，what’sthat？DoIseeachance？Ido！Ido！"
　　MissJillgall’seyesaremorethanmortal。Atonetime，theyaremicroscopes。Atanothertime，theyaretelescopes。Shediscovered（rightacrosstheroom）thetornplaceinthewindow—curtain。Inaninstant，shesnatchedadirtylittleleathercaseoutofherpocket，threadedherneedleandbegandarningthecurtain。Shesangoverherwork。"Myheartislight，mywillisfree——"Icanrepeatnomoreofit。WhenIheardhersingingvoice，Ibecamerecklessofconsequences，andranoutoftheroomwithmyhandsovermyears。
　　CHAPTERXVI。
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　WHENIreachedthefootofthestairs，myfathercalledmeintohisstudy。
　　Ifoundhimathiswriting—table，withsuchaheapoftorn—uppaperinhiswaste—basketthatitoverflowedontothefloor。Heexplainedtomethathehadbeendestroyingalargeaccumulationofoldletters，andhadended（whenhisemploymentbegantogrowwearisome）inexamininghiscorrespondencerathercarelessly。Theresultwasthathehadtornupaletter，andacopyofthereply，whichoughttohavebeensetasideasworthyofpreservation。
　　Aftercollectingthefragments，hehadheapedthemonthetable。
　　IfIcouldcontrivetoputthemtogetheragainonfairsheetsofpaper，andfastenthemintheirrightplaceswithgum，Ishouldbedoinghimaservice，atatimewhenhewastoobusytosethismistakerightforhimself。
　　HerewasthebestexcusethatIcoulddesireforkeepingoutofMissJillgall’sway。Icheerfullysettoworkontherestorationoftheletters，whilemyfatherwentonwithhiswriting。
　　Havingputthefragmentstogether——exceptingafewgapscausedbymorselsthathadbeenlost——Iwasunwillingtofastenthemdownwithgum，untilIcouldfeelsureofnothavingmadeanymistakes；especiallyinregardtosomeofthelostwordswhichI
　　hadbeenobligedtorestorebyguess—work。SoIcopiedtheletters，andsubmittedthem，inthefirstplace，tomyfather’sapproval。
　　HepraisedmeintheprettiestmannerforthecarethatIhadtaken。But，whenhebegan，aftersomehesitation，toreadmycopy，Inoticedachange。Thesmilelefthisface，andthenervousquiveringsshowedthemselvesagain。
　　"Quiteright，mychild，"hesaid，inlowsadtones。
　　Onreturningtomysideofthetable，Iexpectedtoseehimresumehiswriting。Hecrossedtheroomtothewindowandstood（withhisbacktome）lookingout。
　　WhenIhadfirstdiscoveredthesenseoftheletters，theyfailedtointerestme。Atiresomewoman，presumingonthekindnessofagood—naturedmantobegafavorwhichshehadnorighttoask，andreceivingarefusalwhichshehadrichlydeserved，wasnoremarkableeventinmyexperienceasmyfather’ssecretaryandcopyist。Butthechangeinhisface，whilehereadthecorrespondence，alteredmyopinionoftheletters。TherewasmoreinthemevidentlythanIhaddiscovered。Ikeptmymanuscriptcopy——hereitis：
　　FromMissElizabethChancetotheRev。AbelGracedieu。
　　（Dateofyear，1859。Dateofmonth，missing。）
　　"DEARSIR——Youhave，Ihope，notquiteforgottentheinterestingconversationthatwehadlastyearintheGovernor’srooms。IamafraidIspokealittleflippantlyatthetime；butIamsureyouwillbelievemewhenIsaythatthiswasoutofnowantofrespecttoyourself。Mypecuniarypositionbeingfarfromprosperous，IamendeavoringtoobtainthevacantsituationofhousekeeperinapublicinstitutiontheprospectusofwhichI
　　inclose。Youwillseeitisaruleoftheplacethatacandidatemustbeasinglewoman（whichIam），andmustberecommendedbyaclergyman。Youaretheonlyreverendgentlemanwhomitismygoodfortunetoknow，andthethingisofcourseamereformality。
　　Prayexcusethisapplication，andobligemebyactingasmyreference。
　　"Sincerelyyours，"ELIZABETHCHANCE。"
　　"P。S。——Pleaseaddress：MissE。Chance，PosteRestante，St。
　　Martin’s—le—Grand，London。"
　　"FromtheRev。AbelGracedieutoMissChance。
　　（Copy。）
　　"MADAM——Thebriefconversationtowhichyourletteralludes，tookplaceatanaccidentalmeetingbetweenus。Ithensawyouforthefirsttime，andIhavenotseenyousince。Itisimpossibleformetoasserttheclaimofaperfectstranger，likeyourself，tofillasituationoftrust。Imustbegtodeclineactingasyourreference。
　　"Yourobedientservant，"ABELGRACEDIEU。"