Myfatherwasstillatthewindow。
Inthatidlepositionhecouldhardlycomplainofmeforinterruptinghim，ifIventuredtotalkabouttheletterswhichI
hadputtogether。Ifmycuriositydispleasedhim，hehadonlytosayso，andtherewouldbeanendtoanyallusionsofminetothesubject。Myfirstideawastojoinhimatthewindow。Onreflection，andstillperceivingthathekepthisbackturnedonme，Ithoughtitmightbemoreprudenttoremainatthetable。
"ThisMissChanceseemstobeanimpudentperson？"Isaid。
"Yes。"
"Wassheayoungwoman，whenyoumetwithher？"
"Yes。"
"Whatsortofawomantolookat？Ugly？"
"No。"
HerewerethreeanswerswhichEuniceherselfwouldhavebeenquickenoughtointerpretasthreewarningstosaynomore。I
feltalittlehurtbyhiskeepinghisbackturnedonme。Atthesametime，andnaturally，Ithink，IfoundmyinterestinMissChance（Idon’tsaymyfriendlyinterest）considerablyincreasedbymyfather’sunusuallyrudebehavior。Iwasalsoanimatedbyanirresistibledesiretomakehimturnroundandlookatme。
"MissChance’sletterwaswrittenmanyyearsago，"Iresumed。"I
wonderwhathasbecomeofhersinceshewrotetoyou。"
"Iknownothingabouther。"
"Notevenwhethersheisaliveordead？"
"Noteventhat。Whatdothesequestionsmean，Helena？"
"Nothing，father。"
Ideclarehelookedasifhesuspectedme！
"Whydon’tyouspeakout？"hesaid。"HaveIevertaughtyoutoconcealyourthoughts？HaveIeverbeenahardfather，whodiscouragedyouwhenyouwishedtoconfideinhim？Whatareyouthinkingabout？Do_you_knowanythingofthiswoman？"
"Oh，father，whataquestion！IneverevenheardofhertillI
putthetornletterstogether。Ibegintowishyouhadnotaskedmetodoit。"
"SodoI。Itneverstruckmethatyouwouldfeelsuchextraordinary——Ihadalmostsaid，suchvulgar——curiosityaboutaworthlessletter。"
Thisrousedmytemper。Whenayoungladyistoldthatsheisvulgar，ifshehasanyself—conceit——Imeanself—respect——shefeelsinsulted。Isaidsomethingsharpinmyturn。Itwasinthewayofargument。Idonotknowhowitmaybewithotheryoungpersons，IneverreasonsowellmyselfaswhenIamangry。
"Youcallitaworthlessletter，"Isaid，"andyetyouthinkitworthpreserving。"
"Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat？"heasked。
"Nothingmore，"Ianswered。
Hechangedagain。Afterhavinglookedunaccountablyangry，henowlookedunaccountablyrelieved。
"Iwillsoonsatisfyyou，"hesaid，"thatIhaveagoodreasonforpreservingaworthlessletter。MissChance，mydear，isnotawomantobetrusted。Ifshesawheradvantageinmakingabaduseofmyreply，Iamafraidshewouldnothesitatetodoit。Evenifsheisnolongerliving，Idon’tknowintowhatvilehandsmylettermaynothavefallen，orhowitmightbefalsifiedforsomewickedpurpose。Doyouseenowhowacorrespondencemaybecomeaccidentallyimportant，thoughitisofnovalueinitself？"
Icouldsay"Yes"tothiswithasafeconscience。
Butthereweresomeperplexitiesstillleftinmymind。ItseemedstrangethatMissChanceshould（apparently）havesubmittedtotheseverityofmyfather’sreply。"Ishouldhavethought，"I
saidtohim，"thatshewouldhavesentyouanotherimpudentletter——orperhapshaveinsistedonseeingyou，andusinghertongueinsteadofherpen。"
"Shecoulddoneithertheonenortheother，Helena。MissChancewillneverfindoutmyaddressagain；Ihavetakengoodcareofthat。"
Hespokeinaloudvoice，withaflushedface——asifitwasquiteatriumphtohavepreventedthiswomanfromdiscoveringhisaddress。Whatreasoncouldhehaveforbeingsoanxioustokeepherawayfromhim？CouldIventuretoconcludethattherewasamysteryinthelifeofamansoblameless，sotrulypious？Itshockedoneeventothinkofit。
Therewasasilencebetweenus，towhichthehousemaidofferedawelcomeinterruption。Dinnerwasready。
Hekissedmebeforewelefttheroom。"Onewordmore，Helena，"hesaid，"andIhavedone。LettherebenomoretalkbetweenusaboutElizabethChance。"
CHAPTERXVIL
HELENA’SDIARY。
MISSJILLGALLjoinedusatthedinner—table，inastateofexcitement，carryingabookinherhand。
Iaminclined，onreflection，tosuspectthatsheisquitecleverenoughtohavediscoveredthatIhateher——andthatmanyoftheaggravatingthingsshesaysanddoesareassumed，outofretaliation，forthepurposeofmakingmeangry。Thatuglyfaceisadoubleface，orIammuchmistaken。
Toreturntothedinner—table，MissJillgalladdressedherself，withanairofplayfulpenitence，tomyfather。
"Dearcousin，IhopeIhavenotdonewrong。Helenaleftmeallbymyself。WhenIhadfinisheddarningthecurtain，Ireallydidn’tknowwhattodo。SoIopenedallthebedroomdoorsupstairsandlookedintotherooms。Inthebigroomwithtwobeds——oh，Iamsoashamed——Ifoundthisbook。Pleaselookatthefirstpage。"
Myfatherlookedatthetitle—page："DoctorWatts’sHymns。Well，Selina，whatistheretobeashamedofinthis？"
"Oh，no！no！It’sthewrongpage。Dolookattheotherpage——theonethatcomesfirstbeforethatone。"
Mypatientfatherturnedtotheblankpage。
"Ah，"hesaidquietly，"myotherdaughter’snameiswritteninit——thedaughterwhomyouhavenotseen。Well？"
MissJillgallclaspedherhandsdistractedly。"It’smyignoranceI’msoashamedof。Dearcousin，forgiveme，enlightenme。Idon’tknowhowtopronounceyourotherdaughter’sname。DoyoucallherEuneece？"
Thedinnerwasgettingcold。Iwasprovokedintosaying："No，wedon’t。"
Shehadevidentlynotforgivenmeforleavingherbyherself。
"Pardonme，Helena，whenIwantinformationIdon’tapplytoyou：
Isit，asitwere，atthefeetofyourlearnedfather。Dearcousin，isit——"
Evenmyfatherdeclinedtowaitforhisdinneranylonger。
"Pronounceitasyoulike，Selina。HerewesayEuni’ce——withtheaccentonthe’i’andwiththefinal’e’sounded：Eu—ni’—see。Letmegiveyousomesoup。"
MissJillgallgroaned。"Oh，howdifficultitseemstobe！Quitebeyondmypoorbrains！Ishallaskthedeargirl’sleavetocallherEuneece。Whatverystrongsoup！Isn’titratherawasteofmeat？Givemealittlemore，please。"
IdiscoveredanotherofMissJillgall’speculiarities。Herappetitewasenormous，andherwaysweregreedy。Youheardhereathersoup。Shedevouredthefoodonherplatewithhereyesbeforesheputitintohermouth；andshecriticisedourEnglishcookeryinthemostimpudentmanner，underpretenseofaskinghumblyhowitwasdone。Therewas，however，sometemporarycompensationforthis。Wehadlessofhertalkwhileshewaseatingherdinner。
Withtheremovalofthecloth，sherecoveredtheuseofhertongue；andshehitontheonesubjectofallotherswhichprovestobethesoresttrialtomyfather’spatience。
"Andnow，dearcousin，letustalkofyourotherdaughter，ourabsentEuneece。Idosolongtoseeher。Whenisshecomingback？"
"Inafewdaysmore。"
"HowgladIam！Anddotellme——whichisshe？Youroldestgirloryouryoungest？"
"Neithertheonenortheother，Selina。"
"Oh，myhead！myhead！Thisisevenworsethantheaccentonthe’i’andthefinal’e。’Stop！IamclevererthanIthoughtIwas。
Youmeanthatthegirlsaretwins。AretheybothsoexactlylikeeachotherthatIshan’tknowwhichiswhich？Whatfun！"
WhenthesubjectofourageswasunluckilystartedatMrs。
Staveley’s，Ihadslippedoutofthedifficultyeasilybyassumingthecharacteroftheeldestsister——anexampleofreadytactwhichmydearstupidEunicedoesn’tunderstand。Inmyfather’spresence，itisneedlesstosaythatIkeptsilence，andleftittohim。Iwassorrytobeobligedtodothis。Owingtohissadstateofhealth，heiseasilyirritated——especiallybyinquisitivestrangers。
"Imustleaveyou，"heanswered，withouttakingtheslightestnoticeofwhatMissJillgallhadsaidtohim。"Myworkiswaitingforme。"
Shestoppedhimonhiswaytothedoor。"Oh，tellme——can’tI
helpyou？"
"Thankyou；no。"
"Well——buttellmeonething。AmIrightaboutthetwins？"
"Youarewrong。"
MissJillgall’sdemonstrativehandsflewupintotheairagain，andexpressedtheclimaxofastonishmentbyquiveringoverherhead。"Thisispositivelymaddening，"shedeclared。"Whatdoesitmean？"
"Takemyadvice，cousin。Don’tattempttofindoutwhatitmeans。"
Helefttheroom。MissJillgallappealedtome。Iimitatedmyfather’swisebrevityofexpression："Sorrytodisappointyou，Selina；Iknownomoreaboutitthanyoudo。Comeupstairs。"
Everystepofthewayuptothedrawing—roomwasmarkedbyaprotestoraninquiry。DidIexpecthertobelievethatI
couldn’tsaywhichofuswastheelderofthetwo？thatIdidn’treallyknowwhatmyfather’smotivewasforthisextraordinarymystification？thatmysisterandIhadsubmittedtoberobbed，asitwere，ofourownages，andhadnotinsistedondiscoveringwhichofushadcomeintotheworldfirst？thatourfriendshadnotputanendtothissortofthingbycomparinguspersonally，anddiscoveringwhichwastheeldersisterbyinvestigationofourfaces？ToallthisIreplied：First，thatIdidcertainlyexpecthertobelievewhateverImightsay：Secondly，thatwhatshewaspleasedtocallthe"mystification"hadbegunwhenwewerebothchildren；thathabithadmadeitfamiliartousinthecourseofyears；andaboveall，thatweweretoofondofourgoodfathertoaskforexplanationswhichweknewbyexperiencewoulddistresshim：Thirdly，thatfriendsdidtrytodiscover，bypersonalexamination，whichwastheeldersister，anddifferedperpetuallyintheirconclusions；alsothatwehadamusedourselvesbytryingthesameexperimentbeforeourlooking—glasses，andthatEunicethoughtHelenawastheoldest，andHelenathoughtEunicewastheoldest：Fourthly（andfinally），thattheReverendMr。Gracedieu’scousinhadbetterdropthesubject，unlessshewasbentonmakingherpresenceinthehouseunendurabletotheReverendMr。Gracedieuhimself。
Iwriteitwithasenseofhumiliation；MissJillgalllistenedattentivelytoallIhadtosay——andthentookmecompletelybysurprise。Thisinquisitive，meddlesome，restless，impudentwomansuddenlytransformedherselfintoaperfectmodelofamiabilityanddecorum。Sheactuallysaidsheagreedwithme，andwasmuchobligedformygoodadvice！
Astupidyoungwoman，inmyplace，wouldhavediscoveredthatthiswasnotnatural，andthatMissJillgallwaspresentingherselftomeindisguise，toreachsomesecretendofherown。I
amnotastupidyoungwoman；IoughttohavehadatmyservicepenetrationenoughtoseethroughandthroughCousinSelina。
Well！CousinSelinawasanimpenetrablemysterytome。
Theonethingtobedonewastowatchher。Iwasatleastslyenoughtotakeupabook，andpretendtobereadingit。Howcontemptible！
Shelookedroundtheroom，anddiscoveredourprettywriting—table；apresenttomyfatherfromhiscongregation。
Afteralittleconsideration，shesatdowntowritealetter。
"Whendoesthepostgoout？"sheasked。
Imentionedthehour；andshebeganherletter。Beforeshecouldhavewrittenmorethanthefirsttwoorthreelines，sheturnedroundonherseat，andbegantalkingtome。
"Doyoulikewritingletters，mydear？"
"Yes——butthenIhavenotmanyletterstowrite。"
"Onlyafewfriends，Helena，butthosefewworthytobeloved？Myowncaseexactly。Hasyourfathertoldyouofmytroubles？Ah，I
amgladofthat。ItsparesmethesadnecessityofconfessingwhatIhavesuffered。Oh，howgoodmyfriends，mynewfriends，weretomeinthatdulllittleBelgiantown！Oneofthemwasgenerositypersonified——ah，shehadsuffered，too！Avilehusbandwhohaddeceivedanddesertedher。Oh，themen！Whensheheardofthelossofmylittlefortune，thatnoblecreaturegotupasubscriptionforme，andwentroundherselftocollect。ThinkofwhatIowetoher！OughtItoletanotherdaypasswithoutwritingtomybenefactress？AmInotboundingratitudetomakeherhappyintheknowledgeof_my_happiness——Imeantherefugeopenedtomeinthishospitablehouse？"
Shetwistedherselfbackagaintothewriting—table，andwentonwithherletter。
Ihavenotattemptedtoconcealmystupidity。Letmenowrecordapartialrecoveryofmyintelligence。
ItwasnottobedeniedthatMissJillgallhaddiscoveredagoodreasonforwritingtoherfriend；butIwasatalosstounderstandwhysheshouldhavebeensoanxioustomentionthereason。Wasitpossible——afterthetalkwhichhadpassedbetweenus——thatshehadsomethingmischievoustosayinherletter，relatingtomyfatherortome？WassheafraidImightsuspectthis？Andhadshebeensocommunicativeforthepurposeofleadingmysuspicionsastray？Thesewerevagueguesses；but，tryasImight，IcouldarriveatnoclearerviewofwhatwaspassinginMissJillgall’smind。WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletolookoverhershoulder，withoutdiscovery！
Shefinishedherletter，andputtheaddress，andclosedtheenvelope。Thensheturnedroundtowardmeagain。
"Haveyougotaforeignpostagestamp，dear？"
IfIcouldlookatnothingelse，Iwasresolvedtolookatherenvelope。Itwasonlynecessarytogotothestudy，andtoapplytomyfather。Ireturnedwiththeforeignstamp，andIstuckitontheenvelopewithmyownhand。
Therewasnothingtointerest_me_intheaddress，asIoughttohaveforeseen，ifIhadnotbeentoomuchexcitedfortheexerciseofalittlecommonsense。MissJillgall’swonderfulfriendwasonlyremarkablebyheruglyforeignname——MRS。
TENBRUGGEN。
CHAPTERXVIII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
HEREIam，writingmyhistoryofmyself，oncemore，bymyownbedside。SomeunexpectedeventshavehappenedwhileIhavebeenaway。Oneofthemistheabsenceofmysister。
Helenahaslefthomeonavisittoanortherntownbytheseaside。Sheisstayinginthehouseofaminister（oneofpapa’sfriends），andisoccupyingapositionofdignityinwhichI
shouldcertainlylosemyhead。TheministerandhiswifeanddaughtersproposetosetupaGirls’ScriptureClass，ontheplandevisedbypapa；andtheyareataloss，poorhelplesspeople，toknowhowtobegin。Helenahasvolunteeredtosetthethinggoing。
Andtheresheisnow，advisingeverybody，governingeverybody，encouragingeverybody——issuingdirections，findingfault，rewardingmerit——oh，dear，letmeputitallinoneword，andsay：thoroughlyenjoyingherself。
Anothereventhashappened，relatingtopapa。ItsodistressedmethatIevenforgottothinkofPhilip——foralittlewhile。
Travelingbyrailway（IsupposebecauseIamnotusedtoit）
givesmetheheadache。WhenIgottoourstationhere，Ithoughtitwoulddomemoregoodtowalkhomethantorideinthenoisyomnibus。Half—waybetweentherailwayandthetown，Imetoneofthedoctors。Heisamemberofourcongregation；andheitwaswhorecommendedpapa，sometimesince，togiveuphisworkasaministerandtakealongholidayinforeignparts。
"Iamgladtohavemetwithyou，"thedoctorsaid。"Yoursister，Ifind，isawayonavisit；andIwanttospeaktooneofyouaboutyourfather。"
Itseemedthathehadbeenobservingpapa，inchapel，fromwhathecalledhisownmedicalpointofview。Hedidnotconcealfrommethathehaddrawnconclusionswhichmadehimfeeluneasy。"Itmaybeanxiety，"hesaid，"oritmaybeoverwork。Ineithercase，yourfatherisinastateofnervousderangement，whichislikelytoleadtoseriousresults——unlesshetakestheadvicethatI
gavehimwhenhelastconsultedme。Theremustbenomorehesitationaboutit。Becarefulnottoirritatehim——butrememberthathemustrest。Youandyoursisterhavesomeinfluenceoverhim；hewon’tlistentome。"
Poordearpapa！Ididseeachangeinhimfortheworse——thoughI
hadonlybeenawayforsoshortatime。
WhenIputmyarmsroundhisneck，andkissedhim，heturnedpale，andthenflushedupsuddenly：thetearscameintohiseyes。
Oh，itwashardtofollowthedoctor’sadvice，andnottocry，too；butIsucceededincontrollingmyself。Isatonhisknee，andmadehimtellmeallthatIhavewrittenhereaboutHelena。
Thisledtoourtalkingnextofthenewlady，whoistolivewithusasamemberofthefamily。Ibegantofeellessuneasyattheprospectofbeingintroducedtothisstranger，whenIheardthatshewaspapa’scousin。Andwhenhementionedhername，andsawhowitamusedme，hispoorwornfacebrightenedintoasmile。"Goandfindher，"hesaid，"andintroduceyourself。Iwanttohear，Eunice，ifyouandmycousinarelikelytogetonwelltogether。"
TheservantstoldmethatMissJillgallwasinthegarden。
Isearchedhere，there，andeverywhere，andfailedtofindher。
Theplacewassoquiet，itlookedsodeliciouslypureandbright，aftersmokydrearyLondon，thatIsatdownatthefurtherendofthegardenandletmymindtakemebacktoPhilip。Whatwashedoingatthatmoment，whileIwasthinkingofhim？Perhapshewasinthecompanyofotheryoungladies，whodrewallhisthoughtsawaytothemselves？OrperhapshewaswritingtohisfatherinIreland，andsayingsomethingkindlyandprettilyaboutme？Orperhapshewaslookingforward，asanxiouslyasIdo，toourmeetingnextweek。
Ihavehadmyplans，andIhavechangedmyplans。
Ontherailwayjourney，IthoughtIwouldtellpapaatonceofthenewhappinesswhichseemstohaveputanewlifeintome。Itwouldhavebeendelightfultomakemyconfessiontothatfirstandbestanddearestoffriends；butmymeetingwiththedoctorspoileditall。Afterwhathehadsaidtome，Idiscoveredarisk。IfIventuredtotellpapathatmyheartwassetonayounggentlemanwhowasastrangertohim，couldIbesurethathewouldreceivemyconfessionfavorably？Therewasachancethatitmightirritatehim——andthefaultwouldthenbemineofdoingwhatIhadbeenwarnedtoavoid。ItmightbesaferineverywaytowaittillPhilippaidhisvisit，andheandpapahadbeenintroducedtoeachotherandcharmedwitheachother。CouldHelenaherselfhavearrivedatawiserconclusion？IdeclareI
feltproudofmyowndiscretion。
InthisenjoyableframeofmindIwasdisturbedbyawoman’svoice。Thetonewasatoneofdistress，andthewordsreachedmyearsfromtheendofthegarden："Please，miss，letmein。"
Ashrubberymarksthelimitofourlittlebitofpleasure—ground。
Ontheothersideofitthereisacottagestandingontheedgeofthecommon。Themostgood—naturedwomanintheworldliveshere。Sheisourlaundress——marriedtoastupidyoungfellownamedMolly，andblessedwithaplumpbabyassweet—temperedatherself。ThinkingitlikelythatthepiteousvoicewhichhaddisturbedmemightbethevoiceofMrs。Molly，Iwasastonishedtohearherappealingtoanybody（perhapstome？）to"letherin。"SoIpassedthroughtheshrubbery，wonderingwhetherthegatehadbeenlockedduringmyabsenceinLondon。No；itwasaseasytoopenasever。
Thecottagedoorwasnotclosed。
Isawouramiablelaundressinthepassage，onherknees，tryingtoopenaninnerdoorwhichseemedtobelocked。Shehadhereyeatthekeyhole；and，onceagain，shecalledout："Please，miss，letmein。"Iwaitedtoseeifthedoorwouldbeopened——nothinghappened。Iwaitedagain，tohearifsomepersoninsidewouldanswer——nobodyspoke。Butsomebody，orsomething，madeasoundofsplashingwaterontheothersideofthedoor。
Ishowedmyself，andaskedwhatwasthematter。
Mrs。Mollylookedatmehelplessly。Shesaid："MissEunice，it’sthebaby。"
"Whathasthebabydone？"Iinquired。
Mrs。Mollygotonherfeet，andwhisperedinmyear："Youknowhe’safinechild？"
"Yes。"
"Well，miss，he’sbewitchedalady。"
"Whatlady？"
"MissJillgall。"
TheverypersonIhadbeentryingtofind！Iaskedwhereshewas。
Thelaundresspointeddolefullytothelockeddoor："Inthere。"
"Andwhereisyourbaby？"
Thepoorwomanstillpointedtothedoor："I’mbeginningtodoubt，miss，whetheritismybaby。"
"Nonsense，Mrs。Molly。Ifitisn’tyours，whosebabycanitbe？"
"MissJillgall’s。"
Herpuzzledfacemadethissingularreplymorefunnystill。Thesplashingofwaterontheothersideofthedoorbeganagain。
"WhatisMissJillgalldoingnow？"Isaid。
"Washingthebaby，miss。Aweekago，shecameinhere，onemorning；verypleasantandkind，Imustown。Shefoundmeputtingonthebaby’sthings。Shesays：’Whatacherub！’whichItookasacompliment。Shesays：’Ishallcallagainto—morrow。’Shecalledagainsoearlythatshefoundthebabyinhiscrib。’Youbeagoodsoul，’shesays，’andgoaboutyourwork，andleavethechildtome。’Isays：’Yes，miss，butpleasetowaittillI’vemadehimfittobeseen。’Shesays：’That’sjustwhatImeantodomyself。’Istared；andIthinkanyotherpersonwouldhavedonethesameinmyplace。’Ifthere’sonethingmorethananotherIenjoy，’shesays，’it’smakingmyselfuseful。Mrs。
Molly，I’vetakenafancytoyourboy—baby，’shesays，’andI
meantomakemyselfusefulto_him。_’Ifyouwillbelieveme，MissJillgallhasonlyletmehaveoneopportunityofputtingmyownchildtidy。Shewaslatethismorning，andIgotmychance，andhadtheboyonmylap，dryinghim——wheninsheburstlikeablastofwind，andsnatchedthebabyawayfromme。’Thisisyournastytemper，’shesays；’IdeclareI’mashamedofyou！’Andtheresheis，withthedoorlockedagainstme，washingthechildalloveragainherself。TwiceI’veknocked，andaskedhertoletmein，andcan’tevengetananswer。Theydosaythere’sluckinoddnumbers；supposeItryagain？"Mrs。Mollyknocked，andtheproverbprovedtobetrue；shegotananswerfromMissJillgallatlast："Ifyoudon’tbequietandgoaway，youshan’thavethebabybackatall。"Whocouldhelpit？——Iburstoutlaughing。MissJillgall（asIsupposedfromthetoneofhervoice）tookseverenoticeofthisactofimpropriety。"Who’sthatlaughing？"shecalledout；"giveyourselfaname。"Igavemyname。Thedoorwasinstantlythrownopenwithabang。Papa’scousinappeared，inadisheveledstate，withsplashesofsoapandwateralloverher。
Sheheldthechildinonearm，andshethrewtheotherarmroundmyneck。"DearestEuneece，Ihavebeenlongingtoseeyou。HowdoyoulikeOurbaby？"
TothecuriousstoryofmyintroductiontoMissJillgall，IoughtperhapstoaddthatIhavegottobefriendswithheralready。I
amthefriendofanybodywhoamusesme。WhatwillHelenasaywhenshereadsthis？
CHAPTERXIX。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
WHENpeopleareinterestedinsomeeventthatiscoming，dotheyfindthedulldays，passedinwaitingforit，dayswhichtheyarenotabletorememberwhentheylookback？Thisismyunfortunatecase。Nightafternight，IhavegonetobedwithoutsomuchasopeningmyJournal。Therewasnothingworthwritingabout，nothingthatIcouldrecollect，untilthepostmancameto—day。I
randownstairs，whenIheardhisringatthebell，andstoppedMariaonherwaytothestudy。There，amongpapa’susualhandfulofletters，wasaletterforme。
"DEARMISSEUNICE：