"Yoursevertruly。"
　　IquotethepassagesinPhilip’sletterwhichmostdeeplyinterestedme——Iamhisdearmiss；andheismineevertruly。TheotherpartofthelettertoldmethathehadbeendetainedinLondon，andhelamentedit。Attheendwasadelightfulannouncementthathewascomingtomebytheafternoontrain。I
　　ranupstairstoseehowIlookedintheglass。
　　Myfirstfeelingwasregret。Forthethousandthtime，IwasobligedtoacknowledgethatIwasnotasprettyasHelena。Butthispassedoff。Acheeringreflectionoccurredtome。Philipwouldnothavefound，inmysister’sface，whatseemstohaveinterestedhiminmyface。Besides，thereismyfigure。
　　ThepityofitisthatIamsoignorantaboutsomethings。IfI
　　hadbeenallowedtoreadnovels，Imight（judgingbywhatpapasaidagainsttheminoneofhissermons）havefeltsureofmyownattractions；ImightevenhaveunderstoodwhatPhilipreallythoughtofme。However，mymindwasquiteunexpectedlysetateaseonthesubjectofmyfigure。Themannerinwhichithappenedwassoamusing——atleast，soamusingtome——thatIcannotresistmentioningit。
　　MysisterandIareforbiddentoreadnewspapers，aswellasnovels。ButtheteachersattheGirls’ScriptureClassaretoooldtobetreatedinthisway。Whenthemorninglessonswereover，oneofthemwasreadingthenewspapertotheother，intheemptyschoolroom；Ibeinginthepassageoutside，puttingonmycloak。
　　Itwasareportof"anapplicationmadetothemagistratesbytheladyofhisworshiptheMayor。"Hearingthis，Istoppedtolisten。Theladyofhisworship（whatafunnywayofdescribingaman’swife！）isreportedtobealittletoofondofnotoriety，andtolikehearingthesoundofherownvoiceonpublicoccasions。Butthisisonlymywriting；Ihadbettergetbacktothereport。"Inheraddresstothemagistrates，theMayoressstatedthatshehadseenadisgustingphotographintheshopwindowofastationer，latelyestablishedinthetown。Shedesiredtobringthispersonwithinreachofthelaw，andtohaveallhiscopiesoftheshamelessphotographdestroyed。Theusherofthecourtwasthereuponsenttopurchasethephotograph。"——Onsecondthoughts，Iprefergoingbacktomyownwritingagain；itissouninterestingtocopyotherpeople’swriting。Twoofthemagistratesweredoingjustice。Theylookedatthephotograph——andwhatdiditrepresent？ThefamousstatuecalledtheVenusde’Medici！Oneofthemagistratestookthisdiscoveryindignantly。Hewasshockedatthegrossignorancewhichcouldcalltheclassicidealofbeautyandgraceadisgustingwork。Theotheronemadepoliteallowances。Hethoughttheladywasmuchtobepitied；shewasevidentlytheinnocentvictimofaneglectededucation。Mrs。Mayorleftthecourtinarage，tellingthejusticessheknewwheretogetlaw。"IshallexposeVenus，"shesaid，"totheLordChancellor。"
　　WhentheScriptureClasshadbrokenupfortheday，dutyoughttohavetakenmehome。Curiosityledmeastray——Imean，ledmetothestationer’swindow。
　　ThereIfoundourtwoteachers，absorbedinthephotograph；
　　havinggottotheshopfirstbyashortcut。TheyseemedtothinkIhadtakenalibertywhomIjoinedthem。"Wearehere，"theywerecarefultoexplain，"togetalessonintheidealofbeautyandgrace。"Therewasquitealittlecrowdoftownsfolkcollectedbeforethewindow。Someofthemgiggled；andsomeofthemwonderedwhetheritwastakenfromthelife。Formyownpart，gratitudetoVenusobligesmetoownthatsheeffectedagreatimprovementinthestateofmymind。Sheencouragedme。Ifthatstumpylittlecreature——withnowaist，andoh，suchuncertainlegs！——representedtheidealofbeautyandgrace，Ihadreasonindeedtobesatisfiedwithmyownfigure，andtothinkitquitepossiblethatmysweetheart’sfavorableopinionofmewasnotill—bestowed。
　　IwasatthebedroomwindowwhenthetimeapproachedforPhilip’sarrival。
　　Quiteatthefarendoftheroad，Idiscoveredhim。Hewasonfoot；hewalkedlikeaking。NotthatIeversawaking，butI
　　havemyideal。Ah，whatasmilehegaveme，whenImadehimlookupbywavingmyhandkerchiefoutofthewindow！"Askforpapa，"I
　　whisperedasheascendedthehouse—steps。
　　Thenextthingtodowastowait，aspatientlyasIcould，tobesentfordownstairs。Mariacametomeinastateofexcitement。
　　"Oh，miss，whatahandsomeyounggentleman，andhowbeautifullydressed！Ishe——？"Insteadoffinishingwhatshehadtosay，shelookedatmewithaslysmile。Ilookedatherwithaslysmile。
　　Wewerecertainlyacoupleoffools。But，dearme，howhappysometimesafoolcanbe！
　　MyenjoymentofthatdelightfultimewascheckedwhenIwentintothedrawing—room。
　　Ihadexpectedtoseepapa’sfacemadebeautifulbyhiswinningsmile。Hewasnotonlyserious；heactuallyseemedtobeillateasewhenhelookedatme。Atthesametime，IsawnothingtomakemeconcludethatPhiliphadproducedanunfavorableimpression。Thetruthis，wewereallthreeonourbestbehavior，andweshowedit。PhiliphadbroughtwithhimaletterfromMrs。
　　Staveley，introducinghimtopapa。WespokeoftheStaveleys，oftheweather，oftheCathedral——andthenthereseemedtobenothingmorelefttotalkabout。
　　Inthesilencethatfollowed——whatadreadfulthingsilenceis！——papawassentfortoseesomebodywhohadcalledonbusiness。Hemadehisexcusesinthesweetestmanner，butstillseriously。WhenheandPhiliphadshakenhands，wouldheleaveustogether？No；hewaited。PoorPhiliphadnochoicebuttotakeleaveofme。Papathenwentoutbythedoorthatledintohisstudy，andIwasleftalone。
　　CananywordssayhowwretchedIfelt？
　　Ihadhopedsomuchfromthatfirstmeeting——andwhereweremyhopesnow？AprofanewishthatIhadneverbeenbornwasfindingitswayintomymind，whenthedooroftheroomwasopenedsoftly，fromthesideofthepassage。Maria，dearMaria，thebestfriendIhave，peepedin。Shewhispered："Gointothegarden，miss，andyouwillfindsomebodytherewhoisdyingtoseeyou。
　　Mindyoulethimoutbytheshrubberygate。"Isqueezedherhand；
　　Iaskedifshehadtriedtheshrubberygatewithasweetheartofherown。"Hundredsoftimes，miss。"
　　WasitwrongformetogotoPhilip，inthegarden？Oh，thereisnoendtoobjections！PerhapsIdidit_because_itwaswrong。
　　PerhapsIhadbeenkeptonmybestbehaviortoolongforhumanendurance。
　　Howsadlydisappointedhelooked！Andhowrashlyhehadplacedhimselfjustwherehecouldbeseenfromthebackwindows！Itookhisarmandledhimtotheendofthegarden。Therewewereoutofthereachofinquisitiveeyes；andtherewesatdowntogether，underthebigmulberrytree。
　　"Oh，Eunice，yourfatherdoesn’tlikeme！"
　　Thosewerehisfirstwords。Injusticetopapa（andalittleformyownsaketoo）Itoldhimhewasquitewrong。Isaid："Trustmyfather’sgoodness，trusthiskindness，asIdo。"
　　Hemadenoreply。Hissilencewassufficientlyexpressive；helookedatmefondly。
　　Imaybewrong，butfondlookssurelyrequireanacknowledgmentofsomekind？Isayoungwomanguiltyofboldnesswhoonlyfollowsherimpulses？Islippedmyhandintohishand。Philipseemedtolikeit。Wereturnedtoourconversation。
　　Hebegan："Tellme，dear，isMr。Gracedieualwaysasseriousasheisto—day？"
　　"Ohno！"
　　"Whenhetakesexercise，doesheride？ordoeshewalk？"
　　"Papaalwayswalks。"
　　"Byhimself？"
　　"Sometimesbyhimself。Sometimeswithme。Doyouwanttomeethimwhenhegoesout？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whenheisoutwithme？"
　　"No。Whenheisoutbyhimself。"
　　WasitpossibletotellmemoreplainlythatIwasnotwanted？I
　　didmybesttoexpressindignationbysnatchingmyhandawayfromhim。Hewascompletelytakenbysurprise。
　　"Eunice！don’tyouunderstandme？"
　　IwasasstupidandasdisagreeableasIcouldpossiblybe："No；
　　Idon’t！"
　　"Thenletmehelpyou，"hesaid，withapatiencewhichIhadnotdeserved。
　　UptothatmomentIhadbeenleaningagainstthebackofagardenchair。Somethingelsenowgotbetweenmeandmychair。Itstoleroundmywaist——itheldmegently——itstrengtheneditshold——itimprovedmytemper——itmademefittounderstandhim。Alldonebywhat？Onlyanarm！
　　Philipwenton：
　　"Iwanttoaskyourfathertodomethegreatestofallfavors——andthereisnotimetolose。Everyday，IexpecttogetaletterwhichmayrecallmetoIreland。"
　　Myheartsankatthishorridprospect；andinsomemysteriouswaymyheadmusthavefeltittoo。ImeanthatIfoundmyheadrestingonhisshoulder。Hewenton：
　　"HowamItogetmyopportunityofspeakingtoMr。Gracedieu？I
　　mustn’tcallonhimagainassoonasto—morrowornextday。ButI
　　mightmeethim，outwalkingalone，ifyouwilltellmehowtodoit。AnotetomyhotelisallIwant。Don’ttremble，mysweet。Ifyouarenotpresentatthetime，doyouseeanyobjectiontomyowningtoyourfatherthatIloveyou？"
　　Ifelthisdelicateconsiderationforme——Ididindeedfeelitgratefully。Ifheonlyspokefirst，howwellIshouldgetonwithpapaafterward！Theprospectbeforemewasexquisitelyencouraging。IagreedwithPhilipineverything；andIwaited（howeagerlywasonlyknowntomyself）tohearwhathewouldsaytomenext。Heprophesiednext：
　　"WhenIhavetoldyourfatherthatIloveyou，hewillexpectmetotellhimsomethingelse。Canyouguesswhatitis？"
　　IfIhadnotbeenconfused，perhapsImighthavefoundtheanswertothis。Asitwas，Ilefthimtoreplytohimself。Hedidit，inwordswhichIshallrememberaslongasIlive。
　　"DearestEunice，whenyourfatherhasheardmyconfession，hewillsuspectthatthereisanotherconfessiontofollowit——hewillwanttoknowifyouloveme。Myangel，willmyhopesbeyourhopestoo，whenIanswerhim？"
　　WhattherewasinthistomakemyheartbeatsoviolentlythatI
　　feltasifIwasbeingstifled，ismorethanIcantell。Heleanedsoclosetome，sotenderly，sodelightfullyclose，thatourfacesnearlytouched。Hewhispered："Sayyouloveme，inakiss！"
　　Hislipstouchedmylips，pressedthem，dweltonthem——oh，howcanItellofit！Somenewenchantmentoffeelingrandeliciouslythroughandthroughme。Iforgotmyownself；Ionlyknewofonepersonintheworld。Hewasmasterofmylips；hewasmasterofmyheart。Whenhewhispered，"kissme，"Ikissed。Whatamomentitwas！Afaintnessstoleoverme；IfeltasifIwasgoingtodiesomeexquisitedeath；Ilaidmyselfbackawayfromhim——Iwasnotabletospeak。Therewasnoneedforit；mythoughtsandhisthoughtswereone——heknewthatIwasquiteovercome；hesawthathemustleavemetorecovermyselfalone。Ipointedtotheshrubberygate。Wetookonelonglastlookateachotherforthatday；thetreeshidhim；Iwasleftbymyself。
　　CHAPTERXX。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　Howlongatimepassedbeforemycomposurecamebacktome，I
　　cannotremembernow。ItseemedasifIwaswaitingthroughsomeintervalofmylifethatwasamysterytomyself。Iwascontenttowait，andfeelthelighteveningairinthegardenwaftinghappinessoverme。Andallthishadcomefromakiss！IcancallthetimetomindwhenIusedtowonderwhypeoplemadesuchafussaboutkissing。
　　IhadbeenindebtedtoMariaformyfirsttasteofParadise。I
　　wasrecalledbyMariatotheworldthatIhadbeenaccustomedtolivein；theworldthatwasbeginningtofadeawayinmymemoryalready。Shehadbeensenttothegardeninsearchofme；andshehadawordofadvicetooffer，afternoticingmyfacewhenI
　　steppedoutoftheshadowofthetree："Trytolookmorelikeyourself，miss，beforeyouletthemseeyouatthetea—table。"
　　PapaandMissJillgallweresittingtogethertalking，whenI
　　openedthedoor。Theyleftoffwhentheysawme；andIsupposed，quitecorrectlyasitturnedout，thatIhadbeenoneofthesubjectsintheircourseofconversation。Mypoorfatherseemedtobesadlyanxiousandoutofsorts。MissJillgall，ifIhadbeeninthehumortoenjoyit，wouldhavebeenmoreamusingthanever。Oneofherfunnylittleeyespersistedinwinkingatme；
　　andherheavyfoothadsomethingtosaytomyfoot，underthetable，whichmeantagreatdealperhaps，butwhichonlysucceededinhurtingme。
　　Myfatherleftus；andMissJillgallexplainedherself。
　　"Iknow，dearestEuneece，thatwehaveonlybeenacquaintedforadayortwoandthatIoughtnotperhapstohaveexpectedyoutoconfideinmesosoon。CanItrustyounottobetraymeifIsetanexampleofconfidence？Ah，IseeIcantrustyou！And，mydear，Idosoenjoytellingsecretstoafriend。Hush！Yourfather，yourexcellentfather，hasbeentalkingtomeaboutyoungMr。Dunboyne。"
　　Sheprovokinglystoppedthere。Ientreatedhertogoon。Sheinvitedmetositonherknee。"Iwanttowhisper，"shesaid。Itwastooridiculous——butIdidit。MissJillgall’swhispertoldmeseriousnews。
　　"Theministerhassomereason，Euneece，fordisapprovingofMr。
　　Dunboyne；but，mindthis，Idon’tthinkhehasabadopinionoftheyoungmanhimself。HeisgoingtoreturnMr。Dunboyne’scall。
　　Oh，Idosohateformality；Ireallycan’tgoontalkingof_Mr。_
　　Dunboyne。TellmehisChristianname。Ah，whatanoblename！HowIlongtobeusefultohim！Tomorrow，mydear，aftertheoneo’clockdinner，yourpapawillcallonPhilip，athishotel。I
　　hopehewon’tbeout，justatthewrongtime。"
　　IresolvedtopreventthatunluckyaccidentbywritingtoPhilip。
　　IfMissJillgallwouldhaveallowedit，Ishouldhavebegunmyletteratonce。Butshehadmoretosay；andshewasstrongerthanIwas，andstillkeptmeonherknee。
　　"Italllooksbrightenoughsofar，doesn’tit，dearsister？Willyouletmebeyoursecondsister？Idosoloveyou，Euneece。
　　Thankyou！thankyou！Butthegloomysideofthepictureistocomenext！Theminister——no！nowIamyoursisterImustcallhimpapa；itmakesmefeelsoyoungagain！Well，then，papahasaskedmetobeyourcompanionwheneveryougoout。’Euneeceistooyoungandtooattractivetobewalkingaboutthisgreattown（inHelena’sabsence）byherself。’Thatwashowheputit。Slylyenough，ifonemaysaysoofsogoodaman。Andheusedyoursister（didn’the？）asakindofexcuse。Iwishyoursisterwasasniceasyouare。However，thepointis，whyamItobeyourcompanion？Because，dearchild，youandyouryounggentlemanarenottomakeappointmentsandtomeeteachotheralone。Oh，yes——that’sit！YourfatherisquitewillingtoreturnPhilip’scall；heproposes（asamatterofcivilitytoMrs。Staveley）toaskPhiliptodinner；but，markmywords，hedoesn’tmeantoletPhiliphaveyouforhiswife。"
　　Ijumpedoffherlap；itwashorribletohearher。"Oh，"Isaid，"_can_youberightaboutit？"MissJillgalljumpeduptoo。Shehasforeignwaysofshrugginghershouldersandmakingsignswithherhands。Onthisoccasionshelaidbothhandsontheupperpartofherdress，justbelowherthroat，andmysteriouslyshookherhead。
　　"Whenmyviewsaredirectedbymyaffections，"sheassuredme，"I
　　neverseewrong。Mybosomismystrongpoint。"
　　Shehasnobosom，poorsoul——butIunderstoodwhatshemeant。Itfailedtohaveanysoothingeffectonmyfeelings。Ifeltgrievedandangryandpuzzled，allinone。MissJillgallstoodlookingatme，withherhandsstillontheplacewhereherbosomwassupposedtobe。Shemademytemperhotterthanever。
　　"ImeantomarryPhilip，"Isaid。
　　"Certainly，mydearEuneece。Butpleasedon’tbesofierceaboutit。"
　　"Ifmyfatherdoesreallyobjecttomymarriage，"Iwenton，"itmustbebecausehedislikesPhilip。Therecanbenootherreason。"
　　"Oh，yes，dear——therecan。"
　　"Whatisthereason，then？"
　　"That，mysweetgirl，isoneofthethingsthatwehavegottofindout。"
　　Thepostofthismorningbroughtaletterfrommysister。Weweretoexpectherreturnbythenextday’strain。Thiswasgoodnews。
　　PhilipandImightstandinneedofcleverHelena’shelp，andwemightbesureofgettingitnow。
　　InwritingtoPhilip，Ihadaskedhimtoletmehearhowpapaandhehadgotonatthehotel。
　　Iwon’tsayhowoftenIconsultedmywatch，orhowoftenIlookedoutofthewindowforamanwithaletterinhishand。Itwillbebettertogetonatoncetothediscouragingendofit，whenthereportoftheinterviewreachedmeatlast。TwicePhiliphadattemptedtoaskformyhandinmarriage——andtwicemyfatherhad"deliberately，obstinately"（Philip’sownwords）changedthesubject。Eventhiswasnotall。AsifhewasdeterminedtoshowthatMissJillgallwasperfectlyright，andIperfectlywrong，papa（civiltoPhilipaslongashedidnottalkofMe）hadaskedhimtodinewithus，andPhiliphadacceptedtheinvitation！
　　Whatwerewetothinkofit？Whatwerewetodo？
　　Iwrotebacktomydearlove（socruellyused）totellhimthatHelenawasexpectedtoreturnonthenextday，andthatheropinionwouldbeofthegreatestvaluetobothofus。InapostscriptImentionedthehouratwhichweweregoingtothestationtomeetmysister。WhenIsay"we，"ImeanMissJillgallaswellasmyself。
　　Wefoundhimwaitingforusattherailway。Iamafraidheresentedpapa’sincomprehensibleresolutionnottogivehimahearing。Hewassilentandsullen。Icouldnotconcealthattoseethisstateoffeelingdistressedme。Heshowedhowtrulyhedeservedtobeloved——hebeggedmypardon，andhebecamehisownsweetselfagaindirectly。Iammoredeterminedtomarryhimthanever。
　　Whenthetrainenteredthestation，allthecarriageswerefull。
　　Iwentoneway，thinkingIhadseenHelena。MissJillgallwenttheotherway，underthesameimpression。Philipwasalittlewaybehindme。
　　Notseeingmysister，Ihadjustturnedback，whenayoungmanjumpedoutofacarriage，oppositePhilip，andrecognizedandshookhandswithhim。Iwasjustnearenoughtohearthestrangersay，"Lookatthegirlinourcarriage。"Philiplooked。"Whatacharmingcreature！"hesaid，andthencheckedhimselfforfeartheyoungladyshouldhearhim。Shehadjusthandedhertravelingbagandwrapstoaporter，andwasgettingout。Philippolitelyofferedhishandtohelpher。Shelookedmyway。Thecharmingcreatureofmysweetheart’sadmirationwas，tomyinfiniteamusement，Helenaherself。
　　CHAPTERXXI。
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　THEdayofmyreturnmarksanoccasionwhichIamnotlikelytoforget。HourshavepassedsinceIcamehome——andmyagitationstillforbidsthethoughtofrepose。
　　AsIsitatmydeskIseeEuniceinbed，sleepingpeacefully，exceptwhensheismurmuringenjoymentinsomehappydream。Towhatendhasmysisterbeenadvancingblindfold，and（whoknows？）
　　draggingmewithher，sincethatdisastrousvisittoourfriendsinLondon？Strangethatthereshouldbealeavenofsuperstitionin_my_nature！StrangethatIshouldfeelfearofsomething——I
　　hardlyknowwhat！
　　Ihavemetsomewhere（perhapsinmyhistoricalreading）withtheexpression："Achainofevents。"WasIatthebeginningofthatchain，whenIenteredtherailwaycarriageonmyjourneyhome？
　　Amongtheotherpassengerstherewasayounggentleman，accompaniedbyaladywhoprovedtobehissister。Theywerebothwell—bredpeople。Thebrotherevidentlyadmiredme，anddidhisbesttomakehimselfagreeable。Timepassedquicklyinpleasanttalk，andmyvanitywasflattered——andthatwasall。
　　Myfellow—travelersweregoingontoLondon。Whenthetrainreachedourstationtheyoungladysentherbrothertobuysomefruit，whichshesawinthewindowoftherefreshment—room。Thefirstmanwhomheencounteredontheplatformwasoneofhisfriends；towhomhesaidsomethingwhichIfailedtohear。WhenI
　　handedmytravelingbagandmywrapstotheporter，andshowedmyselfatthecarriagedoor，Iheardthefriendsay："Whatacharmingcreature！"HavingnothingtoconcealinajournalwhichIprotectbyalock，Imayownthatthestranger’spersonalappearancestruckme，andthatwhatIfeltthistimewasnotflatteredvanity，butgratifiedpride。Hewasyoung，hewasremarkablyhandsome，hewasadistinguished—lookingman。
　　Allthishappenedinonemoment。Inthemomentthatfollowed，I
　　foundmyselfinEunice’sarms。Thatodiousperson，MissJillgall，insistedonembracingmenext。AndthenIwasconsciousofanindescribablefeelingofsurprise。Eunicepresentedthedistinguished—lookinggentlemantomeasafriendofhers——Mr。
　　PhilipDunboyne。
　　"Ihadthehonorofmeetingyoursister，"hesaid，"inLondon，atMr。Staveley’shouse。"HewentontospeakeasilyandgracefullyofthejourneyIhadtaken，andofhisfriendwhohadbeenmyfellow—traveler；andheattendedustotherailwayomnibusbeforehetookhisleave。IobservedthatEunicehadsomethingtosaytohimconfidentially，beforetheyparted。Thiswasanotherexampleofmysister’schildishcharacter；sheisinstantlyfamiliarwithnewacquaintances，ifshehappenstolikethem。Ianticipatedsomeamusementfromhearinghowshehadcontrivedtoestablishconfidentialrelationswithahighly—cultivatedmanlikeMr。
　　Dunboyne。But，whileMissJillgallwaswithus，itwasjustaswelltokeepwithinthelimitsofcommonplaceconversation。
　　BeforewegotoutoftheomnibusIhad，however，observedoneundesirableresultofmyabsencefromhome。EuniceandMissJillgall——thelatterhaving，nodoubt，finelyflatteredtheformer——appearedtohavetakenastronglikingtoeachother。
　　Twocuriouscircumstancesalsocaughtmyattention。Isawachangeto，whatIcallself—assertion，inmysister’smanner；
　　somethingseemedtohaveraisedherinherownestimation。Then，again，MissJillgallwasnotlikehercustomaryself。Shehaddelightfulmomentsofsilence；andwhenEuniceaskedhowIlikedMr。Dunboyne，shelistenedtomyreplywithanappearanceofinterestinheruglyfacewhichwasquiteanewrevelationinmyexperienceofmyfather’scousin。
　　Theselittlediscoveries（afterwhatIhadalreadyobservedattherailway—station）oughtperhapstohavepreparedmeforwhatwastocome，whenmysisterandIwerealoneinourroom。ButEunice，whethershemeanttodoitornot，baffledmycustomarypenetration。Shelookedasifshehadplentyofnewstotellme——withsomeobstacleinthewayofdoingit，whichappearedtoamuseinsteadofannoyingher。IfthereisonethingmorethananotherthatIhate，itisbeingpuzzled。IaskedatonceifanythingremarkablehadhappenedduringEunice’svisittoLondon。
　　Shesmiledmischievously。"Ihavegotadelicioussurpriseforyou，mydear；andIdosoenjoyprolongingit。Tellme，Helena，whatdidyouproposeweshouldbothdowhenwefoundourselvesathomeagain？"
　　Mymemorywasatfault。Eunice’sgoodspiritsbecameabsolutelyboisterous。Shecalledout："Catch！"andtossedherjournalintomyhands，acrossthewholelengthoftheroom。"Weweretoreadeachother’sdiaries，"shesaid。"Thereisminetobeginwith。"
　　Innocentofanysuspicionofthetruestateofaffairs，IbeganthereadingofEunice’sjournal。
　　IfIhadnotseenthefamiliarhandwriting，nothingwouldhaveinducedmetobelievethatagirlbroughtupinapioushousehold，thewell—beloveddaughterofadistinguishedCongregationalMinister，couldhavewrittenthatshamelessrecordofpassionsunknowntoyoungladiesinrespectableEnglishlife。
　　Whattosay，whattodo，whenIhadclosedthebook，wasmorethanIfeltmyselfequaltodecide。MywretchedsistersparedmetheanxietywhichImightotherwisehavefelt。Itwasshewhofirstopenedherlips，afterthesilencethathadfallenonuswhileIwasreading。Thesewereliterallythewordsthatshesaid：
　　"Mydarling，whydon’tyoucongratulateme？"
　　Noargumentcouldhavepersuadedme，asthispersuadedme，thatallsisterlyremonstranceonmypartwouldbecompletelythrownaway。
　　"MydearEunice，"Isaid，"letmebegyoutoexcuseme。Iamwaiting——"
　　Theresheinterruptedme——and，oh，inwhatanimpudentmanner！
　　Shetookmychinbetweenherfingerandthumb，andliftedmydowncastface，andlookedatmewithanappearanceofeagerexpectationwhichIwasquiteatalosstounderstand。
　　"Youhavebeenawayfromhome，too。"shesaid。"DoIseeinthisseriousfacesomeastonishingnewswaitingtooverpowerme？Have_you_foundasweetheart？Are_you_engagedtobemarried？"
　　Ionlyputherhandawayfromme，andadvisedhertoreturntoherchair。Thisperfectlyharmlessproceedingseemedabsolutelytofrightenher。
　　"Oh，mydear，"sheburstout，"surelyyouarenotjealousofme？"
　　Therewasbutonepossiblereplytothis：Ilaughedatit。IsEunice’sheadturned？Shekissedme！
　　"Nowyoulaugh，"shesaid，"Ibegintounderstandyouagain；I
　　oughttohaveknownthatyouaresuperiortojealousy。But，dotellme，woulditbesoverywonderfulifothergirlsfoundsomethingtoenvyinmygoodluck？Justthinkofit！Suchahandsomeman，suchanagreeableman，suchacleverman，sucharichman——and，nottheleastofhismerits，by—the—by，amanwhoadmiresYou。Come！ifyouwon’tcongratulateme，congratulateyourselfonhavingsuchabrother—in—lawinprospect！"
　　Herhead_was_turned。Idrewthepoorsoul’sattentioncompassionatelytowhatIhadsaidamomentsince。
　　"Pardonme，dear，forremindingyouthatIhavenotyetrefusedtooffermycongratulations。IonlytoldyouIwaswaiting。"
　　"Forwhat？"