"Waiting，ofcourse，tohearwhatmyfatherthinksofyourwonderfulgoodluck。"
Thisexplanation，offeredwiththekindestintentions，producedanotherchangeinmyveryvariablesister。IhadextinguishedhergoodspiritsasImighthaveextinguishedalight。Shesatdownbyme，andsighedinthesaddestmanner。Theheartmustbehardindeedwhichcanresistthedistressofapersonwhoisdeartous。Iputmyarmroundher；shewasbecomingoncemoretheEunicewhomIsodearlyloved。
"Mypoorchild，"Isaid。"don’tdistressyourselfbyspeakingofit；Iunderstand。YourfatherobjectstoyourmarryingMr。
Dunboyne。"
Sheshookherhead。"Ican’texactlysay，Helena，thatpapadoesthat。Heonlybehavesverystrangely。"
"AmIindiscreet，dear，ifIaskinwhatwayfather’sbehaviorhassurprisedyou？"
Shewasquitewillingtoenlightenme。Itwasasimplelittlestorywhich，tomymind，sufficientlyexplainedthestrangebehaviorthathadpuzzledmyunfortunatesister。
TherecouldindeedbenodoubtthatmyfatherconsideredEunicefartoochildishincharacter，asyet，toundertakethedutiesofmatrimony。But，withhiscustomarydelicacy，anddreadofcausingdistresstoothers，hehaddeferredthedisagreeabledutyofcommunicatinghisopiniontoMr。Dunboyne。Theadversedecisionmust，however，besoonerorlaterannounced；andhehadarrangedtoinflictdisappointment，astenderlyasmightbe，athisowntable。
ConsideratelyleavingEuniceintheenjoymentofanyvainhopeswhichshemayhavefoundedontheeventofthedinner—party，I
passedtheeveninguntilsupper—timecameinthestudywithmyfather。
OurtalkwasmainlydevotedtotheworthypeoplewithwhomIhadbeenstaying，andwhosenewschoolsIhadhelpedtofound。Notawordwassaidrelatingtomysister，ortoMr。Dunboyne。PoorfatherlookedsosadlywearyandillthatIventured，afterwhatthedoctorhadsaidtoEunice，tohintatthevalueofrestandchangeofscenetoanoverworkedman。Oh，dearme，hefrowned，andwavedthesubjectawayfromhimimpatiently，withawan，palehand。
Aftersupper，Imadeanunpleasantdiscovery。Nothavingcompletelyfinishedtheunpackingofmyboxes，IleftMissJillgallandEuniceinthedrawing—room，andwentupstairs。InhalfanhourIreturned，andfoundtheroomempty。Whathadbecomeofthem？Itwasafinemoonlightnight；Isteppedintothebackdrawing—room，andlookedoutofthewindow。Theretheywere，walkingarm—in—armwiththeirheadsclosetogether，deepintalk。
WithmyknowledgeofMissJillgall，Icallthisabadsign。
Anoddthoughthasjustcometome。Iwonderwhatmighthavehappened，ifIhadbeenvisitingatMrs。Staveley’s，insteadofEunice，andifMr。Dunboynehadseenmefirst。
Absurd！ifIwasnottootiredtodoanythingmore，thoselastlinesshouldbescratchedout。
CHAPTERXXII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ISAIDsotoMissJillgall，andIsayitagainhere。NothingwillinducemetothinkillofHelena。
Mysisterisagooddealtired，andalittleoutoftemperaftertherailwayjourney。ThisisexactlywhathappenedtomewhenI
wenttoLondon。Iattributeherrefusaltoletmereadherjournal，aftershehadreadmine，entirelytothedisagreeableconsequencesoftravelingbyrailway。MissJillgallaccountedforitotherwise，inherownfunnymanner："Mysweetchild，yoursister’sdiaryisfullofabuseofpoorme。"Ihumoredthejoke：
"DearestSelina，keepadiaryofyourown，andfillitwithabuseofmysister。"Thisseemedtobeadrollsayingatthetime。Butitdoesn’tlookparticularlyamusing，nowitiswrittendown。Wehadgingerwineatsupper，tocelebrateHelena’sreturn。AlthoughIonlydrankoneglass，Idaresayitmayhavegotintomyhead。
Howeverthatmaybe，whenthelovelymoonlighttemptedusintothegarden，therewasanendtoourjokes。Wehadsomethingtotalkaboutwhichstilldwellsdisagreeablyonmymind。
MissJillgallbeganit。
"IfItrustyou，dearestEuneece，withmyownprecioussecrets，shallInever，never，neverlivetorepentit？"
Itoldmygoodlittlefriendthatshemightdependonme，providedhersecretsdidnoharmtoanypersonwhomIloved。
Sheclaspedherhandsandlookedupatthemoon——Icanonlysupposethathersentimentsoverpoweredher。Shesaid，veryprettily，thatherheartandmyheartbeattogetherinheavenlyharmony。Itisneedlesstoaddthatthissatisfiedme。
MissJillgall’sgenerousconfidenceinmydiscretionwas，Iamafraid，notrewardedasitoughttohavebeen。Ifoundhertiresomeatfirst。
Shespokeofanexcellentfriend（alady），whohadhelpedher，atthetimewhenshelostherlittlefortune，byraisingasubscriptionprivatelytopaytheexpensesofherreturntoEngland。Herfriend’sname——notveryattractivetoEnglishears——wasMrs。Tenbruggen；theyhadfirstbecomeacquaintedunderinterestingcircumstances。MissJillgallhappenedtomentionthatmyfatherwasheronlylivingrelative；anditturnedoutthatMrs。Tenbruggenwasfamiliarwithhisname，andreverencedhisfameasapreacher。Whenhehadgenerouslyreceivedhispoorhelplesscousinunderhisownroof，MissJillgall’sgratitudeandsenseofdutyimpelledhertowriteandtellMrs。Tenbruggenhowhappyshewasasamemberofourfamily。
LetmeconfessthatIbegantolistenmoreattentivelywhenthenarrativereachedthispoint。
"Idrewalittlepictureofourdomesticcirclehere，"MissJillgallsaid，describingherletter；"andImentionedthemysteryinwhichMr。Gracedieuconcealstheagesofyoutwodeargirls。Mrs。Tenbruggen——shallweshortenheruglynameandcallherMrs。T。？Verywell——Mrs。T。isaremarkablycleverwoman，andIlookedforinterestingresults，ifshewouldgiveheropinionofthemysteriouscircumstancementionedinmyletter。"
Bythistime，Iwasalleagernesstohearmore。
"Hasshewrittentoyou？"Iasked。
MissJillgalllookedatmeaffectionately，andtookthereplyoutofherpocket。
"Listen，Euneece；andyoushallhearherownwords。Thusshewrites：
"’Yourletter，dearSelina，especiallyinterestsmebywhatitsaysaboutthe_two_MissGracedieus。’——Look，dear；sheunderlinesthewordTwo。Why，Ican’texplain。Canyou？Ah，I
thoughtnot。Well，letusgetbacktotheletter。Myaccomplishedfriendcontinuesintheseterms：
"’Icanunderstandthesurprisewhichyouhavefeltatthestrangecoursetakenbytheirfather，asameansofconcealingthedifferencewhichtheremustbeintheagesoftheseyoungladies。Manyyearssince，Ihappenedtodiscoveraromanticincidentinthelifeofyourpopularpreacher，whichhehashisreasons，asIsuspect，forkeepingstrictlytohimself。IfImayventureonaboldguess，Ishouldsaythatanypersonwhocoulddiscoverwhichwastheoldestofthetwodaughters，wouldbealsolikelytodiscoverthetruenatureoftheromanceinMr。
Gracedieu’slife。’——Isn’tthatveryremarkable，Euneece？Youdon’tseemtoseeit——youfunnychild！Praypayparticularattentiontowhatcomesnext。Thesearetheclosingsentencesinmyfriend’sletter：
"’Ifyoufindanythingnewtotellmewhichrelatestothisinterestingsubject，directyourletterasbefore——providedyouwritewithinaweekfromthepresenttime。Afterward，myletterswillbereceivedbytheEnglishphysicianwhosecardIinclose。
YouwillbepleasedtohearthatmyprofessionalinterestscallmetoLondonattheearliestmomentthatIcanspare。’——There。
dearchild，thelettercomestoanend。IdaresayyouwonderwhatMrs。T。means，whenshealludestoherprofessionalinterests？"
No：Iwasnotwonderingaboutanything。Ithurtmetohearofastrangewomanexercisingheringenuityinguessingatmysteriesinpapa’slife。
ButMissJillgallwastooeagerlybentonsettingforththemeritsofherfriendtonoticethis。InowheardthatMrs。T。’smarriagehadturnedoutbadly，andthatshehadbeenreducedtoearnherownbread。Hermannerofdoingthiswassomethingquitenewtome。Shewentabout，fromoneplacetoanother，curingpeopleofallsortsofpainfulmaladies，byawayshehadofrubbingthemwithherhands。InBelgiumshewascalleda"Masseuse。"WhenIaskedwhatthismeantinEnglish，Iwastold，"MedicalRubber，"andthatthefameofMrs。T。’swonderfulcureshadreachedsomeofthemedicalnewspaperspublishedinLondon。
Afterlistening（Imustsayformyself）verypatiently，IwasboldenoughtoownthatmyinterestinwhatIhadjustheardwasnotquitesoplaintomeasIcouldhavewishedittobe。
MissJillgalllookedshockedatmystupidity。SheremindedmethattherewasamysteryinMrs。Tenbruggen’sletterandamysteryinpapa’sstrangeconducttowardPhilip。"Puttwoandtwotogether，darling，"shesaid；"and，oneofthesedays，theymaymakefour。"
Ifthismeantanything，itmeantthatthereasonwhichmadepapakeepHelena’sageandmyageunknowntoeverybodybuthimself，wasalsothereasonwhyheseemedtobesostrangelyunwillingtoletmebePhilip’swife。Ireallycouldnotenduretotakesuchaviewofitasthat，andbeggedMissJillgalltodropthesubject。
Shewasaskindasever。
"Withallmyheart，dear。Butdon’tdeceiveyourself——thesubjectwillturnupagainwhenweleastexpectit。"
CHAPTERXXIII。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ONLYtwodaysnow，beforewegiveourlittledinner—party，andPhilipfindshisopportunityofspeakingtopapa。Oh，howIwishthatdayhadcomeandgone！
Itrynottotakegloomyviewsofthings；butIamnotquitesohappyasIhadexpectedtobewhenmydearwasinthesametownwithme。Ifpapahadencouragedhimtocallagain，wemighthavehadsomeprecioustimetoourselves。Asitis，wecanonlymeetinthedifferentshow—placesinthetown——withHelenaononeside，andMissJillgallontheother，totakecareofus。Idocallitcruelnottolettwoyoungpeopleloveeachother，withoutsettingthirdpersonstowatchthem。IfIwasQueenofEngland，Iwouldhaveprettyprivatebowersmadeforlovers，inthesummer，andnicewarmlittleroomstoholdtwo，inthewinter。Whynot？Whatharmcouldcomeofit，Ishouldliketoknow？
Thecathedralistheplaceofmeetingwhichwefindmostconvenient，underthecircumstances。Therearedelightfulnooksandcornersaboutthiscelebratedbuildinginwhichloverscanlagbehind。Ifwehadbeeninpapa’schapelIshouldhavehesitatedtoturnittosuchaprofaneuseasthis；thecathedraldoesn’tsomuchmatter。
ShallIownthatIfeltmyinferioritytoHelenaalittlekeenly？
ShecouldtellPhilipsomanythingsthatIshouldhavelikedtotellhimfirst。Mycleversistertaughthimhowtopronouncethenameofthebishopwhobeganbuildingthecathedral；sheledhimoverthecrypt，andtoldhimhowolditwas。Hewasinterestedinthecrypt；hetalkedtoHelena（nottome）ofhisambitiontowriteaworkoncathedralarchitectureinEngland；hemadearoughlittlesketchinhisbookofourfamoustombofsomeking。
Helenaknewthelateroyalpersonage’sname，andPhilipshowedhissketchtoherbeforeheshowedittome。HowcanIblamehim，whenIstoodtherethepictureofstupidity，tryingtorecollectsomethingthatImighttellhim，ifitwasonlytheDean’sname？
Helenamighthavewhisperedittome，Ithink。Sherememberedit，notI——andmentionedittoPhilip，ofcourse。Ikeptclosebyhimallthetime，andnowandthenhegavemealookwhichraisedmyspirits。Hemighthavegivenmesomethingbetterthanthat——I
meanakiss——whenwehadleftthecathedral，andwerebyourselvesforamomentinacorneroftheDean’sgarden。Buthemissedtheopportunity。PerhapshewasafraidoftheDeanhimselfcomingthatway，andhappeningtoseeus。However，IamfarfromthinkingtheworseofPhilip。Igavehisarmalittlesqueeze——andthatwasbetterthannothing。
HeandItookawalkalongthebankoftheriverto—day；mysisterandMissJillgalllookingafterusasusual。
Onourwaythroughthetown，Helenastoppedtogiveanorderatashop。Sheaskedustowaitforher。Thatbestofgoodcreatures，MissJillgall，whisperedinmyear："Goonbyyourselves，andleavemetowaitforher。"Philipinterpretedthisactofkindnessinamannerwhichwouldhavevexedme，ifIhadnotunderstoodthatitwasoneofhisjokes。Hesaidtome："MissJillgallseesachanceofannoyingyoursister，andenjoystheprospect。"
Well，awaywewenttogether；itwasjustwhatIwanted；itgavemeanopportunityofsayingsomethingtoPhilip，betweenourselves。
Icouldnowbegofhim，inhisinterestsandmine，tomakethebestofhimselfwhenhecametodinner。Cleverpeople，Itoldhim，werepeoplewhompapalikedandadmired。Isaid："Lethimsee，dear，howclever_you_are，andhowmanythingsyouknow——andyoucan’timaginewhatahighplaceyouwillhaveinhisopinion。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkIamtakingtoomuchonmyselfintellingyouhowtobehave。"
HerelievedthatdoubtinamannerwhichIdespairofdescribing。
HiseyesrestedonmewithsuchalookofexquisitesweetnessandlovethatIwasobligedtoholdbyhisarm，Itrembledsowiththepleasureoffeelingit。
"Idosincerelybelieve，"hesaid，"thatyouarethemostinnocentgirl，thesweetest，truestgirlthateverlived。IwishIwasabetterman，Eunice；IwishIwasgoodenoughtobeworthyofyou！"
Tohearhimspeakofhimselfinthatwayjarredonme。Ifsuchwordshadfallenfromanyotherman’slips，Ishouldhavebeenafraidthathehaddonesomething，orthoughtsomething，ofwhichhehadreasontofeelashamed。WithPhilipthiswasimpossible。
Hewaseagertowalkonrapidly，andtoturnacornerinthepath，beforewecouldbeseen。"Iwanttobealonewithyou，"hesaid。
Ilookedback。Weweretoolate；HelenaandMissJillgallhadnearlyovertakenus。MysisterwasonthepointofspeakingtoPhilip，whensheseemedtochangehermind，andonlylookedathim。Insteadoflookingatherinreturn，hekepthiseyescastdownanddrewfiguresonthepathwaywithhisstick。IthinkHelenawasoutoftemper；shesuddenlyturnedmyway。"Whydidn’tyouwaitforme？"sheasked。
Philiptookherupsharply。"IfEunicelikesseeingtheriverbetterthanwaitinginthestreet，"hesaid，"isn’tshefreetodoasshepleases？"
Helenasaidnothingmore；Philipwalkedonslowlybyhimself。Notknowingwhattomakeofit，IturnedtoMissJillgall。
"SurelyPhilipcan’thavequarreledwithHelena？"Isaid。
MissJillgallansweredinanoddoff—handmanner："Nothe！Heisagreatdealmorelikelytohavequarreledwithhimself。"
"Why？"
"Supposeyouaskhimwhy？"
Itwasnottobethoughtof；itwouldhavelookedlikepryingintohisthoughts。"Selina！"Isaid，"thereissomethingoddaboutyouto—day。Whatisthematter？Idon’tunderstandyou。"
"Mypoordear，youwillfindyourselfunderstandingmebeforelong。"IthoughtIsawsomethinglikepityinherfacewhenshesaidthat。
"Mypoordear？"Irepeated。"Whatmakesyouspeaktomeinthatway？"
"Idon’tknow——I’mtired；I’manoldfool——I’llgobacktothehouse。"
Withoutanotherword，sheleftme。IturnedtolookforPhilip，andsawthatmysisterhadjoinedhimwhileIhadbeenspeakingtoMissJillgall。ItpleasedmetofindthattheyweretalkinginafriendlywaywhenIjoinedthem。AquarrelbetweenHelenaandmyhusbandthatistobe——no，myhusbandthat_shall_be——wouldhavebeentoodistressing，toounnaturalImightalmostcallit。
Philiplookedalongthebackwardpath，andaskedwhathadbecomeofMissJillgall。"Haveyouanyobjectiontofollowherexample？"
hesaidtome，whenItoldhimthatSelinahadreturnedtothetown。"Idon’tcareforthebanksofthisriver。"
Helena，whousedtoliketheriveratothertimes，wasasreadyasPhiliptoleaveitnow。Ifancytheyhadbothbeenkindlywaitingtochangeourwalk，tillIcametothem，andtheycouldstudymywishestoo。OfcourseIwasreadytogowheretheypleased。IaskedPhilipiftherewasanythinghewouldliketosee，whenwegotintothestreetsagain。
CleverHelenasuggestedwhatseemedtobeastrangeamusementtooffertoPhilip。"Let’stakehimtotheGirls’School，"shesaid。
Itappearedtobeamatterofperfectindifferencetohim；hewas，whattheycall，ironical。"Oh，yes，ofcourse。Deeplyinteresting！deeplyinteresting！"Hesuddenlybrokeintothewildestgoodspirits，andtuckedmyhandunderhisarmwithagayetywhichitwasimpossibletoresist。"Whataboyyouare！"
Helenasaid，enjoyinghisdelightfulhilarityasIdid。
CHAPTERXXIV。
EUNICE’SDIARY。
ONenteringtheschoolroomwelostourgayety，allinamoment。
Somethingunpleasanthadevidentlyhappened。
Twooftheeldestgirlsweresittingtogetherinacorner，separatedfromtherest，andlookingmostwickedlysulky。Theteacherswereattheotherendoftheroom，appearingtobeillatease。Andthere，standinginthemidstofthem，withhisfaceflushedandhiseyesangry——therewaspapa，sadlyunlikehisgentleselfinthedaysofhishealthandhappiness。Onformeroccasions，whentheexerciseofhisauthoritywasrequiredintheschool，hisforbearingtemperalwayssetthingsright。WhenIsawhimnow，Ithoughtofwhatthedoctorhadsaidofhishealth，onmywayhomefromthestation。
Papaadvancedtousthemomentweshowedourselvesatthedoor。
Heshookhands——cordiallyshookhands——withPhilip。Itwasdelightfultoseehim，delightfultohearhimsay："Praydon’tsuppose，Mr。Dunboyne，thatyouareintruding；remainwithusbyallmeansifyoulike。"ThenhespoketoHelenaandtome，stillexcited，stillnotlikehimself："Youcouldn’thavecomehere，mydears，atatimewhenyourpresencewasmoreurgentlyneeded。"Heturnedtotheteachers。"Tellmydaughterswhathashappened；
tellthemwhytheyseemehere——shockedanddistressed，Idon’tdenyit。"
Wenowheardthatthetwogirlsindisgracehadbrokentherules，andinsuchamannerastodeserveseverepunishment。
Oneofthemhadbeendiscoveredhidinganovelinherdesk。Theotherhadmisbehavedherselfmoreseriouslystill——shehadgonetothetheater。Insteadofexpressinganyregret，theyhadactuallydaredtocomplainofhavingtolearnpapa’simprovedcatechism。Theyhadevenaccusedhimoftreatingthemwithseverity，becausetheywerepoorgirlsbroughtuponcharity。"Ifwehadbeenyoungladies，"theywereaudaciousenoughtosay，"moreindulgencewouldhavebeenshowntous；weshouldhavebeenallowedtoreadstoriesandtoseeplays。"
AllthistimeIhadbeenaskingmyselfwhatpapameant，whenhetolduswecouldnothavecometotheschoolroomatabettertime。Hismeaningnowappeared。Whenhespoketotheoffendinggirls，hepointedtoHelenaandtome。
"Herearemydaughters，"hesaid。"Youwillnotdenythattheyareyoungladies。Nowlisten。Theyshalltellyouthemselveswhethermyrulesmakeanydifferencebetweenthemandyou。
Helena！Eunice！doIallowyoutoreadnovels？doIallowyoutogototheplay？"
Wesaid，"No"——andhopeditwasover。Buthehadnotdoneyet。HeturnedtoHelena。
"Answersomeofthequestions，"hewenton，"frommyManualofChristianObligation，whichthegirlscallmycatechism。"Heaskedoneofthequestions："Ifyouaretoldtodountoothersasyouwouldtheyshoulddountoyou，andifyoufindadifficultyinobeyingthatDivinePrecept，whatdoesyourdutyrequire？"
ItismybeliefthatHelenahasthematerialsinherformakinganotherJoanofArc。Sherose，andansweredwithouttheslightestsignoftimidity："Mydutyrequiresmetogototheminister，andtoseekforadviceandencouragement。"
"Andifthesefail？"
"ThenIamtorememberthatmypastorismyfriend。Heclaimsnopriestlyauthorityorpriestlyinfallibility。Heismyfellow—Christianwholovesme。Hewilltellmehowhehashimselffailed；howhehasstruggledagainsthimself；andwhatablessedrewardhasfollowedhisvictory——apurifiedheart，apeacefulmind。"
Thenpapareleasedmysister，aftershehadonlyrepeatedtwooutofalltheanswersinChristianObligation，whichwefirstbegantolearnwhenwewerechildren。Hethenaddressedhimselfagaintothegirls。
"Iswhatyouhavejustheardapartofmycatechism？Hasmydaughterbeenexcusedfromrepeatingitbecausesheisayounglady？Whereisthedifferencebetweenthereligiouseducationwhichisgiventomyownchild，andthatgiventoyou？"
Thewretchedgirlsstillsatsilentandobstinate，withtheirheadsdown。ItrembleagainasIwriteofwhathappenednext。
Papafixedhiseyesonme。Hesaid，outloud："Eunice！"——andwaitedformetoriseandanswer，asmysisterhaddone。
Itwasentirelybeyondmypowertogetonmyfeet。
Philiphad（innocently，Iamsure）discouragedme；Isawdispleasure，Isawcontemptinhisface。Therewasadeadsilenceintheroom。Everybodylookedatme。Myheartbeatfuriously，myhandsturnedcold，thequestionsandanswersinChristianObligationallleftmymemorytogether。Ilookedimploringlyatpapa。
Forthefirsttimeinhislife，hewashardonme。Hiseyeswereasangryasever；theyshowedmenomercy。Oh，whathadcometome？whatevilspiritpossessedme？Ifeltresentment；horrid，undutifulresentment，atbeingtreatedinthiscruelway。Myfistsclinchedthemselvesinmylap，myfacefeltashotasfire。
Insteadofaskingmyfathertoexcuseme，Isaid："Ican’tdoit。"Hewasastounded，aswellhemightbe。Iwentonfrombadtoworse。Isaid："Iwon’tdoit。"
Hestoopedoverme；hewhispered："Iamgoingtoaskyousomething；Iinsistonyouranswering，YesorNo。"Heraisedhisvoice，anddrewhimselfbacksothattheycouldallseeme。
"Haveyoubeentaughtlikeyoursister？"heasked。"Hasthecatechismthathasbeenherreligiouslesson，forallherlife，beenyourreligiouslesson，forallyourlife，too？"
Isaid："Yes"——andIwasinsucharagethatIsaiditoutloud。
IfPhiliphadhandedmehiscane，andhadadvisedmetogivetheyounghussieswhowereanswerableforthisdreadfulstateofthingsagoodbeating，IbelieveIshouldhavedoneit。Papaturnedhisbackonmeandofferedthegirlsalastchance："Doyoufeelsorryforwhatyouhavedone？Doyouasktobeforgiven？"
Neithertheonenortheotheransweredhim。Hecalledacrosstheroomtotheteachers："Thosetwopupilsareexpelledtheschool。"
Boththewomenlookedhorrified。Theelderofthetwoapproachedhim，andtriedtopleadforamildersentence。Heansweredinonesternword："Silence！"——andlefttheschoolroom，withoutevenapassingbowtoPhilip。Andthis，afterhehadcordiallyshakenhandswithmypoordear，nothalfanhourbefore。
Ioughttohavemadeaffectionateallowanceforhisnervousmiseries；Ioughttohaverunafterhim，andbeggedhispardon。
Theremustbesomethingwrong，Iamafraid，ingirlslovinganybodybuttheirfathers。WhenHelenaledthewayoutbyanotherdoor，IranafterPhilip；andIasked_him_toforgiveme。
Idon’tknowwhatIsaid；itwasallconfusion。Thefearofhavingforfeitedhisfondnessmust，Isuppose，haveshakenmymind。IrememberentreatingHelenatosayakindwordforme。Shewassoclever，shehadbehavedsowell，shehaddeservedthatPhilipshouldlistentoher。"Oh，"Icriedouttohimdesperately，"whatmustyouthinkofme？"
"IwilltellyouwhatIthinkofyou，"hesaid。"Itisyourfatherwhoisinfault，Eunice——notyou。Nothingcouldhavebeeninworsetastethanhismanagementofthattrumperyaffairintheschoolroom；itwasacompletemistakefrombeginningtoend。Makeyourmindeasy；Idon’tblameYou。"
"Areyou，reallyandtruly，asfondofmeasever？"
"Yes，tobesure！"
HelenaseemedtobehardlyasmuchinterestedinthishappyendingofmyanxietiesasImighthaveanticipated。Shewalkedonbyherself。Perhapsshewasthinkingofpoorpapa’sstrangeoutbreakofexcitement，andgrievingoverit。
Wehadonlyalittlewaytowalk，beforewepassedthedoorofPhilip’shotel。Hehadnotyetreceivedtheexpectedletterfromhisfather——thecruelletterwhichmightrecallhimtoIreland。
Itwasthenthehourofdeliverybyoursecondpost；hewenttolookattheletter—rackinthehall。HelenasawthatIwasanxious。Shewasaskindagainasever；sheconsentedtowaitwithmeforPhilip，atthedoor。
Hecameouttouswithanopenletterinhishand。
"Frommyfather，atlast，"hesaid——andgavemethelettertoread。Itonlycontainedthesefewlines：