Havingestablishedmyselfinmyowncountry，Ididnotforgettoletoldfriendsknowwheretheymightfindme。AmongthosetowhomIwrotewasanothercolleagueofpastyears，whostillheldhismedicalappointmentintheprison。WhenIreceivedthedoctor’sreply，itinclosedaletterdirectedtomeatmyoldquartersintheGovernor’srooms。WhocouldpossiblyhavesentalettertoanaddresswhichIhadleftfiveyearssince？MycorrespondentprovedtobenolessapersonthantheCongregationalMinister——thefriendwhomIhadestrangedfrommebythetoneinwhichIhadwrittentohim，onthelong—pastoccasionofhiswife’sdeath。
Itwasadistressinglettertoread。Ibegpermissiontogiveonlythesubstanceofitinthisplace。
Entreatingme，withtouchingexpressionsofhumilityandsorrow，toforgivehislongsilence，thewriterappealedtomyfriendlyremembranceofhim。Hewasinsoreneedofcounsel，underseriousdifficulties；andIwastheonlypersontowhomhecouldapplyforhelp。Inthedisorderedstateofhishealthatthattime，heventuredtohopethatIwouldvisithimathispresentplaceofabode，andwouldlethimhavethehappinessofseeingmeasspeedilyaspossible。Heconcludedwiththisextraordinarypostscript：
"Whenyouseemydaughters，saynothingtoeitherofthemwhichrelates，inanyway，tothesubjectoftheirages。Youshallhearwhywhenwemeet。"
Thereadingofthisletternaturallyremindedmeoftheclaimswhichmyfriend’snobleconducthadestablishedonmyadmirationandrespect，atthepasttimewhenwemetintheprison。Icouldnothesitatetogranthisrequest——strangelyasitwasexpressed，anddoubtfulastheprospectappearedtobeofmyansweringtheexpectationswhichhehadfoundedontherenewalofourintercourse。Answeringhisletterbytelegraph，Ipromisedtobewithhimonthenextday。
Onarrivingatthestation，IfoundthatIwastheonlytraveler，byafirst—classcarriage，wholeftthetrain。Ayounglady，remarkablebyhergoodlooksandgooddressing，seemedtohavenoticedthistriflingcircumstance。Sheapproachedmewithareadysmile。"IbelieveIamspeakingtomyfather’sfriend，"shesaid；"mynameisHelenaGracedieu。"
HerewasoneoftheMinister’stwo"daughters"；andthatoneofthetwo——asIdiscoveredthemomentIshookhandswithher——whowasmyfriend’sownchild。MissHelenarecalledtomehermother’sface，infinitelyimprovedbyyouthandhealth，andbyanaturalbeautywhichthatcruelanddeceitfulwomancouldneverhavepossessed。Theslantingforeheadandtheshifting，flashingeyes，thatIrecollectedintheparent，werereproduced（slightlyreproduced，Ioughttosay）inthechild。Asfortheotherfeatures，Ihadneverseenamorebeautifulnoseandmouth，oramoredelicately—shapedoutline，thanwaspresentedbythelowerpartoftheface。ButMissHelenasomehowfailedtocharmme。I
doubtifIshouldhavefalleninlovewithher，eveninthedayswhenIwasafoolishyoungman。
ThefirstquestionthatIput，aswedrovefromthestationtothehouse，relatednaturallytoherfather。
"Heisveryill，"shebegan；"Iamafraidyoumustprepareyourselftoseeasadchange。Nerves。Themischieffirstshoweditself，thedoctortellsus，inderangementofhisnervoussystem。Hehasbeen，Iregrettotellyou，obstinateinrefusingtogiveuphispreachingandpastoralwork。Heoughttohavetriedrestattheseaside。Thingshavegoneonfrombadtoworse。
LastSunday，atthebeginningofhissermon，hebrokedown。Very，verysad，isitnot？Thedoctorsaysthatprecioustimehasbeenlost，andhemustmakeuphismindtoresignhischarge。Hewon’thearofit。Youarehisoldfriend。Pleasetrytopersuadehim。"
Fluentlyspoken；thewordswellchosen；themelodiousvoiceremindingmeofthelateMrs。Gracedieu’sadvantagesinthatrespect；littlesighsjudiciouslythrowninhereandthere，justattherightplaces；everything，letmeown，thatcouldpresentadutifuldaughterasapatternofpropriety——andnothing，letmeadd，thatcouldproduceanimpressiononmyinsensibletemperament。IfIhadnotbeentoodiscreettorushatahastyconclusion，Imighthavebeeninclinedtosay：hermother’schild，everyinchofher！
TheinterestwhichIwasstillabletofeelinmyfriend’sdomesticaffairscenteredinthedaughterwhomhehadadopted。
InherinfancyIhadseenthechild，andlikedher；Iwastheonepersonliving（sincethedeathofMrs。Gracedieu）whoknewhowtheMinisterhadconcealedthesadsecretofherparentage；andI
wantedtodiscoverifthehereditarytainthadbeguntoshowitselfintheinnocentoffspringofthemurderess。JustasIwasconsideringhowImightharmlesslyspeakofMissHelena’s"sister，"MissHelenaherselfintroducedthesubject。
"MayIask，"sheresumed，"ifyouweredisappointedwhenyoufoundnobodybutmetomeetyouatourstation？"
Herewasanopportunityofpayingheracompliment，ifIhadbeenayoungerman，orifshehadproducedafavorableimpressiononme。Asitwas，Ihit——ifImaypraisemyself——onaningeniouscompromise。
"WhatexcusecouldIhave，"Iasked，"forfeelingdisappointed？"
"Well，Ihearyouareanofficialpersonage——Ioughttosay，perhaps，aretiredofficialpersonage。Wemighthavereceivedyoumorerespectfully，if_both_myfather’sdaughtershadbeenpresentatthestation。It’snotmyfaultthatmysisterwasnotwithme。"
Thetoneinwhichshesaidthisstrengthenedmyprejudiceagainsther。Ittoldmethatthetwogirlswerelivingtogetheronnoveryfriendlyterms；anditsuggested——justlyorunjustlyIcouldnotthendecide——thatMissHelenawastoblame。
"Mysisterisawayfromhome。"
"Surely，MissHelena，thatisagoodreasonforhernotcomingtomeetme？"
"Ibegyourpardon——itisabadreason。Shehasbeensentawayfortherecoveryofherhealth——andthelossofherhealthisentirelyherownfault。"
Whatdidthismattertome？Idecidedondroppingthesubject。Mymemoryreverted，however，topastoccasionsonwhichthelossof_my_healthhadbeenentirelymyownfault。Therewassomethinginthesepersonalrecollections，whichencouragedmyperversetendencytosympathizewithayoungladytowhomIhadnotyetbeenintroduced。Theyounglady’ssisterappearedtobediscouragedbymysilence。Shesaid："Ihopeyoudon’tthinktheworseofmeforwhatIhavejustmentioned？"
"Certainlynot。"
"Perhapsyouwillfailtoseeanyneedofmyspeakingofmysisteratall？Willyoukindlylisten，ifItrytoexplainmyself？"
"Withpleasure。"
Sheslylysetthebestconstructiononmyperfectlycommonplacereply。
"Thankyou，"shesaid。"Thefactis，myfather（Ican’timaginewhy）wishesyoutoseemysisteraswellasme。Hehaswrittentothefarmhouseatwhichsheisnowstaying，totellhertocomehometo—morrow。Itispossible——ifyourkindnessoffersmeanopportunity——thatImayasktobeguidedbyyourexperience，inalittlematterwhichinterestsme。Mysisterisrash，andreckless，andhasaterribletemper。Ishouldbeverysorryindeedifyouwereinducedtoformanunfavorableopinionofme，fromanythingyoumightnoticeifyouseeustogether。Youunderstandme，Ihope？"
"Iquiteunderstandyou。"
Tosetmeagainsthersister，inherownprivateinterests——there，asIfeltsure，wasthemotiveunderwhichshewasacting。Ashardashermother，asselfishashermother，and，judgingfromthosetwobadqualities，probablyascruelashermother。ThatwashowIunderstoodMissHelenaGracedieu，whenourcarriagedrewupatherfather’shouse。
Amiddle—agedladywasonthedoorstep，whenwearrived，justringingthebell。Shelookedroundatusboth；beingevidentlyascompleteastrangertomyfaircompanionasshewastome。Whentheservantopenedthedoor，shesaid：
"IsMissJillgallathome？"
Atthesoundofthatoddname，MissHelenatossedherheaddisdainfully。Shetooknosortofnoticeofthestranger—ladywhowasatthedoorofherfather’shouse。Thisyoungperson’scontemptforMissJillgallappearedtoextendtoMissJillgall’sfriends。
Inthemeantime，theservant’sanswerwas："Notathome。"
Themiddleagedladysaid："Doyouexpectherbacksoon？"
"Yes，ma’am。"
"Iwillcallagain，laterintheday。"
"Whatname，ifyouplease？"
Theladystoleanotherlookatme，beforeshereplied。
"Nevermindthename，"shesaid——andwalkedaway。
CHAPTERXXXIII。
THEMINISTER’SMISFORTUNE。
"Doyouknowthatlady？"MissHelenaasked，asweenteredthehouse。
"Sheisaperfectstrangertome，"Ianswered。
"Areyousureyouhavenotforgottenher？"
"WhydoyouthinkIhaveforgottenher？"
"Becausesheevidentlyrememberedyou。"
Theladyhadnodoubtlookedatmetwice。Ifthismeantthatmyfacewasfamiliartoher，IcouldonlyrepeatwhatIhavealreadysaid。Never，tomyknowledge，hadIseenherbefore。
Leadingthewayupstairs，MissHelenaapologizedfortakingmeintoherfather’sbedroom。"Heisabletositupinanarmchair，"
shesaid；"andhemightdomore，asIthink，ifhewouldexerthimself。Hewon’texerthimself。Verysad。Wouldyouliketolookatyourroom，beforeyouseemyfather？Itisquitereadyforyou。Wehope"——shefavoredmewithafascinatingsmile，devotedtowinningmyheartwhenherinterestsrequiredit——"wehopeyouwillpayusalongvisit；welookonyouasoneofourselves。"
Ithankedher，andsaidIwouldshakehandswithmyoldfriendbeforeIwenttomyroom。Wepartedatthebedroomdoor。
ItisoutofmypowertodescribetheshockthatoverpoweredmewhenIfirstsawtheMinisteragain，afterthelongintervaloftimethathadseparatedus。Nothingthathisdaughtersaid，nothingthatImyselfanticipated，hadpreparedmeforthatlamentablechange。Forthemoment，Iwasnotsufficientlymasterofmyselftobeabletospeaktohim。Headdedtomyembarrassmentbythehumilityofhismanner，andtheformalelaborationofhisapologies。
"IfeelpainfullythatIhavetakenalibertywithyou，"hesaid，"afterthelongestrangementbetweenus——forwhichmywantofChristianforbearanceistoblame。Forgiveit，sir，andforgetit。Ihopetoshowthatnecessityjustifiesmypresumption，insubjectingyoutoawearisomejourneyformysake。"
Beginningtorecovermyself，Ibeggedthathewouldmakenomoreexcuses。Myinterruptionseemedtoconfusehim。
"Iwishedtosay，"hewenton，"thatyouaretheonemanwhocanunderstandme。Thereismyonlyreasonforaskingtoseeyou，andlookingforwardasIdotoyouradvice。Yourememberthenight——orwasittheday？——beforethatmiserablewomanwashanged？YouweretheonlypersonpresentwhenIagreedtoadoptthepoorlittlecreature，stainedalready（onemaysay）byitsmother’sinfamy。IthinkyourwisdomforesawwhataterribleresponsibilityIwasundertaking；youtriedtopreventit。Well！
well！youhavebeeninmyconfidence——youonly。Mind！nobodyinthishouseknowsthatoneofthetwogirlsisnotreallymydaughter。Praystopme，ifyoufindmewanderingfromthepoint。
MywishistoshowthatyouaretheonlymanIcanopenmyheartto。She——"Hepaused，asifinsearchofalostidea，andleftthesentenceuncompleted。"Yes，"hewenton，"Iwasthinkingofmyadoptedchild。DidIevertellyouthatIbaptizedhermyself？
andbyagoodScripturenametoo——Eunice。Ah，sir，thatlittlehelplessbabyisagrown—upgirlnow；ofanagetoinspirelove，andtofeellove。Iblushtoacknowledgeit；Ihavebehavedwithawantofself—control，withacowardlyweakness。——No！Iam，indeed，wanderingthistime。IoughttohavetoldyoufirstthatIhavebeenbroughtfacetofacewiththepossibilityofEunice’smarriage。And，tomakeitworsestill，Ican’thelplikingtheyoungman。Hecomesofagoodfamily——excellentmanners，highlyeducated，plentyofmoney，agentlemanineverysenseoftheword。AndpoorlittleEuniceissofondofhim！Isn’titdreadfultobeobligedtocheckherdearly—lovedPhilip？Theyounggentleman’snameisPhilip。Doyoulikethename？IsayIamobligedtocheekhersweetheartintherudestmanner，whenallhewantstodoistoaskmemodestlyformysweetEunice’shand。Oh，whathaveInotsuffered，withoutawordofsympathytocomfortme，beforeIhadcourageenoughtowritetoyou！ShallImakeadreadfulconfession？Ifmyreligiousconvictionshadnotstoodinmyway，IbelieveIshouldhavecommittedsuicide。Putyourselfinmyplace。Trytoseeyourselfshrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation，whenthehappinessofaharmlessgirl——sodutiful，soaffectionate——dependedonawordofkindnessfromyourlips。
Andthatwordyouareafraidtospeak！Don’ttakeoffense，sir；I
meanmyself，notyou。Whydon’tyousaysomething？"heburstoutfiercely，incapableofperceivingthathehadallowedmenoopportunityofspeakingtohim。"GoodGod！don’tyouunderstandme，afterall？"
Thesignsofmentalconfusioninhistalkhadsodistressedme，thatIhadnotbeencomposedenoughtofeelsureofwhathereallymeant，untilhedescribedhimselfas"shrinkingfromanecessaryexplanation。"Hearingthosewords，myknowledgeofthecircumstanceshelpedme；Irealizedwhathissituationreallywas。
"Composeyourself，"Isaid，"Iunderstandyouatlast。"
Hehadsuddenlybecomedistrustful。
"Proveit，"hemuttered，withafurtivelookatme。"Iwanttobesatisfiedthatyouunderstandmyposition。"
"Thisisyourposition，"Itoldhim。"Youareplacedbetweentwodeplorablealternatives。IfyoutellthisyounggentlemanthatMissEunice’smotherwasacriminalhangedformurder，hisfamily——evenifhehimselfdoesn’trecoilfromit——willunquestionablyforbidthemarriage；andyouradopteddaughter’shappinesswillbethesacrifice。"
"True！"hesaid。"Frightfullytrue！Goon。"
"If，ontheotherhand，yousanctionthemarriage，andconcealthetruth，youcommitadeliberateactofdeceit；andyouleavethelivesoftheyoungcoupleatthemercyofapossiblediscovery，whichmightparthusbandandwife——castaslurontheirchildren——andbreakupthehousehold。"
Heshudderedwhilehelistenedtome。"Cometotheendofit，"hecried。
Ihadnomoretosay，andIwasobligedtoanswerhimtothateffect。
"Nomoretosay？"hereplied。"YouhavenottoldmeyetwhatI
mostwanttoknow。"
Ididarashthing；Iaskedwhatitwasthathemostwantedtoknow。
"Can’tyouseeitforyourself？"hedemandedindignantly。
"Supposeyouwereputbetweenthosetwoalternativeswhichyoumentionedjustnow。"
"Well？"
"Whatwouldyoudo，sir，inmyplace？Wouldyouownthedisgracefultruth——beforethemarriage——orruntherisk，andkeepthehorridstorytoyourself？"
Eitherway，myreplymightleadtoseriousconsequences。I
hesitated。
Hethreatenedmewithhispoorfeeblehand。Itwasonlytheangerofamoment；hishumorchangedtosupplication。Heremindedmepiteouslyofbygonedays："Youusedtobeakind—heartedman。Hasagehardenedyou？Haveyounopityleftforyouroldfriend？Mypoorheartissadlyinwantofawordofwisdom，spokenkindly。"
Whocouldhaveresistedthis？Itookhishand："Beatease，dearMinister。InyourplaceIshouldruntherisk，andkeepthathorridstorytomyself。"
Hesankbackgentlyinhischair。"Oh，thereliefofit！"hesaid。"HowcanIthankyouasIoughtforquietingmymind？"
Iseizedtheopportunityofquietinghismindtogoodpurposebysuggestingachangeofsubject。"Letushavedonewithserioustalkforthepresent，"Iproposed。"Ihavebeenanidlemanforthelastfiveyears，andIwanttotellyouaboutmytravels。"
Hisattentionbegantowander，heevidentlyfeltnointerestinmytravels。"Areyousure，"heaskedanxiously，"thatwehavesaidallweoughttosay？No！"hecried，answeringhisownquestion。"IbelieveIhaveforgottensomething——IamcertainI
haveforgottensomething。PerhapsImentioneditintheletterI
wrotetoyou。Haveyougotmyletter？"
Ishowedittohim。Hereadtheletter，andgaveitbacktomewithaheavysigh。"Notthere！"hesaiddespairingly。"Notthere！"
"Isthelostremembranceconnectedwithanybodyinthehouse？"I
asked，tryingtohelphim。"Doesitrelate，byanychance，tooneoftheyoungladies？"
"Youwonderfulman！Nothingescapesyou。Yes；thethingIhaveforgottenconcernsoneofthegirls。Stop！Letmegetatitbymyself。SurelyitrelatestoHelena？"Hehesitated；hisfacecloudedoverwithanexpressionofanxiousthought。"Yes；itrelatestoHelena，"herepeated"buthow？"Hiseyesfilledwithtears。"Iamashamedofmyweakness，"hesaidfaintly。"Youdon’tknowhowdreadfulitistoforgetthingsinthisway。"
Theinjurythathismindhadsustainednowassumedanaspectthatwasseriousindeed。Thesubtlemachinery，whichstimulatesthememory，bymeansoftheassociationofideas，appearedtohavelostitsworkingpowerintheintellectofthisunhappyman。I
madethefirstsuggestionthatoccurredtome，ratherthanaddtohisdistressbyremainingsilent。
"Ifwetalkofyourdaughter，"Isaid，"themerestaccident——awordspokenatrandomby。youorme——maybeallyourmemorywantstorouseit。"
Heagreedeagerlytothis："Yes！Yes！Letmebegin。Helenametyou，Ithink，atthestation。Ofcourse，Irememberthat；itonlyhappenedafewhourssince。Well？"hewenton，withachangeinhismannertoparentalpride，whichitwaspleasanttosee，"didyouthinkmydaughterafinegirl？IhopeHelenadidn’tdisappointyou？"
"Quitethecontrary。"Havingmadethatnecessaryreply，Isawmywaytokeepinghismindoccupiedbyaharmlesssubject。"Itmust，however，beowned，"Iwenton，"thatyourdaughtersurprisedme。"
"Inwhatway？"
"Whenshementionedhername。Whocouldhavesupposedthatyou——aninveterateenemytotheRomanCatholicChurch——wouldhavechristenedyourdaughterbythenameofaRomanCatholicSaint？"
Helistenedtothiswithasmile。HadIhappilyblunderedonsomeassociationwhichhismindwasstillabletopursue？
"Youhappentobewrongthistime，"hesaidpleasantly。"InevergavemygirlthenameofHelena；and，whatismore，Ineverbaptizedher。Yououghttoknowthat。Yearsandyearsago，I
wrotetotellyouthatmypoorwifehadmademeaproudandhappyfather。AndsurelyIsaidthatthechildwasbornwhileshewasonavisittoherbrother’srectory。Doyourememberthenameoftheplace？Itoldyouitwasaremotelittlevillage，called——
Supposeweput_your_memorytoatest？Canyourememberthename？"heasked，withamomentaryappearanceoftriumphshowingitself，poorfellow，inhisface。
Afterthetimethathadelapsed，thenamehadslippedmymemory。
WhenIconfessedthis，heexultedoverme，withanunalloyedpleasurewhichitwascheeringtosee。
"_Your_memoryisfailingyounow，"hesaid。"ThenameisLongLanes。Andwhatdoyouthinkmywifedid——thisissocharacteristicofher！——whenIpresentedmyselfatherbedside。
Insteadofspeakingofourownbaby，sheremindedmeofthenamethatIhadgiventoouradopteddaughterwhenIbaptizedthechild。’Youchosetheugliestnamethatagirlcanhave，’shesaid。Ibeggedhertorememberthat’Eunice’wasanameinScripture。Shepersistedinspiteofme。（Whatfirmnessofcharacter！）’IdetestthenameofEunice！’shesaid；’andnowthatIhaveagirlofmyown，it’smyturntochoosethename；I
claimitasmyright。’Shewasbeginningtogetexcited；I
allowedhertohaveherownway，ofcourse。’Onlyletmeknow，’I
said，’whatthenameistobewhenyouhavethoughtofit。’Mydearsir，shehadthenameready，withoutthinkingaboutit：’Mybabyshallbecalledbythenamethatissweetestinmyears，thenameofmydearlostmother。’Wehad——whatshallIcallit？——aslightdifferenceofopinionwhenIheardthatthenamewastobeHelena。Ireallycould_not_reconcileittomyconsciencetobaptizeachildofminebythenameofaPopishsaint。Mywife’sbrothersetthingsrightbetweenus。Aworthygoodman；hediednotverylongago——Iforgetthedate。Nottodetainyouanylonger，therectorofLongLanesbaptizedourdaughter。Thatishowshecomesbyherun—Englishname；andsoithappensthatherbirthisregisteredinavillagewhichherfatherhasneverinhabited。Ihope，sir，youthinkalittlebetterofmymemorynow？"
IwasafraidtotellhimwhatIreallydidthink。
Hewasnotfiftyyearsoldyet；andhehadjustexhibitedoneofthesadsymptomswhichmarkthebrokenmemoryofoldage。Leadhimbacktotheeventsofmanyyearsago，and（ashehadjustprovedtome）hecouldrememberwellandrelatecoherently。Butlethimattempttorecallcircumstanceswhichhadonlytakenplaceashorttimesince，andforgetfulnessandconfusionpresentedthelamentableresult，justasIhaverelatedit。
Theeffortthathehadmade，theagitationthathehadundergoneintalkingtome，hadconfirmedmyfearsthathewouldovertaskhiswastedstrength。Helaybackinhischair。"Letusgoonwithourconversation，"hemurmured。"Wehaven’trecoveredwhatIhadforgotten，yet。"Hiseyesclosed，andopenedagainlanguidly。
"TherewassomethingIwantedtorecall——"heresumed，"andyouwerehelpingme。"Hisweakvoicediedaway；hiswearyeyesclosedagain。Afterwaitinguntiltherecouldbenodoubtthathewasrestingpeacefullyinsleep，Ilefttheroom。
CHAPTERXXXIV。
THELIVELYOLDMAID。
APERFECTstrangertotheinteriorofthehouse（seeingthatmyexperiencebeganandendedwiththeMinister’sbedchamber），I
descendedthestairs，inthecharacterofaguestinsearchofdomesticinformation。
Onmywaydown，Iheardthedoorofaroomonthegroundflooropened，andawoman’svoicebelow，speakinginahurry："Mydear，Ihavenotamomenttospare；mypatientsarewaitingforme。"Thiswasfollowedbyaconfidentialcommunication，judgingbythetone。"Mind！notawordaboutmetothatoldgentleman！"
Herpatientswerewaitingforher——hadIdiscoveredafemaledoctor？Andtherewassomeoldgentlemanwhomshewasnotwillingtotrust——surelyIwasnotthatmuch—injuredman？
Reachingthehalljustastheladysaidherlastwords，Icaughtaglimpseofherface，anddiscoveredthemiddle—agedstrangerwhohadcalledon"MissJillgall，"andhadpromisedtorepeathervisit。Asecondladywasatthedoor，withherbacktome，takingleaveofherfriend。Havingsaidgood—by，sheturnedround——andweconfrontedeachother。
Ifoundhertobealittleperson，wiryandactive；pasttheprimeoflife，anduglyenoughtoencourageprejudice，inpersonswhotakeasuperficialviewoftheirfellow—creatures。Lookingimpartiallyatthelittlesunkeneyeswhichrestedonmewithacomicalexpressionofembarrassment，Isawsignsthatsaid：Thereissomegoodhere，underadisagreeablesurface，ifyoucanonlyfindit。
Shesalutedmewithacarefully—performedcurtsey，andthrewopenthedoorofaroomonthegroundfloor。
"Praywalkin，sir，andpermitmetointroducemyself。IamMr。
Gracedieu’scousin——MissJillgall。Proudindeedtomaketheacquaintanceofagentlemandistinguishedintheserviceofhiscountry——orperhapsIoughttosay，intheserviceoftheLaw。
TheGovernoroffershospitalitytoprisoners。AndwhointroducesprisonerstoboardandlodgingwiththeGovernor？——theLaw。
Beautifulweatherforthetimeofyear，isitnot？MayI
ask——haveyouseenyourroom？"
TheembarrassmentwhichIhadalreadynoticedhadextendedbythistimetohervoiceandhermanner。Shewasevidentlytryingtotalkherselfintoastateofconfidence。ItseemedbuttooprobablethatIwasindeedthepersonmentionedbyherprudentfriendatthedoor。
HavingacknowledgedthatIhadnotseenmyroomyet，mypolitenessattemptedtoaddthattherewasnohurry。Thewirylittleladywasofthecontraryopinion；shejumpedoutofherchairasifshehadbeenshotoutofit。"Prayletmemakemyselfuseful。Thedreamofmylifeistomakemyselfusefultoothers；
andtosuchamanasyou——Iconsidermyselfhonored。Besides，I
doenjoyrunningupanddownstairs。Thisway，dearsir；thiswaytoyourroom。"
Sheskippedupthestairs，andstoppedonthefirstlanding。"Doyouknow，Iamatimidperson，thoughImaynotlooklikeit。
Sometimes，curiositygetsthebetterofme——andthenIgrowbold。
Didyounoticealadywhowastakingleaveofmejustnowatthehousedoor？"
IrepliedthatIhadseentheladyforamoment，butnotforthefirsttime。"JustasIarrivedherefromthestation，"Isaid，"I
foundherpayingavisitwhenyouwerenotathome。"
"Yes——anddotellmeonethingmore。"MyreadinessinansweringseemedtohaveinspiredMissJillgallwithconfidence。Iheardnomoreconfessionsofoverpoweringcuriosity。"AmIright，"sheproceeded，"insupposingthatMissHelenaaccompaniedyou，onyourwayherefromthestation？"
"Quiteright。"
"Didshesayanythingparticular，whenshesawtheladyaskingformeatthedoor？"