Icouldonlyassureher（afterwhatIrememberedofhislettertome）thathewasamanwhomwecoulddependupon。
MissJillgallpossessedtreasuresofinformationtowhichIcouldlaynoclaim。Mr。Dunboyne，shetoldme，wasascholar，andawriter，andarichman。Hisviewsonmarriagewereliberalintheextreme。Lethissonfindgoodprinciples，goodtemper，andgoodlooks，inawife，andhewouldpromisetofindthemoney。
"Igettheseparticulars，"saidMissJillgall，"fromdearEuneece。Theyaresurelyencouraging？ThatHelenamaycarryoutMr。Dunboyne’sviewsinherpersonalappearanceis，Iregrettosay，whatIcan’tdeny。Butastotheotherqualifications，howhopefulistheprospect！Goodprinciples，andgoodtemper？Ha！
ha！HelenahastheprinciplesofJezebel，andthetemperofLadyMacbeth。"
Afterdashingoffthisstrikingsketchofcharacter，thefairartistaskedtolookatmyletteragain，andobservedthattheaddresswaswanting。"Icansetthisrightforyou，"sheresumed，"thanks，asbefore，tomysweetEuneece。And（don’tbeinahurry）Icanmakemyselfusefulinanotherway。Oh，howIdoenjoymakingmyselfuseful！Ifyoutrustyourlettertothebasketinthehall，Helena’slovelyeyes——capableofthemeanestconceivableactions——aresuretotakeapeepattheaddress。Inthatcase，doyouthinkyourletterwouldgettoLondon？Iamafraidyoudetectafaintinfusionofspitefulnessinthatquestion。Oh，forshame！I’llpostthelettermyself。"
CHAPTERXXXVII。
THESHAMELESSSISTER。
FORsomereason，whichmyunassistedpenetrationwasunabletodiscover，MissHelenaGracedieukeptoutofmyway。
Atdinner，onthedayofmyarrival，andatbreakfastonthenextmorning，shewaspresentofcourse；readytomakeherselfagreeableinamodestway，andprovidedwiththenecessarysupplyofcheerfulsmall—talk。Butthemealhavingcometoanend，shehadherdomesticexcuseready，andunostentatiouslydisappearedlikeawell—bredyounglady。Inevermetheronthestairs，neverfoundmyselfintrudingonherinthedrawing—room，nevercaughthergettingoutofmywayinthegarden。AsmuchatalossforanexplanationofthesemysteriesasIwas，MissJillgall’sinterestinmywelfareledhertocautionmeinavagueandgeneralway。
"Takemywordforit，dearMr。Governor，shehassomedesignonyou。Willyouallowaninsignificantoldmaidtoofferasuggestion？Oh，thankyou；Iwillventuretoadvise。Pleaselookbackatyourexperienceoftheveryworstfemaleprisoneryoueverhadtodealwith——andbeguidedaccordinglyifHelenacatchesyouataprivateinterview。"
Inlessthanhalfanhourafterward，Helenacaughtme。Iwaswritinginmyroom，whenthemaidservantcameinwithamessage：
"MissHelena’scompliments，sir，andwouldyoupleasespareherhalfanhour，downstairs？"
MyfirstexcusewasofcoursethatIwasengaged。Thiswasdisposedofbyasecondmessage，providedbeforehand，nodoubt，forananticipatedrefusal："MissHelenawishedmetosay，sir，thathertimeisyourtime。"Iwasstillobstinate；Ipleadednextthatmydaywasfilledup。Athirdmessagehadevidentlybeenprepared，evenforthisemergency："MissHelenawillregret，sir，havingthepleasuredeferred，butshewillleaveyoutomakeyourownappointmentforto—morrow。"PersistencysoinveterateasthisledtoaresultwhichMr。Gracedieu’scautiousdaughterhadnotperhapscontemplated：itputmeonmyguard。Thereseemedtobeachance，tosaytheleastofit，thatImightserveEunice’sinterestsifIdiscoveredwhattheenemyhadtosay。Ilockedupmywriting——declaredmyselfincapableofputtingMissHelenatoneedlessinconvenience——andfollowedthemaidtothelowerfloorofthehouse。
TheroomtowhichIwasconductedprovedtobeempty。Ilookedroundme。
IfIhadbeentoldthatamanlivedtherewhowasabsolutelyindifferenttoappearances，Ishouldhaveconcludedthathisviewswerefaithfullyrepresentedbyhisplaceofabode。Thechairsandtablesremindedmeofarailwaywaiting—room。Theshabbylittlebookcasewasthemuterecordofalifeindifferenttoliterature。Thecarpetwasofthatdreadfuldrabcolor，stillthecherishedfavoriteoftheaverageEnglishmind，inspiteofeveryprotestthatcanbeenteredagainstit，onbehalfofArt。
Theceiling，recentlywhitewashed；mademyeyesachewhentheylookedatit。Oneithersideofthewindow，flaccidgreencurtainshunghelplesslywithnothingtoloopthemup。Thewriting—deskandthepaper—case，viewedasspecimensofwoodwork，recalledtheready—madebedroomsonshowincheapshops。Thebooks，mostlyinslate—coloredbindings，weredevotedtotheliteraturewhichiscalledreligious；Ionlydiscoveredthreeworldlypublicationsamongthem——DomesticCookery，EtiquetteforLadies，andHintsontheBreedingofPoultry。Anuglylittleclock，tickingnoisilyinablackcase，andtwocandlesticksofbasemetalplacedoneithersideofit，completedtheornamentsonthechimney—piece。Neitherpicturesnorprintshidthebarrennessofthewalls。Isawnoneedleworkandnoflowers。Theoneobjectintheplacewhichshowedanypretensionstobeautywasalooking—glassinanelegantgiltframe——sacredtovanity，andworthyoftheofficethatitfilled。SuchwasHelenaGracedieu’ssitting—room。Ireallycouldnothelpthinking：Howlikeher！
Shecameinwithafaceperfectlyadaptedtothecircumstances——pleasedandsmiling；amiablydeferential，inconsiderationoftheclaimsofherfather’sguest——and，tomysurprise，insomedegreesuggestiveofoneofthoseincorrigiblefemaleprisoners，towhomMissJillgallhadreferredmewhensheofferedawordofadvice。
"Howkindofyoutocomesosoon！Excusemyreceivingyouinmyhousekeeping—room；weshallnotbeinterruptedhere。Veryplainlyfurnished，isitnot？Idislikeostentationanddisplay。
Ornamentsareoutofplaceinaroomdevotedtodomesticnecessities。Ihatedomesticnecessities。Younoticethelooking—glass？It’sapresent。Ishouldneverhaveputsuchathingup。Perhapsmyvanityexcusesit。"
Shepointedthelastremarkbyalookatherselfintheglass；
usingit，whileshedespisedit。Yes：therewasahandsomeface，payingheritsreflectedcompliment——butnotsowellmatchedasitmighthavebeenbyahandsomefigure。Herfeetweretoolarge；
hershouldersweretoohigh；thegracefulundulationsofawell—madegirlwereabsentwhenshewalked；andherbosomwas，tomymind，undulydevelopedforhertimeoflife。
Shesatdownbymewithherbacktothelight。Happeningtobeoppositetothewindow，Iofferedhertheadvantageofaclearviewofmyface。Shewaitedforme，andIwaitedforher——andtherewasanawkwardpausebeforewespoke。Shesettheexample。
"Isn’titcurious？"sheremarked。"Whentwopeoplehavesomethingparticulartosaytoeachother，andnothingtohinderthem，theyneverseemtoknowhowtosayit。Youaretheoldest，sir。Whydon’tyoubegin？"
"BecauseIhavenothingparticulartosay。"
"Inplainwords，youmeanthatImustbegin？"
"Ifyouplease。"
"Verywell。IwanttoknowwhetherIhavegivenyou（andMissJillgall，ofcourse）asmuchtimeasyouwant，andasmanyopportunitiesasyoucoulddesire？"
"Praygoon，MissHelena。"
"HaveInotsaidenoughalready？"
"Notenough，Iregrettosay，toconveyyourmeaningtome。"
Shedrewherchairalittlefurtherawayfromme。"Iamsadlydisappointed，"shesaid。"Ihadsuchahighopinionofyourperfectcandor。Ithoughttomyself：Thereissuchastrikingexpressionoffranknessinhisface。Anotherillusiongone！I
hopeyouwon’tthinkIamoffended，ifIsayaboldword。Iamonlyayounggirl，tobesure；butIamnotquitesuchafoolasyoutakemefor。DoyoureallythinkIdon’tknowthatMissJillgallhasbeentellingyoueverythingthatisbadaboutme；
puttingeverymistakethatIhavemade，everyfaultthatIhavecommitted，intheworstpossiblepointofview？Andyouhavelistenedtoher——quitenaturally！Andyouareprejudiced，stronglyprejudiced，againstme——whatelsecouldyoube，underthecircumstances？Idon’tcomplain；Ihavepurposelykeptoutofyourway，andoutofMissJillgall’sway；inshort，Ihaveaffordedyoueveryfacility，astheprospectusessay。Ionlywanttoknowifmyturnhascomeatlast。Oncemore，haveIgivenyoutimeenough，andopportunitiesenough？"
"Agreatdealmorethanenough。"
"Doyoumeanthatyouhavemadeupyourmindaboutmewithoutstoppingtothink？"
"ThatisexactlywhatImean。Anactoftreachery，MissHelena，_is_anactoftreachery；nohonestpersonneedhesitatetocondemnit。Iamsorryyousentforme。"
Igotuptogo。Withanironicalgestureofremonstrance，shesignedtometositdownagain。
"MustIremindyou，dearsir，ofourfamousnativevirtue？Fairplayissurelyduetoayoungpersonwhohasnobodytotakeherpart。Youtalkedoftreacheryjusthow。Idenythetreachery。
Pleasegivemeahearing。"
Ireturnedtomychair。
"Orwouldyoupreferwaiting，"shewentout，"tillmysistercomesherelaterintheday，andcontinueswhatMissJillgallhasbegun，withthegreatadvantageofbeingyoungandnice—looking？"
Whenthefemalemindgetsintothisstate，nowisemananswersthefemalequestions。
"AmItotakesilenceasmeaningGoon？"MissHelenainquired。
Ibeggedhertointerpretmysilenceinthesensemostagreeabletoherself。
Thisnaturallyencouragedher。Shemadeaproposal：
"Doyoumindchangingplaces，sir？"
"Justasyoulike，MissHelena。"
Wechangedchairs；thelightnowfellfullonherface。HadshedeliberatelychallengedmetolookintohersecretmindifI
could？Anythinglikethestarkinsensibilityofthatyounggirltoeveryrefinementoffeeling，toeverybecomingdoubtofherself，toeverycustomarytimidityofherageandsexinthepresenceofamanwhohadnotdisguisedhisunfavorableopinionofher，Inevermetwithinallmyexperienceoftheworldandofwomen。
"Iwishtobequitemistressofmyself，"sheexplained；"yourface，forsomereasonwhichIreallydon’tknow，irritatesme。
Thefactis，Ihavegreatprideinkeepingmytemper。Pleasemakeallowances。NowaboutMissJillgall。IsupposeshetoldyouhowmysisterfirstmetwithPhilipDunboyne？"
"Yes。"
"Shealsomentioned，perhaps，thathewasahighly—cultivatedman？"
"Shedid。"
"Nowweshallgeton。WhenPhilipcametoourtownhere，andsawmeforthefirsttime——Doyouobjecttomyspeakingfamiliarlyofhim，byhisChristianname？"
"Inthecaseofanyoneelseinyourposition，MissHelena，I
shouldventuretocallitbadtaste。"
Iwasprovokedintosayingthat。Itfailedentirelyasawell—meanteffortinthewayofimpliedreproof。MissHelenasmiled。
"Yougrantmealibertywhichyouwouldnotconcedetoanothergirl。"Thatwashowsheviewedit。"Wearegettingonbetteralready。ToreturntowhatIwassaying。WhenPhilipfirstsawme——Ihaveitfromhimself，mind——hefeltthatIshouldhavebeenhischoice，ifhehadmetwithmebeforehemetwithmysister。
Doyoublamehim？"
"Ifyouwilltakemyadvice，"Isaid，"youwillnotinquiretoocloselyintomyopinionofMr。PhilipDunboyne。"
"Perhapsyoudon’twishmetosayanymore？"shesuggested。
"Onthecontrary，praygoon，ifyoulike。"
Afterthatconcession，shewasamiabilityitself。"Oh，yes，"sheassuredme，"that’seasilydone。"Andshewentonaccordingly：
"Philiphavinginformedmeofthestateofhisaffections，I
naturallyfollowedhisexample。Infact，weexchangedconfessions。Ourmarriageengagementfollowedasamatterofcourse。Doyoublameme？"
"Iwillwaittillyouhavedone。"
"Ihavenomoretosay。"
Shemadethatamazingreplywithsuchperfectcomposure，thatI
begantofeartheremusthavebeensomemisunderstandingbetweenus。"Isthatreallyallyouhavetosayforyourself？"I
persisted。
Herpatiencewithmewasmostexemplary。Sheloweredherselftomylevel。Nottrustingtowordsonlyonthisoccasion，she（sotosay）beathermeaningintomyheadbygesticulatingonherfingers，asifshewaseducatingachild。
"PhilipandI，"shebegan，"arethevictimsofanaccident，whichkeptusapartwhenweoughttohavemettogether——wearenotresponsibleforanaccident。"Sheimpressedthisonmebytouchingherforefinger。"PhilipandIfellinlovewitheachotheratfirstsight——wearenotresponsibleforthefeelingsimplantedinournaturesbyanall—wiseProvidence。"Sheassistedmeinunderstandingthisbytouchinghermiddlefinger。"PhilipandIoweadutytoeachother，andacceptaresponsibilityunderthosecircumstances——theresponsibilityofgettingmarried。"A
touchonherthirdfinger，andanindulgentbow，announcedthatthelessonwasended。"Iamnotaclevermanlikeyou，"shemodestlyacknowledged，"butIaskyoutohelpus，whenyounextseemyfather，withsomeconfidence。Youknowexactlywhattosaytohim，bythistime。Nothinghasbeenforgotten。"
"Pardonme，"Isaid，"apersonhasbeenforgotten。"
"Indeed？Whatperson？"
"Yoursister。"
Alittleperplexedatfirst，MissHelenareflected，andrecoveredherself。
"Ah，yes，"shesaid；"IwasafraidImightbeobligedtotroubleyouforanexplanation——Iseeitnow。Youareshocked（veryproperly）whenfeelingsofenmityexistbetweennearrelations；
andyouwishtobeassuredthatIbearnomalicetowardEunice。
Sheisviolent，sheissulky，sheisstupid，sheisselfish；andshecruellyrefusestoliveinthesamehousewithme。Makeyourmindeasy，sir，Iforgivemysister。"
Letmenotattempttodisguiseit——MissHelenaGracedieuconfoundedme。
Ordinaryaudacityisoneofthoseformsofinsolencewhichmatureexperiencedismisseswithcontempt。Thisgirl’saudacitystruckdownallresistance，foroneshockingreason：itwasunquestionablysincere。Strongconvictionofherownvirtuestaredatmeinherproudanddaringeyes。Atthattime，IwasnotawareofwhatIhavelearnedsince。Thehorridhardeningofhermoralsensehadbeenaccomplishedbyherself。Inherdiary，therehasbeenfoundtheconfessionofasecretcourseofreading——withsupplementaryreflectionsflowingfromit，whichneedonlytobedescribedasworthyoftheirsource。
Apersoncapableofrepentanceandreformwould，inherplace，haveseenthatshehaddisgustedme。NotasuspicionofthisoccurredtoMissHelena。"Iseeyouareembarrassed，"sheremarked，"andIamatnolosstoaccountforit。YouaretoopolitetoacknowledgethatIhavenotmadeafriendofyouyet。
Oh，Imeantodoit！"
"No，"Isaid，"Ithinknot。"
"Weshallsee，"shereplied。"Soonerorlater，youwillfindyourselfsayingakindwordtomyfatherforPhilipandme。"Sherose，andtookaturnintheroom——andstopped，eyingmeattentively。"AreyouthinkingofEunice？"sheasked。
"Yes。"
"Shehasyoursympathy，Isuppose？"
"Myheart—feltsympathy。"
"Ineedn’taskhowIstandinyourestimation，afterthat。Prayexpressyourselffreely。Yourlooksconfessit——youviewmewithafeelingofaversion。"
"Iviewyouwithafeelingofhorror。"
Theexasperatinginfluencesofherlanguage，herlooks，andhertoneswould，asIventuretothink，havegottotheendofanotherman’sself—controlbeforethis。Anyway，shehadatlastirritatedmeintospeakingasstronglyasIfelt。WhatIsaidhadbeensoplainly（perhapssorudely）expressed，thatmisinterpretationofitseemedtobeimpossible。Shemistookme，nevertheless。Themostmercilessdisclosureofthedrearysideofhumandestinyissurelytobefoundinthefailureofwords，spokenorwritten，sotoanswertheirpurposethatwecantrustthem，inourattemptstocommunicatewitheachother。Evenwhenheseemstobeconnected，bythenearestanddearestrelations，withhisfellow—mortals，whatasolitarycreature，triedbythetestofsympathy，thehumanbeingreallyisintheteemingworldthatheinhabits！Affordingonemoreexampleoftheimpotenceofhumanlanguagetospeakforitself，mymisinterpretedwordshadfoundtheirwaytotheonesensitiveplaceinHelenaGracedieu’simpenetrablenature。Shebetrayeditinthequiveringandflushingofherhardface，andintheappealtothelooking—glasswhichescapedhereyesthenextmoment。Myhastyreplyhadrousedtheideaofacovertinsultaddressedtoherhandsomeface。Inotherwords，Ihadwoundedhervanity。Drivenbyresentment，outcamethesecretdistrustofmewhichhadbeenlurkinginthatcoldheart，fromthemomentwhenwefirstmet。
"Iinspireyouwithhorror，andEuniceinspiresyouwithcompassion，"shesaid。"That，Mr。Governor，isnotnatural。"
"MayIaskwhy？"
"Youknowwhy。"
"No。"
"Youwillhaveit？"
"Iwantanexplanation，MissHelena，ifthatiswhatyoumean。"
"Takeyourexplanation，then！Youarenotthestrangeryouaresaidtobetomysisterandtome。YourinterestinEuniceisapersonalinterestofsomekind。Idon’tpretendtoguesswhatitis。Asformyself，itisplainthatsomebodyelsehasbeensettingyouagainstme，beforeMissJillgallgotpossessionofyourprivateear。"
InalludingtoEunice，shehadblundered，strangelyenough，onsomethinglikethetruth。Butwhenshespokeofherself，theheadlongmalignityofhersuspicions——makingeveryallowancefortheangerthathadhurriedherintothem——seemedtocallforsomelittleprotestagainstafalseassertion。Itoldherthatshewascompletelymistaken。
"Iamcompletelyright，"sheanswered；"Isawit。"
"Sawwhat？"
"Sawyoupretendingtobeastrangertome。"
"WhendidIdothat？"
"Youdiditwhenwemetatthestation。"
Thereplywastooridiculousforthepreservationofanycontrolovermyownsenseofhumor。Itwaswrong；butitwasinevitable——Ilaughed。Shelookedatmewithafury，revealingaconcentrationofevilpassioninherwhichIhadnotseenyet。I
askedherpardon；Ibeggedhertothinkalittlebeforeshepersistedintakingaviewofmyconductunworthyofher，andunjusttomyself。
"UnjusttoYou！"sheburstout。"Whoareyou？Amanwhohasdrivenyourtradehasspiesalwaysathiscommand——yes！andknowshowtousethem。Youwereprimedwithprivateinformation——youhad，forallIknow，astolenphotographofmeinyourpocket——beforeeveryoucametoourtown。Doyoustilldenyit？
Oh，sir，whydegradeyourselfbytellingalie？"
Nosuchoutrageasthishadeverbeeninflictedonme，atanytimeinmylife。Myforbearancemust，Isuppose，havebeenmoreseverelytriedthanIwasawareofmyself。Withorwithoutexcuseforme，Iwasweakenoughtoletagirl’sspitefultonguestingme，and，worsestill，toletherseethatIfeltit。
"Youshallhavenosecondopportunity，MissGracedieu，ofinsultingme。"Withthatfoolishreply，Iopenedthedoorviolentlyandwentout。
Sheranafterme，triumphinginhavingrousedthetemperofamanoldenoughtohavebeenhergrandfather，andcaughtmebythearm。"Yourownconducthasexposedyou。"（Thatwasliterallyhowsheexpressedherself。）"Isawitinyoureyeswhenwemetatthestation。You，thestranger——youwhoallowedpoorignorantmetointroducemyself——youknewmeallthetime，knewmebysight！"
Ishookherhandoffwithaninconsiderableroughness，humiliatingtoremember。"It’sfalse！"Icried。"Iknewyoubyyourlikenesstoyourmother。"
Themomentthewordshadpassedmylips，Icametomysensesagain；Irememberedwhatfatalwordstheymightprovetobe，iftheyreachedtheMinister’sears。
Heardonlybyhisdaughter，myreplyseemedtocooltheheatofherangerinaninstant。
"Soyouknewmymother？"shesaid。"Myfathernevertoldusthat，whenhespokeofyourbeingsuchaveryoldfriendofhis。
Strange，tosaytheleastofit。"
Iwaswiseenough——nowwhenwisdomhadcometoolate——nottoattempttoexplainmyself，andnottogiveheranopportunityofsayingmore。"Weareneitherofusinastateofmind，"I
answered，"toallowthisinterviewtocontinue。Imusttrytorecovermycomposure；andIleaveyoutodothesame。"
Inthesolitudeofmyroom，Iwasabletolookmypositionfairlyintheface。
Mr。Gracedieu’swifehadcometome，inthelong—pasttime，withoutherhusband’sknowledge。Temptedtoacruelresolvebythematernaltriumphofhavinganinfantofherown，shehadresolvedtoridherselfofthepoorlittlerivalinherhusband’sfatherlyaffection，byconsigningtheadoptedchildtothekeepingofacharitableasylum。Shehaddaredtoaskmetohelpher。Ihadkeptthesecretofhershamefulvisit——Icanhonestlysay，fortheMinister’ssake。Andnow，longaftertimehaddoomedthoseeventstooblivion，theywererevived——andrevivedbyme。
Thankstomyfolly，Mr。Gracedieu’sdaughterknewwhatIhadconcealedfromMr。Gracedieuhimself。
Whatcoursedidrespectformyfriend，andrespectformyself，counselmetotake？
Icouldonlyseebeforemeachoiceoftwoevils。Towaitforevents——withthetoocertainprospectofavindictivebetrayalofmyindiscretionbyHelenaGracedieu。Ortotaketheinitiativeintomyownhands，andriskconsequenceswhichImightregrettotheendofmylife，bymakingmyconfessiontotheMinister。
BeforeIhaddecided，somebodyknockedatthedoor。Itwasthemaid—servantagain。WasitpossibleshehadbeensentbyHelena？
"Anothermessage？"
"Yes，sir。Mymasterwishestoseeyou。"
CHAPTERXXXVIII。
THEGIRLS’AGES。
HADtheMinister’sdesiretoseemebeeninspiredbyhisdaughter’sbetrayalofwhatIhadunfortunatelysaidtoher？
Althoughhewouldcertainlynotconsenttoreceiveherpersonally，shewouldbeatlibertytoadoptawrittenmethodofcommunicationwithhim，andthelettermightbeaddressedinsuchamannerastopiquehiscuriosity。IfHelena’svindictivepurposehadbeenalreadyaccomplished——andifMr。Gracedieuleftmenoalternativebuttopresenthisunworthywifeinhertruecharacter——IcanhonestlysaythatIdreadedtheconsequences，notastheymightaffectmyself，butastheymightaffectmyunhappyfriendinhisenfeebledstateofbodyandmind。
WhenIenteredhisroom，hewasstillinbed。
Thebed—curtainsweresodrawn，onthesidenearesttothewindow，astokeepthelightfromfallingtoobrightlyonhisweakeyes。Intheshadowthusthrownonhim，itwasnotpossibletoseehisfaceplainlyenough，fromtheopensideofthebed，toarriveatanydefiniteconclusionastowhatmightbepassinginhismind。Afterhavingbeenawakeforsomehoursduringtheearlierpartofthenight，hehadenjoyedalongandundisturbedsleep。"Ifeelstrongerthismorning，"hesaid，"andIwishtospeaktoyouwhilemymindisclear。"
Ifthequiettoneofhisvoicewasnotanassumedtone，hewassurelyignorantofallthathadpassedbetweenhisdaughterandmyself。
"Eunicewillbeheresoon，"heproceeded，"andIoughttoexplainwhyIhavesentforhertocomeandmeetyou。Ihavereasons，seriousreasons，mind，forwishingyoutocompareherpersonalappearancewithHelena’spersonalappearance，andthentotellmewhichofthetwo，onafaircomparison，lookstheeldest。PraybearinmindthatIattachthegreatestimportancetotheconclusionatwhichyoumayarrive。"
HespokemoreclearlyandcollectedlythanIhadheardhimspeakyet。
HereandthereIdetectedhesitationsandrepetitions，whichI
havepurposelypassedover。ThesubstanceofwhathesaidtomeisallthatIshallpresentinthisplace。CarefulasIhavebeentokeepmyrecordofeventswithinstrictlimits，IhavewrittenatalengthwhichIwasfarindeedfromcontemplatingwhenI
acceptedMr。Gracedieu’sinvitation。
Havingpromisedtocomplywiththestrangerequestwhichhehadaddressedtome，Iventuredtoremindhimofpastoccasionsonwhichhehadpointedlyabstained，whenthesubjectpresenteditself，fromspeakingofthegirls’ages。"Youhaveleftittomydiscretion，"Iadded，"todecideaquestioninwhichyouareseriouslyinterested，relatingtoyourdaughters。HaveInoexcuseforregrettingthatIhavenotbeenadmittedtoyourconfidencealittlemorefreely？"
"Youhaveeveryexcuse，"heanswered。"Butyoutroublemeallthesame。TherewassomethingelsethatIhadtosaytoyou——andyourcuriositygetsintheway。"
Hesaidthiswithasullenemphasis。Inmyposition，theworstofevilswassuspense。Itoldhimthatmycuriositycouldwait；andIbeggedthathewouldrelievehismindofwhatwaspressingonitatthemoment。
"Letmethinkalittle，"hesaid。