Iwaitedanxiouslyforthedecisionatwhichhemightarrive。
Nothingcameofittojustifymymisgivings。"LeavewhatIhaveinmymindtoripeninmymind，"hesaid。"Themysteryaboutthegirls’agesseemstoirritateyou。IfIputmygoodfriend’stempertoanyfurthertrial，hewillbeofnousetome。Nevermindifmyheadswims；I’musedtothat。Nowlisten！"
Strangeastheprefacewas，theexplanationthatfollowedwasstrangeryet。Iofferashortenedandsimplifiedversion，givingaccuratelythesubstanceofwhatIheard。
TheMinisterenteredwithoutreserveonthemysterioussubjectoftheages。Eunice，heinformedme，wasnearlytwoyearsolderthanHelena。Ifsheoutwardlyshowedhersuperiorityofage，anypersonacquaintedwiththecircumstancesunderwhichtheadoptedinfanthadbeenreceivedintoMr。Gracedieu’schildlesshousehold，needonlycomparetheso—calledsistersinafter—life，andwouldthereuponidentifytheeldest—lookingyoungladyofthetwoastheoffspringofthewomanwhohadbeenhangedformurder。
Withsuchamisfortuneasthispresentingitselfasapossibleprospect，theMinisterwasboundtopreventthegirlsfromignorantlybetrayingeachotherbyallusionstotheiragesandtheirbirthdays。Aftermuchthought，hehaddevisedadesperatemeansofmeetingthedifficulty——alreadymadeknown，asIamtold，fortheinformationofstrangerswhomayreadthepagesthathavegonebeforemine。Myfriend’splanofproceedinghad，bythenatureofit，exposedhimtoinjuriouscomment，toembarrassingquestions，andtodoubtsandmisconceptions，allpatientlyenduredinconsiderationofthesecuritythathadbeenattained。Proudofhisexplanation，Mr。Gracedieu’svanitycalleduponmetoacknowledgethatmycuriosityhadbeensatisfied，andmydoubtscompletelysetatrest。
No：myobstinatecommonsensewasnotreducedtosubmission，evenyet。Lookingbackoveralapseofseventeenyears，Iaskedwhathadhappened，inthatlonginterval，tojustifytheanxietieswhichstillappearedtotroublemyfriend。
Thistime，myharmlesscuriositycouldbegratifiedbyareplyexpressedinthreewords——nothinghadhappened。
Thenwhat，inHeaven’sname，wastheMinisterafraidof？
Hisvoicedroppedtoawhisper。Hesaid："Iamafraidofthewomen。"
Whowerethewomen？
TwoofthemactuallyprovedtobetheservantsemployedinMr。
Gracedieu’shouse，atthebygonetimewhenbehadbroughtthechildhomewithhimfromtheprison！Topointouttheabsurdityofthereasonsthathegaveforfearingwhatfemalecuriositymightyetattempt，ifcircumstanceshappenedtoencourageit，wouldhavebeenamerewasteofwords。Dismissingthesubject，I
nextascertainedthattheMinister’sdoubtsextendedeventothetwofemalewarders，whohadbeenappointedtowatchthemurderessinturn，duringherlastdaysinprison。Ieasilyrelievedhismindinthiscase。Oneofthewarderswasdead。TheotherhadmarriedafarmerinAustralia。Hadweexhaustedthelistofsuspectedpersonsyet？No：therewasonemoreleft；andtheMinisterdeclaredthathehadfirstmetwithherinmyofficialresidence，atthetimewhenIwasGovernoroftheprison。
"Shepresentedherselftomebyname，"hesaid；"andshespokerudely。AMiss——"Hepausedtoconsulthismemory，andthistime（thanksperhapstohisnight’srest）hismemoryansweredtheappeal。"Ihavegotit！"hecried——"MissChance。"
Myfriendhadinterestedmeinhisimaginaryperilsatlast。Itwasjustpossiblethathemighthaveaformidablepersontodealwithnow。
DuringmyresidenceatFlorence，theChaplainandIhadtakenmanyaretrospectivelook（asoldmenwill）atpasteventsinourlives。Myformercolleaguespokeofthetimewhenhehadperformedclericaldutyforhisfriend，therectorofaparishchurchinLondon。NeitherhenorIhadheardagainofthe"MissChance"ofourdisagreeableprisonexperience，whomhehadmarriedtothedashingDutchgentleman，Mr。Tenbruggen。Wecouldonlywonderwhathadbecomeofthatmysteriousmarriedpair。
Mr。Gracedieubeingundoubtedlyignorantofthewoman’smarriage，itwasnoteasytosaywhattheconsequencemightbe，inhisexcitablestate，ifIinformedhimofit。Hewould，inallprobability，concludethatIknewmoreofthewomanthanhedid。
Idecidedonkeepingmyowncounsel，forthepresentatleast。
Passingatonce，therefore，totheoneconsiderationofanyimportance，IendeavoredtofindoutwhetherMr。GracedieuandMrs。Tenbruggenhadmet，orhadcommunicatedwitheachotherinanyway，duringthelongperiodofseparationthathadtakenplacebetweentheMinisterandmyself。Ifhehadbeensounluckyastooffendher，shewasbeyondalldoubtanenemytobedreaded。Apart，however，fromamisfortuneofthiskind，shewouldrank，inmyopinion，withtheotherharmlessobjectsofMr。
Gracedieu’sdistrust。
Inmakingmyinquiries，IfoundthatIhadanobstacletocontendwith。
Whilehefelttherenovatinginfluenceofthereposethatheenjoyed，theMinisterhadbeenabletothinkandtoexpresshimselfwithlessdifficultythanusual。Butthereservesofstrength，onwhichtheusefulexerciseofhismemorydepended，begantofailhimastheinterviewproceeded。Hedistinctlyrecollectedthat"somethingunpleasanthadpassedbetweenthataudaciouswomanandhimself。"Butatwhatdate——andwhetherbywordofmouthorbycorrespondence——wasmorethanhismemorycouldnowrecall。Hebelievedbewasnotmistakenintellingmethathe"hadbeenintwomindsabouther。"Atonetime，hewassatisfiedthathehadtakenwisemeasuresforhisownsecurity，ifsheattemptedtoannoyhim。Buttherewasanotherandalatertime，whendoubtsandfearshadlaidholdofhimagain。IfI
wantedtoknowhowthishadhappened，hefancieditwasthroughadream；andifIaskedwhatthedreamwas，hecouldonlybegandpraythatIwouldsparehispoorhead。
Unwillingevenyettosubmitunconditionallytodefeat，itoccurredtometotryalastexperimentonmyfriend，withoutcallingforanymentaleffortonhisownpart。The"MissChance"
offormerdaysmight，byabarepossibility，havewrittentohim。
Iaskedaccordinglyifhewasinthehabitofkeepinghisletters，andifhewouldallowme（whenhehadrestedalittle）
tolaythemopenbeforehim，sothathecouldlookatthesignatures。"Youmightfindthelostrecollectioninthatway，"I
suggested，"atthebottomofoneofyourletters。"
Hewasinthatstateofweariness，poorfellow，inwhichamanwilldoanythingforthesakeofpeace。Pointingtoacabinetinhisroom，hegavemeakeytakenfromalittlebasketonhisbed。
"Lookforyourself，"hesaid。Aftersomehesitation——forI
naturallyrecoiledfromexamininganotherman’scorrespondence——I
decidedonopeningthecabinet，atanyrate。
Theletters——alargecollection——were，tomyrelief，allneatlyfolded，andindorsedwiththenamesofthewriters。IcouldrunharmlesslythroughbundleafterbundleinsearchoftheonenamethatIwanted，andstillrespecttheprivacyoftheletters。Myperseverancedeservedareward——andfailedtogetit。ThenameI
wantedsteadilyeludedmysearch。Arrivingattheuppershelfofthecabinet，IfounditsohighthatIcouldbarelyreachitwithmyhand。Insteadofgettingmoreletterstolookover，Ipulleddowntwonewspapers。
Oneofthemwasanoldcopyofthe_Times，_datingbackasfarasthe13thDecember，1858。Itwascarefullyfolded，longwise，withthetitle—pageuppermost。Onthefirstcolumn，attheleft—handsideofthesheet，appearedthecustomaryannouncementsofBirths。Amarkwithabluepencil，againstoneoftheadvertisements，attractedmyattention。Ireadtheselines：
"Onthe10thinst。，thewifeoftheRev。AbelGracedieu，ofadaughter。"
Thesecondnewspaperborealaterdate，andcontainednothingthatinterestedme。Inaturallyassumedthattheadvertisementinthe_Times_hadbeeninsertedatthedesireofMrs。Gracedieu；
and，afterallthatIhadheard，therewaslittledifficultyinattributingthecuriousomissionoftheplaceinwhichthechildhadbeenborntothecautionofherhusband。IfMrs。Tenbruggen（thenMissChance）hadhappenedtoseetheadvertisementinthegreatLondonnewspaper，Mr。Gracedieumightyethavegoodreasontocongratulatehimselfonhisprudentmethodofprovidingagainstmischievouscuriosity。
Iturnedtowardthebedandlookedathim。Hiseyeswereclosed。
Washesleeping？Orwashetryingtorememberwhathehaddesiredtosaytome，whenthedemandswhichImadeonhismemoryhadobligedhimtowaitforalateropportunity？
Eitherway，therewassomethingthatquickenedmysympathies，inthespectacleofhishelplessrepose。Itsuggestedtomepersonalreasonsforhisanxieties，whichhehadnotmentioned，andwhichIhadnotthoughtof，uptothistime。Ifthediscoverythathedreadedtookplace，hishouseholdwouldbebrokenup，andhispositionaspastorwouldsufferintheestimationoftheflock。
Hisowndaughterwouldrefusetoliveunderthesameroofwiththedaughterofaninfamouswoman。Popularopinion，amonghiscongregation，judgingamanwhohadpassedoffthechildofotherparentsashisown，wouldfindthatmanguiltyofanactofdeliberatedeceit。
Stilloppressedbyreflectionswhichpointedtothefutureinthisdiscouragingway，Iwasstartledbyavoiceoutsidethedoor——asweet，sadvoice——saying，"MayIcomein？"
TheMinister’seyesopenedinstantly：heraisedhimselfinhisbed。
"Eunice，atlast！"hecried。"Letherin。"
CHAPTERXXXIX。
THEADOPTEDCHILD
IOPENEDthedoor。
Eunicepassedmewiththesuddennessalmostofaflashoflight。
WhenIturnedtowardthebed，herarmswereroundherfather’sneck。"Oh，poorpapa，howillyoulook！"Commonplaceexpressionsoffondness，andnomore；butthetonegavethemacharmthatsubduedme。NeverhadIfeltsoindulgenttowardMr。Gracedieu’sunreasonablefearsaswhenIsawhimintheembraceofhisadopteddaughter。Shehadalreadyremindedmeofthebygonedaywhenabrightlittlechildhadsatonmykneeandlistenedtothetickingofmywatch。
TheMinistergentlyliftedherheadfromhisbreast。"Mydarling，"hesaid，"youdon’tseemyoldfriend。Lovehim，andlookuptohim，Eunice。Hewillbeyourfriend，too，whenIamgone。"
Shecametomeandofferedhercheektobekissed。Itwassadlypale，poorsoul——andIcouldguesswhy。Butherheartwasnowfullofherfather。"Doyouthinkheisseriouslyill？"shewhispered。WhatIoughttohavesaidIdon’tknow。Hereyes，thesweetest，truest，loveliesteyesIeversawinahumanface，werepleadingwithme。Letmyenemiesmaketheworstofit，iftheylike——Ididcertainlylie。AndifIdeservedmypunishment，Igotit；thepoorchildbelievedme！"NowIamhappier，"shesaid，gratefully。"Onlytohearyourvoiceseemstoencourageme。Onourwayhere，Selinadidnothingbuttalkofyou。ShetoldmeI
shouldn’thavetimetofeelafraidofthegreatman；hewouldmakemefondofhimdirectly。Isaid，’Areyoufondofhim？’Shesaid，’Madlyinlovewithhim，mydear。’Mylittlefriendreallythinksyoulikeher，andisveryproudofitTherearesomepeoplewhocallherugly。Ihopeyoudon’tagreewiththem？"
IbelieveIshouldhaveliedagain，ifMr。Gracedieuhadnotcalledmetothebedside"Howdoesshestrikeyou？"hewhispered，eagerly。"Isittoosoontoaskifsheshowsherageinherface？"
"Neitherinherfacenorherfigure，"Ianswered："itastonishesmethatyoucaneverhavedoubtedit。Nostranger，judgingbypersonalappearance，couldfailtomakethemistakeofthinkingHelenatheoldestofthetwo。"
HelookedfondlyatEunice。"Herfigureseemstobearoutwhatyousay，"hewenton。"Almostchildish，isn’tit？"
Icouldnotagreetothat。Slim，supple，simplygracefulineverymovement，Eunice’sfigure，inthecharmoffirstyouth，onlywaiteditsperfectdevelopment。Mostmen，lookingatherasshestoodattheotherendoftheroomwithherbacktowardus，wouldhaveguessedheragetobesixteen。
FindingthatIfailedtoagreewithhim，Mr。Gracedieu’smisgivingsreturned。"Youspeakveryconfidently，"hesaid，"consideringthatyouhavenotseenthegirlstogether。Thinkwhatadreadfulblowitwouldbetomeifyoumadeamistake。"
Ideclared，withperfectsincerity，thattherewasnofearofamistake。Thebareideaofmakingtheproposedcomparisonwashatefultome。IfHelenaandIhadhappenedtomeetatthatmoment，Ishouldhaveturnedawayfromherbyinstinct——shewouldhavedisturbedmyimpressionsofEunice。
TheMinistersignedtometomovealittlenearertohim。"Imustsayit，"hewhispered，"andIamafraidofherhearingme。Isthereanythinginherfacethatremindsyouofhermiserablemother？"
Ihadhardlypatiencetoanswerthequestion：itwassimplypreposterous。Herhairwasbymanyshadesdarkerthanhermother’shair；hereyeswereofadifferentcolor。Therewasanexquisitetendernessandsincerityintheirexpression——madeadditionallybeautiful，tomymind，byagentle，uncomplainingsadness。ItwasimpossibleeventothinkoftheeyesofthemurderesswhenIlookedatherchild。Eunice’slowerfeatures，again，hadnoneofhermother’sregularityofproportion。Hersmile，simpleandsweet，andsoonpassingaway，wascertainlynotaninheritedsmileonthematernalside。Whethersheresembledherfather，Iwasunabletoconjecture——havingneverseenhim。
Theonethingcertainwas，thatnotthefaintesttrace，infeatureorexpression，ofEunice’smotherwastobeseeninEuniceherself。Ofthetwogirls，Helena——judgingbysomethinginthecolorofherhair，andbysomethingintheshadeofhercomplexion——mightpossiblyhavesuggested，inthoseparticularsonly，apurelyaccidentalresemblancetomyterribleprisonerofpasttimes。
TherevivalofMr。Gracedieu’sspiritsindicatedatemporarychangeonly，andwasalreadybeginningtopassaway。TheeyeswhichhadlookedlovinglyatEunicebegantolooklanguidlynow：
hisheadsankonthepillowwithasighofweakcontent。"Mypleasurehasbeenalmosttoomuchforme，"hesaid。"Leavemeforawhiletorest，andgetusedtoit。"
Eunicekissedhisforehead——andwelefttheroom。
CHAPTERXL。
THEBRUISEDHEART。
WHENwesteppedoutonthelanding，Iobservedthatmycompanionpaused。Shelookedatthetwoflightsofstairsbelowusbeforeshedescendedthem。Itoccurredtomethattheremustbesomebodyinthehousewhomshewasanxioustoavoid。
Arrivedatthelowerhall，shepausedagain，andproposedinawhisperthatweshouldgointothegarden。Asweadvancedalongthebackwarddivisionofthehall，IsawhereyesturndistrustfullytowardthedooroftheroominwhichHelenahadreceivedme。Atlast，myslowperceptionsfeltwithherandunderstoodher。Eunice’ssensitivenaturerecoiledfromachancemeetingwiththewretchwhohadlaidwasteallthathadoncebeenhappyandhopefulinthatharmlessyounglife。
"WillyoucomewithmetothepartofthegardenthatIamfondestof？"sheasked。
Iofferedhermyarm。Sheledmeinsilencetoarusticseat，placedundertheshadeofamulberrytree。Isawachangeinherfaceaswesatdown——atenderandbeautifulchange。Atthatmomentthegirl’sheartwasfarawayfromme。Therewassomeassociationwiththiscornerofthegarden，onwhichIfeltthatImustnotintrude。
"Iwasonceveryhappyhere，"shesaid。"Whenthetimeoftheheartachecamesoonafter，Iwasafraidtolookattheoldtreeandthebenchunderit。Butthatisallovernow。Iliketorememberthehoursthatwereoncedeartome，andtoseetheplacethatrecallsthem。DoyouknowwhoIamthinkingof？Don’tbeafraidofdistressingme。Inevercrynow。"
"Mydearchild，Ihaveheardyoursadstory——butIcan’ttrustmyselftospeakofit。"
"Becauseyouaresosorryforme？"
"NowordscansayhowsorryIam！"
"ButyouarenotangrywithPhilip？"
"Notangry！Mypoordear，IamafraidtotellyouhowangryIamwithhim。"
"Oh，no！Youmustn’tsaythat。Ifyouwishtobekindtome——andIamsureyoudowishit——don’tthinkbitterlyofPhilip。"
WhenIrememberthatthefirstfeelingsherousedinmewasnothingworthierofaprofessingChristianthanastonishment，I
dropinmyownestimationtothelevelofasavage。"Doyoureallymean，"Iwasbaseenoughtoask，"thatyouhaveforgivenhim？"
Shesaid，gently："HowcouldIhelpforgivinghim？"
Themanwhocouldhavebeenblessedwithsuchloveasthis，andwhocouldhavecastitawayfromhim，canhavebeennothingbutanidiot。Onthatground——thoughIdarednotconfessittoEunice——Iforgavehim，too。
"DoIsurpriseyou？"sheaskedsimply。"Perhapslovewillbearanyhumiliation。OrperhapsIamonlyapoorweakcreature。Youdon’tknowwhatacomfortitwastometokeepthefewlettersthatIreceivedfromPhilip。WhenIheardthathehadgoneaway，Igavehislettersthekissthatbadehimgood—by。Thatwasthetime，Ithink，whenmypoorbruisedheartgotusedtothepain；I
begantofeelthattherewasoneconsolationstillleftforme——I
mightendinforgivinghim。WhydoItellyouallthis？Ithinkyoumusthavebewitchedme。IsthisreallythefirsttimeIhaveseenyou？"
Sheputherlittletremblinghandintomine；Iliftedittomylips，andkissedit。SorelywasItemptedtoownthatIhadpitiedandlovedherinherinfancy。Itwasalmostonmylipstosay："Irememberyouaneasily—pleasedlittlecreature，amusingyourselfwiththebrokentoyswhichwereoncetheplaythingsofmyownchildren。"IbelieveIshouldhavesaidit，ifIcouldhavetrustedmyselftospeakcomposedlytoher。Thiswasnottobedone。OldasIwas，versedasIwasinthehardknowledgeofhowtokeepthemaskoninthehourofneed，thiswasnottobedone。
StilltryingtounderstandthatIwaslittlebetterthanastrangertoher，andstillbentonfindingthesecretofthesympathythatunitedus，Euniceputastrangequestiontome。
"Whenyouwereyoungyourself，"shesaid，"didyouknowwhatitwastolove，andtobeloved——andthentoloseitall？"
Itisnotgiventomanymentomarrythewomanwhohasbeentheobjectoftheirfirstlove。Myearlylifehadbeendarkenedbyasadstory；neverconfidedtoanylivingcreature；banishedresolutelyfrommyownthoughts。Forfortyyearspast，thatpartofmyburiedselfhadlainquietinitsgrave——andthechancetouchofaninnocenthandhadraisedthedead，andsetusfacetofaceagain！DidIknowwhatitwastolove，andtobeloved，andthentoloseitall？"Toowell，mychild；toowell！"
ThatwasallIcouldsaytoher。Inthelastdaysofmylife，I
shrankfromspeakingofit。WhenIhadfirstfeltthatcalamity，andhadfeltitmostkeenly，Imighthavegivenananswerworthierofme，andworthierofher。
Shedroppedmyhand，andsatbymeinsilence，thinking。HadI——withoutmeaningit，Godknows！——hadIdisappointedher？
"Didyouexpectmetotellmyownsadstory，"Isaid，"asfranklyandastrustfullyasyouhavetoldyours？"
"Oh，don’tthinkthat！Iknowwhataneffortitwastoyoutoanswermeatall。Yes，indeed！IwonderwhetherImayasksomething。Thesorrowyouhavejusttoldmeofisnottheonlyone——isit？Youhavehadothertroubles？"
"Manyofthem。"
"Therearetimes，"shewenton，"whenonecan’thelpthinkingofone’sownmiserableself。Itrytobecheerful，butthosetimescomenowandthen。"
Shestopped，andlookedatmewithapalefearconfessingitselfinherface。
"YouknowwhoSelinais？"sheresumed。"Myfriend！TheonlyfriendIhad，tillyoucamehere。"
Iguessedthatshewasspeakingofthequaint，kindlylittlewoman，whoseuglysurnamehadbeenhithertotheonlynameknowntome。
"Selinahas，Idaresay，toldyouthatIhavebeenill，"shecontinued，"andthatIamstayinginthecountryforthebenefitofmyhealth。"
Itwasplainthatshehadsomethingtosaytome，farmoreimportantthanthis，andthatshewasdwellingontriflestogaintimeandcourage。Hopingtohelpher，Idweltontrifles，too；
askingcommonplacequestionsaboutthepartofthecountryinwhichshewasstaying。Sheansweredabsently——then，littlebylittle，impatiently。TheonepoorproofofkindnessthatIcouldoffer，now，wastosaynomore。
"DoyouknowwhatastrangecreatureIam？"shebrokeout。"ShallImakeyouangrywithme？orshallImakeyoulaughatme？WhatI
haveshrunkfromconfessingtoSelina——whatIdarenotconfesstomyfather——Imust，andwill，confesstoYou。"
Therewasalookofhorrorinherfacethatalarmedme。Idrewhertomesothatshecouldrestherheadonmyshoulder。Myownagitationthreatenedtogetthebetterofme。ForthefirsttimesinceIhadseenthissweetgirl，Ifoundmyselfthinkingofthebloodthatraninherveins，andofthenatureofthemotherwhohadborneher。
"DidyounoticehowIbehavedupstairs？"shesaid。"Imeanwhenweleftmyfather，andcameoutonthelauding。"
Itwaseasilyrecollected；Ibeggedhertogoon。
"BeforeIwentdownstairs，"sheproceeded，"yousawmelookandlisten。DidyouthinkIwasafraidofmeetingsomeperson？anddidyouguesswhoitwasIwantedtoavoid？"
"Iguessedthat——andIunderstoodyou。"
"No！Youarenotwickedenoughtounderstandme。Willyoudomeafavor？Iwantyoutolookatme。"
Itwassaidseriously。Sheliftedherheadforamoment，sothatIcouldexamineherface。
"Doyouseeanything，"sheasked，"whichmakesyoufearthatIamnotinmyrightmind？"
"GoodGod！howcanyouasksuchahorriblequestion？
Shelaidherheadbackonmyshoulderwithasadlittlesighofresignation。"Ioughttohaveknownbetter，"shesaid；"thereisnosucheasywayoutofitasthat。Tellme——isthereonekindofwickednessmoredeceitfulthananother？Canitbehidinapersonforyearstogether，andshowitselfwhenatimeofsuffering——no；
Imeanwhenasenseofinjurycomes？Didyoueverseethat，whenyouweremasterintheprison？"
Ihadseenit——and，afteramoment’sdoubt，IsaidIhadseenit。
"Didyoupitythosepoorwretches？"
"Certainly！Theydeservedpity。"
"Iamoneofthem！"shesaid。"Pity_me。_IfHelenalooksatme——ifHelenaspeakstome——ifIonlyseeHelenabyaccident——doyouknowwhatshedoes？Shetemptsme！Temptsmetododreadfulthings！Temptsme——"Thepoorchildthrewherarmsroundmyneck，andwhisperedthenextfatalwordsinmyear。
Themother！PreparedasIwasfortheaccurseddiscovery，thehorrorofitshookme。
Sheleftme，andstartedtoherfeet。Theinheritedenergyshoweditselfinfuriousprotestagainsttheinheritedevil。"Whatdoesitmean？"shecried。"I’llsubmittoanything。I’llbearmyhardlotpatiently，ifyouwillonlytellmewhatitmeans。Wheredoesthishorridtransformationofmeoutofmyselfcomefrom？Lookatmygoodfather。Inallthisworldthereisnomansoperfectasheis。Andoh，howhehastaughtme！thereisn’tasinglegoodthingthatIhavenotlearnedfromhimsinceIwasalittlechild。Didyoueverhearhimspeakofmymother？Youmusthaveheardhim。Mymotherwasanangel。Icouldneverbeworthyofheratmybest——butIhavetried！Ihavetried！Thewickedestgirlintheworlddoesn’thaveworsethoughtsthanthethoughtsthathavecometome。Sincewhen？SinceHelena——oh，howcanIcallherbyhernameasifIstilllovedher？Sincemysister——canshebemysister，Iaskmyselfsometimes！Sincemyenemy——there’sthewordforher——sincemyenemytookPhilipawayfromme。Whatdoesitmean？Ihaveaskedinmyprayers——andhavegotnoanswer。Iaskyou。Whatdoesitmean？Youmusttellme！Youshalltellme！Whatdoesitmean？"