Artfulasshewas，Mrs。Tenbruggenfailedtoconcealamomentaryexpressionofreliefwhichbetrayeditself，partlyinhermanner，partlyinherface。Shehadascertained，toherowncompletesatisfaction，thatmyspeedydeparturewasaneventwhichmightbereliedon。
　　"ButIhavenotyetansweredyou，"sheresumed。"Totellthetruth，Iameagertotrymyhandsonyou。Massage，asIpracticeit，wouldlightenyourweight，andrestoreyourfigure；Imayevensaywouldlengthenyourlife。Youwillthinkofme，oneofthesedays，won’tyou？Inthemeanwhile——yes！Iamhereinmyprofessionalcapacity。Severalinterestingcases；andoneveryremarkableperson，broughttodeath’sdoorbythedoctors；arichmanwhoisliberalinpayinghisfees。ThereismyquarrelwithLondonandLondoners。Someoftheirpapers，medicalnewspapers，ofcourse，declarethatmyfeesareexorbitant；andthereisatendencyamongthepatients——Imeanthepatientswhoarerollinginriches——tofollowtheleadofthenewspapers。Iamnowormtobetroddenon，inthatway。TheLondonpeopleshallwaitforme，untiltheymissme——and，whenIdogoback，theywillfindthefeesincreased。_My_fingersandthumbs，Mr。Governor，arenottobeinsultedwithimpunity。"
　　MissJillgallnoddedherheadatme。Itwasaneloquentnod。
　　"Admiremyspiritedfriend，"wastheinterpretationIputonit。
　　Atthesametime，myprivatesentimentssuggestedthatMrs。
　　Tenbruggen’sreplywastooperfectlysatisfactory，viewedasanexplanation。Mysuspicionswerebynomeanssetatrest；andI
　　wasresolvednottoletthesubjectdropyet。"SpeakingofMr。
　　Gracedieu，andofthechancesofhispartialrecovery，"Isaid，"doyouthinktheMinisterwouldbenefitbyMassage？"
　　"Ihaven’tadoubtofit，ifyoucangetridofthedoctor。"
　　"Youthinkhewouldbeanobstacleintheway？"
　　"Therearesomemedicalmenwhoarehonorableexceptionstothegeneralrule；andhemaybeoneofthem，"Mrs。Tenbruggenadmitted。"Don’tbetoohopeful。Asadoctor，hebelongstothemosttyrannicaltrades—unioninexistence。MayImakeapersonalremark？"
　　"Certainly。"
　　"Ifindsomethinginyourmanner——praydon’tsupposethatIamangry——whichlookslikedistrust；Imean，distrustofMe。"
　　MissJillgall’severreadykindnessinterferedinmydefense：
　　"Oh，no，Elizabeth！Youarenotoftenmistaken；butindeedyouarewrongnow。Lookatmydistinguishedfriend。Iremembermycopybook，whenIwasasmallcreaturelearningtowrite，inEngland。Therewerefirstlinesthatwecopied，inbigletters，andoneofthemsaid，’DistrustIsMean。’Iknowayoungperson，whosenamebeginswithH，whoisonemassofmeanness。
　　But"——excellentSelinapaused，andpointedtomewithagestureoftriumph——"nomeannessthere！"
　　Mrs。TenbruggenwaitedtohearwhatIhadtosay，scornfullyinsensibletoMissJillgall’swell—meantinterruption。
　　"Youarenotaltogethermistaken，"Itoldher。"Ican’tsaythatmymindisinastateofdistrust，butIownthatyoupuzzleme。"
　　"How，ifyouplease？"
　　"MayIpresumethatyouremembertheoccasionwhenwemetatMr。
　　Gracedieu’shouse—door？YousawthatIfailedtorecognizeyou，andyourefusedtogiveyournamewhentheservantaskedforit。
　　Afewdaysafterward，Iheardyou（quiteaccidentally）forbidMissJillgalltomentionyournameinmyhearing。Iamatalosstounderstandit。"
　　Beforeshecouldanswerme，thechaisedrewupatthegateofthefarmhouse。Mrs。Tenbruggencarefullypromisedtoexplainwhathadpuzzledme，atthefirstopportunity。"Ifitescapesmymemory，"
　　shesaid，"prayremindmeofit。"
　　Ideterminedtoremindherofit。WhetherIcoulddependonhertotellmethetruth，mightbequiteanotherthing。
　　CHAPTERXLVIII
　　THEDECISIONOFEUNICE。
　　EUNICEranouttomeetus，andopenedthegate。ShewasinstantlyfoldedinMissJillgall’sarms。Onherrelease，shecametome，eagerfornewsofherfather’shealth。WhenIhadcommunicatedallthatIthoughtitrighttotellherofthedoctor’slastreport，shenoticedMrs。Tenbruggen。Theappearanceofastrangerseemedtoembarrassher。IleftMissJillgalltointroducethemtoeachother。
　　"DarlingEuneece，yourememberMrs。Tenbruggen’sname，Iamsure？
　　Elizabeth，thisismysweetgirl；Imentionedherinmyletterstoyou。"
　　"Ihopeshewillbe_my_sweetgirl，whenweknoweachotheralittlebetter。MayIkissyou，dear？Youhavelovelyeyes；butI
　　amsorrytoseethattheydon’tlooklikehappyeyes。YouwantMammaTenbruggentocheeryou。Whatacharmingoldhouse！"
　　SheputherarmroundEunice’swaistandledhertothehousedoor。Herenjoymentofthecreepersthattwinedtheirwayupthepillarsoftheporchwassimplyperfectionasapieceofacting。
　　Whenthefarmer’swifepresentedherself，Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoirresistiblyamiable，andtooksuchflatteringnoticeofthechildren，thattheharmlessBritishmatronactuallyblushedwithpleasure。"I’msure，ma’am，youmusthavechildrenofyourown，"
　　shesaid。Mrs。Tenbruggencasthereyesonthefloor，andsighedwithpatheticresignation。Asweetlittlefamily，andallcruellysweptawaybydeath。Iftheperformancemeantanything，itdidmostassuredlymeanthat。
　　"Whatwonderfulself—possession！"somebodywhisperedinmyear。
　　Thechildrenintheroomwerehealthy，well—behavedlittlecreatures——butthenameoftheinnocentoneamongthemwasSelina。
　　Beforedinnerwewereshownoverthefarm。
　　Thegoodwomanofthehouseledtheway，andMissJillgallandI
　　accompaniedher。Thechildrenranoninfrontofus。StillkeepingpossessionofEunice，Mrs。Tenbruggenfollowedatsomedistancebehind。Ilookedback，afternoverylonginterval，andsawthataseparationhadtakenplace。Mrs。Tenbruggenpassedme，notlookingsopleasantlyasusual，joinedthechildren，andwalkedwithtwoofthem，handinhand，apatternofmaternalamiability。Idroppedbackalittle，andgaveEuniceanopportunityofjoiningme；havingpurposelylefthertoformherownopinion，withoutanyadverseinfluenceexercisedonmypart。
　　"Isthatladyafriendofyours？"sheasked。"No；onlyanacquaintance。Whatdoyouthinkofher？"
　　"IthoughtIshouldlikeheratfirst；shewassokind，andseemedtotakesuchaninterestinme。Butshesaidsuchstrangethings——askedifIwasreckonedlikemymother，andwhichofuswastheeldest，mysisterormyself，andwhetherweweremyfather’sonlytwochildren，andifoneofuswasmorehisfavoritethantheother。WhatIcouldtellher，Ididtell。ButwhenIsaidIdidn’tknowwhichofuswastheoldest，shegavemeanimpudenttaponthecheek，andsaid，’Idon’tbelieveyou，child，’andleftme。HowcanSelinabesofondofher？Don’tmentionittoanyoneelse；IhopeIshallneverseeheragain。"
　　"Iwillkeepyoursecret，Eunice；andyoumustkeepmine。I
　　entirelyagreewithyou。"
　　"Youagreewithmeindislikingher？"
　　"Heartily。"
　　Wecouldsaynomoreatthattime。Ourfriendsinadvancewerewaitingforus。Wejoinedthematonce。
　　IfIhadfeltanydoubtofthepurposewhichhadreallyinducedMrs。TenbruggentoleaveLondon，allfurtheruncertaintyonmypartwasatanend。ShehadsomevileinterestofherowntoservebyidentifyingMr。Gracedieu’sadoptedchild——butwhatthenatureofthatinterestmightbe，itwasimpossibletoguess。Thefuture，whenIthoughtofitnow，filledmewithdismay。Amoreutterlyhelplesspositionthanmineitwasnoteasytoconceive。
　　TowarntheMinister，inhispresentcriticalstateofhealth，wassimplyimpossible。MyrelationswithHelenaforbademeeventoapproachher。And，asforSelina，shewaslittlelessthanameretoolinthehandsofherwell—belovedfriend。What，inGod’sname，wasItodo？
　　Atdinner—timewefoundthemasterofthehousewaitingtobiduswelcome。
　　Personallyspeaking，hepresentedaremarkablecontrasttothetypicalBritishfarmer。Hewasneitherbignorburly；hespokeEnglishaswellasIdid；andtherewasnothinginhisdresswhichwouldhavemadehimafitsubjectforapictureofrusticlife。Whenhespoke，hewasabletotalkonsubjectsunconnectedwithagriculturalpursuits；nordidIhearhimgrumbleabouttheweatherandthecrops。Itwaspleasanttoseethathiswifewasproudofhim，andthathewas，whatallfathersoughttobe，hischildren’sbestanddearestfriend。WhydoIdwellonthesedetails，relatingtoamanwhomIwasnotdestinedtoseeagain？
　　OnlybecauseIhadreasontofeelgratefultohim。Whenmyspiritsweredepressedbyanxiety，hemademymindeasyaboutEunice，aslongassheremainedinhishouse。
　　Thesocialarrangements，whenourmealwasover，fellofthemselvesintotherighttrain。
　　MissJillgallwentupstairs，withthemotherandthechildren，toseethenurseryandthebedrooms。Mrs。Tenbruggendiscoveredabondofunionbetweenthefarmerandherself；theywerebothskilledplayersatbackgammon，andtheysatdowntotryconclusionsattheirfavoritegame。Withoutanywearisomenecessityforexcusesorstratagems，Eunicetookmyarmandledmetothewelcomeretirementofherownsitting—room。
　　Icouldhonestlycongratulateher，whenIheardthatshewasestablishedatthefarmasamemberofthefamily。Whileshewasgovernesstothechildren，shewassafefromdangersthatmighthavethreatenedher，ifshehadbeencompelledbycircumstancestoreturntotheMinister’shouse。
　　TheentryinherJournal，whichshewasanxiousthatIshouldread，wasplacedbeforemenext。
　　Ifollowedthepoorchild’saccountofthefearfulnightthatshehadpassed，withaninterestthatheldmebreathlesstotheend。
　　Aterribledream，whichhadimpressedasenseofitsrealityonthesleeperbyreachingitsclimaxinsomnambulism——thiswastheobviousexplanation，nodoubt；andarationalmindwouldnothesitatetoacceptit。Butarationalmindisnotauniversalgift，eveninacountrywhichpridesitselfontheidol—worshipofFact。Thosegoodfriendswhoarealwaysbetteracquaintedwithourfaults，failings，andweaknessesthanwecanpretendtobeourselves，hadlongsincediscoveredthatmynaturewassuperstitious，andmyimaginationlikelytomisleadmeinthepresenceofeventswhichencouragedit。Well！IwasweakenoughtorecoilfromthepurelyrationalviewofallthatEunicehadsuffered，andheard，andseen，onthefatefulnightrecordedinherJournal。GoodandEvilwalkthewaysofthisunintelligibleworld，onthesamefreeconditions。Ifwecling，asmanyofusdo，tothecomfortingbeliefthatdepartedspiritscanministertoearthlycreaturesforgood——canbefeltmovinginus，inatrainofthought，andseenasvisiblemanifestations，inadream——withwhatpretenseofreasoncanwedenythatthesamefreedomofsupernaturalinfluencewhichisconcededtothedepartedspirit，workingforgood，isalsopermittedtothedepartedspirit，workingforevil？Ifthegravecannotwhollypartmotherandchild，whenthemother’slifehasbeengood，doeseternalannihilationseparatethem，whenthemother’slifehasbeenwicked？No！Ifthedepartedspiritcanbringwithitablessing，thedepartedspiritcanbringwithitacurse。IdarednotconfesstoEunicethattheinfluenceofhermurderess—mothermight，asIthoughtpossible，havebeensupernaturallypresentwhensheheardtemptationwhisperinginherear；butIdarednotdenyittomyself。AllthatIcouldsaytosatisfyandsustainher，Ididsay。AndwhenIdeclared——withmywholeheartdeclared——thatthenoblepassionwhichhadelevatedherwholebeing，andhadtriumphedoverthesoresttrialsthatdesertioncouldinflict，wouldstilltriumphtotheend，Isawhope，inthatbraveandtrueheart，showingitsbrightpromiseforthefutureinEunice’seyes。
　　SheclosedandlockedherJournal。Bycommonconsentwesoughtthereliefofchangingthesubject。EuniceaskedmeifitwasreallynecessarythatIshouldreturntoLondon。
　　IshrankfromtellingherthatIcouldbeofnofurtherusetoherfather，whileheregardedmewithanenmitywhichIhadnotdeserved。ButIsawnoreasonforconcealingthatitwasmypurposetoseePhilipDunboyne。
　　"Youtoldmeyesterday，"Iremindedher，"thatIwastosayyouhadforgivenhim。Doyoustillwishmetodothat？"
　　"IndeedIdo！"
　　"Haveyouthoughtofitseriously？Areyousureofnothavingbeenhurriedbyagenerousimpulseintosayingmorethanyoumean？"
　　"Ihavebeenthinkingofit，"shesaid，"throughthewakefulhoursoflastnight——andmanythingsareplaintome，whichIwasnotsureofinthetimewhenIwassohappy。Hehascausedmethebitterestsorrowofmylife，buthecan’tundothegoodthatI
　　owetohim。Hehasmadeabettergirlofme，inthetimewhenhislovewasmine。Idon’tforgetthat。Miserablyasithasended，I
　　don’tforgetthat。"
　　Hervoicetrembled；thetearsroseinhereyes。ItwasimpossibleformetoconcealthedistressthatIfelt。Thenoblecreaturesawit。"No，"shesaidfaintly；"Iamnotgoingtocry。Don’tlooksosorryforme。"Herhandpressedmyhandgently——_she_
　　pitied_me。_WhenIsawhowshestruggledtocontrolherself，anddidcontrolherself，IdeclaretoGodIcouldhavegonedownonmykneesbeforeher。
　　SheaskedtobeallowedtospeakofPhilipagain，andforthelasttime。
　　"WhenyoumeetwithhiminLondon，hemayperhapsaskifyouhaveseenEunice。"
　　"Mychild！heissuretoask。"
　　"Breakittohimgently——butdon’tlethimdeceivehimself。Inthisworld，hemustneverhopetoseemeagain。"
　　Itried——verygently——toremonstrate。"Atyourage，andathisage，"Isaid，"surelythereishope？"
　　"Thereisnohope。"Shepressedherhandonherheart。"Iknowit，Ifeelit，here。"
　　"Oh，Eunice，it’shardformetosaythat！"
　　"Iwilltrytomakeiteasierforyou。SaythatIhaveforgivenhim——andsaynomore。"
　　CHAPTERXLIX。
　　THEGOVERNORONHISGUARD。
　　AFTERleavingEunice，myonedesirewastobealone。Ihadmuchtothinkof，andIwantedanopportunityofrecoveringmyself。Onmywayoutofthehouse，insearchofthefirstsolitaryplacethatIcoulddiscover，Ipassedtheroominwhichwehaddined。
　　Thedoorwasajar。BeforeIcouldgetbyit，Mrs。Tenbruggensteppedoutandstoppedme。
　　"Willyoucomeinhereforamoment？"shesaid。"Thefarmerhasbeencalledaway，andIwanttospeaktoyou。"
　　Veryunwillingly——buthowcouldIhaverefusedwithoutgivingoffense？——Ienteredtheroom。
　　"Whenyounoticedmykeepingmynamefromyou，"Mrs。Tenbruggenbegan，"whileSelinawaswithus，youplacedmeinanawkwardposition。Ourlittlefriendisanexcellentcreature，buthertonguerunsawaywithhersometimes；Iamobligedtobecarefuloftakinghertooreadilyintomyconfidence。Forinstance，I
　　havenevertoldherwhatmynamewasbeforeImarried。Won’tyousitdown？"
　　Ihadpurposelyremainedstandingasahinttohernottoprolongtheinterview。Thehintwasthrownaway；Itookachair。
　　"Selina’slettershadinformedme，"sheresumed，"thatMr。
　　Gracedieuwasanervousinvalid。WhenIcametoEngland，IhadhopedtotrywhatMassagemightdotorelievehim。ThecureoftheirpopularpreachermighthaveadvertisedmethroughthewholeoftheCongregationalsect。ItwasessentialtomysuccessthatI
　　shouldpresentmyselfasastranger。Icouldtrusttimeandchange，andmymarriedname（certainlynotknowntoMr。
　　Gracedieu）tokeepupmyincognito。HewouldhaverefusedtoseemeifhehadknownthatIwasonceMissChance。"
　　Ibegantobeinterested。
　　Herewasanopportunity，perhaps，ofdiscoveringwhattheMinisterhadfailedtorememberwhenhehadbeenspeakingofthiswoman，andwhenIhadaskedifhehadeveroffendedher。Iwasespeciallycarefulinmakingmyinquiries。
　　"IrememberhowyouspoketoMr。Gracedieu，"Isaid，"whenyouandhemet，longago，inmyrooms。Butsurelyyoudon’tthinkhimcapableofvindictivelyrememberingsomethoughtlesswords，whichescapedyousixteenorseventeenyearssince？"
　　"Iamnotquitesuchafoolasthat，Mr。Governor。WhatIwasthinkingofwasanunpleasantcorrespondencebetweentheMinisterandmyself。BeforeIwassounfortunateastomeetwithMr。
　　Tenbruggen，IobtainedachanceofemploymentinapublicInstitution，onconditionthatIincludedaclergymanamongmyreferences。KnowingnobodyelsewhomIcouldapplyto，IrashlywrotetoMr。Gracedieu，andreceivedoneofthosecoldandcruelrefusalswhichonlythestrictestreligiousprinciplecanproduce。Iwasmortallyoffendedatthetime；andifyourfriendtheMinisterhadbeenwithinmyreach——"Shepaused，andfinishedthesentencebyasignificantgesture。
　　"Well，"Isaid，"heiswithinyourreachnow。"
　　"Andoutofhismind，"sheadded。"Besides，one’ssenseofinjurydoesn’tlast（exceptinnovelsandplays）throughaseriesofyears。Idon’tpityhim——andifanopportunityofshakinghishighpositionamonghisadmiringcongregationpresenteditself，I
　　daresayImightmakeamischievousreturnforhislettertome。
　　Inthemeanwhile，wemaydropthesubject。Isupposeyouunderstand，now，whyIconcealedmynamefromyou，andwhyIkeptoutofthehousewhileyouwereinit。"
　　Itwasplainenough，ofcourse。IfIhadknownheragain，orhadheardhername，ImighthavetoldtheMinisterthatMrs。
　　TenbruggenandMissChancewereoneandthesame。AndifIhadseenherandtalkedwithherinthehouse，mymemorymighthaveshownitselfcapableofimprovement。Havingpolitelypresentedtheexpressionofmythanks，Irosetogo。
　　Shestoppedmeatthedoor。
　　"Onewordmore，"shesaid，"whileSelinaisoutoftheway。I
　　needhardlytellyouthatIhavenottrustedherwiththeMinister’ssecret。YouandIare，asItakeit，theonlypeoplenowlivingwhoknowthetruthaboutthesetwogirls。Andwekeepouradvantage。"
　　"Whatadvantage？"Iasked。
　　"Don’tyouknow？"
　　"Idon’tindeed。"
　　"NomoredoI。Femalefolly，andaslipofthetongue；Iamoldandugly，butIamstillawoman。AboutMissEunice。Somebodyhastoldtheprettylittlefoolnevertotruststrangers。Youwouldhavebeenamused，ifyouhadheardthatslyyoungpersonprevaricatingwithme。Inonerespect，herappearancestrikesme。
　　Sheisnotlikeeitherthewretchwhowashanged，orthepoorvictimwhowasmurdered。Canshebetheadoptedchild？Orisittheothersister，whomIhavenotseenyet？Oh，come！come！Don’ttrytolookasifyoudidn’tknow。Thatisreallytooridiculous。"
　　"Youalludedjustnow，"Ianswered，"toour’advantage’inbeingtheonlypersonswhoknowthetruthaboutthetwogirls。Well，Mrs。Tenbruggen，Ikeep_my_advantage。"
　　"Inotherwords，"sherejoined，"youleavemetomakethediscoverymyself。Well，myfriend，Imeantodoit！"
　　Intheevening，myhotelofferedtometherefugeofwhichI
　　stoodinneed。Icouldthink，forthefirsttimethatday，withoutinterruption。
　　BeingresolvedtoseePhilip，Ipreparedmyselffortheinterviewbyconsultingmyextractsoncemore。Theletter，inwhichMrs。
　　Tenbruggenfigures，inspiredmewiththehopeofprotectionforMr。Gracedieu，attainablethroughnolessapersonthanHelenaherself。
　　Tobeginwith，shewouldcertainlysharePhilip’saversiontotheMasseuse，andherdislikeofMissJillgallwould，justaspossibly，extendtoMissJillgall’sfriend。ThehostilefeelingthussetupmightbetrustedtokeepwatchonMrs。Tenbruggen’sproceedings，withavigilancenotattainablebythecoarserobservationofaman。Intheevent，ofanimprovementintheMinister’shealth，IshouldhearofitbothfromthedoctorandfromMissJillgall，andinthatcaseIshouldinstantlyreturntomyunhappyfriendandputhimonhisguard。
　　IstartedforLondonbytheearlytraininthemorning。
　　MywayhomefromtheterminustookmepastthehotelatwhichtheelderMr。Dunboynewasstaying。Icalledonhim。Hewasreportedtobeengaged；thatistosay，immersedinhisbooks。TheaddressononeofPhilip’slettershadinformedmethathewasstayingatanotherhotel。Pursuingmyinquiriesinthisdirection，Imetwithaseveredisappointment。Mr。PhilipDunboynehadleftthehotelthatmorning；forwhatdestinationneitherthelandlordnorthewaitercouldtellme。
　　Thenextday’spostbroughtwithittheinformationwhichIhadfailedtoobtain。MissJillgallwrote，informingmeinherstrongestlanguagethatPhilipDunboynehadreturnedtoHelena。
　　IndignantSelinaadded："Helenameanstomakehimmarryher；andIpromiseyousheshallfail，ifIcanstopit。"
　　IntakingleaveofEunice，Ihadgivenhermyaddress；hadwarnedhertobecareful，ifsheandMrs。Tenbruggenhappenedtomeetagain，andhadbeggedhertowritetome，ortocometome，ifanythinghappenedtoalarmherinmyabsence。
　　Intwodaysmore，IreceivedalinefromEunice，writtenevidentlyinthegreatestagitation。
　　"Philiphasdiscoveredme。Hehasbeenhere，andhasinsistedonseeingme。Ihaverefused。Thegoodfarmerhassokindlytakenmypart。Icanwritenomore。"
　　CHAPTERL。
　　THENEWSFROMTHEFARM。
　　WHENInextheardfromMissJillgall，theintroductorypartofherlettermerelyremindedmethatPhilipDunboynewasestablishedinthetown，andthatHelenawasindailycommunicationwithhim。IshalldoSelinanoinjusticeifmyextractbeginswithhersecondpage。
　　"Youwillsympathize，Iamsure"（shewrites），"withtheindignationwhichurgedmetocallonPhilip，andtellhimthewaytothefarmhouse。ThinkofHelenabeingdeterminedtomarryhim，whetherhewantstoornot！Iamafraidthisisbadgrammar。
　　Butthereareoccasionswhenevenacultivatedladyfailsinhergrammar，andalmostenviesthementheirprivilegeofswearingwhentheyareinarage。Mystateofmindistrulyindescribable。
　　Griefmingleswithanger，whenItellyouthatmysweetEuneecehasdisappointedme，forthefirsttimesinceIhadthehappinessofknowingandadmiringher。Whatcanhavebeenthemotiveofherrefusaltoreceiveherpenitentlover？Isitpride？WearetoldthatSatanfellthroughpride。Euneecesatanic？Impossible！I
　　feelinclinedtogoandaskherwhathashardenedherheartagainstapooryoungmanwhobitterlyregretshisownfolly。Doyouthinkitwasbadadvicefromthefarmerorhiswife？Inthatcase，Ishallexertmyinfluence，andtakeheraway。Youwoulddothesame，wouldn’tyou？
　　"IamashamedtomentionthepoordearMinisterinapostscript。
　　Thetruthis，Idon’tverywellknowwhatIamabout。Mr。
　　Gracedieuisquiet，sleepsbetterthanhedid，eatswithakeenerappetite，givesnotrouble。But，alas，thatgloriousintellectisinastateofeclipse！Donotsuppose，becauseIwritefiguratively，thatIamnotsorryforhim。Heunderstandsnothing；heremembersnothing；hehasmyprayers。
　　"Youmightcometousagain，ifyouwouldonlybesokind。Itwouldmakenodifferencenow；thepoormanissosadlyaltered。I
　　mustadd，mostreluctantly，thatthedoctorrecommendsyourstayingathome。Betweenourselves，heislittlebetterthanacoward。Fancyhissaying；’No；wemustnotrunthatriskyet。’I
　　ambarelyciviltohim，andnomore。
　　"Inanyotheraffair（excusemefortroublingyouwithasecondpostscript），mysympathywithEuneecewouldhavepenetratedhermotives；Ishouldhavefeltwithherfeelings。ButIhaveneverbeeninlove；nogentlemangavemetheopportunitywhenIwasyoung。NowIammiddle—aged，neglecthasdoneitsdrearywork——myheartisanextinctcrater。Figurativeagain！Ihadbetterputmypenaway，andsayfarewellforthepresent。"
　　MissJillgallmaynowgiveplacetoEunice。Thesameday’spostbroughtmebothletters。
　　Ishouldbeunworthyindeedofthetrustwhichthisaffectionategirlhasplacedinme，ifIfailedtoreceiveherexplanationofherconducttowardPhilipDunboyne，asasacredsecretconfidedtomyfatherlyregard。Inthoselaterportionsofherletter，whicharenotaddressedtomeconfidentially，Eunicewritesasfollows：
　　"Igetnews——andwhatheartbreakingnews！——ofmyfather，bysendingamessengertoSelina。ItismorethaneverimpossiblethatIcanputmyselfinthewayofseeingHelenaagain。ShehaswrittentomeaboutPhilip，inatonesoshockinglyinsolentandcruel，thatIhavedestroyedherletter。Philip’svisittothefarm，discoveredIdon’tknowhow，seemstohaveinfuriatedher。
　　Sheaccusesmeofdoingallthatshemightherselfhavedoneinmyplace，andthreatensme——No！IamafraidofthewickedwhisperingsofthatsecondselfofmineifIthinkofit。TheywereneartotemptingmewhenIreadHelena’sletter。ButI