saidtoher："Elizabeth，youappeartohavechangedyouropinionofthetwogirls，sinceIsawyou。"Sheanswered，withadelightfulcandorwhichremindedmeofoldtimes："Completely！"I
　　said："Awomanofyourintellectualcaliber，dear，doesn’tchangehermindwithoutagoodreasonforit。"Elizabethcordiallyagreedwithme。I
　　venturedtobealittlemoreexplicit："Youhavenodoubtmadesomeinterestingdiscovery。"Elizabethagreedagain；andI
　　venturedagain："IsupposeImaynotaskwhatthediscoveryis？"
　　"No，Selina，youmaynotask。"
　　Thisiscurious；butitisnothingtowhatIhavegottotellyounext。JustasIwaslongingtotakehertomybosomagainasmyfriendandconfidante，Elizabethhasdisappeared。And，alas！
　　alas！thereisareasonforitwhichnosympatheticpersoncandispute。
　　Ihavejustreceivedsomeoverwhelmingnews，intheformofaneatparcel，addressedtomyself。
　　Therehasbeenascandalatthehotel。Thatmonsterinhumanform，Elizabeth’shusband，isawareofhiswife’sprofessionalfame，hasheardofthelargesumsofmoneywhichsheearnsasthegreatestlivingprofessorofmassage，hasbeenlongonthelookoutforher，andhasdiscoveredheratlast。Hehasnotonlyforcedhiswayintohersitting—roomatthehotel；heinsistsonherlivingwithhimagain；hermoneybeingtheattraction，itisneedlesstosay。Ifsherefuses，hethreatensherwiththelaw，thebarbarouslaw，which，tousehisowncoarseexpression，will"restorehisconjugalrights。"
　　AllthisIgatherfromthenarrativeofmyunhappyfriend，whichformsoneofthetwoinclosuresinherparcel。Shehasalreadymadeherescape。Ha！themandoesn’tlivewhocancircumventElizabeth。TheEnglishCourtofLawisn’tbuiltwhichcancatchherwhensheroamsthefreeandgloriousContinent。
　　Thevastnessofthisamazingwoman’smindiswhatImustpausetoadmire。Inthefrightfulcatastrophethathasbefallenher，shecanstillthinkofPhilipandEuneece。Sheiseagertohearoftheirmarriage，andrenouncesHelenawithherwholeheart。"ItoowasdeceivedbythatcunningyoungWoman，"shewrites。"Bewareofher，Selina。UnlessIammuchmistaken，sheisgoingtoendbadly。TakecareofPhilip，takecareofEuneece。Ifyouwanthelp，applyatoncetomyfavoriteheroinreallife，TheGovernor。"Idon’tpresumetocorrectElizabeth’slanguage。I
　　shouldhavecalledyouTheidoloftheWomen。
　　Thesecondinclosurecontains，asIsuppose，aweddingpresent。
　　Itiscarefullysealed——itfeelsnobiggerthananordinaryletter——anditcontainsaninscriptionwhichyourhighly—cultivatedintelligencemaybeabletoexplain。Icopyitasfollows：
　　"Tobeinclosedinanotherenvelope，addressedtoMr。Dunboynetheelder，atPercy’sPrivateHotel，London，anddeliveredbyatrustworthymessenger，onthedaywhenMr。PhilipDunboyneismarriedtoMissEuniceGracedieu。PlacedmeanwhileunderthecareofMissSelinaJillgall。"
　　WhyisthismysteriouslettertobesenttoPhilip’sfather？I
　　wonderwhetherthatcircumstancewillpuzzleyouasithaspuzzledme。
　　Ihavekeptmyreportback，soastosendyouthelastnewsrelatingtoPhilip’sstateofhealth。Tomygreatregret，hisillnessseemstohavemadeaseriousadvancesinceyesterday。
　　WhenIaskifheisinpain，hesays："Itisn’texactlypain；I
　　feelasifIwassinking。SometimesIamgiddy；andsometimesI
　　findmyselffeelingthirstyandsick。"IhavenoopportunityoflookingafterhimasIcouldwish；forHelenainsistsonnursinghim，assistedbythehousemaid。Mariaisaverygoodgirlinherway，buttoostupidtobeofmuchuse。Ifheisnotbetterto—morrow，Ishallinsistonsendingforthedoctor。
　　Heisnobetter；andhewishestohavemedicalhelp。Helenadoesn’tseemtounderstandhisillness。ItwasnotuntilPhiliphadinsistedonseeinghimthatsheconsentedtosendforthedoctor。
　　Youhadsometalkwiththisexperiencedphysicianwhenyouwerehere，andyouknowwhataclevermanheis。WhenItellyouthathehesitatestosaywhatisthematterwithPhilip，youwillfeelasmuchalarmedasIdo。IwillwaittosendthistothepostuntilIcanwriteinamoredefiniteway。
　　Twodaysmorehavepassed。Thedoctorhasputtwoverystrangequestionstome。
　　Heasked，first，iftherewasanybodystayingwithusbesidestheregularmembersofthehousehold。Isaidwehadnovisitor。Hewantedtoknow，next，ifMr。PhilipDunboynehadmadeanyenemiessincehehasbeenlivinginourtown。IsaidnonethatIknewof——andItookthelibertyofaskingwhathemeant。Heansweredtothis，thathehasafewmoreinquiriestomake，andthathewilltellmewhathemeansto—morrow。
　　ForGod’ssakecomehereassoonasyoupossiblycan。Thewholeburdenisthrownonme——andIamquiteunequaltoit。
　　Ireceivedthedoctorto—dayinthedrawing—room。Tomyamazement，hebeggedleavetospeakwithmeinthegarden。WhenI
　　askedwhy，heanswered："Idon’twanttohavealisteneratthedoor。Comeoutonthelawn，wherewecanbesurethatwearealone。"
　　Whenwewereinthegarden，henoticedthatIwastrembling。
　　"Rouseyourcourage，MissJillgall，"hesaid。"IntheMinister’shelplessstatethereisnobodywhomIcanspeaktobutyourself。"
　　IventuredtoremindhimthathemightspeaktoHelenaaswellastomyself。
　　HelookedasblackasthunderwhenImentionedhername。Allhesaidwas，"No！"But，oh，ifyouhadheardhisvoice——andhesogentleandsweet—temperedatothertimes——youwouldhavefelt，asIdid，thathehadHelenainhismind！
　　"Now，listentothis，"hewenton。"EverythingthatmyartcandoforMr。PhilipDunboyne，whileIamathisbedside，isundonewhileIamawaybysomeotherperson。Heisworseto—daythanI
　　haveseenhimyet。"
　　"Oh，sir，doyouthinkhewilldie？"
　　"Hewillcertainlydieunlesstherightmeansaretakentosavehim，andtakenatonce。Itismydutynottoflinchfromtellingyouthetruth。IhavemadeadiscoverysinceyesterdaywhichsatisfiesmethatIamright。SomebodyistryingtopoisonMr。
　　Dunboyne；andsomebodywillsucceedunlessheisremovedfromthishouse。"
　　Iamapoorfeeblecreature。Thedoctorcaughtme，orIshouldhavedroppedonthegrass。Itwasnotafainting—fit。IonlyshookandshiveredsothatIwastooweaktostandup。Encouragedbythedoctor，IrecoveredsufficientlytobeabletoaskhimwherePhilipwastobetakento。Hesaid："Tothehospital。Nopoisonercanfollowmypatientthere。Persuadehimtoletmetakehimaway，whenIcallagaininanhour’stime。"
　　AssoonasIcouldholdapen，Isentatelegramtoyou。Pray，praycomebytheearliesttrain。IalsotelegraphedtooldMr。
　　Dunboyne，atthehotelinLondon。
　　ItwasimpossibleformetofaceHelena；IownIwasafraid。ThecookkindlywentupstairstoseewhowasinPhilip’sroom。Itwasthehousemaid’sturntolookafterhimforawhile。Iwentinstantlytohisbedside。
　　Therewasnopersuadinghimtoallowhimselftobetakentothehospital。"Iamdying，"hesaid。"Ifyouhaveanypityforme，sendforEuneece。Letmeseeheroncemore，letmehearhersaythatsheforgivesme，beforeIdie。"
　　Ihesitated。ItwastooterribletothinkofEuneeceinthesamehousewithhersister。Herlifemightbeindanger！Philipgavemealook，adreadfulghastlylook。"Ifyourefuse，"hesaidwildly，"thegravewon’tholdme。I’llhauntyoufortherestofyourlife。"
　　"Sheshallhearthatyouareill，"Ianswered——andranoutoftheroombeforehecouldspeakagain。
　　WhatIhadpromisedtowrite，Ididwrite。But，placedbetweenEuneece’sdangerandPhilip’sdanger，myheartwasallforEuneece。WouldHelenaspareher，ifshecametoPhilip’sbedside？
　　InsuchterrorasIneverfeltbeforeinmylife，Iaddedawordmore，entreatinghernottoleavethefarm。IpromisedtokeepherregularlyinformedonthesubjectofPhilip’sillness；andI
　　mentionedthatIexpectedtheGovernortoreturntousimmediately。"Donothing，"Iwrote，"withouthisadvice。"Myletterhavingbeencompleted，Isentthecookawaywithit，inachaise。Shebelongedtotheneighborhood，andsheknewthefarmhousewell。
　　Nearlytwohoursafterward，Iheardthechaisestopatthedoor，andranout，impatienttohearhowmysweetgirlhadreceivedmyletter。Godhelpusall！WhenIopenedthedoor，thefirstpersonwhomIsawwasEuneeceherself。
　　CHAPTERLIX。
　　DEFENSE。
　　ONEsurprisefollowedanother，afterIhadencounteredEuneeceatthedoor。
　　Whenmyfondnesshadexcusedherforsettingthewell—meantadviceinmyletteratdefiance，Iwasconsciousofexpectingtoseeherintears；eager，distressinglyeager，tohearwhathopetheremightbeofPhilip’srecovery。Isawnotears，Iheardnoinquiries。Shewaspale，andquiet，andsilent。Notawordfellfromherwhenwemet，notawordwhenshekissedme，notawordwhensheledthewayintothenearestroom——thedining—room。Itwasonlywhenwewereshutintogetherthatshespoke。
　　"WhichisPhilip’sroom？"sheasked。
　　Insteadofwantingtoknowhowhewas，shedesiredtoknowwherehewas！Ipointedtowardthebackdining—room，whichhadbeenmadeintoabedroomforPhilip。Hehadchosenithimself，whenhefirstcametostaywithus，becausethewindowopenedintothegarden。andhecouldslipoutandsmokeatanyhourofthedayornight，whenhepleased。
　　"Whoiswithhimnow？"wasthenextstrangethingthissadly—changedgirlsaidtome。
　　"Mariaistakingherturn，"Ianswered；"sheassistsinnursingPhilip。"
　　"Whereis——？"Euneecegotnofurtherthanthat。Herbreathquickened，hercolorfadedaway。Ihadseenpeoplelookasshewaslookingnow，whentheysufferedundersomesuddenpain。
　　BeforeIcouldoffertohelpher，sherallied，andwenton：
　　"Where，"shebeganagain，"istheothernurse？"
　　"YoumeanHelena？"Isaid。
　　"ImeanthePoisoner。"
　　WhenIremindyou，dearMr。Governor，thatmyletterhadcarefullyconcealedfromherthehorriblediscoverymadebythedoctor，yourimaginationwillpicturemystateofmind。ShesawthatIwasoverpowered。Hersweetnature，sostrangelyfrozenupthusfar，meltedatlast。"Youdon’tknowwhatIhaveheard，"shesaid，"youdon’tknowwhatthoughtshavebeenrousedinme。"Sheleftherchair，andsatonmykneewiththefamiliarityofthedearoldtimes，andtooktheletterthatIhadwrittentoherfromherpocket。
　　"Lookatityourself，"shesaid，"andtellmeifanybodycouldreadit，andnotseethatyouwereconcealingsomething。Mydear，Ihavedrivenroundbythedoctor’shouse——Ihaveseenhim——I
　　havepersuadedhim，orperhapsIoughttosaysurprisedhim，intotellingmethetruth。Butthekindoldmanisobstinate。Hewouldn’tbelievemewhenItoldhimIwasonmywayheretosavePhilip’slife。Hesaid：’Mychild，youwillonlyputyourownlifeinjeopardy。IfIhadnotseenthatdanger，Ishouldneverhavetoldyouofthedreadfulstateofthingsathome。Gobacktothegoodpeopleatthefarm，andleavethesavingofPhiliptome。’"
　　"Hewasright，Euneece，entirelyright。"
　　"No，dear，hewaswrong。Ibeggedhimtocomehere，andjudgeforhimself；andIaskyoutodothesame。"
　　Iwasobstinate。"Goback！"Ipersisted。"Gobacktothefarm！"
　　"CanIseePhilip？"sheasked。
　　Ihaveheardsomeinsolentmensaythatwomenarelikecats。Iftheymeanthatwedo，figurativelyspeaking，scratchattimes，I
　　amafraidtheyarenotaltogetherwrong。AnirresistibleimpulsemademesaytopoorEuneece："Thisisachangeindeed，sinceyourefusedtoreceivePhilip。"
　　"Istherenochangeinthecircumstances？"sheaskedsadly。
　　"Isn’theillandindanger？"
　　Ibeggedhertoforgiveme；IsaidImeantnoharm。
　　"Igavehimuptomysister，"shecontinued，"whenIbelievedthathishappinessdepended，notonme，butonher。Itakehimbacktomyself，whenheisatthemercyofademonwhothreatenshislife。Come，Selina，letusgotoPhilip。"
　　Sheputherarmroundme，andmademegetupfrommychair。Iwassoeasilypersuadedbyher，thatthefearofwhatHelena’sjealousyandHelena’sangermightdowasscarcelypresentinmythoughts。Thedoorofcommunicationwaslockedonthesideofthebedchamber。Iwentintothehall，toenterPhilip’sroombytheotherdoor。Shefollowed，waitingbehindme。IheardwhatpassedbetweenthemwhenMariawentouttoher。
　　"WhereisMissGracedieu？"
　　"Restingupstairs，miss，inherroom。"
　　"Lookattheclock，andtellmewhenyouexpecthertocomedownhere。"
　　"Iamtocallher，miss，intenminutesmore。"
　　"Waitinthedining—room，Maria，tillIcomebacktoyou。"
　　Shejoinedme。IheldthedooropenforhertogointoPhilip’sroom。Itwasnotoutofcuriosity；thefeelingthaturgedmewassympathy，whenIwaitedamomenttoseetheirfirstmeeting。Shebentoverthepoor，pallid，trembling，sufferingman，andraisedhiminherarms，andlaidhisheadonherbosom。"MyPhilip！"Shemurmuredthosewordsinakiss。Iclosedthedoor，Ihadagoodcry；and，oh，howitcomfortedme！
　　Therewasonlyaminutetosparewhenshecameoutoftheroom。
　　Mariawaswaitingforher。Euneecesaid，asquietlyasever："GoandcallMissGracedieu。"
　　Thegirllookedather，andsaw——Idon’tknowwhat。Mariabecamealarmed。Butshewentupthestairs，andreturnedinhastetotellusthatheryoungmistresswascomingdown。
　　ThefaintrustlingofHelena’sdressassheleftherroomreachedusinthesilence。Iremainedattheopendoorofthedining—room，andMariaapproachedandstoodnearme。Wewerebothfrightened。Euneecesteppedforward，andstoodonthematatthefootofthestairs，waiting。Herbackwastowardme；Icouldonlyseethatshewasasstillasastatue。Therustlingofthedresscamenearer。Oh，heavens！whatwasgoingtohappen？Myteethchatteredinmyhead；IheldbyMaria’sshoulder。Dropsofperspirationshowedthemselvesonthegirl’sforehead；shestaredinvacantterrorattheslimlittlefigure，postedfirmandstillonthemat。
　　Helenaturnedthecornerofthestairs，andwaitedamomentonthelastlanding，andsawhersister。
　　"Youhere？"shesaid。"Whatdoyouwant？"
　　Therewasnoreply。Helenadescended，untilshereachedthelaststairbutone。There，shestopped。Herstaringeyesgrewlargeandwild；herhandshookasshestretcheditout，feelingforthebanister；shestaggeredasshecaughtatit，andheldherselfup。
　　Thesilencewasstillunbroken。Somethinginme，strongerthanmyself，drewmystepsalongthehallnearerandnearertothestair，tillIcouldseethefacewhichhadstruckthatmurderouswretchwithterror。
　　Ilooked。
　　No！itwasnotmysweetgirl；itwasahorridtransformationofher。Isawafearfulcreature，withglitteringeyesthatthreatenedsomeunimaginablevengeance。Herlipsweredrawnback；
　　theyshowedherclinchedteeth。Aburningredflushdyedherface。Thehairofherheadrose，littlebylittle，slowly。And，mostdreadfulsightofall，sheseemed，inthestillnessofthehouse，tobe_listeningtosomething。_IfIcouldhavemoved，I
　　shouldhavefledtothefirstplaceofrefugeIcouldfind。IfI
　　couldhaveraisedmyvoice，Ishouldhavecriedforhelp。Icoulddoneithertheonenortheother。Icouldonlylook，look，look；
　　heldbythehorrorofitwithahandofiron。
　　Helenamusthaverousedhercourage，andresistedherterror。I
　　heardherspeak：
　　"Letmeby！"
　　"No。"
　　Slowly，steadily，inawhisper，Euneecemadethatreply。
　　Helenatriedoncemore——stillfightingagainstherownterror：I
　　knewitbythetremblingofhervoice。
　　"Letmeby，"sherepeated；"IamonmywaytoPhilip’sroom。"
　　"YouwillneverenterPhilip’sroomagain。"
　　"Whowillstopme？"
　　"Iwill。"
　　Shehadspokeninthesamesteadywhisperthroughout——butnowshemoved。Isawhersetherfootonthefirststair。IsawthehorridglitterinhereyesflashcloseintoHelena’sface。I
　　heardhersay：
　　"Poisoner，gobacktoyourroom。"
　　Silentandshuddering，Helenashrankawayfromher——dauntedbyherglitteringeyes；masteredbyherliftedhandpointingupthestairs。
　　Helenaslowlyascendedtillshereachedthelanding。Sheturnedandlookeddown；shetriedtospeak。Thepointinghandstruckherdumb，anddroveherupthenextflightofstairs。Shewaslosttoview。Onlythesmallrustlingsoundofthedresswastobeheard，growingfainterandfainter；thenanintervalofstillness；thenthenoiseofadooropenedandclosedagain；thennosoundmore——butachangetobeseen：thetransformedcreaturewascrouchingonherknees，stillandsilent，herfacecoveredbyherhands。Iwasafraidtoapproachher；Iwasafraidtospeaktoher。Afteratime，sherose。Suddenly，swiftly，withherheadturnedawayfromme，sheopenedthedoorofPhilip’sroom——andwasgone。
　　Ilookedround。TherewasonlyMariainthelonelyhall。ShallI
　　trytotellyouwhatmysensationswere？Itmaysoundstrangely，butitistrue——Ifeltlikeasleeper，whohashalf—awakenedfromadream。
　　CHAPTERLX。
　　DISCOVERY。
　　ALITTLElater，onthateventfulday，whenIwasmostinneedofallthatyourwisdomandkindnesscoulddotoguideme，camethetelegramwhichannouncedthatyouwerehelplessunderanattackofgout。AssoonasIhadinsomedegreegotovermydisappointment，IrememberedhavingtoldEuneeceinmyletterthatIexpectedherkindoldfriendtocometous。WiththetelegraminmyhandIknockedsoftlyatPhilip’sdoor。
　　ThevoicethatbademecomeinwasthegentlevoicethatIknewsowell。Philipwassleeping。There，byhisbedside，withhishandrestinginherhand，wasEuneece，socompletelyrestoredtoherownsweetselfthatIcouldhardlybelievewhatIhadseen，notanhoursince。Shetalkedofyou，whenIshowedheryourmessage，withaffectionateinterestandregret。Lookback，myadmirablefriend，atwhatIhavewrittenonthetwoorthreepageswhichprecedethis，andexplaintheastoundingcontrastifyoucan。
　　IwasleftalonetowatchbyPhilip，whileEuneecewentawaytoseeherfather。Soonafterward，Mariatookmyplace；Ihadbeensentfortothenextroomtoreceivethedoctor。
　　Helookedcare—wornandgrieved。IsaidIwasafraidhehadbroughtbadnewswithhim。
　　"Theworstpossiblenews，"heanswered。"Aterribleexposurethreatensthisfamily，andIampowerlesstopreventit，"
　　HethenaskedmetorememberthedaywhenIhadbeensurprisedbythesingularquestionswhichhehadputtome，andwhenhehadengagedtoexplainhimselfafterhehadmadesomeinquiries。Why，andhow，hehadsetthoseinquiriesonfootwaswhathehadnowtotell。Iwillrepeatwhathesaid，inhisownwords，asnearlyasIcanrememberthem。WhilehewasinattendanceonPhilip，hehadobservedsymptomswhichmadehimsuspectthatDigitalishadbeengiventotheyoungman，indosesoftenrepeated。Casesofattemptedpoisoningbythismedicineweresorare，thathefeltboundtoputhissuspicionstothetestbygoingroundamongthechemists’sshops——exceptingofcoursetheshopatwhichhisownprescriptionsweremadeup——andaskingiftheyhadlatelydispensedanypreparationofDigitalis，orderedperhapsinalargerquantitythanusual。Atthesecondshophevisited，thechemistlaughed。"Why，doctor，"hesaid，"haveyouforgottenyourownprescription？"Afterthis，theprescriptionwasaskedfor，andproduced。Itwasonthepaperusedbythedoctor——paperwhichhadhisaddressprintedatthetop，andanoticeadded，tellingpatientswhocametoconsulthimforthesecondtimetobringtheirprescriptionswiththem。Then，therefollowedinwriting：
　　"TinctureofDigitalis，oneounce"——withhissignatureattheend，notbadlyimitated，butaforgerynevertheless。Thechemistnoticedtheeffectwhichthisdiscoveryhadproducedonthedoctor，andaskedifthatwashissignature。Hecouldhardly，asanhonestman，haveassertedthataforgerywasasignatureofhisownwriting。Sohemadethetruereply，andaskedwhohadpresentedtheprescription。Thechemistcalledtohisassistanttocomeforward。"Didyoutellmethatyouknew，bysight，theyoungladywhobroughtthisprescription？"Theassistantadmittedit。"DidyoutellmeshewasMissHelenaGracedieu？""Idid。"
　　"Areyousureofnothavingmadeanymistake？""Quitesure。"Thechemistthensaid："ImyselfsuppliedtheTinctureofDigitalis，andtheyoungladypaidforit，andtookitawaywithher。YouhavehadalltheinformationthatIcangiveyou，sir；andImaynowask，ifyoucanthrowanylightonthematter。"OurgoodfriendthoughtofthepoorMinister，sosorelyafflicted，andofthefamousnamesosincerelyrespectedinthetownandinthecountryround，andsaidhecouldnotundertaketogiveanimmediateanswer。Thechemistwasexcessivelyangry。"YouknowaswellasIdo，"hesaid，"thatDigitalis，givenincertaindoses，isapoison，andyoucannotdenythatIhonestlybelievedmyselftobedispensingyourprescription。Whileyouarehesitatingtogivemeananswer，mycharactermaysuffer；Imaybesuspectedmyself。"Heendedindeclaringheshouldconsulthislawyer。Thedoctorwenthome，andquestionedhisservant。ThemanrememberedthedayofMissHelena’svisitintheafternoon，andtheintentionthatsheexpressedofwaitingforhismaster’sreturn。
　　Hehadshownherintotheparlorwhichopenedintotheconsulting—room。Noothervisitorwasinthehouseatthattime，orhadarrivedduringtherestoftheday。Thedoctor’sownexperience，whenhegothome，ledhimtoconcludethatHelenahadgoneintotheconsulting—room。Hehadenteredthatroom，forthepurposeofwritingsomeprescriptions，andhadfoundtheleavesofpaperthatheuseddiminishedinnumber。Afterwhathehadheard，andwhathehaddiscovered（tosaynothingofwhathesuspected），itoccurredtohimtolookalongtheshelvesofhismedicallibrary。Hefoundavolume（treatingofPoisons）withaslipofpaperleftbetweentheleaves；thepoisondescribedattheplacesomarkedbeingDigitalis，andthepaperusedbeingoneofhisownprescription—papers。"If，asIfear，alegalinvestigationintoHelena’sconductisapossibleevent，"thedoctorconcluded，"thereistheevidencethatIshallbeobligedtogive，whenIamcalledasawitness。"
　　ItismybeliefthatIcouldhavefeltnogreaterdismay，ifthelongarmoftheLawhadlaiditsholdonmewhilehewasspeaking。Iaskedwhatwastobedone。
　　"Ifsheleavesthehouseatonce，"thedoctorreplied，"shemayescapetheinfamyofbeingchargedwithanattemptatmurderbypoison；and，inherabsence，IcananswerforPhilip’slife。I
　　don’turgeyoutowarnher，becausethatmightbeadangerousthingtodo。Itisforyoutodecide，asamemberofthefamily，whetheryouwillruntherisk。"
　　ItriedtospeaktohimofEuneece，andtotellhimwhatIhadalreadyrelatedtoyourself。Hewasinnohumortolistentome。
　　"Keepitforafittertime，"heanswered；"andthinkofwhatI
　　havejustsaidtoyou。"Withthat，heleftme，onhiswaytoPhilip’sroom。
　　Mentalexertionwascompletelybeyondme。Canyouunderstandapoormiddle—agedspinsterbeingfrightenedintodoingadangerousthing？Thatmayseemtobenonsense。ButifyouaskwhyItookamorselofpaper，andwrotethewarningwhichIwasafraidtocommunicatebywordofmouth——whyIwentupstairswithmykneesknockingtogether，andopenedthedoorofHelena’sroomjustwideenoughtoletmyhandpassthrough——whyIthrewthepaperin，andbangedthedoortoagain，andrandownstairsasIhaveneverrunsinceIwasalittlegirl——Icanonlysay，inthewayofexplanation，whatIhavesaidalready：Iwasfrightenedintodoingit。
　　WhatIhavewritten，thusfar，Ishallsendtoyoubyto—night’spost。
　　Thedoctorcamebacktome，afterhehadseenPhilip，andspokenwithEuneece。Hewasveryangry；and，Imustown，notwithoutreason。Philiphadflatlyrefusedtolethimselfberemovedtothehospital；andEuneece——"ameregirl"——haddeclaredthatshewouldbeanswerableforconsequences！Thedoctorwarnedmethathemeanttowithdrawfromthecase，andtomakehisdeclarationbeforethemagistrates。Atmyentreatiesheconsentedtoreturnintheevening，andtojudgebyresultsbeforetakingtheterriblestepthathehadthreatened。
　　WhileIremainedathomeonthewatch，keepingthedoorsofbothroomslocked，EunicewentouttogetPhilip’smedicine。Shecameback，followedbyaboycarryingaportableapparatusforcooking。"AllthatPhilipwants，andallthatwewant，"sheexplained，"wecanprovideforourselves。Givemeamorselofpapertowriteon。"
　　Unhookingthelittlepencilattachedtoherwatch—chain，shepausedandlookedtowardthedoor。"Somebodylistening，"shewhispered。"Letthemlisten。"Shewrotealistofnecessaries，inthewayofthingstoeatandthingstodrink，andaskedmetogooutandgetthemmyself。"Idon’tdoubttheservants，"shesaid，speakingdistinctlyenoughtobeheardoutside；"butIamafraidofwhataPoisoner’scunningandaPoisoner’sdesperationmaydo，inakitchenwhichisopentoher。"Iwentawayonmyerrand——discoveringnolisteneroutside，Ineedhardlysay。Onmyreturn，IfoundthedoorofcommunicationwithPhilip’sroomclosed，butnolongerlocked。"Wecannowattendonhiminturn，"
　　shesaid，"withoutopeningeitherofthedoorswhichleadintothehall。Atnightwecanrelieveeachother，andeachofuscangetsleepaswewantitinthelargearmchairinthedining—room。
　　Philipmustbesafeunderourcharge，orthedoctorwillinsistontakinghimtothehospital。WhenwewantMaria’shelp，fromtimetotime，wecanemployherunderourownsuperintendence。
　　Haveyouanythingelse，Selina，tosuggest？"