Myfatherwasstillatthewindow。
　　Inthatidlepositionhecouldhardlycomplainofmeforinterruptinghim，ifIventuredtotalkabouttheletterswhichI
　　hadputtogether。Ifmycuriositydispleasedhim，hehadonlytosayso，andtherewouldbeanendtoanyallusionsofminetothesubject。Myfirstideawastojoinhimatthewindow。Onreflection，andstillperceivingthathekepthisbackturnedonme，Ithoughtitmightbemoreprudenttoremainatthetable。
　　"ThisMissChanceseemstobeanimpudentperson？"Isaid。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Wassheayoungwoman，whenyoumetwithher？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whatsortofawomantolookat？Ugly？"
　　"No。"
　　HerewerethreeanswerswhichEuniceherselfwouldhavebeenquickenoughtointerpretasthreewarningstosaynomore。I
　　feltalittlehurtbyhiskeepinghisbackturnedonme。Atthesametime，andnaturally，Ithink，IfoundmyinterestinMissChance（Idon’tsaymyfriendlyinterest）considerablyincreasedbymyfather’sunusuallyrudebehavior。Iwasalsoanimatedbyanirresistibledesiretomakehimturnroundandlookatme。
　　"MissChance’sletterwaswrittenmanyyearsago，"Iresumed。"I
　　wonderwhathasbecomeofhersinceshewrotetoyou。"
　　"Iknownothingabouther。"
　　"Notevenwhethersheisaliveordead？"
　　"Noteventhat。Whatdothesequestionsmean，Helena？"
　　"Nothing，father。"
　　Ideclarehelookedasifhesuspectedme！
　　"Whydon’tyouspeakout？"hesaid。"HaveIevertaughtyoutoconcealyourthoughts？HaveIeverbeenahardfather，whodiscouragedyouwhenyouwishedtoconfideinhim？Whatareyouthinkingabout？Do_you_knowanythingofthiswoman？"
　　"Oh，father，whataquestion！IneverevenheardofhertillI
　　putthetornletterstogether。Ibegintowishyouhadnotaskedmetodoit。"
　　"SodoI。Itneverstruckmethatyouwouldfeelsuchextraordinary——Ihadalmostsaid，suchvulgar——curiosityaboutaworthlessletter。"
　　Thisrousedmytemper。Whenayoungladyistoldthatsheisvulgar，ifshehasanyself—conceit——Imeanself—respect——shefeelsinsulted。Isaidsomethingsharpinmyturn。Itwasinthewayofargument。Idonotknowhowitmaybewithotheryoungpersons，IneverreasonsowellmyselfaswhenIamangry。
　　"Youcallitaworthlessletter，"Isaid，"andyetyouthinkitworthpreserving。"
　　"Haveyounothingmoretosaytomethanthat？"heasked。
　　"Nothingmore，"Ianswered。
　　Hechangedagain。Afterhavinglookedunaccountablyangry，henowlookedunaccountablyrelieved。
　　"Iwillsoonsatisfyyou，"hesaid，"thatIhaveagoodreasonforpreservingaworthlessletter。MissChance，mydear，isnotawomantobetrusted。Ifshesawheradvantageinmakingabaduseofmyreply，Iamafraidshewouldnothesitatetodoit。Evenifsheisnolongerliving，Idon’tknowintowhatvilehandsmylettermaynothavefallen，orhowitmightbefalsifiedforsomewickedpurpose。Doyouseenowhowacorrespondencemaybecomeaccidentallyimportant，thoughitisofnovalueinitself？"
　　Icouldsay"Yes"tothiswithasafeconscience。
　　Butthereweresomeperplexitiesstillleftinmymind。ItseemedstrangethatMissChanceshould（apparently）havesubmittedtotheseverityofmyfather’sreply。"Ishouldhavethought，"I
　　saidtohim，"thatshewouldhavesentyouanotherimpudentletter——orperhapshaveinsistedonseeingyou，andusinghertongueinsteadofherpen。"
　　"Shecoulddoneithertheonenortheother，Helena。MissChancewillneverfindoutmyaddressagain；Ihavetakengoodcareofthat。"
　　Hespokeinaloudvoice，withaflushedface——asifitwasquiteatriumphtohavepreventedthiswomanfromdiscoveringhisaddress。Whatreasoncouldhehaveforbeingsoanxioustokeepherawayfromhim？CouldIventuretoconcludethattherewasamysteryinthelifeofamansoblameless，sotrulypious？Itshockedoneeventothinkofit。
　　Therewasasilencebetweenus，towhichthehousemaidofferedawelcomeinterruption。Dinnerwasready。
　　Hekissedmebeforewelefttheroom。"Onewordmore，Helena，"hesaid，"andIhavedone。LettherebenomoretalkbetweenusaboutElizabethChance。"
　　CHAPTERXVIL
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　MISSJILLGALLjoinedusatthedinner—table，inastateofexcitement，carryingabookinherhand。
　　Iaminclined，onreflection，tosuspectthatsheisquitecleverenoughtohavediscoveredthatIhateher——andthatmanyoftheaggravatingthingsshesaysanddoesareassumed，outofretaliation，forthepurposeofmakingmeangry。Thatuglyfaceisadoubleface，orIammuchmistaken。
　　Toreturntothedinner—table，MissJillgalladdressedherself，withanairofplayfulpenitence，tomyfather。
　　"Dearcousin，IhopeIhavenotdonewrong。Helenaleftmeallbymyself。WhenIhadfinisheddarningthecurtain，Ireallydidn’tknowwhattodo。SoIopenedallthebedroomdoorsupstairsandlookedintotherooms。Inthebigroomwithtwobeds——oh，Iamsoashamed——Ifoundthisbook。Pleaselookatthefirstpage。"
　　Myfatherlookedatthetitle—page："DoctorWatts’sHymns。Well，Selina，whatistheretobeashamedofinthis？"
　　"Oh，no！no！It’sthewrongpage。Dolookattheotherpage——theonethatcomesfirstbeforethatone。"
　　Mypatientfatherturnedtotheblankpage。
　　"Ah，"hesaidquietly，"myotherdaughter’snameiswritteninit——thedaughterwhomyouhavenotseen。Well？"
　　MissJillgallclaspedherhandsdistractedly。"It’smyignoranceI’msoashamedof。Dearcousin，forgiveme，enlightenme。Idon’tknowhowtopronounceyourotherdaughter’sname。DoyoucallherEuneece？"
　　Thedinnerwasgettingcold。Iwasprovokedintosaying："No，wedon’t。"
　　Shehadevidentlynotforgivenmeforleavingherbyherself。
　　"Pardonme，Helena，whenIwantinformationIdon’tapplytoyou：
　　Isit，asitwere，atthefeetofyourlearnedfather。Dearcousin，isit——"
　　Evenmyfatherdeclinedtowaitforhisdinneranylonger。
　　"Pronounceitasyoulike，Selina。HerewesayEuni’ce——withtheaccentonthe’i’andwiththefinal’e’sounded：Eu—ni’—see。Letmegiveyousomesoup。"
　　MissJillgallgroaned。"Oh，howdifficultitseemstobe！Quitebeyondmypoorbrains！Ishallaskthedeargirl’sleavetocallherEuneece。Whatverystrongsoup！Isn’titratherawasteofmeat？Givemealittlemore，please。"
　　IdiscoveredanotherofMissJillgall’speculiarities。Herappetitewasenormous，andherwaysweregreedy。Youheardhereathersoup。Shedevouredthefoodonherplatewithhereyesbeforesheputitintohermouth；andshecriticisedourEnglishcookeryinthemostimpudentmanner，underpretenseofaskinghumblyhowitwasdone。Therewas，however，sometemporarycompensationforthis。Wehadlessofhertalkwhileshewaseatingherdinner。
　　Withtheremovalofthecloth，sherecoveredtheuseofhertongue；andshehitontheonesubjectofallotherswhichprovestobethesoresttrialtomyfather’spatience。
　　"Andnow，dearcousin，letustalkofyourotherdaughter，ourabsentEuneece。Idosolongtoseeher。Whenisshecomingback？"
　　"Inafewdaysmore。"
　　"HowgladIam！Anddotellme——whichisshe？Youroldestgirloryouryoungest？"
　　"Neithertheonenortheother，Selina。"
　　"Oh，myhead！myhead！Thisisevenworsethantheaccentonthe’i’andthefinal’e。’Stop！IamclevererthanIthoughtIwas。
　　Youmeanthatthegirlsaretwins。AretheybothsoexactlylikeeachotherthatIshan’tknowwhichiswhich？Whatfun！"
　　WhenthesubjectofourageswasunluckilystartedatMrs。
　　Staveley’s，Ihadslippedoutofthedifficultyeasilybyassumingthecharacteroftheeldestsister——anexampleofreadytactwhichmydearstupidEunicedoesn’tunderstand。Inmyfather’spresence，itisneedlesstosaythatIkeptsilence，andleftittohim。Iwassorrytobeobligedtodothis。Owingtohissadstateofhealth，heiseasilyirritated——especiallybyinquisitivestrangers。
　　"Imustleaveyou，"heanswered，withouttakingtheslightestnoticeofwhatMissJillgallhadsaidtohim。"Myworkiswaitingforme。"
　　Shestoppedhimonhiswaytothedoor。"Oh，tellme——can’tI
　　helpyou？"
　　"Thankyou；no。"
　　"Well——buttellmeonething。AmIrightaboutthetwins？"
　　"Youarewrong。"
　　MissJillgall’sdemonstrativehandsflewupintotheairagain，andexpressedtheclimaxofastonishmentbyquiveringoverherhead。"Thisispositivelymaddening，"shedeclared。"Whatdoesitmean？"
　　"Takemyadvice，cousin。Don’tattempttofindoutwhatitmeans。"
　　Helefttheroom。MissJillgallappealedtome。Iimitatedmyfather’swisebrevityofexpression："Sorrytodisappointyou，Selina；Iknownomoreaboutitthanyoudo。Comeupstairs。"
　　Everystepofthewayuptothedrawing—roomwasmarkedbyaprotestoraninquiry。DidIexpecthertobelievethatI
　　couldn’tsaywhichofuswastheelderofthetwo？thatIdidn’treallyknowwhatmyfather’smotivewasforthisextraordinarymystification？thatmysisterandIhadsubmittedtoberobbed，asitwere，ofourownages，andhadnotinsistedondiscoveringwhichofushadcomeintotheworldfirst？thatourfriendshadnotputanendtothissortofthingbycomparinguspersonally，anddiscoveringwhichwastheeldersisterbyinvestigationofourfaces？ToallthisIreplied：First，thatIdidcertainlyexpecthertobelievewhateverImightsay：Secondly，thatwhatshewaspleasedtocallthe"mystification"hadbegunwhenwewerebothchildren；thathabithadmadeitfamiliartousinthecourseofyears；andaboveall，thatweweretoofondofourgoodfathertoaskforexplanationswhichweknewbyexperiencewoulddistresshim：Thirdly，thatfriendsdidtrytodiscover，bypersonalexamination，whichwastheeldersister，anddifferedperpetuallyintheirconclusions；alsothatwehadamusedourselvesbytryingthesameexperimentbeforeourlooking—glasses，andthatEunicethoughtHelenawastheoldest，andHelenathoughtEunicewastheoldest：Fourthly（andfinally），thattheReverendMr。Gracedieu’scousinhadbetterdropthesubject，unlessshewasbentonmakingherpresenceinthehouseunendurabletotheReverendMr。Gracedieuhimself。
　　Iwriteitwithasenseofhumiliation；MissJillgalllistenedattentivelytoallIhadtosay——andthentookmecompletelybysurprise。Thisinquisitive，meddlesome，restless，impudentwomansuddenlytransformedherselfintoaperfectmodelofamiabilityanddecorum。Sheactuallysaidsheagreedwithme，andwasmuchobligedformygoodadvice！
　　Astupidyoungwoman，inmyplace，wouldhavediscoveredthatthiswasnotnatural，andthatMissJillgallwaspresentingherselftomeindisguise，toreachsomesecretendofherown。I
　　amnotastupidyoungwoman；IoughttohavehadatmyservicepenetrationenoughtoseethroughandthroughCousinSelina。
　　Well！CousinSelinawasanimpenetrablemysterytome。
　　Theonethingtobedonewastowatchher。Iwasatleastslyenoughtotakeupabook，andpretendtobereadingit。Howcontemptible！
　　Shelookedroundtheroom，anddiscoveredourprettywriting—table；apresenttomyfatherfromhiscongregation。
　　Afteralittleconsideration，shesatdowntowritealetter。
　　"Whendoesthepostgoout？"sheasked。
　　Imentionedthehour；andshebeganherletter。Beforeshecouldhavewrittenmorethanthefirsttwoorthreelines，sheturnedroundonherseat，andbegantalkingtome。
　　"Doyoulikewritingletters，mydear？"
　　"Yes——butthenIhavenotmanyletterstowrite。"
　　"Onlyafewfriends，Helena，butthosefewworthytobeloved？Myowncaseexactly。Hasyourfathertoldyouofmytroubles？Ah，I
　　amgladofthat。ItsparesmethesadnecessityofconfessingwhatIhavesuffered。Oh，howgoodmyfriends，mynewfriends，weretomeinthatdulllittleBelgiantown！Oneofthemwasgenerositypersonified——ah，shehadsuffered，too！Avilehusbandwhohaddeceivedanddesertedher。Oh，themen！Whensheheardofthelossofmylittlefortune，thatnoblecreaturegotupasubscriptionforme，andwentroundherselftocollect。ThinkofwhatIowetoher！OughtItoletanotherdaypasswithoutwritingtomybenefactress？AmInotboundingratitudetomakeherhappyintheknowledgeof_my_happiness——Imeantherefugeopenedtomeinthishospitablehouse？"
　　Shetwistedherselfbackagaintothewriting—table，andwentonwithherletter。
　　Ihavenotattemptedtoconcealmystupidity。Letmenowrecordapartialrecoveryofmyintelligence。
　　ItwasnottobedeniedthatMissJillgallhaddiscoveredagoodreasonforwritingtoherfriend；butIwasatalosstounderstandwhysheshouldhavebeensoanxioustomentionthereason。Wasitpossible——afterthetalkwhichhadpassedbetweenus——thatshehadsomethingmischievoustosayinherletter，relatingtomyfatherortome？WassheafraidImightsuspectthis？Andhadshebeensocommunicativeforthepurposeofleadingmysuspicionsastray？Thesewerevagueguesses；but，tryasImight，IcouldarriveatnoclearerviewofwhatwaspassinginMissJillgall’smind。WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletolookoverhershoulder，withoutdiscovery！
　　Shefinishedherletter，andputtheaddress，andclosedtheenvelope。Thensheturnedroundtowardmeagain。
　　"Haveyougotaforeignpostagestamp，dear？"
　　IfIcouldlookatnothingelse，Iwasresolvedtolookatherenvelope。Itwasonlynecessarytogotothestudy，andtoapplytomyfather。Ireturnedwiththeforeignstamp，andIstuckitontheenvelopewithmyownhand。
　　Therewasnothingtointerest_me_intheaddress，asIoughttohaveforeseen，ifIhadnotbeentoomuchexcitedfortheexerciseofalittlecommonsense。MissJillgall’swonderfulfriendwasonlyremarkablebyheruglyforeignname——MRS。
　　TENBRUGGEN。
　　CHAPTERXVIII。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　HEREIam，writingmyhistoryofmyself，oncemore，bymyownbedside。SomeunexpectedeventshavehappenedwhileIhavebeenaway。Oneofthemistheabsenceofmysister。
　　Helenahaslefthomeonavisittoanortherntownbytheseaside。Sheisstayinginthehouseofaminister（oneofpapa’sfriends），andisoccupyingapositionofdignityinwhichI
　　shouldcertainlylosemyhead。TheministerandhiswifeanddaughtersproposetosetupaGirls’ScriptureClass，ontheplandevisedbypapa；andtheyareataloss，poorhelplesspeople，toknowhowtobegin。Helenahasvolunteeredtosetthethinggoing。
　　Andtheresheisnow，advisingeverybody，governingeverybody，encouragingeverybody——issuingdirections，findingfault，rewardingmerit——oh，dear，letmeputitallinoneword，andsay：thoroughlyenjoyingherself。
　　Anothereventhashappened，relatingtopapa。ItsodistressedmethatIevenforgottothinkofPhilip——foralittlewhile。
　　Travelingbyrailway（IsupposebecauseIamnotusedtoit）
　　givesmetheheadache。WhenIgottoourstationhere，Ithoughtitwoulddomemoregoodtowalkhomethantorideinthenoisyomnibus。Half—waybetweentherailwayandthetown，Imetoneofthedoctors。Heisamemberofourcongregation；andheitwaswhorecommendedpapa，sometimesince，togiveuphisworkasaministerandtakealongholidayinforeignparts。
　　"Iamgladtohavemetwithyou，"thedoctorsaid。"Yoursister，Ifind，isawayonavisit；andIwanttospeaktooneofyouaboutyourfather。"
　　Itseemedthathehadbeenobservingpapa，inchapel，fromwhathecalledhisownmedicalpointofview。Hedidnotconcealfrommethathehaddrawnconclusionswhichmadehimfeeluneasy。"Itmaybeanxiety，"hesaid，"oritmaybeoverwork。Ineithercase，yourfatherisinastateofnervousderangement，whichislikelytoleadtoseriousresults——unlesshetakestheadvicethatI
　　gavehimwhenhelastconsultedme。Theremustbenomorehesitationaboutit。Becarefulnottoirritatehim——butrememberthathemustrest。Youandyoursisterhavesomeinfluenceoverhim；hewon’tlistentome。"
　　Poordearpapa！Ididseeachangeinhimfortheworse——thoughI
　　hadonlybeenawayforsoshortatime。
　　WhenIputmyarmsroundhisneck，andkissedhim，heturnedpale，andthenflushedupsuddenly：thetearscameintohiseyes。
　　Oh，itwashardtofollowthedoctor’sadvice，andnottocry，too；butIsucceededincontrollingmyself。Isatonhisknee，andmadehimtellmeallthatIhavewrittenhereaboutHelena。
　　Thisledtoourtalkingnextofthenewlady，whoistolivewithusasamemberofthefamily。Ibegantofeellessuneasyattheprospectofbeingintroducedtothisstranger，whenIheardthatshewaspapa’scousin。Andwhenhementionedhername，andsawhowitamusedme，hispoorwornfacebrightenedintoasmile。"Goandfindher，"hesaid，"andintroduceyourself。Iwanttohear，Eunice，ifyouandmycousinarelikelytogetonwelltogether。"
　　TheservantstoldmethatMissJillgallwasinthegarden。
　　Isearchedhere，there，andeverywhere，andfailedtofindher。
　　Theplacewassoquiet，itlookedsodeliciouslypureandbright，aftersmokydrearyLondon，thatIsatdownatthefurtherendofthegardenandletmymindtakemebacktoPhilip。Whatwashedoingatthatmoment，whileIwasthinkingofhim？Perhapshewasinthecompanyofotheryoungladies，whodrewallhisthoughtsawaytothemselves？OrperhapshewaswritingtohisfatherinIreland，andsayingsomethingkindlyandprettilyaboutme？Orperhapshewaslookingforward，asanxiouslyasIdo，toourmeetingnextweek。
　　Ihavehadmyplans，andIhavechangedmyplans。
　　Ontherailwayjourney，IthoughtIwouldtellpapaatonceofthenewhappinesswhichseemstohaveputanewlifeintome。Itwouldhavebeendelightfultomakemyconfessiontothatfirstandbestanddearestoffriends；butmymeetingwiththedoctorspoileditall。Afterwhathehadsaidtome，Idiscoveredarisk。IfIventuredtotellpapathatmyheartwassetonayounggentlemanwhowasastrangertohim，couldIbesurethathewouldreceivemyconfessionfavorably？Therewasachancethatitmightirritatehim——andthefaultwouldthenbemineofdoingwhatIhadbeenwarnedtoavoid。ItmightbesaferineverywaytowaittillPhilippaidhisvisit，andheandpapahadbeenintroducedtoeachotherandcharmedwitheachother。CouldHelenaherselfhavearrivedatawiserconclusion？IdeclareI
　　feltproudofmyowndiscretion。
　　InthisenjoyableframeofmindIwasdisturbedbyawoman’svoice。Thetonewasatoneofdistress，andthewordsreachedmyearsfromtheendofthegarden："Please，miss，letmein。"
　　Ashrubberymarksthelimitofourlittlebitofpleasure—ground。
　　Ontheothersideofitthereisacottagestandingontheedgeofthecommon。Themostgood—naturedwomanintheworldliveshere。Sheisourlaundress——marriedtoastupidyoungfellownamedMolly，andblessedwithaplumpbabyassweet—temperedatherself。ThinkingitlikelythatthepiteousvoicewhichhaddisturbedmemightbethevoiceofMrs。Molly，Iwasastonishedtohearherappealingtoanybody（perhapstome？）to"letherin。"SoIpassedthroughtheshrubbery，wonderingwhetherthegatehadbeenlockedduringmyabsenceinLondon。No；itwasaseasytoopenasever。
　　Thecottagedoorwasnotclosed。
　　Isawouramiablelaundressinthepassage，onherknees，tryingtoopenaninnerdoorwhichseemedtobelocked。Shehadhereyeatthekeyhole；and，onceagain，shecalledout："Please，miss，letmein。"Iwaitedtoseeifthedoorwouldbeopened——nothinghappened。Iwaitedagain，tohearifsomepersoninsidewouldanswer——nobodyspoke。Butsomebody，orsomething，madeasoundofsplashingwaterontheothersideofthedoor。
　　Ishowedmyself，andaskedwhatwasthematter。
　　Mrs。Mollylookedatmehelplessly。Shesaid："MissEunice，it’sthebaby。"
　　"Whathasthebabydone？"Iinquired。
　　Mrs。Mollygotonherfeet，andwhisperedinmyear："Youknowhe’safinechild？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Well，miss，he’sbewitchedalady。"
　　"Whatlady？"
　　"MissJillgall。"
　　TheverypersonIhadbeentryingtofind！Iaskedwhereshewas。
　　Thelaundresspointeddolefullytothelockeddoor："Inthere。"
　　"Andwhereisyourbaby？"
　　Thepoorwomanstillpointedtothedoor："I’mbeginningtodoubt，miss，whetheritismybaby。"
　　"Nonsense，Mrs。Molly。Ifitisn’tyours，whosebabycanitbe？"
　　"MissJillgall’s。"
　　Herpuzzledfacemadethissingularreplymorefunnystill。Thesplashingofwaterontheothersideofthedoorbeganagain。
　　"WhatisMissJillgalldoingnow？"Isaid。
　　"Washingthebaby，miss。Aweekago，shecameinhere，onemorning；verypleasantandkind，Imustown。Shefoundmeputtingonthebaby’sthings。Shesays：’Whatacherub！’whichItookasacompliment。Shesays：’Ishallcallagainto—morrow。’Shecalledagainsoearlythatshefoundthebabyinhiscrib。’Youbeagoodsoul，’shesays，’andgoaboutyourwork，andleavethechildtome。’Isays：’Yes，miss，butpleasetowaittillI’vemadehimfittobeseen。’Shesays：’That’sjustwhatImeantodomyself。’Istared；andIthinkanyotherpersonwouldhavedonethesameinmyplace。’Ifthere’sonethingmorethananotherIenjoy，’shesays，’it’smakingmyselfuseful。Mrs。
　　Molly，I’vetakenafancytoyourboy—baby，’shesays，’andI
　　meantomakemyselfusefulto_him。_’Ifyouwillbelieveme，MissJillgallhasonlyletmehaveoneopportunityofputtingmyownchildtidy。Shewaslatethismorning，andIgotmychance，andhadtheboyonmylap，dryinghim——wheninsheburstlikeablastofwind，andsnatchedthebabyawayfromme。’Thisisyournastytemper，’shesays；’IdeclareI’mashamedofyou！’Andtheresheis，withthedoorlockedagainstme，washingthechildalloveragainherself。TwiceI’veknocked，andaskedhertoletmein，andcan’tevengetananswer。Theydosaythere’sluckinoddnumbers；supposeItryagain？"Mrs。Mollyknocked，andtheproverbprovedtobetrue；shegotananswerfromMissJillgallatlast："Ifyoudon’tbequietandgoaway，youshan’thavethebabybackatall。"Whocouldhelpit？——Iburstoutlaughing。MissJillgall（asIsupposedfromthetoneofhervoice）tookseverenoticeofthisactofimpropriety。"Who’sthatlaughing？"shecalledout；"giveyourselfaname。"Igavemyname。Thedoorwasinstantlythrownopenwithabang。Papa’scousinappeared，inadisheveledstate，withsplashesofsoapandwateralloverher。
　　Sheheldthechildinonearm，andshethrewtheotherarmroundmyneck。"DearestEuneece，Ihavebeenlongingtoseeyou。HowdoyoulikeOurbaby？"
　　TothecuriousstoryofmyintroductiontoMissJillgall，IoughtperhapstoaddthatIhavegottobefriendswithheralready。I
　　amthefriendofanybodywhoamusesme。WhatwillHelenasaywhenshereadsthis？
　　CHAPTERXIX。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　WHENpeopleareinterestedinsomeeventthatiscoming，dotheyfindthedulldays，passedinwaitingforit，dayswhichtheyarenotabletorememberwhentheylookback？Thisismyunfortunatecase。Nightafternight，IhavegonetobedwithoutsomuchasopeningmyJournal。Therewasnothingworthwritingabout，nothingthatIcouldrecollect，untilthepostmancameto—day。I
　　randownstairs，whenIheardhisringatthebell，andstoppedMariaonherwaytothestudy。There，amongpapa’susualhandfulofletters，wasaletterforme。
　　"DEARMISSEUNICE：