"Waiting，ofcourse，tohearwhatmyfatherthinksofyourwonderfulgoodluck。"
　　Thisexplanation，offeredwiththekindestintentions，producedanotherchangeinmyveryvariablesister。IhadextinguishedhergoodspiritsasImighthaveextinguishedalight。Shesatdownbyme，andsighedinthesaddestmanner。Theheartmustbehardindeedwhichcanresistthedistressofapersonwhoisdeartous。Iputmyarmroundher；shewasbecomingoncemoretheEunicewhomIsodearlyloved。
　　"Mypoorchild，"Isaid。"don’tdistressyourselfbyspeakingofit；Iunderstand。YourfatherobjectstoyourmarryingMr。
　　Dunboyne。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Ican’texactlysay，Helena，thatpapadoesthat。Heonlybehavesverystrangely。"
　　"AmIindiscreet，dear，ifIaskinwhatwayfather’sbehaviorhassurprisedyou？"
　　Shewasquitewillingtoenlightenme。Itwasasimplelittlestorywhich，tomymind，sufficientlyexplainedthestrangebehaviorthathadpuzzledmyunfortunatesister。
　　TherecouldindeedbenodoubtthatmyfatherconsideredEunicefartoochildishincharacter，asyet，toundertakethedutiesofmatrimony。But，withhiscustomarydelicacy，anddreadofcausingdistresstoothers，hehaddeferredthedisagreeabledutyofcommunicatinghisopiniontoMr。Dunboyne。Theadversedecisionmust，however，besoonerorlaterannounced；andhehadarrangedtoinflictdisappointment，astenderlyasmightbe，athisowntable。
　　ConsideratelyleavingEuniceintheenjoymentofanyvainhopeswhichshemayhavefoundedontheeventofthedinner—party，I
　　passedtheeveninguntilsupper—timecameinthestudywithmyfather。
　　OurtalkwasmainlydevotedtotheworthypeoplewithwhomIhadbeenstaying，andwhosenewschoolsIhadhelpedtofound。Notawordwassaidrelatingtomysister，ortoMr。Dunboyne。PoorfatherlookedsosadlywearyandillthatIventured，afterwhatthedoctorhadsaidtoEunice，tohintatthevalueofrestandchangeofscenetoanoverworkedman。Oh，dearme，hefrowned，andwavedthesubjectawayfromhimimpatiently，withawan，palehand。
　　Aftersupper，Imadeanunpleasantdiscovery。Nothavingcompletelyfinishedtheunpackingofmyboxes，IleftMissJillgallandEuniceinthedrawing—room，andwentupstairs。InhalfanhourIreturned，andfoundtheroomempty。Whathadbecomeofthem？Itwasafinemoonlightnight；Isteppedintothebackdrawing—room，andlookedoutofthewindow。Theretheywere，walkingarm—in—armwiththeirheadsclosetogether，deepintalk。
　　WithmyknowledgeofMissJillgall，Icallthisabadsign。
　　Anoddthoughthasjustcometome。Iwonderwhatmighthavehappened，ifIhadbeenvisitingatMrs。Staveley’s，insteadofEunice，andifMr。Dunboynehadseenmefirst。
　　Absurd！ifIwasnottootiredtodoanythingmore，thoselastlinesshouldbescratchedout。
　　CHAPTERXXII。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　ISAIDsotoMissJillgall，andIsayitagainhere。NothingwillinducemetothinkillofHelena。
　　Mysisterisagooddealtired，andalittleoutoftemperaftertherailwayjourney。ThisisexactlywhathappenedtomewhenI
　　wenttoLondon。Iattributeherrefusaltoletmereadherjournal，aftershehadreadmine，entirelytothedisagreeableconsequencesoftravelingbyrailway。MissJillgallaccountedforitotherwise，inherownfunnymanner："Mysweetchild，yoursister’sdiaryisfullofabuseofpoorme。"Ihumoredthejoke：
　　"DearestSelina，keepadiaryofyourown，andfillitwithabuseofmysister。"Thisseemedtobeadrollsayingatthetime。Butitdoesn’tlookparticularlyamusing，nowitiswrittendown。Wehadgingerwineatsupper，tocelebrateHelena’sreturn。AlthoughIonlydrankoneglass，Idaresayitmayhavegotintomyhead。
　　Howeverthatmaybe，whenthelovelymoonlighttemptedusintothegarden，therewasanendtoourjokes。Wehadsomethingtotalkaboutwhichstilldwellsdisagreeablyonmymind。
　　MissJillgallbeganit。
　　"IfItrustyou，dearestEuneece，withmyownprecioussecrets，shallInever，never，neverlivetorepentit？"
　　Itoldmygoodlittlefriendthatshemightdependonme，providedhersecretsdidnoharmtoanypersonwhomIloved。
　　Sheclaspedherhandsandlookedupatthemoon——Icanonlysupposethathersentimentsoverpoweredher。Shesaid，veryprettily，thatherheartandmyheartbeattogetherinheavenlyharmony。Itisneedlesstoaddthatthissatisfiedme。
　　MissJillgall’sgenerousconfidenceinmydiscretionwas，Iamafraid，notrewardedasitoughttohavebeen。Ifoundhertiresomeatfirst。
　　Shespokeofanexcellentfriend（alady），whohadhelpedher，atthetimewhenshelostherlittlefortune，byraisingasubscriptionprivatelytopaytheexpensesofherreturntoEngland。Herfriend’sname——notveryattractivetoEnglishears——wasMrs。Tenbruggen；theyhadfirstbecomeacquaintedunderinterestingcircumstances。MissJillgallhappenedtomentionthatmyfatherwasheronlylivingrelative；anditturnedoutthatMrs。Tenbruggenwasfamiliarwithhisname，andreverencedhisfameasapreacher。Whenhehadgenerouslyreceivedhispoorhelplesscousinunderhisownroof，MissJillgall’sgratitudeandsenseofdutyimpelledhertowriteandtellMrs。Tenbruggenhowhappyshewasasamemberofourfamily。
　　LetmeconfessthatIbegantolistenmoreattentivelywhenthenarrativereachedthispoint。
　　"Idrewalittlepictureofourdomesticcirclehere，"MissJillgallsaid，describingherletter；"andImentionedthemysteryinwhichMr。Gracedieuconcealstheagesofyoutwodeargirls。Mrs。Tenbruggen——shallweshortenheruglynameandcallherMrs。T。？Verywell——Mrs。T。isaremarkablycleverwoman，andIlookedforinterestingresults，ifshewouldgiveheropinionofthemysteriouscircumstancementionedinmyletter。"
　　Bythistime，Iwasalleagernesstohearmore。
　　"Hasshewrittentoyou？"Iasked。
　　MissJillgalllookedatmeaffectionately，andtookthereplyoutofherpocket。
　　"Listen，Euneece；andyoushallhearherownwords。Thusshewrites：
　　"’Yourletter，dearSelina，especiallyinterestsmebywhatitsaysaboutthe_two_MissGracedieus。’——Look，dear；sheunderlinesthewordTwo。Why，Ican’texplain。Canyou？Ah，I
　　thoughtnot。Well，letusgetbacktotheletter。Myaccomplishedfriendcontinuesintheseterms：
　　"’Icanunderstandthesurprisewhichyouhavefeltatthestrangecoursetakenbytheirfather，asameansofconcealingthedifferencewhichtheremustbeintheagesoftheseyoungladies。Manyyearssince，Ihappenedtodiscoveraromanticincidentinthelifeofyourpopularpreacher，whichhehashisreasons，asIsuspect，forkeepingstrictlytohimself。IfImayventureonaboldguess，Ishouldsaythatanypersonwhocoulddiscoverwhichwastheoldestofthetwodaughters，wouldbealsolikelytodiscoverthetruenatureoftheromanceinMr。
　　Gracedieu’slife。’——Isn’tthatveryremarkable，Euneece？Youdon’tseemtoseeit——youfunnychild！Praypayparticularattentiontowhatcomesnext。Thesearetheclosingsentencesinmyfriend’sletter：
　　"’Ifyoufindanythingnewtotellmewhichrelatestothisinterestingsubject，directyourletterasbefore——providedyouwritewithinaweekfromthepresenttime。Afterward，myletterswillbereceivedbytheEnglishphysicianwhosecardIinclose。
　　YouwillbepleasedtohearthatmyprofessionalinterestscallmetoLondonattheearliestmomentthatIcanspare。’——There。
　　dearchild，thelettercomestoanend。IdaresayyouwonderwhatMrs。T。means，whenshealludestoherprofessionalinterests？"
　　No：Iwasnotwonderingaboutanything。Ithurtmetohearofastrangewomanexercisingheringenuityinguessingatmysteriesinpapa’slife。
　　ButMissJillgallwastooeagerlybentonsettingforththemeritsofherfriendtonoticethis。InowheardthatMrs。T。’smarriagehadturnedoutbadly，andthatshehadbeenreducedtoearnherownbread。Hermannerofdoingthiswassomethingquitenewtome。Shewentabout，fromoneplacetoanother，curingpeopleofallsortsofpainfulmaladies，byawayshehadofrubbingthemwithherhands。InBelgiumshewascalleda"Masseuse。"WhenIaskedwhatthismeantinEnglish，Iwastold，"MedicalRubber，"andthatthefameofMrs。T。’swonderfulcureshadreachedsomeofthemedicalnewspaperspublishedinLondon。
　　Afterlistening（Imustsayformyself）verypatiently，IwasboldenoughtoownthatmyinterestinwhatIhadjustheardwasnotquitesoplaintomeasIcouldhavewishedittobe。
　　MissJillgalllookedshockedatmystupidity。SheremindedmethattherewasamysteryinMrs。Tenbruggen’sletterandamysteryinpapa’sstrangeconducttowardPhilip。"Puttwoandtwotogether，darling，"shesaid；"and，oneofthesedays，theymaymakefour。"
　　Ifthismeantanything，itmeantthatthereasonwhichmadepapakeepHelena’sageandmyageunknowntoeverybodybuthimself，wasalsothereasonwhyheseemedtobesostrangelyunwillingtoletmebePhilip’swife。Ireallycouldnotenduretotakesuchaviewofitasthat，andbeggedMissJillgalltodropthesubject。
　　Shewasaskindasever。
　　"Withallmyheart，dear。Butdon’tdeceiveyourself——thesubjectwillturnupagainwhenweleastexpectit。"
　　CHAPTERXXIII。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　ONLYtwodaysnow，beforewegiveourlittledinner—party，andPhilipfindshisopportunityofspeakingtopapa。Oh，howIwishthatdayhadcomeandgone！
　　Itrynottotakegloomyviewsofthings；butIamnotquitesohappyasIhadexpectedtobewhenmydearwasinthesametownwithme。Ifpapahadencouragedhimtocallagain，wemighthavehadsomeprecioustimetoourselves。Asitis，wecanonlymeetinthedifferentshow—placesinthetown——withHelenaononeside，andMissJillgallontheother，totakecareofus。Idocallitcruelnottolettwoyoungpeopleloveeachother，withoutsettingthirdpersonstowatchthem。IfIwasQueenofEngland，Iwouldhaveprettyprivatebowersmadeforlovers，inthesummer，andnicewarmlittleroomstoholdtwo，inthewinter。Whynot？Whatharmcouldcomeofit，Ishouldliketoknow？
　　Thecathedralistheplaceofmeetingwhichwefindmostconvenient，underthecircumstances。Therearedelightfulnooksandcornersaboutthiscelebratedbuildinginwhichloverscanlagbehind。Ifwehadbeeninpapa’schapelIshouldhavehesitatedtoturnittosuchaprofaneuseasthis；thecathedraldoesn’tsomuchmatter。
　　ShallIownthatIfeltmyinferioritytoHelenaalittlekeenly？
　　ShecouldtellPhilipsomanythingsthatIshouldhavelikedtotellhimfirst。Mycleversistertaughthimhowtopronouncethenameofthebishopwhobeganbuildingthecathedral；sheledhimoverthecrypt，andtoldhimhowolditwas。Hewasinterestedinthecrypt；hetalkedtoHelena（nottome）ofhisambitiontowriteaworkoncathedralarchitectureinEngland；hemadearoughlittlesketchinhisbookofourfamoustombofsomeking。
　　Helenaknewthelateroyalpersonage’sname，andPhilipshowedhissketchtoherbeforeheshowedittome。HowcanIblamehim，whenIstoodtherethepictureofstupidity，tryingtorecollectsomethingthatImighttellhim，ifitwasonlytheDean’sname？
　　Helenamighthavewhisperedittome，Ithink。Sherememberedit，notI——andmentionedittoPhilip，ofcourse。Ikeptclosebyhimallthetime，andnowandthenhegavemealookwhichraisedmyspirits。Hemighthavegivenmesomethingbetterthanthat——I
　　meanakiss——whenwehadleftthecathedral，andwerebyourselvesforamomentinacorneroftheDean’sgarden。Buthemissedtheopportunity。PerhapshewasafraidoftheDeanhimselfcomingthatway，andhappeningtoseeus。However，IamfarfromthinkingtheworseofPhilip。Igavehisarmalittlesqueeze——andthatwasbetterthannothing。
　　HeandItookawalkalongthebankoftheriverto—day；mysisterandMissJillgalllookingafterusasusual。
　　Onourwaythroughthetown，Helenastoppedtogiveanorderatashop。Sheaskedustowaitforher。Thatbestofgoodcreatures，MissJillgall，whisperedinmyear："Goonbyyourselves，andleavemetowaitforher。"Philipinterpretedthisactofkindnessinamannerwhichwouldhavevexedme，ifIhadnotunderstoodthatitwasoneofhisjokes。Hesaidtome："MissJillgallseesachanceofannoyingyoursister，andenjoystheprospect。"
　　Well，awaywewenttogether；itwasjustwhatIwanted；itgavemeanopportunityofsayingsomethingtoPhilip，betweenourselves。
　　Icouldnowbegofhim，inhisinterestsandmine，tomakethebestofhimselfwhenhecametodinner。Cleverpeople，Itoldhim，werepeoplewhompapalikedandadmired。Isaid："Lethimsee，dear，howclever_you_are，andhowmanythingsyouknow——andyoucan’timaginewhatahighplaceyouwillhaveinhisopinion。Ihopeyoudon’tthinkIamtakingtoomuchonmyselfintellingyouhowtobehave。"
　　HerelievedthatdoubtinamannerwhichIdespairofdescribing。
　　HiseyesrestedonmewithsuchalookofexquisitesweetnessandlovethatIwasobligedtoholdbyhisarm，Itrembledsowiththepleasureoffeelingit。
　　"Idosincerelybelieve，"hesaid，"thatyouarethemostinnocentgirl，thesweetest，truestgirlthateverlived。IwishIwasabetterman，Eunice；IwishIwasgoodenoughtobeworthyofyou！"
　　Tohearhimspeakofhimselfinthatwayjarredonme。Ifsuchwordshadfallenfromanyotherman’slips，Ishouldhavebeenafraidthathehaddonesomething，orthoughtsomething，ofwhichhehadreasontofeelashamed。WithPhilipthiswasimpossible。
　　Hewaseagertowalkonrapidly，andtoturnacornerinthepath，beforewecouldbeseen。"Iwanttobealonewithyou，"hesaid。
　　Ilookedback。Weweretoolate；HelenaandMissJillgallhadnearlyovertakenus。MysisterwasonthepointofspeakingtoPhilip，whensheseemedtochangehermind，andonlylookedathim。Insteadoflookingatherinreturn，hekepthiseyescastdownanddrewfiguresonthepathwaywithhisstick。IthinkHelenawasoutoftemper；shesuddenlyturnedmyway。"Whydidn’tyouwaitforme？"sheasked。
　　Philiptookherupsharply。"IfEunicelikesseeingtheriverbetterthanwaitinginthestreet，"hesaid，"isn’tshefreetodoasshepleases？"
　　Helenasaidnothingmore；Philipwalkedonslowlybyhimself。Notknowingwhattomakeofit，IturnedtoMissJillgall。
　　"SurelyPhilipcan’thavequarreledwithHelena？"Isaid。
　　MissJillgallansweredinanoddoff—handmanner："Nothe！Heisagreatdealmorelikelytohavequarreledwithhimself。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Supposeyouaskhimwhy？"
　　Itwasnottobethoughtof；itwouldhavelookedlikepryingintohisthoughts。"Selina！"Isaid，"thereissomethingoddaboutyouto—day。Whatisthematter？Idon’tunderstandyou。"
　　"Mypoordear，youwillfindyourselfunderstandingmebeforelong。"IthoughtIsawsomethinglikepityinherfacewhenshesaidthat。
　　"Mypoordear？"Irepeated。"Whatmakesyouspeaktomeinthatway？"
　　"Idon’tknow——I’mtired；I’manoldfool——I’llgobacktothehouse。"
　　Withoutanotherword，sheleftme。IturnedtolookforPhilip，andsawthatmysisterhadjoinedhimwhileIhadbeenspeakingtoMissJillgall。ItpleasedmetofindthattheyweretalkinginafriendlywaywhenIjoinedthem。AquarrelbetweenHelenaandmyhusbandthatistobe——no，myhusbandthat_shall_be——wouldhavebeentoodistressing，toounnaturalImightalmostcallit。
　　Philiplookedalongthebackwardpath，andaskedwhathadbecomeofMissJillgall。"Haveyouanyobjectiontofollowherexample？"
　　hesaidtome，whenItoldhimthatSelinahadreturnedtothetown。"Idon’tcareforthebanksofthisriver。"
　　Helena，whousedtoliketheriveratothertimes，wasasreadyasPhiliptoleaveitnow。Ifancytheyhadbothbeenkindlywaitingtochangeourwalk，tillIcametothem，andtheycouldstudymywishestoo。OfcourseIwasreadytogowheretheypleased。IaskedPhilipiftherewasanythinghewouldliketosee，whenwegotintothestreetsagain。
　　CleverHelenasuggestedwhatseemedtobeastrangeamusementtooffertoPhilip。"Let’stakehimtotheGirls’School，"shesaid。
　　Itappearedtobeamatterofperfectindifferencetohim；hewas，whattheycall，ironical。"Oh，yes，ofcourse。Deeplyinteresting！deeplyinteresting！"Hesuddenlybrokeintothewildestgoodspirits，andtuckedmyhandunderhisarmwithagayetywhichitwasimpossibletoresist。"Whataboyyouare！"
　　Helenasaid，enjoyinghisdelightfulhilarityasIdid。
　　CHAPTERXXIV。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　ONenteringtheschoolroomwelostourgayety，allinamoment。
　　Somethingunpleasanthadevidentlyhappened。
　　Twooftheeldestgirlsweresittingtogetherinacorner，separatedfromtherest，andlookingmostwickedlysulky。Theteacherswereattheotherendoftheroom，appearingtobeillatease。Andthere，standinginthemidstofthem，withhisfaceflushedandhiseyesangry——therewaspapa，sadlyunlikehisgentleselfinthedaysofhishealthandhappiness。Onformeroccasions，whentheexerciseofhisauthoritywasrequiredintheschool，hisforbearingtemperalwayssetthingsright。WhenIsawhimnow，Ithoughtofwhatthedoctorhadsaidofhishealth，onmywayhomefromthestation。
　　Papaadvancedtousthemomentweshowedourselvesatthedoor。
　　Heshookhands——cordiallyshookhands——withPhilip。Itwasdelightfultoseehim，delightfultohearhimsay："Praydon’tsuppose，Mr。Dunboyne，thatyouareintruding；remainwithusbyallmeansifyoulike。"ThenhespoketoHelenaandtome，stillexcited，stillnotlikehimself："Youcouldn’thavecomehere，mydears，atatimewhenyourpresencewasmoreurgentlyneeded。"Heturnedtotheteachers。"Tellmydaughterswhathashappened；
　　tellthemwhytheyseemehere——shockedanddistressed，Idon’tdenyit。"
　　Wenowheardthatthetwogirlsindisgracehadbrokentherules，andinsuchamannerastodeserveseverepunishment。
　　Oneofthemhadbeendiscoveredhidinganovelinherdesk。Theotherhadmisbehavedherselfmoreseriouslystill——shehadgonetothetheater。Insteadofexpressinganyregret，theyhadactuallydaredtocomplainofhavingtolearnpapa’simprovedcatechism。Theyhadevenaccusedhimoftreatingthemwithseverity，becausetheywerepoorgirlsbroughtuponcharity。"Ifwehadbeenyoungladies，"theywereaudaciousenoughtosay，"moreindulgencewouldhavebeenshowntous；weshouldhavebeenallowedtoreadstoriesandtoseeplays。"
　　AllthistimeIhadbeenaskingmyselfwhatpapameant，whenhetolduswecouldnothavecometotheschoolroomatabettertime。Hismeaningnowappeared。Whenhespoketotheoffendinggirls，hepointedtoHelenaandtome。
　　"Herearemydaughters，"hesaid。"Youwillnotdenythattheyareyoungladies。Nowlisten。Theyshalltellyouthemselveswhethermyrulesmakeanydifferencebetweenthemandyou。
　　Helena！Eunice！doIallowyoutoreadnovels？doIallowyoutogototheplay？"
　　Wesaid，"No"——andhopeditwasover。Buthehadnotdoneyet。HeturnedtoHelena。
　　"Answersomeofthequestions，"hewenton，"frommyManualofChristianObligation，whichthegirlscallmycatechism。"Heaskedoneofthequestions："Ifyouaretoldtodountoothersasyouwouldtheyshoulddountoyou，andifyoufindadifficultyinobeyingthatDivinePrecept，whatdoesyourdutyrequire？"
　　ItismybeliefthatHelenahasthematerialsinherformakinganotherJoanofArc。Sherose，andansweredwithouttheslightestsignoftimidity："Mydutyrequiresmetogototheminister，andtoseekforadviceandencouragement。"
　　"Andifthesefail？"
　　"ThenIamtorememberthatmypastorismyfriend。Heclaimsnopriestlyauthorityorpriestlyinfallibility。Heismyfellow—Christianwholovesme。Hewilltellmehowhehashimselffailed；howhehasstruggledagainsthimself；andwhatablessedrewardhasfollowedhisvictory——apurifiedheart，apeacefulmind。"
　　Thenpapareleasedmysister，aftershehadonlyrepeatedtwooutofalltheanswersinChristianObligation，whichwefirstbegantolearnwhenwewerechildren。Hethenaddressedhimselfagaintothegirls。
　　"Iswhatyouhavejustheardapartofmycatechism？Hasmydaughterbeenexcusedfromrepeatingitbecausesheisayounglady？Whereisthedifferencebetweenthereligiouseducationwhichisgiventomyownchild，andthatgiventoyou？"
　　Thewretchedgirlsstillsatsilentandobstinate，withtheirheadsdown。ItrembleagainasIwriteofwhathappenednext。
　　Papafixedhiseyesonme。Hesaid，outloud："Eunice！"——andwaitedformetoriseandanswer，asmysisterhaddone。
　　Itwasentirelybeyondmypowertogetonmyfeet。
　　Philiphad（innocently，Iamsure）discouragedme；Isawdispleasure，Isawcontemptinhisface。Therewasadeadsilenceintheroom。Everybodylookedatme。Myheartbeatfuriously，myhandsturnedcold，thequestionsandanswersinChristianObligationallleftmymemorytogether。Ilookedimploringlyatpapa。
　　Forthefirsttimeinhislife，hewashardonme。Hiseyeswereasangryasever；theyshowedmenomercy。Oh，whathadcometome？whatevilspiritpossessedme？Ifeltresentment；horrid，undutifulresentment，atbeingtreatedinthiscruelway。Myfistsclinchedthemselvesinmylap，myfacefeltashotasfire。
　　Insteadofaskingmyfathertoexcuseme，Isaid："Ican’tdoit。"Hewasastounded，aswellhemightbe。Iwentonfrombadtoworse。Isaid："Iwon’tdoit。"
　　Hestoopedoverme；hewhispered："Iamgoingtoaskyousomething；Iinsistonyouranswering，YesorNo。"Heraisedhisvoice，anddrewhimselfbacksothattheycouldallseeme。
　　"Haveyoubeentaughtlikeyoursister？"heasked。"Hasthecatechismthathasbeenherreligiouslesson，forallherlife，beenyourreligiouslesson，forallyourlife，too？"
　　Isaid："Yes"——andIwasinsucharagethatIsaiditoutloud。
　　IfPhiliphadhandedmehiscane，andhadadvisedmetogivetheyounghussieswhowereanswerableforthisdreadfulstateofthingsagoodbeating，IbelieveIshouldhavedoneit。Papaturnedhisbackonmeandofferedthegirlsalastchance："Doyoufeelsorryforwhatyouhavedone？Doyouasktobeforgiven？"
　　Neithertheonenortheotheransweredhim。Hecalledacrosstheroomtotheteachers："Thosetwopupilsareexpelledtheschool。"
　　Boththewomenlookedhorrified。Theelderofthetwoapproachedhim，andtriedtopleadforamildersentence。Heansweredinonesternword："Silence！"——andlefttheschoolroom，withoutevenapassingbowtoPhilip。Andthis，afterhehadcordiallyshakenhandswithmypoordear，nothalfanhourbefore。
　　Ioughttohavemadeaffectionateallowanceforhisnervousmiseries；Ioughttohaverunafterhim，andbeggedhispardon。
　　Theremustbesomethingwrong，Iamafraid，ingirlslovinganybodybuttheirfathers。WhenHelenaledthewayoutbyanotherdoor，IranafterPhilip；andIasked_him_toforgiveme。
　　Idon’tknowwhatIsaid；itwasallconfusion。Thefearofhavingforfeitedhisfondnessmust，Isuppose，haveshakenmymind。IrememberentreatingHelenatosayakindwordforme。Shewassoclever，shehadbehavedsowell，shehaddeservedthatPhilipshouldlistentoher。"Oh，"Icriedouttohimdesperately，"whatmustyouthinkofme？"
　　"IwilltellyouwhatIthinkofyou，"hesaid。"Itisyourfatherwhoisinfault，Eunice——notyou。Nothingcouldhavebeeninworsetastethanhismanagementofthattrumperyaffairintheschoolroom；itwasacompletemistakefrombeginningtoend。Makeyourmindeasy；Idon’tblameYou。"
　　"Areyou，reallyandtruly，asfondofmeasever？"
　　"Yes，tobesure！"
　　HelenaseemedtobehardlyasmuchinterestedinthishappyendingofmyanxietiesasImighthaveanticipated。Shewalkedonbyherself。Perhapsshewasthinkingofpoorpapa’sstrangeoutbreakofexcitement，andgrievingoverit。
　　Wehadonlyalittlewaytowalk，beforewepassedthedoorofPhilip’shotel。Hehadnotyetreceivedtheexpectedletterfromhisfather——thecruelletterwhichmightrecallhimtoIreland。
　　Itwasthenthehourofdeliverybyoursecondpost；hewenttolookattheletter—rackinthehall。HelenasawthatIwasanxious。Shewasaskindagainasever；sheconsentedtowaitwithmeforPhilip，atthedoor。
　　Hecameouttouswithanopenletterinhishand。
　　"Frommyfather，atlast，"hesaid——andgavemethelettertoread。Itonlycontainedthesefewlines：