"Donotbealarmed，mydearboy，atthechangefortheworseinmyhandwriting。Iamsufferingformydevotiontothestudioushabitsofalifetime：myrighthandisattackedbythemaladycalledWriter’sCramp。Thedoctorherecandonothing。Hetellsmeofsomeforeignwoman，mentionedinhisnewspaper，whocuresnervousderangementsofallkindsbyhand—rubbing，andwhoiscomingtoLondon。Whenyounexthearfromme，ImaybeinLondontoo。"——Theretheletterended。
　　OfcourseIknewwhotheforeignwoman，mentionedinthenewspaper，was。
　　ButwhatdoesMissJillgall’sfriendmattertome？Theoneimportantthingis，thatPhiliphasnotbeencalledbacktoIreland。Hereisafortunatecircumstance，whichperhapsmeansmoregoodluck。ImaybeMrs。PhilipDunboynebeforetheyearisout。
　　CHAPTERXXV。
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　THEYallnoticeathomethatIamlookingwornandhaggard。Thathideousoldmaid，MissJillgall，hadhermaliciouswelcomereadyformewhenwemetatbreakfastthismorning："DearHelena，whathasbecomeofyourbeauty？Onewouldthinkyouhadleftitinyourroom！"PoordeludedEuniceshowedhersisterlysympathy：
　　"Don’tjokeaboutit，Selina：can’tyouseethatHelenaisill？"
　　I_have_beenill；illofmyownwickedness。
　　Buttherecoverytomytranquillitywillbringwithittherecoveryofmygoodlooks。MyfatalpassionforPhilippromisestobetheutterdestructionofeverythingthatisgoodinme。
　　Well！whatisgoodinmemaynotbeworthkeeping。Thereisafateinthesethings。IfIamdestinedtorobEuniceoftheonedearobjectofherloveandhope——howcanIresist？TheonekindthingIcandoistokeepherinignoranceofwhatiscoming，byactsofaffectionatedeceit。
　　Besides，ifshesuffers，Isuffertoo。InthelengthandbreadthofEngland，Idoubtifthereisamuchmorewickedyoungwomantobefoundthanmyself。Isitnothingtofeelthat，andtoendureitasIdo？
　　Uponmyword，thereisnoexcuseforme！
　　Isthissheerimpudence？No；itisthebentofmynature。Ihaveatendencytoself—examination，accompaniedbyonemerit——Idon’tsparemyself。
　　ThereareexcusesforEunice。Shelivesinafools’paradise；andsheseesinherloveraradiantcreature，shininginthehalothrownoverhimbyherownself—delusion，Nothingofthissortistobesaidforme。IseePhilipasheis。Mypenetrationlooksintothelowestdepthsofhischaracter——whenIamnotinhiscompany。Thereseemstobeafoundationofgood，somewhereinhisnature。Hedespisesandhateshimself（hehasconfessedittome），whenEuniceiswithhim——stillbelievinginherfalsesweetheart。Buthowlongdothesebetterinfluenceslast？Ihaveonlytoshowmyself，inmysister’sabsence，andPhilipisminebodyandsoul。Hisvanityandhisweaknesstakepossessionofhimthemomentheseesmyface。Heisoneofthosemen——eveninmylittleexperienceIhavemetwiththem——whoareborntobeledbywomen。IfEunicehadpossessedmystrengthofcharacter，hewouldhavebeentruetoherforlife。
　　OughtInot，injusticetomyself，tohaveliftedmyhearthighabovethereachofsuchacreatureasthis？CertainlyIought！I
　　knowit，Ifeelit。Andyet，thereissomefascinationinhavinghimwhichIamabsolutelyunabletoresist。
　　What，Iaskmyself，hasfedthenewflamewhichisburninginme？
　　Diditbeginwithgratifiedpride？ImightwellfeelproudwhenI
　　foundmyselfadmiredbyamanofhisbeauty，setoffbysuchmannersandsuchaccomplishmentsashis。Or，hasthegrowthofthismasterfulfeelingbeenencouragedbytheenvyandjealousystirredinme，whenIfoundEunice（myinferiorineveryrespect）
　　distinguishedbythedevotionofahandsomelover，andhavingabrilliantmarriageinview——whileIwasleftneglected，withnoprospectofchangingmytitlefromMisstoMrs。？Vaininquiries！
　　Mywickedheartseemstohavesecretsofitsown，andtokeepthemamysterytome。
　　Whathasbecomeofmyexcellenteducation？Idon’tcaretoinquire；Ihavegotbeyondthereachofgoodbooksandreligiousexamples。Amongmyotherblamableactionstheremaynowbereckoneddisobediencetomyfather。Ihavebeenreadingnovelsinsecret。
　　AtfirstItriedsomeofthefamousEnglishworks，publishedatapricewithinthereachofsmallpurses。Verywellwritten，nodoubt——butwithoneunpardonabledrawback，sofarasIamconcerned。Ourcelebratednativeauthorsaddressthemselvestogoodpeople，ortopenitentpeoplewhowanttobemadegood；nottowickedreaderslikeme。
　　Arrivingatthisconclusion，Itriedanotherexperiment。Inasmallbookseller’sshopIdiscoveredsomecheaptranslationsofFrenchnovels。Here，IfoundwhatIwanted——sympathywithsin。
　　Here，therewasopenedtomeanewworldinhabitedentirelybyunrepentantpeople；themagnificentwomendiabolicallybeautiful；
　　thesatanicmendeadtoeverysenseofvirtue，andalive——perhapsratherdirtilyalive——tothesplendidfascinationsofcrime。I
　　knownowthatLoveisaboveeverythingbutitself。Loveistheonelawthatweareboundtoobey。Howdeep！howconsoling！howadmirablytrue！ThenovelistsofEnglandhavereasonindeedtohidetheirheadsbeforethenovelistsofFrance。AllthatIhavefelt，andhavewrittenhere，isinspiredbythesewonderfulauthors。
　　Ihaverelievedmymind，andmaynowreturntothebusinessofmydiary——therecordofdomesticevents。
　　AnoverwhelmingdisappointmenthasfallenonEunice。Ourdinner—partyhasbeenputoff。
　　Thestateoffather’shealthisanswerableforthischangeinourarrangementsThatwretchedsceneattheschool，complicatedbymysister’sundutifulbehavioratthetime，soseriouslyexcitedhimthathepassedasleeplessnight，andkepthisbedroomthroughouttheday。Eunice’stotalwantofdiscretionadded，nodoubt，tohissufferings：sherudelyintrudedonhimtoexpressherregretandtoaskhispardon。Havingcarriedherpoint，shewasatleisuretocometome，andtoask（howamazinglysimpleofher！）
　　whatsheandPhilipweretodonext。
　　"Wehadarrangeditallsonicely，"thepoorwretchbegan。
　　"Philipwastohavebeensocleverandagreeableatdinner，andwastohavechosenhistimesoverydiscreetly，thatpapawouldhavebeenreadytolistentoanythinghesaid。
　　Oh，weshouldhavesucceeded；Ihaven’tadoubtofit！Ouronlyhope，Helena，isinyou。Whatarewetodonow？"
　　"Wait，"Ianswered。
　　"Wait？"sherepeated，hotly。"Ismyhearttobebroken？and，whatismorecruelstill，isPhiliptobedisappointed？Iexpectedsomethingmoresensible，mydear，fromyou。Whatpossiblereasoncantherebeforwaiting？"
　　Thereason——ifIcouldonlyhavementionedit——wasbeyonddispute。IwantedtimetoquietPhilip’suneasyconscience，andtohardenhisweakmindagainstoutburstsofviolence，onEunice’spart，whichwouldcertainlyexhibitthemselveswhenshefoundthatshehadlostherlover，andlosthimtome。Inthemeanwhile，Ihadtoproducemyreasonforadvisinghertowait。
　　Itwaseasilydone。Iremindedheroftheirritableconditionofourfather’snerves，andgaveitasmyopinionthathewouldcertainlysayNo，ifshewasunwiseenoughtoexcitehimonthesubjectofPhilip，inhispresentframeofmind。
　　Theseunanswerableconsiderationsseemedtoproducetherighteffectonher。"Isupposeyouknowbest，"wasallshesaid。Andthensheleftme。
　　Ilethergowithoutfeelinganydistrustofthisactofsubmissiononherpart；itwassuchacommonexperience，inmylife，tofindmysisterguidingherselfbymyadvice。Butexperienceisnotalwaystobetrusted。EventssoonshowedthatI
　　hadfailedtoestimateEunice’sresourcesofobstinacyandcunningattheirtruevalue。
　　HalfanhourlaterIheardthestreetdoorclosed，andlookedoutofthewindow。MissJillgallwasleavingthehouse；noonewaswithher。Mydislikeofthispersonledmeastrayoncemore。I
　　oughttohavesuspectedherofbeingbentonsomemischievouserrand，andtohavedevisedsomemeansofputtingmysuspicionstothetest。Ididnothingofthekind。InthemomentwhenI
　　turnedmyheadawayfromthewindow，MissJillgallwasapersonforgotten——andIwasapersonwhohadmadeaseriousmistake。
　　CHAPTERXXVI。
　　HELENA’SDIARY。
　　THEeventofto—daybeganwiththedeliveryofamessagesummoningmetomyfather’sstudy。Hehaddecided——toohastily，asIfeared——thathewassufficientlyrecoveredtoresumehisusualemployments。Iwaswritingtohisdictation，whenwewereinterrupted。MariaannouncedavisitfromMr。Dunboyne。
　　HithertoPhiliphadbeencontenttosendoneoftheservantsofthehoteltomakeinquiryafterMr。Gracedieu’shealth。Whyhadhenowcalledpersonally？Noticingthatfatherseemedtobeannoyed，ItriedtomakeanopportunityofreceivingPhilipmyself。"Letmeseehim，"Isuggested；"Icaneasilysayyouareengaged。"
　　Veryunwillingly，asitwaseasytosee，myfatherdeclinedtoallowthis。"Mr。Dunboyne’svisitpaysmeacompliment，"hesaid；
　　"andImustreceivehim。"Imadeashowofleavingtheroom，andwascalledbacktomychair。"Thisisnotaprivateinterview，Helena；staywhereyouare。"
　　Philipcamein——handsomerthanever，beautifullydressed——andpaidhisrespectstomyfatherwithhiscustomarygrace。Hewastoowell—bredtoallowanyvisiblesignsofembarrassmenttoescapehim。Butwhenheshookhandswithme，Ifeltalittletremblinginhisfingers，throughthedelicategloveswhichfittedhimlikeasecondskin。WasitthetrueobjectofhisvisittotrytheexperimentdesignedbyEuniceandhimself，anddeferredbythepostponementofourdinner—party？Impossiblesurelythatmysistercouldhavepracticedonhisweakness，andpersuadedhimtoreturntohisfirstlove！Iwaited，inbreathlessinterest，forhisnextwords。Theywerenotworthlisteningto。Oh，thepoorcommonplacecreature！
　　"Iamglad，Mr。Gracedieu，toseethatyouarewellenoughtobeinyourstudyagain，"hesaid。Thewritingmaterialsonthetableattractedhisattention。"AmIoneoftheidlepeople，"heasked，withhischarmingsmile，"whoarealwaysinterruptingusefulemployment？"
　　Hespoketomyfather，andhewasansweredbymyfather。Notoncehadheaddressedawordtome——no，notevenwhenweshookhands。
　　Iwasangryenoughtoforcehimintotakingsomenoticeofme，andtomakeanattempttoconfusehimatthesametime。
　　"Haveyouseenmysister？"Iasked。
　　"No。"
　　Itwastheshortestreplythathecouldchoose。Havingflungitatme，hestillpersistedinlookingatmyfatherandspeakingtomyfather："Doyouthinkoftryingchangeofair，Mr。Gracedieu，whenyoufeelstrongenoughtotravel？"
　　"Mydutieskeepmehere，"fatheranswered；"andIcannothonestlysaythatIenjoytraveling。Idislikemannersandcustomsthatarestrangetome；Idon’tfindthathotelsrewardmeforgivingupthecomfortsofmyownhouse。Howdoyoufindthehotelhere？"
　　"Isubmittothehotel，sir。Theyaresadsavagesinthekitchen；
　　theyputmushroomketchupintotheirsoup，andmustardandcayennepepperintotheirsalads。Iamhalf—starvedatdinner—time，butIdon’tcomplain。"
　　Everywordhesaidwasanoffensetome。Withorwithoutreason，Iattackedhimagain。
　　"Ihaveheardyouacknowledgethatthelandlordandlandladyareveryobligingpeople，"Isaid。"Whydon’tyouaskthemtoletyoumakeyourownsoupandmixyourownsalad？"
　　IwonderedwhetherIshouldsucceedinattractinghisnotice，afterthis。Evenintheseprivatepages，myself—esteemfindsithardtoconfesswhathappened。IsucceededinremindingPhilipthathehadhisreasonsforrequestingmetoleavetheroom。
　　"Willyouexcuseme，MissHelena，"hesaid，"ifIaskleavetospeaktoMr。Gracedieuinprivate？"
　　Therightthingformetodowas，letmehope，thethingthatI
　　did。Irose，andwaitedtoseeifmyfatherwouldinterfere。HelookedatPhilipwithsuspicioninhisface，aswellassurprise。
　　"MayIask，"hesaid，coldly，"whatistheobjectoftheinterview？"
　　"Certainly，"Philipanswered，"whenwearealone。"Thiscoolreplyplacedmyfatherbetweentwoalternatives；hemusteithergiveway，orbeguiltyofanactofrudenesstoaguestinhisownhouse。Thechoicereservedformewasnarrowerstill——Ihadtodecidebetweenbeingtoldtogo，orgoingofmyownaccord。Ofcourse，Ileftthemtogether。
　　Thedoorwhichcommunicatedwiththenextroomwaspulledto，butnotclosed。Ontheothersideofit，IfoundEunice。
　　"Listening！"Isaid，inawhisper。
　　"Yes，"shewhisperedback。"Youlisten，too！"
　　IwassoindignantwithPhilip，andsoseriouslyinterestedinwhatwasgoingoninthestudy，thatIyieldedtotemptation。Webothdegradedourselves。Webothlistened。
　　Eunice’sbaseloverspokefirst。Judgingbythechangeinhisvoice，hemusthaveseensomethinginmyfather’sfacethatdauntedhim。Euniceheardit，too。"He’sgettingnervous，"shewhispered；"he’llforgettosaytherightthingattherighttime。"
　　"Mr。Gracedieu，"Philipbegan，"Iwishtospeaktoyou——"
　　Fatherinterruptedhim："Wearealonenow，Mr。Dunboyne。Iwanttoknowwhyyouconsultmeinprivate？"
　　"Iamanxioustoconsultyou，sir，onasubject——"
　　"Onwhatsubject？Anyreligiousdifficulty？"
　　"No。"
　　"AnythingIcandoforyouinthetown？"
　　"Notatall。Ifyouwillonlyallowme——"
　　"Iamstillwaiting，sir，toknowwhatitisabout。"
　　Philip’svoicesuddenlybecameanangryvoice。"Onceforall，Mr。
　　Gracedieu，"hesaid，"willyouletmespeak？It’saboutyourdaughter——"
　　"Nomoreofit，Mr。Dunboyne！"（MyfatherwasnowasloudasPhilip。）"Idon’tdesiretoholdaprivateconversationwithyouonthesubjectofmydaughter。"
　　"Ifyouhaveanypersonalobjectiontome，sir，besogoodastostateitplainly。"
　　"Youhavenorighttoaskmetodothat。"
　　"Yourefusetodoit？"
　　"Positively。"
　　"Youarenotverycivil，Mr。Gracedieu。"
　　"IfIspeakwithoutceremony，Mr。Dunboyne，youhaveyourselftothankforit。"
　　Philiprepliedtothisinatoneofsavageirony。"Youareaministerofreligion，andyouareanoldman。Twoprivileges——andyoupresumeonthemboth。Good—morning。"
　　Idrewbackintoacorner，justintimetoescapediscoveryinthecharacterofalistener。Eunicenevermoved。WhenPhilipdashedintotheroom，bangingthedoorafterhim，shethrewherselfimpulsivelyonhisbreast："Oh，Philip！Philip！whathaveyoudone？Whydidn’tyoukeepyourtemper？"
　　"Didyouhearwhatyourfathersaidtome？"heasked。
　　"Yes，dear；butyououghttohavecontrolledyourself——youought，indeed，formysake。"
　　Herarmswerestillroundhim。Itstruckmethathefeltherinfluence。"Ifyouwishmetorecovermyself，"hesaid，gently，"youhadbetterletmego。"
　　"Oh，howcruel，Philip，toleavemewhenIamsowretched！Whydoyouwanttogo？"
　　"YoutoldmejustnowwhatIoughttodo，"heanswered，stillrestraininghimself。"IfIamtogetthebetterofmytemper，I
　　mustbeleftalone。"
　　"Ineversaidanythingaboutyourtemper，darling。"
　　"Didn’tyoutellmetocontrolmyself？"
　　"Oh，yes！Gobacktopapa。andbeghimtoforgiveyou。"
　　"I’llseehimdamnedfirst！"
　　Ifeverastupidgirldeservedsuchananswerasthis，thegirlwasmysister。Ihadhitherto（withsomedifficulty）refrainedfrominterfering。ButwhenEunicetriedtofollowPhilipoutofthehouse，Icouldhesitatenolonger；Iheldherback。"Youfool，"Isaid；"haven’tyoumademischiefenoughalready？"
　　"WhatamItodo？"sheburstout，helplessly。
　　"DowhatItoldyoutodoyesterday——wait。"
　　Beforeshecouldreply，orIcouldsayanythingmore，thedoorthatledtothelandingwasopenedsoftlyandslyly，andMissJillgallpeepedin。Euniceinstantlyleftme，andrantothemeddlingoldmaid。Theywhisperedtoeachother。MissJillgall’sskinnyarmencircledmysister’swaist；theydisappearedtogether。
　　Iwasonlytoogladtogetridofthemboth，andtotaketheopportunityofwritingtoPhilip。IinsistedonanexplanationofhisconductwhileIwasinthestudy——tobegivenwithinanhour’stime，ataplacewhichIappointed。"Youarenottoattempttojustifyyourselfinwriting，"Iaddedinconclusion。
　　"Letyourreplymerelyinformmeifyoucankeeptheappointment。
　　Therest，whenwemeet。"
　　Mariatookthelettertothehotel，withinstructionstowait。
　　Philip’sreplyreachedmewithoutdelay。ItpledgedhimtojustifyhimselfasIhaddesired，andtokeeptheappointment。Myownbeliefisthattheeventofto—daywilldecidehisfutureandmine。
　　CHAPTERXXVII。
　　EUNICE’SDIARY。
　　INDEED，Iamamostunfortunatecreature；everythingturnsoutbadlywithme。Mygood，truefriend，mydearSelina，hasbecometheobjectofahatefuldoubtinmysecretmind。Iamafraidsheiskeepingsomethingfromme。
　　Talkingwithheraboutmytroubles，IheardforthefirsttimethatshehadwrittenagaintoMrs。Tenbruggen。TheobjectofherletterwastotellherfriendofmyengagementtoyoungMr。
　　Dunboyne。Iaskedherwhyshehaddonethis。Theanswerinformedmethattherewasnoknowing，inthepresentstateofmyaffairs，howsoonImightnotwantthehelpofacleverwoman。Iought，I
　　suppose，tohavebeensatisfiedwiththis。Butthereseemedtobesomethingnotfullyexplainedyet。
　　Thenagain，aftertellingSelinawhatIheardinthestudy，andhowroughlyPhiliphadspokentomeafterward，Iaskedherwhatshethoughtofit。Shemadeanincomprehensiblereply："Mysweetchild，Imustn’tthinkofit——Iamtoofondofyou。"
　　Itwasimpossibletomakeherexplainwhatthismeant。ShebegantotalkofPhilip；assuringme（whichwasquiteneedless）thatshehaddoneherbesttofortifyandencouragehim，beforehecalledonpapa。WhenIaskedhertohelpmeinanotherway——thatistosay，whenIwantedtofindoutwherePhilipwasatthatmoment——shehadnoadvicetogiveme。ItoldherthatIshouldnotenjoyamoment’seaseofminduntilIandmydearonewerereconciled。Sheonlyshookherheadanddeclaredthatshewassorryforme。WhenIhitontheideaofringingforMaria，thislittlewoman，sobright，andquickandeagertohelpmeatothertimes，said"Ileaveittoyou，dear，"andturnedtothepiano（closetowhichIwassitting），andplayedsoftlyandbadlystupidlittletunes。
　　"Maria，didyouopenthedoorforMr。Dunboynewhenhewentawayjustnow？"
　　"No，miss。"
　　Nothingbutill—luckforme！IfIhadbeenlefttomyowndevices，Ishouldnowhaveletthehousemaidgo。ButSelinacontrivedtogivemeahint，onastrangeplanofherown。Stillatthepiano，shebegantoconfusetalkingtoherselfwithplayingtoherself。Thenoteswent_tinkle，tinkle_——andthetonguemixedupwordswiththenotesinthisway："PerhapstheyhavebeentalkinginthekitchenaboutPhilip？"
　　Thesuggestionwasnotlostonme。IsaidtoMaria——whowasstandingattheotherendoftheroom，nearthedoor——"DidyouhappentohearwhichwayMr。Dunboynewentwhenheleftus？"
　　"Iknowwherehewas，miss，halfanhourago。"
　　"Wherewashe？"
　　"Atthehotel。"
　　Selinawentonwithherhintsinthesamewayasbefore。"Howdoessheknow——ah，howdoessheknow？"wasthevocalpartoftheperformancethistime。Mycleverinquiriesfollowedthevocalpartasbefore：
　　"HowdoyouknowthatMr。Dunboynewasatthehotel？"
　　"Iwassenttherewithaletterforhim，andwaitedfortheanswer。"
　　Therewasnosuggestionrequiredthistime。Theonepossiblequestionwas："Whosentyou？"
　　Mariareplied，afterfirstreservingacondition："Youwon’ttelluponme，miss？"
　　Ipromisednottotell。Selinasuddenlyleftoffplaying。
　　"Well，"Irepeated，"whosentyou？"
　　"MissHelena。"
　　Selinalookedroundatme。Herlittleeyesseemedtohavesuddenlybecomebig，theystaredmesostrangelyintheface。I
　　don’tknowwhethershewasinastateoffrightorofwonder。Asformyself，Isimplylosttheuseofmytongue。Maria，havingnomorequestionstoanswer，discreetlyleftustogether。
　　WhyshouldHelenawritetoPhilipatall——andespeciallywithoutmentioningittome？HerewasariddlewhichwasmorethanI
　　couldguess。IaskedSelinatohelpme。Shemightatleasthavetried，Ithought；butshelookeduneasy，andmadeexcuses。
　　Isaid："SupposeIgotoHelena，andaskherwhyshewrotetoPhilip？"AndSelinasaid："Supposeyoudo，dear。"
　　IrangforMariaoncemore："Doyouknowwheremysisteris？"
　　"Justgoneout，miss。"
　　Therewasnohelpforitbuttowaittillshecameback，andtogetthroughthetimeintheintervalasIbestmight。Butforonecircumstance，Imightnothaveknownwhattodo。Thetruthis，therewasafeelingofshameinmewhenIrememberedhavinglistenedatthestudydoor。Curiousnotionscomeintoone’shead——onedoesn’tknowhoworwhy。ItstruckmethatImightmakeakindofatonementforhavingbeenmeanenoughtolisten，ifI
　　wenttopapa，andofferedtokeephimcompanyinhissolitude。Ifwefellintopleasanttalk，Ihadaslyideaofmyown——ImeanttoputinagoodwordforpoorPhilip。
　　WhenIconfidedmydesigntoSelina，sheshutupthepianoandranacrosstheroomtome。Butsomehowshewasnotlikeheroldselfagain，yet。
　　"Yougoodlittlesoul，youarealwaysright。Lookatmeagain，Euneece。Areyoubeginningtodoubtme？Oh，mydarling，don’tdothat！Itisn’tusingmefairly。Ican’tbearit——Ican’tbearit！"
　　Itookherhand；Iwasonthepointofspeakingtoherwiththekindnessshedeservedfromme。Onasuddenshesnatchedherhandawayandranbacktothepiano。Whenshewasseatedonthemusic—stool，herfacewashiddenfromme。Atthatmomentshebrokeintoastrangecry——itbeganlikealaugh，anditendedlikeasob。
　　"Goawaytopapa！Don’tmindme——I’macreatureofimpulse——ha！
　　ha！ha！alittlehysterical——thestateoftheweather——Igetridoftheseweaknesses，mydear，bysingingtomyself。Ihaveafavoritesong：’Myheartislight，mywillisfree。’——Goaway！
　　oh，forGod’ssake，goaway！"
　　Ihadheardofhysterics，ofcourse；knowingnothingaboutthem，however，bymyownexperience。Whatcouldhavehappenedtoagitateherinthisextraordinarymanner？
　　HadHelena’sletteranythingtodowithit？WasmysisterindignantwithPhilipforswearinginmypresence；andhadshewrittenhimanangryletter，inherzealonmybehalf？ButSelinacouldnotpossiblyhaveseentheletter——andHelena（whoisoftenhardonmewhenIdostupidthings）showedlittleindulgenceforme，whenIwassounfortunateastoirritatePhilip。Igaveupthehopelessattempttogetatthetruthbyguessing，andwentawaytoforgetmytroubles，ifIcould，inmyfather’ssociety。
　　Afterknockingtwiceatthedoorofthestudy，andreceivingnoreply，Iventuredtolookin。
　　Thesofainthisroomstoodoppositethedoor。Papawasrestingonit，butnotincomfort。Thereweretwitchingmovementsinhisfeet，andheshiftedhisarmsthiswayandthatasifnorestfulposturecouldhefoundforthem。Butwhatfrightenedmewasthis。
　　Hiseyes，staringstraightatthedoorbywhichIhadgonein，hadaninquiringexpression，asifheactuallydidnotknowme！I
　　stoodmidwaybetweenthedoorandthesofa，doubtfulaboutgoingnearertohim。
　　Hesaid："Whoisit？"Thistome——tohisowndaughter。Hesaid：
　　"Whatdoyouwant？"
　　Ireallycould_not_bearit。Iwentuptohim。Isaid："Papa，haveyouforgottenEunice？"
　　Mynameseemed（ifonemaysaysuchathing）tobringhimtohimselfagain。Hesatuponthesofa——andlaughedasheansweredme。
　　"Mydearchild，whatdelusionhasgotintothatprettylittleheadofyours？FancyherthinkingthatIhadforgottenmyowndaughter！Iwaslostinthought，Eunice。Forthemoment，Iwaswhattheycallanabsentman。DidIevertellyouthestoryoftheabsentman？Hewenttocalluponsomeacquaintanceofhis；
　　andwhentheservantsaid，’Whatname，sir？’Hecouldn’tanswer。
　　Hewasobligedtoconfessthathehadforgottenhisownname。Theservantsaid，’That’sverystrange。’Theabsentmanatoncerecoveredhimself。’That’sit！’hesaid：’mynameisStrange。’
　　Droll，isn’tit？IfIhadbeencallingonafriendto—day，I
　　daresay_I_mighthaveforgottenmyname，too。Muchtothinkof，Eunice——toomuchtothinkof。"