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her maiden name？〃
He mentioned the name of the dangerous creature who had first
presented herself to me； in charge of the Prisoner's
childotherwise Miss Elizabeth Chance。 The reappearance of this
woman on the scenealthough she was only represented by her
cardcaused me a feeling of vague uneasiness； so contemptibly
superstitious in its nature that I now remember it with shame。 I
asked a stupid question：
〃How did it happen？〃
〃In the ordinary course of such things；〃 my friend said。 〃They
were married by license； in their parish church。 The bridegroom
was a fine tall man； with a bold eye and a dashing manner。 The
bride and I recognized each other directly。 When Miss Chance had
become Mrs。 Tenbruggen； she took me aside； and gave me her card。
'Ask the Governor to accept it；' she said； 'in remembrance of the
time when he took me for a nursemaid。 Tell him I am married to a
Dutch gentleman of high family。 If he ever comes to Holland； we
shall be glad to see him in our residence at South Beveland。'
There is her message to you； repeated word for word。〃
〃I am glad she is going to live out of England。〃
〃Why？ Surely you have no reason to fear her？〃
〃None whatever。〃
〃You are thinking； perhaps； of somebody else？〃
I was thinking of the Minister； but it seemed to be safest not to
say so。
…
My pen is laid aside； and my many pages of writing have been sent
to their destination。 What I undertook to do； is now done。 To
take a metaphor from the stagethe curtain falls here on the
Governor and the Prison。
Second Period： 1875。
THE GIRLS AND THE JOURNALS。
CHAPTER XI。
HELENA'S DIARY。
WE both said good…night； and went up to our room with a new
object in view。 By our father's advice we had resolved on keeping
diaries； for the first time in our lives； and had pledged
ourselves to begin before we went to bed。
Slowly and silently and lazily； my sister sauntered to her end of
the room and seated herself at her writing…table。 On the desk lay
a nicely bound book； full of blank pages。 The word 〃Journal〃 was
printed on it in gold letters； and there was fitted to the covers
a bright brass lock and key。 A second journal； exactly similar in
every respect to the first； was placed on the writing…table at my
end of the room。 I opened my book。 The sight of the blank leaves
irritated me； they were so smooth； so spotless； so entirely ready
to do _their_ duty。 I took too deep a dip of ink； and began the
first entry in my diary by making a blot。 This was discouraging。
I got up； and looked out of window。
〃Helena！〃
My sister's voice could hardly have addressed me in a more weary
tone； if her pen had been at work all night； relating domestic
events。 〃Well！〃 I said。 〃What is it？〃
〃Have you done already？〃 she asked。
I showed her the blot。 My sister Eunice （the strangest as well as
the dearest of girls） always blurts out what she has in her mind
at the time。 She fixed her eyes gravely on my spoiled page； and
said： 〃That comforts me。〃 I crossed the room； and looked at her
book。 She had not even summoned energy enough to make a blot。
〃What will papa think of us；〃 she said； 〃if we don't begin
to…night？〃
〃Why not begin；〃 I suggested； 〃by writing down what he said； when
he gave us our journals？ Those wise words of advice will be in
their proper place on the first page of the new books。〃
Not at all a demonstrative girl naturally； not ready with her
tears； not liberal with her caresses； not fluent in her talk；
Eunice was affected by my proposal in a manner wonderful to see。
She suddenly developed into an excitable personI declare she
kissed me。 〃Oh；〃 she burst out； 〃how clever you are！ The very
thing to write about； I'll do it directly。〃
She really did it directly； without once stopping to consider；
without once waiting to ask my advice。 Line after line； I heard
her noisy pen hurrying to the bottom of a first page； and getting
three…parts of the way toward the end of a second page； before
she closed her diary。 I reminded her that she had not turned the
key； in the lock which was intended to keep her writing private。
〃It's not worth while；〃 she answered。 〃Anybody who cares to do it
may read what I write。 Good…night。〃
The singular change which I had noticed in her began to
disappear； when she set about her preparations for bed。 I noticed
the old easy indolent movements again； and that regular and
deliberate method of brushing her hair； which I can never
contemplate without feeling a stupefying influence that has
helped me to many a deli cious night's sleep。 She said her
prayers in her favorite corner of the room； and laid her head on
the pillow with the luxurious little sigh which announces that
she is falling asleep。 This reappearance of her usual habits was
really a relief to me。 Eunice in a state of excitement is Eunice
exhibiting an unnatural spectacle。
The next thing I did was to take the liberty which she had
already sanctionedI mean the liberty of reading what she had
written。 Here it is； copied exactly：
〃I am not half so fond of anybody as I am of papa。 He is always
kind； he is always right。 I love him； I love him； I love him。
〃But this is not how I meant to begin。 I must tell how he talked
to us； I wish he was here to tell it himself。
〃He said to me： 'You are getting lazier than ever； Eunice。' He
said to Helena： 'You are feeling the influence of Eunice's
example。' He said to both of us： 'You are too ready； my dear
children； to sit with your hands on your laps； looking at nothing
and thinking of nothing； I want to try a new way of employing
your leisure time。'
〃He opened a parcel on the table。 He made each of us a present of
a beautiful book； called 'Journal。' He said： 'When you have
nothing to do； my dears； in the evening； employ yourselves in
keeping a diary of the events of the day。 It will be a useful
record in many ways； and a good moral discipline for young
girls。' Helena said： 'Oh； thank you！' I said the same； but not so
cheerfully。
〃The truth is； I feel out of spirits now if I think of papa； I am
not easy in my mind about him。 When he is very much interested；
there is a quivering in his face which I don't remember in past
times。 He seems to have got older and thinner； all on a sudden。
He shouts （which he never used to do） when he threatens sinners
at sermon…time。 Being in dreadful earnest about our souls； he is
of course obliged to speak of the devil； but he never used to hit
the harmless pulpit cushion with his fist as he does now。 Nobody
seems to have seen these things but me； and now I have noticed
them what ought I to do？ I don't know； I am certain of nothing；
except what I have put in at the top of page one： I love him； I
love him； I love him。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
There this very curious entry ended。 It was easy enough to
discover the influence which had made my slow…minded sister so
ready with her。 memory and her penso ready； in short； to do
anything and everything； provided her heart was in it； and her
father was in it。
But Eunice is wrong； let me tell her； in what she says of myself。
I； too； have seen the sad change in my father； but I happen to
know that he dislikes having