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skinny arm encircled my sister's waist； they disappeared
together。
I was only too glad to get rid of them both； and to take the
opportunity of writing to Philip。 I insisted on an explanation of
his conduct while I was in the studyto be given within an
hour's time； at a place which I appointed。 〃You are not to
attempt to justify yourself in writing；〃 I added in conclusion。
〃Let your reply merely inform me if you can keep the appointment。
The rest； when we meet。〃
Maria took the letter to the hotel； with instructions to wait。
Philip's reply reached me without delay。 It pledged him to
justify himself as I had desired； and to keep the appointment。 My
own belief is that the event of to…day will decide his future and
mine。
CHAPTER XXVII。
EUNICE'S DIARY。
INDEED； I am a most unfortunate creature； everything turns out
badly with me。 My good； true friend； my dear Selina； has become
the object of a hateful doubt in my secret mind。 I am afraid she
is keeping something from me。
Talking with her about my troubles； I heard for the first time
that she had written again to Mrs。 Tenbruggen。 The object of her
letter was to tell her friend of my engagement to young Mr。
Dunboyne。 I asked her why she had done this。 The answer informed
me that there was no knowing； in the present state of my affairs；
how soon I might not want the help of a clever woman。 I ought； I
suppose； to have been satisfied with this。 But there seemed to be
something not fully explained yet。
Then again； after telling Selina what I heard in the study； and
how roughly Philip had spoken to me afterward； I asked her what
she thought of it。 She made an incomprehensible reply： 〃My sweet
child； I mustn't think of itI am too fond of you。〃
It was impossible to make her explain what this meant。 She began
to talk of Philip； assuring me （which was quite needless） that
she had done her best to fortify and encourage him； before he
called on papa。 When I asked her to help me in another waythat
is to say； when I wanted to find out where Philip was at that
momentshe had no advice to give me。 I told her that I should
not enjoy a moment's ease of mind until I and my dear one were
reconciled。 She only shook her head and declared that she was
sorry for me。 When I hit on the idea of ringing for Maria； this
little woman； so bright； and quick and eager to help me at other
times； said 〃I leave it to you； dear；〃 and turned to the piano
（close to which I was sitting）； and played softly and badly
stupid little tunes。
〃Maria； did you open the door for Mr。 Dunboyne when he went away
just now？〃
〃No； miss。〃
Nothing but ill…luck for me！ If I had been left to my own
devices； I should now have let the housemaid go。 But Selina
contrived to give me a hint； on a strange plan of her own。 Still
at the piano； she began to confuse talking to herself with
playing to herself。 The notes went _tinkle； tinkle_and the
tongue mixed up words with the notes in this way： 〃Perhaps they
have been talking in the kitchen about Philip？〃
The suggestion was not lost on me。 I said to Mariawho was
standing at the other end of the room； near the door〃 Did you
happen to hear which way Mr。 Dunboyne went when he left us？〃
〃I know where he was； miss； half an hour ago。〃
〃Where was he？〃
〃At the hotel。〃
Selina went on with her hints in the same way as before。 〃How
does she knowah； how does she know？〃 was the vocal part of the
performance this time。 My clever inquiries followed the vocal
part as before：
〃How do you know that Mr。 Dunboyne was at the hotel？〃
〃I was sent there with a letter for him； and waited for the
answer。〃
There was no suggestion required this time。 The one possible
question was： 〃Who sent you？〃
Maria replied； after first reserving a condition： 〃You won't tell
upon me； miss？〃
I promised not to tell。 Selina suddenly left off playing。
〃Well；〃 I repeated； 〃who sent you？〃
〃Miss Helena。〃
Selina looked round at me。 Her little eyes seemed to have
suddenly become big； they stared me so strangely in the face。 I
don't know whether she was in a state of fright or of wonder。 As
for myself； I simply lost the use of my tongue。 Maria； having no
more questions to answer； discreetly left us together。
Why should Helena write to Philip at alland especially without
mentioning it to me？ Here was a riddle which was more than I
could guess。 I asked Selina to help me。 She might at least have
tried； I thought； but she looked uneasy； and made excuses。
I said： 〃Suppose I go to Helena； and ask her why she wrote to
Philip？〃 And Selina said： 〃Suppose you do； dear。〃
I rang for Maria once more： 〃Do you know where my sister is？〃
〃Just gone out； miss。〃
There was no help for it but to wait till she came back； and to
get through the time in the interval as I best might。 But for one
circumstance； I might not have known what to do。 The truth is；
there was a feeling of shame in me when I remembered having
listened at the study door。 Curious notions come into one's
headone doesn't know how or why。 It struck me that I might make
a kind of atonement for having been mean enough to listen； if I
went to papa； and offered to keep him company in his solitude。 If
we fell into pleasant talk； I had a sly idea of my ownI meant
to put in a good word for poor Philip。
When I confided my design to Selina； she shut up the piano and
ran across the room to me。 But somehow she was not like her old
self again； yet。
〃You good little soul； you are always right。 Look at me again；
Euneece。 Are you beginning to doubt me？ Oh； my darling； don't do
that！ It isn't using me fairly。 I can't bear itI can't bear
it！〃
I took her hand； I was on the point of speaking to her with the
kindness she deserved from me。 On a sudden she snatched her hand
away and ran back to the piano。 When she was seated on the
music…stool； her face was hidden from me。 At that moment she
broke into a strange cryit began like a laugh； and it ended
like a sob。
〃Go away to papa！ Don't mind meI'm a creature of impulseha！
ha！ ha！ a little hystericalthe state of the weatherI get rid
of these weaknesses； my dear； by singing to myself。 I have a
favorite song： 'My heart is light； my will is free。'Go away！
oh； for God's sake； go away！〃
I had heard of hysterics； of course； knowing nothing about them；
however； by my own experience。 What could have happened to
agitate her in this extraordinary manner？
Had Helena's letter anything to do with it？ Was my sister
indignant with Philip for swearing in my presence； and had she
written him an angry letter； in her zeal on my behalf？ But Selina
could not possibly have seen the letter and Helena （who is
often hard on me when I do stupid th ings） showed little
indulgence for me； when I was so unfortunate as to irritate
Philip。 I gave up the hopeless attempt to get at the truth by
guessing； and went away to forget my troubles； if I could； in my
father's society。
After knocking twice at the door of the study； and receiving no
reply； I ventured to look in。
The sofa in this room stood opposite the door。 Papa was resting
on it； but not in comfort。 There were twitching movements in his
feet； and he shift