按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
may of it； I must remain at home。〃
He yielded； without an attempt to make me alter my mind。 There
was a sullen submission in his manner which it was not pleasant
to see。 Was he despairing already of himself and of me？ Had
Eunice aroused the watchful demons of shame and remorse？
〃Perhaps you are right；〃 he said； gloomily。 〃Good…by。〃
My anxiety put the all…important question to him without
hesitation。
〃Is it good…by forever； Philip？〃
His reply instantly relieved me： 〃God forbid！〃
But I wanted more： 〃You still love me？〃 I persisted。
〃More dearly than ever！〃
〃And yet you leave me！〃
He turned pale。 〃I leave you because I am afraid。〃
〃Afraid of what？〃
〃Afraid to face Eunice again。〃
The only possible way out of our difficulty that I could see； now
occurred to me。 〃Suppose my sister can be prevailed on to give
you up？〃 I suggested。 〃Would you come back to us in that case？〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃And you would ask my father to consent to our marriage？〃
〃On the day of my return； if you like。〃
〃Suppose obstacles get in our way；〃 I said〃suppose time passes
and tries your patiencewill you still consider yourself engaged
to me？〃
〃Engaged to you；〃 he answered； 〃in spite of obstacles and in
spite of time。〃
〃And while you are away from me；〃 I ventured to add； 〃we shall
write to each other？〃
〃Go where I may；〃 he said； 〃you shall always hear from me。〃
I could ask no more； and he could concede no more。 The impression
evidently left on him by Eunice's terrible outbreak； was far more
serious than I had anticipated。 I was myself depressed and ill at
ease。 No expressions of tenderness were exchanged between us。
There was something horrible in our barren farewell。 We merely
clasped hands； at parting。 He went his wayand I went mine。
There are some occasions when women set an example of courage to
men。 I was ready to endure whatever might happen to me； when I
got home。 What a desperate wretch！ some people might say； if they
could look into this di ary！
Maria opened the door； she told me that my sister had already
returned； accompanied by Miss Jillgall。 There had been apparently
some difference of opinion between them； before they entered the
house。 Eunice had attempted to go on to some other place； and
Miss Jillgall had remonstrated。 Maria had heard her say： 〃No； you
would degrade yourself〃and； with that； she had led Eunice
indoors。 I understood； of course； that my sister had been
prevented from following Philip to the hotel。 There was probably
a serious quarrel in store for me。 I went straight to the
bedroom； expecting to find Eunice there； and prepared to brave
the storm that might burst on me。 There was a woman at Eunice's
end of the room； removing dresses from the wardrobe。 I could only
see her back； but it was impossible to mistake _that_
figureMiss Jillgall。
She laid the dresses on Eunice's bed； without taking the
slightest notice of me。 In significant silence I pointed to the
door。 She went on as coolly with her occupation as if the room
had been； not mine but hers； I stepped up to her； and spoke
plainly。
〃You oblige me to remind you；〃 I said； 〃that you are not in your
own room。〃 There； I waited a little； and found that I had
produced no effect。 〃With every disposition；〃 I resumed； 〃to make
allowance for the disagreeable peculiarities of your character； I
cannot consent to overlook an act of intrusion； committed by a
Spy。 Now； do you understand me？〃
She looked round her。 〃I see no third person here；〃 she said。
〃May I ask if you mean me？〃
〃I mean you。〃
〃Will you be so good； Miss Helena； as to explain yourself？〃
Moderation of language would have been thrown away on this woman。
〃You followed me to the park；〃 I said。 〃It was you who found me
with Mr。 Dunboyne； and betrayed me to my sister。 You are a Spy；
and you know it。 At this very moment you daren't look me in the
face。〃
Her insolence forced its way out of her at last。 Let me record
itand repay it； when the time comes。
〃Quite true；〃 she replied。 〃If I ventured to look you in the
face； I am afraid I might forget myself。 I have always been
brought up like a lady； and I wish to show it even in the company
of such a wretch as you are。 There is not one word of truth in
what you have said of me。 I went to the hotel to find Mr。
Dunboyne。 Ah； you may sneer！ I haven't got your good looksand a
vile use you have made of them。 My object was to recall that base
young man to his duty to my dear charming injured Euneece。 The
hotel servant told me that Mr。 Dunboyne had gone out。 Oh； I had
the means of persuasion in my pocket！ The man directed me to the
park； as he had already directed Mr。 Dunboyne。 It was only when I
had found the place； that I heard some one behind me。 Poor
innocent Euneece had followed me to the hotel； and had got her
directions； as I had got mine。 God knows how hard I tried to
persuade her to go back； and how horribly frightened I wasNo！ I
won't distress myself by saying a word more。 It would be too
humiliating to let _you_ see an honest woman in tears。 Your
sister has a spirit of her own； thank God！ She won't inhabit the
same room with you； she never desires to see your false face
again。 I take the poor soul's dresses and things awayand as a
religious person I wait； confidently wait； for the judgment that
will fall on you！〃
She caught up the dresses all together； some of them were in her
arms； some of them fell on her shoulders； and one of them towered
over her head。 Smothered in gowns； she bounced out of the room
like a walking milliner's shop。 I have to thank the wretched old
creature for a moment of genuine amusement； at a time of
devouring anxiety。 The meanest insect； they say； has its use in
this worldand why not Miss Jillgall？
In half an hour more； an unexpected event raised my spirits。 I
heard from Philip。
On his return to the hotel he had found a telegram waiting for
him。 Mr。 Dunboyne the elder had arrived in London； and Philip had
arranged to join his father by the next train。 He sent me the
address； and begged that I would write and tell him my news from
home by the next day's post。
Welcome； thrice welcome； to Mr。 Dunboyne the elder！ If Philip can
manage； under my advice； to place me favorably in the estimation
of this rich old man； his presence and authority may do for us
what we cannot do for ourselves。 Here is surely an influence to
which my father must submit； no matter how unreasonable or how
angry he may be when he hears what has happened。 I begin already
to feel hopeful of the future。
CHAPTER XXX。
EUNICE'S DIARY。
THROUGH the day； and through the night； I feel a misery that
never leaves meI mean the misery of fear。
I am trying to find out some harmless means of employing myself；
which will keep evil remembrances from me。 If I don't succeed； my
fear tells me what will happen。 I shall be in danger of going
mad。
I dare not confide in any living creature。 I don't know what
other persons might think of me； or how soon I might find myself
perhaps in an asylum。 In this helpless condition； doubt and
fright seem to be driving me back to my Journal。 I wonder whether
I shall find harmless em