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I signed to her to go on。 If I had answered in words； I should
have told her to leave the room。
〃At first；〃 she resumed； 〃I thought of writing； but it occurred
to me that you might keep my letter； and show it to Philip； by
way of lowering me in his good opinion； as you have lowered me in
the good opinion of his father。 My object in coming here is to
give you a word of warning。 If you attempt to make mischief next
between Philip and myself； I shall hear of itand you know what
to expect； when you have Me for an enemy。 It is not worth while
to say any more。 We understand each other； I hope？〃
She was determined to have a replyand she got it。
〃Not quite yet；〃 I said。 〃I have been hitherto； as becomes a
gentleman； always mindful of a woman's claims to forbearance。 You
will do well not to tempt me into forgetting that _you_ are a
woman； by prolonging your visit。 Now； Miss Helena Gracedieu； we
understand each other。〃 She made me a low curtsey； and answered
in her finest tone of irony： 〃I only desire to wish you a
pleasant journey home。〃
I rang for the waiter。 〃Show this lady out；〃 I said。
Even this failed to have the slightest effect on her。 She
sauntered to the door； as perfectly at her ease as if the room
had been hersnot mine。
I had thought of driving to the farm。 Shall I confess it？ My
temper was so completely upset that active movement of some kind
offered the one means of relief in which I could find refuge。 The
farm was not more than five miles distant； and I had been a good
walker all my life。 After making the needful inquiries； I set
forth to visit Eunice on foot。
My way through the town led me past the； Minister's house。 I had
left the door some fifty yards behin d me； when I saw two ladies
approaching。 They were walking； in the friendliest manner； arm in
arm。 As they came nearer； I discovered Miss Jillgall。 Her
companion was the middle…aged lady who had declined to give her
name； when we met accidentally at Mr。 Gracedieu's door。
Hysterically impulsive； Miss Jillgall seized both my hands； and
overwhelmed me with entreaties that I would go back with her to
the house。 I listened rather absently。 The middle…aged lady
happened to be nearer to me now than on either of the former
occasions on which I had seen her。 There was something in the
expression of her eyes which seemed to be familiar to me。 But the
effort of my memory was not helped by what I observed in the
other parts of her face。 The iron…gray hair； the baggy lower
eyelids； the fat cheeks； the coarse complexion； and the double
chin； were features； and very disagreeable features； too； which I
had never seen at any former time。
〃Do pray come back with us；〃 Miss Jillgall pleaded。 〃We were just
talking of you。 I and my friend〃 There she stopped； evidently
on the point of blurting out the name which she had been
forbidden to utter in my hearing。
The lady smiled； her provokingly familiar eyes rested on me with
a humorous enjoyment of the scene。
〃My dear；〃 she said to Miss Jillgall； 〃caution ceases to be a
virtue when it ceases to be of any use。 The Governor is beginning
to remember me； and the inevitable recognitionwith _his_
quickness of perceptionis likely to be a matter of minutes
now。〃 She turned to me。 〃In more ways than one； sir； women are
hardly used by Nature。 As they advance in years they lose more in
personal appearance than the men do。 You are white…haired； and
（pray excuse me） you are too fat； and （allow me to take another
liberty） you stoop at the shouldersbut you have not entirely
lost your good looks。 _I_ am no longer recognizable。 Allow me to
prompt you； as they say on the stage。 I am Mrs。 Tenbruggen。〃
As a man of the world； I ought to have been capable of concealing
my astonishment and dismay。 She struck me dumb。
Mrs。 Tenbruggen in the town！ The one woman whose appearance Mr。
Gracedieu had dreaded； and justly dreaded； stood before mefree；
as a friend of his kinswoman； to enter his house； at the very
time when he was a helpless man； guarded by watchers at his
bedside。 My first clear idea was to get away from both the women；
and consider what was to be done next。 I bowedand begged to be
excusedand said I was in a hurry； all in a breath。
Hearing this； the best of genial old maids was unable to restrain
her curiosity。 〃Where are you going？〃 she asked。
Too confused to think of an excuse； I said I was going to the
farm。
〃To see my dear Euneece？〃 Miss Jillgall burst out。 〃Oh； we will
go with you！〃 Mrs。 Tenbruggen's politeness added immediately；
〃With the greatest pleasure。〃
CHAPTER XLVII。
THE JOURNEY TO THE FARM。
MY first ungrateful impulse was to get rid of the two cumbersome
ladies who had offered to be my companions。 It was needless to
call upon my invention for an excuse； the truth； as I gladly
perceived； would serve my purpose。 I had only to tell them that I
had arranged to walk to the farm。
Lean； wiry； and impetuous； Miss Jillgall received my excuse with
the sincerest approval of it； as a new idea。 〃Nothing could be
more agreeable to me；〃 she declared； 〃I have been a wonderful
walker all my life。〃 She turned to her friend。 〃We will go with
him； my dear； won't we？〃
Mrs。 Tenbruggen's reception of this proposal inspired me with
hope； she asked how far it was to the farm。 〃Five miles！〃 she
repeated。 〃And five miles back again； unless the farmer lends us
a cart。 My dear Selina； you might as well ask me to walk to the
North Pole。 You have got rid of one of us； Mr。 Governor；〃 she
added； pleasantly； 〃and the other； if you only walk fast enough；
you will leave behind you on the road。 If I believed in
luckwhich I don'tI should call you a fortunate man。〃
But companionable Selina would not hear of a separation。 She
asked； in her most irresistible manner； if I objected to driving
instead of walking。 Her heart's dearest wish； she said； was to
make her bosom friend and myself better acquainted with each
other。 To conclude； she reminded me that there was a cab…stand in
the next street。
Perhaps I might have been influenced by my distrust of Mrs。
Tenbruggen； or perhaps by my anxiety to protect Eunice。 It struck
me that I might warn the defenseless girl to be on her guard with
Mrs。 Tenbruggen to better purpose； if Eunice was in a position to
recognize her in any future emergency that might occur。 To my
mind； this dangerous woman was doubly formidableand for a good
reason； she was the bosom friend of that innocent and unwary
person； Miss Jillgall。
So I amiably consented to forego my walk； yielding to the
superior attraction of Mrs。 Tenbruggen's company。 On that day the
sunshine was tempered by a delightful breeze。 If we had been in
the biggest and worst…governed city on the civilised earth； we
should have found no public vehicle； open to the air； which could
offer accommodation to three people。 Being only in a country
town； we had a light four…wheeled chaise at our disposal； as a
matter of course。
No wise man expects to be mercifully treated； when he is shut
into a carriage with a mature single lady； inflamed by curiosity。
I was not unprepared for Miss Jillgall when she alluded； for the
second time； to the sa