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Time is to wait for me。 Let me impress this on your mind by some
interesting examples。 The greatest conqueror of the
centuryNapoleonhad time enough for everything。 The greatest
novelist of the centurySir Walter Scotthad time enough for
everything。 At my humble distance； I imitate those illustrious
men； and my patients never complain of me。〃
〃Have you done？〃 I asked。
〃Yes； dearfor the present。〃
〃You are a clever woman； Mrs。 Tenbruggen and you know it。 You
have an eloquent tongue； and you know it。 But you are something
else； which you don't seem to be aware of。 You are a Bore。〃
She burst out laughing； with the air of a woman who thoroughly
enjoyed a good joke。 I looked back when I left the room； and saw
the friend of Father Time in the easy chair opening our
newspaper。
This is a specimen of the customary encounter of our wits。 I
place it on record in my Journal； to excuse myself _to_ myself。
When she left us at last； later in the day； I sent a letter after
her to the hotel。 Not having kept a copy of it； let me present
the substance； like a sermon； under three heads： I begged to be
excused for speaking plainly； I declared that there was a total
want of sympathy between us； on my side； and I proposed that she
should deprive me of future opportunities of receiving her in
this house。 The reply arrived immediately in these terms： 〃Your
letter received； dear girl。 I am not in the least angry； partly
because I am very fond of you； partly because I know that you
will ask me to come back again。 P。 SPhilip sends his love。〃
This last piece of insolence was unquestionably a lie。 Philip
detests her。 They are both staying at the same hotel。 But I
happen to know that he won't even look at her； if they meet by
accident on the stairs。
People who can enjoy the melancholy spectacle of human nature in
a state of degradation would be at a loss which exhibition to
preferan ugly old maid in a rage； or an ugly old maid in tears。
Miss Jillgall presented herself in both characters when she heard
what had happened。 To my mind； Mrs。 Tenbruggen's bosom…friend is
a creature not fit to be seen or heard when she loses her temper。
I only told her to leave the room。 To my great amusement； she
shook her bony fist at me； and expressed a frantic wish： 〃Oh； if
I was rich enough to leave this wicked house！〃 I wonder whether
there is insanity （as well as poverty） in Miss Jillgall's family？
Last night my mind was in a harassed state。 Philip was； as usual；
the cause of it。
Perhaps I acted indiscreetly when I insisted on his leaving
London； and returning to this place。 But what else could I have
done？ It was not merely my interest； it was an act of downright
necessity； to withdraw him from the influence of his hateful
fatherwhom I now regard as
the one serious obstacle to my marriage。 There is no prospect of
being rid of Mr。 Dunboyne the elder by his returning to Ireland。
He is trying a new remedy for his crippled handelectricity。 I
wish it was lightning； to kill him！ If I had given that wicked
old man the chance； I am firmly convinced he would not have let a
day pass without doing his best to depreciate me in his son's
estimation。 Besides； there was the risk； if I had allowed Philip
to remain long away from me； of losingno； while I keep my
beauty I cannot be in such danger as thatlet me say； of
permitting time and absence to weaken my hold on him。 However
sullen and silent he may be； when we meetand I find him in that
condition far too oftenI can； sooner or later； recall him to
his brighter self。 My eyes preserve their charm； my talk can
still amuse him； and； better even than that； I feel the answering
thrill in him； which tells me how precious my kisses arenot too
lavishly bestowed！ But the time when I am obliged to leave him to
himself is the time that I dread。 How do I know that his thoughts
are not wandering away to Eunice？ He denies it； he declares that
he only went to the farmhouse to express his regret for his own
thoughtless conduct； and to offer her the brotherly regard due to
the sister of his promised wife。 Can I believe it？ Oh； what would
I not give to be able to believe it！ How can I feel sure that her
refusal to see him was not a cunning device to make him long for
another interview； and plan perhaps in private to go back and try
again。 Marriage！ Nothing will quiet these frightful doubts of
mine； nothing will reward me for all that I have suffered；
nothing will warm my heart with the delightful sense of triumph
over Eunice； but my marriage to Philip。 And what does he say；
when I urge it on him？yes； I have fallen as low as that； in the
despair which sometimes possesses me。 He has his answer； always
the same； and always ready： 〃How are we to live？ where is the
money？〃 The maddening part of it is that I cannot accuse him of
raising objections that don't exist。 We are poorer than ever
here； since my father's illnessand Philip's allowance is barely
enough to suffice him as a single man。 Oh； how I hate the rich！
It was useless to think of going to bed。 How could I hope to
sleep； with my head throbbing； and my thoughts in this disturbed
state？ I put on my comfortable dressing…gown； and sat down to try
what reading would do to quiet my mind。
I had borrowed the book from the Library； to which I have been a
subscriber in secret for some time past。 It was an old volume；
full of what we should now call Gossip； relating strange
adventures； and scandalous incidents in family history which had
been concealed from public notice。
One of these last romances in real life caught a strong hold on
my interest。
It was a strange case of intended poisoning； which had never been
carried out。 A young married lady of rank； whose name was
concealed under an initial letter； had suffered some unendurable
wrong （which was not mentioned） at the hands of her husband's
mother。 The wife was described as a woman of strong passions； who
had determined on a terrible revenge by taking the life of her
mother…in…law。 There were difficulties in the way of her
committing the crime without an accomplice to help her； and she
decided on taking her maid； an elderly woman； into her
confidence。 The poison was secretly obtained by this person； and
the safest manner of administering it was under discussion
between the mistress and the maid； when the door of the room was
suddenly opened。 The husband； accompanied by his brother； rushed
in； and charged his wife with plotting the murder of his mother。
The young lady （she was only twenty…three） must have been a
person of extraordinary courage and resolution。 She saw at once
that her maid had betrayed her； and； with astonishing presence of
mind； she turned on the traitress； and said to her husband：
〃There is the wretch who has been trying to persuade me to poison
your mother！〃 As it happened； the old lady's temper was violent
and overbearing； and the maid had complained of being ill…treated
by her； in the hearing of the other servants。 The circumstances
made it impossible to decide which of the two was really the
guilty woman。 The servant was sent away； and the husband and wife
separated soon afterward； under the excuse of