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and we quite forgot Shakespeare。
She troubles me； she does indeed trouble me。
Having set herself entirely right with Philip； she is determined
on performing the same miracle with me。 Her reform of herself is
already complete。 Her vulgar humor was kept under strict
restraint； she was quiet and well…bred； and readier to listen
than to talk。 This change was not presented abruptly。 She
contrived to express her friendly interests in Philip and in me
by hints dropped here and there； assisted in their effort by
answers on my part； into which I was tempted so skillfully that I
only discovered the snare set for me； on reflection。 What is it；
I ask again； that she has in view in taking all this trouble？
Where is her motive for encouraging a love…affair； which Miss
Jillgall must have denounced to her as an abominable wrong
inflicted on Eunice？ Money （even if there was a prospect of such
a thing； in our case） cannot be her object； it is quite true that
her success sets her above pecuniary anxiety。 Spiteful feeling
against Eunice is out of the question。 They have only met once；
and her opinion was expressed to me with evident sincerity： 〃Your
sister is a nice girl； but she is like other nice girlsshe
doesn't interest me。〃 There is Eunice's character； drawn from the
life in few words。 In what an irritating position do I find
myself placed！ Never before have I felt so interested in trying
to look into a person's secret mind； and never before have I been
so completely baffled。
I had written as far as this； and was on the point of closing my
Journal； when a third note arrived from Mrs。 Tenbruggen。
She had been thinking about me at intervals （she wrote） all
through the rest of the day； and； kindly as I had received her；
she was conscious of being the object of doubts on my part which
her visit had failed to remove。 Might she ask leave to call on
me； in the hope of improving her position in my estimation？ An
appointment followed for the next day。
What can she have to say to me which she has not already said？ Is
it anything about Philip； I wonder？
CHAPTER LIV。
HELENA'S DIARY RESUMED。
AT our interview of the next day； Mrs。 Tenbruggen's capacity for
self…reform appeared under a new aspect。 She dropped all
familiarity with me； and she stated the object of her visit
without a superfluous word of explanation or apology。
I thought this a remarkable effort for a woman； and I recognized
the merit of it by leaving the lion's share of the talk to my
visitor。 In these terms she opened her business with me：
〃Has Mr。 Philip Dunboyne told you why he went to London？〃
〃He made a commonplace excuse；〃 I answered。 〃Business； he said；
took him to London。 I know no more。〃
〃You have a fair prospect of happiness； Miss Helena； when you are
marriedyour future husband is evidently afraid of you。 I am not
afraid of you； and I shall confide to your private ear something
which you have an interest in knowing。 The business which took
young Mr。 Dunboyne to London was to consult a competent person；
on a matter concerning himself。 The competent person is the
sagacious （not to say sly） old gentlemanwhom we used to call
the Governor。 You know him； I believe？〃
〃Yes。 But I am at a loss to imagine why Philip should have
consulted him。〃
〃Have you ever heard or read； Miss Helena； of such a thing as 'an
old man's fancy'？〃
〃I think I have。〃
〃Well； the Governor has taken an old man's fancy to your sister。
They appeared to understand each other perfectly when I was at
the farmhouse。〃
〃Excuse me； Mrs。 Tenbruggen； that is what I know already。 Why did
Philip go to the Governor？〃
She smiled。 〃If anybody is acquainted with the true state of your
sister's feelings； the Governor is the man。 I sent Mr。 Dunboyne
to consult himand there is the reason for it。〃
This open avowal of her motives perplexed and offended me。 After
declaring herself to be interested in my marriage…engagement had
she changed her mind； and resolved on favoring Philip's return to
Eunice？ What right had he to consult anybody about the state of
that girl's feelings？ _My_ feelings form the only subject of
inquiry that was properly open to him。 I should have said
something which I might have afterward regretted； if Mrs。
Tenbruggen had allowed me the opportunity。 Fortunately for both
of us； she went on with her narrative of her own proceedings。
〃Philip Dunboyne is an excellent fellow；〃 she continued； 〃I
really like himbut he has his faults。 He sadly wants strength
of purpose； and； like weak men in general； he only knows his own
mind when a resolute friend takes him in hand and guides him。 I
am his resolute friend。 I saw him veering about between you and
Eunice； and I decided for his sakemay I say for your sake
also？on putting an end to that mischievous state of indecision。
You have the claim on him； you are the right wife for him； and
the Governor was （as I thought likely from what I had myself
observed） the man to make him see it。 I am not in anybody's
secrets； it was pure guesswork on my part； and it has succeeded。
Th ere is no more doubt now about Miss Eunice's sentiments。 The
question is settled。〃
〃In my favor？〃
〃Certainly in your favoror I should not have said a word about
it。〃
〃Was Philip's visit kindly received？ Or did the old wretch laugh
at him？〃
〃My dear Miss Gracedieu； the old wretch is a man of the world；
and never makes mistakes of that sort。 Before he could open his
lips； he had to satisfy himself that your lover deserved to be
taken into his confidence； on the delicate subject of Eunice's
sentiments。 He arrived at a favorable conclusion。 I can repeat
Philip's questions and the Governor's answers after putting the
young man through a stiff examination just as they passed： 'May I
inquire； sir； if she has spoken to you about me？' 'She has often
spoken about you。' 'Did she seem to be angry with me？' 'She is
too good and too sweet to be angry with you。' 'Do you think she
will forgive me？' 'She has forgiven you。' 'Did she say so
herself？' 'Yes； of her own free will。' 'Why did she refuse to see
me when I called at the farm？' 'She had her own reasonsgood
reasons。' 'Has she regretted it since？' 'Certainly not。' 'Is it
likely that she would consent； if I proposed a reconciliation？'
'I put that question to her myself。' 'How did she take it； sir？'
'She declined to take it。' 'You mean that she declined a
reconciliation？' 'Yes。' 'Are you sure she was in earnest？' 'I am
positively sure。' That last answer seems； by young Dunboyne's own
confession； to have been enough； and more than enough for him。 He
got up to goand then an odd thing happened。 After giving him
the most unfavorable answers； the Governor patted him paternally
on the shoulder； and encouraged him to hope。 'Before we say
good…by； Mr。 Philip； one word more。 If I was as young as you are；
I should not despair。' There is a sudden change of front！ Who can
explain it？〃
The Governor's mischievous resolution to reconcile Philip and
Eunice explained it； of course。 With the best intentions
（perhaps） Mrs。 Tenbruggen had helped that design by bringing the
two men together。 〃Go on；〃 I said； 〃I am prepared to hear