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from her pocket。
〃Look at it yourself；〃 she said； 〃and tell me if anybody could
read it； and not see that you were concealing something。 My dear；
I have driven round by the doctor's houseI have seen himI
have persuaded him； or perhaps I ought to say surprised him； into
telling me the truth。 But the kind old man is obstinate。 He
wouldn't believe me when I told him I was on my way here to save
Philip's life。 He said： 'My child； you will only put your own
life in jeopardy。 If I had not seen that danger； I should never
have told you of the dreadful state of things at home。 Go back to
the good people at the farm； and leave the saving of Philip to
me。' 〃
〃He was right； Euneece； entirely right。〃
〃No； dear； he was wrong。 I begged him to come here； and judge for
himself； and I ask you to do the same。〃
I was obstinate。 〃Go back！〃 I persisted。 〃Go back to the farm！〃
〃Can I see Philip？〃 she asked。
I have heard some insolent men say that women are like cats。 If
they mean that we do； figuratively speaking； scratch at times； I
am afraid they are not altogether wrong。 An irresistible impulse
made me say to poor Euneece： 〃This is a change indeed； since you
refused to receive Philip。〃
〃Is there no change in the circumstances？〃 she asked sadly。
〃Isn't he ill and in danger？〃
I begged her to forgive me； I said I meant no harm。
〃I gave him up to my sister；〃 she continued； 〃when I believed
that his happiness depended； not on me； but on her。 I take him
back to myself； when he is at the mercy of a demon who threatens
his life。 Come； Selina； let us go to Philip。〃
She put her arm round me； and made me get up from my chair。 I was
so easily persuaded by her； that the fear of what Helena's
jealousy and Helena's anger might do was scarcely present in my
thoughts。 The door of communication was locked on the side of the
bedchamber。 I went into the hall； to enter Philip's room by the
other door。 She followed； waiting behind me。 I heard what passed
between them when Maria went out to her。
〃Where is Miss Gracedieu？〃
〃Resting upstairs； miss； in her room。〃
〃Look at the clock； and tell me when you expect her to come down
here。〃
〃I am to call her； miss； in ten minutes more。〃
〃Wait in the dining…room； Maria； till I come back to you。 〃
She joined me。 I held the door open for her to go into Philip's
room。 It was not out of curiosity； the feeling that urged me was
sympathy； when I waited a moment to see their first meeting。 She
bent over the poor； pallid； trembling； suffering man； and raised
him in her arms； and laid his head on her bosom。 〃My Philip！〃 She
murmured those words in a kiss。 I closed the door； I had a good
cry； and； oh； how it comforted me！
There was only a minute to spare when she came out of the room。
Maria was waiting for her。 Euneece said； as quietly as ever： 〃Go
and call Miss Gracedieu。〃
The girl looked at her； and sawI don't know what。 Maria became
alarmed。 But she went up the stairs； and returned in haste to
tell us that her young mistress was coming down。
The faint rustling of Helena's dress as she left her room reached
us in the silence。 I remained at the open door of the
dining…room； and Maria approached and stood near me。 We were both
frightened。 Euneece stepped forward； and stood on the mat at the
foot of the stairs； waiting。 Her back was toward me； I could only
see that she was as still as a statue。 The rustling of the dress
came nearer。 Oh； heavens！ what was going to happen？ My teeth
chattered in my head； I held by Maria's shoulder。 Drops of
perspiration showed themselves on the girl's forehead； she stared
in vacant terror at the slim little figure； posted firm and still
on the mat。
Helena turned the corner of the stairs； and waited a moment on
the last landing； and saw her sister。
〃You here？〃 she said。 〃What do you want？〃
There was no reply。 Helena descended； until she reached the last
stair but one。 There； she stopped。 Her staring eyes grew large
and wild； her hand shook as she stretched it out； feeling for the
banister； she staggered as she caught at it； and held herself up。
The silence was still unbroken。 Something in me； stronger than
myself； drew my steps along the hall nearer and nearer to the
stair； till I could see the face which had struck that murderous
wretch with terror。
I looked。
No！ it was not my sweet girl； it was a horrid transformation of
her。 I saw a fearful creature； with glittering eyes that
threatened some unimaginable vengeance。 Her lips were drawn back；
they showed her clinched teeth。 A burning red flush dyed her
face。 The hair of her head rose； little by little； slowly。 And；
most dreadful sight of all； she seemed； in the stillness of the
house； to be _listening to something。_ If I could have moved； I
should have fled to the first place of refuge I could find。 If I
could have raised my voice； I should have cried for help。 I could
do neither the one nor the other。 I could only look； look； look；
held by the horror of it with a hand of iron。
Helena must have roused her courage； and resisted her terror。 I
heard her speak：
〃Let me by！〃
〃No。〃
Slowly； steadily； in a whisper； Euneece made that reply。
Helena tried once morestill fighting against her own terror： I
knew it by the trembling of her voice。
〃Let me by；〃 she repeated； 〃I am on my way to Philip's room。〃
〃You will never enter Philip's room again。〃
〃Who will stop me？〃
〃I will。〃
She had spoken in the same steady whisper throughoutbut now she
moved。 I saw her set her foot on the first stair。 I saw the
horrid glitter in her eyes flash close into Helena's face。 I
heard her say：
〃Poisoner； go back to your room。〃
Silent and shuddering； Helena shrank away from herdaunted by
her glittering eyes； mastered by her lifted hand pointing up the
stairs。
Helena slowly ascended till she reached the landing。 She turned
and looked down； she tried to speak。 The pointing hand struck her
dumb； and drove her up the next flight of stairs。 She was lost to
view。 Only the small rustling sound of the dress was to be heard；
growing fainter and fainter； then an interval of stillness； then
the noise of a door opened and closed again； then no sound
morebut a change to be seen： the transformed creature was cr
ouching on her knees； still and silent； her face covered by her
hands。 I was afraid to approach her； I was afraid to speak to
her。 After a time； she rose。 Suddenly； swiftly； with her head
turned away from me； she opened the door of Philip's roomand
was gone。
I looked round。 There was only Maria in the lonely hall。 Shall I
try to tell you what my sensations were？ It may sound strangely；
but it is trueI felt like a sleeper； who has half…awakened from
a dream。
CHAPTER LX。
DISCOVERY。
A LITTLE later； on that eventful day； when I was most in need of
all that your wisdom and kindness could do to guide me； came the
telegram which announced that you were helpless under an attack
of gout。 As soon as I had in some degree got over my
disappointment； I remembered having told Euneece in my letter
that I expected her kind old friend to come to us。 With the
telegram in my hand I knocked softly at Philip's