the legacy of cain-第16章

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us　as　a　member　of　the　family。　I　began　to　feel　less　uneasy　at　the
prospect　of　being　introduced　to　this　stranger；　when　I　heard　that
she　was　papa's　cousin。　And　when　he　mentioned　her　name；　and　saw
how　it　amused　me；　his　poor　worn　face　brightened　into　a　smile。　〃Go
and　find　her；〃　he　said；　〃and　introduce　yourself。　I　want　to　hear；
Eunice；　if　you　and　my　cousin　are　likely　to　get　on　well　together。〃

The　servants　told　me　that　Miss　Jillgall　was　in　the　garden。

I　searched　here；　there；　and　everywhere；　and　failed　to　find　her。
The　place　was　so　quiet；　it　looked　so　deliciously　pure　and　bright；
after　smoky　dreary　London；　that　I　sat　down　at　the　further　end　of
the　garden　and　let　my　mind　take　me　back　to　Philip。　What　was　he
doing　at　that　moment；　while　I　was　thinking　of　him？　Perhaps　he　was
in　the　company　of　other　young　ladies；　who　drew　all　his　thoughts
away　to　themselves？　Or　perhaps　he　was　writing　to　his　father　in
Ireland；　and　saying　something　kindly　and　prettily　about　me？　Or
perhaps　he　was　looking　forward；　as　anxiously　as　I　do；　to　our
meeting　next　week。

I　have　had　my　plans；　and　I　have　changed　my　plans。

On　the　railway　journey；　I　thought　I　would　tell　papa　at　once　of
the　new　happiness　which　seems　to　have　put　a　new　life　into　me。　It
would　have　been　delightful　to　make　my　confession　to　that　first
and　best　and　dearest　of　friends；　but　my　meeting　with　the　doctor
spoiled　it　all。　After　what　he　had　said　to　me；　I　discovered　a
risk。　If　I　ventured　to　tell　papa　that　my　heart　was　set　on　a　young
gentleman　who　was　a　stranger　to　him；　could　I　be　sure　that　he
would　receive　my　confession　favorably？　There　was　a　chance　that　it
might　irritate　himand　the　fault　would　then　be　mine　of　doing
what　I　had　been　warned　to　avoid。　It　might　be　safer　in　every　way
to　wait　till　Philip　paid　his　visit；　and　he　and　papa　had　been
introduced　to　each　other　and　charmed　with　each　other。　Could
Helena　herself　have　arrived　at　a　wiser　conclusion？　I　declare　I
felt　proud　of　my　own　discretion。

In　this　enjoyable　frame　of　mind　I　was　disturbed　by　a　woman's
voice。　The　tone　was　a　tone　of　distress；　and　the　words　reached　my
ears　from　the　end　of　the　garden：　〃Please；　miss；　let　me　in。〃

A　shrubbery　marks　the　limit　of　our　little　bit　of　pleasure…ground。
On　the　other　side　of　it　there　is　a　cottage　standing　on　the　edge
of　the　common。　The　most　good…natured　woman　in　the　world　lives
here。　She　is　our　laundressmarried　to　a　stupid　young　fellow
named　Molly；　and　blessed　with　a　plump　baby　as　sweet…tempered　at
herself。　Thinking　it　likely　that　the　piteous　voice　which　had
disturbed　me　might　be　the　voice　of　Mrs。　Molly；　I　was　astonished
to　hear　her　appealing　to　anybody　（perhaps　to　me？）　to　〃let　her
in。〃　So　I　passed　through　the　shrubbery；　wondering　whether　the
gate　had　been　locked　during　my　absence　in　London。　No；　it　was　as
easy　to　open　as　ever。

The　cottage　door　was　not　closed。

I　saw　our　amiable　laundress　in　the　passage；　on　her　knees；　trying
to　open　an　inner　door　which　seemed　to　be　locked。　She　had　her　eye
at　the　keyhole；　and；　once　again；　she　called　out：　〃Please；　miss；
let　me　in。〃　I　waited　to　see　if　the　door　would　be　openednothing
happened。　I　waited　again；　to　hear　if　some　person　inside　would
answernobody　spoke。　But　somebody；　or　something；　made　a　sound　of
splashing　water　on　the　other　side　of　the　door。

I　showed　myself；　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。

Mrs。　Molly　looked　at　me　helplessly。　She　said：　〃Miss　Eunice；　it's
the　baby。〃

〃What　has　the　baby　done？〃　I　inquired。

Mrs。　Molly　got　on　her　feet；　and　whispered　in　my　ear：　〃You　know
he's　a　fine　child？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　miss；　he's　bewitched　a　lady。〃

〃What　lady？〃

〃Miss　Jillgall。〃

The　very　person　I　had　been　trying　to　find！　I　asked　where　she　was。

The　laundress　pointed　dolefully　to　the　locked　door：　〃In　there。〃

〃And　where　is　your　baby？〃

The　poor　woman　still　pointed　to　the　door：　〃I'm　beginning　to
doubt；　miss；　whether　it　is　my　baby。〃

〃Nonsense；　Mrs。　Molly。　If　it　isn't　yours；　whose　baby　can　it　be？〃

〃Miss　Jillgall's。〃

Her　puzzled　face　made　this　singular　reply　more　funny　still。　The
splashing　of　water　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　began　again。
〃What　is　Miss　Jillgall　doing　now？〃　I　said。

〃Washing　the　baby；　miss。　A　week　ago；　she　came　in　here；　one
morning；　very　pleasant　and　kind；　I　must　own。　She　found　me　putting
on　the　baby's　things。　She　says：　'What　a　cherub！'　which　I　took　as
a　compliment。　She　says：　'I　shall　call　again　to…morrow。'　She
called　again　so　early　that　she　found　the　baby　in　his　crib。　'You
be　a　good　soul；'　she　says；　'and　go　about　your　work；　and　leave　the
child　to　me。'　I　says：　'Yes；　miss；　but　please　to　wait　till　I've
made　him　fit　to　be　seen。'　She　says：　'That's　just　what　I　mean　to
do　myself。'　I　stared；　and　I　think　any　other　person　would　have
done　the　same　in　my　place。　'If　there's　one　thing　more　than
another　I　enjoy；'　she　says；　'it's　making　myself　useful。　Mrs。
Molly；　I've　taken　a　fancy　to　your　boy…baby；'　she　says；　'and　I
mean　to　make　myself　useful　to　_him。_'　If　you　will　believe　me；
Miss　Jillgall　has　only　let　me　have　one　opportunity　of　putting　my
own　child　tidy。　She　was　late　this　morning；　and　I　got　my　chance；
and　had　the　boy　on　my　lap；　drying　himwhen　in　she　burst　like　a
blast　of　wind；　and　snatched　the　baby　away　from　me。　'This　is　your
nasty　temper；'　she　says；　'I　declare　I'm　ashamed　of　you！'　And
there　she　is；　with　the　door　locked　against　me；　washing　the　child
all　over　again　herself。　Twice　I've　knocked；　and　asked　her　to　let
me　in；　and　can't　even　get　an　answer。　They　do　say　there's　luck　in
odd　numbers；　suppose　I　try　again？〃　Mrs。　Molly　knocked；　and　the
proverb　proved　to　be　true；　she　got　an　answer　from　Miss　Jillgall
at　last：　〃If　you　don't　be　quiet　and　go　away；　you　shan't　have　the
baby　back　at　all。〃　Who　could　help　it？I　burst　out　laughing。　Miss
Jillgall　（as　I　supposed　from　the　tone　of　her　voice）　took　severe
notice　of　this　act　of　impropriety。　〃Who's　that　laughing？〃　she
called　out；　〃give　yourself　a　name。〃　I　gave　my　name。　The　door　was
instantly　thrown　open　with　a　bang。　Papa's　cousin　appeared；　in　a
disheveled　state；　with　splashes　of　soap　and　water　all　over　her。
She　held　the　child　in　one　arm；　and　she　threw　the　other　arm　round
my　neck。　〃Dearest　Euneece；　I　have　been　longing　to　see　you。　How　do
you　like　Our　baby？〃

To　the　curious　story　of　my　introduction　to　Miss　Jillgall；　I　ought
perhaps　to　add　that　I　have　got　to　be　　friends　with　her　al　ready。　I
am　the　friend　of　anybody　who　amuses　me。　What　will　Helena　say　when
she　reads　this？


CHAPTER　XIX。

EUNICE'S　DIARY。



WHEN　people　are　interested　in　some　event　that　is　coming；　do　they
find　the　dull　days；　passed　in　waiting　for　it；　days　which　they　are
not　able　to　remember　when　they　look　back？　This　is　my　unfortunate
case。　Night　after　night；　I　have　gone　to　bed　without　so　much　as
opening　my　Journal。　There　was　nothing　worth　writing　about；
nothing　that　I　could　recollect；　until　the　postman　came　to…day。　I
ran　downstairs；　when　I　heard　his　ring　at　the　bell；　and　stopped
Maria　on　her　way　to　the　study。　There；　among　papa's　usual　handful
of　letters；　was　a　letter　for　me。

〃DEAR　MISS　EUNICE：

。　。　。　。　。　。　。

〃Yours　ever　truly。〃

I　quote　the　passages　in　Philip's　letter　which　most　deeply
interested　meI　am　his　dear　miss；　and　he　is　mine　ever　truly。　The
other　part　of　the　letter　told　me　that　he　had　been　detained　in
London；　and　he　lamented　it。　At　the　end　was　a　delightful
announcement　that　he　was　coming　to　me　by　the　afternoon　train。　I
ran　upstairs　to　see　how　I　looked　in　the　glass。

My　first　feeling　was　regret。　For　the　thousandth　time；　I　was
obliged　to　acknowledge　that　I　was　not　as　pretty　as　Helena。　But
this　passed　off。　A　cheering　reflection　occurred　to　me。　Philip
would　not　have　found；　in　my　sister's　face；　what　seems　to　have
interested　him　in　my　face。　Besides；　there　is　my　figure。

The　pity　of　it　is　that　I　am　so　ignorant　about　some　things。　If　I
had　been　allowed　to　read　novels；　I　might　（judging　by　what　papa
said　against　them　in　one　of　his　sermons）　have　felt　sure　of　my　own
attractions；　I　might　even　have　understood　what　Philip　really
thought　of　me。　However；　my　mind　was　quite　unexpectedly　set　at
ease　on　the　subject　of　my　figure。　The　manner　in　which　it　happened
was　so　amusingat　least；　so　amusing　to　methat　I　cannot　resist
mentioning　it。

My　sister　and　I　are　forbidden　to　read　newspapers；　as　well　as
novels。　But　the　teachers　at　the　Girls'　Scripture　Class　are　too
old　to　be　treated　in　this　way。　When　the　morning　lessons　were
over；　one　of　them　was　reading　the　newspaper　to　the　other；　in　the
empty　schoolroom；　I　being　in　the　passage　outside；　putting　on　my
cloak。

It　was　a　report　of　〃an　application　made　to　the　magistrates　by　the
lady　of　his　worship　the　Mayor。〃　Hearing　this；　I　stopped　to
listen。　The　lady　of　his　worship　（what　a　funny　way　of　describing　a
man's　wife！）　is　reported　to　be　a　little　too　fond　of　notoriety；
and　to　like　hearing　the　sound　of　her　own　voice　on　public
occasions。　But　this　is　only　my　writing；　I　had　better　get　back　to
the　report。　〃In　her　address　to　the　magistrates；　the　Mayoress
stated　that　she　had　seen　a　disgusting　photograph　in　the　shop
window　of　a　stationer；　lately　established　in　the　town。　She
desired　to　bring　this　person　within　reach　of　the　law；　and　to　have
all　his　copies　of　the　shameless　photograph　destroyed。　The　usher
of　the　court　was　thereupon　sent　to　purchase　the　photograph。〃On
second　thoughts；　I　prefer　going　back　to　my　own　writing　again；　it
is　so　uninteresting　to　copy　other　people's　writing。　Two　of　the
magistrates　were　doing　justice。　They　looked　at　the
photographand　what　did　it　represent？　The　famous　statue　called
the　Venus　de'　Medici！　One　of　the　magistrates　took　this　discovery
indignantly。　He　was　shocked　at　the　gross　ignorance　which　could
call　the　classic　ideal　of　beauty　and　grace　a　disgusting　work。　The
other　one　made　polite　allowances。　He　thought　the　lady　was　much　to
be　pitied；　she　was　evidently　the　innocent　victim　of　a　neglected
education。　Mrs。　Mayor　left　the　court　in　a　rage；　telling　the
justices　she　knew　where　to　get　law。　〃I　shall　expose　Venus；〃　she
said；　〃to　the　Lord　Chancellor。〃

When　the　Scripture　Class　had　broken　up　for　the　day；　duty　ought　to
have　taken　me　home。　Curiosity　led　me　astrayI　mean；　led　me　to
the　stationer's　window。

There　I　found　our　two　teachers；　absorbed　in　the　photograph；
having　got　to　the　shop　first　by　a　short　cut。　They　seemed　to　think
I　had　taken　a　liberty　whom　I　joined　them。　〃We　are　here；〃　they
were　careful　to　explain；　〃to　get　a　lesson　in　the　ideal　of　beauty
and　grace。〃　There　was　quite　a　little　crowd　of　townsfolk　collected
before　the　window。　Some　of　them　giggled；　and　some　of　them
wondered　whether　it　was　taken　from　the　life。　For　my　own　part；
gratitude　to　Venus　obliges　me　to　own　that　she　effected　a　great
improvement　in　the　state　of　my　mind。　She　encouraged　me。　If　that
stumpy　little　creaturewith　no　waist；　and　oh；　such　uncertain
legs！represented　the　ideal　of　beauty　and　grace；　I　had　reason
indeed　to　be　satisfied　with　my　own　figure；　and　to　think　it　quite
possible　that　my　sweetheart's　favorable　opinion　of　me　was　not
ill…bestowed。

I　was　at　the　bedroom　window　when　the　time　approached　for　Philip's
arrival。

Quite　at　the　far　end　of　the　road；　I　discovered　him。　He　was　on
foot；　he　walked　like　a　king。　Not　that　I　ever　saw　a　king；　but　I
have　my　ideal。　Ah；　what　a　smile　he　gave　m