the legacy of cain-第39章

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business；　Philip：　don't　interrupt　me。〃　He　will　say　that；　and　go
back　to　his　books。　There　is　my　father；　painted　to　the　life！
Farewell；　for　the　present。

。　。　。　。　。　。　。

Remarks　by　H。　G。Philip's　grace　and　gayety　of　style　might　be
envied　by　any　professional　Author。　He　amuses　me；　but　he　rouses　my
suspicion　at　the　same　time。　This　slippery　lover　of　mine　tells　me
to　defer　writing　to　his　father；　and　gives　no　reason　for　offering
that　strange　advice　to　the　young　lady　who　is　soon　to　be　a　member
of　the　family。　Is　this　merely　one　more　instance　of　the　weakness
of　his　character？　Or；　now　that　he　is　away　from　my　influence；　is
he　beginning　to　regret　Eunice　already？

Added　by　the　Governor。I　too　have　my　doubts。　Is　the　flippant
nonsense　which　Philip　has　written　inspired　by　the　effervescent
good　spirits　of　a　happy　young　man？　Or　is　it　assumed　for　a
purpose？　In　this　latter　case；　I　should　gladly　conclude　that　he
was　regarding　his　conduct　to　Eunice　with　becoming　emotions　of
sorrow　and　shame。


CHAPTER　XLIII。

THE　MASTERFUL　MASSEUSE。


My　next　quotations　will　suffer　a　process　of　abridgment。　I　intend
them　to　present　the　substance　of　three　letters；　reduced　as
follows：


Second　Extract。

Weak　as　he　may　be；　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne　shows　（in　his　second
letter）　that　he　can　feel　resentment；　and　that　he　can　express　his
feelings；　in　replying　to　Miss　Helena。　He　protests　against
suspicions　which　he　has　not　deserved。　That　he　does　sometimes
think　of　Eunice　he　sees　no　reason　to　deny。　He　is　conscious　of
errors　and　misdeeds；　whichtraceable　as　they　are　to　Helena's
irresistible　fascinationsmay　perhaps　be　considered　rather　his
misfortune　than　his　fault。　Be　that　as　it　may；　he　does　indeed　feel
anxious　to　hear　good　accounts　of　Eunice's　health。　If　this　honest
avowal　excites　her　sister's　jealousy；　he　will　be　disappointed　in
Helena　for　the　first　time。

His　third　letter　shows　that　this　exhibition　of　spirit　has　had　its
effect。

The　imperious　young　lady　regrets　that　she　has　hurt　his　feelings；
and　is　rewarded　for　the　apology　by　receiving　news　of　the　most
gratifying　kind。　Faithful　Philip　has　told　his　father　that　he　is
engaged　to　be　married　to　Miss　Helena　Gracedieu；　daughter　of　the
celebrated　Congregational　preacherand　so　on；　and　so　on。　Has　Mr。
Dunboyne　the　elder　expressed　any　objection　to　the　young　lady？
Certainly　not！　He　knows　nothing　of　the　other　engagement　to
Eunice；　and　he　merely　objects；　on　principle；　to　looking　forward。
〃How　do　we　know；〃　says　the　philosopher；　〃what　accidents　may
happen；　or　what　doubts　and　hesitations　may　yet　turn　up？　I　am　not
to　burden　my　mind　in　this　matter；　till　I　know　that　I　must　do　it。
Let　me　hear　when　she　is　ready　to　go　to　church；　and　I　will　be
ready　with　the　settlements。　My　compliments　to　Miss　and　her　papa；
and　let　us　wait　a　little。〃　Dearest　Helenaisn't　he　funny？

The　next　letter　has　been　already　mentioned。

In　this　there　occurs　the　first　startling　reference　to　Mrs。
Tenbruggen；　by　name。　She　is　in　London；　finding　her　way　to
lucrative　celebrity　by　twisting；　turning；　and　pinching　the　flesh
of　credulous　persons；　afflicted　with　nervous　disorders；　and　she
has　already　paid　a　few　medical　visits　to　old　Mr。　Dunboyne。　He
persists　in　poring　over　his　books　while　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　operates；
sometimes　on　his　cramped　right　hand；　sometimes　（in　the　fear　that
his　brain　may　have　something　to　do　with　it）　on　the　back　of　his
neck。　One　of　them　frowns　over　her　rubbing；　and　the　other　frowns
over　his　reading。　It　would　be　delightfully　ridiculous；　but　for　a
drawback；　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne's　first　impressions　of　Mrs。
Tenbruggen　do　not　incline　him　to　look　at　that　lady　from　a
humorous　point　of　view。

Helena's　remarks　follow；　as　usual。　She　has　seen　Mrs。　Tenbruggen's
name　on　the　address　of　a　letter　written　by　Miss　Jillgallwhich
is　quite　enough　to　condemn　Mrs。　Tenbruggen。　As　for　Philip
himself；　she　feels　not　quite　sure　of　him；　even　yet。　No　more　do　I。

Third　Extract。

The　letter　that　follows　must　be　permitted　to　speak　for　itself：

I　have　flown　into　a　passion；　dearest　Helena；　and　I　am　afraid　I
shall　make　you　fly　into　a　passion；　too。　Blame　Mrs。　Tenbruggen；
don't　blame　me。

On　the　first　occasion　when　I　found　my　father　under　the　hands　of
the　Medical　Rubber；　she　took　no　notice　of　me。　On　the　second
occasionwhen　she　had　been　in　daily　attendance　on　him　for　a
week；　at　an　exorbitant　feeshe　said　in　the　coolest　manner：　〃Who
is　this　young　gentleman？〃　My　father　laid　down　his　book；　for　a
moment　only：　〃Don't　interrupt　me　again；　ma'am。　The　young
gentleman　is　my　son　Philip。〃　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　eyed　me　with　an
appearance　of　interest　which　I　was　at　a　loss　to　account　for。　I
hate　an　impudent　woman。　My　visit　came　suddenly　to　an　end。

The　next　time　I　saw　my　father；　he　was　alone。

I　asked　him　how　he　got　on　with　Mrs。　Tenbruggen。　As　badly　as
possible；　it　appeared。　〃She　takes　liberties　with　my　neck；　she
interrupts　me　in　my　reading；　and　she　does　me　no　good。　I　shall
end；　Philip；　in　applying　a　medical　rubbing　to　Mrs。　Tenbruggen。〃

A　few　days　later；　I　found　the　masterful　〃Masseuse〃　torturing　the
poor　old　gentleman's　muscles　again。　She　had　the　audacity　to　say
to　me：　〃Well；　Mr。　Philip；　when　are　you　going　to　marry　Miss　Eunice
Gracedieu？〃　My　father　looked　up。　〃Eunice？〃　he　repeated。　〃When　my
son　told　me　he　was　engaged　to　Miss　Gracedieu；　he　said　'Helena'！
Philip；　what　does　this　mean？〃　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　was　so　obliging　as
to　answer　for　me。　〃Some　mistake；　sir；　it's　Eunice　he　is　engaged
to。〃　I　confess　I　forgot　myself。　〃How　the　devil　do　you　know　that？〃
I　burst　out。　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　ignored　me　and　my　language。　〃I　am
sorry　to　see；　sir；　that　your　son's　education　has　been　neglected；
he　seems　to　be　grossly　ignorant　of　the　laws　of　politeness。〃
〃Never　mind　the　laws　of　politeness；〃　says　my　father。　〃You　appear
to　be　better　acquainted　with　my　son's　matrimonial　prospects　than
he　is　himself。　How　is　that？〃　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　favored　him　with
another　ready　reply：　〃My　authority　is　a　letter；　addressed　to　me
by　a　relative　of　Mr。　Gracedieumy　dear　and　intimate　friend；　Miss
Jillgall。〃　My　father's　keen　eyes　traveled　backward　and　forward
between　his　female　surgeon　and　his　son。　〃Which　am　I　to　believ　e？〃
he　inquired。　〃I　am　surprised　at　your　asking　the　question；〃　I
said。　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　pointed　to　me。　〃Look　at　Mr。　Philip；
sirand　you　will　allow　him　one　merit。　He　is　capable　of　showing
it；　when　he　knows　he　has　disgraced　himself。〃　Without　intending
it；　I　am　sure；　my　father　infuriated　me；　he　looked　as　if　he
believed　her。　Out　came　one　of　the　smallest　and　strongest　words　in
the　English　language　before　I　could　stop　it：　〃Mrs。　Tenbruggen；
you　lie！〃　The　illustrious　Rubber　dropped　my　father's　handshe
had　been　operating　on　him　all　the　timeand　showed　us　that　she
could　assert　her　dignity　when　circumstances　called　for　the
exertion：　〃Either　your　son　or　I；　sir；　must　leave　the　room。　Which
is　it　to　be？〃　She　met　her　match　in　my　father。　Walking　quietly　to
the　door；　he　opened　it　for　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　with　a　low　bow。　She
stopped　on　her　way　out；　and　delivered　her　parting　words：
〃Messieurs　Dunboyne；　father　and　son；　I　keep　my　temper；　and　merely
regard　you　as　a　couple　of　blackguards。〃　With　that　pretty
assertion　of　her　opinion；　she　left　us。

When　we　were　alone；　there　was　but　one　course　to　take；　I　made　my
confession。　It　is　impossible　to　tell　you　how　my　father　received
itfor　he　sat　down　at　his　library　table　with　his　back　to　me。　The
first　thing　he　did　was　to　ask　me　to　help　his　memory。

〃Did　you　say　that　the　father　of　these　girls　was　a　parson？〃

〃Yesa　Congregational　Minister。〃

〃What　does　the　Minister　think　of　you？〃

〃I　don't　know；　sir。〃

〃Find　out。〃

That　was　all；　not　another　word　could　I　extract　from　him。　I　don't
pretend　to　have　discovered　what　he　really　has　in　his　mind。　I　only
venture　on　a　suggestion。　If　there　is　any　old　friend　in　your　town；
who　has　some　influence　over　your　father；　leave　no　means　untried
of　getting　that　friend　to　say　a　kind　word　for　us。　And　then　ask
your　father　to　write　to　mine。　This　is；　as　I　see　it；　our　only
chance。

。　。　。　。　。　。　。

There　the　letter　ends。　Helena's　notes　on　it　show　that　her　pride
is　fiercely　interested　in　securing　Philip　as　a　husband。　Her
victory　over　poor　Eunice　will；　as　she　plainly　intimates；　be　only
complete　when　she　is　married　to　young　Dunboyne。　For　the　rest；　her
desperate　resolution　to　win　her　way　to　my　good　graces　is
sufficiently　intelligible；　now。

My　own　impressions　vary。　Philip　rather　gains　upon　me；　he　appears
to　have　some　capacity　for　feeling　ashamed　of　himself。　On　the
other　hand；　I　regard　the　discovery　of　an　intimate　friendship
existing　between　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　and　Miss　Jillgall　with　the
gloomiest　views。　Is　this　formidable　Masseuse　likely　to　ply　her
trade　in　the　country　towns？　And　is　it　possible　that　she　may　come
to　this　town？　God　forbid！


Of　the　other　letters　in　the　collection；　I　need　take　no　special
notice。　I　returned　the　whole　correspondence　to　Helena；　and　waited
to　hear　from　her。

The　one　recent　event　in　Mr。　Gracedieu's　family；　worthy　of　record；
is　of　a　melancholy　nature。　After　paying　his　visit　to…day；　the
doctor　has　left　word　that　nobody　but　the　nurse　is　to　go　near　the
Minister。　This　seems　to　indicate；　but　too　surely；　a　change　for
the　worse。

Helena　has　been　away　all　the　evening　at　the　Girls'　School。　She
left　a　little　note；　informing　me　of　her　wishes：　〃I　shall　expect
to　be　favored　with　your　decision　to…morrow　morning；　in　my
housekeeping　room。〃

At　breakfast　time；　the　report　of　the　poor　Minister　was　still
discouraging。　I　noticed　that　Helena　was　absent　from　the　table。
Miss　Jillgall　suspected　that　the　cause　was　bad　news　from　Mr。
Philip　Dunboyne；　arriving　by　that　morning's　post。　〃If　you　will
excuse　the　use　of　strong　language　by　a　lady；〃　she　said；　〃Helena
looked　perfectly　devilish　when　she　opened　the　letter。　She　rushed
away；　and　locked　herself　up　in　her　own　shabby　room。　A　serious
obstacle；　as　I　suspect；　in　the　way　of　her　marriage。　Cheering；
isn't　it？〃　As　usual；　good　Selina　expressed　her　sentiments　without
reserve。

I　had　to　keep　my　appointment；　and　the　sooner　Helena　Gracedieu　and
I　understood　each　other　the　better。

I　knocked　at　the　door。　It　was　loudly　unlocked；　and　violently
thrown　open。　Helena's　temper　had　risen　to　boiling　heat；　she
stammered　with　rage　when　she　spoke　to　me。

〃I　mean　to　come　to　the　point　at　once；〃　she　said。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　Miss　Helena。〃

〃May　I　count　on　your　influence　to　help　me？　I　want　a　positive
answer。〃

I　gave　her　what　she　wanted。　I　said：　〃Certainly　not。〃

She　took　a　crumpled　letter　from　her　pocket；　opened　it；　and
smoothed　it　out　on　the　table　with　a　blow　of　her　open　hand。

〃Look　at　that；〃　she　said。

I　looked。　It　was　the　letter　addressed　to　Mr。　Dunboyne　the　elder；
which　I　had　written　for　Mr。　Gracedieuwith　the　one　object　of
preventing　Helena's　marriage。

〃Of　course；　I　can　depend　on　you　to　tell　me　the　truth？〃　she
continued。

〃Without　fear　or　favor；〃　I　answered；　〃you　may　depend　on　_that。_〃

〃The　signature　to　the　letter；　Mr。　Governor；　is　written　by　my
father。　But　the　letter　itself　is　in　a　different　hand。　Do　you；　by
any　chance；　recognize　the　writing？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Whose　writing　is　it？〃

〃Mine。〃


CHAPTER　XLIV。

THE　RESURRECTION　OF　THE　PAST。


AFTER　having　identified　my　handwriting；　I　waited　with　some
cu