the legacy of cain-第45章

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hoped　to　try　what　Massage　might　do　to　relieve　him。　The　cure　of
their　popular　preacher　might　have　advertised　me　through　the　whole
of　the　Congregational　sect。　It　was　essential　to　my　success　that　I
should　present　myself　as　a　stranger。　I　could　trust　time　and
change；　and　my　married　name　（certainly　not　known　to　Mr。
Gracedieu）　to　keep　up　my　incognito。　He　would　have　refused　to　see
me　if　he　had　known　that　I　was　once　Miss　Chance。〃

I　began　to　be　interested。

Here　was　an　opportunity；　perhaps；　of　discovering　what　the
Minister　had　failed　to　remember　when　he　had　been　speaking　of　this
woman；　and　when　I　had　asked　if　he　had　ever　offended　her。　I　was
especially　careful　in　making　my　inquiries。

〃I　remember　how　you　spoke　to　Mr。　Gracedieu；〃　I　said；　〃when　you
and　he　met；　long　ago；　in　my　rooms。　But　surely　you　don't　think　him
capable　of　vindictively　remembering　some　thoughtless　words；　which
escaped　you　sixteen　or　seventeen　years　since？〃

〃I　am　not　quite　such　a　fool　as　that；　Mr。　Governor。　What　I　was
thinking　of　was　an　unpleasant　correspondence　between　the　Minister
and　myself。　Before　I　was　so　unfortunate　as　to　meet　with　Mr。
Tenbruggen；　I　obtained　a　chance　of　employment　in　a　public
Institution；　on　condition　that　I　included　a　clergyman　among　my
references。　Knowing　nobody　else　whom　I　could　apply　to；　I　rashly
wrote　to　Mr。　Gracedieu；　and　received　one　of　those　cold　and　cruel
refusals　which　only　the　strictest　religious　principle　can
produce。　I　was　mortally　offended　at　the　time；　and　if　your　friend
the　Minister　had　been　within　my　reach〃　She　paused；　and　finished
the　sentence　by　a　significant　gesture。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃he　is　within　your　reach　now。〃

〃And　out　of　his　mind；〃　she　added。　〃Besides；　one's　sense　of　injury
doesn't　last　（except　in　novels　and　plays）　through　a　series　of
years。　I　don't　pity　himand　if　an　opportunity　of　shaking　his
high　position　among　his　admiring　congregation　presented　itself；　I
daresay　I　might　make　a　mischievous　return　for　his　letter　to　me。
In　the　meanwhile；　we　may　drop　the　subject。　I　suppose　you
understand；　now；　why　I　concealed　my　name　from　you；　and　why　I　kept
out　of　the　house　while　you　were　in　it。〃

It　was　plain　enough；　of　course。　If　I　had　known　her　again；　or　had
heard　her　name；　I　might　have　told　the　Minister　that　Mrs。
Tenbruggen　and　Miss　Chance　were　one　and　the　same。　And　if　I　had
seen　her　and　talked　with　her　in　the　house；　my　memory　might　have
shown　itself　capable　of　improvement。　Having　politely　presented
the　expression　of　my　thanks；　I　rose　to　go。

She　stopped　me　at　the　door。

〃One　word　more；〃　she　said；　〃while　Selina　is　out　of　the　way。　I
need　hardly　tell　you　that　I　have　not　trusted　her　with　the
Minister's　secret。　You　and　I　are；　as　I　take　it；　the　only　people
now　living　who　know　the　truth　about　these　two　girls。　And　we　keep
our　advantage。〃

〃What　advantage？〃　I　asked。

〃Don't　you　know？〃

〃I　don't　indeed。〃

〃No　more　do　I。　Female　folly；　and　a　slip　of　the　tongue；　I　am　old
and　ugly；　but　I　am　still　a　woman。　About　Miss　Eunice。　Somebody　has
told　the　pretty　little　fool　never　to　trust　strangers。　You　would
have　been　amused；　if　you　had　heard　that　sly　young　person
prevaricating　with　me。　In　one　respect；　her　appearance　strikes　me。
She　is　not　like　either　the　wretch　who　was　hanged；　or　the　poor
victim　who　was　murdered。　Can　she　be　the　adopted　child？　Or　is　it
the　other　sister；　whom　I　have　not　seen　yet？　Oh；　come！　come！　Don't
try　to　look　as　if　you　didn't　know。　That　is　really　too
ridiculous。〃

〃You　alluded　just　now；〃　I　answered；　〃to　our　'advantage'　in　being
the　only　persons　who　know　the　truth　about　the　two　girls。　Well；
Mrs。　Tenbruggen；　I　keep　_my_　advantage。〃

〃In　other　words；〃　she　rejoined；　〃you　leave　me　to　make　the
discovery　myself。　Well；　my　friend；　I　mean　to　do　it！〃

。　。　。　。　。　。　。

In　the　evening；　my　hotel　offered　to　me　the　refuge　of　which　I
stood　in　need。　I　could　think；　for　the　first　time　that　day；
without　interruption。

Being　resolved　to　see　Philip；　I　prepared　myself　for　the　interview
by　consulting　my　extracts　once　more。　The　letter；　in　which　Mrs。
Tenbruggen　figures；　inspired　me　with　the　hope　of　protection　for
Mr。　Gracedieu；　attainable　through　no　less　a　person　than　Helena
herself。

To　begin　with；　she　would　certainly　share　Philip's　aversion　to　the
Masseuse；　and　her　dislike　of　Miss　Jillgall　would；　just　as
possibly；　extend　to　Miss　Jillgall's　friend。　The　hostile　feeling
thus　set　up　might　be　trusted　to　keep　watch　on　Mrs。　Tenbruggen's
proceedings；　with　a　vigilance　not　attainable　by　the　coarser
observation　of　a　man。　In　the　event；　of　an　improvement　in　the
Minister's　health；　I　should　hear　of　it　both　from　the　doctor　and
from　Miss　Jillgall；　and　in　that　case　I　should　instantly　return　to
my　unhappy　friend　and　put　him　on　his　guard。

I　started　for　London　by　the　early　train　in　the　morning。

My　way　home　from　the　terminus　took　me　past　the　hotel　at　which　the
elder　Mr。　Dunboyne　was　staying。　I　called　on　him。　He　was　reported
to　be　engaged；　that　is　to　say；　immersed　in　his　books。　The　address
on　one　of　Philip's　letters　had　informed　me　that　he　was　staying　at
another　hotel。　Pursuing　my　inquiries　in　this　direction；　I　met
with　a　severe　disappointment。　Mr。　Philip　Dunboyne　had　left　the
hotel　that　morning；　for　what　destination　neither　the　landlord　nor
the　waiter　could　tell　me。

The　next　day's　post　brought　with　it　the　information　which　I　had
failed　to　obtain。　Miss　Jillgall　wrote；　infor　ming　me　in　her
strongest　language　that　Philip　Dunboyne　had　returned　to　Helena。
Indignant　Selina　added：　〃Helena　means　to　make　him　marry　her；　and
I　promise　you　she　shall　fail；　if　I　can　stop　it。〃

In　taking　leave　of　Eunice；　I　had　given　her　my　address；　had　warned
her　to　be　careful；　if　she　and　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　happened　to　meet
again；　and　had　begged　her　to　write　to　me；　or　to　come　to　me；　if
anything　happened　to　alarm　her　in　my　absence。

In　two　days　more；　I　received　a　line　from　Eunice；　written
evidently　in　the　greatest　agitation。

〃Philip　has　discovered　me。　He　has　been　here；　and　has　insisted　on
seeing　me。　I　have　refused。　The　good　farmer　has　so　kindly　taken　my
part。　I　can　write　no　more。〃


CHAPTER　L。

THE　NEWS　FROM　THE　FARM。


WHEN　I　next　heard　from　Miss　Jillgall；　the　introductory　part　of
her　letter　merely　reminded　me　that　Philip　Dunboyne　was
established　in　the　town；　and　that　Helena　was　in　daily
communication　with　him。　I　shall　do　Selina　no　injustice　if　my
extract　begins　with　her　second　page。

〃You　will　sympathize；　I　am　sure〃　（she　writes）；　〃with　the
indignation　which　urged　me　to　call　on　Philip；　and　tell　him　the
way　to　the　farmhouse。　Think　of　Helena　being　determined　to　marry
him；　whether　he　wants　to　or　not！　I　am　afraid　this　is　bad　grammar。
But　there　are　occasions　when　even　a　cultivated　lady　fails　in　her
grammar；　and　almost　envies　the　men　their　privilege　of　swearing
when　they　are　in　a　rage。　My　state　of　mind　is　truly　indescribable。
Grief　mingles　with　anger；　when　I　tell　you　that　my　sweet　Euneece
has　disappointed　me；　for　the　first　time　since　I　had　the　happiness
of　knowing　and　admiring　her。　What　can　have　been　the　motive　of　her
refusal　to　receive　her　penitent　lover？　Is　it　pride？　We　are　told
that　Satan　fell　through　pride。　Euneece　satanic？　Impossible！　I
feel　inclined　to　go　and　ask　her　what　has　hardened　her　heart
against　a　poor　young　man　who　bitterly　regrets　his　own　folly。　Do
you　think　it　was　bad　advice　from　the　farmer　or　his　wife？　In　that
case；　I　shall　exert　my　influence；　and　take　her　away。　You　would　do
the　same；　wouldn't　you？

〃I　am　ashamed　to　mention　the　poor　dear　Minister　in　a　postscript。
The　truth　is；　I　don't　very　well　know　what　I　am　about。　Mr。
Gracedieu　is　quiet；　sleeps　better　than　he　did；　eats　with　a　keener
appetite；　gives　no　trouble。　But；　alas；　that　glorious　intellect　is
in　a　state　of　eclipse！　Do　not　suppose；　because　I　write
figuratively；　that　I　am　not　sorry　for　him。　He　understands
nothing；　he　remembers　nothing；　he　has　my　prayers。

〃You　might　come　to　us　again；　if　you　would　only　be　so　kind。　It
would　make　no　difference　now；　the　poor　man　is　so　sadly　altered。　I
must　add；　most　reluctantly；　that　the　doctor　recommends　your
staying　at　home。　Between　ourselves；　he　is　little　better　than　a
coward。　Fancy　his　saying；　'No；　we　must　not　run　that　risk　yet。'　I
am　barely　civil　to　him；　and　no　more。

〃In　any　other　affair　（excuse　me　for　troubling　you　with　a　second
postscript）；　my　sympathy　with　Euneece　would　have　penetrated　her
motives；　I　should　have　felt　with　her　feelings。　But　I　have　never
been　in　love；　no　gentleman　gave　me　the　opportunity　when　I　was
young。　Now　I　am　middle…aged；　neglect　has　done　its　dreary　workmy
heart　is　an　extinct　crater。　Figurative　again！　I　had　better　put　my
pen　away；　and　say　farewell　for　the　present。〃

Miss　Jillgall　may　now　give　place　to　Eunice。　The　same　day's　post
brought　me　both　letters。

I　should　be　unworthy　indeed　of　the　trust　which　this　affectionate
girl　has　placed　in　me；　if　I　failed　to　receive　her　explanation　of
her　conduct　toward　Philip　Dunboyne；　as　a　sacred　secret　confided
to　my　fatherly　regard。　In　those　later　portions　of　her　letter；
which　are　not　addressed　to　me　confidentially；　Eunice　writes　as
follows：


〃I　get　newsand　what　heartbreaking　news！of　my　father；　by
sending　a　messenger　to　Selina。　It　is　more　than　ever　impossible
that　I　can　put　myself　in　the　way　of　seeing　Helena　again。　She　has
written　to　me　about　Philip；　in　a　tone　so　shockingly　insolent　and
cruel；　that　I　have　destroyed　her　letter。　Philip's　visit　to　the
farm；　discovered　I　don't　know　how；　seems　to　have　infuriated　her。
She　accuses　me　of　doing　all　that　she　might　herself　have　done　in
my　place；　and　threatens　meNo！　I　am　afraid　of　the　wicked
whisperings　of　that　second　self　of　mine　if　I　think　of　it。　They
were　near　to　tempting　me　when　I　read　Helena's　letter。　But　I
thought　of　what　you　said；　after　I　had　shown　you　my　Journal；　and
your　words　took　my　memory　back　to　the　days　when　I　was　happy　with
Philip。　The　trial　and　the　terror　passed　away。

〃Consolation　has　come　to　me　from　the　best　of　good　women。　Mrs。
Staveley　writes　as　lovingly　as　my　mother　might　have　written；　if
death　had　spared　her。　I　have　replied　with　all　the　gratitude　that
I　really　feel；　but　without　taking　advantage　of　the　services　which
she　offers。　Mrs。　Staveley　has　it　in　her　mind；　as　you　had　it　in
your　mind；　to　bring　Philip　back　to　me。　Does　she　forget；　do　you
forget；　that　Helena　claims　him？　But　you　both　mean　kindly；　and　I
love　you　both　for　the　interest　that　you　feel　in　me。

〃The　farmer's　wifedear　good　soul！hardly　understands　me　so
well　as　her　husband　does。　She　confesses　to　pitying　Philip。　'He　is
so　wretched；'　she　says。　'And；　dear　heart；　how　handsome；　and　what
nice；　winning　manners！　I　don't　think　I　should　have　had　your
courage；　in　your　place。　To　tell　the　truth；　I　should　have　jumped
for　joy　when　I　saw　him　at　the　door；　and　I　should　have　run　down　to
let　him　inand　perhaps　been　sorry　for　it　afterward。　If　you
really　wish　to　forget　him；　my　dear；　I　will　do　all　I　can　to　help
you。'

〃These　are　trifling　things　to　mention；　but　I　am　afraid　you　may
think　I　am　unhappyand　I　want　to　prevent　that。

〃I　have　so　much　to　be　thankful　for；　and　the　children　are　so　fond
of　me。　Whether　I　teach　them　as　well　as　I　might　have　done；　if　I
had　been　a　more　learned　girl；　may　perhaps　be　doubtful。　They　do
more　for　their　governess；　I　am　afraid；