Ididnotraisemyeyes，butIsupposemammalooked，foraclear，melodiousvoice，whosetonesthrilledthroughmynerves，exclaimed——
`Oh，aunt！here’sMr。Markham——Arthur’sfriend！——Stop，Richard！’
Therewassuchevidenceofjoyousthoughsuppressedexcitementintheutteranceofthosefewwords——especiallythattremulous，`Oh，aunt——’
thatitthrewmealmostoffmyguard。Thecarriagestoppedimmediately，andIlookedupandmettheeyeofapale，grave，elderlyladysurveyingmefromtheopenwindow。ShebowedandsodidI，andthenshewithdrewherhead，whileArthurscreamedtothefootmantolethimout；butbeforethatfunctionarycoulddescendfromhisbox，ahandwassilentlyputforthfromthecarriagewindow。Iknewthathand，thoughablackgloveconcealeditsdelicatewhitenessandhalfitsfairproportions，andquicklyseizingit，Ipresseditinmyown——ardentlyforamoment，butinstantlyrecollectingmyself，Idroppedit，anditwasimmediatelywithdrawn。
`Wereyoucomingtoseeus，oronlypassingby？’askedthelowvoiceofitsowner，who，Ifelt，wasattentivelysurveyingmycountenancefrombehindthethick，blackveilwhichwiththeshadowingpanels，entirelyconcealedherownfromme。
`I——Icametoseetheplace，’falteredI。
`Theplace，’repeatedshe，inatonewhichbetokenedmoredispleasureordisappointmentthansurprise。`Willyounotenteritthen？’
`Ifyouwishit。’
`Canyoudoubt？’
`Yes，yes！hemustenter，’criedArthurrunningroundfromtheotherdoor；andseizingmyhandinbothhis，heshookitheartily。
`Doyourememberme，sir？’saidhe。
`Yes，fullwell，mylittleman，alteredthoughyouare，’repliedI，surveyingthecomparativelytall，slimyounggentlemanwithhismother’simagevisiblystampeduponhisfair，intelligentfeatures，inspiteoftheblueeyesbeamingwithgladness，andthebrightlocksclusteringbeneathhiscap。
`AmInotgrown？’saidhe，stretchinghimselfuptohisfullheight。
`Grown！threeinchesuponmyword！’
`Iwassevenlastbirthday，’wastheproudrejoinder。`Insevenyearsmore，Ishallbeastallasyou，nearly。’
`Arthur，’saidhismother，`tellhimtocomein。GoonRichard。’
Therewasatouchofsadnessaswellascoldnessinhervoice，butIknewnottowhattoascribeit。Thecarriagedroveonandenteredthegatesbeforeus。Mylittlecompanionledmeupthepark，discoursingmerrilyalltheway。ArrivedattheHalldoor，Ipausedonthestepsandlookedroundme，waitingtorecovermycomposure，ifpossible——oratanyrate，toremembermynew-formedresolutionsandtheprinciplesonwhichtheywerefounded；anditwasnottillArthurhadbeenforsometimegentlypullingmycoat，andrepeatinghisinvitationstoenter，thatIatlengthconsentedtoaccompanyhimintotheapartmentwheretheladiesawaitedus。
HeleneyedmeasIenteredwithakindofgentle，seriousscrutinyandpolitelyaskedafterMrs。MarkhamandRose。Irespectfullyansweredherenquiries。Mrs。Maxwellbeggedmetobeseated，observingitwasrathercold，butshesupposedIhadnottravelledfarthatmorning。
`Notquitetwentymiles，’Ianswered。
`Notonfoot！’
`No，Madam，bycoach。’
`Here’sRachel，sir，’saidArthur，theonlytrulyhappyoneamongstus，directingmyattentiontothatworthyindividual，whohadjustenteredtotakehermistress’sthings。Shevouchsafedmeanalmostfriendlysmileofrecognitionsfavourthatdemanded，atleast，acivilsalutationonmypart，whichwasaccordinglygivenandrespectivelyreturned——shehadseentheerrorofherformerestimationofmycharacter。
WhenHelenwasdivestedofherlugubriousbonnetandveil，herheavywintercloak&；c。shelookedsolikeherselfthatIknewnothowtobearit。Iwasparticularlygladtoseeherbeautifulblackhairunstintedstillandunconcealedinitsglossyluxuriance。
`Mammahasleftoffherwidow’scapinhonourofuncle’smarriage，’
observedArthur，readingmylookswithachild’smingledsimplicityandquicknessofobservation。MammalookedgraveandMrs。Maxwellshookherhead。`AndauntMaxwellisnevergoingtoleaveoffhers，’persistedthenaughtyboy；butwhenhesawthathispertnesswasseriouslydispleasingandpainfultohisaunt，hewentandsilentlyputhisarmroundherneck，kissedhercheek，andwithdrewtotherecessofoneofthegreatbaywindows，wherehequietlyamusedhimselfwithhisdogwhileMrs。Maxwellgravelydiscussedwithmetheinterestingtopicsoftheweather，theseason，andtheroads。Iconsideredherpresenceveryusefulasacheckuponmynaturalimpulses——anantidotetothoseemotionsoftumultuousexcitementwhichwouldotherwisehavecarriedmeawayagainstmyreasonandmywill，butjustthenIfelttherestraintalmostintolerable，andIhadthegreatestdifficultyinforcingmyselftoattendtoherremarksandanswerthemwithordinarypoliteness；forIwassensiblethatHelenwasstandingwithinafewfeetofmebesidethefire。Idarednotlookather，butIfelthereyewasuponme，andfromonehasty，furtiveglance，Ithoughthercheekwasslightlyflushed，andthatherfingers，assheplayedwithherwatchchain，wereagitatedwiththatrestless，tremblingmotionwhichbetokenshighexcitement。
`Tellme，’saidshe，availingherselfofthefirstpauseintheattemptedconversationbetweenherauntandme，andspeakingfastandlowwithhereyesbentonthegoldchain——forInowventuredanotherglance——`TellmehowyouallareatLindenhope？——hasnothinghappenedsinceIleftyou？’
`Ibelievenot。’
`Nobodydead？nobodymarried？’
`No。’
`Or——orexpectingtomarry？——Nooldtiesdissolvedornewonesformed？nooldfriendsforgottenorsupplanted？’
Shedroppedhervoicesolowinthelastsentencethatnoonecouldhavecaughttheconcludingwordsbutmyself，andatthesametimeturnedhereyesuponmewithadawningsmile，mostsweetlymelancholy，andalookoftimidthoughkeenenquirythatmademycheekstinglewithinexpressibleemotions。
`Ibelievenot，’Ianswered——`Certainlynot，ifothersareaslittlechangedasI。’Herfaceglowedinsympathywithmine。
`Andyoureallydidnotmeantocall？’sheexclaimed。
`Ifearedtointrude。’
`Tointrude！’criedshewithanimpatientgesture——`What’——butasifsuddenlyrecollectingheraunt’spresence，shecheckedherselfandturningtothatladycontinued——`Whyaunt，thismanismybrother’sclosefriendandwasmyownintimateacquaintanceforafewshortmonthsatleast，andprofessedagreatattachmenttomyboy——andwhenhepassesthehouse，somanyscoresofmilesfromhishome，hedeclinestolookinforfearofintruding！’
`Mr。Markhamisovermodest，’observedMrs。Maxwell。
`Overceremoniousrather，’saidherniece——`over——well，it’snomatter。’Andturningfromme，sheseatedherselfinachairbesidethetable，andpullingabooktoherbythecover，begantoturnovertheleavesinanenergetickindofabstraction。
`IfIhadknown，’saidI，`thatyouwouldhavehonouredmebyrememberingmeasanintimateacquaintance，Imostlikelyshouldnothavedeniedmyselfthepleasureofcallinguponyou，butIthoughtyouhadforgottenmelongago。’
`Youjudgedofothersbyyourself，’mutteredshewithoutraisinghereyesfromthebook，butreddeningasshespokeandhastilyturningoveradozenleavesatonce。
TherewasapauseofwhichArthurthoughthemightventuretoavailhimselftointroducehishandsomeyoungsetterandshowmehowwonderfullyitwasgrownandimproved，andtoaskafterthewelfareofitsfatherSancho。
Mrs。Maxwellthenwithdrewtotakeoffherthings。Helenimmediatelypushedthebookfromherandaftersilentlysurveyingherson，hisfriend，andhisdogforafewmoments，shedismissedtheformerfromtheroomunderpretenceofwishinghimtofetchhislastnewbooktoshewme。Thechildobeyedwithalacrity；butIcontinuedcaressingthedog。Thesilencemighthavelastedtillitsmaster’sreturnhaditdependedonmetobreakit，but，inhalfaminuteorless，myhostessimpatientlyrose，andtakingherformerstationontherugbetweenmeandthechimneycorner，earnestlyexclaimed——
`Gilbert，whatisthematterwithyou？——whyareyousochanged？——ItisaveryindiscreetquestionIknow，’shehastenedtoadd：`perhaps，averyrudeone——don’tansweritifyouthinkso——outIhatemysteriesandconcealments。’
`Iamnotchanged——Helen——unfortunatelyIamaskeenandpassionateasever——itisnotI，itiscircumstancesthatarechanged。’
`Whatcircumstances？Dotellme！’Hercheekwasblanchedwiththeveryanguishofanxiety——coulditbewiththefearthatIhadrashlypledgedmyfaithtoanother？
`I’lltellyouatonce，’saidI。`IwillconfessthatIcamehereforthepurposeofseeingyounotwithoutsomemonitorymisgivingsatmyownpresumption，andfearsthatIshouldbeaslittlewelcomeasexpectedwhenIcame，butIdidnotknowthatthisestatewasyours，untilenlightenedonthesubjectofyourinheritancebytheconversationoftwofellowpassengersinthelaststageofmyjourney；andthen，IsawatoncethefollyofthehopesIhadcherishedandthemadnessofretainingthemamomentlonger；
andthoughIalightedatyourgates，Ideterminednottoenterwithinthem；
Ilingeredafewminutestoseetheplace，butwasfullyresolvedtoreturntoM——withoutseeingitsmistress。’
`AndifmyauntandIhadnotbeenjustreturningfromourmorningdrive，Ishouldhaveseenandheardnomoreofyou？’
`Ithoughtitwouldbebetterforboththatweshouldnotmeet，’
repliedIascalmlyasIcould，butnotdaringtospeakabovemybreathfromconsciousinabilitytosteadymyvoice，andnotdaringtolookinherfacelestmyfirmnessshouldforsakemealtogether：`Ithoughtaninterviewwouldonlydisturbyourpeaceandmaddenme。ButIamglad，now，ofthisopportunityofseeingyouoncemoreandknowingthatyouhavenotforgottenme，andofassuringyouthatIshallneverceasetorememberyou。’
Therewasamoment’spause。Mrs。Huntingdonmovedaway，andstoodintherecessofthewindow。Didsheregardthisasanintimationthatmodestyalonepreventedmefromaskingherhand？andwassheconsideringhowtorepulsemewiththesmallestinjurytomyfeelings？BeforeIcouldspeaktorelieveherfromsuchaperplexity，shebrokethesilenceherselfbysuddenlyturningtowardsmeandobserving`Youmighthavehadsuchanopportunitybefore——asfarImeanasregardsassuringmeofyourkindlyrecollections，andyourselfofmine，ifyouhadwrittentome。’
`Iwouldhavedoneso，butIdidnotknowyouraddress，anddidnotliketoaskyourbrother，becauseIthoughthewouldobjecttomywriting——butthiswouldnothavedeterredmeforamoment，ifIcouldhaveventuredtobelievethatyouexpectedtohearfromme，orevenwastedathoughtuponyourunhappyfriend；butyoursilencenaturallyledmetoconcludemyselfforgotten。
`Didyouexpectmetowritetoyouthen？’
`No，Helen——Mrs。Huntingdon，’saidI，blushingattheimpliedimputation，`certainlynot；butifyouhadsentmeamessagethroughyourbrother，orevenaskedhimaboutmenowandthen——’
`Ididaskaboutyou，frequently。Iwasnotgoingtodomore，’
continuedshe，smiling，`solongasyoucontinuedtorestrictyourselftoafewpoliteenquiriesaboutmyhealth。’
`Yourbrothernevertoldmethatyouhadmentionedmyname。
`Didyoueveraskhim？’
`No；forIsawhedidnotwishtobequestionedaboutyou，ortoaffordtheslightestencouragementorassistancetomytooobstinateattachment。’Helendidnotreply。`Andhewasperfectlyright，’addedI。
Butsheremainedinsilencelookingoutuponthesnowylawn。`Oh，Iwillrelieveherofmypresence！’thoughtI；andimmediatelyIroseandadvancedtotakeleave，withamostheroicresolution——butpridewasatthebottomofit，oritcouldnothavecarriedmethrough。
`Areyougoingalready？’saidshe，takingthehandIoffered，andnotimmediatelylettingitgo。
`WhyshouldIstayanylonger？’
`WaittillArthurcomes，atleast。’
Onlytoogladtoobey，Istoodandleantagainsttheoppositesideofthewindow。
`Youtoldmeyouwerenotchanged，’saidmycompanion：youare——verymuchso。’
`No，Mrs。Huntingdon，Ionlyoughttobe。’
`Doyoumeantomaintainthatyouhavethesameregardformethatyouhadwhenlastwemet？’