Myfathergavemehisarm，andwewalkedslowlyupanddownthelawn。
\"Whenthatladycalledonmeyesterday，\"hebegan，\"youwantedtoknowwhoshewas，andyouweresurprisedanddisappointedwhenI
refusedtogratifyyourcuriosity。Mysilencewasnotaselfishsilence，Helena。Iwasthinkingofyouandyoursister；andIwasatalosshowtoactforthebest。Youshallhearwhymychildrenwereinmymind，presently。ImusttellyoufirstthatIhavearrivedatadecision；Ihopeandbelieveonreasonablegrounds。
Askmeanyquestionsyouplease；mysilencewillbenolongeranobstacleinyourway。\"
ThiswassoveryencouragingthatIsaidatonce：\"Ishouldliketoknowwhotheladyis。\"
\"Theladyisrelatedtome，\"heanswered。\"Wearecousins。\"
HerewasadisclosurethatIhadnotanticipated。InthelittlethatIhaveseenoftheworld，Ihaveobservedthatcousins——whentheyhappentobebroughttogetherunderinterestingcircumstances——canremembertheirrelationship，andforgettheirrelationship，justasitsuitsthem。\"Isyourcousinamarriedlady？\"Iventuredtoinquire。
\"No。\"
Shortasitwas，thatreplymightperhapsmeanmorethanappearedonthesurface。Thecookhadheardtheladycrying。Whatsortoftenderagitationwasanswerableforthosetears？Wasitpossible，barelypossible，thatEuniceandImightgotobed，onenight，awidower’sdaughters，andwakeupthenextdaytodiscoverastepmother？
\"HaveIormysistereverseenthelady？\"Iasked。
\"Never。Shehasbeenlivingabroad；andIhavenotseenhermyselfsincewewerebothyoungpeople。\"
Myexcellentinnocentfather！NotthefaintestideaofwhatIhadbeenthinkingofwasinhismind。Littledidhesuspecthowwelcomewasthereliefthathehadaffordedtohisdaughter’swickeddoubtsofhim。Buthehadnotsaidawordyetabouthiscousin’spersonalappearance。Theremightberemainsofgoodlookswhichthehousemaidwastoostupidtodiscover。
\"Afterthelongintervalthathaspassedsinceyoumet，\"Isaid，\"Isupposeshehasbecomeanoldwoman？\"
\"No，mydear。Letussay，amiddle—agedwoman。\"
\"Perhapssheisstillanattractiveperson？\"
Hesmiled。\"Iamafraid，Helena，thatwouldneverhavebeenaveryaccuratedescriptionofher。\"
InowknewallthatIwantedtoknowaboutthisalarmingperson，exceptingonelastmorselofinformationwhichmyfatherhadstrangelyforgotten。
\"Wehavebeentalkingabouttheladyforsometime，\"Isaid；\"andyouhavenotyettoldmehername。\"
Fatherlookedalittleembarrassed\"It’snotaveryprettyname，\"
heanswered。\"Mycousin，myunfortunatecousin，is——MissJillgall。\"
Iburstoutwithsuchaloud\"Oh！\"thathelaughed。Icaughttheinfection，andlaughedlouderstill。BlessMissJillgall！Theinterviewpromisedtobecomeaneasyoneforbothofus，thankstohername。Iwasingoodspirits，andImadenoattempttorestrainthem。\"ThenexttimeMissJillgallhonorsyouwithavisit，\"Isaid，\"youmustgivemeanopportunityofbeingpresentedtoher。\"
Hemadeastrangereply：\"Youmayfindyouropportunity，Helena，soonerthanyouanticipate。\"
Didthismeanthatshewasgoingtocallagaininadayortwo？I
amafraidIspokeflippantly。Isaid：\"Oh，father，anotherladyfascinatedbythepopularpreacher？\"
Thegardenchairswerenearus。Hesignedtomegravelytobeseatedbyhisside，andsaidtohimself：\"Thisismyfault。\"
\"Whatisyourfault？\"Iasked。
\"Ihaveleftyouinignorance，mydear，ofmycousin’ssadstory。
Itissoontold；and，ifitchecksyourmerriment，itwillmakeamendsbydeservingyoursympathy。Iwasindebtedtoherfather，whenIwasaboy，foractsofkindnesswhichIcanneverforget。
Hewastwicemarried。Thedeathofhisfirstwifelefthimwithonechild——oncemyplayfellow；nowtheladywhosevisithasexcitedyourcuriosity。HissecondwifewasaBelgian。ShepersuadedhimtosellhisbusinessinLondon，andtoinvestthemoneyinapartnershipwithabrotherofhers，establishedasasugar—refineratAntwerp。ThelittledaughteraccompaniedherfathertoBelgium。Areyouattendingtome，Helena？\"
Iwaswaitingfortheinterestingpartofthestory，andwaswonderingwhenhewouldgettoit。
\"Astimewenton，\"heresumed，\"thenewpartnerfoundthatthevalueofthebusinessatAntwerphadbeengreatlyoverrated。
Afteralongstrugglewithadversecircumstances，hedecidedonwithdrawingfromthepartnershipbeforethewholeofhiscapitalwaslostinafailingcommercialspeculation。Theendofitwasthatheretired，withhisdaughter，toasmalltowninEastFlanders；thewreckofhispropertyhavinglefthimwithanincomeofnomorethantwohundredpoundsayear。\"
IshowedmyfatherthatIwasattendingtohimnow，byinquiringwhathadbecomeoftheBelgianwife。Thosenervousquiverings，whichEunicehasmentionedinherdiary，begantoappearinhisface。
\"Itistooshamefulastory，\"hesaid，\"tobetoldtoayounggirl。Themarriagewasdissolvedbylaw；andthewifewasthepersontoblame。Iamsure，Helena，youdon’twishtohearanymoreof_this_partofthestory。\"
Ididwish。ButIsawthatheexpectedmetosayNo——soIsaidit。
\"Thefatheranddaughter，\"hewenton，\"neversomuchasthoughtofreturningtotheirowncountry。TheyweretoopoortolivecomfortablyinEngland。InBelgiumtheirincomewassufficientfortheirwants。Onthefather’sdeath，thedaughterremainedinthetown。Shehadfriendsthere，andfriendsnowhereelse；andshemighthavelivedabroadtotheendofherdays，butforacalamitytowhichweareallliable。Alongandseriousillnesscompletelyprostratedher。Skilledmedicalattendance，costinglargesumsofmoneyforthedoctors’travelingexpenses，wasimperativelyrequired。Experiencednurses，summonedfromadistanthospital，wereinattendancenightandday。Luxuries，farbeyondthereachofherlittleincome，wereabsolutelyrequiredtosupportherwastedstrengthatthetimeofhertediousrecovery。Inoneword，herresourcesweresadlydiminished，whenthepoorcreaturehadpaidherdebts，andhadregainedherholdonlife。Atthattime，sheunhappilymetwiththemanwhohasruinedher。\"
Itwasgettinginterestingatlast。\"Ruinedher？\"Irepeated。\"Doyoumeanthatherobbedher？\"
\"That，Helena，isexactlywhatImean——andmanyandmanyahelplesswomanhasbeenrobbedinthesameway。ThemanofwhomI
amnowspeakingwasalawyerinlargepractice。Heboreanexcellentcharacter，andwashighlyrespectedforhisexemplarylife。Mycousin（notatalladiscreetperson，Iamboundtoadmit）wasinducedtoconsulthimonherpecuniaryaffairs。Heexpressedthemostgeneroussympathy——offeredtoemployherlittlecapitalinhisbusiness——andpledgedhimselftopayherdoubletheinterestforhermoney，whichshehadbeeninthehabitofreceivingfromthesoundinvestmentchosenbyherfather。\"
\"Andofcoursehegotthemoney，andneverpaidtheinterest？\"
Eagertoheartheend，Iinterruptedthestoryinthoseinconsideratewords。Myfather’sanswerquietlyreprovedme。
\"Hepaidtheinterestregularlyaslongashelived。\"
\"Andwhathappenedwhenhedied？\"
\"Hediedabankrupt；thesecretprofligacyofhislifewasatlastexposed。Nothing，actuallynothing，wasleftforhiscreditors。Theunfortunatecreature，whoseuglynamehasamusedyou，mustgethelpsomewhere，ormustgototheworkhouse。\"
IfIhadbeeninastateofmindtoattendtotrifles，thiswouldhaveexplainedthereasonwhythecookhadheardMissJillgallcrying。Buttheprospectbeforeme——theunendurableprospectofhavingastrangewomaninthehouse——hadshoweditselftooplainlytobemistaken。Icouldthinkofnothingelse。WithinfinitedifficultyIassumedamomentaryappearanceofcomposure，andsuggestedthatMissJillgall’sforeignfriendsmighthavedonesomethingtohelpher。
Myfatherdefendedherforeignfriends。\"Mydear，theywerepoorpeople，anddidalltheycouldaffordtodo。Butfortheirkindness，mycousinmightnothavebeenabletoreturntoEngland。\"
\"Andtocastherselfonyourmercy，\"Iadded，\"inthecharacterofahelplesswoman。\"
\"No，Helena！Nottocastherselfonmymercy——buttofindmyhouseopentoher，asherfather’shousewasopentomeinthebygonetime。Iamheronlysurvivingrelative；and，whileIlive，sheshallnotbeahelplesswoman。\"
IbegantowishthatIhadnotspokenoutsoplainly。Myfather’ssweettemper——IdososincerelywishIhadinheritedit！——madethekindestallowancesforme。
\"Iunderstandthemomentarybitternessoffeelingthathasescapedyou，\"hesaid；\"ImayalmostsaythatIexpectedit。MyonlyhesitationinthismatterhasbeencausedbymysenseofwhatIowetomychildren。Itwasputtingyourendurance，andyoursister’sendurance，toatrialtoexpectyoutoreceiveastranger（andthatstrangernotayounggirllikeyourselves）asoneofthehousehold，livingwithyouintheclosestintimacyoffamilylife。Theconsiderationwhichhasdecidedmedoesjustice，Ihope，toyouandEunice，aswellastomyself。Ithinkthatsomeallowanceisduefrommydaughterstothefatherwhohasalwaysmadelovingallowancefor_them。_AmIwronginbelievingthatmygoodchildrenhavenotforgottenthis，andhaveonlywaitedfortheoccasiontofeelthepleasureofrewardingme？\"
Itwasbeautifullyput。Therewasbutonethingtobedone——I
kissedhim。Andtherewasbutonethingtobesaid。IaskedatwhattimewemightexpecttoreceiveMissJillgall。
\"Sheisstaying，Helena，atasmallhotelinthetown。Ihavealreadysenttosaythatwearewaitingtoseeher。Perhapsyouwilllookatthesparebedroom？\"
\"Itshallbegotready，father，directly。\"
Iranintothehouse；IrushedupstairsintotheroomthatisEunice’sandmine；Ilockedthedoor，andthenIgavewaytomyrage，beforeitstifledme。Istampedonthefloor，Iclinchedmyfists，Icastmyselfonthebed，IreviledthathatefulwomanbyeveryhardwordthatIcouldthrowather。Oh，theluxuryofit！
theluxuryofit！
Coldwaterandmyhairbrushsoonmademefittobeseenagain。
Asforthespareroom，itlookedagreatdealtoocomfortableforanincubusfromforeignparts。TheoneimprovementthatIcouldhavemade，ifafriendofminehadbeenexpected，wassuggestedbythewindow—curtains。Iwaslookingatatornplaceinoneofthem，anddeterminedtoleaveitunrepaired，whenIfeltanarmslippedroundmywaistfrombehind。Avoice，soclosethatittickledmyneck，said：\"Deargirl，whatfriendsweshallbe！\"I
turnedround，andconfrontedMissJillgall。
CHAPTERXV。
HELENA’SDIARY。
IFIamnotagoodgirl，whereisagoodgirltobefound？ThisisinEunice’sstyle。Itsometimesamusesmetomimicmysimplesister。
Ihavejusttornthreepagesoutofmydiary，indeferencetotheexpressionofmyfather’swishes。Hetookthefirstopportunitywhichhiscousinpermittedhimtoenjoyofspeakingtomeprivately；andhisobjectwastocautionmeagainsthastilyrelyingonfirstimpressionsofanybody——especiallyofMissJillgall。\"Waitforadayortwo，\"hesaid；\"andthenformyourestimateofthenewmemberofourhousehold。\"
Thestormystateofmytemperhadpassedaway，andhadleftmyatmospherecalmagain。IcouldfeelthatIhadreceivedgoodadvice；butunluckilyitreachedmetoolate。
IhadformedmyestimateofMissJillgall，andhadputitinwritingformyownsatisfaction，atleastanhourbeforemyfatherfoundhimselfatlibertytospeaktome。Idon’tagreewithhimindistrustingfirstimpressions；andIhadproposedtoputmyopiniontothetest，byreferringtowhatIhadwrittenabouthiscousinatalatertime。However，afterwhathehadsaidtome，Ifeltboundinfilialdutytotakethepagesoutofmybook，andtolettwodayspassbeforeIpresumedtoenjoytheluxuryofhatingMissJillgall。
OnonethingIamdetermined：Euniceshallnotformahastyopinion，either。Sheshallundergothesameseveredisciplineofself—restrainttowhichhersisterisobligedtosubmit。Letusbejust，assomebodysays，beforewearegenerous。Nomoreforto—day。
Iopenmydiaryagain——aftertheprescribedintervalhaselapsed。
Thefirstimpressionproducedonmebythenewmemberofourhouseholdremainsentirelyunchanged。
HaveIalreadymadetheremarkthat，whenoneremovesapagefromabook，itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatonedestroysthepageafterward？ordidIleavethistobeinferred？Ineithercase，mycourseofproceedingwasthesame。Iorderedsomepastetobemade。ThenIunlockedadrawer，andfoundmypoorill—usedleaves，andputthembackinmyJournal。Anactofjusticeissurelynotthelesspraiseworthybecauseitisanactofjusticedonetoone’sself。
Myfatherhasoftentoldmethathereviseshiswritingsonreligioussubjects。Imayharmlesslyimitatethatgoodexample，byrevisingmyrestoredentry。Itisnowasufficientlyremarkableperformancetobedistinguishedbyatitle。Letmecallit：
ImpressionsofMissJillgall。
Myfirstimpressionwasastrongone——itwasproducedbythestateofthislady’sbreath。Inotherwords，Iwasobligedtoletherkissme。Itisadutytobeconsideratetowardhumaninfirmity。IwillonlysaythatIthoughtIshouldhavefainted。
Mysecondimpressiondrawsaportrait，andproducesastrikinglikeness。
Figure，littleandlean——hairofadirtydrabcolorwhichweseeinstring——smalllightgrayeyes，slyandrestless，anddeeplysunkinthehead——prominentcheekbones，andafloridcomplexion——aninquisitivenose，turningupattheend——alargemouthandaservilesmile——raw—lookinghands，decoratedwithblackmittens——amisfittingwhitejacketandalimpskirt——mannersfamiliar——tempercleverlyhidden——voicetooirritatingtobementioned。Whoseportraitisthis？ItistheportraitofMissJillgall，takeninwords。
Hertruecharacterisnoteasytodiscover；Isuspectthatitwillonlyshowitselflittlebylittle。Thatsheisabornmeddlerinotherpeople’saffairs，IthinkIcanseealready。I
alsofoundoutthatshetrustedtoflatteryastheeasiestmeansofmakingherselfagreeable。Shetriedherfirstexperimentonmyself。
\"Youcharminggirl，\"shebegan，\"yourbrightfaceencouragesmetoaskafavor。Praymakemeuseful！Theoneaspirationofmylifeistobeuseful。Unlessyouemploymeinthatway，Ihavenorighttointrudemyselfintoyourfamilycircle。Yes，yes，Iknowthatyourfatherhasopenedhishouseandhishearttome。ButI
darenotfoundanyclaim——yournameisHelena，isn’tit？DearHelena，IdarenotfoundanyclaimonwhatIowetoyourfather’skindness。\"
\"Whynot？\"Iinquired。
\"Becauseyourfatherisnotaman——\"
Iwasrudeenoughtointerrupther：\"Whatishe，then？\"
\"Anangel，\"MissJillgallanswered，solemnly。\"Adestituteearthlycreaturelikememustnotlookupashighasyourfather。
Imightbedazzled。\"
ThiswasrathermorethanIcouldendurepatiently。\"Letustry，\"
Isuggested，\"ifwecan’tunderstandeachother，atstarting。\"
MissJillgall’slittleeyestwinkledintheirbonycaverns。\"TheverythingIwasgoingtopropose！\"sheburstout。
\"Verywell，\"Iwenton；\"then，letmetellyouplainlythatflatteryisnotrelishedinthishouse。\"
\"Flattery？\"Sheputherhandtoherheadassherepeatedtheword，andlookedquitebewildered。\"DearHelena，IhavelivedallmylifeinEastFlanders，andmyownlanguageisoccasionallystrangetome。CanyoutellmewhatflatteryisinFlemish？\"
\"Idon’tunderstandFlemish。\"
\"Howveryprovoking！Youdon’tunderstandFlemish，andIdon’tunderstandFlattery。Ishouldsoliketoknowwhatitmeans。Ah，Iseebooksinthislovelyroom。Isthereadictionaryamongthem？\"Shedartedtothebookcase，anddiscoveredadictionary。
\"NowIshallunderstandFlattery，\"sheremarked——\"andthenweshallunderstandeachother。Oh，letmefinditformyself！\"Sheranherrawredfingeralongthealphabeticalheadingsatthetopofeachpage。\"’FAD。’Thatwon’tdo。’FIE。’Furtheronstill。
’FLE。’Toofartheotherway。’FLA。’Hereweare！’Flattery：
Falsepraise。Commendationbestowedforthepurposeofgainingfavorandinfluence。’Oh，Helena，howcruelofyou！\"Shedroppedthebook，andsankintoachair——thepicture，ifsuchathingcanbe，ofabroken—heartedoldmaid。
Ishouldmostassuredlyhavetakentheopportunityofleavinghertoherowndevices，ifIhadbeenfreetoactasIpleased。Butmyinterestsasadaughterforbademetomakeanenemyofmyfather’scousin，onthefirstdaywhenshehadenteredthehouse。
Imadeanapology，veryneatlyexpressed。
Shejumpedup——letmedoherjustice；MissJillgallisasnimbleasamonkey——and（Faugh！）shekissedmeforthesecondtime。IfI
hadbeenaman，IamafraidIshouldhavecalledforthatdeadlypoison（wearealltemperancepeopleinthishouse）knownbythenameofBrandy。
\"Ifyouwillmakemeloveyou，\"MissJillgallexplained，\"youmustexpecttobekissed。Deargirl，letusgobacktomypoorlittlepetition。Oh，domakemeuseful！TherearesomanythingsIcando：youwillfindmeatreasureinthehouse。Iwriteagoodhand；Iunderstandpolishingfurniture；Icandresshair（lookatmyownhair）；Iplayandsingalittlewhenpeoplewanttobeamused；Icanmixasaladandknitstockings——whoisthis？\"
Thecookcamein，atthemoment，toconsultme；Iintroducedher。
\"And，oh，\"criedMissJillgall，inecstasy，\"Icancook！Do，please，letmeseethekitchen。\"
Thecook’sfaceturnedred。Shehadcometometomakeaconfession；andshehadnot（assheafterwardsaid）bargainedforthepresenceofastranger。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshetookthelibertyofwhisperingtome：\"Imustaskyou，miss，toletmesendupthecauliflowerplainboiled；Idon’tunderstandthedirectionsinthebookfordoingitintheforeignway。\"
MissJillgall’sears——perhapsbecausetheyaresolarge——possessaquicknessofhearingquiteunparalleledinmyexperience。Notonewordofthecook’swhisperedconfessionhadescapedher。
\"Here，\"shedeclared，\"isanopportunityofmakingmyselfuseful！
Whatisthecook’sname？Hannah？Takemedownstairs，Hannah，andI’llshowyouhowtodothecauliflowerintheforeignway。Sheseemstohesitate。Isitpossiblethatshedoesn’tbelieveme？
Listen，Hannah，andjudgeforyourselfifIamdeceivingyou。
Haveyouboiledthecauliflower？Verywell；thisiswhatyoumustdonext。Takefourouncesofgratedcheese，twoouncesofbestbutter，theyolksoffoureggs，alittlebitofglaze，lemon—juice，nutmeg——dear，dear，howblackshelooks。WhathaveI
saidtooffendher？\"
Thecookpassedovertheladywhohadpresumedtoinstructher，asifnosuchpersonhadbeenpresent，andaddressedherselftome：\"IfIamtobeinterferedwithinmyownkitchen，miss，I
willaskyoutosuityourselfatamonth’snotice。\"
MissJillgallwrungherhandsindespair。
\"Imeantsokindly，\"shesaid；\"andIseemtohavemademischief。
Withthebestintentions，Helena，Ihavesetyouandyourservantatvariance。Ireallydidn’tknowyouhadsuchatemper，Hannah，\"
shedeclared，followingthecooktothedoor。\"I’msurethere’snothingIamnotreadytodotomakeitupwithyou。Perhapsyouhavenotgotthecheesedownstairs？I’mreadytogooutandbuyitforyou。Icouldshowyouhowtokeepeggssweetandfreshforweekstogether。Yourgowndoesn’tfitverywell；Ishallbegladtoimproveit，ifyouwillleaveitoutformeafteryouhavegonetobed。There！\"criedMissJillgall，asthecookmajesticallylefttheroom，withoutevenlookingather，\"Ihavedonemybesttomakeitup，andyouseehowmyadvancesarereceived。WhatmorecouldIhavedone？Ireallyaskyou，dear，asafriend，whatmore_could_Ihavedone？\"
Ihaditonthetipofmytonguetosay：\"Thecookdoesn’taskyoutobuycheeseforher，ortoteachherhowtokeepeggs，ortoimprovethefitofhergown；allshewantsistohaveherkitchentoherself。\"Buthereagainitwasnecessarytorememberthatthisodiouspersonwasmyfather’sguest。
\"Praydon’tdistressyourself，\"Ibegan；\"Iamsureyouarenottoblame，MissJillgall——\"
\"Oh，don’t！\"
\"Don’t——what？\"
\"Don’tcallmeMissJillgall。IcallyouHelena。CallmeSelina。\"
Ihadreallynotsupposeditpossiblethatshecouldbemoreunendurablethanever。WhenshementionedherChristianname，shesucceededneverthelessinproducingthatresult。Inthewholelistofwomen’snames，isthereanyonetobefoundsoabsolutelysickeningas\"Selina\"？Iforcedmyselftopronounceit；Imadeanotherneatly—expressedapology；IsaidEnglishservantsweresoverypeculiar。Selinawasmorethansatisfied；shewasquitedelighted。
\"Isthatit，indeed？AnexplanationwasallIwanted。Howgoodofyou！Andnowtellme——istherenochance，inthehouseoroutofthehouse，ofmymakingmyselfuseful？Oh，what’sthat？DoIseeachance？Ido！Ido！\"
MissJillgall’seyesaremorethanmortal。Atonetime，theyaremicroscopes。Atanothertime，theyaretelescopes。Shediscovered（rightacrosstheroom）thetornplaceinthewindow—curtain。Inaninstant，shesnatchedadirtylittleleathercaseoutofherpocket，threadedherneedleandbegandarningthecurtain。Shesangoverherwork。\"Myheartislight，mywillisfree——\"Icanrepeatnomoreofit。WhenIheardhersingingvoice，Ibecamerecklessofconsequences，andranoutoftheroomwithmyhandsovermyears。
CHAPTERXVI。
HELENA’SDIARY。
WHENIreachedthefootofthestairs，myfathercalledmeintohisstudy。
Ifoundhimathiswriting—table，withsuchaheapoftorn—uppaperinhiswaste—basketthatitoverflowedontothefloor。Heexplainedtomethathehadbeendestroyingalargeaccumulationofoldletters，andhadended（whenhisemploymentbegantogrowwearisome）inexamininghiscorrespondencerathercarelessly。Theresultwasthathehadtornupaletter，andacopyofthereply，whichoughttohavebeensetasideasworthyofpreservation。
Aftercollectingthefragments，hehadheapedthemonthetable。
IfIcouldcontrivetoputthemtogetheragainonfairsheetsofpaper，andfastenthemintheirrightplaceswithgum，Ishouldbedoinghimaservice，atatimewhenhewastoobusytosethismistakerightforhimself。
HerewasthebestexcusethatIcoulddesireforkeepingoutofMissJillgall’sway。Icheerfullysettoworkontherestorationoftheletters，whilemyfatherwentonwithhiswriting。
Havingputthefragmentstogether——exceptingafewgapscausedbymorselsthathadbeenlost——Iwasunwillingtofastenthemdownwithgum，untilIcouldfeelsureofnothavingmadeanymistakes；especiallyinregardtosomeofthelostwordswhichI
hadbeenobligedtorestorebyguess—work。SoIcopiedtheletters，andsubmittedthem，inthefirstplace，tomyfather’sapproval。
HepraisedmeintheprettiestmannerforthecarethatIhadtaken。But，whenhebegan，aftersomehesitation，toreadmycopy，Inoticedachange。Thesmilelefthisface，andthenervousquiveringsshowedthemselvesagain。
\"Quiteright，mychild，\"hesaid，inlowsadtones。
Onreturningtomysideofthetable，Iexpectedtoseehimresumehiswriting。Hecrossedtheroomtothewindowandstood（withhisbacktome）lookingout。
WhenIhadfirstdiscoveredthesenseoftheletters，theyfailedtointerestme。Atiresomewoman，presumingonthekindnessofagood—naturedmantobegafavorwhichshehadnorighttoask，andreceivingarefusalwhichshehadrichlydeserved，wasnoremarkableeventinmyexperienceasmyfather’ssecretaryandcopyist。Butthechangeinhisface，whilehereadthecorrespondence，alteredmyopinionoftheletters。TherewasmoreinthemevidentlythanIhaddiscovered。Ikeptmymanuscriptcopy——hereitis：
FromMissElizabethChancetotheRev。AbelGracedieu。
（Dateofyear，1859。Dateofmonth，missing。）
\"DEARSIR——Youhave，Ihope，notquiteforgottentheinterestingconversationthatwehadlastyearintheGovernor’srooms。IamafraidIspokealittleflippantlyatthetime；butIamsureyouwillbelievemewhenIsaythatthiswasoutofnowantofrespecttoyourself。Mypecuniarypositionbeingfarfromprosperous，IamendeavoringtoobtainthevacantsituationofhousekeeperinapublicinstitutiontheprospectusofwhichI
inclose。Youwillseeitisaruleoftheplacethatacandidatemustbeasinglewoman（whichIam），andmustberecommendedbyaclergyman。Youaretheonlyreverendgentlemanwhomitismygoodfortunetoknow，andthethingisofcourseamereformality。
Prayexcusethisapplication，andobligemebyactingasmyreference。
\"Sincerelyyours，\"ELIZABETHCHANCE。\"
\"P。S。——Pleaseaddress：MissE。Chance，PosteRestante，St。
Martin’s—le—Grand，London。\"
\"FromtheRev。AbelGracedieutoMissChance。
（Copy。）
\"MADAM——Thebriefconversationtowhichyourletteralludes，tookplaceatanaccidentalmeetingbetweenus。Ithensawyouforthefirsttime，andIhavenotseenyousince。Itisimpossibleformetoasserttheclaimofaperfectstranger，likeyourself，tofillasituationoftrust。Imustbegtodeclineactingasyourreference。
\"Yourobedientservant，\"ABELGRACEDIEU。\"