the legacy of cain-第27节

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did。　I　rose；　and　waited　to　see　if　my　father　would　interfere。　He
looked　at　Philip　with　suspicion　in　his　face；　as　well　as　surprise。
〃May　I　ask；〃　he　said；　coldly；　〃what　is　the　object　of　the
interview？〃

〃Certainly；〃　Philip　answered；　〃when　we　are　alone。〃　This　cool
reply　placed　my　father　between　two　alternatives；　he　must　either
give　way；　or　be　guilty　of　an　act　of　rudeness　to　a　guest　in　his
own　house。　The　choice　reserved　for　me　was　narrower　stillI　had
to　decide　between　being　told　to　go；　or　going　of　my　own　accord。　Of
course；　I　left　them　together。

The　door　which　communicated　with　the　next　room　was　pulled　to；　but
not　closed。　On　the　other　side　of　it；　I　found　Eunice。

〃Listening！〃　I　said；　in　a　whisper。

〃Yes；〃　she　whispered　back。　〃You　listen；　too！〃

I　was　so　indignant　with　Philip；　and　so　seriously　interested　in
what　was　going　on　in　the　study；　that　I　yielded　to　temptation。　We
both　degraded　ourselves。　We　both　listened。

Eunice's　base　lover　spoke　first。　Judging　by　the　change　in　his
voice；　he　must　have　seen　something　in　my　father's　face　that
daunted　him。　Eunice　heard　it；　too。　〃He's　getting　nervous；〃　she
whispered；　〃he'll　forget　to　say　the　right　thing　at　the　right
time。〃

〃Mr。　Gracedieu；〃　Philip　began；　〃I　wish　to　speak　to　you〃

Father　interrupted　him：　〃We　are　alone　now；　Mr。　Dunboyne。　I　want
to　know　why　you　consult　me　in　private？〃

〃I　am　anxious　to　consult　you；　sir；　on　a　subject〃

〃On　what　subject？　Any　religious　difficulty？〃

〃No。〃

〃Anything　I　can　do　for　you　in　the　town？〃

〃Not　at　all。　If　you　will　only　allow　me〃

〃I　am　still　waiting；　sir；　to　know　what　it　is　about。〃

Philip's　voice　suddenly　became　an　angry　voice。　〃Once　for　all；　Mr。
Gracedieu；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　let　me　speak？　It's　about　your
daughter〃

〃No　more　of　it；　Mr。　Dunboyne！〃　（My　father　was　now　as　loud　as
Philip。）　〃I　don't　desire　to　hold　a　private　conversation　with　you
on　the　subject　of　my　daughter。〃

〃If　you　have　any　personal　objection　to　me；　sir；　be　so　good　as　to
state　it　plainly。〃

〃You　have　no　right　to　ask　me　to　do　that。〃

〃You　refuse　to　do　it？〃

〃Positively。〃

〃You　are　not　very　civil；　Mr。　Gracedieu。〃

〃If　I　speak　without　ceremony；　Mr。　Dunboyne；　you　have　yourself　to
thank　for　it。〃

Philip　replied　to　this　in　a　tone　of　savage　irony。　〃You　are　a
minister　of　religion；　and　you　are　an　old　man。　Two　privilegesand
you　presume　on　them　both。　Good…morning。〃

I　drew　back　into　a　corner；　just　in　time　to　escape　discovery　in
the　character　of　a　listener。　Eunice　never　moved。　When　Philip
dashed　int　o　the　room；　banging　the　door　after　him；　she　threw
herself　impulsively　on　his　breast：　〃Oh；　Philip！　Philip！　what　have
you　done？　Why　didn't　you　keep　your　temper？〃

〃Did　you　hear　what　your　father　said　to　me？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　dear；　but　you　ought　to　have　controlled　yourselfyou　ought；
indeed；　for　my　sake。〃

Her　arms　were　still　round　him。　It　struck　me　that　he　felt　her
influence。　〃If　you　wish　me　to　recover　myself；〃　he　said；　gently；
〃you　had　better　let　me　go。〃

〃Oh；　how　cruel；　Philip；　to　leave　me　when　I　am　so　wretched！　Why　do
you　want　to　go？〃

〃You　told　me　just　now　what　I　ought　to　do；〃　he　answered；　still
restraining　himself。　〃If　I　am　to　get　the　better　of　my　temper；　I
must　be　left　alone。〃

〃I　never　said　anything　about　your　temper；　darling。〃

〃Didn't　you　tell　me　to　control　myself？〃

〃Oh；　yes！　Go　back　to　papa。　and　beg　him　to　forgive　you。〃

〃I'll　see　him　damned　first！〃

If　ever　a　stupid　girl　deserved　such　an　answer　as　this；　the　girl
was　my　sister。　I　had　hitherto　（with　some　difficulty）　refrained
from　interfering。　But　when　Eunice　tried　to　follow　Philip　out　of
the　house；　I　could　hesitate　no　longer；　I　held　her　back。　〃You
fool；〃　I　said；　〃haven't　you　made　mischief　enough　already？〃

〃What　am　I　to　do？〃　she　burst　out；　helplessly。

〃Do　what　I　told　you　to　do　yesterdaywait。〃

Before　she　could　reply；　or　I　could　say　anything　more；　the　door
that　led　to　the　landing　was　opened　softly　and　slyly；　and　Miss
Jillgall　peeped　in。　Eunice　instantly　left　me；　and　ran　to　the
meddling　old　maid。　They　whispered　to　each　other。　Miss　Jillgall's
skinny　arm　encircled　my　sister's　waist；　they　disappeared
together。

I　was　only　too　glad　to　get　rid　of　them　both；　and　to　take　the
opportunity　of　writing　to　Philip。　I　insisted　on　an　explanation　of
his　conduct　while　I　was　in　the　studyto　be　given　within　an
hour's　time；　at　a　place　which　I　appointed。　〃You　are　not　to
attempt　to　justify　yourself　in　writing；〃　I　added　in　conclusion。
〃Let　your　reply　merely　inform　me　if　you　can　keep　the　appointment。
The　rest；　when　we　meet。〃

Maria　took　the　letter　to　the　hotel；　with　instructions　to　wait。

Philip's　reply　reached　me　without　delay。　It　pledged　him　to
justify　himself　as　I　had　desired；　and　to　keep　the　appointment。　My
own　belief　is　that　the　event　of　to…day　will　decide　his　future　and
mine。


CHAPTER　XXVII。

EUNICE'S　DIARY。


INDEED；　I　am　a　most　unfortunate　creature；　everything　turns　out
badly　with　me。　My　good；　true　friend；　my　dear　Selina；　has　become
the　object　of　a　hateful　doubt　in　my　secret　mind。　I　am　afraid　she
is　keeping　something　from　me。

Talking　with　her　about　my　troubles；　I　heard　for　the　first　time
that　she　had　written　again　to　Mrs。　Tenbruggen。　The　object　of　her
letter　was　to　tell　her　friend　of　my　engagement　to　young　Mr。
Dunboyne。　I　asked　her　why　she　had　done　this。　The　answer　informed
me　that　there　was　no　knowing；　in　the　present　state　of　my　affairs；
how　soon　I　might　not　want　the　help　of　a　clever　woman。　I　ought；　I
suppose；　to　have　been　satisfied　with　this。　But　there　seemed　to　be
something　not　fully　explained　yet。

Then　again；　after　telling　Selina　what　I　heard　in　the　study；　and
how　roughly　Philip　had　spoken　to　me　afterward；　I　asked　her　what
she　thought　of　it。　She　made　an　incomprehensible　reply：　〃My　sweet
child；　I　mustn't　think　of　itI　am　too　fond　of　you。〃

It　was　impossible　to　make　her　explain　what　this　meant。　She　began
to　talk　of　Philip；　assuring　me　（which　was　quite　needless）　that
she　had　done　her　best　to　fortify　and　encourage　him；　before　he
called　on　papa。　When　I　asked　her　to　help　me　in　another　waythat
is　to　say；　when　I　wanted　to　find　out　where　Philip　was　at　that
momentshe　had　no　advice　to　give　me。　I　told　her　that　I　should
not　enjoy　a　moment's　ease　of　mind　until　I　and　my　dear　one　were
reconciled。　She　only　shook　her　head　and　declared　that　she　was
sorry　for　me。　When　I　hit　on　the　idea　of　ringing　for　Maria；　this
little　woman；　so　bright；　and　quick　and　eager　to　help　me　at　other
times；　said　〃I　leave　it　to　you；　dear；〃　and　turned　to　the　piano
（close　to　which　I　was　sitting）；　and　played　softly　and　badly
stupid　little　tunes。

〃Maria；　did　you　open　the　door　for　Mr。　Dunboyne　when　he　went　away
just　now？〃

〃No；　miss。〃

Nothing　but　ill…luck　for　me！　If　I　had　been　left　to　my　own
devices；　I　should　now　have　let　the　housemaid　go。　But　Selina
contrived　to　give　me　a　hint；　on　a　strange　plan　of　her　own。　Still
at　the　piano；　she　began　to　confuse　talking　to　herself　with
playing　to　herself。　The　notes　went　_tinkle；　tinkle_and　the
tongue　mixed　up　words　with　the　notes　in　this　way：　〃Perhaps　they
have　been　talking　in　the　kitchen　about　Philip？〃

The　suggestion　was　not　lost　on　me。　I　said　to　Mariawho　was
standing　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　near　the　door〃　Did　you
happen　to　hear　which　way　Mr。　Dunboyne　went　when　he　left　us？〃

〃I　know　where　he　was；　miss；　half　an　hour　ago。〃

〃Where　was　he？〃

〃At　the　hotel。〃

Selina　went　on　with　her　hints　in　the　same　way　as　before。　〃How
does　she　knowah；　how　does　she　know？〃　was　the　vocal　part　of　the
performance　this　time。　My　clever　inquiries　followed　the　vocal
part　as　before：

〃How　do　you　know　that　Mr。　Dunboyne　was　at　the　hotel？〃

〃I　was　sent　there　with　a　letter　for　him；　and　waited　for　the
answer。〃

There　was　no　suggestion　required　this　time。　The　one　possible
question　was：　〃Who　sent　you？〃

Maria　replied；　after　first　reserving　a　condition：　〃You　won't　tell
upon　me；　miss？〃

I　promised　not　to　tell。　Selina　suddenly　left　off　playing。

〃Well；〃　I　repeated；　〃who　sent　you？〃

〃Miss　Helena。〃

Selina　looked　round　at　me。　Her　little　eyes　seemed　to　have
suddenly　become　big；　they　stared　me　so　strangely　in　the　face。　I
don't　know　whether　she　was　in　a　state　of　fright　or　of　wonder。　As
for　myself；　I　simply　lost　the　use　of　my　tongue。　Maria；　having　no
more　questions　to　answer；　discreetly　left　us　together。

Why　should　Helena　write　to　Philip　at　alland　especially　without
mentioning　it　to　me？　Here　was　a　riddle　which　was　more　than　I
could　guess。　I　asked　Selina　to　help　me。　She　might　at　least　have
tried；　I　thought；　but　she　looked　uneasy；　and　made　excuses。

I　said：　〃Suppose　I　go　to　Helena；　and　ask　her　why　she　wrote　to
Philip？〃　And　Selina　said：　〃Suppose　you　do；　dear。〃

I　rang　for　Maria　once　more：　〃Do　you　know　where　my　sister　is？〃

〃Just　gone　out；　miss。〃

There　was　no　help　for　it　but　to　wait　till　she　came　back；　and　to
get　through　the　time　in　the　interval　as　I　best　might。　But　for　one
circumstance；　I　might　not　have　known　what　to　do。　The　truth　is；
there　was　a　feeling　of　shame　in　me　when　I　remembered　having
listened　at　the　study　door。　Curious　notions　come　into　one's
headone　doesn't　know　how　or　why。　It　struck　me　that　I　might　make
a　kind　of　atonement　for　having　been　mean　enough　to　listen；　if　I
went　to