the legacy of cain-第37节
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and she means to make the great man useful。 Thank God； I can stop
that！〃
She checked herself there； and looked suspiciously at the door of
Mr。 Gracedieu's room。
〃In the interest of our conversation；〃 she whispered； 〃we have
not given a thought to the place we have been talking in。 Do you
think the Minister has heard us？〃
〃Not if he is asleepas I left him；〃
Miss Jillgall shook her head ominously。 〃The safe way is this
way；〃 she said。 〃Come with me。〃
CHAPTER XXXV。
THE FUTURE LOOKS GLOOMY。
MY ever…helpful guide led me to my roomwell out of Mr。
Gracedieu's hearing； if he happened to be awakeat the other end
of the passage。 Having opened the door； she paused on the
threshold。 The decrees of that merciless English despot；
Propriety； claimed her for their own。 〃Oh； dear！〃 she said to
herself； 〃ought I to go in？〃
My interest as a man （and； what is more； an old man） in the
coming disclosure was too serious to be trifled with in this way。
I took her arm； and led her into my room as if I was at a
dinner…party； leading her to the table。 Is it the good or the
evil fortune of mortals that the comic side of life； and the
serious side of life； are perpetually in collision with each
other？ We burst out laughing； at a moment of grave importance to
us both。 Perfectly inappropriate； and perfectly natural。 But we
were neither of us philosophers； and we were ashamed of our own
merriment the moment it had ceased。
〃When you hear what I have to tell you；〃 Miss Jillgall began； 〃I
hope you will think as I do。 What has slipped Mr。 Gracedieu' s
memory； it may be safer to sayfor he is sometimes irritable；
poor dearwhere he won't know anything about it。〃
With that she told the lamentable story of the desertion of
Eunice。
In silence I listened； from first to last。 How could I trust
myself to speak； as I must have spoken； in the presence of a
woman？ The cruel injury inflicted on the poor girl； who had
interested and touched me in the first innocent year of her
lifewho had grown to womanhood to be the victim of two
wretches； both trusted by her； both bound to her by the sacred
debt of loveso fired my temper that I longed to be within reach
of the man； with a horsewhip in my hand。 Seeing in my face； as I
suppose； what was passing in my mind； Miss Jillgall expressed
sympathy and admiration in her own quaint way： 〃Ah； I like to see
you so angry！ It's grand to know that a man who has governed
prisoners has got such a pitying heart。 Let me tell you one
thing； sir。 You will be more angry than ever； when you see my
sweet girl to…morrow。 And mind thisit is Helena's devouring
vanity； Helena's wicked jealousy of her sister's good fortune；
that has done the mischief。 Don't be too hard on Philip？ I do
believe； if the truth was told； he is ashamed of himself。〃
I felt inclined to be harder on Philip than ever。 〃Where is he？〃
I asked。
Miss Jillgall started。 〃Oh； Mr。 Governor； don't show the severe
side of yourself； after the pretty compliment I have just paid to
you！ What a masterful voice！ and what eyes； dear sir； what
terrifying eyes！ I feel as if I was one of your prisoners； and
had misbehaved myself。〃
I repeated my question with improvement； I hope； in my looks and
tones： 〃Don't think me obstinate； my dear lady。 I only want to
know if he is in this town。〃
Miss Jillgall seemed to take a curious pleasure in disappointing
me； she had not forgotten my unfortunate abruptness of look and
manner。 〃You won't find him here；〃 she said。
〃Perhaps he has left England？〃
〃If you must know； sir； he is in Londonwith Mr。 Dunboyne。〃
The name startled me。
In a moment more it recalled to my memory a remarkable letter；
addressed to me many years ago； which will be found in my
introductory narrative。 The writeran Irish gentleman； named
Dunboyne confided to me that his marriage had associated him with
the murderess； who had then been recently executed； as
brother…in…law to that infamous woman。 This circumstance he had
naturally kept a secret from every one； including his son； then a
boy。 I alone was made an exception to the general rule； because I
alone could tell him what had become of the poor little girl； who
in spite of the disgraceful end of her mother was still his
niece。 If the child had not been provided for； he felt it his
duty to take charge of her education； and to watch over her
prospects in the future。 Such had been his object in writing to
me； and such was the substance of his letter。 I had merely
informed him； in reply； that his kind intentions had been
anticipated； and that the child's prosperous future was assured。
Miss Jillgall's keen observation noticed the impression that had
been produced upon me。 〃Mr。 Dunboyne's name seems to surprise
you。〃 she said。
〃This is the first time I have heard you mention it；〃 I answered。
She looked as if she could hardly believe me。 〃Surely you must
have heard the name；〃 she said； 〃when I told you about poor
Euneece？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well； then； Mr。 Gracedieu must have mentioned it？〃
〃No。〃
This second reply in the negative irritated her。
〃At any rate；〃 she said； sharply； 〃you appeared to know Mr。
Dunboyne's name； just now。〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃And yet；〃 she persisted； 〃the name seemed to come upon you as a
surprise。 I don't understand it。 If I have mentioned Philip's
name once； I have mentioned it a dozen times。〃
We were completely at cross…purposes。 She had taken something for
granted which was an unfathomable mystery to me。
〃Well；〃 I objected； 〃if you did mention his name a dozen
timesexcuse me for asking the question…what then？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 cried Miss Jillgall； 〃do you mean to say you
never guessed that Philip was Mr。 Dunboyne's son？〃
I was petrified。
His son！ Dunboyne's son！ How could I have guessed it？
At a later time only； the good little creature who had so
innocently deceived me； remembered that the mischief might have
been wrought by the force of habit。 While he had still a claim on
their regard the family had always spoken of Eunice's unworthy
lover by his Christian name； and what had been familiar in their
mouths felt the influence of custom； before time enough had
elapsed to make them think as readily of the enemy as they had
hitherto thought of the friend。
But I was ignorant of this： and the disclosure by which I found
myself suddenly confronted was more than I could support。 For the
moment； speech was beyond me。
His son！ Dunboyne's son！
What a position that young man had occupied； unsuspected by his
father； unknown to himself！ kept in ignorance of the family
disgrace； he had been a guest in the house of the man who had
consoled his infamous aunt on the eve of her executionwho had
saved his unhappy cousin from poverty； from sorrow； from shame。
And but one human being knew this。 And that human being was
myself！
Observing my agitation； Miss Jillgall placed her own construction
on it。
〃Do you know anything bad of Philip？〃 she asked eagerly。 〃If it's
something that will prevent Helena from marrying him； tell me
what it is； I beg and pray。〃
I knew no more of 〃Philip〃 （whom she still called by his
Christian name！） than she had told me herself： there was no help
for it but to disappoint her。 At the same time I was unable to
conceal that I was ill at ease； and that it might be well to
leave me by myself。 After a look round the bedchamber to see that
nothing was wanting to my comfort； she made her quaint curtsey；
and left me with her own inimitable form of farewell。
〃Oh； indeed； I have been here too long！ And I'm afraid I have
been guilty； once or twice； of vulgar familiarity。 You will
excuse me； I hope。 This has been an exciting interviewI think I
am going to cry。〃
She ran out of the room； and carried away with her some of my
kindliest feelings； short as the time of our acquaintance had
been。 What a wife and what a mother was lost thereand all for
want of a pretty face！
Left alone； my thoughts inevitably reverted to Dunboyne the
elder； and to all that had happened in Mr。 Gracedieu's family
since the Irish gentleman had written to me in bygone years。
The terrible choice of responsibilities which had preyed on the
Minister's mind had been foreseen by Mr。 Dunboyne； when he first
thought of adopting his infant niece； and had warned him to dread
what might happen in the future； if he brought her up as a member
of the family with his own boy； and if the two young people
became at a later period attached to each other。 How had the wise
foresight； which offered such a contrast to the poor Minister's
impulsive act of mercy； met with its reward？ Fate or Providence
（call it which we may） had brought Dunboyne's son and the
daughter of the murderess together； had inspired those two
strangers with love； and had emboldened them to plight their
troth by a marriage engagement。 Was the man's betrayal of the
trust placed in him by the faithful girl to be esteemed a
fortunate circumstance by the two persons who knew the true story
of her parentage； the Minister and myself？ Could we rejoice in an
act of infidelity which had embittered and darkened the gentle
harmless life of the victim？ Or could we； on the other hand；
encourage
