the legacy of cain-第55节
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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； than th
