the legacy of cain-第25章

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I　protect　by　a　lock；　I　may　own　that　the　stranger's　personal
appearance　struck　me；　and　that　what　I　felt　this　time　was　not
flattered　vanity；　but　gratified　pride。　He　was　young；　he　was
remarkably　handsome；　he　was　a　distinguished…looking　man。

All　this　happened　in　one　moment。　In　the　moment　that　followed；　I
found　myself　in　Eunice's　arms。　That　odious　person；　Miss　Jillgall；
insisted　on　embracing　me　next。　And　then　I　was　conscious　of　an
indescribable　feeling　of　surprise。　Eunice　presented　the
distinguished…looking　gentleman　to　me　as　a　friend　of　hersMr。
Philip　Dunboyne。

〃I　had　the　honor　of　meeting　your　sister；〃　he　said；　〃in　London；　at
Mr。　Staveley's　house。〃　He　went　on　to　speak　easily　and　gracefully
of　the　journey　I　had　taken；　and　of　his　friend　who　had　been　my
fellow…traveler；　and　he　attended　us　to　the　railway　omnibus　before
he　took　his　leave。　I　observed　that　Eunice　had　something　to　say　to
him　confidentially；　before　they　parted。　This　was　another　example
of　my　sister's　childish　character；　she　is　instantly　familiar　with
new　acquaintances；　if　she　happens　to　like　them。　I　anticipated
some　amusement　from　hearing　how　she　had　contrived　to　establish
confidential　relations　with　a　highly…cultivated　man　like　Mr。
Dunboyne。　But；　while　Miss　Jillgall　was　with　us；　it　was　just　as
well　to　keep　within　the　limits　of　commonplace　conversation。

Before　we　got　out　of　the　omnibus　I　had；　however；　observed　one
undesirable　result　of　my　absence　from　home。　Eunice　and　Miss
Jillgallthe　latter　having；　no　doubt；　finely　flattered　the
formerappeared　to　have　taken　a　strong　liking　to　each　other。

Two　curious　circumstances　also　caught　my　attention。　I　saw　a
change　to；　what　I　call　self　…assertion；　in　my　sister's　manner；
something　seemed　to　have　raised　her　in　her　own　estimation。　Then；
again；　Miss　Jillgall　was　not　like　her　customary　self。　She　had
delightful　moments　of　silence；　and　when　Eunice　asked　how　I　liked
Mr。　Dunboyne；　she　listened　to　my　reply　with　an　appearance　of
interest　in　her　ugly　face　which　was　quite　a　new　revelation　in　my
experience　of　my　father's　cousin。

These　little　discoveries　（after　what　I　had　already　observed　at
the　railway…station）　ought　perhaps　to　have　prepared　me　for　what
was　to　come；　when　my　sister　and　I　were　alone　in　our　room。　But
Eunice；　whether　she　meant　to　do　it　or　not；　baffled　my　customary
penetration。　She　looked　as　if　she　had　plenty　of　news　to　tell
mewith　some　obstacle　in　the　way　of　doing　it；　which　appeared　to
amuse　instead　of　annoying　her。　If　there　is　one　thing　more　than
another　that　I　hate；　it　is　being　puzzled。　I　asked　at　once　if
anything　remarkable　had　happened　during　Eunice's　visit　to　London。

She　smiled　mischievously。　〃I　have　got　a　delicious　surprise　for
you；　my　dear；　and　I　do　so　enjoy　prolonging　it。　Tell　me；　Helena；
what　did　you　propose　we　should　both　do　when　we　found　ourselves　at
home　again？〃

My　memory　was　at　fault。　Eunice's　good　spirits　became　absolutely
boisterous。　She　called　out：　〃Catch！〃　and　tossed　her　journal　into
my　hands；　across　the　whole　length　of　the　room。　〃We　were　to　read
each　other's　diaries；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　mine　to　begin　with。〃

Innocent　of　any　suspicion　of　the　true　state　of　affairs；　I　began
the　reading　of　Eunice's　journal。

If　I　had　not　seen　the　familiar　handwriting；　nothing　would　have
induced　me　to　believe　that　a　girl　brought　up　in　a　pious
household；　the　well…beloved　daughter　of　a　distinguished
Congregational　Minister；　could　have　written　that　shameless　record
of　passions　unknown　to　young　ladies　in　respectable　English　life。
What　to　say；　what　to　do；　when　I　had　closed　the　book；　was　more
than　I　felt　myself　equal　to　decide。　My　wretched　sister　spared　me
the　anxiety　which　I　might　otherwise　have　felt。　It　was　she　who
first　opened　her　lips；　after　the　silence　that　had　fal　len　on　us
while　I　was　reading。　These　were　literally　the　words　that　she
said：

〃My　darling；　why　don't　you　congratulate　me？〃

No　argument　could　have　persuaded　me；　as　this　persuaded　me；　that
all　sisterly　remonstrance　on　my　part　would　be　completely　thrown
away。

〃My　dear　Eunice；〃　I　said；　〃let　me　beg　you　to　excuse　me。　I　am
waiting〃

There　she　interrupted　meand；　oh；　in　what　an　impudent　manner！
She　took　my　chin　between　her　finger　and　thumb；　and　lifted　my
downcast　face；　and　looked　at　me　with　an　appearance　of　eager
expectation　which　I　was　quite　at　a　loss　to　understand。

〃You　have　been　away　from　home；　too。〃　she　said。　〃Do　I　see　in　this
serious　face　some　astonishing　news　waiting　to　overpower　me？　Have
_you_　found　a　sweetheart？　Are　_you_　engaged　to　be　married？〃

I　only　put　her　hand　away　from　me；　and　advised　her　to　return　to
her　chair。　This　perfectly　harmless　proceeding　seemed　absolutely
to　frighten　her。

〃Oh；　my　dear；〃　she　burst　out；　〃surely　you　are　not　jealous　of　me？〃

There　was　but　one　possible　reply　to　this：　I　laughed　at　it。　Is
Eunice's　head　turned？　She　kissed　me！

〃Now　you　laugh；〃　she　said；　〃I　begin　to　understand　you　again；　I
ought　to　have　known　that　you　are　superior　to　jealousy。　But；　do
tell　me；　would　it　be　so　very　wonderful　if　other　girls　found
something　to　envy　in　my　good　luck？　Just　think　of　it！　Such　a
handsome　man；　such　an　agreeable　man；　such　a　clever　man；　such　a
rich　manand；　not　the　least　of　his　merits；　by…the…by；　a　man　who
admires　You。　Come！　if　you　won't　congratulate　me；　congratulate
yourself　on　having　such　a　brother…in…law　in　prospect！〃

Her　head　_was_　turned。　I　drew　the　poor　soul's　attention
compassionately　to　what　I　had　said　a　moment　since。

〃Pardon　me；　dear；　for　reminding　you　that　I　have　not　yet　refused
to　offer　my　congratulations。　I　only　told　you　I　was　waiting。〃

〃For　what？〃

〃Waiting；　of　course；　to　hear　what　my　father　thinks　of　your
wonderful　good　luck。〃

This　explanation；　offered　with　the　kindest　intentions；　produced
another　change　in　my　very　variable　sister。　I　had　extinguished　her
good　spirits　as　I　might　have　extinguished　a　light。　She　sat　down
by　me；　and　sighed　in　the　saddest　manner。　The　heart　must　be　hard
indeed　which　can　resist　the　distress　of　a　person　who　is　dear　to
us。　I　put　my　arm　round　her；　she　was　becoming　once　more　the　Eunice
whom　I　so　dearly　loved。

〃My　poor　child；〃　I　said。　〃don't　distress　yourself　by　speaking　of
it；　I　understand。　Your　father　objects　to　your　marrying　Mr。
Dunboyne。〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃I　can't　exactly　say；　Helena；　that　papa　does
that。　He　only　behaves　very　strangely。〃

〃Am　I　indiscreet；　dear；　if　I　ask　in　what　way　father's　behavior
has　surprised　you？〃

She　was　quite　willing　to　enlighten　me。　It　was　a　simple　little
story　which；　to　my　mind；　sufficiently　explained　the　strange
behavior　that　had　puzzled　my　unfortunate　sister。

There　could　indeed　be　no　doubt　that　my　father　considered　Eunice
far　too　childish　in　character；　as　yet；　to　undertake　the　duties　of
matrimony。　But；　with　his　customary　delicacy；　and　dread　of　causing
distress　to　others；　he　had　deferred　the　disagreeable　duty　of
communicating　his　opinion　to　Mr。　Dunboyne。　The　adverse　decision
must；　however；　be　sooner　or　later　announced；　and　he　had　arranged
to　inflict　disappointment；　as　tenderly　as　might　be；　at　his　own
table。

Considerately　leaving　Eunice　in　the　enjoyment　of　any　vain　hopes
which　she　may　have　founded　on　the　event　of　the　dinner…party；　I
passed　the　evening　until　supper…time　came　in　the　study　with　my
father。

Our　talk　was　mainly　devoted　to　the　worthy　people　with　whom　I　had
been　staying；　and　whose　new　schools　I　had　helped　to　found。　Not　a
word　was　said　relating　to　my　sister；　or　to　Mr。　Dunboyne。　Poor
father　looked　so　sadly　weary　and　ill　that　I　ventured；　after　what
the　doctor　had　said　to　Eunice；　to　hint　at　the　value　of　rest　and
change　of　scene　to　an　overworked　man。　Oh；　dear　me；　he　frowned；
and　waved　the　subject　away　from　him　impatiently；　with　a　wan；　pale
hand。

After　supper；　I　made　an　unpleasant　discovery。　Not　having
completely　finished　the　unpacking　of　my　boxes；　I　left　Miss
Jillgall　and　Eunice　in　the　drawing…room；　and　went　upstairs。　In
half　an　hour　I　returned；　and　found　the　room　empty。　What　had
become　of　them？　It　was　a　fine　moonlight　night；　I　stepped　into　the
back　drawing…room；　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　There　they　were；
walking　arm…in…arm　with　their　heads　close　together；　deep　in　talk。
With　my　knowledge　of　Miss　Jillgall；　I　ca