the legacy of cain-第42章
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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 the ruthless deceit； the hateful treachery； which had
put the wicked Helenawith no exposure to dread if _she_
marriedinto her wronged sister's place？ Impossible！ In the one
case as in the other； impossible！
Equally hopeless did the prospect appear； when I tried to
determine what my own individual course of action ought to be。
In my calmer moments； the idea had occurred to my mind of going
to Dunboyne the younger； and； if he had any sense of shame left；
exerting my influence to lead him back to his betrothed wife。 How
could I now do this； consistently with my duty to the young man's
father； knowing what I knew； and not forgetting that I had myself
advised Mr。 Gracedieu to keep the truth concealed； when I was
equally ignorant of Philip Dunboyne's parentage and of Helena
Gracedieu's treachery？
Even if events so ordered it that the marriage of Eunice might
yet take placewithout any interference exerted to produce that
result； one way or the other； on my partit would be just as
impossible for me to speak out now； as it had been in the
long…past years when I had so cautiously answered Mr。 Dunboyne's
letter。 But what would he think of me if accident led； sooner or
later； to the disclosure which I had felt bound to conceal？ The
more I tried to forecast the chances of the future； the darker
and the darker was the view that faced me。
To my sinking heart and wearied mind； good Dame Nature presented
a more acceptable prospect； when I happened to look out of the
window of my room。 There I saw the trees and flowerbeds of a
garden； tempting me irresistibly under the cloudless sunshine of
a fine day。 I was on my way out； to recover heart and hope； when
a knock at the door stopped me。
Had Miss Jillgall returned？ When I said 〃Come in；〃 Mr。 Gracedieu
opened the door； and entered the room。
He was so weak that he staggered as he approached me。 Leading him
to a chair； I noticed a wild look in his eyes； and a flush on his
haggard cheeks。 Something had happened。
〃When you were with me in my room；〃 he began； 〃did I not tell you
that I had forgotten something？〃
〃Certainly you did。〃
〃Well； I have found the lost remembrance。 My misfortuneI ought
to call it the punishment for my sins； is recalled to me now。 The
worst curse that can fall on a father is the curse that has come
to me。 I have a wicked daughter。 My own child； sir！ my own
child！〃
Had he been awake； while Miss Jillgall and I had been talking
outside his door？ Had he heard her ask me if Mr。 Gracedieu had
said nothing of Helena's infamous conduct to her sister； while he
was speaking of Eunice？ The way to the lost remembrance had
perhaps been found there。 In any case； after that bitter allusion
to his 〃wicked daughter〃 some result must follow。 Helena
Gracedieu and a day of reckoning might be nearer to each other
already than I had ventured to hope。
I waited anxiously for what he might say to me next。
CHAPTER XXXVI。
THE WANDERING MIND。
FOR the moment； the Minister disappointed me。
Without speaking； without even l
