that　day　had　come　and　gone！
  I　try　not　to　take　gloomy　views　of　things；　but　I　am　not　quite　so
  happy　as　I　had　expected　to　be　when　my　dear　was　in　the　same　town
  with　me。　If　papa　had　encouraged　him　to　call　again；　we　might　have
  had　some　precious　time　to　ourselves。　As　it　is；　we　can　only　meet
  in　the　different　show…places　in　the　townwith　Helena　on　one
  side；　and　Miss　Jillgall　on　the　other；　to　take　care　of　us。　I　do
  call　it　cruel　not　to　let　two　young　people　love　each　other；
  without　setting　third　persons　to　watch　them。　If　I　was　Queen　of
  England；　I　would　have　pretty　private　bowers　made　for　lovers；　in
  the　summer；　and　nice　warm　little　rooms　to　hold　two；　in　the
  winter。　Why　not？　What　harm　could　come　of　it；　I　should　like　to
  know？
  The　cathedral　is　the　place　of　meeting　which　we　find　most
  convenient；　under　the　circumstances。　There　are　delightful　nooks
  and　corners　about　this　celebrated　building　in　which　lovers　can
  lag　behind。　If　we　had　been　in　papa's　chapel　I　should　have
  hesitated　to　turn　it　to　such　a　profane　use　as　this；　the　cathedral
  doesn't　so　much　matter。
  Shall　I　own　that　I　felt　my　inferiority　to　Helena　a　little　keenly？
  She　could　tell　Philip　so　many　things　that　I　should　have　liked　to
  tell　him　first。　My　clever　sister　taught　him　how　to　pronounce　the
  name　of　the　bishop　who　began　building　the　cathedral；　she　led　him
  over　the　crypt；　and　told　him　how　old　it　was。　He　was　interested　in
  the　crypt；　he　talked　to　Helena　（not　to　me）　of　his　ambition　to
  write　a　work　on　cathedral　architecture　in　England；　he　made　a
  rough　little　sketch　in　his　book　of　our　famous　tomb　of　some　king。
  Helena　knew　the　late　royal　personage's　name；　and　Philip　showed
  his　sketch　to　her　before　he　showed　it　to　me。　How　can　I　blame　him；
  when　I　stood　there　the　picture　of　stupidity；　trying　to　recollect
  something　that　I　might　tell　him；　if　it　was　only　the　Dean's　name？
  Helena　might　have　whispered　it　to　me；　I　think。　She　remembered　it；
  not　Iand　mentioned　it　to　Philip；　of　course。　I　kept　close　by　him
  all　the　time；　and　now　and　then　he　gave　me　a　look　which　raised　my
  spirits。　He　might　have　given　me　something　better　than　thatI
  mean　a　kisswhen　we　had　left　the　cathedral；　and　were　by
  ourselves　for　a　moment　in　a　corner　of　the　Dean's　garden。　But　he
  missed　the　opportunity。　Perhaps　he　was　afraid　of　the　Dean　himself
  coming　that　way；　and　happening　to　see　us。　However；　I　am　far　from
  thinking　the　worse　of　Philip。　I　gave　his　arm　a　little
  squeezeand　that　was　better　than　nothing。
  。　。　。　。　。　。　。
  He　and　I　took　a　walk　along　the　bank　of　the　river　to…day；　my
  sister　and　Miss　Jillgall　looking　after　us　as　usual。
  On　our　way　through　the　town；　Helena　stopped　to　give　an　order　at　a
  shop。　She　asked　us　to　wait　for　her。　That　best　of　good　creatures；
  Miss　Jillgall；　whispered　in　my　ear：　〃Go　on　by　yourselves；　and
  leave　me　to　wait　for　her。〃　Philip　interpreted　this　act　of
  kindness　in　a　manner　which　would　have　vexed　me；　if　I　had　not
  understood　that　it　was　one　of　his　jokes。　He　said　to　me：　〃Miss
  Jillgall　sees　a　chance　of　annoying　your　sister；　and　enjoys　the
  prospect。〃
  Well；　away　we　went　together；　it　was　just　what　I　wanted；　it　gave
  me　an　opportunity　of　saying　something　to　Philip；　between
  ourselves。
  I　could　now　beg　of　him；　in　his　interests　and　mine；　to　make　the
  best　of　himself　when　he　came　to　dinner。　Clever　people；　I　told
  him；　were　people　whom　papa　liked　and　admired。　I　said：　〃Let　him
  see；　dear；　how　clever　_you_　are；　and　how　many　things　you
  knowand　you　can't　imagine　what　a　high　place　you　will　have　in
  his　opinion。　I　hope　you　don't　think　I　am　taking　too　much　on
  myself　in　telling　you　how　to　behave。〃
  He　relieved　that　doubt　in　a　manner　which　I　despair　of　describing。
  His　eyes　rested　on　me　with　such　a　look　of　exquisite　sweetness　and
  love　that　I　was　obliged　to　hold　by　his　arm；　I　trembled　so　with
  the　pleasure　of　feeling　it。
  〃I　do　sincerely　believe；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　are　the　most
  innocent　girl；　the　sweetest；　truest　girl　that　ever　lived。　I　wish
  I　was　a　better　man；　Eunice；　I　wish　I　was　good　enough　to　be　worthy
  of　you！〃
  To　hear　him　speak　of　himself　in　that　way　jarred　on　me。　If　such
  words　had　fallen　from　any　other　man's　lips；　I　should　have　been
  afraid　that　he　had　done　something；　or　thought　something；　of　which
  he　had　reason　to　feel　ashamed。　With　Philip　this　was　impossible。
  He　was　eager　to　walk　on　rapidly；　and　to　turn　a　corner　in　the
  path；　before　we　could　be　seen。　〃I　want　to　be　alone　with　you；〃　he
  said。
  I　looked　back。　We　were　too　late；　Helena　and　Miss　Jillgall　had
  nearly　overtaken　us。　My　sister　was　on　the　point　of　speaking　to
  Philip；　when　she　seemed　to　change　her　mind；　and　only　looked　at
  him。　Instead　of　looking　at　her　in　return；　he　kept　his　eyes　cast
  down　and　drew　figures　on　the　pathway　with　his　stick。　I　think
  Helena　was　out　of　temper；　she　suddenly　turned　my　way。　〃Why　didn't
  you　wait　for　me？〃　she　asked。
  Philip　took　her　up　sharply。　〃If　Eunice　likes　seeing　the　river
  better　than　waiting　in　the　street；〃　he　said；　〃isn't　she　free　to
  do　as　she　pleases？〃
  Helena　said　nothing　more；　Philip　walked　on　slowly　by　himself。　Not
  knowing　what　to　make　of　it；　I　turned　to　Miss　Jillgall。
  〃Surely　Phi　lip　can't　have　quarreled　with　Helena？〃　I　said。
  Miss　Jillgall　answered　in　an　odd　off…hand　manner：　〃Not　he！　He　is
  a　great　deal　more　likely　to　have　quarreled　with　himself。〃
  〃Why？〃
  〃Suppose　you　ask　him　why？〃
  It　was　not　to　be　thought　of；　it　would　have　looked　like　prying
  into　his　thoughts。　〃Selina！〃　I　said；　〃there　is　something　odd
  about　you　to…day。　What　is　the　matter？　I　don't　understand　you。〃
  〃My　poor　dear；　you　will　find　yourself　understanding　me　before
  long。〃　I　thought　I　saw　something　like　pity　in　her　face　when　she
  said　that。
  〃My　poor　dear？〃　I　repeated。　〃What　makes　you　speak　to　me　in　that
  way？〃
  〃I　don't　knowI'm　tired；　I'm　an　old　fool　I'll　go　back　to　the
  house。〃
  Without　another　word；　she　left　me。　I　turned　to　look　for　Philip；
  and　saw　that　my　sister　had　joined　him　while　I　had　been　speaking
  to　Miss　Jillgall。　It　pleased　me　to　find　that　they　were　talking　in
  a　friendly　way　when　I　joined　them。　A　quarrel　between　Helena　and
  my　husband　that　is　to　beno；　my　husband　that　_shall_　bewould
  have　been　too　distressing；　too　unnatural　I　might　almost　call　it。
  Philip　looked　along　the　backward　path；　and　asked　what　had　become
  of　Miss　Jillgall。　〃Have　you　any　objection　to　follow　her　example？〃
  he　said　to　me；　when　I　told　him　that　Selina　had　returned　to　the
  town。　〃I　don't　care　for　the　banks　of　this　river。〃
  Helena；　who　used　to　like　the　river　at　other　times；　was　as　ready
  as　Philip　to　leave　it　now。　I　fancy　they　had　both　been　kindly
  waiting　to　change　our　walk；　till　I　came　to　them；　and　they　could
  study　my　wishes　too。　Of　course　I　was　ready　to　go　where　they
  pleased。　I　asked　Philip　if　there　was　anything　he　would　like　to
  see；　when　we　got　into　the　streets　again。
  Clever　Helena　suggested　what　seemed　to　be　a　strange　amusement　to
  offer　to　Philip。　〃Let's　take　him　to　the　Girls'　School；〃　she　said。
  It　appeared　to　be　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　him；　he
  was；　what　they　call；　ironical。　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course。　Deeply
  interesting！　deeply　interesting！〃　He　suddenly　broke　into　the
  wildest　good　spirits；　and　tucked　my　hand　under　his　arm　with　a
  gayety　which　it　was　impossible　to　resist。　〃What　a　boy　you　are！〃
  Helena　said；　enjoying　his　delightful　hilarity　as　I　did。
  CHAPTER　XXIV。
  EUNICE'S　DIARY。
  ON　entering　the　schoolroom　we　lost　our　gayety；　all　in　a　moment。
  Something　unpleasant　had　evidently　happened。
  Two　of　the　eldest　girls　were　sitting　together　in　a　corner；
  separated　from　the　rest；　and　looking　most　wickedly　sulky。　The
  teachers　were　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　appearing　to　be　ill
  at　ease。　And　there；　standing　in　the　midst　of　them；　with　his　face
  flushed　and　his　eyes　angrythere　was　papa；　sadly　unlike　his
  gentle　self　in　the　days　of　his　health　and　happiness。　On　former
  occasions；　when　the　exercise　of　his　authority　was　required　in　the
  school；　his　forbearing　temper　always　set　things　right。　When　I　saw
  him　now；　I　thought　of　what　the　doctor　had　said　of　his　health；　on
  my　way　home　from　the　station。
  Papa　advanced　to　us　the　moment　we　showed　ourselves　at　the　door。
  He　shook　handscordially　shook　handswith　Philip。　It　was
  delightful　to　see　him；　delightful　to　hear　him　say：　〃Pray　don't
  suppose；　Mr。　Dunboyne；　that　you　are　intruding；　remain　with　us　by
  all　means　if　you　like。〃　Then　he　spoke　to　Helena　and　to　me；　still
  excited；　still　not　like　himself：　〃You　couldn't　have　come　here；　my
  dears；　at　a　time　when　your　presence　was　more　urgently　needed。〃　He
  turned　to　the　teachers。　〃Tell　my　daughters　what　has　happened；
  tell　them　why　they　see　me　hereshocked　and　distressed；　I　don't
  deny　it。〃
  We　now　heard　that　the　two　girls　in　disgrace　had　broken　the　rules；
  and　in　such　a　manner　as　to　deserve　severe　punishment。
  One　of　them　had　been　discovered　hiding　a　novel　in　her　desk。　The
  other　had　misbehaved　herself　more　seriously　stillshe　had　gone
  to　the　theater。　Instead　of　expressing　any　regret；　they　had
  actually　dared　to　complain　of　having　to　learn　papa's　improved
  catechism。　They　had　even　accused　him　of　treating　them　with
  severity；　because　they　were　poor　girls　brought　up　on　charity。　〃If
  we　had　been　young　ladies；〃　they　were　audacious　enough　to　say；
  〃more　indulgence　would　have　been　show