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I am further away from understanding myself than ever. Mr. Dunboyne paid us a visit in the afternoon. Fortunately, before we went out. I thought I would have a good look at him; so as to know his face better than I had known it yet. Another disappointment was in store for me. Without intending it, I am sure, he did what no other young man has ever done he made me feel confused.
Those reasons which induced me to conceal the names of persons, while I was relating events in the prison, do not apply to correspondence with a stranger writing from another place. I may, therefore, mention that Mr. Dunboyne, of Fairmount, on the west coast of Ireland, was the writer of the letter now addressed to me.
Dunboyne know what changes had taken place since he and his son had last met, and what hope might yet present itself of brighter days for poor Euneece! I thought of writing to him. But how would that crabbed old man receive a confidential letter from a lady who was a stranger? My doubts were set at rest by Philip himself.
Your faithful servant, DUNBOYNE, SENIOR." Having performed his duty as secretary, Philip received his dismissal: "You may send my reply to the post," his father said; "and you may keep Mr. Gracedieu's letter. Morally speaking, I regard that last document as a species of mirror, in which a young gentleman like yourself may see how ugly he looks."
The reply was made with an ominous accompaniment of sighs and sad looks. Eunice had gone back to her duties as governess at the farm. Hearing this, I asked naturally what had become of Philip. Melancholy news, again, was the news that I now heard. Mr. Dunboyne the elder had died suddenly, at his house in Ireland, while Philip was on his way home.
The waiter informed her that Mr. Dunboyne had gone away to London by the morning train. No apology or explanation left for me. Can he have deserted me? I am in such a frenzy of doubt and rage that I can hardly write that horrible question. Is it possible oh, I feel it is possible that he has gone away with Eunice. Do I know where to find them? if I did know, what could I do?
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. 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 me with some obstacle in the way of doing it, which appeared to amuse instead of annoying her.
When he was gone, I wished I had not done it without knowing why, either. I heard his Christian name for the first time to-day. Mrs. Staveley said to me: "We are going to have a dinner-party. Shall I ask Philip Dunboyne?" I said to Mrs. Staveley: "Oh, do!" She is an old woman; her eyes are dim. At times, she can look mischievous. She looked at me mischievously now.
This morning, I am strong again, calm, wickedly capable of deceiving Mr. Philip Dunboyne, as he has deceived me. He has not the faintest suspicion that I have discovered him. I wish he had courage enough to kill somebody. How I should enjoy hiring the nearest window to the scaffold, and seeing him hanged! Miss Jillgall is in better spirits than ever.
When I had done with my worries, Philip was not to be found. Maria, looking out of one of the bedroom windows instead of doing her work, had seen Mr. Dunboyne leave the house. It was possible that he had charged Miss Jillgall with a message for me. I asked if she was in her room. No; she, too, had gone out.
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