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What I have written, thus far, I shall send to you by to-night's post. The doctor came back to me, after he had seen Philip, and spoken with Euneece. He was very angry; and, I must own, not without reason. Philip had flatly refused to let himself be removed to the hospital; and Euneece "a mere girl" had declared that she would be answerable for consequences!
My breath was gone; I could only say: "Euneece!" He dragged me into the dining-room. There was wine on the side-board, which he had ordered medically for Philip. He forced me to drink some of it. It ran through me like fire; it helped me to speak. "Now tell me," he said, "what has she done to Eunice?" "She brings a horrible accusation against her," I answered. "What is the accusation?" I told him.
I lost all fear of her: I stepped close up to the place at which she was standing; I cried out: "Of what, in God's name, do you accuse your sister?" She answered: "I accuse her of poisoning Philip Dunboyne." I ran out of the room; I rushed headlong down the stairs. The doctor heard me, and came running into the hall. I caught hold of him like a madwoman. "Euneece!"
If Miss Jillgall would have allowed it, I should have begun my letter at once. But she had more to say; and she was stronger than I was, and still kept me on her knee. "It all looks bright enough so far, doesn't it, dear sister? Will you let me be your second sister? I do so love you, Euneece. Thank you! thank you! But the gloomy side of the picture is to come next!
She provokingly stopped there. I entreated her to go on. She invited me to sit on her knee. "I want to whisper," she said. It was too ridiculous but I did it. Miss Jillgall's whisper told me serious news. "The minister has some reason, Euneece, for disapproving of Mr. Dunboyne; but, mind this, I don't think he has a bad opinion of the young man himself. He is going to return Mr. Dunboyne's call.
She was instantly folded in Miss Jillgall's arms. On her release, she came to me, eager for news of her father's health. When I had communicated all that I thought it right to tell her of the doctor's last report, she noticed Mrs. Tenbruggen. The appearance of a stranger seemed to embarrass her. I left Miss Jillgall to introduce them to each other. "Darling Euneece, you remember Mrs.
T. is a remarkably clever woman, and I looked for interesting results, if she would give her opinion of the mysterious circumstance mentioned in my letter." By this time, I was all eagerness to hear more. "Has she written to you?" I asked. Miss Jillgall looked at me affectionately, and took the reply out of her pocket. "Listen, Euneece; and you shall hear her own words.
But, placed between Euneece's danger and Philip's danger, my heart was all for Euneece. Would Helena spare her, if she came to Philip's bedside? In such terror as I never felt before in my life, I added a word more, entreating her not to leave the farm.
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?
The cook kindly went upstairs to see who was in Philip's room. It was the housemaid's turn to look after him for a while. I went instantly to his bedside. There was no persuading him to allow himself to be taken to the hospital. "I am dying," he said. "If you have any pity for me, send for Euneece. Let me see her once more, let me hear her say that she forgives me, before I die." I hesitated.
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