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〃She cries a great deal； but talks just as usual； says she is a victim to her husband's brutality and jealousy。 It seems impossible to make her see things in their right light。 I hope and pray that her eyes may be opened； but I am afraid it will be a long time before they are。 But it is hard； Miss Wyllys； to open the eyes of the blind and deluded！ It is more than mortal man can do！〃
〃Yes； we feel at such times our miserable weakness； and the influence of evil upon human nature； more； perhaps； than at any other moment！〃
〃That is true； indeed。 I have often thought； Miss Wyllys； that those who have watched over a large family of children and young people； have better notions about the true state of human nature； than your great philosophers。 That has been the difficulty with Uncle Hubbard； he said girls in a respectable family were in no danger of doing what was wrong； that he hated preaching and scolding； and could not bear to make young people gloomy； by talking to them about serious subjects。 My father always taught me to think very differently； he believed that the only way to help young people to be really happy and cheerful； was to teach them to do their duty。〃
〃It would be well； if all those who have charge of young persons thought so！〃 exclaimed Miss Agnes。
〃But； oh； Miss Wyllys； I dread seeing my poor uncle！ Charles writes me word that he is quite changedpale and care…wornso different from his usual look； he says my uncle has grown ten years older in the last week。 And such a kind； indulgent father as he has been！〃
Tears filled Miss Wyllys's eyes。 〃Is his daughter Emmeline at home？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； and Emmeline seems more sobered by this terrible business； than Mrs。 Hilson herself。 She sent for me； thinking I might be of some service to Julianna； and persuade her to stay at home； and not return to Mrs。 Bagman； as she threatens to do。〃
A wagon was waiting to carry Miss Patsey to Longbridge； and Miss Agnes begging that she might not detain her； she set out on her painful duty。 On arriving at her uncle's house； she almost dreaded to cross the threshold。 She found Mr。 Hubbard in the dining…room； he paid no attention to her as she opened the door； but continued walking up and down。 She scarcely knew how to address him； the common phrases of greeting that rose to her lips seemed misplaced。 He either did not see her； or would not notice her。 She then walked quite near to him； and holding out her hand； said in a calm tone：
〃Uncle； I have come to see Julianna。〃
The muscles of his face moved； but he made no answer。
〃I have come to stay with her； if you wish it。〃
〃Thank you；〃 he said； in a thick voice。
〃Is there anything I can do for you？〃
〃What can be done？〃 he said； bitterly； and almost roughly。
〃Do you wish me to stay？〃
〃Yes； I am obliged to you for coming to see a woman of bad reputation。〃
Patsey left him for the present。 She found her cousins together； Emmeline's eyes were red； as if she had just been weeping； Mrs。 Hilson was stretched on a sofa； in a very elegant morning…gown； reading a novel of very doubtful morality。 Patsey offered her hand； which was taken quite cavalierly。
〃Well； Patsey；〃 she said； 〃I hope you have not come to be a spy upon me。〃
〃I have come to see you； because I wish to be of service to you； Julianna。〃
〃Then； my dear child； you must bring his High…Mightiness； my jealous husband to reason；〃 said the lady； smoothing a fold in her dress。 Patsey made no answer； and Mrs。 Hilson looked up。 〃If you are going to join the rest of them against me； why I shall have nothing to do with you； all the prim prudes in the world won't subdue me； as my good…man might have found out already。〃
〃Where is your husband？〃 asked Miss Patsey； gravely； but quietly。
〃I am sure I don't know； he has been pleased to abandon me； for no reason whatever； but because I chose to enjoy the liberty of all women of fortune in aristocratic circles。 I would not submit to be made a slave； like most ladies in this country； as Mrs。 Bagman says。 I choose to associate with whom I please； gentlemen or ladies。 What is it makes the patrician orders so delightful in Europe？all those who know anything about it； will tell you that it is because the married women are not slaves； they have full liberty； and do just as they fancy； and have as many admirers as they please； this very book that I am reading says so。 That is the way things are managed in high life in Europe。〃
〃What sort of liberty is it you wish for； Julianna？ The liberty to do wrong？ Or the liberty to trifle with your reputation？〃
Mrs。 Hilson pouted； but made no answer。
〃I cannot think the kind of liberty you speak of is common among good women anywhere；〃 continued Patsey； 〃and I don't think you can know so much about what you call HIGH LIFE in Europe； Julianna； for you have never been there。 I am sure at least； that in this country the sort of liberty you seem to be talking about； is only common in very LOW LIFE； you will find enough of it even here； among the most ignorant and worst sort of people；〃 said Miss Patsey； quietly。
Mrs。 Hilson looked provoked。 〃Well； you are civil； I must say； Miss Patsey Hubbard； of all the brutal speeches that have been made me of late； I must say that yours is the worst！〃
〃I speak the truth； though I speak plainly； Julianna。〃
〃Yes plainly enough； very different from the refinement of Mrs。 Bagman； I can assure you； she would be the last person to come and tyrannize over me； when I am a victim to my husband's jealousy。 But I have not a creature near me to sympathize with me！〃
〃Do not say that； your father is down…stairs； grown old with grief during the last week！〃
Mrs。 Hilson did not answer。
〃You have known me all your life； from the time you were a child；〃 added Miss Patsey； taking her cousin's passive hand in her own； 〃and I ask； if you have ever known me to deceive you by an untruth？〃
〃I am sure I don't know；〃 replied her cousin； carelessly。
〃Yes； you do know it； Julianna。 Trust me； then； do not shut your ears and your eyes to the truth！ You are in a very dangerous situation； look upon me as your friend； let me stay with you； let me help you！ My only motive is your own good； even if I believed you really guilty； I should have come to you； but I do not believe you guilty！〃
〃I am much obliged to you；〃 said her cousin； lightly。 〃But I happen to know myself that I have committed no such high crime and misdemeanour。〃
〃Yes； you have trifled so far with your reputation； that the world believes you guilty； Julianna。〃
〃Not fashionable people。 I might have gone on for years； enjoying the friendship of an elegant lady like Mrs。 Bagman； and receiving the polite attentions of a French nobleman； had it not been for the countrified notions of Pa and Mr。 Hilson； and now； I am torn from my friends； I am calumniated； and the Baron accused of being an impostor！ But the fact is； as Mrs。 Bagman says； Mr。 Hilson never has understood me！〃
Patsey closed her eyes that night with a heavy heart。 She did not seem to have produced the least impression on Mrs。 Hilson。
How few people are aware of the great dangers of that common foible； vanity！ And yet it is the light feather that wing