armadale-第4章

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its　beauty；　with　a　mind　far　away　from　every　lesson　that　it
taught。　One　by　one　he　meditated　the　words　he　should　say　when　the
wife　came　in。　One　by　one　he　pondered　over　the　conditions　he　might
impose　before　he　took　the　pen　in　hand　at　the　husband's　bedside。

〃Mrs。　Armadale　is　here；〃　said　the　doctor's　voice；　interposing
suddenly　between　his　reflections　and　himself。

He　turned　on　the　instant；　and　saw　before　him；　with　the　pure
midday　light　shining　full　on　her；　a　woman　of　the　mixed　blood　of
the　European　and　the　African　race；　with　the　Northern　delicacy　in
the　shape　of　her　face；　and　the　Southern　richness　in　its　colora
woman　in　the　prime　of　her　beauty；　who　moved　with　an　inbred　grace；
who　looked　with　an　inbred　fascination；　whose　large；　languid　black
eyes　rested　on　him　gratefully；　whose　little　dusky　hand　offered
itself　to　him　in　mute　expression　of　her　thanks；　with　the　welcome
that　is　given　to　the　coming　of　a　friend。　For　the　first　time　in
his　life　the　Scotchman　was　taken　by　surprise。　Every
self…preservative　word　that　he　had　been　meditating　but　an　instant
since　dropped　out　of　his　memory。　His　thrice　impenetrable　armor　of
habitual　suspicion；　habitual　self…discipline；　and　habitual
reserve；　which　had　never　fallen　from　him　in　a　woman's　presence
before；　fell　from　him　in　this　woman's　presence；　and　brought　him
to　his　knees；　a　conquered　man。　He　took　the　hand　she　offered　him；
and　bowed　over　it　his　first　honest　homage　to　the　sex；　in　silence。

She　hesitated　on　her　side。　The　quick　feminine　perception　which；
in　happier　circumstances；　would　have　pounced　on　the　secret　of　his
embarrassment　in　an　instant；　failed　her　now。　She　attributed　his
strange　reception　of　her　to　pride；　to　reluctanceto　any　cause
but　the　unexpected　revelation　of　her　own　beauty。　〃I　have　no　words
to　thank　you；〃　she　said；　faintly；　trying　to　propitiate　him。　〃I
should　only　distress　you　if　I　tried　to　speak。〃　Her　lip　began　to
tremble；　she　drew　back　a　little；　and　turned　away　her　head　in
silence。

The　doctor；　who　had　been　standing　apart；　quietly　observant　in　a
corner；　advanced　before　Mr。　Neal　could　interfere；　and　led　Mrs。
Armadale　to　a　chair。　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　him；〃　whispered　the　good
man；　patting　her　gently　on　the　shoulder。　〃He　was　hard　as　iron　in
my　hands；　but　I　think；　by　the　look　of　him；　he　will　be　soft　as　wax
in　yours。　Say　the　words　I　told　you　to　say；　and　let　us　take　him　to
your　husband's　room；　before　those　sharp　wits　of　his　have　time　to
recover　themselves。〃

She　roused　her　sinking　resolution；　and　advanced　half…way　to　the
window　to　meet　Mr。　Neal。　〃My　kind　friend；　the　doctor；　has　told
me；　sir；　that　your　only　hesitation　in　coming　here　is　a　hesitation
on　my　account；〃　she　said；　her　head　drooping　a　little；　and　her
rich　color　fading　away　while　she　spoke。　〃I　am　deeply　grateful；
but　I　entreat　you　not　to　think　of　_me。_　What　my　husband　wishes〃
Her　voice　faltered；　she　waited　resolutely；　and　recovered　herself。
〃What　my　husband　wishes　in　his　last　moments；　I　wish　too。〃

This　time　Mr。　Neal　was　composed　enough　to　answer　her。　In　low；
earnest　tones；　he　entreated　her　to　say　no　more。　〃I　was　only
anxious　to　show　you　every　consideration；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　only
anxious　now　to　spare　you　every　distress。〃　As　he　spoke；　something
like　a　glow　of　color　rose　slowly　on　his　sallow　face。　Her　eyes
were　looking　at　him；　softly　attentive；　and　he　thought　guiltily　of
his　meditations　at　the　window　before　she　came　in。

The　doctor　saw　his　opportunity。　He　opened　the　door　that　led　into
Mr。　Armadale's　room；　and　stood　by　it；　waiting　silently。　Mrs。
Armadale　entered　first。　In　a　minute　more　the　door　was　closed
again；　and　Mr。　Neal　stood　committed　to　the　responsibility　that
had　been　forced　on　himcommitted　beyond　recall。

The　room　was　decorated　in　the　gaudy　continental　fashion；　and　the
warm　sunlight　was　shining　in　joyously。　Cupids　and　flowers　were
painted　on　the　ceiling；　bright　ribbons　looped　up　the　white
window…curtains；　a　smart　gilt　clock　ticked　on　a　velvet…covered
mantelpiece；　mirrors　gleamed　on　the　walls；　and　flowers　in　all　the
colors　of　the　rainbow　speckled　the　carpet。　In　the　midst　of　the
finery；　and　the　glitter；　and　the　light；　lay　the　paralyzed　man；
with　his　wandering　eyes；　and　his　lifeless　lower　facehis　head
propped　high　with　many　pillows；　his　helpless　hands　laid　out　over
the　bed…clothes　like　the　hands　of　a　corpse。　By　the　bed　head
stood；　grim；　and　old；　and　silent；　the　shriveled　black　nurse；　and
on　the　counter…pane；　between　his　father's　outspread　hands；　lay
the　child；　in　his　little　white　frock；　absorbed　in　the　enjoyment
of　a　new　toy。　When　the　door　opened；　and　Mrs。　Armadale　led　the　way
in；　the　boy　was　tossing　his　playthinga　soldier　on
horsebackbackward　and　forward　over　the　helpless　hands　on　either
side　of　him；　and　the　father's　wandering　eyes　were　following　the
toy　to　and　fro；　with　a　stealthy　and　ceaseless　vigilancea
vigilance　as　of　a　wild　animal；　terrible　to　see。

The　moment　Mr。　Neal　appeared　in　the　doorway；　those　restless　eyes
stopped；　looked　up；　and　fastened　on　the　stranger　with　a　fierce
eagerness　of　inquiry。　Slowly　the　motionless　lips　struggled　into
movement。　With　thick；　hesitating　articulation；　they　put　the
question　which　the　eyes　asked　mutely；　into　words：　〃Are　you　the
man？〃

Mr。　Neal　advanced　to　the　bedside；　Mrs。　Armadale　drawing　back　from
it　as　he　approached；　and　waiting　with　the　doctor　at　the　further
end　of　the　room。　The　child　looked　up；　toy　in　hand；　as　the
stranger　came　near；　opened　his　bright　brown　eyes　in　momentary
astonishment；　and　then　went　on　with　his　game。

〃I　have　been　made　acquainted　with　your　sad　situation；　sir；〃　said
Mr。　Neal；　〃and　I　have　come　here　to　place　my　services　at　your
disposalservices　which　no　one　but　myself；　as　your　medical
attendant　informs　me；　is　in　a　position　to　render　you　in　this
strange　place。　My　name　is　Neal。　I　am　a　writer　to　the　signet　in
Edinburgh；　and　I　may　presume　to　say　for　myself　that　any
confidence　you　wish　to　place　in　me　will　be　confidence　not
improperly　bestowed。〃

The　eyes　of　the　beautiful　wife　were　not　confusing　him　now。　He
spoke　to　the　helpless　husband　quietly　and　seriously；　without　his
customary　harshness；　and　with　a　grave　compassion　in　his　manner
which　presented　him　at　his　best。　The　sight　of　the　death…bed　had
steadied　him。

〃You　wish　me　to　write　something　for　you？〃　he　resumed；　after
waiting　for　a　reply；　and　waiting　in　vain。

〃Yes！〃　said　the　dying　man；　with　the　all…mastering　impatience
which　his　tongue　was　powerless　to　express；　glittering　angrily　in
his　eye。　〃My　hand　is　gone；　and　my　speech　is　going。　Write！〃

Before　there　was　time　to　speak　again；　Mr。　Neal　heard　the　rustling
of　a　woman's　dress；　and　the　quick　creaking　of　casters　on　the
carpet　behind　him。　Mrs。　Armadale　was　moving　the　writing…table
across　the　room　to　the　foot　of　the　bed。　If　he　was　to　set　up　those
safeguards　of　his　own　devising　that　were　to　bear　him　harmless
through　all　results　to　come；　now　was　the　time；　or　never。　He；　kept
his　back　turned　on　Mrs。　Armadale；　and　put　his　precautionary
question　at　once　in　the　plainest　terms。

〃May　I　ask；　sir；　before　I　take　the　pen　in　hand；　what　it　is　you
wish　me　to　write？〃

The　angry　eyes　of　the　paralyzed　man　glittered　brighter　and
brighter。　His　lips　opened　and　closed　again。　He　made　no　reply。

Mr。　Neal　tried　another　precautionary　question；　in　a　new
direction。

〃When　I　have　written　what　you　wish　me　to　write；〃　he　asked；　〃what
is　to　be　done　with　it？〃

This　time　the　answer　came：

〃Seal　it　up　in　my　presence；　and　post　it　to　my　ex〃

His　laboring　articulation　suddenly　stopped　and　he　looked
piteously　in　the　questioner's　face　for　the　next　word。

〃Do　you　mean　your　executor？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　is　a　letter；　I　suppose；　that　I　am　to　post？〃　There　was　no
answer。　〃May
　I　ask　if　it　is　a　letter　altering　your　will？〃

〃Nothing　of　the　sort。〃

Mr。　Neal　considered　a　little。　The　mystery　was　thickening。　The　one
way　out　of　it；　so　far；　was　the　way　traced　faintly　through　that
strange　story　of　the　unfinished　letter　which　the　doctor　had
repeated　to　him　in　Mrs。　Armadale's　words。　The　nearer　he
approached　his　unknown　responsibility；　the　more　ominous　it　seemed
of　something　serious　to　come。　Should　he　risk　another　question
before　he　pledged　himself　irrevocably？　As　the　doubt　crossed　his
mind；　he　felt　Mrs。　Armadale's　silk　dress　touch　him　on　the　side
furthest　from　her　husband。　Her　delicate　dark　hand　was　laid　gently
on　his　arm；　her　full　deep　African　eyes　looked　at　him　in
submissive　entreaty。　〃My　husband　is　very　anxious；〃　she　whispered。
〃Will　you　quiet　his　anxiety；　sir；　by　taking　your　place　at　the
writing…table？〃

It　was　from　_her_　lips　that　the　request　camefrom　the　lips　of
the　person　who　had　the　best　right　to　hesitate；　the　wife　who　was
excluded　from　the　secret！　Most　men　in　Mr。　Neal's　position　would
have　given　up　all　their　safeguards　on　the　spot。　The　Scotchman
gave　them　all　up　but　one。

〃I　will　write　what　you　wish　me　to　write；〃　he　said；　addressing　Mr。
Armadale。　〃I　will　seal　it　in　your　presence；　and　I　will　post　it　to
your　executor　myself。　But；　in　engaging　to　do　this；　I　must　beg　you
to　remember　that　I　am　acting　entirely　in　the　dark；　and　I　must　ask
you　to　excuse　me；　if　I　reserve　my　own　entire　freedom　of　action；
when　your　wishes　in　relation　to　the　writing　and　the　posting　of
the　letter　have　been　fulfilled。〃

〃Do　you　give　me　your　promise？〃

〃It　you　want　my　promise；　sir；　I　will　give　itsubject　to　the
condition　I　have　just　named。〃

〃Take　your　condition；　and　keep　your　promise。　My　desk；〃　he　added；
looking　at　his　wife　for　the　first　time。

She　crossed　the　room　eagerly　to　fetch　the　desk　from　a　chair　in　a
corner。　Returning　with　it；　she　made　a　passing　sign　to　the
negress；　who　still　stood；　grim　and　silent；　in　the　place　that　she
had　occupied　from　the　first。　The　woman　advanced；　obedient　to　the
sign；　to　take　the　child　from　the　bed。　At　the　instant　when　she
touched　him；　the　father's　eyesfixed　previously　on　the
deskturned　on　her　with　the　stealthy　quickness　of　a　cat。　〃No！〃
he　said。　〃No！〃　echoed　the　fresh　voice　of　the　boy；　still　charmed
with　his　plaything；　and　still　liking　his　place　on　the　bed。　The
negress　left　the　room；　and　the　child；　in　high　triumph；　trotted
his　toy　soldier　up　and　down　on　the　bedclothes　that　lay　rumpled
over　his　father's　breast。　His　mother's　lovely　face　contracted
with　a　pang　of　jealousy　as　she　looked　at　him。

〃Shall　I　open　your　desk？〃　she　asked；　pushing　back　the　child's
plaything　sharply　while　she　spoke。　An　answering　look　from　her
husband　guided　her　hand　to　the　place　under　his　pillow　where　the
key　was　hidden。　She　opened　the　desk；　and　disclosed　inside　some
small　sheets　of　manuscript　pinned　together。　〃These？〃　she
inquired；　producing　them。

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　go　now。〃

The　Scotchman　sitting　at　the　writing…table；　the　doctor　stirring　a
stimulant　mixture　in　a　corner；　looked　at　each　other　with　an
anxiety　in　both　their　faces　which　they　could　neither　of　them
control。　The　words　that　banished　the　wife　from　the　room　were
spoken。　The　moment　had　come。

〃You　can　go　now；〃　said　Mr。　Armadale；　for　the　second　time。

She　looked　at　the　child；　established　comfortably　on　the　bed；　and
an　ashy　paleness　spread　slowly　over　her　face。　She　looked　at　the
fatal　letter　which　was　a　sealed　secret　to　her；　and　a　torture　of
jealous　suspicionsuspicion　of　that　other　woman　who　had　been