armadale-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


under　that　tree　in　the　park。　I've　been　calculating　it　to　a
nicety；　and　I　beg　to　inform　you　that　I　have　sunk　exactly　three
degrees　lower　in　the　estimation　of　the　resident　gentry　since　I
had　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　last。〃

〃You　_will_　have　your　joke　out；〃　said　Midwinter；　bitterly。　〃Well；
if　I　can't　laugh；　I　can　wait。〃

〃My　dear　fellow；　I'm　not　joking；　I　really　mean　what　I　say。　You
shall　hear　what　happened；　you　shall　have　a　report　in　full　of　my
first　visit。　It　will　do；　I　can　promise　you；　as　a　sample　for　all
the　rest。　Mind　this；　in　the　first　place；　I've　gone　wrong　with　the
best　possible　intentions。　When　I　started　for　these　visits；　I　own
I　was　angry　with　that　old　brute　of　a　lawyer；　and　I　certainly　had
a　notion　of　carrying　things　with　a　high　hand。　But　it　wore　off
somehow　on　the　road；　and　the　first　family　I　called　on；　I　went　in；
as　I　tell　you；　with　the　best　possible　intentions。　Oh；　dear；　dear！
there　was　the　same　spick…and…span　reception…room　for　me　to　wait
in；　with　the　neat　conservatory　beyond；　which　I　saw　again　and
again　and　again　at　every　other　house　I　went　to　afterward。　There
was　the　same　choice　selection　of　books　for　me　to　look　ata
religious　book；　a　book　about　the　Duke　of　Wellington；　a　book　about
sporting；　and　a　book　about　nothing　in　particular；　beautifully
illustrated　with　pictures。　Down　came　papa　with　his　nice　white
hair；　and　mamma　with　her　nice　lace　cap；　down　came　young　mister
with　the　pink　face　and　straw…colored　whiskers；　and　young　miss
with　the　plump　cheeks　and　the　large　petticoats。　Don't　suppose
there　was　the　least　unfriendliness　on　my　side；　I　always　began
with　them　in　the　same　wayI　insisted　on　shaking　hands　all　round。
That　staggered　them　to　begin　with。　When　I　came　to　the　sore
subject　nextthe　subject　of　the　public　receptionI　give　you　my
word　of　honor　I　took　the　greatest　possible　pains　with　my
apologies。　It　hadn't　the　slightest　effect；　they　let　my　apologies
in　at　one　ear　and　out　at　the　other；　and　then　waited　to　hear　more。
Some　men　would　have　been　disheartened：　I　tried　another　way　with
them；　I　addressed　myself　to　the　master　of　the　house；　and　put　it
pleasantly　next。　'The　fact　is；'　I　said；　'I　wanted　to　escape　the
speechifyingmy　getting　up；　you　know；　and　telling　you　to　your
face　you're　the　best　of　men；　and　I　beg　to　propose　your　health；
and　your　getting　up　and　telling　me　to　my　face　I'm　the　best　of
men；　and　you　beg　to　thank　me；　and　so　on；　man　after　man；　praising
each　other　and　pestering　each　other　all　round　the　table。'　That's
how　I　put　it；　in　an　easy；　light…handed；　convincing　sort　of　way。
Do　you　think　any　of　them　took　it　in　the　same　friendly　spirit？　Not
one！　It's　my　belief　they　had　got　their　speeches　ready　for　the
reception；　with　the　flags　and　the　flowers；　and　that　they're
secretly　angry　with　me　for　stopping　their　open　mouths　just　as
they　were　ready　to　begin。　Anyway；　whenever　we　came　to　the　matter
of　the　speechifying　（whether　they　touched　it　first　or　I）；　down　I
fell　in　their　estimation　the　first　of　those　three　steps　I　told
you　of　just　now。　Don't　suppose　I　made　no　efforts　to　get　up　again！
I　made　desperate　efforts。　I　found　they　were　all　anxious　to　know
what　sort　of　life　I　had　led　before　I　came　in　for　the　Thorpe
Ambrose　property；　and　I　did　my　best　to　satisfy　them。　And　what
came　of　that；　do　you　think？　Hang　me；　if　I　didn't　disappoint　them
for　the　second　time！　When　they　found　out　that　I　had　actually
never　been　to　Eton　or　Harrow；　or　Oxford　or　Cambridge；　they　were
quite　dumb　with　astonishment。　I　fancy　they　thought　me　a　sort　of
outlaw。　At　any　rate；　they　all　froze　up　again；　and　down　I　fell　the
second　step　in　their　estimation。　Never　mind！　I　wasn't　to　be
beaten；　I　had　promised　you　to　do　my　best；　and　I　did　it。　I　tried
cheerful　small…talk　about　the　neighborhood　next。　The　women　said
nothing　in　particular；　the　men；　to　my　unutterable　astonishment；
all　began　to　condole　with　me。　I　shouldn't　be　able　to　find　a　pack
of　hounds；　they　said；　within　twenty　miles　of　my　house；　and　they
thought　it　only　right　to　prepare　me　for　the　disgracefully
careless　manner　in　which　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　covers　had　been
preserved。　I　let　them　go　on　condoling　with　me；　and　then　what　do
you　think　I　did？　I　put　my　foot　in　it　again。　'Oh；　don't　take　that
to　heart！'　I　said；　'I　don't　care　two　straws　about　hunting　or
shooting；　either。　When　I　meet　with　a　bird　in　my　walk；　I　can't　for
the　life　of　me　feel　eager　to　kill　it；　I　rather　like　to　see　the
bird　flying　about　and　enjoying　itself。'　You　should　have　seen
their　faces！　They　had　thought　me　a　sort　of　outlaw　before；　now
they　evidently　thought　me　mad。　Dead　silence　fell　upon　them　all；
and　down　I　tumbled　the　third　step　in　the　general　estimation。　It
was　just　the　same　at　the　next　house；　and　the　next　and　the　next。
The　devil　possessed　us　all；　I　think。　It　_would_　come　out；　now　in
one　way；　and　now　in　another；　that　I　couldn't　make　speechesthat
I　had　been　brought　up　without　a　university　educationand　that　I
could　enjoy　a　ride　on　horseback　without　galloping　after　a
wretched　stinking　fox　or　a　poor　distracted　little　hare。　These
three　unlucky　defects　of　mine　are　not　excused；　it　seems；　in　a
country　gentleman　（especially　when　he　has　dodged　a　public
reception　to　begin　with）。　I　think　I　got　on　best；　upon　the　whole；
with　the　wives　and　daughters。　The　women　and　I　always　fell；　sooner
or　later；　on　the　subject　of　Mrs。　Blanchard　and　her　niece。　We
invariably　agreed　that　they　had　done　wisely　in　going　to　Florence；
and　the　only　reason　we　had　to　give　for　our　opinion　was　that　we
thought　their　minds　would　be　benefited　after　their　sad
bereavement；　by　the　contemplation　of　the　masterpieces　of　Italian
art。　Every　one　of　the　ladiesI　solemnly　declare　itat　every
house　I　went　to；　came　sooner　or　later　to　Mrs。　and　Miss
Blanchard's　bereavement　and　the　masterpieces　of　Italian　art。　What
we　should　have　done　without　that　bright　idea　to　help　us；　I　really
don't　know。　The　one　pleasant　thing　at　any　of　the　visits　was　when
we　all　shook　our　heads　together；　and　declared　that　the
masterpieces　would　console　them。　As　for　the　rest　of　it；　there's
only　one　thing　more　to　be　said。　What　I　might　be　in　other　places　I
don't　know：　I'm　the　wrong　man　in　the　wrong　place　here。　Let　me
muddle　on　for　the　future　in　my　own　way；　with　my　own　few　friends；
and　ask　me　anything　else　in　the　world；　as　long　as　you　don't　ask
me　to　make　any　more　calls　on　my　neighbors。〃

With　that　characteristic　request；　Allan's　report　of　his　exploring
expedition　among　the　resident　gentry　came　to　a　close。　For　a
moment　Midwinter　remained　silent。　He　had　allowed　Allan　to　run　on
from　first　to　last　without　uttering　a　word　on　his　side。　The
disastrous　result　of　the　visitscoming　after　what　had　happened
earlier　in　the　day；　and　threatening　Allan；　as　it　did；　with
exclusion　from　all　local　sympathies　at　the　very　outset　of　his
local　careerhad　broken　down　Midwinter's　power　of　resisting　the
stealthily　depressing　influence　of　his　own　superstition。　It　was
with　an　effort　that　he　now　looked　up　at　Allan；　it　was　with　an
effort　that　he　roused　himself　to　answer。

〃It　shall　be　as　you　wish；〃　he　said；　quietly。　〃I　am　sorry　for　what
has　happened；　but　I　am　not　the　less　obliged　to　you；　Allan；　for
having　done　what　I　asked　you。〃

His　head　sank　on　his　breast；　and　the　fatalist　resignation　which
had　once　already　quieted　him　on　board　the　wreck　now　quieted　him
again。　〃What　_must_　be；　_will_　be；〃　he　thought　once　more。　〃What
have　I　to　do　with　the　future；　and　what
　has　he？〃

〃Cheer　up！〃　said　Allan。　〃_Your_　affairs　are　in　a　thriving
condition；　at　any　rate。　I　paid　one　pleasant　visit　in　the　town；
which　I　haven't　told　you　of　yet。　I've　seen　Pedgift；　and　Pedgift's
son；　who　helps　him　in　the　office。　They're　the　two　jolliest
lawyers　I　ever　met　with　in　my　life；　and；　what's　more；　they　can
produce　the　very　man　you　want　to　teach　you　the　steward's
business。〃

Midwinter　looked　up　quickly。　Distrust　of　Allan's　discovery　was
plainly　written　in　his　face　already；　but　he　said　nothing。

〃I　thought　of　you；〃　Allan　proceeded；　〃as　soon　as　the　two　Pedgifts
and　I　had　had　a　glass　of　wine　all　round　to　drink　to　our　friendly
connection。　The　finest　sherry　I　ever　tasted　in　my　life；　I've
ordered　some　of　the　samebut　that's　not　the　question　just　now。
In　two　words　I　told　these　worthy　fellows　your　difficulty；　and　in
two　seconds　old　Pedgift　understood　all　about　it。　'I　have　got　the
man　in　my　office；'　he　said；　'and　before　the　audit…day　comes；　I'll
place　him　with　the　greatest　pleasure　at　your　friend's　disposal。'
〃

At　this　last　announcement；　Midwinter's　distrust　found　its
expression　in　words。　He　questioned　Allan　unsparingly。

The　man's　name；　it　appeared　was　Bashwood。　He　had　been　some　time
（how　long；　Allan　could　not　remember）　in　Mr。　Pedgift's　service。　He
had　been　previously　steward　to　a　Norfolk　gentleman　（name
forgotten）　in　the　westward　district　of　the　county。　He　had　lost
the　steward's　place；　through　some　domestic　trouble；　in　connection
with　his　son；　the　precise　nature　of　which　Allan　was　not　able　to
specify。　Pedgift　vouched　for　him；　and　Pedgift　would　send　him　to
Thorpe　Ambrose　two　or　three　days　before　the　rent…day　dinner。　He
could　not　be　spared；　for　office　reasons；　before　that　time。　There
was　no　need　to　fidget　about　it；　Pedgift　laughed　at　the　idea　of
there　being　any　difficulty　with　the　tenants。　Two　or　three　day's
work　over　the　steward's　books　with　a　man　to　help　Midwinter　who
practically　understood　that　sort　of　thing　would　put　him　all　right
for　the　audit；　and　the　other　business　would　keep　till　afterward。

〃Have　you　seen　this　Mr。　Bashwood　yourself；　Allan？〃　asked
Midwinter；　still　obstinately　on　his　guard。

〃No；〃　replied　Allan　〃he　was　outout　with　the　bag；　as　young
Pedgift　called　it。　They　tell　me　he's　a　decent　elderly　man。　A
little　broken　by　his　troubles；　and　a　little　apt　to　be　nervous　and
confused　in　his　manner　with　strangers；　but　thoroughly　competent
and　thoroughly　to　be　depended　onthose　are　Pedgift's　own　words。〃

Midwinter　paused　and　considered　a　little；　with　a　new　interest　in
the　subject。　The　strange　man　whom　he　had　just　heard　described；
and　the　strange　man　of　whom　he　had　asked　his　way　where　the　three
roads　met；　were　remarkably　like　each　other。　Was　this　another　link
in　the　fast…lengthening　chain　of　events？　Midwinter　grew　doubly
determined　to　be　careful；　as　the　bare　doubt　that　it　might　be　so
passed　through　his　mind。

〃When　Mr。　Bashwood　comes；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　let　me　see　him；　and
speak　to　him；　before　anything　definite　is　done？〃

〃Of　course　I　will！〃　rejoined　Allan。　He　stopped　and　looked　at　his
watch。　〃And　I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do　for　you；　old　boy；　in　the
meantime；〃　he　added；　〃I'll　introduce　you　to　the　prettiest　girl　in
Norfolk！　There's　just　time　to　run　over　to　the　cottage　before
dinner。　Come　along；　and　be　introduced　to　Miss　Milroy。〃

〃You　can't　introduce　me　to　Miss　Milroy　today；〃　replied　Midwinter；
and　he　repeated　the　message　of　apology　which　had　been　brought
from　the　major　that　afternoon。　Allan　was　surprised　and
disappointed；　but　he　was　not　to　be　foiled　in　his　resolution　to
advance　himself　in　the　good　graces　of　the　inhabitants　of　the
cottage。　After　a　little　consideration　he　hit　on　a　means　of
turning　the　present　adverse　circumstances　to　good　account。　〃I'll
show　a　proper　anxiety　for　Mrs。　Milroy's　recovery；〃　he　said；
gravely。　〃I'll　send　her　a　basket　of　straw