armadale-第78章

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On　Wednesday；　the　gentry　in　the　neighborhood　took　the　matter　up；
and　universally　sanctioned　the　view　adopted　by　the　town。　To…day
the　public　feeling　has　reached　its　climax；　and　I　find　myself
under　the　necessity　of　making　you　acquainted　with　what　has
happened。

〃To　begin　at　the　beginning。　It　is　asserted　that　a　correspondence
took　place　last　week　between　Major　Milroy　and　yourself；　in　which
you　cast　a　very　serious　suspicion　on　Miss　Gwilt's　respectability；
without　defining　your　accusations　and　without　（on　being　applied
to）　producing　your　proofs。　Upon　this；　the　major　appears　to　have
felt　it　his　duty　（while　assuring　his　governess　of　his　own　firm
belief　in　her　respectability）　to　inform　her　of　what　had　happened；
in　order　that　she　might　have　no　future　reason　to　complain　of　his
having　had　any　concealments　from　her　in　a　matter　affecting　her
character。　Very　magnanimous　on　the　major's　part；　but　you　will　see
directly　that　Miss　Gwilt　was　more　magnanimous　still。　After
expressing　her　thanks　in　a　most　becoming　manner；　she　requested
permission　to　withdraw　herself　from　Major　Milroy's　service。

〃Various　reports　are　in　circulation　as　to　the　governess's　reason
for　taking　this　step。

〃The　authorized　version　（as　sanctioned　by　the　resident　gentry）
represents　Miss　Gwilt　to　have　said　that　she　could　not
condescendin　justice　to　herself；　and　in　justice　to　her　highly
respectable　referenceto　defend　her　reputation　against　undefined
imputations　cast　on　it　by　a　comparative　stranger。　At　the　same
time　it　was　impossible　for　her　to　pursue　such　a　course　of　conduct
as　this；　unless　she　possessed　a　freedom　of　action　which　was　quite
incompatible　with　her　continuing　to　occupy　the　dependent　position
of　a　governess。　For　that　reason　she　felt　it　incumbent　on　her　to
leave　her　situation。　But；　while　doing　this；　she　was　equally
determined　not　to　lead　to　any　misinterpretation　of　her　motives　by
leaving　the　neighborhood。　No　matter　at　what　inconvenience　to
herself；　she　would　remain　long　enough　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　to　await
any　more　definitely　expressed　imputations　that　might　be　made　on
her　character；　and　to　repel　them　publicly　the　instant　they
assumed　a　tangible　form。

〃Such　is　the　position　which　this　high…minded　lady　has　taken　up；
with　an　excellent　effect　on　the　public　mind　in　these　parts。　It　is
clearly　her　interest；　for　some　reason；　to　leave　her　situation；
without　leaving　the　neighborhood。　On　Monday　last　she　established
herself　in　a　cheap　lodging　on　the　outskirts　of　the　town。　And　on
the　same　day　she　probably　wrote　to　her　reference；　for　yesterday
there　came　a　letter　from　that　lady　to　Major　Milroy；　full　of
virtuous　indignation；　and　courting　the　fullest　inquiry。　The
letter　has　been　shown　publicly；　and　has　immensely　strengthened
Miss　Gwilt's　position。　She　is　now　considered　to　be　quite　a
heroine。　The　_Thorpe　Ambrose　Mercury_　has　got　a　leading　article
about　her；　comparing　her　to　Joan　of　Arc。　It　is　considered
probable　that　she　will　be　referred　to　in　the　sermon　next　Sunday。
We　reckon　five　strong…minded　single　ladies　in　this
neighborhoodand　all　five　have　called　on　her。　A　testimonial　was
suggested；　but　it　has　been　given　up　at　Miss　Gwilt's　own　request；
and　a　general　movement　is　now　on　foot　to　get　her　employment　as　a
teacher　of　music。　Lastly；　I　have　had　the　honor　of　a　visit　from
the　lady　herself；　in　her　capacity　of　martyr；　to　tell　me；　in　the
sweetest　manner；　that　she　doesn't　blame　Mr。　Armadale；　and　that
she　considers　him　to　be　an　innocent　instrument　in　the　hands　of
other　and　more　designing　people。　I　was　carefully　on　my　guard　with
her；　for　I　don't　altogether　believe　in　Miss　Gwilt；　and　I　have　my
lawyer's　suspicions　of　the　motive　that　is　at　the　bottom　of　her
present　proceedings。

〃I　have　written　thus　far；　my　dear　sir；　with　little　hesitation　or
embarrassment。　But　there　is　unfortunately　a　serious　side　to　this
business　as　well　as　a　ridiculous　side；　and　I　must　unwillingly
come　to　it　before　I　close　my　letter。

〃It　is；　I　think；　quite　impossible　that　you　can　permit　yourself　to
be　spoken　of　as　you　are　spoken　of　now；　without　stirring
personally　in　the　matter。　You　have　unluckily　made　many　enemies
here；　and　foremost　among　them　is　my　colleague；　Mr。　Darch。　He　has
been　showing　everywhere　a　somewhat　rashly　expressed　letter　you
wrote　to　him　on　the　subject　of　letting　the　cottage　to　Major
Milroy　instead　of　to　himself；　and　it　has　helped　to　exasperate　the
feeling　against　you。　It　is　roundly　stated　in　so　many　words　that
you　have　been　prying　into　Miss　Gwilt's　family　affairs；　with　the
most　dishonorable　motives；　that　you　have　tried；　for　a　profligate
purpose　of　your　own；　to　damage　her　reputation；　and　to　deprive　her
of　the　protection　of　Major　Milroy's　roof；　and　that；　after　having
been　asked　to　substantiate　by　proof　the　suspicions　that　you　have
cast　on　the　reputation　of　a　defenseless　woman；　you　have
maintained　a　silence　which　condemns　you　in　the　estimation　of　all
honorable　men。

〃I　hope　it　is　quite　unnecessary　for　me　to　say　that　I　don't　attach
the　smallest　particle　of　credit　to　these　infamous　reports。　But
they　are　too　widely　spread　and　too　widely　believed　to　be　treated
with　contempt。　I　strongly　urge　you　to　return　at　once　to　this
place；　and　to　take　the　necessary　measures　for　defending　your
character；　in　concert　with　me；　as　your　legal　adviser。　I　have
formed；　since　my　interview　with　Miss　Gwilt；　a　very　strong　opinion
of　my　own　on　the　subject　of　that　lady　which　it　is　not　necessary
to　commit　to　paper。　Suffice　it　to　say　here　that　I　shall　have　a
means　to　propose　to　you　for　silencing　the　slanderous　tongues　of
your　neighbors；　on　the　success　of　which　I　stake　my　professional
reputation；　if　you　will　only　back　me　by　your　presence　and
authority。

〃It　may；　perhaps；　help　to　show　you　the　necessity　there　is　for
your　return；　if　I　mention　one　other　assertion　respecting
yourself；　which　is　in　everybody's　mouth。　Your　absence　is；　I
regret　to　tell　you；　attributed　to　the　meanest　of　all　motives。　It
is　said　that　you　are　remaining　in　London　because　you　are　afraid
to　show　your　face　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。

〃Believe　me；　dear　sir；　your　faithful　servant；

〃A。　PEDGIFT；　Sen。〃


Allan　was　of　an　age　to　feel　the　sting　contained　in　the　last
sentence　of　his　lawyer's　letter。　He　started　to　his　feet　in　a
paroxysm　of　indignation；　which　revealed　his　character　to　Pedgift
Junior　in　an　entirely　new　light。

〃Where's　the　time…table？〃　cried　Allan。　〃I　must　go　back　to　Thorpe
Ambrose　by　the　next　train！　If　it　doesn't　start　directly；　I'll
have　a　special　engine。　I　must　and　will　go　back　instantly；　and　I
don't　care　two　straws　for　the　expense！〃

〃Suppose　we　telegraph　to　my　father；　sir？〃　suggested　the　judicious
Pedgift。　〃It's　the　quickest　way　of　expressing　your　feelings；　and
the　cheapest。〃

〃So　it　is；〃　said　Allan。　〃Thank　you　for　reminding　me　of　it。
Telegraph　to　them！　Tell　your　father　to　give　every　man　in　Thorpe
Ambrose　the　lie　direct；　in　my　name。　Put　it　in　capital　letters；
Pedgiftput　it　in　capital　letters！〃

Pedgift　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　If　he　was　acquainted　with　no
other　variety　of　human　nature；　he　thoroughly　knew　the　variety
that　exists　in　country　towns。

〃It　won't　have　the　least　effect　on　them；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he
remarked　quietly。　〃They'll　only　go　on　lying　harder　than　ever。　If
you　want　to　upset　the　whole　town；　one　line　will　do　it。　With　five
shillings'　worth　of　human　labor　and　electric　fluid；　sir　（I　dabble
a　little　in　science　after　business　hours）；　we'll　explode　a
bombshell　in　Thorpe　Ambrose！〃　He　produced　the　bombshell　on　a　slip
of　paper　as　he　spoke：　〃A。　Pedgift；　Junior；　to　A。　Pedgift；
Senior。Spread　it　all　over　the　place　that　Mr。　Armadale　is　coming
down　by　the　next　train。〃

〃More　words！〃　suggested　Allan；　looking　over　his　shoulder。　〃Make
it　stronger。〃

〃Leave　my　father　to　make　it　stronger；　sir；〃　returned　the　wary
Pedgift。　〃My　father　is　on　the　spot；　and　his　command　of　language
is　something　quite　extraordinary。〃　He　rang　the　bell；　and
dispatched　the　telegram。

Now　that　something　had　been　done；　Allan　subsided　gradually　into　a
state　of　composure。　He　l　ooked　back　again　at　Mr。　Pedgift's
letter；　and　then　handed　it　to　Mr。　Pedgift's　son。

〃Can　you　guess　your　father's　plan　for　setting　me　right　in　the
neighborhood？〃　he　asked。

Pedgift　the　younger　shook　his　wise　head。　〃His　plan　appears　to　be
connected　in　some　way；　sir；　with　his　opinion　of　Miss　Gwilt。〃

〃I　wonder　what　he　thinks　of　her？〃　said　Allan。

〃I　shouldn't　be　surprised；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　returned　Pedgift
Junior；　〃if　his　opinion　staggers　you　a　little；　when　you　come　to
hear　it。　My　father　has　had　a　large　legal　experience　of　the　shady
side　of　the　sex；　and　he　learned　his　profession　at　the　Old
Bailey。〃

Allan　made　no　further　inquiries。　He　seemed　to　shrink　from
pursuing　the　subject；　after　having　started　it　himself。　〃Let's　be
doing　something　to　kill　the　time；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　pack　up　and
pay　the　bill。〃

They　packed　up　and　paid　the　bill。　The　hour　came；　and　the　train
left　for　Norfolk　at　last。

While　the　travelers　were　on　their　way　back；　a　somewhat　longer
telegraphic　message　than　Allan's　was　flashing　its　way　past　them
along　the　wires；　in　the　reverse　directionfrom　Thorpe　Ambrose　to
London。　The　message　was　in　cipher；　and；　the　signs　being
interpreted；　it　ran　thus：　〃From　Lydia　Gwilt　to　Maria
Oldershaw。Good　news！　He　is　coming　back。　I　mean　to　have　an
interview　with　him。　Everything　looks　well。　Now　I　have　left　the
cottage；　I　have　no　women's　prying　eyes　to　dread；　and　I　can　come
and　go　as　I　please。　Mr。　Midwinter　is　luckily　out　of　the　way。　I
don't　despair　of　becoming　Mrs。　Armadale　yet。　Whatever　happens；
depend　on　my　keeping　away　from　London　until　I　am　certain　of　not
taking　any　spies　after　me　to　your　place。　I　am　in　no　hurry　to
leave　Thorpe　Ambrose。　I　mean　to　be　even　with　Miss　Milroy　first。〃

Shortly　after　that　message　was　received　in　London；　Allan　was　back
again　in　his　own　house。

It　was　eveningPedgift　Junior　had　just　left　himand　Pedgift
Senior　was　expected　to　call　on　business　in　half　an　hour's　time。

CHAPTER　V。

PEDGIFT'S　REMEDY。

AFTER　waiting　to　hold　a　preliminary　consultation　with　his　son；
Mr。　Pedgift　the　elder　set　forth　alone　for　his　interview　with
Allan　at　the　great　house。

Allowing　for　the　difference　in　their　ages；　the　son　was；　in　this
instance；　so　accurately　the　reflection　of　the　father；　that　an
acquaintance　with　either　of　the　two　Pedgifts　was　almost
equivalent　to　an　acquaintance　with　both。　Add　some　little　height
and　size　to　the　figure　of　Pedgift　Junior；　give　more　breadth　and
boldness　to　his　humor；　and　some　additional　solidity　and　composure
to　his　confidence　in　himself；　and　the　presence　and　character　of
Pedgift　Senior　stood；　for　all　general　purposes；　revealed　before
you。

The　lawyer's　conveyance　to　Thorpe　Ambrose　was　his　own　smart　gig；
drawn　by　his　famous　fast…trotting　mare。　It　was　his　habit　to　drive
himself；　and　it　was　one　among　the　trifling　external　peculiarities
in　which　he　and　his　son　differed　a　little；　to　affect　something　of
the　sporting　character　in　his　dress。　The　drab　trousers　of　Pedgift
the　elder　fitted　close　to　his　legs；　his　boots；　in　dry　weather　and
wet　alike；　were　equally　thick　in　the　sole；　his　coat　pockets
overlapped　his　hips；　and　his　favorite　summer　cravat　was　of　light
spotted　muslin；　tied　in　the　neatest　and　smallest　of　bows。　He　used
tobacco　like