jeremy-第35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！



Mary；　wickeder　than　ever；　stared　through　her　spectacles　down　the
road。　〃I　don't　know；　Miss　Jones；〃　she　said。　They　had　left　the　wood
and　the　farm；　and　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　but　the　long　white
ribbon　of　road　hemmed　in　by　the　high　hedges。

〃Perhaps　he　stayed　behind　at　the　farm；〃　said　Miss　Jones。

Then　Mary　told　her　worst　lie。

〃Oh；　no；　Miss　Jones。　He　ran　past　us　just　now。　Didn't　you　see　him？〃

〃No；　I　didn't。　He's　gone　on　ahead；　I　suppose。　He　runs　home
sometimes。　Naughty　dog！　We　shall　catch　him　up。〃

But　of　course　they　did　not。　They　passed　through　the　gates　of　Cow
Farm　and　still　nothing　of　Hamlet　was　to　be　seen。

〃Oh　dear！　Oh　dear！〃　said　Miss　Jones。　〃I　do　hope　that　he's　arrived。
Whatever　will　Jeremy　say　if　anything　has　gone　wrong？〃

Mary　was　breathing　hard　now；　as　though　she　had　been　running　a
desperate　race。　She　would　at　this　moment　have　given　all　that　she
possessed；　or　all　that　she　was　ever　likely　to　possess；　to　recall　her
deed。　If　she　could　have　seen　Hamlet　rushing　down　the　road　towards
her　she　would　have　cried　with　relief；　there　seemed　now　to　be
suddenly　removed　from　her　that　outside　agency　that　had　forced　her　to
do　this　thing；　now；　having　compelled　her；　it　had　withdrawn　and　left
her　to　carry　the　consequences。　Strangely　confused　in　her　sentimental
soul　was　her　terror　of　Jeremy's　wrath　and　her　own　picture　of　the
wretched　Hamlet　barking　his　heart　out；　frightened；　thirsty；　and
lonely。　Her　teeth　began　to　chatter；　she　clenched　her　hands　together。

Miss　Jones　went　across　the　courtyard；　calling：

〃Hamlet！　Hamlet！〃

The　family　was　collected；　having　just　sat　down　to　tea；　so　that　the
announcement　received　its　full　measure　of　excitement。

〃Has　Hamlet　come　back？　We　thought　he　was　ahead　of　us。〃

A　chair　had　tumbled　over。　Jeremy　had　run　round　the　table　to　Miss
Jones。

〃What's　that？　Hamlet？　Where　is　he？〃

〃We　thought　he　must　be　ahead　of　us。　He　ran　past　us　down　the　road；
and　we　thought〃

They　thought！　Silly　women！　Jeremy；　as　though　he　were　challenging　a
god；　stood　up　against　Miss　Jones；　hurling　questions　at　her。　Where
had　they　been？　What　road　had　they　taken？　Had　they　gone　into　the
wood？　Whereabouts　had　he　run　past　them？

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Miss　Jones　to　this　last。　〃I　didn't　see　him。
Mary　did。〃

Jeremy　turned　upon　Mary。　〃Where　was　it　you　saw　him？〃

She　couldn't　speak。　Her　tongue　wouldn't　move；　her　lips　wouldn't
open；　she　could　but　waggle　her　head　like　an　idiot。　She　saw　nothing
but　his　face。　It　was　a　desperate　face。　She　knew　so　much　better　than
all　the　others　what　the　thought　of　losing　Hamlet　was　to　him。　It　was
part　of　the　harshness　of　her　fate　that　she　should　understand　him　so
much　better　than　the　others　did。

But　she　herself　had　not　realised　how　hardly　he　would　take　it。

〃I　didn'tI　couldn't〃

〃There's　the　dog…man；〃　he　stammered。　〃He'll　have　stolen　him。〃　Then
he　was　off　out　of　the　room　in　an　instant。

And　that　was　more　than　Mary　could　hear。　She　realised；　even　as　she
followed　him；　that　she　was　giving　her　whole　case　away；　that　she　was
now；　as　always；　weak　when　she　should　be　strong；　soft　when　she　should
be　hard；　good　when　she　should　be　wicked；　wicked　when　she　should　be
good。　She　could　not　help　herself。　With　trembling　limbs　and　a　heart
that　seemed　to　be　hammering　her　body　into　pieces　she　followed　him
out。　She　found　him　in　the　hall；　tugging　at　his　coat。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　said　weakly。

〃Going？〃　he　answered　fiercely。　〃Where　do　you　think？〃　He　glared　at
her。　〃Just　like　you。〃　He　broke　off；　suddenly　appealing　to　her。
〃Mary；　CAN'T　you　remember？　It　will　be　getting　dark　soon；　and　if　we
have　to　wait　until　to…morrow　the　dog…man　will　have　got　him。　At　any
rate；　he　had　his　collar〃

Then　Mary　broke　out。　She　burst　into　sobs；　pushed　her　hand　into　her
dress；　and　held　out　the　collar　to　him。

〃There　it　is！　There　it　is！〃　she　said　hysterically。

〃You've　got　it？〃　He　stared　at　her；　suspicion　slowly　coming　to　him。
〃But　how？　What　have　you　done？〃

She　looked　up　at　him　wild…eyed；　the　tears　making　dirty　lines　on　her
face；　her　hand　out　towards　him。

〃I　took　it　off。　I　shut　Hamlet　into　the　barn　at　Mellot　Farm。　I　wanted
him　to　be　lost。　I　didn't　want　you　to　have　him。　I　hated　himalways
being　with　you；　and　me　never。〃

Jeremy　moved　back；　and　at　the　sudden　look　in　his　eyes　her　sobbing
ceased；　she　caught　her　breath　and　stared　at　him　with　a　silly　fixed
stare　as　a　rabbit　quivers　before　a　snake。

Jeremy　said　in　his　ordinary　voice：

〃You　shut　Hamlet　up？　You　didn't　want　him　to　be　found？〃

She　nodded　her　head　several　times　as　though　now　she　must　convince
him　quickly　of　this

〃Yes；　yes；　yes。　I　did。　。　。　I　know　I　shouldn't；　but　I　couldn't　help
it〃

He　clutched　her　arm；　and　then　shook　her　with　a　sudden　wave　of　fierce
physical　anger　that　was　utterly　unlike　him；　and；　therefore；　the　more
terrifying。

〃You　wicked；　wickedYou　beast；　Mary！〃

She　could　only　sob；　her　head　hanging　down。　He　let　her　go。

〃What　barn　was　it？〃

She　described　the　place。

He　gave　her　another　look　of　contempt　and　then　rushed　off；　running
across　the　courtyard。

There　was　still　no　one　in　the　hall；　she　could　go　up　to　her　room
without　the　fear　of　being　disturbed。　She　found　the　room；　all　white
and　black　now　with　the　gathering　dusk。　Beyond　the　window　the　evening
breeze　was　rustling　in　the　dark　trees　of　the　garden　and　the　boom　of
the　sea　could　be　heard　faintly。　Mary　sat；　where　she　always　sat　when
she　was　unhappy；　inside　the　wardrobe　with　her　head　amongst　the
clothes。　They　in　some　way　comforted　her；　she　was　not　so　lonely　with
them；　nor　did　she　feel　so　strongly　the　empty　distances　of　the　long
room；　the　white　light　of　the　window…frames；　nor　the　mysterious
secrecy　of　the　high　elms　knocking　their　heads　together　in　the　garden
outside。

She　had　a　fit　of　hysterical　crying；　biting　the　hanging　clothes
between　her　teeth；　feeling　suddenly　sick　and　tired　and　exhausted；
with　flaming　eyes　and　a　dry；　parched　throat。　Why　had　she　ever　done
such　a　thing；　she　loving　Jeremy　as　she　did？　Would　he　ever　forgive
her？　No；　never；　she　saw　that　in　his　face。　Perhaps　he　wouldif　he
found　Hamlet　quickly　and　came　back。　Perhaps　Hamlet　never　would　be
found。　Then　Jeremy's　heart　would　be　broken。

She　slept　from　utter　exhaustion；　and　was　so　found；　when　the　room　was
quite　dark　and　only　shadows　moved　in　it；　by　her　mother。

〃Why；　Mary！〃　said　Mrs。　Cole。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？　We　couldn't
think　where　you　were。　And　where's　Jeremy？〃

〃Jeremy！〃　She　started　up；　remembering　everything。

〃Hasn't　he　come　back？　Oh；　he's　lost　and　he'll　be　killed；　and　it　will
be　all　my　fault！〃　She　burst　into　another　fit　of　wild　hysterical
crying。

Her　mother　took　her　arm。　〃Mary；　explainWhat　have　you　done？〃

Mary　explained；　her　teeth　chattering；　her　head　aching　so　that　she
could　not　see。

〃And　you　shut　him　up　like　that？　WhateverOh；　Mary；　you　wicked　girl！
And　JeremyHe's　been　away　two　hours　now〃

She　turned　off；　leaving　Mary　alone　in　the　black　room。

Mary　was　left　to　every　terror　that　can　beset　a　lonely；　hysterical
childterror　of　Jeremy's　fate；　terror　of　Hamlet's　loss；　terror　of
her　own　crimes；　above　all；　terror　of　the　lonely　room；　the　waving
elms　and　the　gathering　dark。　She　could　not　move；　she　could　not　even
close　the　door　of　the　wardrobe；　into　whose　shelter　she　had　again
crept。　She　stared　at　the　white　sheet　of　the　window；　with　its　black
bars　like　railings　and　its　ghostly　hinting　of　a　moon　that　would　soon
be　up　above　the　trees。　Every　noise　frightened　her；　the　working　of
the　〃separator〃　in　a　distant　part　of　the　farm；　the　whistling　of　some
farm…hand　out　in　the　yard；　the　voice　of　some　boy；　〃coo…ee〃…ing
faintly；　the　lingering　echo　of　the　vanished　dayall　these　seemed　to
accuse　her；　to　point　fingers　at　her；　to　warn　her　of　some　awful
impending　punishment。　〃Ah！　you're　the　little　girl；〃　they　seemed　to
say；　〃who　lost　Jeremy's　dog　and　broke　Jeremy's　heart。〃　She　was　sure
that　someone　was　beneath　her　bed。　That　old　terror　haunted　her　with
an　almost　humorous　persistency　every　night　before　she　went　to　sleep；
but　to…night　there　was　a　ghastly　certainty　and　imminence　about　it
that　froze　her　blood。　She　crouched　up　against　the　hanging　skirts；
gazing　at　the　black　line　between　the　floor　and　the　white　sheets；
expecting　at　every　second　to　see　a　protruding　black　mask；　bloodshot
eyes；　a　coarse　hand。　The　memory　of　the　burglary　that　they　had　had　in
the　spring　came　upon　her　with　redoubled　force。　Ah！　surely；　surely
someone　was　there！　She　heard　a　movement；　a　scraping　of　a　boot　upon
the　floor；　the　thick　hurried　breathing　of　some　desperate
villain。　。　。

Then　these　fears　gave　way　to　something　worse　than　them　all；　the
certainty　that　Jeremy　was　dead。　Ridiculous　pictures　passed　before
her；　of　Jeremy　hanging　from　a　tree；　Jeremy　lying　frozen　in　the　wood；
the　faithful　Hamlet　dead　at　his　side；　Jeremy　stung　by　an　adder　and
succumbing　to　his　horrible　tortures；　Jeremy　surrounded　by　violent
men；　who　snatched　Hamlet　from　him；　beat　him　on　the　head　and　left　him
for　dead　on　the　ground。

She　passed　what　seemed　to　her　hours　of　torture　under　these　horrible
imaginings；　tired　out；　almost　out　of　her　mind　with　the　hysteria　of
her　loneliness；　her　imagination　and　her　conscience；　she　passed　into
a　kind　of　apathy　of　unhappiness；　thinking　now　only　of　Jeremy；
longing　for　him；　beseeching　him　to　come　back；　telling　the　empty
moonlit　room　that　she　never　meant　it；　that　she　would　do　everything
he　wanted　if　only　he　came　back　to　her；　that　she　was　a　wicked　girl；
that　she　would　never　be　wicked　again。　。　。　。　And　she　took　her
punishment　alone。

After　endless　ages　of　darkness　and　terror　and　misery　she　heard
voicesthen　HIS　voice！　She　jumped　out　of　the　wardrobe　and　listened。
Yes；　it　WAS　his　voice。　She　pushed　back　the　door；　crept　down　the
passage；　and　came　suddenly　upon　a　little　group；　with　Jeremy　in　its
midst；　crowded　together　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Jeremy　was　wrapped
up　in　his　father's　heavy　coat；　and　looked　very　small　and　impish　as
he　peered　from　out　of　it。　He　was　greatly　excited；　his　eyes　shining；
his　mouth　smiling；　his　cheeks　flushed。

His　audience　consisted　of　Helen；　Mrs。　Cole；　Miss　Jones；　and　Aunt
Amy。　He　described　to　them　how　he　had　run　along　the　road　〃for　miles
and　miles　and　miles；〃　how　at　last　he　had　found　the　farm；　had　rung
the　bell；　and　inquired；　and　discovered　Hamlet　licking　up　sugary　tea
in　the　farm　kitchen；　there　had　then　been　a　rapturous　meeting；　and　he
had　boldly　declared　that　he　could　find　his　way　home　again　without
aid。　〃They　wanted　me　to　be　driven　home　in　their　trap；　but　I　wasn't
going　to　have　that。　They'd　been　at　the　fair　all　day；　and　didn't　want
to　go　out　again。　I　could　see　that。〃　So　he　and　Hamlet　started　gaily
on　their　walk　home；　and　then；　in　some　way　or　another；　he　took　the
wrong　turn；　and　suddenly　they　were　in　Mellot　Wood。　〃It　was　dark　as
anything；　you　know；　although　there　was　going　to　be　a　moon。　We
couldn't　see　a　thing；　and　then　I　got　loster　and　loster。　At　last　we
just　sat　under　a　tree。　There　was　nothing　more　to　do！〃　Then；
apparently；　Jeremy　had　slept；　and　had；　finally；　been　found　in　the
proper　romantic　manner　by　Jim　and　his　father。

〃Well；　all's　well　that　ends　well；〃　said　Aunt　Amy；　with　a　sniff。　In
spite　of　that　momentary　softness　over　the　defeat　of　the　Dean's
Ernest　she　liked　her　young　nephew　no　better　than　of　o