the legacy of cain-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！



Mr。　Gracedieu　being　undoubtedly　ignorant　of　the　woman's　marriage；
it　was　not　easy　to　say　what　the　consequence　might　be；　in　his
excitable　state；　if　I　informed　him　of　it。　He　would；　in　all
probability；　conclude　that　I　knew　more　of　the　woman　than　he　did。
I　decided　on　keeping　my　own　counsel；　for　the　present　at　least。

Passing　at　once；　therefore；　to　the　one　consideration　of　any
importance；　I　endeavored　to　find　out　whether　Mr。　Gracedieu　and
Mrs。　Tenbruggen　had　met；　or　had　communicated　with　each　other　in
any　way；　during　the　long　period　of　separation　that　had　taken
place　between　the　Minister　and　myself。　If　he　had　been　so　unlucky
as　to　offend　her；　she　was　beyond　all　doubt　an　enemy　to　be
dreaded。　Apart；　however；　from　a　misfortune　of　this　kind；　she
would　rank；　in　my　opinion；　with　the　other　harmless　objects　of　Mr。
Gracedieu's　distrust。

In　making　my　inquiries；　I　found　that　I　had　an　obstacle　to　contend
with。

While　he　felt　the　renovating　influence　of　the　repose　that　he
enjoyed；　the　Minister　had　been　able　to　think　and　to　express
himself　with　less　difficulty　than　usual。　But　the　reserves　of
strength；　on　which　the　useful　exercise　of　his　memory　depe　nded；
began　to　fail　him　as　the　interview　proceeded。　He　distinctly
recollected　that　〃something　unpleasant　had　passed　between　that
audacious　woman　and　himself。〃　But　at　what　dateand　whether　by
word　of　mouth　or　by　correspondencewas　more　than　his　memory
could　now　recall。　He　believed　be　was　not　mistaken　in　telling　me
that　he　〃had　been　in　two　minds　about　her。〃　At　one　time；　he　was
satisfied　that　he　had　taken　wise　measures　for　his　own　security；
if　she　attempted　to　annoy　him。　But　there　was　another　and　a　later
time；　when　doubts　and　fears　had　laid　hold　of　him　again。　If　I
wanted　to　know　how　this　had　happened；　he　fancied　it　was　through　a
dream；　and　if　I　asked　what　the　dream　was；　he　could　only　beg　and
pray　that　I　would　spare　his　poor　head。

Unwilling　even　yet　to　submit　unconditionally　to　defeat；　it
occurred　to　me　to　try　a　last　experiment　on　my　friend；　without
calling　for　any　mental　effort　on　his　own　part。　The　〃Miss　Chance〃
of　former　days　might；　by　a　bare　possibility；　have　written　to　him。
I　asked　accordingly　if　he　was　in　the　habit　of　keeping　his
letters；　and　if　he　would　allow　me　（when　he　had　rested　a　little）
to　lay　them　open　before　him；　so　that　he　could　look　at　the
signatures。　〃You　might　find　the　lost　recollection　in　that　way；〃　I
suggested；　〃at　the　bottom　of　one　of　your　letters。〃

He　was　in　that　state　of　weariness；　poor　fellow；　in　which　a　man
will　do　anything　for　the　sake　of　peace。　Pointing　to　a　cabinet　in
his　room；　he　gave　me　a　key　taken　from　a　little　basket　on　his　bed。
〃Look　for　yourself；〃　he　said。　After　some　hesitationfor　I
naturally　recoiled　from　examining　another　man's　correspondenceI
decided　on　opening　the　cabinet；　at　any　rate。

The　lettersa　large　collectionwere；　to　my　relief；　all　neatly
folded；　and　indorsed　with　the　names　of　the　writers。　I　could　run
harmlessly　through　bundle　after　bundle　in　search　of　the　one　name
that　I　wanted；　and　still　respect　the　privacy　of　the　letters。　My
perseverance　deserved　a　rewardand　failed　to　get　it。　The　name　I
wanted　steadily　eluded　my　search。　Arriving　at　the　upper　shelf　of
the　cabinet；　I　found　it　so　high　that　I　could　barely　reach　it　with
my　hand。　Instead　of　getting　more　letters　to　look　over；　I　pulled
down　two　newspapers。

One　of　them　was　an　old　copy　of　the　_Times；_　dating　back　as　far　as
the　13th　December；　1858。　It　was　carefully　folded；　longwise；　with
the　title…page　uppermost。　On　the　first　column；　at　the　left…hand
side　of　the　sheet；　appeared　the　customary　announcements　of
Births。　A　mark　with　a　blue　pencil；　against　one　of　the
advertisements；　attracted　my　attention。　I　read　these　lines：

〃On　the　10th　inst。；　the　wife　of　the　Rev。　Abel　Gracedieu；　of　a
daughter。〃

The　second　newspaper　bore　a　later　date；　and　contained　nothing
that　interested　me。　I　naturally　assumed　that　the　advertisement　in
the　_Times_　had　been　inserted　at　the　desire　of　Mrs。　Gracedieu；
and；　after　all　that　I　had　heard；　there　was　little　difficulty　in
attributing　the　curious　omission　of　the　place　in　which　the　child
had　been　born　to　the　caution　of　her　husband。　If　Mrs。　Tenbruggen
（then　Miss　Chance）　had　happened　to　see　the　advertisement　in　the
great　London　newspaper；　Mr。　Gracedieu　might　yet　have　good　reason
to　congratulate　himself　on　his　prudent　method　of　providing
against　mischievous　curiosity。

I　turned　toward　the　bed　and　looked　at　him。　His　eyes　were　closed。
Was　he　sleeping？　Or　was　he　trying　to　remember　what　he　had　desired
to　say　to　me；　when　the　demands　which　I　made　on　his　memory　had
obliged　him　to　wait　for　a　later　opportunity？

Either　way；　there　was　something　that　quickened　my　sympathies；　in
the　spectacle　of　his　helpless　repose。　It　suggested　to　me　personal
reasons　for　his　anxieties；　which　he　had　not　mentioned；　and　which
I　had　not　thought　of；　up　to　this　time。　If　the　discovery　that　he
dreaded　took　place；　his　household　would　be　broken　up；　and　his
position　as　pastor　would　suffer　in　the　estimation　of　the　flock。
His　own　daughter　would　refuse　to　live　under　the　same　roof　with
the　daughter　of　an　infamous　woman。　Popular　opinion；　among　his
congregation；　judging　a　man　who　had　passed　off　the　child　of　other
parents　as　his　own；　would　find　that　man　guilty　of　an　act　of
deliberate　deceit。

Still　oppressed　by　reflections　which　pointed　to　the　future　in
this　discouraging　way；　I　was　startled　by　a　voice　outside　the
doora　sweet；　sad　voicesaying；　〃May　I　come　in？〃

The　Minister's　eyes　opened　instantly：　he　raised　himself　in　his
bed。

〃Eunice；　at　last！〃　he　cried。　〃Let　her　in。〃


CHAPTER　XXXIX。

THE　ADOPTED　CHILD


I　OPENED　the　door。

Eunice　passed　me　with　the　suddenness　almost　of　a　flash　of　light。
When　I　turned　toward　the　bed；　her　arms　were　round　her　father's
neck。　〃Oh；　poor　papa；　how　ill　you　look！〃　Commonplace　expressions
of　fondness；　and　no　more；　but　the　tone　gave　them　a　charm　that
subdued　me。　Never　had　I　felt　so　indulgent　toward　Mr。　Gracedieu's
unreasonable　fears　as　when　I　saw　him　in　the　embrace　of　his
adopted　daughter。　She　had　already　reminded　me　of　the　bygone　day
when　a　bright　little　child　had　sat　on　my　knee　and　listened　to　the
ticking　of　my　watch。

The　Minister　gently　lifted　her　head　from　his　breast。　〃My
darling；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't　see　my　old　friend。　Love　him；　and
look　up　to　him；　Eunice。　He　will　be　your　friend；　too；　when　I　am
gone。〃

She　came　to　me　and　offered　her　cheek　to　be　kissed。　It　was　sadly
pale；　poor　souland　I　could　guess　why。　But　her　heart　was　now
full　of　her　father。　〃Do　you　think　he　is　seriously　ill？〃　she
whispered。　What　I　ought　to　have　said　I　don't　know。　Her　eyes；　the
sweetest；　truest；　loveliest　eyes　I　ever　saw　in　a　human　face；　were
pleading　with　me。　Let　my　enemies　make　the　worst　of　it；　if　they
likeI　did　certainly　lie。　And　if　I　deserved　my　punishment；　I　got
it；　the　poor　child　believed　me！　〃Now　I　am　happier；〃　she　said；
gratefully。　〃Only　to　hear　your　voice　seems　to　encourage　me。　On
our　way　here；　Selina　did　nothing　but　talk　of　you。　She　told　me　I
shouldn't　have　time　to　feel　afraid　of　the　great　man；　he　would
make　me　fond　of　him　directly。　I　said；　'Are　you　fond　of　him？'　She
said；　'Madly　in　love　with　him；　my　dear。'　My　little　friend　really
thinks　you　like　her；　and　is　very　proud　of　it　There　are　some
people　who　call　her　ugly。　I　hope　you　don't　agree　with　them？〃

I　believe　I　should　have　lied　again；　if　Mr。　Gracedieu　had　not
called　me　to　the　bedside

〃How　does　she　strike　you？〃　he　whispered；　eagerly。　〃Is　it　too　soon
to　ask　if　she　shows　her　age　in　her　face？〃

〃Neither　in　her　face　nor　her　figure；〃　I　answered：　〃it　astonishes
me　that　you　can　ever　have　doubted　it。　No　stranger；　judging　by
personal　appearance；　could　fail　to　make　the　mistake　of　thinking
Helena　the　oldest　of　the　two。〃

He　looked　fondly　at　Eunice。　〃Her　figure　seems　to　bear　out　what
you　say；〃　he　went　on。　〃Almost　childish；　isn't　it？〃

I　could　not　agree　to　that。　Slim；　supple；　simply　graceful　in　every
movement；　Eunice's　figure；　in　the　charm　of　first　youth；　only
waited　its　perfect　development。　Most　men；　looking　at　her　as　she
stood　at　the　other　end　of　the　room　with　her　back　toward　us；　would
have　guessed　her　age　to　be　sixteen。

Finding　that　I　failed　to　agree　with　him；　Mr。　Gracedieu's
misgivings　returned。　〃You　speak　very　confidently；〃　he　said；
〃considering　that　you　have　not　seen　the　girls　together。　Think
what　a　dreadful　blow　it　would　be　to　me　if　you　made　a　mistake。〃

I　declared；　with　perfect　sincerity；　that　there　was　no　fear　of　a
mistake。　The　bare　idea　of　making　the　proposed　comparison　was
hateful　to　me。　If　Helena　and　I　had　happened　to　meet　at　that
moment；　I　should　have　turned　away　from　her　by　instinctshe　would
have　disturbed　my　impressions　of　Eunice。

The　Minister　signed　to　me　to　move　a　little　nearer　to　him。　〃I　must
say　it；〃　he　whispered；　〃and　I　am　afraid　of　her　hearing　me。　Is
there　anything　in　her　face　that　reminds　you　of　her　miserable
mother？〃

I　had　hardly　patience　to　answer　the　question：　it　was　simply
preposterous。　Her　hair　was　by　many　shades　darker　than　her
mother's　hair；　her　eyes　were　of　a　different　color。　There　was　an
exquisite　tenderness　and　sincerity　in　their　expressionmade
additionally　beautiful；　to　my　mind；　by　a　gentle；　uncomplaining
sadness。　It　was　impossible　even　to　think　of　the　eyes　of　the
murderess　when　I　looked　at　her　child。　Eunice's　lower　features；
again；　had　none　of　her　mother's　regularity　of　p　roportion。　Her
smile；　simple　and　sweet；　and　soon　passing　away；　was　certainly　not
an　inherited　smile　on　the　maternal　side。　Whether　she　resembled
her　father；　I　was　unable　to　conjecturehaving　never　seen　him。
The　one　thing　certain　was；　that　not　the　faintest　trace；　in
feature　or　expression；　of　Eunice's　mother　was　to　be　seen　in
Eunice　herself。　Of　the　two　girls；　Helenajudging　by　something　in
the　color　of　her　hair；　and　by　something　in　the　shade　of　her
complexionmight　possibly　have　suggested；　in　those　particulars
only；　a　purely　accidental　resemblance　to　my　terrible　prisoner　of
past　times。

The　revival　of　Mr。　Gracedieu's　spirits　indicated　a　temporary
change　only；　and　was　already　beginning　to　pass　away。　The　eyes
which　had　looked　lovingly　at　Eunice　began　to　look　languidly　now：
his　head　sank　on　the　pillow　with　a　sigh　of　weak　content。　〃My
pleasure　has　been　almost　too　much　for　me；〃　he　said。　〃Leave　me　for
a　while　to　rest；　and　get　used　to　it。〃

Eunice　kissed　his　foreheadand　we　left　the　room。


CHAPTER　XL。

THE　BRUISED　HEART。


WHEN　we　stepped　out　on　the　landing；　I　observed　that　my　companion
paused。　She　looked　at　the　two　flights　of　stairs　below　us　before
she　descended　them。　It　occurred　to　me　that　there　must　be　somebody
in　the　house　whom　she　was　anxious　to　avoid。

Arrived　at　the　lower　hall；　she　paused　again；　and　proposed　in　a
whisper　that　we　should　go　into　the　garden。　As　we　advanced　along
the　backward　division　of　the　hall；　I　saw　her　eyes　turn
distrustfully　toward　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　Helena　had
received　me。　At　last；　my　slow　perceptions　felt　with　her　and
understood　her。　Eunice's　sensitive　nature　recoiled　from　a　chance
meeting　with　the　wretch　who　had　laid　waste　all　that　had　once　been
happy　and　hopeful　in　that　harmless　young　life。

〃Will　you　come　with　me　to　the　part　of　the　garden　that　I　am
fond