the legacy of cain-第43章

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I　was　not　unprepared　for　Miss　Jillgall　when　she　alluded；　for　the
second　time；　to　the　sad　events　which　had　happened　in　the　house　on
the　previous　dayand　especially　to　the　destruction　by　Mr。
Gracedieu　of　the　portrait　of　his　wife。

〃Why　didn't　he　destroy　something　else？〃　she　pleaded；　piteously。
〃It　is　such　a　disappointment　to　Me。　I　never　liked　that　picture
myself。　Of　course　I　ought　to　have　admired　the　portrait　of　the
wife　of　my　benefactor。　But　nothat　disagreeable　painted　face　was
too　much　for　me。　I　should　have　felt　inexpressibly　relieved；　if　I
could　have　shown　it　to　Elizabeth；　and　heard　her　say　that　she
agreed　with　me。〃

〃Perhaps　I　saw　it　when　I　called　on　you；〃　Mrs。　Tenbruggen
suggested。　〃Where　did　the　picture　hang？〃

〃My　dear！　I　received　you　in　the　dining…room；　and　the　portrait
hung　in　Mr。　Gracedieu's　study。〃

What　they　said　to　each　other　next　escaped　my　attention。　Quite
unconsciously；　Miss　Jillgall　had　revealed　to　me　a　danger　which
neither　the　Minister　nor　I　had　discovered；　though　it　had
conspicuously　threatened　us　both　on　the　wall　of　the　study。　The
act　of　mad　destruction　which；　if　I　had　possessed　the　means　of
safely　interfering；　I　should　certainly　have　endeavored　to
prevent；　now　assumed　a　new　and　startling　aspect。　If　Mrs。
Tenbruggen　really　had　some　motive　of　her　own　for　endeavoring　to
identify　the　adopted　child；　the　preservation　of　the　picture　must
have　led　her　straight　to　the　end　in　view。　The　most　casual
opportunity　of　comparing　Helena　with　the　portrait　of　Mrs。
Gracedieu　would　have　revealed　the　likeness　between　mother　and
daughterand；　that　result　attained；　the　identification　of　Eunice
with　the　infant　whom　the　〃Miss　Chance〃　of　those　days　had　brought
to　the　prison　must　inevitably　have　followed。　It　was　perhaps
natural　that　Mr。　Gracedieu's　infatuated　devotion　to　the　memory　of
his　wife　should　have　blinded　him　to　the　betrayal　of　Helena's
parentage；　which　met　his　eyes　every　time　he　entered　his　study。
But　that　I　should　have　been　too　stupid　to　discover　what　he　had
failed　to　see；　was　a　wound　dealt　to　my　self…esteem　which　I　was
vain　enough　to　feel　acutely。

Mrs。　Tenbruggen's　voice；　cheery　and　humorous；　broke　in　on　my
reflections；　with　an　odd　question：

〃Mr。　Governor；　do　you　ever　condescend　to　read　novels？〃

〃It's　not　easy　to　say；　Mrs。　Tenbruggen；　how　grateful　I　am　to　the
writers　of　novels。〃

〃Ah！　I　read　novels；　too。　But　I　blush　to　confessdo　I
blush？that　I　never　thought　of　feeling　grateful　till　you
mentioned　it。　Selina　and　I　don't　complain　of　your　preferring　your
own　reflections　to　our　company。　On　the　contrary；　you　have
reminded　us　agreeably　of　the　heroes　of　fiction；　when　the　author
describes　them　as　being　'absorbed　in　thought。'　For　some　minutes；
Mr。　Governor；　you　have　been　a　hero；　absorbed；　as　I　venture　to
guess；　in　unpleasant　remembrances　of　the　time　when　I　was　a　single
lady。　You　have　not　forg　otten　how　badly　I　behaved；　and　what
shocking　things　I　said；　in　those　bygone　days。　Am　I　right？〃

〃You　are　entirely　wrong。〃

It　is　possible　that　I　may　have　spoken　a　little　too　sharply。
Anyway；　faithful　Selina　interceded　for　her　friend。　〃Oh；　dear　sir；
don't　be　hard　on　Elizabeth！　She　always　means　well。〃　Mrs。
Tenbruggen；　as　facetious　as　ever；　made　a　grateful　return　for　a
small　compliment。　She　chucked　Miss　Jillgall　under　the　chin；　with
the　air　of　an　amorous　old　gentleman　expressing　his　approval　of　a
pretty　servant…girl。　It　was　impossible　to　look　at　the　two；　in
their　relative　situations；　without　laughing。　But　Mrs。　Tenbruggen
failed　to　cheat　me　into　altering　my　opinion　of　her。　Innocent　Miss
Jillgall　clapped　her　ugly　hands；　and　said：　〃Isn't　she　good
company？〃

Mrs。　Tenbruggen's　social　resources　were　not　exhausted　yet。　She
suddenly　shifted　to　the　serious　side　of　her　character。

〃Perhaps　I　have　improved　a　little；〃　she　said；　〃as　I　have　advanced
in　years。　The　sorrows　of　an　unhappy　married　life　may　have　had　a
purifying　influence　on　my　nature。　My　husband　and　I　began　badly。
Mr。　Tenbruggen　thought　I　had　money；　and　I　thought　Mr。　Tenbruggen
had　money。　He　was　taken　in　by　me；　and　I　was　taken　in　by　him。　When
he　repeated　the　words　of　the　marriage　service　（most　impressively
read　by　your　friend　the　Chaplain）：　'With　all　my　worldly　goods　I
thee　endow'his　eloquent　voice　suggested　one　of　the　largest
incomes　in　Europe。　When　I　promised　and　vowed；　in　my　turn；　the
delightful　prospect　of　squandering　my　rich　husband's　money　made
quite　a　new　woman　of　me。　I　declare　solemnly；　when　I　said　I　would
love；　honor；　and　obey　Mr。　T。；　I　looked　as　if　I　really　meant　it。
Wherever　he　is　now；　poor　dear；　he　is　cheating　somebody。　Such　a
handsome；　gentleman…like　man；　Selina！　And；　oh；　Mr。　Governor；　such
a　blackguard！〃

Having　described　her　husband　in　those　terms；　she　got　tired　of　the
subject。　We　were　now　favored　with　another　view　of　this　many…sided
woman。　She　appeared　in　her　professional　character。

〃Ah；　what　a　delicious　breeze　is　blowing；　out　here　in　the
country！〃　she　said。　〃Will　you　excuse　me　if　I　take　off　my　gloves？
I　want　to　air　my　hands。〃　She　held　up　her　hands　to　the　breeze；
firm；　muscular；　deadly　white　hands。　〃In　my　professional
occupation；〃　she　explained；　〃I　am　always　rubbing；　tickling；
squeezing；　tapping；　kneading；　rolling；　striking　the　muscles　of
patients。　Selina；　do　you　know　the　movements　of　your　own　joints？
Flexion；　extension；　abduction；　adduction；　rotation；
circumduction；　pronation；　supination；　and　the　lateral　movements。
Be　proud　of　those　accomplishments；　my　dear；　but　beware　of
attempting　to　become　a　Masseuse。　There　are　drawbacks　in　that
vocationand　I　am　conscious　of　one　of　them　at　this　moment。〃　She
lifted　her　hands　to　her　nose。　〃Pah！　my　hands　smell　of　other
people's　flesh。　The　delicious　country　air　will　blow　it　awaythe
luxury　of　purification！〃　Her　fingers　twisted　and　quivered；　and
got　crooked　at　one　moment　and　straight　again　at　another；　and
showed　themselves　in　succession　singly；　and　flew　into　each　other
fiercely　interlaced；　and　then　spread　out　again　like　the　sticks　of
a　fan；　until　it　really　made　me　giddy　to　look　at　them。　As　for　Miss
Jillgall；　she　lifted　her　poor　little　sunken　eyes　rapturously　to
the　sky；　as　if　she　called　the　homiest　sunlight　to　witness　that
this　was　the　most　lovable　woman　on　the　face　of　the　earth。

But　elderly　female　fascination　offers　its　allurements　in　vain　to
the　rough　animal；　man。　Suspicion　of　Mrs。　Tenbruggen's　motives　had
established　itself　firmly　in　my　mind。　Why　had　the　Popular
Masseuse　abandoned　her　brilliant　career　in　London；　and　plunged
into　the　obscurity　of　a　country　town？　An　opportunity　of　clearing
up　the　doubt　thus　suggested　seemed　to　have　presented　itself　now。
〃Is　it　indiscreet　to　ask；〃　I　said；　〃if　you　are　here　in　your
professional　capacity？〃

Her　cunning　seized　its　advantage　and　put　a　sly　question　to　me。
〃Do　you　wish　to　be　one　of　my　patients　yourself？〃

〃That　is；　unfortunately；　impossible；〃　I　replied　〃I　have　arranged
to　return　to　London。〃

〃Immediately？〃

〃To…morrow　at　the　latest。〃

Artful　as　she　was；　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　failed　to　conceal　a　momentary
expression　of　relief　which　betrayed　itself；　partly　in　her　manner；
partly　in　her　face。　She　had　ascertained；　to　her　own　complete
satisfaction；　that　my　speedy　departure　was　an　event　which　might
be　relied　on。

〃But　I　have　not　yet　answered　you；〃　she　resumed。　〃To　tell　the
truth；　I　am　eager　to　try　my　hands　on　you。　Massage；　as　I　practice
it；　would　lighten　your　weight；　and　restore　your　figure；　I　may
even　say　would　lengthen　your　life。　You　will　think　of　me；　one　of
these　days；　won't　you？　In　the　meanwhileyes！　I　am　here　in　my
professional　capacity。　Several　interesting　cases；　and　one　very
remarkable　person；　brought　to　death's　door　by　the　doctors；　a　rich
man　who　is　liberal　in　paying　his　fees。　There　is　my　quarrel　with
London　and　Londoners。　Some　of　their　papers；　medical　newspapers；
of　course；　declare　that　my　fees　are　exorbitant；　and　there　is　a
tendency　among　the　patientsI　mean　the　patients　who　are　rolling
in　richesto　follow　the　lead　of　the　newspapers。　I　am　no　worm　to
be　trodden　on；　in　that　way。　The　London　people　shall　wait　for　me；
until　they　miss　meand；　when　I　do　go　back；　they　will　find　the
fees　increased。　_My_　fingers　and　thumbs；　Mr。　Governor；　are　not　to
be　insulted　with　impunity。〃

Miss　Jillgall　nodded　her　head　at　me。　It　was　an　eloquent　nod。
〃Admire　my　spirited　friend；〃　was　the　interpretation　I　put　on　it。

At　the　same　time；　my　private　sentiments　suggested　that　Mrs。
Tenbruggen's　reply　was　too　perfectly　satisfactory；　viewed　as　an
explanation。　My　suspicions　were　by　no　means　set　at　rest；　and　I
was　resolved　not　to　let　the　subject　drop　yet。　〃Speaking　of　Mr。
Gracedieu；　and　of　the　chances　of　his　partial　recovery；〃　I　said；
〃do　you　think　the　Minister　would　benefit　by　Massage？〃

〃I　haven't　a　doubt　of　it；　if　you　can　get　rid　of　the　doctor。〃

〃You　think　he　would　be　an　obstacle　in　the　way？〃

〃There　are　some　medical　men　who　are　honorable　exceptions　to　the
general　rule；　and　he　may　be　one　of　them；〃　Mrs。　Tenbruggen
admitted。　〃Don't　be　too　hopeful。　As　a　doctor；　he　belongs　to　the
most　tyrannical　trades…union　in　existence。　May　I　make　a　personal
remark？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃I　find　something　in　your　mannerpray　don't　suppose　that　I　am
angrywhich　looks　like　distrust；　I　mean；　distrust　of　Me。〃

Miss　Jillgall's　ever　ready　kindness　interfered　in　my　defense：
〃Oh；　no；　Elizabeth！　You　are　not　often　mistaken；　but　indeed　you
are　wrong　now。　Look　at　my　distinguished　friend。　I　remember　my
copy　book；　when　I　was　a　small　creature　learning　to　write；　in
England。　There　were　first　lines　that　we　copied；　in　big　letters；
and　one　of　them　said；　'Distrust　Is　Mean。'　I　know　a　young　person；
whose　name　begins　with　H；　who　is　one　mass　of　meanness。
But〃excellent　Selina　paused；　and　pointed　to　me　with　a　gesture
of　triumph〃no　meanness　there！〃

Mrs。　Tenbruggen　waited　to　hear　what　I　had　to　say；　scornfully
insensible　to　Miss　Jillgall's　well…meant　interruption。

〃You　are　not　altogether　mistaken；〃　I　told　her。　〃I　can't　say　that
my　mind　is　in　a　state　of　distrust；　but　I　own　that　you　puzzle　me。〃

〃How；　if　you　please？〃

〃May　I　presume　that　you　remember　the　occasion　when　we　met　at　Mr。
Gracedieu's　house…door？　You　saw　that　I　failed　to　recognize　you；
and　you　refused　to　give　your　name　when　the　servant　asked　for　it。
A　few　days　afterward；　I　heard　you　（quite　accidentally）　forbid
Miss　Jillgall　to　mention　your　name　in　my　hearing。　I　am　at　a　loss
to　understand　it。〃

Before　she　could　answer　me；　the　chaise　drew　up　at　the　gate　of　the
farmhouse。　Mrs。　Tenbruggen　carefully　promised　to　explain　what　had
puzzled　me；　at　the　first　opportunity。　〃If　it　escapes　my　memory；〃
she　said；　〃pray　remind　me　of　it。〃

I　determined　to　remind　her　of　it。　Whether　I　could　depend　on　her
to　tell　me　the　truth；　might　be　quite　another　thing。



CHAPTER　XLVIII

THE　DECISION　OF　EUNICE。


EUNICE　ran　out　to　meet　us；　and　opened　the　gate。　She　was　instantly
folded　in　Miss　Jillgall's　arms。　On　her　release；　she　came　to　me；
eager　for　news　of　her　father's　health。　When　I　had　communicated
all　that　I　thought　it　right　to　tell　her　of　the　doctor's　last
report；　she　noticed　Mrs。　Tenbruggen。　The　　appearance　of　a　stranger
seemed　to　embarrass　h　er。　I　left　Miss　Jillgall　to　introduce　them
to　each　other。

〃Darling　Euneece；　you　remember　Mrs。　Tenbruggen's　name；　I　am　sur