desperate remedies-第10章

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'Such　a　disgrace'

'Nonsense！　　I　maintain　that　it　is　no　disgrace！'　she　said；　rather
warmly。　　'You　know　very　well'

'Well；　since　you　will；　you　must；'　he　interrupted。　　'Why　do　you　put
〃inexperienced？〃'

'Because　I　am。'

'Never　mind　thatscratch　out　〃inexperienced。〃　　We　are　poor；
Cytherea；　aren't　we？'　he　murmured；　after　a　silence；　'and　it　seems
that　the　two　months　will　close　my　engagement　here。'

'We　can　put　up　with　being　poor；'　she　said；　'if　they　only　give　us
work　to　do。　。　。　。　　Yes；　we　desire　as　a　blessing　what　was　given　us　as
a　curse；　and　even　that　is　denied。　　However；　be　cheerful；　Owen；　and
never　mind！'

In　justice　to　desponding　men；　it　is　as　well　to　remember　that　the
brighter　endurance　of　women　at　these　epochsinvaluable；　sweet；
angelic；　as　it　isowes　more　of　its　origin　to　a　narrower　vision　that
shuts　out　many　of　the　leaden…eyed　despairs　in　the　van；　than　to　a
hopefulness　intense　enough　to　quell　them。



IV。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY

1。　　AUGUST　THE　FOURTH。　　TILL　FOUR　O'CLOCK

The　early　part　of　the　next　week　brought　an　answer　to　Cytherea's　last
note　of　hope　in　the　way　of　advertisementnot　from　a　distance　of
hundreds　of　miles；　London；　Scotland；　Ireland；　the　Continentas
Cytherea　seemed　to　think　it　must；　to　be　in　keeping　with　the　means
adopted　for　obtaining　it；　but　from　a　place　in　the　neighbourhood　of
that　in　which　she　was　livinga　country　mansion　not　twenty　miles
off。　　The　reply　ran　thus：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　KNAPWATER　HOUSE；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　August　3；　1864。

'Miss　Aldclyffe　is　in　want　of　a　young　person　as　lady's…maid。　　The
duties　of　the　place　are　light。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　will　be　in　Budmouth
on　Thursday；　when　（should　G。　　still　not　have　heard　of　a　place）　she
would　like　to　see　her　at　the　Belvedere　Hotel；　Esplanade；　at　four
o'clock。　　No　answer　need　be　returned　to　this　note。'


A　little　earlier　than　the　time　named；　Cytherea；　clothed　in　a　modest
bonnet；　and　a　black　silk　jacket；　turned　down　to　the　hotel。
Expectation；　the　fresh　air　from　the　water；　the　bright；　far…extending
outlook；　raised　the　most　delicate　of　pink　colours　to　her　cheeks；　and
restored　to　her　tread　a　portion　of　that　elasticity　which　her　past
troubles；　and　thoughts　of　Edward；　had　well…nigh　taken　away。

She　entered　the　vestibule；　and　went　to　the　window　of　the　bar。

'Is　Miss　Aldclyffe　here？'　she　said　to　a　nicely…dressed　barmaid　in
the　foreground；　who　was　talking　to　a　landlady　covered　with　chains；
knobs；　and　clamps　of　gold；　in　the　background。

'No；　she　isn't；'　said　the　barmaid；　not　very　civilly。　　Cytherea
looked　a　shade　too　pretty　for　a　plain　dresser。

'Miss　Aldclyffe　is　expected　here；'　the　landlady　said　to　a　third
person；　out　of　sight；　in　the　tone　of　one　who　had　known　for　several
days　the　fact　newly　discovered　from　Cytherea。　　'Get　ready　her　room
be　quick。'　　From　the　alacrity　with　which　the　order　was　given　and
taken；　it　seemed　to　Cytherea　that　Miss　Aldclyffe　must　be　a　woman　of
considerable　importance。

'You　are　to　have　an　interview　with　Miss　Aldclyffe　here？'　the
landlady　inquired。

'Yes。'

'The　young　person　had　better　wait；'　continued　the　landlady。　　With　a
money…taker's　intuition　she　had　rightly　divined　that　Cytherea　would
bring　no　profit　to　the　house。

Cytherea　was　shown　into　a　nondescript　chamber；　on　the　shady　side　of
the　building；　which　appeared　to　be　either　bedroom　or　dayroom；　as
occasion　necessitated；　and　was　one　of　a　suite　at　the　end　of　the
first…floor　corridor。　　The　prevailing　colour　of　the　walls；　curtains；
carpet；　and　coverings　of　furniture；　was　more　or　less　blue；　to　which
the　cold　light　coming　from　the　north　easterly　sky；　and　falling　on　a
wide　roof　of　new　slatesthe　only　object　the　small　window　commanded…
…imparted　a　more　striking　paleness。　　But　underneath　the　door；
communicating　with　the　next　room　of　the　suite；　gleamed　an
infinitesimally　small；　yet　very　powerful；　fraction　of　contrasta
very　thin　line　of　ruddy　light；　showing　that　the　sun　beamed　strongly
into　this　room　adjoining。　　The　line　of　radiance　was　the　only
cheering　thing　visible　in　the　place。

People　give　way　to　very　infantine　thoughts　and　actions　when　they
wait；　the　battle…field　of　life　is　temporarily　fenced　off　by　a　hard
and　fast　linethe　interview。　　Cytherea　fixed　her　eyes　idly　upon　the
streak；　and　began　picturing　a　wonderful　paradise　on　the　other　side
as　the　source　of　such　a　beamreminding　her　of　the　well…known　good
deed　in　a　naughty　world。

Whilst　she　watched　the　particles　of　dust　floating　before　the
brilliant　chink　she　heard　a　carriage　and　horses　stop　opposite　the
front　of　the　house。　　Afterwards　came　the　rustle　of　a　lady's　skirts
down　the　corridor；　and　into　the　room　communicating　with　the　one
Cytherea　occupied。

The　golden　line　vanished　in　parts　like　the　phosphorescent　streak
caused　by　the　striking　of　a　match；　there　was　the　fall　of　a　light
footstep　on　the　floor　just　behind　it：　　then　a　pause。　　Then　the　foot
tapped　impatiently；　and　'There's　no　one　here！'　was　spoken
imperiously　by　a　lady's　tongue。

'No；　madam；　in　the　next　room。　　I　am　going　to　fetch　her；'　said　the
attendant。

'That　will　door　you　needn't　go　in；　I　will　call　her。'

Cytherea　had　risen；　and　she　advanced　to　the　middle　door　with　the
chink　under　it　as　the　servant　retired。　　She　had　just　laid　her　hand
on　the　knob；　when　it　slipped　round　within　her　fingers；　and　the　door
was　pulled　open　from　the　other　side。

2。　　FOUR　O'CLOCK

The　direct　blaze　of　the　afternoon　sun；　partly　refracted　through　the
crimson　curtains　of　the　window；　and　heightened　by　reflections　from
the　crimson…flock　paper　which　covered　the　walls；　and　a　carpet　on　the
floor　of　the　same　tint；　shone　with　a　burning　glow　round　the　form　of
a　lady　standing　close　to　Cytherea's　front　with　the　door　in　her　hand。
The　stranger　appeared　to　the　maiden's　eyesfresh　from　the　blue
gloom；　and　assisted　by　an　imagination　fresh　from　naturelike　a　tall
black　figure　standing　in　the　midst　of　fire。　　It　was　the　figure　of　a
finely…built　woman；　of　spare　though　not　angular　proportions。

Cytherea　involuntarily　shaded　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　retreated　a
step　or　two；　and　then　she　could　for　the　first　time　see　Miss
Aldclyffe's　face　in　addition　to　her　outline；　lit　up　by　the　secondary
and　softer　light　that　was　reflected　from　the　varnished　panels　of　the
door。　　She　was　not　a　very　young　woman；　but　could　boast　of　much
beauty　of　the　majestic　autumnal　phase。

'O；'　said　the　lady；　'come　this　way。'　　Cytherea　followed　her　to　the
embrasure　of　the　window。

Both　the　women　showed　off　themselves　to　advantage　as　they　walked
forward　in　the　orange　light；　and　each　showed　too　in　her　face　that
she　had　been　struck　with　her　companion's　appearance。　　The　warm　tint
added　to　Cytherea's　face　a　voluptuousness　which　youth　and　a　simple
life　had　not　yet　allowed　to　express　itself　there　ordinarily；　whilst
in　the　elder　lady's　face　it　reduced　the　customary　expression；　which
might　have　been　called　sternness；　if　not　harshness；　to　grandeur；　and
warmed　her　decaying　complexion　with　much　of　the　youthful　richness　it
plainly　had　once　possessed。

She　appeared　now　no　more　than　five…and…thirty；　though　she　might
easily　have　been　ten　or　a　dozen　years　older。　　She　had　clear　steady
eyes；　a　Roman　nose　in　its　purest　form；　and　also　the　round　prominent
chin　with　which　the　Caesars　are　represented　in　ancient　marbles；　a
mouth　expressing　a　capability　for　and　tendency　to　strong　emotion；
habitually　controlled　by　pride。　　There　was　a　severity　about　the
lower　outlines　of　the　face　which　gave　a　masculine　cast　to　this
portion　of　her　countenance。　　Womanly　weakness　was　nowhere　visible
save　in　one　partthe　curve　of　her　forehead　and　browsthere　it　was
clear　and　emphatic。　　She　wore　a　lace　shawl　over　a　brown　silk　dress；
and　a　net　bonnet　set　with　a　few　blue　cornflowers。

'You　inserted　the　advertisement　for　a　situation　as　lady's…maid
giving　the　address；　G。；　Cross　Street？'

'Yes；　madam。　　Graye。'

'Yes。　　I　have　heard　your　nameMrs。　Morris；　my　housekeeper；
mentioned　you；　and　pointed　out　your　advertisement。'

This　was　puzzling　intelligence；　but　there　was　not　time　enough　to
consider　it。

'Where　did　you　live　last？'　continued　Miss　Aldclyffe。

'I　have　never　been　a　servant　before。　　I　lived　at　home。'

'Never　been　out？　　I　thought　too　at　sight　of　you　that　you　were　too
girlish…looking　to　have　done　much。　　But　why　did　you　advertise　with
such　assurance？　　It　misleads　people。'

'I　am　very　sorry：　　I　put　〃inexperienced〃　at　first；　but　my　brother
said　it　is　absurd　to　trumpet　your　own　weakness　to　the　world；　and
would　not　let　it　remain。'

'But　your　mother　knew　what　was　right；　I　suppose？'

'I　have　no　mother；　madam。'

'Your　father；　then？'

'I　have　no　father。'

'Well；'　she　said；　more　softly；　'your　sisters；　aunts；　or　cousins。'

'They　didn't　think　anything　about　it。'

'You　didn't　ask　them；　I　suppose。'

'No。'

'You　should　have　done　so；　then。　　Why　didn't　you？'

'Because　I　haven't　any　of　them；　either。'

Miss　Aldclyffe　showed　her　surprise。　　'You　deserve　forgiveness　then
at　any　rate；　child；'　she　said；　in　a　sort　of　drily…kind　tone。
'However；　I　am　afraid　you　do　not　suit　me；　as　I　am　looking　for　an
elderly　person。　　You　see；　I　want　an　experienced　maid　who　knows　all
the　usual　duties　of　the　office。'　　She　was　going　to　add；　'Though　I
like　your　appearance；'　but　the　words　seemed　offensive　to　apply　to
the　ladylike　girl　before　her；　and　she　modified　them　to；　'though　I
like　you　much。'

'I　am　sorry　I　misled　you；　madam；'　said　Cytherea。

Miss　Aldclyffe　stood　in　a　reverie；　without　replying。

'Good　afternoon；'　continued　Cytherea。

'Good…bye；　Miss　GrayeI　hope　you　will　succeed。'

Cytherea　turned　away　towards　the　door。　　The　movement　chanced　to　be
one　of　her　masterpieces。　　It　was　precise：　　it　had　as　much　beauty　as
was　compatible　with　precision；　and　as　little　coquettishness　as　was
compatible　with　beauty。

And　she　had　in　turning　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　other　lady
with　a　faint　accent　of　reproach　in　her　face。　　Those　who　remember
Greuze's　'Head　of　a　Girl；'　have　an　idea　of　Cytherea's　look　askance
at　the　turning。　　It　is　not　for　a　man　to　tell　fishers　of　men　how　to
set　out　their　fascinations　so　as　to　bring　about　the　highest　possible
average　of　takes　within　the　year：　　but　the　action　that　tugs　the
hardest　of　all　at　an　emotional　beholder　is　this　sweet　method　of
turning　which　steals　the　bosom　away　and　leaves　the　eyes　behind。

Now　Miss　Aldclyffe　herself　was　no　tyro　at　wheeling。　　When　Cytherea
had　closed　the　door　upon　her；　she　remained　for　some　time　in　her
motionless　attitude；　listening　to　the　gradually　dying　sound　of　the
maiden's　retreating　footsteps。　　She　murmured　to　herself；　'It　is
almost　worth　while　to　be　bored　with　instructing　her　in　order　to　have
a　creature　who　could　glide　round　my　luxurious　indolent　body　in　that
manner；　and　look　at　me　in　that　wayI　warrant　how　light　her　fingers
are　upon　one's　head　and　neck。　。　。　。　　What　a　silly　modest　young　thing
she　is；　to　go　away　so　suddenly　as　that！'　　She　rang　the　bell。

'Ask　the　young　lady　who　has　just　left　me　to　step　back　again；'　she
said　to　the　attendant。　　'Quick！　or　she　will　be　gone。'

Cytherea　was　now　in　the　vestibule；　thinking　that　if　she　had　told　her
history；　Miss　Aldclyffe　might　perhaps　have　taken　her　into　the
household；　yet　her　history　she　particular