desperate remedies-第13章

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something　between　a　high　altar　and　a　cabinet　piano；　the　surface
being　richly　worked　in　the　same　style　of　semi…classic　decoration；
but　the　extraordinary　outline　having　been　arrived　at　by　an　ingenious
joiner　and　decorator　from　the　neighbouring　town；　after　months　of
painful　toil　in　cutting　and　fitting；　under　Miss　Aldclyffe's
immediate　eye；　the　materials　being　the　remains　of　two　or　three　old
cabinets　the　lady　had　found　in　the　lumber…room。　　About　two…thirds　of
the　floor　was　carpeted；　the　remaining　portion　being　laid　with
parquetry　of　light　and　dark　woods。

Miss　Aldclyffe　was　standing　at　the　larger　window；　away　from　the
dressing…niche。　　She　bowed；　and　said　pleasantly；　'I　am　glad　you　have
come。　　We　shall　get　on　capitally；　I　dare　say。'

Her　bonnet　was　off。　　Cytherea　did　not　think　her　so　handsome　as　on
the　earlier　day；　the　queenliness　of　her　beauty　was　harder　and　less
warm。　　But　a　worse　discovery　than　this　was　that　Miss　Aldclyffe；　with
the　usual　obliviousness　of　rich　people　to　their　dependents'
specialities；　seemed　to　have　quite　forgotten　Cytherea's
inexperience；　and　mechanically　delivered　up　her　body　to　her　handmaid
without　a　thought　of　details；　and　with　a　mild　yawn。

Everything　went　well　at　first。　　The　dress　was　removed；　stockings　and
black　boots　were　taken　off；　and　silk　stockings　and　white　shoes　were
put　on。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　then　retired　to　bathe　her　hands　and　face；
and　Cytherea　drew　breath。　　If　she　could　get　through　this　first
evening；　all　would　be　right。　　She　felt　that　it　was　unfortunate　that
such　a　crucial　test　for　her　powers　as　a　birthday　dinner　should　have
been　applied　on　the　threshold　of　her　arrival；　but　set　to　again。

Miss　Aldclyffe　was　now　arrayed　in　a　white　dressing…gown；　and　dropped
languidly　into　an　easy…chair；　pushed　up　before　the　glass。　　The
instincts　of　her　sex　and　her　own　practice　told　Cytherea　the　next
movement。　　She　let　Miss　Aldclyffe's　hair　fall　about　her　shoulders；
and　began　to　arrange　it。　　It　proved　to　be　all　real；　a　satisfaction。

Miss　Aldclyffe　was　musingly　looking　on　the　floor；　and　the　operation
went　on　for　some　minutes　in　silence。　　At　length　her　thoughts　seemed
to　turn　to　the　present；　and　she　lifted　her　eyes　to　the　glass。

'Why；　what　on　earth　are　you　doing　with　my　head？'　she　exclaimed；　with
widely　opened　eyes。　　At　the　words　she　felt　the　back　of　Cytherea's
little　hand　tremble　against　her　neck。

'Perhaps　you　prefer　it　done　the　other　fashion；　madam？'　said　the
maiden。

'No；　no；　that's　the　fashion　right　enough；　but　you　must　make　more
show　of　my　hair　than　that；　or　I　shall　have　to　buy　some；　which　God
forbid！'

'It　is　how　I　do　my　own；'　said　Cytherea　naively；　and　with　a　sweetness
of　tone　that　would　have　pleased　the　most　acrimonious　under
favourable　circumstances；　but　tyranny　was　in　the　ascendant　with　Miss
Aldclyffe　at　this　moment；　and　she　was　assured　of　palatable　food　for
her　vice　by　having　felt　the　trembling　of　Cytherea's　hand。

'Yours；　indeed！　　YOUR　hair！　　Come；　go　on。'　　Considering　that
Cytherea　possessed　at　least　five　times　as　much　of　that　valuable
auxiliary　to　woman's　beauty　as　the　lady　before　her；　there　was　at　the
same　time　some　excuse　for　Miss　Aldclyffe's　outburst。　　She　remembered
herself；　however；　and　said　more　quietly；　'Now　then；　Graye　　By…the…
bye；　what　do　they　call　you　downstairs？'

'Mrs。　Graye；'　said　the　handmaid。

'Then　tell　them　not　to　do　any　such　absurd　thingnot　but　that　it　is
quite　according　to　usage；　but　you　are　too　young　yet。'

This　dialogue　tided　Cytherea　safely　onward　through　the　hairdressing
till　the　flowers　and　diamonds　were　to　be　placed　upon　the　lady's
brow。　　Cytherea　began　arranging　them　tastefully；　and　to　the　very
best　of　her　judgment。

'That　won't　do；'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe　harshly。

'Why？'

'I　look　too　youngan　old　dressed　doll。'

'Will　that；　madam？'

'No；　I　look　a　frighta　perfect　fright！'

'This　way；　perhaps？'

'Heavens！　　Don't　worry　me　so。'　　She　shut　her　lips　like　a　trap。

Having　once　worked　herself　up　to　the　belief　that　her　head…dress　was
to　be　a　failure　that　evening；　no　cleverness　of　Cytherea's　in
arranging　it　could　please　her。　　She　continued　in　a　smouldering
passion　during　the　remainder　of　the　performance；　keeping　her　lips
firmly　closed；　and　the　muscles　of　her　body　rigid。　　Finally；
snatching　up　her　gloves；　and　taking　her　handkerchief　and　fan　in　her
hand；　she　silently　sailed　out　of　the　room；　without　betraying　the
least　consciousness　of　another　woman's　presence　behind　her。

Cytherea's　fears　that　at　the　undressing　this　suppressed　anger　would
find　a　vent；　kept　her　on　thorns　throughout　the　evening。　　She　tried
to　read；　she　could　not。　　She　tried　to　sew；　she　could　not。　　She　tried
to　muse；　she　could　not　do　that　connectedly。　　'If　this　is　the
beginning；　what　will　the　end　be！'　she　said　in　a　whisper；　and　felt
many　misgivings　as　to　the　policy　of　being　overhasty　in　establishing
an　independence　at　the　expense　of　congruity　with　a　cherished　past。

3。　　MIDNIGHT

The　clock　struck　twelve。　　The　Aldclyffe　state　dinner　was　over。　　The
company　had　all　gone；　and　Miss　Aldclyffe's　bell　rang　loudly　and
jerkingly。

Cytherea　started　to　her　feet　at　the　sound；　which　broke　in　upon　a
fitful　sleep　that　had　overtaken　her。　　She　had　been　sitting　drearily
in　her　chair　waiting　minute　after　minute　for　the　signal；　her　brain
in　that　state　of　intentness　which　takes　cognizance　of　the　passage　of
Time　as　a　real　motionmotion　without　matterthe　instants　throbbing
past　in　the　company　of　a　feverish　pulse。　　She　hastened　to　the　room；
to　find　the　lady　sitting　before　the　dressing　shrine；　illuminated　on
both　sides；　and　looking　so　queenly　in　her　attitude　of　absolute
repose；　that　the　younger　woman　felt　the　awfullest　sense　of
responsibility　at　her　Vandalism　in　having　undertaken　to　demolish　so
imposing　a　pile。

The　lady's　jewelled　ornaments　were　taken　off　in　silencesome　by　her
own　listless　hands；　some　by　Cytherea's。　　Then　followed　the　outer
stratum　of　clothing。　　The　dress　being　removed；　Cytherea　took　it　in
her　hand　and　went　with　it　into　the　bedroom　adjoining；　intending　to
hang　it　in　the　wardrobe。　　But　on　second　thoughts；　in　order　that　she
might　not　keep　Miss　Aldclyffe　waiting　a　moment　longer　than
necessary；　she　flung　it　down　on　the　first　resting…place　that　came　to
hand；　which　happened　to　be　the　bed；　and　re…entered　the　dressing…room
with　the　noiseless　footfall　of　a　kitten。　　She　paused　in　the　middle
of　the　room。

She　was　unnoticed；　and　her　sudden　return　had　plainly　not　been
expected。　　During　the　short　time　of　Cytherea's　absence；　Miss
Aldclyffe　had　pulled　off　a　kind　of　chemisette　of　Brussels　net；　drawn
high　above　the　throat；　which　she　had　worn　with　her　evening　dress　as
a　semi…opaque　covering　to　her　shoulders；　and　in　its　place　had　put
her　night…gown　round　her。　　Her　right　hand　was　lifted　to　her　neck；　as
if　engaged　in　fastening　her　night…gown。

But　on　a　second　glance　Miss　Aldclyffe's　proceeding　was　clearer　to
Cytherea。　　She　was　not　fastening　her　night…gown；　it　had　been
carelessly　thrown　round　her；　and　Miss　Aldclyffe　was　really　occupied
in　holding　up　to　her　eyes　some　small　object　that　she　was　keenly
scrutinizing。　　And　now　on　suddenly　discovering　the　presence　of
Cytherea　at　the　back　of　the　apartment；　instead　of　naturally
continuing　or　concluding　her　inspection；　she　desisted　hurriedly；　the
tiny　snap　of　a　spring　was　heard；　her　hand　was　removed；　and　she　began
adjusting　her　robes。

Modesty　might　have　directed　her　hasty　action　of　enwrapping　her
shoulders；　but　it　was　scarcely　likely；　considering　Miss　Aldclyffe's
temperament；　that　she　had　all　her　life　been　used　to　a　maid；
Cytherea's　youth；　and　the　elder　lady's　marked　treatment　of　her　as　if
she　were　a　mere　child　or　plaything。　　The　matter　was　too　slight　to
reason　about；　and　yet　upon　the　whole　it　seemed　that　Miss　Aldclyffe
must　have　a　practical　reason　for　concealing　her　neck。

With　a　timid　sense　of　being　an　intruder　Cytherea　was　about　to　step
back　and　out　of　the　room；　but　at　the　same　moment　Miss　Aldclyffe
turned；　saw　the　impulse；　and　told　her　companion　to　stay；　looking
into　her　eyes　as　if　she　had　half　an　intention　to　explain　something。
Cytherea　felt　certain　it　was　the　little　mystery　of　her　late
movements。　　The　other　withdrew　her　eyes；　Cytherea　went　to　fetch　the
dressing…gown；　and　wheeled　round　again　to　bring　it　up　to　Miss
Aldclyffe；　who　had　now　partly　removed　her　night…dress　to　put　it　on
the　proper　way；　and　still　sat　with　her　back　towards　Cytherea。

Her　neck　was　again　quite　open　and　uncovered；　and　though　hidden　from
the　direct　line　of　Cytherea's　vision；　she　saw　it　reflected　in　the
glassthe　fair　white　surface；　and　the　inimitable　combination　of
curves　between　throat　and　bosom　which　artists　adore；　being　brightly
lit　up　by　the　light　burning　on　either　side。

And　the　lady's　prior　proceedings　were　now　explained　in　the　simplest
manner。　　In　the　midst　of　her　breast；　like　an　island　in　a　sea　of
pearl；　reclined　an　exquisite　little　gold　locket；　embellished　with
arabesque　work　of　blue；　red；　and　white　enamel。　　That　was　undoubtedly
what　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　been　contemplating；　and；　moreover；　not
having　been　put　off　with　her　other　ornaments；　it　was　to　be　retained
during　the　nighta　slight　departure　from　the　custom　of　ladies　which
Miss　Aldclyffe　had　at　first　not　cared　to　exhibit　to　her　new
assistant；　though　now；　on　further　thought；　she　seemed　to　have　become
indifferent　on　the　matter。

'My　dressing…gown；'　she　said；　quietly　fastening　her　night…dress　as
she　spoke。

Cytherea　came　forward　with　it。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　did　not　turn　her
head；　but　looked　inquiringly　at　her　maid　in　the　glass。

'You　saw　what　I　wear　on　my　neck；　I　suppose？'　she　said　to　Cytherea's
reflected　face。

'Yes；　madam；　I　did；'　said　Cytherea　to　Miss　Aldclyffe's　reflected
face。

Miss　Aldclyffe　again　looked　at　Cytherea's　reflection　as　if　she　were
on　the　point　of　explaining。　　Again　she　checked　her　resolve；　and　said
lightly

'Few　of　my　maids　discover　that　I　wear　it　always。　　I　generally　keep
it　a　secretnot　that　it　matters　much。　　But　I　was　careless　with　you；
and　seemed　to　want　to　tell　you。　　You　win　me　to　make　confidences
that。　。　。'

She　ceased；　took　Cytherea's　hand　in　her　own；　lifted　the　locket　with
the　other；　touched　the　spring　and　disclosed　a　miniature。

'It　is　a　handsome　face；　is　it　not？'　she　whispered　mournfully；　and
even　timidly。

'It　is。'

But　the　sight　had　gone　through　Cytherea　like　an　electric　shock；　and
there　was　an　instantaneous　awakening　of　perception　in　her；　so
thrilling　in　its　presence　as　to　be　well…nigh　insupportable。　　The
face　in　the　miniature　was　the　face　of　her　own　fatheryounger　and
fresher　than　she　had　ever　known　himbut　her　father！

Was　this　the　woman　of　his　wild　and　unquenchable　early　love？　　And　was
this　the　woman　who　had　figured　in　the　gate…man's　story　as　answering
the　name　of　Cytherea　before　her　judgment　was　awake？　　Surely　it　was。
And　if　so；　here　was　the　tangible　outcrop　of　a　romantic　and　hidden
stratum　of　the　past　hitherto　seen　only　in　her　imagination；　but　as
far　as　her　scope　allowed；　clearly　defined　therein　by　reason　of　its
strangeness。

Miss　Aldclyffe's　eyes　and　thoughts　were　so　intent　upon　the　miniature
that　she　had　not　been　conscious　of　Cytherea's　start　of　surprise。
She　went　on　speaking　in　a　low　and　abstracted　tone。

'Yes；　I　lost　him。'　　She　interrupted　her