desperate remedies-第24章

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cider…making　any　well…dressed　woman。　　'They　rot　as　black　as　a
chimney…crook　if　we　keep　'em　till　the　regulars　turn　in。'　　As　he
spoke　he　went　back　to　the　press；　Cytherea　keeping　at　his　elbow。
'I'm　later　than　I　should　have　been　by　rights；'　he　continued；　taking
up　a　lever　for　propelling　the　screw；　and　beckoning　to　the　men　to
come　forward。　　'The　truth　is；　my　son　Edward　had　promised　to　come　to…
day；　and　I　made　preparations；　but　instead　of　him　comes　a　letter：
〃London；　September　the　eighteenth；　Dear　Father；〃　says　he；　and　went
on　to　tell　me　he　couldn't。　　It　threw　me　out　a　bit。'

'Of　course；'　said　Cytherea。

'He's　got　a　place　'a　b'lieve？'　said　the　clerk；　drawing　near。

'No；　poor　mortal　fellow；　no。　　He　tried　for　this　one　here；　you　know；
but　couldn't　manage　to　get　it。　　I　don't　know　the　rights　o'　the
matter；　but　willy…nilly　they　wouldn't　have　him　for　steward。　　Now
mates；　form　in　line。'

Springrove；　the　clerk；　the　grinders；　and　Gad；　all　ranged　themselves
behind　the　lever　of　the　screw；　and　walked　round　like　soldiers
wheeling。

'The　man　that　the　old　quean　hev　got　is　a　man　you　can　hardly　get　upon
your　tongue　to　gainsay；　by　the　look　o'　en；'　rejoined　Clerk　Crickett。

'One　o'　them　people　that　can　contrive　to　be　thought　no　worse　o'　for
stealen　a　horse　than　another　man　for　looken　over　hedge　at　en；'　said
a　grinder。

'Well；　he's　all　there　as　steward；　and　is　quite　the　gentlemanno
doubt　about　that。'

'So　would　my　Ted　ha'　been；　for　the　matter　o'　that；'　the　farmer　said。

'That's　true：　　'a　would；　sir。'

'I　said；　I'll　give　Ted　a　good　education　if　it　do　cost　me　my　eyes；
and　I　would　have　done　it。'

'Ay；　that　you　would　so；'　said　the　chorus　of　assistants　solemnly。

'But　he　took　to　books　and　drawing　naturally；　and　cost　very　little；
and　as　a　wind…up　the　womenfolk　hatched　up　a　match　between　him　and
his　cousin。'

'When's　the　wedden　to　be；　Mr。　Springrove？'

'Uncertainbut　soon；　I　suppose。　　Edward；　you　see；　can　do　anything
pretty　nearly；　and　yet　can't　get　a　straightforward　living。　　I　wish
sometimes　I　had　kept　him　here；　and　let　professions　go。　　But　he　was
such　a　one　for　the　pencil。'

He　dropped　the　lever　in　the　hedge；　and　turned　to　his　visitor。

'Now　then；　missie；　if　you'll　come　indoors；　please。'

Gad　Weedy　looked　with　a　placid　criticism　at　Cytherea　as　she　withdrew
with　the　farmer。

'I　could　tell　by　the　tongue　o'　her　that　she　didn't　take　her　degrees
in　our　county；'　he　said　in　an　undertone。



'The　railways　have　left　you　lonely　here；'　she　observed；　when　they
were　indoors。

Save　the　withered　old　flies；　which　were　quite　tame　from　the
solitude；　not　a　being　was　in　the　house。　　Nobody　seemed　to　have
entered　it　since　the　last　passenger　had　been　called　out　to　mount　the
last　stage…coach　that　had　run　by。

'Yes；　the　Inn　and　I　seem　almost　a　pair　of　fossils；'　the　farmer
replied；　looking　at　the　room　and　then　at　himself。

'O；　Mr。　　Springrove；'　said　Cytherea；　suddenly　recollecting　herself；
'I　am　much　obliged　to　you　for　recommending　me　to　Miss　Aldclyffe。'
She　began　to　warm　towards　the　old　man；　there　was　in　him　a　gentleness
of　disposition　which　reminded　her　of　her　own　father。

'Recommending？　　Not　at　all；　miss。　　Tedthat's　my　sonTed　said　a
fellow…draughtsman　of　his　had　a　sister　who　wanted　to　be　doing
something　in　the　world；　and　I　mentioned　it　to　the　housekeeper；
that's　all。　　Ay；　I　miss　my　son　very　much。'

She　kept　her　back　to　the　window　that　he　might　not　see　her　rising
colour。

'Yes；'　he　continued；　'sometimes　I　can't　help　feeling　uneasy　about
him。　　You　know；　he　seems　not　made　for　a　town　life　exactly：　　he　gets
very　queer　over　it　sometimes；　I　think。　　Perhaps　he'll　be　better　when
he's　married　to　Adelaide。'

A　half…impatient　feeling　arose　in　her；　like　that　which　possesses　a
sick　person　when　he　hears　a　recently…struck　hour　struck　again　by　a
slow　clock。　　She　had　lived　further　on。

'Everything　depends　upon　whether　he　loves　her；'　she　said
tremulously。

'He　used　tohe　doesn't　show　it　so　much　now；　but　that's　because　he's
older。　　You　see；　it　was　several　years　ago　they　first　walked　together
as　young　man　and　young　woman。　　She's　altered　too　from　what　she　was
when　he　first　courted　her。'

'How；　sir？'

'O；　she's　more　sensible　by　half。　　When　he　used　to　write　to　her　she'd
creep　up　the　lane　and　look　back　over　her　shoulder；　and　slide　out　the
letter；　and　read　a　word　and　stand　in　thought　looking　at　the　hills
and　seeing　none。　　Then　the　cuckoo　would　cryaway　the　letter　would
slip；　and　she'd　start　wi'　fright　at　the　mere　bird；　and　have　a　red
skin　before　the　quickest　man　among　ye　could　say；　〃Blood　rush　up。〃'

He　came　forward　with　the　money　and　dropped　it　into　her　hand。　　His
thoughts　were　still　with　Edward；　and　he　absently　took　her　little
fingers　in　his　as　he　said；　earnestly　and　ingenuously

''Tis　so　seldom　I　get　a　gentlewoman　to　speak　to　that　I　can't　help
speaking　to　you；　Miss　Graye；　on　my　fears　for　Edward；　I　sometimes　am
afraid　that　he'll　never　get　onthat　he'll　die　poor　and　despised
under　the　worst　mental　conditions；　a　keen　sense　of　having　been
passed　in　the　race　by　men　whose　brains　are　nothing　to　his　own；　all
through　his　seeing　too　far　into　thingsbeing　discontented　with
make…shiftsthinking　o'　perfection　in　things；　and　then　sickened
that　there's　no　such　thing　as　perfection。　　I　shan't　be　sorry　to　see
him　marry；　since　it　may　settle　him　down　and　do　him　good。　。　。　。　　Ay；
we'll　hope　for　the　best。'

He　let　go　her　hand　and　accompanied　her　to　the　door　saying；　'If　you
should　care　to　walk　this　way　and　talk　to　an　old　man　once　now　and
then；　it　will　be　a　great　delight　to　him；　Miss　Graye。　　Good…evening
to　ye。　。　。　。　　Ah　look！　a　thunderstorm　is　brewingbe　quick　home。　　Or
shall　I　step　up　with　you？'

'No；　thank　you；　Mr。　Springrove。　　Good　evening；'　she　said　in　a　low
voice；　and　hurried　away。　　One　thought　still　possessed　her；　Edward
had　trifled　with　her　love。

4。　　FIVE　TO　SIX　P。M。

She　followed　the　road　into　a　bower　of　trees；　overhanging　it　so
densely　that　the　pass　appeared　like　a　rabbit's　burrow；　and　presently
reached　a　side　entrance　to　the　park。　　The　clouds　rose　more　rapidly
than　the　farmer　had　anticipated：　　the　sheep　moved　in　a　trail；　and
complained　incoherently。　　Livid　grey　shades；　like　those　of　the
modern　French　painters；　made　a　mystery　of　the　remote　and　dark　parts
of　the　vista；　and　seemed　to　insist　upon　a　suspension　of　breath。
Before　she　was　half…way　across　the　park　the　thunder　rumbled
distinctly。

The　direction　in　which　she　had　to　go　would　take　her　close　by　the　old
manor…house。　　The　air　was　perfectly　still；　and　between　each　low
rumble　of　the　thunder　behind　she　could　hear　the　roar　of　the
waterfall　before　her；　and　the　creak　of　the　engine　among　the　bushes
hard　by　it。　　Hurrying　on；　with　a　growing　dread　of　the　gloom　and　of
the　approaching　storm；　she　drew　near　the　Old　House；　now　rising
before　her　against　the　dark　foliage　and　sky　in　tones　of　strange
whiteness。

On　the　flight　of　steps；　which　descended　from　a　terrace　in　front　to
the　level　of　the　park；　stood　a　man。　　He　appeared；　partly　from　the
relief　the　position　gave　to　his　figure；　and　partly　from　fact；　to　be
of　towering　height。　　He　was　dark　in　outline；　and　was　looking　at　the
sky；　with　his　hands　behind　him。

It　was　necessary　for　Cytherea　to　pass　directly　across　the　line　of
his　front。　　She　felt　so　reluctant　to　do　this；　that　she　was　about　to
turn　under　the　trees　out　of　the　path　and　enter　it　again　at　a　point
beyond　the　Old　House；　but　he　had　seen　her；　and　she　came　on
mechanically；　unconsciously　averting　her　face　a　little；　and　dropping
her　glance　to　the　ground。

Her　eyes　unswervingly　lingered　along　the　path　until　they　fell　upon
another　path　branching　in　a　right　line　from　the　path　she　was
pursuing。　　It　came　from　the　steps　of　the　Old　House。　　'I　am　exactly
opposite　him　now；'　she　thought；　'and　his　eyes　are　going　through　me。'

A　clear　masculine　voice　said；　at　the　same　instant

'Are　you　afraid？'

She；　interpreting　his　question　by　her　feelings　at　the　moment；
assumed　himself　to　be　the　object　of　fear；　if　any。　　'I　don't　think　I
am；'　she　stammered。

He　seemed　to　know　that　she　thought　in　that　sense。

'Of　the　thunder；　I　mean；'　he　said；　'not　of　myself。'

She　must　turn　to　him　now。　　'I　think　it　is　going　to　rain；'　she
remarked　for　the　sake　of　saying　something。

He　could　not　conceal　his　surprise　and　admiration　of　her　face　and
bearing。　　He　said　courteously；　'It　may　possibly　not　rain　before　you
reach　the　House；　if　you　are　going　there？'

'Yes；　I　am；'

'May　I　walk　up　with　you？　　It　is　lonely　under　the　trees。'

'No。'　　Fearing　his　courtesy　arose　from　a　belief　that　he　was
addressing　a　woman　of　higher　station　than　was　hers；　she　added；　'I　am
Miss　Aldclyffe's　companion。　　I　don't　mind　the　loneliness。'

'O；　Miss　Aldclyffe's　companion。　　Then　will　you　be　kind　enough　to
take　a　subscription　to　her？　　She　sent　to　me　this　afternoon　to　ask　me
to　become　a　subscriber　to　her　Society；　and　I　was　out。　　Of　course
I'll　subscribe　if　she　wishes　it。　　I　take　a　great　interest　in　the
Society。'

'Miss　Aldclyffe　will　be　glad　to　hear　that；　I　know。'

'Yes；　let　me　seewhat　Society　did　she　say　it　was？　　I　am　afraid　I
haven't　enough　money　in　my　pocket；　and　yet　it　would　be　a
satisfaction　to　her　to　have　practical　proof　of　my　willingness。　　I'll
get　it；　and　be　out　in　one　minute。'

He　entered　the　house　and　was　at　her　side　again　within　the　time　he
had　named。　　'This　is　it；'　he　said　pleasantly。

She　held　up　her　hand。　　The　soft　tips　of　his　fingers　brushed　the　palm
of　her　glove　as　he　placed　the　money　within　it。　　She　wondered　why　his
fingers　should　have　touched　her。

'I　think　after　all；'　he　continued；　'that　the　rain　is　upon　us；　and
will　drench　you　before　you　reach　the　House。　　Yes：　　see　there。'

He　pointed　to　a　round　wet　spot　as　large　as　a　nasturtium　leaf；　which
had　suddenly　appeared　upon　the　white　surface　of　the　step。

'You　had　better　come　into　the　porch。　　It　is　not　nearly　night　yet。
The　clouds　make　it　seem　later　than　it　really　is。'

Heavy　drops　of　rain；　followed　immediately　by　a　forked　flash　of
lightning　and　sharp　rattling　thunder　compelled　her；　willingly　or　no；
to　accept　his　invitation。　　She　ascended　the　steps；　stood　beside　him
just　within　the　porch；　and　for　the　first　time　obtained　a　series　of
short　views　of　his　person；　as　they　waited　there　in　silence。

He　was　an　extremely　handsome　man；　well…formed；　and　well…dressed；　of
an　age　which　seemed　to　be　two　or　three　years　less　than　thirty。　　The
most　striking　point　in　his　appearance　was　the　wonderful；　almost
preternatural；　clearness　of　his　complexion。　　There　was　not　a　blemish
or　speck　of　any　kind　to　mar　the　smoothness　of　its　surface　or　the
beauty　of　its　hue。　　Next；　his　forehead　was　square　and　broad；　his
brows　straight　and　firm；　his　eyes　penetrating　and　clear。　　By
collecting　the　round　of　expressions　they　gave　forth；　a　person　who
theorized　on　such　matters　would　have　imbibed　the　notion　that　their
owner　was　of　a　nature　to　kick　against　the　pricks；　the　last　man　in
the　world　to　put　up　with　a　position　because　it　seemed　to　be　his
destiny　to　do　so；　one　who　took　upon　himself　to　resist　fate　with　the
vindictive　determination　of　a　Theomachist。　　Eyes　and　forehead　both
would　have　expressed　keenness　of　intellect　too　severely　to　be
pleasing；　had　their　force　not　been　counteracted　by　the　lines　and
tone　of　the　li