desperate remedies-第25章

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would　have　expressed　keenness　of　intellect　too　severely　to　be
pleasing；　had　their　force　not　been　counteracted　by　the　lines　and
tone　of　the　lips。　　These　were　full　and　luscious　to　a　surprising
degree；　possessing　a　woman…like　softness　of　curve；　and　a　ruby
redness　so　intense；　as　to　testify　strongly　to　much　susceptibility　of
heart　where　feminine　beauty　was　concerneda　susceptibility　that
might　require　all　the　ballast　of　brain　with　which　he　had　previously
been　credited　to　confine　within　reasonable　channels。

His　manner　was　rather　elegant　than　good：　　his　speech　well…finished
and　unconstrained。

The　pause　in　their　discourse；　which　had　been　caused　by　the　peal　of
thunder　was　unbroken　by　either　for　a　minute　or　two；　during　which　the
ears　of　both　seemed　to　be　absently　following　the　low　roar　of　the
waterfall　as　it　became　gradually　rivalled　by　the　increasing　rush　of
rain　upon　the　trees　and　herbage　of　the　grove。　　After　her　short　looks
at　him；　Cytherea　had　turned　her　head　towards　the　avenue　for　a　while；
and　now；　glancing　back　again　for　an　instant；　she　discovered　that　his
eyes　were　engaged　in　a　steady；　though　delicate；　regard　of　her　face
and　form。

At　this　moment；　by　reason　of　the　narrowness　of　the　porch；　their
dresses　touched；　and　remained　in　contact。

His　clothes　are　something　exterior　to　every　man；　but　to　a　woman　her
dress　is　part　of　her　body。　　Its　motions　are　all　present　to　her
intelligence　if　not　to　her　eyes；　no　man　knows　how　his　coat…tails
swing。　　By　the　slightest　hyperbole　it　may　be　said　that　her　dress　has
sensation。　　Crease　but　the　very　Ultima　Thule　of　fringe　or　flounce；
and　it　hurts　her　as　much　as　pinching　her。　　Delicate　antennae；　or
feelers；　bristle　on　every　outlying　frill。　　Go　to　the　uppermost：　　she
is　there；　tread　on　the　lowest：　　the　fair　creature　is　there　almost
before　you。

Thus　the　touch　of　clothes；　which　was　nothing　to　Manston；　sent　a
thrill　through　Cytherea；　seeing；　moreover；　that　he　was　of　the　nature
of　a　mysterious　stranger。　　She　looked　out　again　at　the　storm；　but
still　felt　him。　　At　last　to　escape　the　sensation　she　moved　away；
though　by　so　doing　it　was　necessary　to　advance　a　little　into　the
rain。

'Look；　the　rain　is　coming　into　the　porch　upon　you；'　he　said。　　'Step
inside　the　door。'

Cytherea　hesitated。

'Perfectly　safe；　I　assure　you；'　he　added；　laughing；　and　holding　the
door　open。　　'You　shall　see　what　a　state　of　disorganization　I　am　in
boxes　on　boxes；　furniture；　straw；　crockery；　in　every　form　of
transposition。　　An　old　woman　is　in　the　back　quarters　somewhere；
beginning　to　put　things　to　rights。　。　。　。　　You　know　the　inside　of　the
house；　I　dare　say？'

'I　have　never　been　in。'

'O　well；　come　along。　　Here；　you　see；　they　have　made　a　door　through；
here；　they　have　put　a　partition　dividing　the　old　hall　into　two；　one
part　is　now　my　parlour；　there　they　have　put　a　plaster　ceiling；
hiding　the　old　chestnut…carved　roof　because　it　was　too　high　and
would　have　been　chilly　for　me；　you　see；　being　the　original　hall；　it
was　open　right　up　to　the　top；　and　here　the　lord　of　the　manor　and　his
retainers　used　to　meet　and　be　merry　by　the　light　from　the　monstrous
fire　which　shone　out　from　that　monstrous　fire…place；　now　narrowed　to
a　mere　nothing　for　my　grate；　though　you　can　see　the　old　outline
still。　　I　almost　wish　I　could　have　had　it　in　its　original　state。'

'With　more　romance　and　less　comfort。'

'Yes；　exactly。　　Well；　perhaps　the　wish　is　not　deep…seated。　　You　will
see　how　the　things　are　tumbled　in　anyhow；　packing…cases　and　all。
The　only　piece　of　ornamental　furniture　yet　unpacked　is　this　one。'

'An　organ？'

'Yes；　an　organ。　　I　made　it　myself；　except　the　pipes。　　I　opened　the
case　this　afternoon　to　commence　soothing　myself　at　once。　　It　is　not
a　very　large　one；　but　quite　big　enough　for　a　private　house。　　You
play；　I　dare　say？'

'The　piano。　　I　am　not　at　all　used　to　an　organ。'

'You　would　soon　acquire　the　touch　for　an　organ；　though　it　would
spoil　your　touch　for　the　piano。　　Not　that　that　matters　a　great　deal。
A　piano　isn't　much　as　an　instrument。'

'It　is　the　fashion　to　say　so　now。　　I　think　it　is　quite　good　enough。'

'That　isn't　altogether　a　right　sentiment　about　things　being　good
enough。'

'Nono。　　What　I　mean　is；　that　the　men　who　despise　pianos　do　it　as　a
rule　from　their　teeth；　merely　for　fashion's　sake；　because　cleverer
men　have　said　it　before　themnot　from　the　experience　of　their
ears。'

Now　Cytherea　all　at　once　broke　into　a　blush　at　the　consciousness　of
a　great　snub　she　had　been　guilty　of　in　her　eagerness　to　explain
herself。　　He　charitably　expressed　by　a　look　that　he　did　not　in　the
least　mind　her　blunder；　if　it　were　one；　and　this　attitude　forced　him
into　a　position　of　mental　superiority　which　vexed　her。

'I　play　for　my　private　amusement　only；'　he　said。　　'I　have　never
learned　scientifically。　　All　I　know　is　what　I　taught　myself。'

The　thunder；　lightning；　and　rain　had　now　increased　to　a　terrific
force。　　The　clouds；　from　which　darts；　forks；　zigzags；　and　balls　of
fire　continually　sprang；　did　not　appear　to　be　more　than　a　hundred
yards　above　their　heads；　and　every　now　and　then　a　flash　and　a　peal
made　gaps　in　the　steward's　descriptions。　　He　went　towards　the　organ；
in　the　midst　of　a　volley　which　seemed　to　shake　the　aged　house　from
foundations　to　chimney。

'You　are　not　going　to　play　now；　are　you？'　said　Cytherea　uneasily。

'O　yes。　　Why　not　now？'　he　said。　　'You　can't　go　home；　and　therefore
we　may　as　well　be　amused；　if　you　don't　mind　sitting　on　this　box。
The　few　chairs　I　have　unpacked　are　in　the　other　room。'

Without　waiting　to　see　whether　she　sat　down　or　not；　he　turned　to　the
organ　and　began　extemporizing　a　harmony　which　meandered　through
every　variety　of　expression　of　which　the　instrument　was　capable。
Presently　he　ceased　and　began　searching　for　some　music…book。

'What　a　splendid　flash！'　he　said；　as　the　lightning　again　shone　in
through　the　mullioned　window；　which；　of　a　proportion　to　suit　the
whole　extent　of　the　original　hall；　was　much　too　large　for　the
present　room。　　The　thunder　pealed　again。　　Cytherea；　in　spite　of
herself；　was　frightened；　not　only　at　the　weather；　but　at　the　general
unearthly　weirdness　which　seemed　to　surround　her　there。

'I　wish　Ithe　lightning　wasn't　so　bright。　　Do　you　think　it　will
last　long？'　she　said　timidly。

'It　can't　last　much　longer；'　he　murmured；　without　turning；　running
his　fingers　again　over　the　keys。　　'But　this　is　nothing；'　he
continued；　suddenly　stopping　and　regarding　her。　　'It　seems　brighter
because　of　the　deep　shadow　under　those　trees　yonder。　　Don't　mind　it；
now　look　at　melook　in　my　facenow。'

He　had　faced　the　window；　looking　fixedly　at　the　sky　with　his　dark
strong　eyes。　　She　seemed　compelled　to　do　as　she　was　bidden；　and
looked　in　the　too…delicately　beautiful　face。

The　flash　came；　but　he　did　not　turn　or　blink；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed
as　firmly　as　before。　　'There；'　he　said；　turning　to　her；　'that's　the
way　to　look　at　lightning。'

'O；　it　might　have　blinded　you！'　she　exclaimed。

'Nonsensenot　lightning　of　this　sortI　shouldn't　have　stared　at　it
if　there　had　been　danger。　　It　is　only　sheet…lightning　now。　　Now；
will　you　have　another　piece？　　Something　from　an　oratorio　this　time？'

'No；　thank　youI　don't　want　to　hear　it　whilst　it　thunders　so。'　　But
he　had　begun　without　heeding　her　answer；　and　she　stood　motionless
again；　marvelling　at　the　wonderful　indifference　to　all　external
circumstance　which　was　now　evinced　by　his　complete　absorption　in　the
music　before　him。

'Why　do　you　play　such　saddening　chords？'　she　said；　when　he　next
paused。

'H'mbecause　I　like　them；　I　suppose；'　said　he　lightly。　　'Don't　you
like　sad　impressions　sometimes？'

'Yes；　sometimes；　perhaps。'

'When　you　are　full　of　trouble。'

'Yes。'

'Well；　why　shouldn't　I　when　I　am　full　of　trouble？'

'Are　you　troubled？'

'I　am　troubled。'　　He　said　this　thoughtfully　and　abruptlyso
abruptly　that　she　did　not　push　the　dialogue　further。

He　now　played　more　powerfully。　　Cytherea　had　never　heard　music　in
the　completeness　of　full　orchestral　power；　and　the　tones　of　the
organ；　which　reverberated　with　considerable　effect　in　the
comparatively　small　space　of　the　room；　heightened　by　the　elemental
strife　of　light　and　sound　outside；　moved　her　to　a　degree　out　of
proportion　to　the　actual　power　of　the　mere　notes；　practised　as　was
the　hand　that　produced　them。　　The　varying　strainsnow　loud；　now
soft；　simple；　complicated；　weird；　touching；　grand；　boisterous；
subdued；　each　phase　distinct；　yet　modulating　into　the　next　with　a
graceful　and　easy　flowshook　and　bent　her　to　themselves；　as　a
gushing　brook　shakes　and　bends　a　shadow　cast　across　its　surface。
The　power　of　the　music　did　not　show　itself　so　much　by　attracting　her
attention　to　the　subject　of　the　piece；　as　by　taking　up　and
developing　as　its　libretto　the　poem　of　her　own　life　and　soul；
shifting　her　deeds　and　intentions　from　the　hands　of　her　judgment　and
holding　them　in　its　own。

She　was　swayed　into　emotional　opinions　concerning　the　strange　man
before　her；　new　impulses　of　thought　came　with　new　harmonies；　and
entered　into　her　with　a　gnawing　thrill。　　A　dreadful　flash　of
lightning　then；　and　the　thunder　close　upon　it。　　She　found　herself
involuntarily　shrinking　up　beside　him；　and　looking　with　parted　lips
at　his　face。

He　turned　his　eyes　and　saw　her　emotion；　which　greatly　increased　the
ideal　element　in　her　expressive　face。　　She　was　in　the　state　in　which
woman's　instinct　to　conceal　has　lost　its　power　over　her　impulse　to
tell；　and　he　saw　it。　　Bending　his　handsome　face　over　her　till　his
lips　almost　touched　her　ear；　he　murmured；　without　breaking　the
harmonies

'Do　you　very　much　like　this　piece？'

'Very　much　indeed；'　she　said。

'I　could　see　you　were　affected　by　it。　　I　will　copy　it　for　you。'

'Thank　you　much。'

'I　will　bring　it　to　the　House　to　you　to…morrow。　　Who　shall　I　ask
for？'

'O；　not　for　me。　　Don't　bring　it；'　she　said　hastily。　　'I　shouldn't
like　you　to。'

'Let　me　seeto…morrow　evening　at　seven　or　a　few　minutes　past　I
shall　be　passing　the　waterfall　on　my　way　home。　　I　could　conveniently
give　it　you　there；　and　I　should　like　you　to　have　it。'

He　modulated　into　the　Pastoral　Symphony；　still　looking　in　her　eyes。

'Very　well；'　she　said；　to　get　rid　of　the　look。

The　storm　had　by　this　time　considerably　decreased　in　violence；　and
in　seven　or　ten　minutes　the　sky　partially　cleared；　the　clouds　around
the　western　horizon　becoming　lighted　up　with　the　rays　of　the　sinking
sun。

Cytherea　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief；　and　prepared　to　go　away。　　She
was　full　of　a　distressing　sense　that　her　detention　in　the　old　manor…
house；　and　the　acquaintanceship　it　had　set　on　foot；　was　not　a　thing
she　wished。　　It　was　such　a　foolish　thing　to　have　been　excited　and
dragged　into　frankness　by　the　wiles　of　a　stranger。

'Allow　me　to　come　with　you；'　he　said；　accompanying　her　to　the　door；
and　again　showing　by　his　behaviour　how　much　he　was　impressed　with
her。　　His　influence　over　her　had　vanished　with　the　musical　chords；
and　she　turned　her　back　upon　him。　　'May　I　come？'　he　repeated。

'No；　no。　　The　distance　is　not　a　quarter　of　a　mileit　is　really　not
necessary；　thank　you；'　she　said　quietly。　　And　wishing　him　good…
evening；　without　meeting　his　eyes；　she　went　down　the　steps；　leaving
him　standing　at　the　door。

'O；　ho