desperate remedies-第27章

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lady's　dependent；　a　waif；　a　helpless　thing　entirely　at　the　mercy　of
the　world；　yes；　curse　it；　that　is　just　why　it　is；　that　fact　of　her
being　so　helpless　against　the　blows　of　circumstances　which　renders
her　so　deliciously　sweet！'

He　paused　opposite　his　house。　　Should　he　get　his　horse　saddled？　　No。

He　went　down　the　drive　and　out　of　the　park；　having　started　to
proceed　to　an　outlying　spot　on　the　estate　concerning　some　draining；
and　to　call　at　the　potter's　yard　to　make　an　arrangement　for　the
supply　of　pipes。　　But　a　remark　which　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　dropped　in
relation　to　Cytherea　was　what　still　occupied　his　mind；　and　had　been
the　immediate　cause　of　his　excitement　at　the　sight　of　her　brother。
Miss　Aldclyffe　had　meaningly　remarked　during　their　intercourse；　that
Cytherea　was　wildly　in　love　with　Edward　Springrove；　in　spite　of　his
engagement　to　his　cousin　Adelaide。

'How　I　am　harassed！'　he　said　aloud；　after　deep　thought　for　half…an…
hour；　while　still　continuing　his　walk　with　the　greatest　vehemence。
'How　I　am　harassed　by　these　emotions　of　mine！'　　He　calmed　himself　by
an　effort。　　'Well；　duty　after　all　it　shall　be；　as　nearly　as　I　can
effect　it。　　〃Honesty　is　the　best　policy；〃'　with　which　vigorously
uttered　resolve　he　once　more　attempted　to　turn　his　attention　to　the
prosy　object　of　his　journey。

The　evening　had　closed　in　to　a　dark　and　dreary　night　when　the
steward　came　from　the　potter's　door　to　proceed　homewards　again。　　The
gloom　did　not　tend　to　raise　his　spirits；　and　in　the　total　lack　of
objects　to　attract　his　eye；　he　soon　fell　to　introspection　as　before。
It　was　along　the　margin　of　turnip　fields　that　his　path　lay；　and　the
large　leaves　of　the　crop　struck　flatly　against　his　feet　at　every
step；　pouring　upon　them　the　rolling　drops　of　moisture　gathered　upon
their　broad　surfaces；　but　the　annoyance　was　unheeded。　　Next　reaching
a　fir　plantation；　he　mounted　the　stile　and　followed　the　path　into
the　midst　of　the　darkness　produced　by　the　overhanging　trees。

After　walking　under　the　dense　shade　of　the　inky　boughs　for　a　few
minutes；　he　fancied　he　had　mistaken　the　path；　which　as　yet　was
scarcely　familiar　to　him。　　This　was　proved　directly　afterwards　by
his　coming　at　right　angles　upon　some　obstruction；　which　careful
feeling　with　outstretched　hands　soon　told　him　to　be　a　rail　fence。
However；　as　the　wood　was　not　large；　he　experienced　no　alarm　about
finding　the　path　again；　and　with　some　sense　of　pleasure　halted
awhile　against　the　rails；　to　listen　to　the　intensely　melancholy　yet
musical　wail　of　the　fir…tops；　and　as　the　wind　passed　on；　the　prompt
moan　of　an　adjacent　plantation　in　reply。　　He　could　just　dimly
discern　the　airy　summits　of　the　two　or　three　trees　nearest　him
waving　restlessly　backwards　and　forwards；　and　stretching　out　their
boughs　like　hairy　arms　into　the　dull　sky。　　The　scene；　from　its
striking　and　emphatic　loneliness；　began　to　grow　congenial　to　his
mood；　all　of　human　kind　seemed　at　the　antipodes。

A　sudden　rattle　on　his　right　hand　caused　him　to　start　from　his
reverie；　and　turn　in　that　direction。　　There；　before　him；　he　saw　rise
up　from　among　the　trees　a　fountain　of　sparks　and　smoke；　then　a　red
glare　of　light　coming　forward　towards　him；　then　a　flashing　panorama
of　illuminated　oblong　pictures；　then　the　old　darkness；　more
impressive　than　ever。

The　surprise；　which　had　owed　its　origin　to　his　imperfect
acquaintance　with　the　topographical　features　of　that　end　of　the
estate；　had　been　but　momentary；　the　disturbance；　a　well…known　one　to
dwellers　by　a　railway；　being　caused　by　the　6。50　down…train　passing
along　a　shallow　cutting　in　the　midst　of　the　wood　immediately　below
where　he　stood；　the　driver　having　the　fire…door　of　the　engine　open
at　the　minute　of　going　by。　　The　train　had；　when　passing　him；　already
considerably　slackened　speed；　and　now　a　whistle　was　heard；
announcing　that　Carriford　Road　Station　was　not　far　in　its　van。

But　contrary　to　the　natural　order　of　things；　the　discovery　that　it
was　only　a　commonplace　train　had　not　caused　Manston　to　stir　from　his
position　of　facing　the　railway。

If　the　6。50　down…train　had　been　a　flash　of　forked　lightning
transfixing　him　to　the　earth；　he　could　scarcely　have　remained　in　a
more　trance…like　state。　　He　still　leant　against　the　railings；　his
right　hand　still　continued　pressing　on　his　walking…stick；　his　weight
on　one　foot；　his　other　heel　raised；　his　eyes　wide　open　towards　the
blackness　of　the　cutting。　　The　only　movement　in　him　was　a　slight
dropping　of　the　lower　jaw；　separating　his　previously　closed　lips　a
little　way；　as　when　a　strange　conviction　rushes　home　suddenly　upon　a
man。　　A　new　surprise；　not　nearly　so　trivial　as　the　first；　had　taken
possession　of　him。

It　was　on　this　account。　　At　one　of　the　illuminated　windows　of　a
second…class　carriage　in　the　series　gone　by；　he　had　seen　a　pale
face；　reclining　upon　one　hand；　the　light　from　the　lamp　falling　full
upon　it。　　The　face　was　a　woman's。

At　last　Manston　moved；　gave　a　whispering　kind　of　whistle；　adjusted
his　hat；　and　walked　on　again；　cross…questioning　himself　in　every
direction　as　to　how　a　piece　of　knowledge　he　had　carefully　concealed
had　found　its　way　to　another　person's　intelligence。　　'How　can　my
address　have　become　known？'　he　said　at　length；　audibly。　　'Well；　it
is　a　blessing　I　have　been　circumspect　and　honourable；　in　relation　to
thatyes；　I　will　say　it；　for　once；　even　if　the　words　choke　me；　that
darling　of　mine；　Cytherea；　never　to　be　my　own；　never。　　I　suppose　all
will　come　out　now。　　All！'　　The　great　sadness　of　his　utterance　proved
that　no　mean　force　had　been　exercised　upon　himself　to　sustain　the
circumspection　he　had　just　claimed。

He　wheeled　to　the　left；　pursued　the　ditch　beside　the　railway　fence；
and　presently　emerged　from　the　wood；　stepping　into　a　road　which
crossed　the　railway　by　a　bridge。

As　he　neared　home；　the　anxiety　lately　written　in　his　face；　merged　by
degrees　into　a　grimly　humorous　smile；　which　hung　long　upon　his　lips；
and　he　quoted　aloud　a　line　from　the　book　of　Jeremiah

　　　　　'A　woman　shall　compass　a　man。'

3。　　NOVEMBER　THE　NINETEENTH。　　DAYBREAK

Before　it　was　light　the　next　morning；　two　little　naked　feet　pattered
along　the　passage　in　Knapwater　House；　from　which　Owen　Graye's
bedroom　opened；　and　a　tap　was　given　upon　his　door。

'Owen；　Owen；　are　you　awake？'　said　Cytherea　in　a　whisper　through　the
keyhole。　　'You　must　get　up　directly；　or　you'll　miss　the　train。'

When　he　descended　to　his　sister's　little　room；　he　found　her　there
already　waiting　with　a　cup　of　cocoa　and　a　grilled　rasher　on　the
table　for　him。　　A　hasty　meal　was　despatched　in　the　intervals　of
putting　on　his　overcoat　and　finding　his　hat；　and　they　then　went
softly　through　the　long　deserted　passages；　the　kitchen…maid　who　had
prepared　their　breakfast　walking　before　them　with　a　lamp　held　high
above　her　head；　which　cast　long　wheeling　shadows　down　corridors
intersecting　the　one　they　followed；　their　remoter　ends　being　lost　in
darkness。　　The　door　was　unbolted　and　they　stepped　out。

Owen　had　preferred　walking　to　the　station　to　accepting　the　pony…
carriage　which　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　placed　at　his　disposal；　having　a
morbid　horror　of　giving　trouble　to　people　richer　than　himself；　and
especially　to　their　men…servants；　who　looked　down　upon　him　as　a
hybrid　monster　in　social　position。　　Cytherea　proposed　to　walk　a
little　way　with　him。

'I　want　to　talk　to　you　as　long　as　I　can；'　she　said　tenderly。

Brother　and　sister　then　emerged　by　the　heavy　door　into　the　drive。
The　feeling　and　aspect　of　the　hour　were　precisely　similar　to　those
under　which　the　steward　had　left　the　house　the　evening　previous；
excepting　that　apparently　unearthly　reversal　of　natural　sequence；
which　is　caused　by　the　world　getting　lighter　instead　of　darker。
'The　tearful　glimmer　of　the　languid　dawn'　was　just　sufficient　to
reveal　to　them　the　melancholy　red　leaves；　lying　thickly　in　the
channels　by　the　roadside；　ever　and　anon　loudly　tapped　on　by　heavy
drops　of　water；　which　the　boughs　above　had　collected　from　the　foggy
air。

They　passed　the　Old　House；　engaged　in　a　deep　conversation；　and　had
proceeded　about　twenty　yards　by　a　cross　route；　in　the　direction　of
the　turnpike　road；　when　the　form　of　a　woman　emerged　from　the　porch
of　the　building。

She　was　wrapped　in　a　grey　waterproof　cloak；　the　hood　of　which　was
drawn　over　her　head　and　closely　round　her　faceso　closely　that　her
eyes　were　the　sole　features　uncovered。

With　this　one　exception　of　her　appearance　there；　the　most　perfect
stillness　and　silence　pervaded　the　steward's　residence　from　basement
to　chimney。　　Not　a　shutter　was　open；　not　a　twine　of　smoke　came
forth。

Underneath　the　ivy…covered　gateway　she　stood　still　and　listened　for
two；　or　possibly　three　minutes；　till　she　became　conscious　of　others
in　the　park。　　Seeing　the　pair　she　stepped　back；　with　the　apparent
intention　of　letting　them　pass　out　of　sight；　and　evidently　wishing
to　avoid　observation。　　But　looking　at　her　watch；　and　returning　it
rapidly　to　her　pocket；　as　if　surprised　at　the　lateness　of　the　hour；
she　hurried　out　again；　and　across　the　park　by　a　still　more　oblique
line　than　that　traced　by　Owen　and　his　sister。

These　in　the　meantime　had　got　into　the　road；　and　were　walking　along
it　as　the　woman　came　up　on　the　other　side　of　the　boundary　hedge；
looking　for　a　gate　or　stile；　by　which　she；　too；　might　get　off　the
grass　upon　the　hard　ground。

Their　conversation；　of　which　every　word　was　clear　and　distinct；　in
the　still　air　of　the　dawn；　to　the　distance　of　a　quarter　of　a　mile；
reached　her　ears；　and　withdrew　her　attention　from　all　other　matters
and　sights　whatsoever。　　Thus　arrested　she　stood　for　an　instant　as
precisely　in　the　attitude　of　Imogen　by　the　cave　of　Belarius；　as　if
she　had　studied　the　position　from　the　play。　　When　they　had　advanced
a　few　steps；　she　followed　them　in　some　doubt；　still　screened　by　the
hedge。

'Do　you　believe　in　such　odd　coincidences？'　said　Cytherea。

'How　do　you　mean；　believe　in　them？　　They　occur　sometimes。'

'Yes；　one　will　occur　often　enoughthat　is；　two　disconnected　events
will　fall　strangely　together　by　chance；　and　people　scarcely　notice
the　fact　beyond　saying；　〃Oddly　enough　it　happened　that　so　and　so
were　the　same；〃　and　so　on。　　But　when　three　such　events　coincide
without　any　apparent　reason　for　the　coincidence；　it　seems　as　if
there　must　be　invisible　means　at　work。　　You　see；　three　things
falling　together　in　that　manner　are　ten　times　as　singular　as　two
cases　of　coincidence　which　are　distinct。'

'Well；　of　course：　　what　a　mathematical　head　you　have；　Cytherea！　　But
I　don't　see　so　much　to　marvel　at　in　our　case。　　That　the　man　who　kept
the　public…house　in　which　Miss　Aldclyffe　fainted；　and　who　found　out
her　name　and　position；　lives　in　this　neighbourhood；　is　accounted　for
by　the　fact　that　she　got　him　the　berth　to　stop　his　tongue。　　That　you
came　here　was　simply　owing　to　Springrove。'

'Ah；　but　look　at　this。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　is　the　woman　our　father　first
loved；　and　I　have　come　to　Miss　Aldclyffe's；　you　can't　get　over
that。'

From　these　premises；　she　proceeded　to　argue　like　an　elderly　divine
on　the　designs　of　Providence　which　were　apparent　in　such
conjunctures；　and　went　into　a　variety　of　details　connected　with　Miss
Aldclyffe's　history。

'Had　I　better　tell　Miss　Aldclyffe　that　I　kno