desperate remedies-第28章

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Aldclyffe's　history。

'Had　I　better　tell　Miss　Aldclyffe　that　I　know　all　this？'　she
inquired　at　last。

'What's　the　use？'　he　said。　　'Your　possessing　the　knowledge　does　no
harm；　you　are　at　any　rate　comfortable　here；　and　a　confession　to　Miss
Aldclyffe　might　only　irritate　her。　　No；　hold　your　tongue；　Cytherea。'

'I　fancy　I　should　have　been　tempted　to　tell　her　too；'　Cytherea　went
on；　'had　I　not　found　out　that　there　exists　a　very　odd；　almost
imperceptible；　and　yet　real　connection　of　some　kind　between　her　and
Mr。　Manston；　which　is　more　than　that　of　a　mutual　interest　in　the
estate。'

'She　is　in　love　with　him！'　exclaimed　Owen；　'fancy　that！'

'Ahthat's　what　everybody　says　who　has　been　keen　enough　to　notice
anything。　　I　said　so　at　first。　　And　yet　now　I　cannot　persuade　myself
that　she　is　in　love　with　him　at　all。'

'Why　can't　you？'

'She　doesn't　act　as　if　she　were。　　She　isn'tyou　will　know　I　don't
say　it　from　any　vanity；　Owenshe　isn't　the　least　jealous　of　me。'

'Perhaps　she　is　in　some　way　in　his　power。'

'Noshe　is　not。　　He　was　openly　advertised　for；　and　chosen　from
forty　or　fifty　who　answered　the　advertisement；　without　knowing　whose
it　was。　　And　since　he　has　been　here；　she　has　certainly　done　nothing
to　compromise　herself　in　any　way。　　Besides；　why　should　she　have
brought　an　enemy　here　at　all？'

'Then　she　must　have　fallen　in　love　with　him。　　You　know　as　well　as　I
do；　Cyth；　that　with　women　there's　nothing　between　the　two　poles　of
emotion　towards　an　interesting　male　acquaintance。　　'Tis　either　love
or　aversion。'

They　walked　for　a　few　minutes　in　silence；　when　Cytherea's　eyes
accidentally　fell　upon　her　brother's　feet。

'Owen；'　she　said；　'do　you　know　that　there　is　something　unusual　in
your　manner　of　walking？'

'What　is　it　like？'　he　asked。

'I　can't　quite　say；　except　that　you　don't　walk　so　regularly　as　you
used　to。'

The　woman　behind　the　hedge；　who　had　still　continued　to　dog　their
footsteps；　made　an　impatient　movement　at　this　change　in　their
conversation；　and　looked　at　her　watch　again。　　Yet　she　seemed
reluctant　to　give　over　listening　to　them。

'Yes；'　Owen　returned　with　assumed　carelessness；　'I　do　know　it。　　I
think　the　cause　of　it　is　that　mysterious　pain　which　comes　just　above
my　ankle　sometimes。　　You　remember　the　first　time　I　had　it？　　That　day
we　went　by　steam…packet　to　Lulstead　Cove；　when　it　hindered　me　from
coming　back　to　you；　and　compelled　me　to　sleep　with　the　gateman　we
have　been　talking　about。'

'But　is　it　anything　serious；　dear　Owen？'　Cytherea　exclaimed；　with
some　alarm。

'O；　nothing　at　all。　　It　is　sure　to　go　off　again。　　I　never　find　a
sign　of　it　when　I　sit　in　the　office。'

Again　their　unperceived　companion　made　a　gesture　of　vexation；　and
looked　at　her　watch　as　if　time　were　precious。　　But　the　dialogue
still　flowed　on　upon　this　new　subject；　and　showed　no　sign　of
returning　to　its　old　channel。

Gathering　up　her　skirt　decisively　she　renounced　all　further　hope；
and　hurried　along　the　ditch　till　she　had　dropped　into　a　valley；　and
came　to　a　gate　which　was　beyond　the　view　of　those　coming　behind。
This　she　softly　opened；　and　came　out　upon　the　road；　following　it　in
the　direction　of　the　railway　station。

Presently　she　heard　Owen　Graye's　footsteps　in　her　rear；　his
quickened　pace　implying　that　he　had　parted　from　his　sister。　　The
woman　thereupon　increased　her　rapid　walk　to　a　run；　and　in　a　few
minutes　safely　distanced　her　fellow…traveller。

The　railway　at　Carriford　Road　consisted　only　of　a　single　line　of
rails；　and　the　short　local　down…train　by　which　Owen　was　going　to
Budmouth　was　shunted　on　to　a　siding　whilst　the　first　up…train
passed。　　Graye　entered　the　waiting…room；　and　the　door　being　open　he
listlessly　observed　the　movements　of　a　woman　wearing　a　long　grey
cloak；　and　closely　hooded；　who　had　asked　for　a　ticket　for　London。

He　followed　her　with　his　eyes　on　to　the　platform；　saw　her　waiting
there　and　afterwards　stepping　into　the　train：　　his　recollection　of
her　ceasing　with　the　perception。

4。　　EIGHT　TO　TEN　O'CLOCK　A。M。

Mrs。　Crickett；　twice　a　widow；　and　now　the　parish　clerk's　wife；　a
fine…framed；　scandal…loving　woman；　with　a　peculiar　corner　to　her　eye
by　which；　without　turning　her　head；　she　could　see　what　people　were
doing　almost　behind　her；　lived　in　a　cottage　standing　nearer　to　the
old　manor…house　than　any　other　in　the　village　of　Carriford；　and　she
had　on　that　account　been　temporarily　engaged　by　the　steward；　as　a
respectable　kind　of　charwoman　and　general　servant；　until　a　settled
arrangement　could　be　made　with　some　person　as　permanent　domestic。

Every　morning；　therefore；　Mrs。　Crickett；　immediately　she　had　lighted
the　fire　in　her　own　cottage；　and　prepared　the　breakfast　for　herself
and　husband；　paced　her　way　to　the　Old　House　to　do　the　same　for　Mr。
Manston。　　Then　she　went　home　to　breakfast；　and　when　the　steward　had
eaten　his；　and　had　gone　out　on　his　rounds；　she　returned　again　to
clear　away；　make　his　bed；　and　put　the　house　in　order　for　the　day。

On　the　morning　of　Owen　Graye's　departure；　she　went　through　the
operations　of　her　first　visit　as　usualproceeded　home　to　breakfast；
and　went　back　again；　to　perform　those　of　the　second。

Entering　Manston's　empty　bedroom；　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　she
indifferently　cast　her　eyes　upon　the　bed；　previously　to　dismantling
it。

Whilst　she　looked；　she　thought　in　an　inattentive　manner；　'What　a
remarkably　quiet　sleeper　Mr。　Manston　must　be！'　　The　upper　bed…
clothes　were　flung　back；　certainly；　but　the　bed　was　scarcely
disarranged。　　'Anybody　would　almost　fancy；'　she　thought；　'that　he
had　made　it　himself　after　rising。'

But　these　evanescent　thoughts　vanished　as　they　had　come；　and　Mrs。
Crickett　set　to　work；　she　dragged　off　the　counterpane；　blankets　and
sheets；　and　stooped　to　lift　the　pillows。　　Thus　stooping；　something
arrested　her　attention；　she　looked　closelymore　closelyvery
closely。　　'Well；　to　be　sure！'　was　all　she　could　say。　　The　clerk's
wife　stood　as　if　the　air　had　suddenly　set　to　amber；　and　held　her
fixed　like　a　fly　in　it。

The　object　of　her　wonder　was　a　trailing　brown　hair；　very　little　less
than　a　yard　long；　which　proved　it　clearly　to　be　a　hair　from　some
woman's　head。　　She　drew　it　off　the　pillow；　and　took　it　to　the
window；　there　holding　it　out　she　looked　fixedly　at　it；　and　became
utterly　lost　in　meditation：　　her　gaze；　which　had　at　first　actively
settled　on　the　hair；　involuntarily　dropped　past　its　object　by
degrees　and　was　lost　on　the　floor；　as　the　inner　vision　obscured　the
outer　one。

She　at　length　moistened　her　lips；　returned　her　eyes　to　the　hair；
wound　it　round　her　fingers；　put　it　in　some　paper；　and　secreted　the
whole　in　her　pocket。　　Mrs。　Crickett's　thoughts　were　with　her　work　no
more　that　morning。

She　searched　the　house　from　roof…tree　to　cellar；　for　some　other
trace　of　feminine　existence　or　appurtenance；　but　none　was　to　be
found。

She　went　out　into　the　yard；　coal…hole；　stable；　hay…loft；　green…
house；　fowl…house；　and　piggery；　and　still　there　was　no　sign。　　Coming
in　again；　she　saw　a　bonnet；　eagerly　pounced　upon　it；　and　found　it　to
be　her　own。

Hastily　completing　her　arrangements　in　the　other　rooms；　she　entered
the　village　again；　and　called　at　once　on　the　postmistress；　Elizabeth
Leat；　an　intimate　friend　of　hers；　and　a　female　who　sported　several
unique　diseases　and　afflictions。

Mrs。　Crickett　unfolded　the　paper；　took　out　the　hair；　and　waved　it　on
high　before　the　perplexed　eyes　of　Elizabeth；　which　immediately
mooned　and　wandered　after　it　like　a　cat's。

'What　is　it？'　said　Mrs。　Leat；　contracting　her　eyelids；　and
stretching　out　towards　the　invisible　object　a　narrow　bony　hand　that
would　have　been　an　unmitigated　delight　to　the　pencil　of　Carlo
Crivelli。

'You　shall　hear；'　said　Mrs。　Crickett；　complacently　gathering　up　the
treasure　into　her　own　fat　hand；　and　the　secret　was　then　solemnly
imparted；　together　with　the　accident　of　its　discovery。

A　shaving…glass　was　taken　down　from　a　nail；　laid　on　its　back　in　the
middle　of　a　table　by　the　window；　and　the　hair　spread　carefully　out
upon　it。　　The　pair　then　bent　over　the　table　from　opposite　sides；
their　elbows　on　the　edge；　their　hands　supporting　their　heads；　their
foreheads　nearly　touching；　and　their　eyes　upon　the　hair。

'He　ha'　been　mad　a'ter　my　lady　Cytherea；'　said　Mrs。　Crickett；　'and
'tis　my　very　belief　the　hair　is'

'No　'tidn'。　　Hers　idn'　so　dark　as　that；'　said　Elizabeth。

'Elizabeth；　you　know　that　as　the　faithful　wife　of　a　servant　of　the
Church；　I　should　be　glad　to　think　as　you　do　about　the　girl。　　Mind　I
don't　wish　to　say　anything　against　Miss　Graye；　but　this　I　do　say；
that　I　believe　her　to　be　a　nameless　thing；　and　she's　no　right　to
stick　a　moral　clock　in　her　face；　and　deceive　the　country　in　such　a
way。　　If　she　wasn't　of　a　bad　stock　at　the　outset　she　was　bad　in　the
planten；　and　if　she　wasn't　bad　in　the　planten；　she　was　bad　in　the
growen；　and　if　not　in　the　growen；　she's　made　bad　by　what　she's　gone
through　since。'

'But　I　have　another　reason　for　knowing　it　idn'　hers；'　said　Mrs。
Leat。

'Ah！　　I　know　whose　it　is　thenMiss　Aldclyffe's；　upon　my　song！'

''Tis　the　colour　of　hers；　but　I　don't　believe　it　to　be　hers　either。'

'Don't　you　believe　what　they　d'　say　about　her　and　him？'

'I　say　nothen　about　that；　but　you　don't　know　what　I　know　about　his
letters。'

'What　about　'em？'

'He　d'　post　all　his　letters　here　except　those　for　one　person；　and
they　he　d'　take　to　Budmouth。　　My　son　is　in　Budmouth　Post　Office；　as
you　know；　and　as　he　d'　sit　at　desk　he　can　see　over　the　blind　of　the
window　all　the　people　who　d'　post　letters。　　Mr。　Manston　d'
unvariably　go　there　wi'　letters　for　that　person；　my　boy　d'　know　'em
by　sight　well　enough　now。'

'Is　it　a　she？'

''Tis　a　she。'

'What's　her　name？'

'The　little　stunpoll　of　a　fellow　couldn't　call　to　mind　more　than
that　'tis　Miss　Somebody；　of　London。　　However；　that's　the　woman　who
ha'　been　here；　depend　upon'ta　wicked　onesome　poor　street…wench
escaped　from　Sodom；　I　warrant　ye。'

'Only　to　find　herself　in　Gomorrah；　seemingly。'

'That　may　be。'

'No；　no；　Mrs。　Leat；　this　is　clear　to　me。　　'Tis　no　miss　who　came　here
to　see　our　steward　last　nightwhenever　she　came　or　wherever　she
vanished。　　Do　you　think　he　would　ha'　let　a　miss　get　here　how　she
could；　go　away　how　she　would；　without　breakfast　or　help　of　any
kind？'

Elizabeth　shook　her　headMrs。　Crickett　looked　at　her　solemnly。

'I　say　I　know　she　had　no　help　of　any　kind；　I　know　it　was　so；　for　the
grate　was　quite　cold　when　I　touched　it　this　morning　with　these
fingers；　and　he　was　still　in　bed。　　No；　he　wouldn't　take　the　trouble
to　write　letters　to　a　girl　and　then　treat　her　so　off…hand　as　that。
There's　a　tie　between　'em　stronger　than　feelen。　　She's　his　wife。'

'He　married！　　The　Lord　so　's；　what　shall　we　hear　next？　　Do　he　look
married　now？　　His　are　not　the　abashed　eyes　and　lips　of　a　married
man。'

'Perhaps　she's　a　tame　onebut　she's　his　wife　still。'

'No；　no：　　he's　not　a　married　man。'

'Yes；　yes；　he　is。　　I've　had　three；　and　I　ought　to　know。'

'Well；　well；'　said　Mrs。　Leat；　giving　way。　　'Whatever　may　be　the
truth　on't　I　trust　Providence　will　settle　it　all　for　the　best；　as　He
always　do。'

'Ay；　ay；　Elizabeth；'　rejoined　Mrs。　Crickett　with　a　satirical　sigh；
as　she　turned　on　her　foot　to　go　home；　'good　people　like　you　may　say