desperate remedies-第33章

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Entering　now　a　narrow　valley；　the　sides　of　which　obscured　the　sky　to
an　angle　of　perhaps　thirty　or　forty　degrees　above　the　mathematical
horizon；　he　was　obliged　to　suspend　his　judgment　till　he　was　in
possession　of　further　knowledge；　having　however　assumed　in　the
interim；　that　the　fire　was　somewhere　between　Carriford　Road　Station
and　the　village。

The　self…same　glare　had　just　arrested　the　eyes　of　another　man。　　He
was　at　that　minute　gliding　along　several　miles　to　the　east　of　the
steward's　position；　but　nearing　the　same　point　as　that　to　which
Manston　tended。　　The　younger　Edward　Springrove　was　returning　from
London　to　his　father's　house　by　the　identical　train　which　the
steward　was　expecting　to　bring　his　wife；　the　truth　being　that
Edward's　lateness　was　owing　to　the　simplest　of　all　causes；　his
temporary　want　of　money；　which　led　him　to　make　a　slow　journey　for
the　sake　of　travelling　at　third…class　fare。

Springrove　had　received　Cytherea's　bitter　and　admonitory　letter；　and
he　was　clearly　awakened　to　a　perception　of　the　false　position　in
which　he　had　placed　himself；　by　keeping　silence　at　Budmouth　on　his
long　engagement。　　An　increasing　reluctance　to　put　an　end　to　those
few　days　of　ecstasy　with　Cytherea　had　overruled　his　conscience；　and
tied　his　tongue　till　speaking　was　too　late。

'Why　did　I　do　it？　how　could　I　dream　of　loving　her？'　he　asked　himself
as　he　walked　by　day；　as　he　tossed　on　his　bed　by　night：　　'miserable
folly！'

An　impressionable　heart　had　for　yearsperhaps　as　many　as　six　or
seven　yearsbeen　distracting　him；　by　unconsciously　setting　itself
to　yearn　for　somebody　wanting；　he　scarcely　knew　whom。　　Echoes　of
himself；　though　rarely；　he　now　and　then　found。　　Sometimes　they　were
men；　sometimes　women；　his　cousin　Adelaide　being　one　of　these；　for　in
spite　of　a　fashion　which　pervades　the　whole　community　at　the　present
daythe　habit　of　exclaiming　that　woman　is　not　undeveloped　man；　but
diverse；　the　fact　remains　that；　after　all；　women　are　Mankind；　and
that　in　many　of　the　sentiments　of　life　the　difference　of　sex　is　but
a　difference　of　degree。

But　the　indefinable　helpmate　to　the　remoter　sides　of　himself　still
continued　invisible。　　He　grew　older；　and　concluded　that　the　ideas；
or　rather　emotions；　which　possessed　him　on　the　subject；　were
probably　too　unreal　ever　to　be　found　embodied　in　the　flesh　of　a
woman。　　Thereupon；　he　developed　a　plan　of　satisfying　his　dreams　by
wandering　away　to　the　heroines　of　poetical　imagination；　and　took　no
further　thought　on　the　earthly　realization　of　his　formless　desire；
in　more　homely　matters　satisfying　himself　with　his　cousin。

Cytherea　appeared　in　the　sky：　　his　heart　started　up　and　spoke：

　　　　　'Tis　She；　and　here
　　　　　　Lo！　I　unclothe　and　clear
　　　　　　My　wishes'　cloudy　character。'

Some　women　kindle　emotion　so　rapidly　in　a　man's　heart　that　the
judgment　cannot　keep　pace　with　its　rise；　and　finds；　on　comprehending
the　situation；　that　faithfulness　to　the　old　love　is　already
treachery　to　the　new。　　Such　women　are　not　necessarily　the　greatest
of　their　sex；　but　there　are　very　few　of　them。　　Cytherea　was　one。

On　receiving　the　letter　from　her　he　had　taken　to　thinking　over　these
things；　and　had　not　answered　it　at　all。　　But　'hungry　generations'
soon　tread　down　the　muser　in　a　city。　　At　length　he　thought　of　the
strong　necessity　of　living。　　After　a　dreary　search；　the　negligence
of　which　was　ultimately　overcome　by　mere　conscientiousness；　he
obtained　a　situation　as　assistant　to　an　architect　in　the
neighbourhood　of　Charing　Cross：　　the　duties　would　not　begin　till
after　the　lapse　of　a　month。

He　could　not　at　first　decide　whither　he　should　go　to　spend　the
intervening　time；　but　in　the　midst　of　his　reasonings　he　found
himself　on　the　road　homeward；　impelled　by　a　secret　and　unowned　hope
of　getting　a　last　glimpse　of　Cytherea　there。

5。　　MIDNIGHT

It　was　a　quarter　to　twelve　when　Manston　drove　into　the　station…yard。
The　train　was　punctual；　and　the　bell；　announcing　its　arrival；　rang
as　he　crossed　the　booking…office　to　go　out　upon　the　platform。

The　porter　who　had　accompanied　Mrs。　Manston　to　Carriford；　and　had
returned　to　the　station　on　his　night　duty；　recognized　the　steward　as
he　entered；　and　immediately　came　towards　him。

'Mrs。　Manston　came　by　the　nine　o'clock　train；　sir；'　he　said。

The　steward　gave　vent　to　an　expression　of　vexation。

'Her　luggage　is　here；　sir；'　the　porter　said。

'Put　it　up　behind　me　in　the　gig　if　it　is　not　too　much；'　said
Manston。

'Directly　this　train　is　in　and　gone；　sir。'

The　man　vanished　and　crossed　the　line　to　meet　the　entering　train。

'Where　is　that　fire？'　Manston　said　to　the　booking…clerk。

Before　the　clerk　could　speak；　another　man　ran　in　and　answered　the
question　without　having　heard　it。

'Half　Carriford　is　burnt　down；　or　will　be！'　he　exclaimed。　　'You
can't　see　the　flames　from　this　station　on　account　of　the　trees；　but
step　on　the　bridge'tis　tremendous！'

He　also　crossed　the　line　to　assist　at　the　entry　of　the　train；　which
came　in　the　next　minute。

The　steward　stood　in　the　office。　　One　passenger　alighted；　gave　up
his　ticket；　and　crossed　the　room　in　front　of　Manston：　　a　young　man
with　a　black　bag　and　umbrella　in　his　hand。　　He　passed　out　of　the
door；　down　the　steps；　and　struck　out　into　the　darkness。

'Who　was　that　young　man？'　said　Manston；　when　the　porter　had
returned。　　The　young　man；　by　a　kind　of　magnetism；　had　drawn　the
steward's　thoughts　after　him。

'He's　an　architect。'

'My　own　old　profession。　　I　could　have　sworn　it　by　the　cut　of　him；'
Manston　murmured。　　'What's　his　name？'　he　said　again。

'SpringroveFarmer　Springrove's　son；　Edward。'

'Farmer　Springrove's　son；　Edward；'　the　steward　repeated　to　himself；
and　considered　a　matter　to　which　the　words　had　painfully　recalled
his　mind。

The　matter　was　Miss　Aldclyffe's　mention　of　the　young　man　as
Cytherea's　lover；　which；　indeed；　had　scarcely　ever　been　absent　from
his　thoughts。

'But　for　the　existence　of　my　wife　that　man　might　have　been　my
rival；'　he　pondered；　following　the　porter；　who　had　now　come　back　to
him；　into　the　luggage…room。　　And　whilst　the　man　was　carrying　out　and
putting　in　one　box；　which　was　sufficiently　portable　for　the　gig；
Manston　still　thought；　as　his　eyes　watched　the　process

'But　for　my　wife；　Springrove　might　have　been　my　rival。'

He　examined　the　lamps　of　his　gig；　carefully　laid　out　the　reins；
mounted　the　seat　and　drove　along　the　turnpike…road　towards　Knapwater
Park。

The　exact　locality　of　the　fire　was　plain　to　him　as　he　neared　home。
He　soon　could　hear　the　shout　of　men；　the　flapping　of　the　flames；　the
crackling　of　burning　wood；　and　could　smell　the　smoke　from　the
conflagration。

Of　a　sudden；　a　few　yards　ahead；　within　the　compass　of　the　rays　from
the　right…hand　lamp；　burst　forward　the　figure　of　a　man。　　Having　been
walking　in　darkness　the　newcomer　raised　his　hands　to　his　eyes；　on
approaching　nearer；　to　screen　them　from　the　glare　of　the　reflector。

Manston　saw　that　he　was　one　of　the　villagers：　　a　small　farmer
originally；　who　had　drunk　himself　down　to　a　day…labourer　and　reputed
poacher。

'Hoy！'　cried　Manston；　aloud；　that　the　man　might　step　aside　out　of
the　way。

'Is　that　Mr。　Manston？'　said　the　man。

'Yes。'

'Somebody　ha'　come　to　Carriford：　　and　the　rest　of　it　may　concern
you；　sir。'

'Well；　well。'

'Did　you　expect　Mrs。　Manston　to…night；　sir？'

'Yes；　unfortunately　she's　come；　I　know；　and　asleep　long　before　this
time；　I　suppose。'

The　labourer　leant　his　elbow　upon　the　shaft　of　the　gig　and　turned
his　face；　pale　and　sweating　from　his　late　work　at　the　fire；　up　to
Manston's。

'Yes；　she　did　come；'　he　said。　。　。　。　　'I　beg　pardon；　sir；　but　I
should　be　glad　ofof'

'What？'

'Glad　of　a　trifle　for　bringen　ye　the　news。'

'Not　a　farthing！　　I　didn't　want　your　news；　I　knew　she　was　come。'

'Won't　you　give　me　a　shillen；　sir？'

'Certainly　not。'

'Then　will　you　lend　me　a　shillen；　sir？　　I　be　tired　out；　and　don't
know　what　to　do。　　If　I　don't　pay　you　back　some　day　I'll　be　dd。'

'The　devil　is　so　cheated　that　perdition　isn't　worth　a　penny　as　a
security。'

'Oh！'

'Let　me　go　on；'　said　Manston。

'Thy　wife　is　DEAD；　that's　'the　rest　o'　the　news；'　said　the　labourer
slowly。　　He　waited　for　a　reply；　none　came。

'She　went　to　the　Three　Tranters；　because　she　couldn't　get　into　thy
house；　the　burnen　roof　fell　in　upon　her　before　she　could　be　called
up；　and　she's　a　cinder；　as　thou'lt　be　some　day。'

'That　will　do；　let　me　drive　on；'　said　the　steward　calmly。

Expectation　of　a　concussion　may　be　so　intense　that　its　failure
strikes　the　brain　with　more　force　than　its　fulfilment。　　The　labourer
sank　back　into　the　ditch。　　Such　a　Cushi　could　not　realize　the
possibility　of　such　an　unmoved　David　as　this。

Manston　drove　hastily　to　the　turning　of　the　road；　tied　his　horse；
and　ran　on　foot　to　the　site　of　the　fire。

The　stagnation　caused　by　the　awful　accident　had　been　passed　through；
and　all　hands　were　helping　to　remove　from　the　remaining　cottage　what
furniture　they　could　lay　hold　of；　the　thatch　of　the　roofs　being
already　on　fire。　　The　Knapwater　fire…engine　had　arrived　on　the　spot；
but　it　was　small；　and　ineffectual。　　A　group　was　collected　round　the
rector；　who　in　a　coat　which　had　become　bespattered；　scorched；　and
torn　in　his　exertions；　was　directing　on　one　hand　the　proceedings
relative　to　the　removal　of　goods　into　the　church；　and　with　the　other
was　pointing　out　the　spot　on　which　it　was　most　desirable　that　the
puny　engines　at　their　disposal　should　be　made　to　play。　　Every　tongue
was　instantly　silent　at　the　sight　of　Manston's　pale　and　clear
countenance；　which　contrasted　strangely　with　the　grimy　and　streaming
faces　of　the　toiling　villagers。

'Was　she　burnt？'　he　said　in　a　firm　though　husky　voice；　and　stepping
into　the　illuminated　area。　　The　rector　came　to　him；　and　took　him
aside。　　'Is　she　burnt？'　repeated　Manston。

'She　is　dead：　　but　thank　God；　she　was　spared　the　horrid　agony　of
burning；'　the　rector　said　solemnly；　'the　roof　and　gable　fell　in　upon
her；　and　crushed　her。　　Instant　death　must　have　followed。'

'Why　was　she　here？'　said　Manston。

'From　what　we　can　hurriedly　collect；　it　seems　that　she　found　the
door　of　your　house　locked；　and　concluded　that　you　had　retired；　the
fact　being　that　your　servant；　Mrs。　Crickett；　had　gone　out　to　supper。
She　then　came　back　to　the　inn　and　went　to　bed。'

'Where's　the　landlord？'　said　Manston。

Mr。　Springrove　came　up；　walking　feebly；　and　wrapped　in　a　cloak；　and
corroborated　the　evidence　given　by　the　rector。

'Did　she　look　ill；　or　annoyed；　when　she　came？'　said　the　steward。

'I　can't　say。　　I　didn't　see；　but　I　think'

'What　do　you　think？'

'She　was　much　put　out　about　something。'

'My　not　meeting　her；　naturally；'　murmured　the　other；　lost　in
reverie。　　He　turned　his　back　on　Springrove　and　the　rector；　and
retired　from　the　shining　light。

Everything　had　been　done　that　could　be　done　with　the　limited　means
at　their　disposal。　　The　whole　row　of　houses　was　destroyed；　and　each
presented　itself　as　one　stage　of　a　series；　progressing　from　smoking
ruins　at　the　end　where　the　inn　had　stood；　to　a　partly　flaming　mass
glowing　as　none　but　wood　embers　will　glowat　the　other。

A　feature　in　the　decline　of　town　fires　was　noticeably　absent　here
steam。　　There　was　present　what　is　not　observable