desperate remedies-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Yet　whether　one's　end　be　the　usual　enda　wealthy　position　in　life
or　no；　the　name　of　wisdom　is　seldom　applied　but　to　the　means　to　that
usual　end。



II。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　A　FORTNIGHT

1。　　THE　NINTH　OF　JULY

The　day　of　their　departure　was　one　of　the　most　glowing　that　the
climax　of　a　long　series　of　summer　heats　could　evolve。　　The　wide
expanse　of　landscape　quivered　up　and　down　like　the　flame　of　a　taper；
as　they　steamed　along　through　the　midst　of　it。　　Placid　flocks　of
sheep　reclining　under　trees　a　little　way　off　appeared　of　a　pale　blue
colour。　　Clover　fields　were　livid　with　the　brightness　of　the　sun
upon　their　deep　red　flowers。　　All　waggons　and　carts　were　moved　to
the　shade　by　their　careful　owners；　rain…water　butts　fell　to　pieces；
well…buckets　were　lowered　inside　the　covers　of　the　well…hole；　to
preserve　them　from　the　fate　of　the　butts；　and　generally；　water
seemed　scarcer　in　the　country　than　the　beer　and　cider　of　the
peasantry　who　toiled　or　idled　there。

To　see　persons　looking　with　children's　eyes　at　any　ordinary　scenery；
is　a　proof　that　they　possess　the　charming　faculty　of　drawing　new
sensations　from　an　old　experiencea　healthy　sign；　rare　in　these
feverish　daysthe　mark　of　an　imperishable　brightness　of　nature。

Both　brother　and　sister　could　do　this；　Cytherea　more　noticeably。
They　watched　the　undulating　corn…lands；　monotonous　to　all　their
companions；　the　stony　and　clayey　prospect　succeeding　those；　with　its
angular　and　abrupt　hills。　　Boggy　moors　came　next；　now　withered　and
drythe　spots　upon　which　pools　usually　spread　their　waters　showing
themselves　as　circles　of　smooth　bare　soil；　over…run　by　a　net…work　of
innumerable　little　fissures。　　Then　arose　plantations　of　firs；
abruptly　terminating　beside　meadows　cleanly　mown；　in　which　high…
hipped；　rich…coloured　cows；　with　backs　horizontal　and　straight　as
the　ridge　of　a　house；　stood　motionless　or　lazily　fed。　　Glimpses　of
the　sea　now　interested　them；　which　became　more　and　more　frequent
till　the　train　finally　drew　up　beside　the　platform　at　Budmouth。

'The　whole　town　is　looking　out　for　us；'　had　been　Graye's　impression
throughout　the　day。　　He　called　upon　Mr。　Gradfieldthe　only　man　who
had　been　directly　informed　of　his　comingand　found　that　Mr。
Gradfield　had　forgotten　it。

However；　arrangements　were　made　with　this　gentlemana　stout；
active；　grey…bearded　burgher　of　sixtyby　which　Owen　was　to　commence
work　in　his　office　the　following　week。

The　same　day　Cytherea　drew　up　and　sent　off　the　advertisement
appended：

'A　YOUNG　LADY　is　desirous　of　meeting　with　an　ENGAGEMENT　as　GOVERNESS
or　COMPANION。　　She　is　competent　to　teach　English；　French；　and　Music。
Satisfactory　referencesAddress；　C。　G。；　Post…Office；　Budmouth。'

It　seemed　a　more　material　existence　than　her　own　that　she　saw　thus
delineated　on　the　paper。　　'That　can't　be　myself；　how　odd　I　look！'
she　said；　and　smiled。

2。　　JULY　THE　ELEVENTH

On　the　Monday　subsequent　to　their　arrival　in　Budmouth；　Owen　Graye
attended　at　Mr。　Gradfield's　office　to　enter　upon　his　duties；　and　his
sister　was　left　in　their　lodgings　alone　for　the　first　time。

Despite　the　sad　occurrences　of　the　preceding　autumn；　an　unwonted
cheerfulness　pervaded　her　spirit　throughout　the　day。　　Change　of
sceneand　that　to　untravelled　eyesconjoined　with　the　sensation　of
freedom　from　supervision；　revived　the　sparkle　of　a　warm　young　nature
ready　enough　to　take　advantage　of　any　adventitious　restoratives。
Point…blank　grief　tends　rather　to　seal　up　happiness　for　a　time　than
to　produce　that　attrition　which　results　from　griefs　of　anticipation
that　move　onward　with　the　days：　　these　may　be　said　to　furrow　away
the　capacity　for　pleasure。

Her　expectations　from　the　advertisement　began　to　be　extravagant。　　A
thriving　family；　who　had　always　sadly　needed　her；　was　already
definitely　pictured　in　her　fancy；　which；　in　its　exuberance；　led　her
on　to　picturing　its　individual　members；　their　possible
peculiarities；　virtues；　and　vices；　and　obliterated　for　a　time　the
recollection　that　she　would　be　separated　from　her　brother。

Thus　musing；　as　she　waited　for　his　return　in　the　evening；　her　eyes
fell　on　her　left　hand。　　The　contemplation　of　her　own　left　fourth
finger　by　symbol…loving　girlhood　of　this　age　is；　it　seems；　very
frequently；　if　not　always；　followed　by　a　peculiar　train　of　romantic
ideas。　　Cytherea's　thoughts；　still　playing　about　her　future；　became
directed　into　this　romantic　groove。　　She　leant　back　in　her　chair；
and　taking　hold　of　the　fourth　finger；　which　had　attracted　her
attention；　she　lifted　it　with　the　tips　of　the　others；　and　looked　at
the　smooth　and　tapering　member　for　a　long　time。

She　whispered　idly；　'I　wonder　who　and　what　he　will　be？

'If　he's　a　gentleman　of　fashion；　he　will　take　my　finger　so；　just
with　the　tips　of　his　own；　and　with　some　fluttering　of　the　heart；　and
the　least　trembling　of　his　lip；　slip　the　ring　so　lightly　on　that　I
shall　hardly　know　it　is　therelooking　delightfully　into　my　eyes　all
the　time。

'If　he's　a　bold；　dashing　soldier；　I　expect　he　will　proudly　turn
round；　take　the　ring　as　if　it　equalled　her　Majesty's　crown　in　value；
and　desperately　set　it　on　my　finger　thus。　　He　will　fix　his　eyes
unflinchingly　upon　what　he　is　doingjust　as　if　he　stood　in　battle
before　the　enemy　（though；　in　reality；　very　fond　of　me；　of　course）；
and　blush　as　much　as　I　shall。

'If　he's　a　sailor；　he　will　take　my　finger　and　the　ring　in　this　way；
and　deck　it　out　with　a　housewifely　touch　and　a　tenderness　of
expression　about　his　mouth；　as　sailors　do：　　kiss　it；　perhaps；　with　a
simple　air；　as　if　we　were　children　playing　an　idle　game；　and　not　at
the　very　height　of　observation　and　envy　by　a　great　crowd　saying；
〃Ah！　they　are　happy　now！〃

'If　he　should　be　rather　a　poor　mannoble…minded　and　affectionate；
but　still　poor'

Owen's　footsteps　rapidly　ascending　the　stairs；　interrupted　this
fancy…free　meditation。　　Reproaching　herself；　even　angry　with　herself
for　allowing　her　mind　to　stray　upon　such　subjects　in　the　face　of
their　present　desperate　condition；　she　rose　to　meet　him；　and　make
tea。

Cytherea's　interest　to　know　how　her　brother　had　been　received　at　Mr。
Gradfield's　broke　forth　into　words　at　once。　　Almost　before　they　had
sat　down　to　table；　she　began　cross…examining　him　in　the　regular
sisterly　way。

'Well；　Owen；　how　has　it　been　with　you　to…day？　　What　is　the　place
likedo　you　think　you　will　like　Mr　Gradfield？'

'O　yes。　　But　he　has　not　been　there　to…day；　I　have　only　had　the　head
draughtsman　with　me。'

Young　women　have　a　habit；　not　noticeable　in　men；　of　putting　on　at　a
moment's　notice　the　drama　of　whosoever's　life　they　choose。
Cytherea's　interest　was　transferred　from　Mr。　Gradfield　to　his
representative。

'What　sort　of　a　man　is　he？'

'He　seems　a　very　nice　fellow　indeed；　though　of　course　I　can　hardly
tell　to　a　certainty　as　yet。　　But　I　think　he's　a　very　worthy　fellow；
there's　no　nonsense　in　him；　and　though　he　is　not　a　public　school　man
he　has　read　widely；　and　has　a　sharp　appreciation　of　what's　good　in
books　and　art。　　In　fact；　his　knowledge　isn't　nearly　so　exclusive　as
most　professional　men's。'

'That's　a　great　deal　to　say　of　an　architect；　for　of　all　professional
men　they　are；　as　a　rule；　the　most　professional。'

'Yes；　perhaps　they　are。　　This　man　is　rather　of　a　melancholy　turn　of
mind；　I　think。'

'Has　the　managing　clerk　any　family？'　she　mildly　asked；　after　a
while；　pouring　out　some　more　tea。

'Family；　no！'

'Well；　dear　Owen；　how　should　I　know？'

'Why；　of　course　he　isn't　married。　　But　there　happened　to　be　a
conversation　about　women　going　on　in　the　office；　and　I　heard　him　say
what　he　should　wish　his　wife　to　be　like。'

'What　would　he　wish　his　wife　to　be　like？'　she　said；　with　great
apparent　lack　of　interest。

'O；　he　says　she　must　be　girlish　and　artless：　　yet　he　would　be　loth
to　do　without　a　dash　of　womanly　subtlety；　'tis　so　piquant。　　Yes；　he
said；　that　must　be　in　her；　she　must　have　womanly　cleverness。　　〃And
yet　I　should　like　her　to　blush　if　only　a　cock…sparrow　were　to　look
at　her　hard；〃　he　said；　〃which　brings　me　back　to　the　girl　again：　　and
so　I　flit　backwards　and　forwards。　　I　must　have　what　comes；　I
suppose；〃　he　said；　〃and　whatever　she　may　be；　thank　God　she's　no
worse。　　However；　if　he　might　give　a　final　hint　to　Providence；〃　he
said；　〃a　child　among　pleasures；　and　a　woman　among　pains　was　the
rough　outline　of　his　requirement。〃'

'Did　he　say　that？　　What　a　musing　creature　he　must　be。'

'He　did；　indeed。'

3。　　FROM　THE　TWELFTH　TO　THE　FIFTEENTH　OF　JULY

As　is　well　known；　ideas　are　so　elastic　in　a　human　brain；　that　they
have　no　constant　measure　which　may　be　called　their　actual　bulk。　　Any
important　idea　may　be　compressed　to　a　molecule　by　an　unwonted
crowding　of　others；　and　any　small　idea　will　expand　to　whatever
length　and　breadth　of　vacuum　the　mind　may　be　able　to　make　over　to
it。　　Cytherea's　world　was　tolerably　vacant　at　this　time；　and　the
young　architectural　designer's　image　became　very　pervasive。　　The
next　evening　this　subject　was　again　renewed。

'His　name　is　Springrove；'　said　Owen；　in　reply　to　her。　　'He　is　a
thorough　artist；　but　a　man　of　rather　humble　origin；　it　seems；　who
has　made　himself　so　far。　　I　think　he　is　the　son　of　a　farmer；　or
something　of　the　kind。'

'Well；　he's　none　the　worse　for　that；　I　suppose。'

'None　the　worse。　　As　we　come　down　the　hill；　we　shall　be　continually
meeting　people　going　up。'　　But　Owen　had　felt　that　Springrove　was　a
little　the　worse　nevertheless。

'Of　course　he's　rather　old　by　this　time。'

'O　no。　　He's　about　six…and…twentynot　more。'

'Ah；　I　see。　。　。　。　　What　is　he　like；　Owen？'

'I　can't　exactly　tell　you　his　appearance：　　'tis　always　such　a
difficult　thing　to　do。'

'A　man　you　would　describe　as　short？　　Most　men　are　those　we　should
describe　as　short；　I　fancy。'

'I　should　call　him；　I　think；　of　the　middle　height；　but　as　I　only　see
him　sitting　in　the　office；　of　course　I　am　not　certain　about　his　form
and　figure。'

'I　wish　you　were；　then。'

'Perhaps　you　do。　　But　I　am　not；　you　see。'

'Of　course　not；　you　are　always　so　provoking。　　Owen；　I　saw　a　man　in
the　street　to…day　whom　I　fancied　was　heand　yet；　I　don't　see　how　it
could　be；　either。　　He　had　light　brown　hair；　a　snub　nose；　very　round
face；　and　a　peculiar　habit　of　reducing　his　eyes　to　straight　lines
when　he　looked　narrowly　at　anything。'

'O　no。　　That　was　not　he；　Cytherea。'

'Not　a　bit　like　him　in　all　probability。'

'Not　a　bit。　　He　has　dark　hairalmost　a　Grecian　nose；　regular　teeth；
and　an　intellectual　face；　as　nearly　as　I　can　recall　to　mind。'

'Ah；　there　now；　Owen；　you　HAVE　described　him！　　But　I　suppose　he's
not　generally　called　pleasing；　or'

'Handsome？'

'I　scarcely　meant　that。　　But　since　you　have　said　it；　is　he
handsome？'

'Rather。'

'His　tout　ensemble　is　striking？'

'YesO　no；　noI　forgot：　　it　is　not。　　He　is　rather　untidy　in　his
waistcoat；　and　neck…ties；　and　hair。'

'How　vexing！。　。　。　　it　must　be　to　himself；　poor　thing。'

'He's　a　thorough　bookwormdespises　the　pap…and…daisy　school　of
verseknows　Shakespeare　to　the　very　dregs　of　the　foot…notes。
Indeed；　he's　a　poet　himself　in　a　small　way。'

'How　delicious！'　she　said。　　'I　have　never　known　a　poet。'

'And　you　don't　know　him；'　said　Owen　dryly。

She　reddened。　　'Of　course　I　don't。　　I　know　that。'

'Have　you　received　any　answer　to　yo