desperate remedies-第47章

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looked　significantly　at　one　another；　and　paused。　　He　came　into　the
road；　on　that　side　of　the　village…green　which　was　opposite　the　row
of　cottages；　and　turned　round　to　the　right。　　When　Owen　turned；　all
eyes　turned；　one　or　two　men　went　hurriedly　indoors；　and　afterwards
appeared　at　the　doorstep　with　their　wives；　who　also　contemplated
him；　talking　as　they　looked。　　They　seemed　uncertain　how　to　act　in
some　matter。

'If　they　want　me；　surely　they　will　call　me；'　he　thought；　wondering
more　and　more。　　He　could　no　longer　doubt　that　he　was　connected　with
the　subject　of　their　discourse。

The　first　who　approached　him　was　a　boy。

'What　has　occurred？'　said　Owen。

'O；　a　man　ha'　got　crazy…religious；　and　sent　for　the　pa'son。'

'Is　that　all？'

'Yes；　sir。　　He　wished　he　was　dead；　he　said；　and　he's　almost　out　of
his　mind　wi'　wishen　it　so　much。　　That　was　before　Mr。　Raunham　came。'

'Who　is　he？'　said　Owen。

'Joseph　Chinney；　one　of　the　railway…porters；　he　used　to　be　night…
porter。'

'Ahthe　man　who　was　ill　this　afternoon；　by　the　way；　he　was　told　to
come　to　the　Old　House　for　something；　but　he　hasn't　been。　　But　has
anything　else　happenedanything　that　concerns　the　wedding　to…day？'

'No；　sir。'

Concluding　that　the　connection　which　had　seemed　to　be　traced　between
himself　and　the　event　must　in　some　way　have　arisen　from　Cytherea's
friendliness　towards　the　man；　Owen　turned　about　and　went　homewards
in　a　much　quieter　frame　of　mindyet　scarcely　satisfied　with　the
solution。　　The　route　he　had　chosen　led　through　the　dairy…yard；　and
he　opened　the　gate。

Five　minutes　before　this　point　of　time；　Edward　Springrove　was
looking　over　one　of　his　father's　fields　at　an　outlying　hamlet　of
three　or　four　cottages　some　mile　and　a　half　distant。　　A　turnpike…
gate　was　close　by　the　gate　of　the　field。

The　carrier　to　Casterbridge　came　up　as　Edward　stepped　into　the　road；
and　jumped　down　from　the　van　to　pay　toll。　　He　recognized　Springrove。
'This　is　a　pretty　set…to　in　your　place；　sir；'　he　said。　　'You　don't
know　about　it；　I　suppose？'

'What？'　said　Springrove。

The　carrier　paid　his　dues；　came　up　to　Edward；　and　spoke　ten　words　in
a　confidential　whisper：　　then　sprang　upon　the　shafts　of　his　vehicle；
gave　a　clinching　nod　of　significance　to　Springrove；　and　rattled
away。

Edward　turned　pale　with　the　intelligence。　　His　first　thought　was；
'Bring　her　home！'

The　nextdid　Owen　Graye　know　what　had　been　discovered？　　He　probably
did　by　that　time；　but　no　risks　of　probability　must　be　run　by　a　woman
he　loved　dearer　than　all　the　world　besides。　　He　would　at　any　rate
make　perfectly　sure　that　her　brother　was　in　possession　of　the
knowledge；　by　telling　it　him　with　his　own　lips。

Off　he　ran　in　the　direction　of　the　old　manor…house。

The　path　was　across　arable　land；　and　was　ploughed　up　with　the　rest
of　the　field　every　autumn；　after　which　it　was　trodden　out　afresh。
The　thaw　had　so　loosened　the　soft　earth；　that　lumps　of　stiff　mud
were　lifted　by　his　feet　at　every　leap　he　took；　and　flung　against　him
by　his　rapid　motion；　as　it　were　doggedly　impeding　him；　and
increasing　tenfold　the　customary　effort　of　running；

But　he　ran　onuphill；　and　downhill；　the　same　pace　alikelike　the
shadow　of　a　cloud。　　His　nearest　direction；　too；　like　Owen's；　was
through　the　dairy…barton；　and　as　Owen　entered　it　he　saw　the　figure
of　Edward　rapidly　descending　the　opposite　hill；　at　a　distance　of　two
or　three　hundred　yards。　　Owen　advanced　amid　the　cows。

The　dairyman；　who　had　hitherto　been　talking　loudly　on　some　absorbing
subject　to　the　maids　and　men　milking　around　him；　turned　his　face
towards　the　head　of　the　cow　when　Owen　passed；　and　ceased　speaking。

Owen　approached　him　and　said

'A　singular　thing　has　happened；　I　hear。　　The　man　is　not　insane；　I
suppose？'

'Not　hehe's　sensible　enough；'　said　the　dairyman；　and　paused。　　He
was　a　man　noisy　with　his　associatesstolid　and　taciturn　with
strangers。

'Is　it　true　that　he　is　Chinney；　the　railway…porter？'

'That's　the　man；　sir。'　　The　maids　and　men　sitting　under　the　cows
were　all　attentively　listening　to　this　discourse；　milking
irregularly；　and　softly　directing　the　jets　against　the　sides　of　the
pail。

Owen　could　contain　himself　no　longer；　much　as　his　mind　dreaded
anything　of　the　nature　of　ridicule。　　'The　people　all　seem　to　look　at
me；　as　if　something　seriously　concerned　me；　is　it　this　stupid
matter；　or　what　is　it？'

'Surely；　sir；　you　know　better　than　anybody　else　if　such　a　strange
thing　concerns　you。'

'What　strange　thing？'

'Don't　you　know！　　His　confessing　to　Parson　Raunham。'

'What　did　he　confess？　　Tell　me。'

'If　you　really　ha'n't　heard；　'tis　this。　　He　was　as　usual　on　duty　at
the　station　on　the　night　of　the　fire　last　year；　otherwise　he
wouldn't　ha'　known　it。'

'Known　what？　　For　God's　sake　tell；　man！'

But　at　this　instant　the　two　opposite　gates　of　the　dairy…yard；　one　on
the　east；　the　other　on　the　west　side；　slammed　almost　simultaneously。

The　rector　from　one；　Springrove　from　the　other；　came　striding　across
the　barton。

Edward　was　nearest；　and　spoke　first。　　He　said　in　a　low　voice：　　'Your
sister　is　not　legally　married！　　His　first　wife　is　still　living！　　How
it　comes　out　I　don't　know！'

'O；　here　you　are　at　last；　Mr。　Graye；　thank　Heaven！'　said　the　rector
breathlessly。　　'I　have　been　to　the　Old　House；　and　then　to　Miss
Aldclyffe's　looking　for　yousomething　very　extraordinary。'　　He
beckoned　to　Owen；　afterwards　included　Springrove　in　his　glance；　and
the　three　stepped　aside　together。

'A　porter　at　the　station。　　He　was　a　curious　nervous　man。　　He　had
been　in　a　strange　state　all　day；　but　he　wouldn't　go　home。　　Your
sister　was　kind　to　him；　it　seems；　this　afternoon。　　When　she　and　her
husband　had　gone；　he　went　on　with　his　work；　shifting　luggage…vans。
Well；　he　got　in　the　way；　as　if　he　were　quite　lost　to　what　was　going
on；　and　they　sent　him　home　at　last。　　Then　he　wished　to　see　me。　　I
went　directly。　　There　was　something　on　his　mind；　he　said；　and　told
it。　　About　the　time　when　the　fire　of　last　November　twelvemonth　was
got　under；　whilst　he　was　by　himself　in　the　porter's　room；　almost
asleep；　somebody　came　to　the　station　and　tried　to　open　the　door。　　He
went　out　and　found　the　person　to　be　the　lady　he　had　accompanied　to
Carriford　earlier　in　the　evening；　Mrs。　Manston。　　She　asked；　when
would　be　another　train　to　London？　　The　first　the　next　morning；　he
told　her；　was　at　a　quarter…past　six　o'clock　from　Budmouth；　but　that
it　was　express；　and　didn't　stop　at　Carriford　Roadit　didn't　stop
till　it　got　to　Anglebury。　　〃How　far　is　it　to　Anglebury？〃　she　said。
He　told　her；　and　she　thanked　him；　and　went　away　up　the　line。　　In　a
short　time　she　ran　back　and　took　out　her　purse。　　〃Don't　on　any
account　say　a　word　in　the　village　or　anywhere　that　I　have　been　here；
or　a　single　breath　about　meI'm　ashamed　ever　to　have　come。〃　　He
promised；　she　took　out　two　sovereigns。　　〃Swear　it　on　the　Testament
in　the　waiting…room；〃　she　said；　〃and　I'll　pay　you　these。〃　　He　got
the　book；　took　an　oath　upon　it；　received　the　money；　and　she　left
him。　　He　was　off　duty　at　half…past　five。　　He　has　kept　silence　all
through　the　intervening　time　till　now；　but　lately　the　knowledge　he
possessed　weighed　heavily　upon　his　conscience　and　weak　mind。　　Yet
the　nearer　came　the　wedding…day；　the　more　he　feared　to　tell。　　The
actual　marriage　filled　him　with　remorse。　　He　says　your　sister's
kindness　afterwards　was　like　a　knife　going　through　his　heart。　　He
thought　he　had　ruined　her。'

'But　whatever　can　be　done？　　Why　didn't　he　speak　sooner？'　cried　Owen。

'He　actually　called　at　my　house　twice　yesterday；'　the　rector
continued；　'resolved；　it　seems；　to　unburden　his　mind。　　I　was　out
both　timeshe　left　no　message；　and；　they　say；　he　looked　relieved
that　his　object　was　defeated。　　Then　he　says　he　resolved　to　come　to
you　at　the　Old　House　last　nightstarted；　reached　the　door；　and
dreaded　to　knockand　then　went　home　again。'

'Here　will　be　a　tale　for　the　newsmongers　of　the　county；'　said　Owen
bitterly。　　'The　idea　of　his　not　opening　his　mouth　soonerthe
criminality　of　the　thing！'

'Ah；　that's　the　inconsistency　of　a　weak　nature。　　But　now　that　it　is
put　to　us　in　this　way；　how　much　more　probable　it　seems　that　she
should　have　escaped　than　have　been　burnt'

'You　will；　of　course；　go　straight　to　Mr。　Manston；　and　ask　him　what
it　all　means？'　Edward　interrupted。

'Of　course　I　shall！　　Manston　has　no　right　to　carry　off　my　sister
unless　he's　her　husband；'　said　Owen。　　'I　shall　go　and　separate
them。'

'Certainly　you　will；'　said　the　rector。

'Where's　the　man？'

'In　his　cottage。'

''Tis　no　use　going　to　him；　either。　　I　must　go　off　at　once　and
overtake　themlay　the　case　before　Manston；　and　ask　him　for
additional　and　certain　proofs　of　his　first　wife's　death。　　An　up…
train　passes　soon；　I　think。'

'Where　have　they　gone？'　said　Edward。

'To　Parisas　far　as　Southampton　this　afternoon；　to　proceed　to…
morrow　morning。'

'Where　in　Southampton？'

'I　really　don't　knowsome　hotel。　　I　only　have　their　Paris　address。
But　I　shall　find　them　by　making　a　few　inquiries。'

The　rector　had　in　the　meantime　been　taking　out　his　pocket…book；　and
now　opened　it　at　the　first　page；　whereon　it　was　his　custom　every
month　to　gum　a　small　railway　time…tablecut　from　the　local
newspaper。

'The　afternoon　express　is　just　gone；'　he　said；　holding　open　the
page；　'and　the　next　train　to　Southampton　passes　at　ten　minutes　to
six　o'clock。　　Now　it　wantslet　me　seefive…and…forty　minutes　to
that　time。　　Mr。　Graye；　my　advice　is　that　you　come　with　me　to　the
porter's　cottage；　where　I　will　shortly　write　out　the　substance　of
what　he　has　said；　and　get　him　to　sign　it。　　You　will　then　have　far
better　grounds　for　interfering　between　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Manston　than　if
you　went　to　them　with　a　mere　hearsay　story。'

The　suggestion　seemed　a　good　one。　　'Yes；　there　will　be　time　before
the　train　starts；'　said　Owen。

Edward　had　been　musing　restlessly。

'Let　me　go　to　Southampton　in　your　place；　on　account　of　your
lameness？'　he　said　suddenly　to　Graye。

'I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　but　I　think　I　can　scarcely　accept　the
offer；'　returned　Owen　coldly。　　'Mr。　Manston　is　an　honourable　man；
and　I　had　much　better　see　him　myself。'

'There　is　no　doubt；'　said　Mr。　Raunham；　'that　the　death　of　his　wife
was　fully　believed　in　by　himself。'

'None　whatever；'　said　Owen；　'and　the　news　must　be　broken　to　him；　and
the　question　of　other　proofs　asked；　in　a　friendly　way。　　It　would　not
do　for　Mr。　Springrove　to　appear　in　the　case　at　all。'　　He　still　spoke
rather　coldly；　the　recollection　of　the　attachment　between　his　sister
and　Edward　was　not　a　pleasant　one　to　him。

'You　will　never　find　them；'　said　Edward。　　'You　have　never　been　to
Southampton；　and　I　know　every　house　there。'

'That　makes　little　difference；'　said　the　rector；　'he　will　have　a
cab。　　Certainly　Mr。　Graye　is　the　proper　man　to　go　on　the　errand。'

'Stay；　I'll　telegraph　to　ask　them　to　meet　me　when　I　arrive　at　the
terminus；'　said　Owen；　'that　is；　if　their　train　has　not　already
arrived。'

Mr。　Raunham　pulled　out　his　pocket…book　again。　　'The　two…thirty　train
reached　Southampton　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago；'　he　said。

It　was　too　late　to　catch　them　at　the　station。　　Nevertheless；　the
rector　suggested　that　it　would　be　worth　while　to　direct　a　message　to
'all　the　respectable　hotels　in　Southamp