desperate remedies-第52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！


to　America；　but　making　melancholy　progress　in　my　attempt。　　However；
all　that　is　changedcan　I　be　otherwise　than　happy　at　it？　　Of　course
not。　　I　am　happy。　　Tell　me　what　I　am　to　do；　and　believe　me　still　to
be　your　faithful　wife；　　　EUNICE。

'〃My　name　here　is　（as　before）

　　　　　'〃MRS。　RONDLEY；　and　my　address；
　　　　　　　　　　79　ADDINGTON　STREET；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LAMBETH。'〃

The　name　and　address　were　written　on　a　separate　slip　of　paper。

'So　it's　to　be　all　right　at　last　then；'　said　Manston's　friend。　　'But
after　all　there's　another　woman　in　the　case。　　You　don't　seem　very
sorry　for　the　little　thing　who　is　put　to　such　distress　by　this　turn
of　affairs？　　I　wonder　you　can　let　her　go　so　coolly。'　　The　speaker
was　looking　out　between　the　mullions　of　the　windownoticing　that
some　of　the　lights　were　glazed　in　lozenges；　some　in　squaresas　he
said　the　words；　otherwise　he　would　have　seen　the　passionate
expression　of　agonized　hopelessness　that　flitted　across　the
steward's　countenance　when　the　remark　was　made。　　He　did　not　see　it；
and　Manston　answered　after　a　short　interval。　　The　way　in　which　he
spoke　of　the　young　girl　who　had　believed　herself　his　wife；　whom；　a
few　short　days　ago；　he　had　openly　idolized；　and　whom；　in　his　secret
heart；　he　idolized　still；　as　far　as　such　a　form　of　love　was
compatible　with　his　nature；　showed　that　from　policy　or　otherwise；　he
meant　to　act　up　to　the　requirements　of　the　position　into　which　fate
appeared　determined　to　drive　him。

'That's　neither　here　nor　there；'　he　said；　'it　is　a　point　of　honour
to　do　as　I　am　doing；　and　there's　an　end　of　it。'

'Yes。　　Only　I　thought　you　used　not　to　care　overmuch　about　your　first
bargain。'

'I　certainly　did　not　at　one　time。　　One　is　apt　to　feel　rather　weary
of　wives　when　they　are　so　devilish　civil　under　all　aspects；　as　she
used　to　be。　　But　anything　for　a　changeAbigail　is　lost；　but　Michal
is　recovered。　　You　would　hardly　believe　it；　but　she　seems　in　fancy
to　be　quite　another　bridein　fact；　almost　as　if　she　had　really
risen　from　the　dead；　instead　of　having　only　done　so　virtually。'

'You　let　the　young　pink　one　know　that　the　other　has　come　or　is
coming？'

'Cui　bono？'　　The　steward　meditated　critically；　showing　a　portion　of
his　intensely　wide　and　regular　teeth　within　the　ruby　lips。

'I　cannot　say　anything　to　her　that　will　do　any　good；'　he　resumed。
'It　would　be　awkwardeither　seeing　or　communicating　with　her　again。
The　best　plan　to　adopt　will　be　to　let　matters　take　their　course
she'll　find　it　all　out　soon　enough。'

Manston　found　himself　alone　a　few　minutes　later。　　He　buried　his　face
in　his　hands；　and　murmured；　'O　my　lost　one！　　O　my　Cytherea！　　That　it
should　come　to　this　is　hard　for　me！　　'Tis　now　all　darkness〃a　land
of　darkness　as　darkness　itself；　and　of　the　shadow　of　death　without
any　order；　and　where　the　light　is　as　darkness。〃'

Yes；　the　artificial　bearing　which　this　extraordinary　man　had　adopted
before　strangers　ever　since　he　had　overheard　the　conversation　at　the
inn；　left　him　now；　and　he　mourned　for　Cytherea　aloud。

4。　　THE　TWELFTH　OF　FEBRUARY

Knapwater　Park　is　the　pictureat　eleven　o'clock　on　a　muddy；　quiet；
hazy；　but　bright　morninga　morning　without　any　blue　sky；　and
without　any　shadows；　the　earth　being　enlivened　and　lit　up　rather　by
the　spirit　of　an　invisible　sun　than　by　its　bodily　presence。

The　local　Hunt　had　met　for　the　day's　sport　on　the　open　space　of
ground　immediately　in　front　of　the　steward's　residencecalled　in
the　list　of　appointments；　'Old　House；　Knapwater'the　meet　being
here　once　every　season；　for　the　pleasure　of　Miss　Aldclyffe　and　her
friends。

Leaning　out　from　one　of　the　first…floor　windows；　and　surveying　with
the　keenest　interest　the　lively　picture　of　pink　and　black　coats；
rich…coloured　horses；　and　sparkling　bits　and　spurs；　was　the　returned
and　long…lost　woman；　Mrs。　Manston。

The　eyes　of　those　forming　the　brilliant　group　were　occasionally
turned　towards　her；　showing　plainly　that　her　adventures　were　the
subject　of　conversation　equally　with　or　more　than　the　chances　of　the
coming　day。　　She　did　not　flush　beneath　their　scrutiny；　on　the
contrary；　she　seemed　rather　to　enjoy　it；　her　eyes　being　kindled　with
a　light　of　contented　exultation；　subdued　to　square　with　the
circumstances　of　her　matronly　position。

She　was；　at　the　distance　from　which　they　surveyed　her；　an　attractive
womancomely　as　the　tents　of　Kedar。　　But　to　a　close　observer　it　was
palpable　enough　that　God　did　not　do　all　the　picture。　　Appearing　at
least　seven　years　older　than　Cytherea；　she　was　probably　her　senior
by　double　the　number；　the　artificial　means　employed　to　heighten　the
natural　good　appearance　of　her　face　being　very　cleverly　applied。
Her　form　was　full　and　round；　its　voluptuous　maturity　standing　out　in
strong　contrast　to　the　memory　of　Cytherea's　lissom　girlishness。

It　seems　to　be　an　almost　universal　rule　that　a　woman　who　once　has
courted；　or　who　eventually　will　court；　the　society　of　men　on　terms
dangerous　to　her　honour　cannot　refrain　from　flinging　the　meaning
glance　whenever　the　moment　arrives　in　which　the　glance　is　strongly
asked　for；　even　if　her　life　and　whole　future　depended　upon　that
moment's　abstinence。

Had　a　cautious；　uxorious　husband　seen　in　his　wife's　countenance　what
might　now　have　been　seen　in　this　dark…eyed　woman's　as　she　caught　a
stray　glance　of　flirtation　from　one　or　other　of　the　red…coated
gallants　outside；　he　would　have　passed　many　days　in　an　agony　of
restless　jealousy　and　doubt。　　But　Manston　was　not　such　a　husband；
and　he　was；　moreover；　calmly　attending　to　his　business　at　the　other
end　of　the　manor。

The　steward　had　fetched　home　his　wife　in　the　most　matter…of…fact　way
a　few　days　earlier；　walking　round　the　village　with　her　the　very　next
morningat　once　putting　an　end；　by　this　simple　solution；　to　all　the
riddling　inquiries　and　surmises　that　were　rank　in　the　village　and
its　neighbourhood。　　Some　men　said　that　this　woman　was　as　far
inferior　to　Cytherea　as　earth　to　heaven；　others；　older　and　sager；
thought　Manston　better　off　with　such　a　wife　than　he　would　have　been
with　one　of　Cytherea's　youthful　impulses；　and　inexperience　in
household　management。　　All　felt　their　curiosity　dying　out　of　them。
It　was　the　same　in　Carriford　as　in　other　parts　of　the　world
immediately　circumstantial　evidence　became　exchanged　for　direct；　the
loungers　in　court　yawned；　gave　a　final　survey；　and　turned　away　to　a
subject　which　would　afford　more　scope　for　speculation。



XV。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THREE　WEEKS

1。　　FROM　THE　TWELFTH　OF　FEBRUARY　TO　THE　SECOND　OF　MARCH

Owen　Graye's　recovery　from　the　illness　that　had　incapacitated　him
for　so　long　a　time　was；　professionally；　the　dawn　of　a　brighter
prospect　for　him　in　every　direction；　though　the　change　was　at　first
very　gradual；　and　his　movements　and　efforts　were　little　more　than
mechanical。　　With　the　lengthening　of　the　days；　and　the　revival　of
building　operations　for　the　forthcoming　season；　he　saw　himself；　for
the　first　time；　on　a　road　which；　pursued　with　care；　would　probably
lead　to　a　comfortable　income　at　some　future　day。　　But　he　was　still
very　low　down　the　hill　as　yet。

The　first　undertaking　entrusted　to　him　in　the　new　year　began　about　a
month　after　his　return　from　Southampton。　　Mr。　Gradfield　had　come
back　to　him　in　the　wake　of　his　restored　health；　and　offered　him　the
superintendence；　as　clerk　of　works；　of　a　church　which　was　to　be
nearly　rebuilt　at　the　village　of　Tolchurch；　fifteen　or　sixteen　miles
from　Budmouth；　and　about　half　that　distance　from　Carriford。

'I　am　now　being　paid　at　the　rate　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　a
year；'　he　said　to　his　sister　in　a　burst　of　thankfulness；　'and　you
shall　never；　Cytherea；　be　at　any　tyrannous　lady's　beck　and　call
again　as　long　as　I　live。　　Never　pine　or　think　about　what　has
happened；　dear；　it's　no　disgrace　to　you。　　Cheer　up；　you'll　be
somebody's　happy　wife　yet。'

He　did　not　say　Edward　Springrove's；　for；　greatly　to　his
disappointment；　a　report　had　reached　his　ears　that　the　friend　to
whom　Cytherea　owed　so　much　had　been　about　to　pack　up　his　things　and
sail　for　Australia。　　However；　this　was　before　the　uncertainty
concerning　Mrs。　Manston's　existence　had　been　dispersed　by　her
return；　a　phenomenon　that　altered　the　cloudy　relationship　in　which
Cytherea　had　lately　been　standing　towards　her　old　lover；　to　one　of
distinctness；　which　result　would　have　been　delightful　but　for
circumstances　about　to　be　mentioned。

Cytherea　was　still　pale　from　her　recent　illness；　and　still　greatly
dejected。　　Until　the　news　of　Mrs。　Manston's　return　had　reached　them；
she　had　kept　herself　closely　shut　up　during　the　day…time；　never
venturing　forth　except　at　night。　　Sleeping　and　waking　she　had　been
in　perpetual　dread　lest　she　should　still　be　claimed　by　a　man　whom；
only　a　few　weeks　earlier；　she　had　regarded　in　the　light　of　a　future
husband　with　quiet　assent；　not　unmixed　with　cheerfulness。

But　the　removal　of　the　uneasiness　in　this　directionby　Mrs。
Manston's　arrival；　and　her　own　consequent　freedomhad　been　the
imposition　of　pain　in　another。　　Utterly　fictitious　details　of　the
finding　of　Cytherea　and　Manston　had　been　invented　and　circulated；
unavoidably　reaching　her　ears　in　the　course　of　time。　　Thus　the
freedom　brought　no　happiness；　and　it　seemed　well…nigh　impossible
that　she　could　ever　again　show　herself　the　sparkling　creature　she
once　had　been

　　　　　'Apt　to　entice　a　deity。'

On　this　account；　and　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Owen　made　a
point　of　concealing　from　her　the　real　state　of　his　feelings　with
regard　to　the　unhappy　transaction。　　He　writhed　in　secret　under　the
humiliation　to　which　they　had　been　subjected；　till　the　resentment　it
gave　rise　to；　and　for　which　there　was　no　vent；　was　sometimes　beyond
endurance；　it　induced　a　mood　that　did　serious　damage　to　the　material
and　plodding　perseverance　necessary　if　he　would　secure　permanently
the　comforts　of　a　home　for　them。

They　gave　up　their　lodgings　at　Budmouth；　and　went　to　Tolchurch　as
soon　as　the　work　commenced。

Here　they　were　domiciled　in　one　half　of　an　old　farmhouse；　standing
not　far　from　the　ivy…covered　church　tower　（which　was　all　that　was　to
remain　of　the　original　structure）。　　The　long　steep　roof　of　this
picturesque　dwelling　sloped　nearly　down　to　the　ground；　the　old　tiles
that　covered　it　being　overgrown　with　rich　olive…hued　moss。　　New　red
tiles　in　twos　and　threes　had　been　used　for　patching　the　holes
wrought　by　decay；　lighting　up　the　whole　harmonious　surface　with　dots
of　brilliant　scarlet。

The　chief　internal　features　of　this　snug　abode　were　a　wide
fireplace；　enormous　cupboards；　a　brown　settle；　and　several　sketches
on　the　wood　mantel；　done　in　outline　with　the　point　of　a　hot　poker
the　subjects　mainly　consisting　of　old　men　walking　painfully　erect；
with　a　curly…tailed　dog　behind。

After　a　week　or　two　of　residence　in　Tolchurch；　and　rambles　amid　the
quaint　scenery　circumscribing　it；　a　tranquillity　began　to　spread
itself　through　the　mind　of　the　maiden；　which　Graye　hoped　would　be　a
preface　to　her　complete　restoration。　　She　felt　ready　and　willing　to
live　the　whole　remainder　of　her　days　in　the　retirement　of　their
present　quarters：　　she　began　to　sing　about　the　house　in　low
tremulous　snatches

　　　　　'〃I　said；　if　there's　peace　to　be　found　in　the　world；
　　　　　　　A　heart　that　is　humble　m