desperate remedies-第53章

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tremulous　snatches

　　　　　'〃I　said；　if　there's　peace　to　be　found　in　the　world；
　　　　　　　A　heart　that　is　humble　may　hope　for　it　here。〃'

2。　　THE　THIRD　OF　MARCH

Her　convalescence　had　arrived　at　this　point　on　a　certain　evening
towards　the　end　of　the　winter；　when　Owen　had　come　in　from　the
building　hard　by；　and　was　changing　his　muddy　boots　for　slippers；
previously　to　sitting　down　to　toast　and　tea。

A　prolonged　though　quiet　knocking　came　to　the　door。

The　only　person　who　ever　knocked　at　their　door　in　that　way　was　the
new　vicar；　the　prime　mover　in　the　church…building。　　But　he　was　that
evening　dining　with　the　Squire。

Cytherea　was　uneasy　at　the　soundshe　did　not　know　why；　unless　it
was　because　her　nerves　were　weakened　by　the　sickness　she　had
undergone。　　Instead　of　opening　the　door　she　ran　out　of　the　room；　and
upstairs。

'What　nonsense；　Cytherea！'　said　her　brother；　going　to　the　door。

Edward　Springrove　stood　in　the　grey　light　outside。

'Capitalnot　gone　to　Australia；　and　not　going；　of　course！'　cried
Owen。　　'What's　the　use　of　going　to　such　a　place　as　that？I　never
believed　that　you　would。'

'I　am　going　back　to　London　again　to…morrow；'　said　Springrove；　'and　I
called　to　say　a　word　before　going。　　Where　is　。　。　。？'

'She　has　just　run　upstairs。　　Come　innever　mind　scraping　your
shoeswe　are　regular　cottagers　now；　stone　floor；　yawning　chimney…
corner；　and　all；　you　see。'

'Mrs。　Manston　came；'　said　Edward　awkwardly；　when　he　had　sat　down　in
the　chimney…corner　by　preference。

'Yes。'　　At　mention　of　one　of　his　skeletons　Owen　lost　his　blitheness
at　once；　and　fell　into　a　reverie。

'The　history　of　her　escape　is　very　simple。'

'Very。'

'You　know　I　always　had　wondered；　when　my　father　was　telling　any　of
the　circumstances　of　the　fire　to　me；　how　it　could　be　that　a　woman
could　sleep　so　soundly　as　to　be　unaware　of　her　horrid　position　till
it　was　too　late　even　to　give　shout　or　sound　of　any　kind。'

'Well；　I　think　that　would　have　been　possible；　considering　her　long
wearisome　journey。　　People　have　often　been　suffocated　in　their　beds
before　they　awoke。　　But　it　was　hardly　likely　a　body　would　be
completely　burnt　to　ashes　as　this　was　assumed　to　be；　though　nobody
seemed　to　see　it　at　the　time。　　And　how　positive　the　surgeon　was　too；
about　those　bits　of　bone！　　Why　he　should　have　been　so；　nobody　can
tell。　　I　cannot　help　saying　that　if　it　has　ever　been　possible　to
find　pure　stupidity　incarnate；　it　was　in　that　jury　of　Carriford。
There　existed　in　the　mass　the　stupidity　of　twelve　and　not　the
penetration　of　one。'

'Is　she　quite　well？'　said　Springrove。

'Who？O；　my　sister；　Cytherea。　　Thank　you；　nearly　well；　now。　　I'll
call　her。'

'Wait　one　minute。　　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　you。'

Owen　sat　down　again。

'You　know；　without　my　saying　it；　that　I　love　Cytherea　as　dearly　as
ever。　。　。　。　　I　think　she　loves　me　too；does　she　really？'

There　was　in　Owen　enough　of　that　worldly　policy　on　the　subject　of
matchmaking　which　naturally　resides　in　the　breasts　of　parents　and
guardians；　to　give　him　a　certain　caution　in　replying；　and；　younger
as　he　was　by　five　years　than　Edward；　it　had　an　odd　effect。

'Well；　she　may　possibly　love　you　still；'　he　said；　as　if　rather　in
doubt　as　to　the　truth　of　his　words。

Springrove's　countenance　instantly　saddened；　he　had　expected　a
simple　'Yes；'　at　the　very　least。　　He　continued　in　a　tone　of　greater
depression

'Supposing　she　does　love　me；　would　it　be　fair　to　you　and　to　her　if　I
made　her　an　offer　of　marriage；　with　these　dreary　conditions
attachedthat　we　lived　for　a　few　years　on　the　narrowest　system；
till　a　great　debt；　which　all　honour　and　duty　require　me　to　pay　off；
shall　be　paid？　　My　father；　by　reason　of　the　misfortune　that　befell
him；　is　under　a　great　obligation　to　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　He　is　getting
old；　and　losing　his　energies。　　I　am　attempting　to　work　free　of　the
burden。　　This　makes　my　prospects　gloomy　enough　at　present。

'But　consider　again；'　he　went　on。　　'Cytherea　has　been　left　in　a
nameless　and　unsatisfactory；　though　innocent　state；　by　this
unfortunate；　and　now　void；　marriage　with　Manston。　　A　marriage　with
me；　though　under　themateriallyuntoward　conditions　I　have
mentioned；　would　make　us　happy；　it　would　give　her　a　locus　standi。
If　she　wished　to　be　out　of　the　sound　of　her　misfortunes　we　would　go
to　another　part　of　Englandemigratedo　anything。'

'I'll　call　Cytherea；'　said　Owen。　　'It　is　a　matter　which　she　alone
can　settle。'　　He　did　not　speak　warmly。　　His　pride　could　not　endure
the　pity　which　Edward's　visit　and　errand　tacitly　implied。　　Yet；　in
the　other　affair；　his　heart　went　with　Edward；　he　was　on　the　same
beat　for　paying　off　old　debts　himself。

'Cythie；　Mr。　Springrove　is　here；'　he　said；　at　the　foot　of　the
staircase。

His　sister　descended　the　creaking　old　steps　with　a　faltering　tread；
and　stood　in　the　firelight　from　the　hearth。　　She　extended　her　hand
to　Springrove；　welcoming　him　by　a　mere　motion　of　the　lip；　her　eyes
averteda　habit　which　had　engendered　itself　in　her　since　the
beginning　of　her　illness　and　defamation。　　Owen　opened　the　door　and
went　outleaving　the　lovers　alone。　　It　was　the　first　time　they　had
met　since　the　memorable　night　at　Southampton。

'I　will　get　a　light；'　she　said；　with　a　little　embarrassment。

'Nodon't；　please；　Cytherea；'　said　Edward　softly；　'Come　and　sit
down　with　me。'

'O　yes。　　I　ought　to　have　asked　YOU　to；'　she　returned　timidly。
'Everybody　sits　in　the　chimney…corner　in　this　parish。　　You　sit　on
that　side。　　I'll　sit　here。'

Two　recessesone　on　the　right；　one　on　the　left　handwere　cut　in
the　inside　of　the　fireplace；　and　here　they　sat　down　facing　each
other；　on　benches　fitted　to　the　recesses；　the　fire　glowing　on　the
hearth　between　their　feet。　　Its　ruddy　light　shone　on　the　underslopes
of　their　faces；　and　spread　out　over　the　floor　of　the　room　with　the
low　horizontality　of　the　setting　sun；　giving　to　every　grain　of　sand
and　tumour　in　the　paving　a　long　shadow　towards　the　door。

Edward　looked　at　his　pale　love　through　the　thin　azure　twines　of
smoke　that　went　up　like　ringlets　between　them；　and　invested　her；　as
seen　through　its　medium；　with　the　shadowy　appearance　of　a　phantom。
Nothing　is　so　potent　for　coaxing　back　the　lost　eyes　of　a　woman　as　a
discreet　silence　in　the　man　who　has　so　lost　themand　thus　the
patient　Edward　coaxed　hers。　　After　lingering　on　the　hearth　for　half
a　minute；　waiting　in　vain　for　another　word　from　him；　they　were
lifted　into　his　face。

He　was　ready　primed　to　receive　them。　　'Cytherea；　will　you　marry　me？'
he　said。

He　could　not　wait　in　his　original　position　till　the　answer　came。
Stepping　across　the　front　of　the　fire　to　her　own　side　of　the　chimney
corner；　he　reclined　at　her　feet；　and　searched　for　her　hand。　　She
continued　in　silence　awhile。

'Edward；　I　can　never　be　anybody's　wife；'　she　then　said　sadly；　and
with　firmness。

'Think　of　it　in　every　light；'　he　pleaded；　'the　light　of　love；　first。
Then；　when　you　have　done　that；　see　how　wise　a　step　it　would　be。　　I
can　only　offer　you　poverty　as　yet；　but　I　wantI　do　so　long　to
secure　you　from　the　intrusion　of　that　unpleasant　past；　which　will
often　and　always　be　thrust　before　you　as　long　as　you　live　the
shrinking　solitary　life　you　do　nowa　life　which　purity　chooses；　it
may　be；　but　to　the　outside　world　it　appears　like　the　enforced
loneliness　of　neglect　and　scornand　tongues　are　busy　inventing　a
reason　for　it　which　does　not　exist。'

'I　know　all　about　it；'　she　said　hastily；　'and　those　are　the　grounds
of　my　refusal。　　You　and　Owen　know　the　whole　truththe　two　I　love
best　on　earthand　I　am　content。　　But　the　scandal　will　be
continually　repeated；　and　I　can　never　give　any　one　the　opportunity
of　saying　to　youthatyour　wife　。　。　。　。'　　She　utterly　broke　down
and　wept。

'Don't；　my　own　darling！'　he　entreated。　　'Don't；　Cytherea！'

'Please　to　leave　mewe　will　be　friends；　Edwardbut　don't　press　me…
…my　mind　is　made　upI　cannotI　will　not　marry　you　or　any　man　under
the　present　ambiguous　circumstancesnever　will　II　have　said　it：
never！'

They　were　both　silent。　　He　listlessly　regarded　the　illuminated
blackness　overhead；　where　long　flakes　of　soot　floated　from　the　sides
and　bars　of　the　chimney…throat　like　tattered　banners　in　ancient
aisles；　whilst　through　the　square　opening　in　the　midst　one　or　two
bright　stars　looked　down　upon　them　from　the　grey　March　sky。　　The
sight　seemed　to　cheer　him。

'At　any　rate　you　will　love　me？'　he　murmured　to　her。

'Yesalwaysfor　ever　and　for　ever！'

He　kissed　her　once；　twice；　three　times；　and　arose　to　his　feet；
slowly　withdrawing　himself　from　her　side　towards　the　door。　　Cytherea
remained　with　her　gaze　fixed　on　the　fire。　　Edward　went　out　grieving；
but　hope　was　not　extinguished　even　now。

He　smelt　the　fragrance　of　a　cigar；　and　immediately　afterwards　saw　a
small　red　star　of　fire　against　the　darkness　of　the　hedge。　　Graye　was
pacing　up　and　down　the　lane；　smoking　as　he　walked。　　Springrove　told
him　the　result　of　the　interview。

'You　are　a　good　fellow；　Edward；'　he　said；　'but　I　think　my　sister　is
right。'

'I　wish　you　would　believe　Manston　a　villain；　as　I　do；'　said
Springrove。

'It　would　be　absurd　of　me　to　say　that　I　like　him　nowfamily　feeling
prevents　it；　but　I　cannot　in　honesty　say　deliberately　that　he　is　a
bad　man。'

Edward　could　keep　the　secret　of　Manston's　coercion　of　Miss　Aldclyffe
in　the　matter　of　the　houses　a　secret　no　longer。　　He　told　Owen　the
whole　story。

'That's　one　thing；'　he　continued；　'but　not　all。　　What　do　you　think
of　thisI　have　discovered　that　he　went　to　Budmouth　post…office　for
a　letter　the　day　before　the　first　advertisement　for　his　wife
appeared　in　the　papers。　　One　was　there　for　him；　and　it　was　directed
in　his　wife's　handwriting；　as　I　can　prove。　　This　was　not　till　after
the　marriage　with　Cytherea；　it　is　true；　but　if　（as　it　seems　to　show）
the　advertising　was　a　farce；　there　is　a　strong　presumption　that　the
rest　of　the　piece　was。'

Owen　was　too　astounded　to　speak。　　He　dropped　his　cigar；　and　fixed
his　eyes　upon　his　companion。

'Collusion！'

'Yes。'

'With　his　first　wife？'

'Yeswith　his　wife。　　I　am　firmly　persuaded　of　it。'

'What　did　you　discover？'

'That　he　fetched　from　the　post…office　at　Budmouth　a　letter　from　her
the　day　BEFORE　the　first　advertisement　appeared。'

Graye　was　lost　in　a　long　consideration。　　'Ah！'　he　said；　'it　would　be
difficult　to　prove　anything　of　that　sort　now。　　The　writing　could　not
be　sworn　to；　and　if　he　is　guilty　the　letter　is　destroyed。'

'I　have　other　suspicions'

'Yesas　you　said'　interrupted　Owen；　who　had　not　till　now　been　able
to　form　the　complicated　set　of　ideas　necessary　for　picturing　the
position。　　'Yes；　there　is　this　to　be　rememberedCytherea　had　been
taken　from　him　before　that　letter　cameand　his　knowledge　of　his
wife's　existence　could　not　have　originated　till　after　the　wedding。
I　could　have　sworn　he　believed　her　dead　then。　　His　manner　was
unmistakable。'

'Well；　I　have　other　suspicions；'　repeated　Edward；　'and　if　I　only　had
the　rightif　I　were　her　husband　or　brother；　he　should　be　convicted
of　bigamy　yet。'

'The　reproof　was　not　needed；'　said　Owen；　with　a　little　bitterness。
'What　can　I　doa　man　with　neither　money　nor　friendswhilst　Manston
has　Miss　Aldclyffe　and　all　her　fortune　to　back　him　up？　　God　only
knows　what　lies　between　the　mistress　and　her　steward；　but　sinc