desperate remedies-第57章

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under　the　pincushion；　which　was　movable　by　a　bit　of　ribbon。　　Lifting
this　he　uncovered　a　flattened　sprig　of　myrtle；　and　a　small　scrap　of
crumpled　paper。　　The　paper　contained　a　verse　or　two　in　a　man's
handwriting。　　He　recognized　it　as　Manston's；　having　seen　notes　and
bills　from　him　at　his　father's　house。　　The　stanza　was　of　a
complimentary　character；　descriptive　of　the　lady　who　was　now
Manston's　wife。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'EUNICE。

　　　　　'Whoso　for　hours　or　lengthy　days
　　　　　　Shall　catch　her　aspect's　changeful　rays；
　　　　　　Then　turn　away；　can　none　recall
　　　　　　Beyond　a　galaxy　of　all
　　　　　　　　　　In　hazy　portraiture；
　　　　　　Lit　by　the　light　of　azure　eyes
　　　　　　Like　summer　days　by　summer　skies：
　　　　　　Her　sweet　transitions　seem　to　be
　　　　　　A　kind　of　pictured　melody；
　　　　　　　　　　And　not　a　set　contour。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'AE。　M。'

To　shake；　pull；　and　ransack　the　box　till　he　had　almost　destroyed　it
was　now　his　natural　action。　　But　it　contained　absolutely　nothing
more。

'Disappointed　again；'　he　said；　flinging　down　the　box；　the　bit　of
paper；　and　the　withered　twig　that　had　lain　with　it。

Yet　valueless　as　the　new　acquisition　was；　on　second　thoughts　he
considered　that　it　would　be　worth　while　to　make　good　the　statement
in　his　late　note　to　Grayethat　he　had　sent　everything　the　box
contained　except　the　sewing…thread。　　Thereupon　he　enclosed　the　verse
and　myrtle…twig　in　another　envelope；　with　a　remark　that　he　had
overlooked　them　in　his　first　search；　and　put　it　on　the　table　for　the
next　day's　post。

In　his　hurry　and　concentration　upon　the　matter　that　occupied　him；
Springrove；　on　entering　his　lodging　and　obtaining　a　light；　had　not
waited　to　pull　down　the　blind　or　close　the　shutters。　　Consequently
all　that　he　had　done　had　been　visible　from　the　street。　　But　as　on　an
average　not　one　person　a　minute　passed　along　the　quiet　pavement　at
this　time　of　the　evening；　the　discovery　of　the　omission　did　not　much
concern　his　mind。

But　the　real　state　of　the　case　was　that　a　tall　man　had　stood　against
the　opposite　wall　and　watched　the　whole　of　his　proceeding。　　When
Edward　came　out　and　went　to　the　Charing　Cross　post…office；　the　man
followed　him　and　saw　him　drop　the　letter　into　the　box。　　The　stranger
did　not　further　trouble　himself　to　follow　Springrove　back　to　his
lodging　again。

Manston　now　knew　that　there　had　been　photographs　of　some　kind　in　his
wife's　workbox；　and　though　he　had　not　been　near　enough　to　see　them；
he　guessed　whose　they　were。　　The　least　reflection　told　him　to　whom
they　had　been　sent。

He　paused　a　minute　under　the　portico　of　the　post…office；　looking　at
the　two　or　three　omnibuses　stopping　and　starting　in　front　of　him。
Then　he　rushed　along　the　Strand；　through　Holywell　Street；　and　on　to
Old　Boswell　Court。　　Kicking　aside　the　shoeblacks　who　began　to
importune　him　as　he　passed　under　the　colonnade；　he　turned　up　the
narrow　passage　to　the　publishing…office　of　the　Post…Office
Directory。　　He　begged　to　be　allowed　to　see　the　Directory　of　the
south…west　counties　of　England　for　a　moment。

The　shopman　immediately　handed　down　the　volume　from　a　shelf；　and
Manston　retired　with　it　to　the　window…bench。　　He　turned　to　the
county；　and　then　to　the　parish　of　Tolchurch。　　At　the　end　of　the
historical　and　topographical　description　of　the　village　he　read：

'PostmistressMrs。　Hurston。　　Letters　received　at　6。3O　A。M。　by　foot…
post　from　Anglebury。'

Returning　his　thanks；　he　handed　back　the　book　and　quitted　the
office；　thence　pursuing　his　way　to　an　obscure　coffee…house　by　the
Strand；　where　he　now　partook　of　a　light　dinner。　　But　rest　seemed
impossible　with　him。　　Some　absorbing　intention　kept　his　body
continually　on　the　move。　　He　paid　his　bill；　took　his　bag　in　his
hand；　and　went　out　to　idle　about　the　streets　and　over　the　river　till
the　time　should　have　arrived　at　which　the　night…mail　left　the
Waterloo　Station；　by　which　train　he　intended　to　return　homeward。

There　exists；　as　it　were；　an　outer　chamber　to　the　mind；　in　which；
when　a　man　is　occupied　centrally　with　the　most　momentous　question　of
his　life；　casual　and　trifling　thoughts　are　just　allowed　to　wander
softly　for　an　interval；　before　being　banished　altogether。　　Thus；
amid　his　concentration　did　Manston　receive　perceptions　of　the
individuals　about　him　in　the　lively　thoroughfare　of　the　Strand；　tall
men　looking　insignificant；　little　men　looking　great　and　profound；
lost　women　of　miserable　repute　looking　as　happy　as　the　days　are
long；　wives；　happy　by　assumption；　looking　careworn　and　miserable。
Each　and　all　were　alike　in　this　one　respect；　that　they　followed　a
solitary　trail　like　the　inwoven　threads　which　form　a　banner；　and　all
were　equally　unconscious　of　the　significant　whole　they　collectively
showed　forth。

At　ten　o'clock　he　turned　into　Lancaster　Place；　crossed　the　river；
and　entered　the　railway…station；　where　he　took　his　seat　in　the　down
mail…train；　which　bore　him；　and　Edward　Springrove's　letter　to　Graye；
far　away　from　London。



XVII。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY

1。　　MARCH　THE　THIRTEENTH。　　THREE　TO　SIX　O'CLOCK　A。M。

They　entered　Anglebury　Station　in　the　dead；　still　time　of　early
morning；　the　clock　over　the　booking…office　pointing　to　twenty…five
minutes　to　three。　　Manston　lingered　on　the　platform　and　saw　the
mail…bags　brought　out；　noticing；　as　a　pertinent　pastime；　the　many
shabby　blotches　of　wax　from　innumerable　seals　that　had　been　set　upon
their　mouths。　　The　guard　took　them　into　a　fly；　and　was　driven　down
the　road　to　the　post…office。

It　was　a　raw；　damp；　uncomfortable　morning；　though；　as　yet；　little
rain　was　falling。　　Manston　drank　a　mouthful　from　his　flask　and
walked　at　once　away　from　the　station；　pursuing　his　way　through　the
gloom　till　he　stood　on　the　side　of　the　town　adjoining；　at　a　distance
from　the　last　house　in　the　street　of　about　two　hundred　yards。

The　station　road　was　also　the　turnpike…road　into　the　country；　the
first　part　of　its　course　being　across　a　heath。　　Having　surveyed　the
highway　up　and　down　to　make　sure　of　its　bearing；　Manston
methodically　set　himself　to　walk　backwards　and　forwards　a　stone's
throw　in　each　direction。　　Although　the　spring　was　temperate；　the
time　of　day；　and　the　condition　of　suspense　in　which　the　steward
found　himself；　caused　a　sensation　of　chilliness　to　pervade　his　frame
in　spite　of　the　overcoat　he　wore。　　The　drizzling　rain　increased；　and
drops　from　the　trees　at　the　wayside　fell　noisily　upon　the　hard　road
beneath　them；　which　reflected　from　its　glassy　surface　the　faint　halo
of　light　hanging　over　the　lamps　of　the　adjacent　town。

Here　he　walked　and　lingered　for　two　hours；　without　seeing　or　hearing
a　living　soul。　　Then　he　heard　the　market…house　clock　strike　five；
and　soon　afterwards；　quick　hard　footsteps　smote　upon　the　pavement　of
the　street　leading　towards　him。　　They　were　those　of　the　postman　for
the　Tolchurch　beat。　　He　reached　the　bottom　of　the　street；　gave　his
bags　a　final　hitch…up；　stepped　off　the　pavement；　and　struck　out　for
the　country　with　a　brisk　shuffle。

Manston　then　turned　his　back　upon　the　town；　and　walked　slowly　on。
In　two　minutes　a　flickering　light　shone　upon　his　form；　and　the
postman　overtook　him。

The　new…comer　was　a　short；　stooping　individual　of　above　five…and…
forty；　laden　on　both　sides　with　leather　bags　large　and　small；　and
carrying　a　little　lantern　strapped　to　his　breast；　which　cast　a　tiny
patch　of　light　upon　the　road　ahead。

'A　tryen　mornen　for　travellers！'　the　postman　cried；　in　a　cheerful
voice；　without　turning　his　head　or　slackening　his　trot。

'It　is；　indeed；'　said　Manston；　stepping　out　abreast　of　him。　　'You
have　a　long　walk　every　day。'

'Yesa　long　walkfor　though　the　distance　is　only　sixteen　miles　on
the　straightthat　is；　eight　to　the　furthest　place　and　eight　back；
what　with　the　ins　and　outs　to　the　gentlemen's　houses；　it　makes　two…
and…twenty　for　my　legs。　　Two…and…twenty　miles　a　day；　how　many　a
year？　　I　used　to　reckon　it；　but　I　never　do　now。　　I　don't　care　to
think　o'　my　wear　and　tear；　now　it　do　begin　to　tell　upon　me。'

Thus　the　conversation　was　begun；　and　the　postman　proceeded　to
narrate　the　different　strange　events　that　marked　his　experience。
Manston　grew　very　friendly。

'Postman；　I　don't　know　what　your　custom　is；'　he　said；　after　a　while；
'but　between　you　and　me；　I　always　carry　a　drop　of　something　warm　in
my　pocket　when　I　am　out　on　such　a　morning　as　this。　　Try　it。'　　He
handed　the　bottle　of　brandy。

'If　you'll　excuse　me；　please。　　I　haven't　took　no　stimmilents　these
five　years。'

''Tis　never　too　late　to　mend。'

'Against　the　regulations；　I　be　afraid。'

'Who'll　know　it？'

'That's　truenobody　will　know　it。　　Still；　honesty's　the　best
policy。'

'Ahit　is　certainly。　　But；　thank　God；　I've　been　able　to　get　on
without　it　yet。　　You'll　surely　drink　with　me？'

'Really；　'tis　a'most　too　early　for　that　sort　o'　thinghowever；　to
oblige　a　friend；　I　don't　object　to　the　faintest　shadder　of　a　drop。'
The　postman　drank；　and　Manston　did　the　same　to　a　very　slight　degree。
Five　minutes　later；　when　they　came　to　a　gate；　the　flask　was　pulled
out　again。

'Well　done！'　said　the　postman；　beginning　to　feel　its　effect；　'but
guide　my　soul；　I　be　afraid　'twill　hardly　do！'

'Not　unless　'tis　well　followed；　like　any　other　line　you　take　up；'
said　Manston。　　'Besides；　there's　a　way　of　liking　a　drop　of　liquor；
and　of　being　goodeven　religiousat　the　same　time。'

'Ay；　for　some　thimble…and…button　in…an…out　fellers；　but　I　could
never　get　into　the　knack　o'　it；　not　I。'

'Well；　you　needn't　be　troubled；　it　isn't　necessary　for　the　higher
class　of　mind　to　be　religiousthey　have　so　much　common…sense　that
they　can　risk　playing　with　fire。'

'That　hits　me　exactly。'

'In　fact；　a　man　I　know；　who　always　had　no　other　god　but　〃Me；〃　and
devoutly　loved　his　neighbour's　wife；　says　now　that　believing　is　a
mistake。'

'Well；　to　be　sure！　　However；　believing　in　God　is　a　mistake　made　by
very　few　people；　after　all。'

'A　true　remark。'

'Not　one　Christian　in　our　parish　would　walk　half　a　mile　in　a　rain
like　this　to　know　whether　the　Scripture　had　concluded　him　under　sin
or　grace。'

'Nor　in　mine。'

'Ah；　you　may　depend　upon　it　they'll　do　away　wi'　Goddymity　altogether
afore　long；　although　we've　had　him　over　us　so　many　years。'

'There's　no　knowing。'

'And　I　suppose　the　Queen　'ill　be　done　away　wi'　then。　　A　pretty
concern　that'll　be！　　Nobody's　head　to　put　on　your　letters；　and　then
your　honest　man　who　do　pay　his　penny　will　never　be　known　from　your
scamp　who　don't。　　O；　'tis　a　nation！'

'Warm　the　cockles　of　your　heart；　however。　　Here's　the　bottle
waiting。'

'I'll　oblige　you；　my　friend。'

The　drinking　was　repeated。　　The　postman　grew　livelier　as　he　went　on；
and　at　length　favoured　the　steward　with　a　song；　Manston　himself
joining　in　the　chorus。

　　　　　'He　flung　his　mallet　against　the　wall；
　　　　　　Said；　〃The　Lord　make　churches　and　chapels　to　fall；
　　　　　　And　there'll　be　work　for　tradesmen　all！〃
　　　　　　　　　　When　Joan's　ale　was　new；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　My　boys；
　　　　　　　　　　When　Joan's　ale　was　new。'

'You　understand；　friend；'　the　postman　added；　'I　was　originally　a
mason　by　trade：　　no　offence　to　you　if　you　be　a　parson？'

'None　at　all；'　said　Manston。

The　rain　now　came　down　heavily；　but　they　pursued　their　path　with
alacrity；　the　produce　of　the　several　fields　betw