desperate remedies-第6章

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Anglebury　Stationa　shorter　walk　for　himwhere　he　could　catch　the
late　train；　and　go　directly　home。　　I　could　let　you　know　what　he　had
done；　and　allay　any　uneasiness。'

'Is　the　lameness　serious；　do　you　know？'

'O　no；　simply　from　over…walking　himself。　　Still；　it　was　just　as　well
to　ride　home。'

Relieved　from　her　apprehensions　on　Owen's　score；　she　was　able
slightly　to　examine　the　appearance　of　her　informantEdward
Springrovewho　now　removed　his　hat　for　a　while；　to　cool　himself。
He　was　rather　above　her　brother's　height。　　Although　the　upper　part
of　his　face　and　head　was　handsomely　formed；　and　bounded　by　lines　of
sufficiently　masculine　regularity；　his　brows　were　somewhat　too
softly　arched；　and　finely　pencilled　for　one　of　his　sex；　without
prejudice；　however；　to　the　belief　which　the　sum　total　of　his
features　inspiredthat　though　they　did　not　prove　that　the　man　who
thought　inside　them　would　do　much　in　the　world；　men　who　had　done
most　of　all　had　had　no　better　ones。　　Across　his　forehead；　otherwise
perfectly　smooth；　ran　one　thin　line；　the　healthy　freshness　of　his
remaining　features　expressing　that　it　had　come　there　prematurely。

Though　some　years　short　of　the　age　at　which　the　clear　spirit　bids
good…bye　to　the　last　infirmity　of　noble　mind；　and　takes　to　house…
hunting　and　investments；　he　had　reached　the　period　in　a　young　man's
life　when　episodic　periods；　with　a　hopeful　birth　and　a　disappointing
death；　have　begun　to　accumulate；　and　to　bear　a　fruit　of
generalities；　his　glance　sometimes　seeming　to　state；　'I　have　already
thought　out　the　issue　of　such　conditions　as　these　we　are
experiencing。'　　At　other　times　he　wore　an　abstracted　look：　　'I　seem
to　have　lived　through　this　moment　before。'

He　was　carelessly　dressed　in　dark　grey；　wearing　a　rolled…up　black
kerchief　as　a　neck…cloth；　the　knot　of　which　was　disarranged；　and
stood　obliquelya　deposit　of　white　dust　having　lodged　in　the
creases。

'I　am　sorry　for　your　disappointment；'　he　continued；　glancing　into
her　face。　　Their　eyes　having　met；　became；　as　it　were；　mutually
locked　together；　and　the　single　instant　only　which　good　breeding
allows　as　the　length　of　such　a　look；　became　trebled：　　a　clear
penetrating　ray　of　intelligence　had　shot　from　each　into　each；　giving
birth　to　one　of　those　unaccountable　sensations　which　carry　home　to
the　heart　before　the　hand　has　been　touched　or　the　merest　compliment
passed；　by　something　stronger　than　mathematical　proof；　the
conviction；　'A　tie　has　begun　to　unite　us。'

Both　faces　also　unconsciously　stated　that　their　owners　had　been　much
in　each　other's　thoughts　of　late。　　Owen　had　talked　to　the　young
architect　of　his　sister　as　freely　as　to　Cytherea　of　the　young
architect。

A　conversation　began；　which　was　none　the　less　interesting　to　the
parties　engaged　because　it　consisted　only　of　the　most　trivial　and
commonplace　remarks。　　Then　the　band　of　harps　and　violins　struck　up　a
lively　melody；　and　the　deck　was　cleared　for　dancing；　the　sun　dipping
beneath　the　horizon　during　the　proceeding；　and　the　moon　showing
herself　at　their　stern。　　The　sea　was　so　calm；　that　the　soft　hiss
produced　by　the　bursting　of　the　innumerable　bubbles　of　foam　behind
the　paddles　could　be　distinctly　heard。　　The　passengers　who　did　not
dance；　including　Cytherea　and　Springrove；　lapsed　into　silence；
leaning　against　the　paddle…boxes；　or　standing　aloofnoticing　the
trembling　of　the　deck　to　the　steps　of　the　dancewatching　the　waves
from　the　paddles　as　they　slid　thinly　and　easily　under　each　other's
edges。

Night　had　quite　closed　in　by　the　time　they　reached　Budmouth　harbour；
sparkling　with　its　white；　red；　and　green　lights　in　opposition　to　the
shimmering　path　of　the　moon's　reflection　on　the　other　side；　which
reached　away　to　the　horizon　till　the　flecked　ripples　reduced
themselves　to　sparkles　as　fine　as　gold　dust。

'I　will　walk　to　the　station　and　find　out　the　exact　time　the　train
arrives；'　said　Springrove；　rather　eagerly；　when　they　had　landed。

She　thanked　him　much。

'Perhaps　we　might　walk　together；'　he　suggested　hesitatingly。　　She
looked　as　if　she　did　not　quite　know；　and　he　settled　the　question　by
showing　the　way。

They　found；　on　arriving　there；　that　on　the　first　day　of　that　month
the　particular　train　selected　for　Graye's　return　had　ceased　to　stop
at　Anglebury　station。

'I　am　very　sorry　I　misled　him；'　said　Springrove。

'O；　I　am　not　alarmed　at　all；'　replied　Cytherea。

'Well；　it's　sure　to　be　all　righthe　will　sleep　there；　and　come　by
the　first　in　the　morning。　　But　what　will　you　do；　alone？'

'I　am　quite　easy　on　that　point；　the　landlady　is　very　friendly。　　I
must　go　indoors　now。　　Good…night；　Mr。　Springrove。'

'Let　me　go　round　to　your　door　with　you？'　he　pleaded。

'No；　thank　you；　we　live　close　by。'

He　looked　at　her　as　a　waiter　looks　at　the　change　he　brings　back。
But　she　was　inexorable。

'Don'tforget　me；'　he　murmured。　　She　did　not　answer。

'Let　me　see　you　sometimes；'　he　said。

'Perhaps　you　never　will　againI　am　going　away；'　she　replied　in
lingering　tones；　and　turning　into　Cross　Street；　ran　indoors　and
upstairs。

The　sudden　withdrawal　of　what　was　superfluous　at　first；　is　often
felt　as　an　essential　loss。　　It　was　felt　now　with　regard　to　the
maiden。　　More；　too；　after　a　meeting　so　pleasant　and　so　enkindling；
she　had　seemed　to　imply　that　they　would　never　come　together　again。

The　young　man　softly　followed　her；　stood　opposite　the　house　and
watched　her　come　into　the　upper　room　with　the　light。　　Presently　his
gaze　was　cut　short　by　her　approaching　the　window　and　pulling　down
the　blindEdward　dwelling　upon　her　vanishing　figure　with　a　hopeless
sense　of　loss　akin　to　that　which　Adam　is　said　by　logicians　to　have
felt　when　he　first　saw　the　sun　set；　and　thought；　in　his
inexperience；　that　it　would　return　no　more。

He　waited　till　her　shadow　had　twice　crossed　the　window；　when；
finding　the　charming　outline　was　not　to　be　expected　again；　he　left
the　street；　crossed　the　harbour…bridge；　and　entered　his　own　solitary
chamber　on　the　other　side；　vaguely　thinking　as　he　went　（for
undefined　reasons）；

　　　　　'One　hope　is　too　like　despair
　　　　　　For　prudence　to　smother。'



III。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHT　DAYS

1。　　FROM　THE　TWENTY…SECOND　TO　THE　TWENTY…SEVENTH　OF　JULY

But　things　are　not　what　they　seem。　　A　responsive　love　for　Edward
Springrove　had　made　its　appearance　in　Cytherea's　bosom　with　all　the
fascinating　attributes　of　a　first　experience；　not　succeeding　to　or
displacing　other　emotions；　as　in　older　hearts；　but　taking　up
entirely　new　ground；　as　when　gazing　just　after　sunset　at　the　pale
blue　sky　we　see　a　star　come　into　existence　where　nothing　was　before。

His　parting　words；　'Don't　forget　me；'　she　repeated　to　herself　a
hundred　times；　and　though　she　thought　their　import　was　probably
commonplace；　she　could　not　help　toying　with　them；looking　at　them
from　all　points；　and　investing　them　with　meanings　of　love　and
faithfulness；ostensibly　entertaining　such　meanings　only　as　fables
wherewith　to　pass　the　time；　yet　in　her　heart　admitting；　for　detached
instants；　a　possibility　of　their　deeper　truth。　　And　thus；　for　hours
after　he　had　left　her；　her　reason　flirted　with　her　fancy　as　a　kitten
will　sport　with　a　dove；　pleasantly　and　smoothly　through　easy
attitudes；　but　disclosing　its　cruel　and　unyielding　nature　at　crises。

To　turn　now　to　the　more　material　media　through　which　this　story
moves；　it　so　happened　that　the　very　next　morning　brought　round　a
circumstance　which；　slight　in　itself；　took　up　a　relevant　and
important　position　between　the　past　and　the　future　of　the　persons
herein　concerned。

At　breakfast　time；　just　as　Cytherea　had　again　seen　the　postman　pass
without　bringing　her　an　answer　to　the　advertisement；　as　she　had
fully　expected　he　would　do；　Owen　entered　the　room。

'Well；'　he　said；　kissing　her；　'you　have　not　been　alarmed；　of　course。
Springrove　told　you　what　I　had　done；　and　you　found　there　was　no
train？'

'Yes；　it　was　all　clear。　　But　what　is　the　lameness　owing　to？'

'I　don't　knownothing。　　It　has　quite　gone　off　now　。　。　。　　Cytherea；
I　hope　you　like　Springrove。　　Springrove's　a　nice　fellow；　you　know。'

'Yes。　　I　think　he　is；　except　that'

'It　happened　just　to　the　purpose　that　I　should　meet　him　there；
didn't　it？　　And　when　I　reached　the　station　and　learnt　that　I　could
not　get　on　by　train　my　foot　seemed　better。　　I　started　off　to　walk
home；　and　went　about　five　miles　along　a　path　beside　the　railway。　　It
then　struck　me　that　I　might　not　be　fit　for　anything　today　if　I
walked　and　aggravated　the　bothering　foot；　so　I　looked　for　a　place　to
sleep　at。　　There　was　no　available　village　or　inn；　and　I　eventually
got　the　keeper　of　a　gate…house；　where　a　lane　crossed　the　line；　to
take　me　in。'

They　proceeded　with　their　breakfast。　　Owen　yawned。

'You　didn't　get　much　sleep　at　the　gate…house　last　night；　I'm　afraid；
Owen；'　said　his　sister。

'To　tell　the　truth；　I　didn't。　　I　was　in　such　very　close　and　narrow
quarters。　　Those　gate…houses　are　such　small　places；　and　the　man　had
only　his　own　bed　to　offer　me。　　Ah；　by…the…bye；　Cythie；　I　have　such
an　extraordinary　thing　to　tell　you　in　connection　with　this　man！by
Jove；　I　had　nearly　forgotten　it！　　But　I'll　go　straight　on。　　As　I　was
saying；　he　had　only　his　own　bed　to　offer　me；　but　I　could　not　afford
to　be　fastidious；　and　as　he　had　a　hearty　manner；　though　a　very　queer
one；　I　agreed　to　accept　it；　and　he　made　a　rough　pallet　for　himself
on　the　floor　close　beside　me。　　Well；　I　could　not　sleep　for　my　life；
and　I　wished　I　had　not　stayed　there；　though　I　was　so　tired。　　For　one
thing；　there　were　the　luggage　trains　rattling　by　at　my　elbow　the
early　part　of　the　night。　　But　worse　than　this；　he　talked　continually
in　his　sleep；　and　occasionally　struck　out　with　his　limbs　at
something　or　another；　knocking　against　the　post　of　the　bedstead　and
making　it　tremble。　　My　condition　was　altogether　so　unsatisfactory
that　at　last　I　awoke　him；　and　asked　him　what　he　had　been　dreaming
about　for　the　previous　hour；　for　I　could　get　no　sleep　at　all。　　He
begged　my　pardon　for　disturbing　me；　but　a　name　I　had　casually　let
fall　that　evening　had　led　him　to　think　of　another　stranger　he　had
once　had　visit　him；　who　had　also　accidentally　mentioned　the　same
name；　and　some　very　strange　incidents　connected　with　that　meeting。
The　affair　had　occurred　years　and　years　ago；　but　what　I　had　said　had
made　him　think　and　dream　about　it　as　if　it　were　but　yesterday。　　What
was　the　word？　I　said。　　〃Cytherea；〃　he　said。　　What　was　the　story？　I
asked　then。　　He　then　told　me　that　when　he　was　a　young　man　in　London
he　borrowed　a　few　pounds　to　add　to　a　few　he　had　saved　up；　and　opened
a　little　inn　at　Hammersmith。　　One　evening；　after　the　inn　had　been
open　about　a　couple　of　months；　every　idler　in　the　neighbourhood　ran
off　to　Westminster。　　The　Houses　of　Parliament　were　on　fire。

'Not　a　soul　remained　in　his　parlour　besides　himself；　and　he　began
picking　up　the　pipes　and　glasses　his　customers　had　hastily
relinquished。　　At　length　a　young　lady　about　seventeen　or　eighteen
came　in。　　She　asked　if　a　woman　was　there　waiting　for　herselfMiss
Jane　Taylor。　　He　said　no；　asked　the　young　lady　if　she　would　wait；
and　showed　her　into　the　small　inner　room。　　There　was　a　glass…pane　in
the　partition　dividing　this　room　from　the　bar　to　enable　the　landlord
to　see　if　his　visitors；　who　sat　t