desperate remedies-第69章

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unutterable　agony　which　shone　from　that　extraordinary　gaze　of　hers。
It　had　surely　been　given　her　by　God　as　a　means　of　defence。　　Manston
continued　his　pursuit　with　a　lowered　eye。

The　panting　and　maddened　desperadoblind　to　everything　but　the
capture　of　his　wifewent　with　a　rush　under　the　table：　　she　went
over　it　like　a　bird。　　He　went　heavily　over　it：　　she　flew　under　it；
and　was　out　at　the　other　side。

　　　　　'One　on　her　youth　and　pliant　limbs　relies；
　　　　　　One　on　his　sinews　and　his　giant　size。'

But　his　superior　strength　was　sure　to　tire　her　down　in　the　long…run。
She　felt　her　weakness　increasing　with　the　quickness　of　her　breath；
she　uttered　a　wild　scream；　which　in　its　heartrending　intensity
seemed　to　echo　for　miles。

At　the　same　juncture　her　hair　became　unfastened；　and　rolled　down
about　her　shoulders。　　The　least　accident　at　such　critical　periods　is
sufficient　to　confuse　the　overwrought　intelligence。　　She　lost　sight
of　his　intended　direction　for　one　instant；　and　he　immediately
outmanoeuvred　her。

'At　last！　my　Cytherea！'　he　cried；　overturning　the　table；　springing
over　it；　seizing　one　of　the　long　brown　tresses；　pulling　her　towards
him；　and　clasping　her　round。　　She　writhed　downwards　between　his　arms
and　breast；　and　fell　fainting　on　the　floor。　　For　the　first　time　his
action　was　leisurely。　　He　lifted　her　upon　the　sofa；　exclaiming；
'Rest　there　for　a　while；　my　frightened　little　bird！'

And　then　there　was　an　end　of　his　triumph。　　He　felt　himself　clutched
by　the　collar；　and　whizzed　backwards　with　the　force　of　a　battering…
ram　against　the　fireplace。　　Springrove；　wild；　red；　and　breathless；
had　sprung　in　at　the　open　window；　and　stood　once　more　between　man
and　wife。

Manston　was　on　his　legs　again　in　an　instant。　　A　fiery　glance　on　the
one　side；　a　glance　of　pitiless　justice　on　the　other；　passed　between
them。　　It　was　again　the　meeting　in　the　vineyard　of　Naboth　the
Jezreelite：　　'Hast　thou　found　me；　O　mine　enemy？　　And　he　answered；　I
have　found　thee：　　because　thou　hast　sold　thyself　to　work　evil　in　the
sight　of　the　Lord。'

A　desperate　wrestle　now　began　between　the　two　men。　　Manston　was　the
taller；　but　there　was　in　Edward　much　hard　tough　muscle　which　the
delicate　flesh　of　the　steward　lacked。　　They　flew　together　like　the
jaws　of　a　gin。　　In　a　minute　they　were　both　on　the　floor；　rolling
over　and　over；　locked　in　each　other's　grasp　as　tightly　as　if　they
had　been　one　organic　being　at　war　with　itselfEdward　trying　to
secure　Manston's　arms　with　a　small　thong　he　had　drawn　from　his
pocket；　Manston　trying　to　reach　his　knife。

Two　characteristic　noises　pervaded　the　apartment　through　this
momentous　space　of　time。　　One　was　the　sharp　panting　of　the　two
combatants；　so　similar　in　each　as　to　be　undistinguishable；　the　other
was　the　stroke　of　their　heels　and　toes；　as　they　smote　the　floor　at
every　contortion　of　body　or　limbs。

Cytherea　had　not　lost　consciousness　for　more　than　half…a…minute。
She　had　then　leapt　up　without　recognizing　that　Edward　was　her
deliverer；　unfastened　the　door；　and　rushed　out；　screaming　wildly；
'Come！　　Help！　　O；　help！'

Three　men　stood　not　twenty　yards　off；　looking　perplexed。　　They
dashed　forward　at　her　words。　　'Have　you　seen　a　shabby　man　with　a
smock…frock　on　lately？'　they　inquired。　　She　pointed　to　the　door；　and
ran　on　the　same　as　before。

Manston；　who　had　just　loosened　himself　from　Edward's　grasp；　seemed
at　this　moment　to　renounce　his　intention　of　pushing　the　conflict　to
a　desperate　end。　　'I　give　it　all　up　for　lifedear　life！'　he　cried；
with　a　hoarse　laugh。　　'A　reckless　man　has　a　dozen　livessee　how
I'll　baffle　you　all　yet！'

He　rushed　out　of　the　house；　but　no　further。　　The　boast　was　his　last。
In　one　half…minute　more　he　was　helpless　in　the　hands　of　his
pursuers。



Edward　staggered　to　his　feet；　and　paused　to　recover　breath。　　His
thoughts　had　never　forsaken　Cytherea；　and　his　first　act　now　was　to
hasten　up　the　lane　after　her。　　She　had　not　gone　far。　　He　found　her
leaning　upon　a　bank　by　the　roadside；　where　she　had　flung　herself
down　in　sheer　exhaustion。　　He　ran　up　and　lifted　her　in　his　arms；　and
thus　aided　she　was　enabled　to　stand　uprightclinging　to　him。　　What
would　Springrove　have　given　to　imprint　a　kiss　upon　her　lips　then！

They　walked　slowly　towards　the　house。　　The　distressing　sensation　of
whose　wife　she　was　could　not　entirely　quench　the　resuscitated
pleasure　he　felt　at　her　grateful　recognition　of　him；　and　her
confiding　seizure　of　his　arm　for　support。　　He　conveyed　her　carefully
into　the　house。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　whilst　she　was　sitting　in　a　partially
recovered；　half…dozing　state　in　an　arm…chair；　Edward　beside　her
waiting　anxiously　till　Graye　should　arrive；　they　saw　a　spring…cart
pass　the　door。　　Old　and　dry　mud…splashes　from　long…forgotten　rains
disfigured　its　wheels　and　sides；　the　varnish　and　paint　had　been
scratched　and　dimmed；　ornament　had　long　been　forgotten　in　a　restless
contemplation　of　use。　　Three　men　sat　on　the　seat；　the　middle　one
being　Manston。　　His　hands　were　bound　in　front　of　him；　his　eyes　were
set　directly　forward；　his　countenance　pallid；　hard；　and　fixed。

Springrove　had　told　Cytherea　of　Manston's　crime　in　a　few　short
words。　　He　now　said　solemnly；　'He　is　to　die。'

'And　I　cannot　mourn　for　him；'　she　replied　with　a　shudder；　leaning
back　and　covering　her　face　with　her　hands。

In　the　silence　that　followed　the　two　short　remarks；　Springrove
watched　the　cart　round　the　corner；　and　heard　the　rattle　of　its
wheels　gradually　dying　away　as　it　rolled　in　the　direction　of　the
county…town。



XXI。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHTEEN　HOURS

1。　　MARCH　THE　TWENTY…NINTH。　　NOON

Exactly　seven　days　after　Edward　Springrove　had　seen　the　man　with　the
bundle　of　straw　walking　down　the　streets　of　Casterbridge；　old　Farmer
Springrove　was　standing　on　the　edge　of　the　same　pavement；　talking　to
his　friend；　Farmer　Baker。

There　was　a　pause　in　their　discourse。　　Mr。　Springrove　was　looking
down　the　street　at　some　object　which　had　attracted　his　attention。
'Ah；　'tis　what　we　shall　all　come　to！'　he　murmured。

The　other　looked　in　the　same　direction。　　'True；　neighbour
Springrove；　true。'

Two　men；　advancing　one　behind　the　other　in　the　middle　of　the　road；
were　what　the　farmers　referred　to。　　They　were　carpenters；　and　bore
on　their　shoulders　an　empty　coffin；　covered　by　a　thin　black　cloth。

'I　always　feel　a　satisfaction　at　being　breasted　by　such　a　sight　as
that；'　said　Springrove；　still　regarding　the　men's　sad　burden。　　'I
call　it　a　sort　of　medicine。'

'And　it　is　medicine。　。　。　。　　I　have　not　heard　of　any　body　being　ill
up　this　way　lately？　　D'seem　as　if　the　person　died　suddenly。'

'May　be　so。　　Ah；　Baker；　we　say　sudden　death；　don't　we？　　But　there's
no　difference　in　their　nature　between　sudden　death　and　death　of　any
other　sort。　　There's　no　such　thing　as　a　random　snapping　off　of　what
was　laid　down　to　last　longer。　　We　only　suddenly　light　upon　an　end
thoughtfully　formed　as　any　otherwhich　has　been　existing　at　that
very　same　point　from　the　beginning；　though　unseen　by　us　to　be　so
soon。'

'It　is　just　a　discovery　to　your　own　mind；　and　not　an　alteration　in
the　Lord's。'

'That's　it。　　Unexpected　is　not　as　to　the　thing；　but　as　to　our
sight。'

'Now　you'll　hardly　believe　me；　neighbour；　but　this　little　scene　in
front　of　us　makes　me　feel　less　anxious　about　pushing　on　wi'　that
threshing　and　winnowing　next　week；　that　I　was　speaking　about。　　Why
should　we　not　stand　still；　says　I　to　myself；　and　fling　a　quiet　eye
upon　the　Whys　and　the　Wherefores；　before　the　end　o'　it　all；　and　we
go　down　into　the　mouldering…place；　and　are　forgotten？'

''Tis　a　feeling　that　will　come。　　But　'twont　bear　looking　into。
There's　a　back'ard　current　in　the　world；　and　we　must　do　our　utmost
to　advance　in　order　just　to　bide　where　we　be。　　But；　Baker；　they　are
turning　in　here　with　the　coffin；　look。'

The　two　carpenters　had　borne　their　load　into　a　narrow　way　close　at
hand。　　The　farmers；　in　common　with　others；　turned　and　watched　them
along　the　way。

''Tis　a　man's　coffin；　and　a　tall　man's；　too；'　continued　Farmer
Springrove。　　'His　was　a　fine　frame；　whoever　he　was。'

'A　very　plain　box　for　the　poor　souljust　the　rough　elm；　you　see。'
The　corner　of　the　cloth　had　blown　aside。

'Yes；　for　a　very　poor　man。　　Well；　death's　all　the　less　insult　to
him。　　I　have　often　thought　how　much　smaller　the　richer　class　are
made　to　look　than　the　poor　at　last　pinches　like　this。　　Perhaps　the
greatest　of　all　the　reconcilers　of　a　thoughtful　man　to　povertyand
I　speak　from　experienceis　the　grand　quiet　it　fills　him　with　when
the　uncertainty　of　his　life　shows　itself　more　than　usual。'

As　Springrove　finished　speaking；　the　bearers　of　the　coffin　went
across　a　gravelled　square　facing　the　two　men　and　approached　a　grim
and　heavy　archway。　　They　paused　beneath　it；　rang　a　bell；　and　waited。

Over　the　archway　was　written　in　Egyptian　capitals；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'COUNTY　GAOL。'

The　small　rectangular　wicket；　which　was　constructed　in　one　of　the
two　iron…studded　doors；　was　opened　from　the　inside。　　The　men
severally　stepped　over　the　threshold；　the　coffin　dragged　its
melancholy　length　through　the　aperture；　and　both　entered　the　court；
and　were　covered　from　sight。

'Somebody　in　the　gaol；　then？'

'Yes；　one　of　the　prisoners；'　said　a　boy；　scudding　by　at　the　moment；
who　passed　on　whistling。

'Do　you　know　the　name　of　the　man　who　is　dead？'　inquired　Baker　of　a
third　bystander。

'Yes；　'tis　all　over　townsurely　you　know；　Mr。　Springrove？　　Why；
Manston；　Miss　Aldclyffe's　steward。　　He　was　found　dead　the　first
thing　this　morning。　　He　had　hung　himself　behind　the　door　of　his
cell；　in　some　way；　by　a　handkerchief　and　some　strips　of　his　clothes。
The　turnkey　says　his　features　were　scarcely　changed；　as　he　looked　at
'em　with　the　early　sun　a…shining　in　at　the　grating　upon　him。　　He　has
left　a　full　account　of　the　murder；　and　all　that　led　to　it。　　So
there's　an　end　of　him。'



It　was　perfectly　true：　　Manston　was　dead。

The　previous　day　he　had　been　allowed　the　use　of　writing…materials；
and　had　occupied　himself　for　nearly　seven　hours　in　preparing　the
following　confession：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'LAST　WORDS。

'Having　found　man's　life　to　be　a　wretchedly　conceived　scheme；　I
renounce　it；　and；　to　cause　no　further　trouble；　I　write　down　the
facts　connected　with　my　past　proceedings。

'After　thanking　God；　on　first　entering　my　house；　on　the　night　of　the
fire　at　Carriford；　for　my　release　from　bondage　to　a　woman　I
detested；　I　went；　a　second　time；　to　the　scene　of　the　disaster；　and；
finding　that　nothing　could　be　done　by　remaining　there；　shortly
afterwards　I　returned　home　again　in　the　company　of　Mr。　Raunham。

'He　parted　from　me　at　the　steps　of　my　porch；　and　went　back　towards
the　rectory。　　Whilst　I　still　stood　at　the　door；　musing　on　my　strange
deliverance；　I　saw　a　figure　advance　from　beneath　the　shadow　of　the
park　trees。　　It　was　the　figure　of　a　woman。

'When　she　came　near；　the　twilight　was　sufficient　to　show　me　her
attire：　　it　was　a　cloak　reaching　to　the　bottom　of　her　dress；　and　a
thick　veil　covering　her　face。　　These　features；　together　with　her
size　and　gait；　aided　also　by　a　flash　of　perception　as　to　the　chain
of　events　which　had　saved　her　life；　told　me　that　she　was　my　wife
Eunice。

'I　gnashed　my　teeth　in　a　frenzy　of　despa