desperate remedies-第71章

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Anne　came　home　from　church　that　morning；　and　told　me　of　the
suspicious　way　in　which　a　young　man　had　looked　at　her　there。
Nothing　could　be　done　beyond　waiting　the　issue　of　events。　　Then　the
letter　came　from　Raunham。　　For　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　was　half
indifferent　as　to　what　fate　awaited　me。　　During　the　succeeding　day　I
thought　once　or　twice　of　running　away；　but　could　not　quite　make　up
my　mind。　　At　any　rate　it　would　be　best　to　bury　the　body　of　my　wife；
I　thought；　for　the　oven　might　be　opened　at　any　time。　　I　went　to
Casterbridge　and　made　some　arrangements。　　In　the　evening　Miss
Aldclyffe　（who　is　united　to　me　by　a　common　secret　which　I　have　no
right　or　wish　to　disclose）　came　to　my　house；　and　alarmed　me　still
more。　　She　said　that　she　could　tell　by　Mr。　Raunham's　manner　that
evening；　that　he　kept　back　from　her　a　suspicion　of　more　importance
even　than　the　one　he　spoke　of；　and　that　strangers　were　in　his　house
even　then。

'I　guessed　what　this　further　suspicion　was；　and　resolved　to
enlighten　her　to　a　certain　extent；　and　so　secure　her　assistance。　　I
said　that　I　killed　my　wife　by　an　accident　on　the　night　of　the　fire；
dwelling　upon　the　advantage　to　her　of　the　death　of　the　only　woman
who　knew　her　secret。

'Her　terror；　and　fears　for　my　fate；　led　her　to　watch　the　rectory
that　evening。　　She　saw　the　detective　leave　it；　and　followed　him　to
my　residence。　　This　she　told　me　hurriedly　when　I　perceived　her　after
digging　my　wife's　grave　in　the　plantation。　　She　did　not　suspect　what
the　sack　contained。

'I　am　now　about　to　enter　on　my　normal　condition。　　For　people　are
almost　always　in　their　graves。　　When　we　survey　the　long　race　of　men；
it　is　strange　and　still　more　strange　to　find　that　they　are　mainly
dead　men；　who　have　scarcely　ever　been　otherwise。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'AENEAS　MANSTON。'

The　steward's　confession；　aided　by　circumstantial　evidence　of
various　kinds；　was　the　means　of　freeing　both　Anne　Seaway　and　Miss
Aldclyffe　from　all　suspicion　of　complicity　with　the　murderer。

2。　　SIX　O'CLOCK　P。M。

It　was　eveningjust　at　sunseton　the　day　of　Manston's　death。

In　the　cottage　at　Tolchurch　was　gathered　a　group　consisting　of
Cytherea；　her　brother；　Edward　Springrove；　and　his　father。　　They　sat
by　the　window　conversing　of　the　strange　events　which　had　just　taken
place。　　In　Cytherea's　eye　there　beamed　a　hopeful　ray；　though　her
face　was　as　white　as　a　lily。

Whilst　they　talked；　looking　out　at　the　yellow　evening　light　that
coated　the　hedges；　trees；　and　church　tower；　a　brougham　rolled　round
the　corner　of　the　lane；　and　came　in　full　view。　　It　reflected　the
rays　of　the　sun　in　a　flash　from　its　polished　panels　as　it　turned　the
angle；　the　spokes　of　the　wheels　bristling　in　the　same　light　like
bayonets。　　The　vehicle　came　nearer；　and　arrived　opposite　Owen's
door；　when　the　driver　pulled　the　rein　and　gave　a　shout；　and　the
panting　and　sweating　horses　stopped。

'Miss　Aldclyffe's　carriage！'　they　all　exclaimed。

Owen　went　out。　　'Is　Miss　Graye　at　home？'　said　the　man。　　'A　note　for
her；　and　I　am　to　wait　for　an　answer。'

Cytherea　read　in　the　handwriting　of　the　Rector　of　Carriford：

'DEAR　MISS　GRAYE；Miss　Aldclyffe　is　ill；　though　not　dangerously。
She　continually　repeats　your　name；　and　now　wishes　very　much　to　see
you。　　If　you　possibly　can；　come　in　the　carriage。Very　sincerely
yours；　JOHN　RAUNHAM。'

'How　comes　she　ill？'　Owen　inquired　of　the　coachman。

'She　caught　a　violent　cold　by　standing　out　of　doors　in　the　damp；　on
the　night　the　steward　ran　away。　　Ever　since；　till　this　morning；　she
complained　of　fulness　and　heat　in　the　chest。　　This　morning　the　maid
ran　in　and　told　her　suddenly　that　Manston　had　killed　himself　in
gaolshe　shriekedbroke　a　blood…vesseland　fell　upon　the　floor。
Severe　internal　haemorrhage　continued　for　some　time　and　then
stopped。　　They　say　she　is　sure　to　get　over　it；　but　she　herself　says
no。　　She　has　suffered　from　it　before。'

Cytherea　was　ready　in　a　few　moments；　and　entered　the　carriage。

3。　　SEVEN　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Soft　as　was　Cytherea's　motion　along　the　corridors　of　Knapwater
House；　the　preternaturally　keen　intelligence　of　the　suffering　woman
caught　the　maiden's　well…known　footfall。　　She　entered　the　sick…
chamber　with　suspended　breath。

In　the　room　everything　was　so　still；　and　sensation　was　as　it　were　so
rarefied　by　solicitude；　that　thinking　seemed　acting；　and　the　lady's
weak　act　of　trying　to　live　a　silent　wrestling　with　all　the　powers　of
the　universe。　　Nobody　was　present　but　Mr。　Raunham；　the　nurse　having
left　the　room　on　Cytherea's　entry；　and　the　physician　and　surgeon
being　engaged　in　a　whispered　conversation　in　a　side…chamber。　　Their
patient　had　been　pronounced　out　of　danger。

Cytherea　went　to　the　bedside；　and　was　instantly　recognized。　　O；　what
a　changeMiss　Aldclyffe　dependent　upon　pillows！　　And　yet　not　a
forbidding　change。　　With　weakness　had　come　softness　of　aspect：　　the
haughtiness　was　extracted　from　the　frail　thin　countenance；　and　a
sweeter　mild　placidity　had　taken　its　place。

Miss　Aldclyffe　signified　to　Mr。　Raunham　that　she　would　like　to　be
alone　with　Cytherea。

'Cytherea？'　she　faintly　whispered　the　instant　the　door　was　closed。

Cytherea　clasped　the　lady's　weak　hand；　and　sank　beside　her。

Miss　Aldclyffe　whispered　again。　　'They　say　I　am　certain　to　live；　but
I　know　that　I　am　certainly　going　to　die。'

'They　know；　I　think；　and　hope。'

'I　know　best；　but　we'll　leave　that。　　CythereaO　Cytherea；　can　you
forgive　me！'

Her　companion　pressed　her　hand。

'But　you　don't　know　yetyou　don't　know　yet；'　the　invalid　murmured。
'It　is　forgiveness　for　that　misrepresentation　to　Edward　Springrove
that　I　implore；　and　for　putting　such　force　upon　himthat　which
caused　all　the　train　of　your　innumerable　ills！'

'I　know　allall。　　And　I　do　forgive　you。　　Not　in　a　hasty　impulse
that　is　revoked　when　coolness　comes；　but　deliberately　and　sincerely：
as　I　myself　hope　to　be　forgiven；　I　accord　you　my　forgiveness　now。'

Tears　streamed　from　Miss　Aldclyffe's　eyes；　and　mingled　with　those　of
her　young　companion；　who　could　not　restrain　hers　for　sympathy。
Expressions　of　strong　attachment；　interrupted　by　emotion；　burst
again　and　again　from　the　broken…spirited　woman。

'But　you　don't　know　my　motive。　　O；　if　you　only　knew　it；　how　you
would　pity　me　then！'

Cytherea　did　not　break　the　pause　which　ensued；　and　the　elder　woman
appeared　now　to　nerve　herself　by　a　superhuman　effort。　　She　spoke　on
in　a　voice　weak　as　a　summer　breeze；　and　full　of　intermission；　and
yet　there　pervaded　it　a　steadiness　of　intention　that　seemed　to
demand　firm　tones　to　bear　it　out　worthily。

'Cytherea；'　she　said；　'listen　to　me　before　I　die。

'A　long　time　agomore　than　thirty　years　agoa　young　girl　of
seventeen　was　cruelly　betrayed　by　her　cousin；　a　wild　officer　of　six…
and…twenty。　　He　went　to　India；　and　died。

'One　night　when　that　miserable　girl　had　just　arrived　home　with　her
parents　from　Germany；　where　her　baby　had　been　born；　she　took　all　the
money　she　possessed；　pinned　it　on　her　infant's　bosom；　together　with
a　letter；　stating；　among　other　things；　what　she　wished　the　child's
Christian　name　to　be；　wrapped　up　the　little　thing；　and　walked　with
it　to　Clapham。　　Here；　in　a　retired　street；　she　selected　a　house。
She　placed　the　child　on　the　doorstep　and　knocked　at　the　door；　then
ran　away　and　watched。　　They　took　it　up　and　carried　it　indoors。

'Now　that　her　poor　baby　was　gone；　the　girl　blamed　herself　bitterly
for　cruelty　towards　it；　and　wished　she　had　adopted　her　parents'
counsel　to　secretly　hire　a　nurse。　　She　longed　to　see　it。　　She　didn't
know　what　to　do。　　She　wrote　in　an　assumed　name　to　the　woman　who　had
taken　it　in；　and　asked　her　to　meet　the　writer　with　the　infant　at
certain　places　she　named。　　These　were　hotels　or　coffee…houses　in
Chelsea；　Pimlico；　or　Hammersmith。　　The　woman；　being　well　paid；
always　came；　and　asked　no　questions。　　At　one　meetingat　an　inn　in
Hammersmithshe　made　her　appearance　without　the　child；　and　told　the
girl　it　was　so　ill　that　it　would　not　live　through　the　night。　　The
news；　and　fatigue；　brought　on　a　fainting…fit　。　。　。'

Miss　Aldclyffe's　sobs　choked　her　utterance；　and　she　became　painfully
agitated。　　Cytherea；　pale　and　amazed　at　what　she　heard；　wept　for
her；　bent　over　her；　and　begged　her　not　to　go　on　speaking。

'YesI　must；'　she　cried；　between　her　sobs。　　'I　willI　must　go　on！
And　I　must　tell　yet　more　plainly！。　。　。　　you　must　hear　it　before　I　am
gone；　Cytherea。'　　The　sympathizing　and　astonished　girl　sat　down
again。

'The　name　of　the　woman　who　had　taken　the　child　was　MANSTON。　　She　was
the　widow　of　a　schoolmaster。　　She　said　she　had　adopted　the　child　of
a　relation。

'Only　one　man　ever　found　out　who　the　mother　was。　　He　was　the　keeper
of　the　inn　in　which　she　fainted；　and　his　silence　she　has　purchased
ever　since。

'A　twelvemonth　passedfifteen　monthsand　the　saddened　girl　met　a
man　at　her　father's　house　named　Grayeyour　father；　Cytherea；　then
unmarried。　　Ah；　such　a　man！　　Inexperience　now　perceived　what　it　was
to　be　loved　in　spirit　and　in　truth！　　But　it　was　too　late。　　Had　he
known　her　secret　he　would　have　cast　her　out。　　She　withdrew　from　him
by　an　effort；　and　pined。

'Years　and　years　afterwards；　when　she　became　mistress　of　a　fortune
and　estates　by　her　father's　death；　she　formed　the　weak　scheme　of
having　near　her　the　son　whom；　in　her　father's　life…time；　she　had
been　forbidden　to　recognize。　　Cytherea；　you　know　who　that　weak　woman
is。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。

'By　such　toilsome　labour　as　this　I　got　him　here　as　my　steward。　　And
I　wanted　to　see　him　YOUR　HUSBAND；　Cytherea！the　husband　of　my　true
lover's　child。　　It　was　a　sweet　dream　to　me。　。　。　。　　Pity　meO；　pity
me！　　To　die　unloved　is　more　than　I　can　bear！　　I　loved　your　father；
and　I　love　him　now。'



That　was　the　burden　of　Cytherea　Aldclyffe。

'I　suppose　you　must　leave　me　againyou　always　leave　me；'　she　said；
after　holding　the　young　woman's　hand　a　long　while　in　silence。

'Noindeed　I'll　stay　always。　　Do　you　like　me　to　stay？'

Miss　Aldclyffe　in　the　jaws　of　death　was　Miss　Aldclyffe　still；　though
the　old　fire　had　degenerated　to　mere　phosphorescence　now。　　'But　you
are　your　brother's　housekeeper？'

'Yes。'

'Well；　of　course　you　cannot　stay　with　me　on　a　sudden　like　this。　。　。
Go　home；　or　he　will　be　at　a　loss　for　things。　And　to…morrow　morning
come　again；　won't　you；　dearest；　come　againwe'll　fetch　you。　　But
you　mustn't　stay　now；　and　put　Owen　out。　　O　noit　would　be　absurd。'
The　absorbing　concern　about　trifles　of　daily　routine；　which　is　so
often　seen　in　very　sick　people；　was　present　here。

Cytherea　promised　to　go　home；　and　come　the　next　morning　to　stay
continuously。

'Stay　till　I　die　then；　will　you　not？　　Yes；　till　I　dieI　shan't　die
till　to…morrow。'

'We　hope　for　your　recoveryall　of　us。'

'I　know　best。　　Come　at　six　o'clock；　darling。'

'As　soon　as　ever　I　can；'　returned　Cytherea　tenderly。

'But　six　is　too　earlyyou　will　have　to　think　of　your　brother's
breakfast。　　Leave　Tolchurch　at　eight；　will　you？'

Cytherea　consented　to　this。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　would　never　have　known
had　her　companion　stayed　in　the　house　all　night；　but　the　honesty　of
Cytherea's　nature　rebelled　against　even　the　friendly　deceit　which
such　a　proceeding　would　have　involved。

An　arrangement　was　co