the egoist-第54部分

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Clara；　luxuriating　in　the　prestige　which　would　attach　to　him　for
seeking　and　finding　her。　Deadly　sentiments　intervened。　Still　he
might　expect　to　be　alone　with　her　where　she　could　not　slip　from
him。

The　throwing　open　of　the　hall…doors　for　the　gentlemen　presented　a
framed　picture　of　a　deluge。　All　the　young…leaved　trees　were　steely
black；　without　a　gradation　of　green；　drooping　and　pouring；　and　the
song　of　rain　had　become　an　inveterate　hiss。

The　ladies　beholding　it　exclaimed　against　Clara；　even
apostrophized　her；　so　dark　are　trivial　errors　when　circumstances　
frown。　She　must　be　mad　to　tempt　such　weather：　she　was　very　giddy；
she　was　never　at　rest。　Clara！　Clara！　how　could　you　be　so　wild！
Ought　we　not　to　tell　Dr。　Middleton？

Laetitia　induced　them　to　spare　him。

〃Which　way　do　you　take？〃　said　Willoughby；　rather　fearful　that　his
companion　was　not　to　be　got　rid　of　now。

〃Any　way；〃　said　De　Craye。　〃I　chuck　up　my　head　like　a　halfpenny；　
and　go　by　the　toss。〃

This　enraging　nonsense　drove　off　Willoughby。　De　Craye　saw　him
cast　a　furtive　eye　at　his　heels　to　make　sure　he　was　not　followed；
and　thought；　〃Jove！　he　may　be　fond　of　her。　But　he's　not　on　the
track。　She's　a　determined　girl；　if　I'm　correct。　She's　a　girl　of　a
hundred　thousand。　Girls　like　that　make　the　right　sort　of　wives　for
the　right　men。　They're　the　girls　to　make　men　think　of　marrying。
To…morrow！　only　give　me　a　chance。　They　stick　to　you　fast　when　they
do　stick。〃

Then　a　thought　of　her　flower…like　drapery　and　face　caused　him
fervently　to　hope　she　had　escaped　the　storm。

Calling　at　the　West　park…lodge　he　heard　that　Miss　Middleton　had
been　seen　passing　through　the　gate　with　Master　Crossjay；　but　she
had　not　been　seen　coming　back。　Mr。　Vernon　Whitford　had　passed
through　half　an　hour　later。

〃After　his　young　man！〃　said　the　colonel。

The　lodge…keeper's　wife　and　daughter　knew　of　Master　Crossjay's
pranks；　Mr。　Whitford；　they　said；　had　made　inquiries　about　him　and
must　have　caught　him　and　sent　him　home　to　change　his　dripping
things；　for　Master　Crossjay　had　come　back；　and　had　declined
shelter　in　the　lodge；　he　seemed　to　be　crying；　he　went　away　soaking
over　the　wet　grass；　hanging　his　head。　The　opinion　at　the　lodge　was
that　Master　Crossjay　was　unhappy。

〃He　very　properly　received　a　wigging　from　Mr。　Whitford；　I　have　no
doubt；〃　said　Colonel　Do　Craye。

Mother　and　daughter　supposed　it　to　be　the　case；　and　considered　
Crossjay　very　wilful　for　not　going　straight　home　to　the　Hall　to
change　his　wet　clothes；　he　was　drenched。

Do　Craye　drew　out　his　watch。　The　time　was　ten　minutes　past　eleven。
If　the　surmise　he　had　distantly　spied　was　correct；　Miss　Middleton
would　have　been　caught　in　the　storm　midway　to　her　destination。　By
his　guess　at　her　character　（knowledge　of　it；　he　would　have　said）；
he　judged　that　no　storm　would　daunt　her　on　a　predetermined
expedition。　He　deduced　in　consequence　that　she　was　at　the　present
moment　flying　to　her　friend；　the　charming　brunette　Lucy　Darleton。

Still；　as　there　was　a　possibility　of　the　rain　having　been　too　much
for　her；　and　as　he　had　no　other　speculation　concerning　the　route
she　had　taken；　he　decided　upon　keeping　along　the　road　to　Rendon；
with　a　keen　eye　at　cottage　and　farmhouse　windows。



CHAPTER　XXVI

Vernon　in　Pursuit

The　lodge…keeper　had　a　son；　who　was　a　chum　of　Master　Crossjay's；
and　errant…fellow　with　him　upon　many　adventures；　for　this　boy's
passion　was　to　become　a　gamekeeper；　and　accompanied　by　one　of　the
head…gamekeeper's　youngsters；　he　and　Crossjay　were　in　the　habit　of
rangeing　over　the　country；　preparing　for　a　profession　delightful
to　the　tastes　of　all　three。　Crossjay's　prospective　connection　with
the　mysterious　ocean　bestowed　the　title　of　captain　on　him　by
common　consent；　he　led　them；　and　when　missing　for　lessons　he　was
generally　in　the　society　of　Jacob　Croom　or　Jonathan　Fernaway。
Vernon　made　sure　of　Crossjay　when　he　perceived　Jacob　Croom　sitting
on　a　stool　in　the　little　lodge…parlour。　Jacob's　appearance　of　a
diligent　perusal　of　a　book　he　had　presented　to　the　lad；　he　took
for　a　decent　piece　of　trickery。　It　was　with　amazement　that　he
heard　from　the　mother　and　daughter；　as　well　as　Jacob；　of　Miss
Middleton's　going　through　the　gate　before　ten　o'clock　with
Crossjay　beside　her；　the　latter　too　hurried　to　spare　a　nod　to
Jacob。　That　she；　of　all　on　earth；　should　be　encouraging　Crossjay　
to　truancy　was　incredible。　Vernon　had　to　fall　back　upon　Greek　and
Latin　aphoristic　shots　at　the　sex　to　believe　it。

Rain　was　universal；　a　thick　robe　of　it　swept　from　hill　to　hill；
thunder　rumbled　remote；　and　between　the　ruffled　roars　the　downpour
pressed　on　the　land　with　a　great　noise　of　eager　gobbling；　much
like　that　of　the　swine's　trough　fresh　filled；　as　though　a　vast
assembly　of　the　hungered　had　seated　themselves　clamorously　and
fallen　to　on　meats　and　drinks　in　a　silence；　save　of　the　chaps。　A
rapid　walker　poetically　and　humourously　minded　gathers　multitudes
of　images　on　his　way。　And　rain；　the　heaviest　you　can　meet；　is　a
lively　companion　when　the　resolute　pacer　scorns　discomfort　of　wet
clothes　and　squealing　boots。　South…western　rain…clouds；　too；　are
never　long　sullen：　they　enfold　and　will　have　the　earth　in　a　good
strong　glut　of　the　kissing　overflow；　then；　as　a　hawk　with　feathers
on　his　beak　of　the　bird　in　his　claw　lifts　head；　they　rise　and　take
veiled　feature　in　long　climbing　watery　lines：　at　any　moment　they
may　break　the　veil　and　show　soft　upper　cloud；　show　sun　on　it；　show
sky；　green　near　the　verge　they　spring　from；　of　the　green　of　grass
in　early　dew；　or；　along　a　travelling　sweep　that　rolls　asunder
overhead；　heaven's　laughter　of　purest　blue　among　titanic　white
shoulders：　it　may　mean　fair　smiling　for　awhile；　or　be　the　lightest
interlude；　but　the　watery　lines；　and　the　drifting；　the　chasing；
the　upsoaring；　all　in　a　shadowy　fingering　of　form；　and　the
animation　of　the　leaves　of　the　trees　pointing　them　on；　the　bending
of　the　tree…tops；　the　snapping　of　branches；　and　the　hurrahings　of
the　stubborn　hedge　at　wrestle　with　the　flaws；　yielding　but　a　leaf
at　most；　and　that　on　a　fling；　make　a　glory　of　contest　and　wildness
without　aid　of　colour　to　inflame　the　man　who　is　at　home　in　them　from
old　association　on　road；　heath；　and　mountain。　Let　him　be　drenched；
his　heart　will　sing。　And　thou；　trim　cockney；　that　jeerest；
consider　thyself；　to　whom　it　may　occur　to　be　out　in　such　a　scene；
and　with　what　steps　of　a　nervous　dancing…master　it　would　be　thine
to　play　the　hunted　rat　of　the　elements；　for　the　preservation　of
the　one　imagined　dryspot　about　thee；　somewhere　on　thy　luckless
person！　The　taking　of　rain　and　sun　alike　befits　men　of　our
climate；　and　he　who　would　have　the　secret　of　a　strengthening
intoxication　must　court　the　clouds　of　the　South…west　with　a
lover's　blood。

Vernon's　happy　recklessness　was　dashed　by　fears　for　Miss
Middleton。　Apart　from　those　fears；　he　had　the　pleasure　of　a　gull
wheeling　among　foam…streaks　of　the　wave。　He　supposed　the　Swiss　and
Tyrol　Alps　to　have　hidden　their　heads　from　him　for　many　a　day　to
come；　and　the　springing　and　chiming　South…west　was　the　next　best
thing。　A　milder　rain　descended；　the　country　expanded　darkly
defined　underneath　the　moving　curtain；　the　clouds　were　as　he　liked
to　see　them；　scaling；　but　their　skirts　dragged。　Torrents　were　in
store；　for　they　coursed　streamingly　still　and　had　not　the　higher
lift；　or　eagle　ascent；　which　he　knew　for　one　of　the　signs　of
fairness；　nor　had　the　hills　any　belt　of　mist…like　vapour。

On　a　step　of　the　stile　leading　to　the　short…cut　to　Rendon　young
Crossjay　was　espied。　A　man…tramp　sat　on　the　top…bar。

〃There　you　are；　what　are　you　doing　there？　Where's　Miss　Middleton？〃
said　Vernon。　〃Now；　take　care　before　you　open　your　mouth。〃

Crossjay　shut　the　mouth　he　had　opened。

〃The　lady　has　gone　away　over　to　a　station；　sir；〃　said　the　tramp。

〃You　fool！〃　roared　Crossjay；　ready　to　fly　at　him。

〃But　ain't　it　now；　young　gentleman？　Can　you　say　it　ain't？〃

〃I　gave　you　a　shilling；　you　ass！〃

〃You　give　me　that　sum；　young　gentleman；　to　stop　here　and　take　care
of　you；　and　here　I　stopped。〃

〃Mr。　Whitford！〃　Crossjay　appealed　to　his　master；　and　broke　of　in
disgust。　〃Take　care　of　me！　As　if　anybody　who　knows　me　would　think
I　wanted　taking　care　of！　Why；　what　a　beast　you　must　be。　you
fellow！〃

〃Just　as　you　like；　young　gentleman。　I　chaunted　you　all　I　know；　to
keep　up　your　downcast　spirits。　You　did　want　comforting。　You　wanted
it　rarely。　You　cried　like　an　infant。〃

〃I　let　you　'chaunt'；　as　you　call　it；　to　keep　you　from　swearing。〃

〃And　why　did　I　swear。　young　gentleman？　because　I've　got　an　itchy
coat　in　the　wet；　and　no　shirt　for　a　lining。　And　no　breakfast　to
give　me　a　stomach　for　this　kind　of　weather。　That's　what　I've　come
to　in　this　world！　I'm　a　walking　moral。　No　wonder　I　swears；　when　I
don't　strike　up　a　chaunt。〃

〃But　why　are　you　sitting　here　wet　through；　Crossjay！　Be　off　home　at
once；　and　change；　and　get　ready　for　me。〃

〃Mr。　Whitford；　I　promised；　and　I　tossed　this　fellow　a　shilling
not　to　go　bothering　Miss　Middleton。〃

〃The　lady　wouldn't　have　none　o〃　the　young　gentleman；　sir；　and　I
offered　to　go　pioneer　for　her　to　the　station；　behind　her；　at　a
respectful　distance。〃

〃As　if！you　treacherous　cur！〃　Crossjay　ground　his　teeth　at　the
betrayer。　〃Well；　Mr。　Whitford；　and　I　didn't　trust　him；　and　I　stuck
to　him；　or　he'd　have　been　after　her　whining　about　his　coat　and
stomach；　and　talking　of　his　being　a　moral。　He　repeats　that　to
everybody。〃

〃She　has　gone　to　the　station？〃　said　Vernon。

Not　a　word　on　that　subject　was　to　be　won　from　Crossjay。

〃How　long　since？〃　Vernon　partly　addressed　Mr。　Tramp。

The　latter　became　seized　with　shivers　as　he　supplied　the
information　that　it　might　be　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　twenty
minutes。　〃But　what's　time　to　me；　sir？　If　I　had　reglar　meals；　I
should　carry　a　clock　in　my　inside。　I　got　the　rheumatics　instead。〃

〃Way　there！〃　Vernon　cried；　and　took　the　stile　at　a　vault。

〃That's　what　gentlemen　can　do；　who　sleeps　in　their　beds　warm；〃
moaned　the　tramp。　〃They've　no　joints。〃

Vernon　handed　him　a　half…crown　piece；　for　he　had　been　of　use　for
once。

〃Mr。　Whitford；　let　me　come。　If　you　tell　me　to　come　I　may。　Do　let
me　come；〃　Crossjay　begged　with　great　entreaty。　〃I　sha'n't　see　her
for