armadale-第158部分

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silence　of　the　lonely　neighborhood；　stopped　at　the　iron　gates。　In
another　minute　she　saw　the　cab　draw　up　beneath　her；　at　the　house
door。

The　earlier　night　had　been　cloudy；　but　the　sky　was　clearing　now
and　the　moon　was　out。　She　opened　the　window　to　see　and　hear　more
clearly。　By　the　light　of　the　moon　she　saw　Allan　get　out　of　the
cab；　and　turn　round　to　speak　to　some　other　person　inside。　The
answering　voice　told　her；　before　he　appeared　in　his　turn；　that
Armadale's　companion　was　her　husband。

The　same　petrifying　influence　that　had　fallen　on　her　at　the
interview　with　him　of　the　previous　day　fell　on　her　now。　She　stood
by　the　window；　white　and　still；　and　haggard　and　oldas　she　had
stood　when　she　first　faced　him　in　her　widow's　weeds。

Mr。　Bashwood；　stealing　up　alone　to　the　second　floor　to　make　his
report；　knew；　the　instant　he　set　eyes　on　her；　that　the　report　was
needless。　〃It's　not　my　fault；〃　was　all　he　said；　as　she　slowly
turned　her　head　and　looked　at　him。　〃They　met　together；　and　there
was　no　parting　them。〃

She　drew　a　long　breath；　and　motioned　him　to　be　silent。　〃Wait　a
little；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　all　about　it。〃

Turning　from　him　at　those　words；　she　slowly　paced　the　corridor　to
its　furthest　en　d；　turned；　and　slowly　came　back　to　him　with
frowning　brow　and　drooping　headwith　all　the　grace　and　beauty
gone　from　her；　but　the　inbred　grace　and　beauty　in　the　movement　of
her　limbs。

〃Do　you　wish　to　speak　to　me？〃　she　asked；　her　mind　far　away　from
him；　and　her　eyes　looking　at　him　vacantly　as　she　put　the
question。

He　roused　his　courage　as　he　had　never　roused　it　in　her　presence
yet。

〃Don't　drive　me　to　despair！〃　he　cried；　with　a　startling
abruptness。　〃Don't　look　at　me　in　that　way；　now　I　have　found　it
out！〃

〃What　have　you　found　out？〃　she　asked；　with　a　momentary　surprise
on　her　face；　which　faded　from　it　again　before　he　could　gather
breath　enough　to　go　on。

〃Mr。　Armadale　is　not　the　man　who　took　you　away　from　me；〃　he
answered。　〃Mr。　Midwinter　is　the　man。　I　found　it　out　in　your　face
yesterday。　I　see　it　in　your　face　now。　Why　did　you　sign　your　name
'Armadale'　when　you　wrote　to　me？　Why　do　you　call　yourself　'Mrs。
Armadale'　still？〃

He　spoke　those　bold　words　at　long　intervals；　with　an　effort　to
resist　her　influence　over　him；　pitiable　and　terrible　to　see。

She　looked　at　him　for　the　first　time　with　softened　eyes。　〃I　wish
I　had　pitied　you　when　we　first　met；〃　she　said；　gently；　〃as　I　pity
you　now。〃

He　struggled　desperately　to　go　on　and　say　the　words　to　her　which
he　had　strung　himself　to　the　pitch　of　saying　on　the　drive　from
the　terminus。　They　were　words　which　hinted　darkly　at　his
knowledge　of　her　past　life；　words　which　warned　herdo　what　else
she　might；　commit　what　crimes　she　pleasedto　think　twice　before
she　deceived　and　deserted　him　again。　In　those　terms　he　had　vowed
to　himself　to　address　her。　He　had　the　phrases　picked　and　chosen；
he　had　the　sentences　ranged　and　ordered　in　his　mind；　nothing　was
wanting　but　to　make　the　one　crowning　effort　of　speaking
themand；　even　now；　after　all　he　had　said　and　all　he　had　dared；
the　effort　was　more　than　he　could　compass！　In　helpless　gratitude；
even　for　so　little　as　her　pity；　he　stood　looking　at　her；　and　wept
the　silent；　womanish　tears　that　fall　from　old　men's　eyes。

She　took　his　hand　and　spoke　to　himwith　marked　forbearance；　but
without　the　slightest　sign　of　emotion　on　her　side。

〃You　have　waited　already　at　my　request；〃　she　said。　〃Wait　till
to…morrow；　and　you　will　know　all。　If　you　trust　nothing　else　that
I　have　told　you；　you　may　trust　what　I　tell　you　now。　_It　will　end
to…night。_〃

As　she　said　the　words；　the　doctor's　step　was　heard　on　the　stairs。
Mr。　Bashwood　drew　back　from　her；　with　his　heart　beating　fast　in
unutterable　expectation。　〃It　will　end　to…night！〃　he　repeated　to
himself；　under　his　breath；　as　he　moved　away　toward　the　far　end　of
the　corridor。

〃Don't　let　me　disturb　you；　sir；〃　said　the　doctor；　cheerfully；　as
they　met。　〃I　have　nothing　to　say　to　Mrs。　Armadale　but　what　you　or
anybody　may　hear。〃

Mr。　Bashwood　went　on；　without　answering；　to　the　far　end　of　the
corridor；　still　repeating　to　himself：　〃It　will　end　to…night！〃　The
doctor；　passing　him　in　the　opposite　direction；　joined　Miss　Gwilt。

〃You　have　heard；　no　doubt；〃　he　began；　in　his　blandest　manner　and
his　roundest　tones；　〃that　Mr。　Armadale　has　arrived。　Permit　me　to
add；　my　dear　lady；　that　there　is　not　the　least　reason　for　any
nervous　agitation　on　your　part。　He　has　been　carefully　humored；
and　he　is　as　quiet　and　manageable　as　his　best　friends　could　wish。
I　have　informed　him　that　it　is　impossible　to　allow　him　an
interview　with　the　young　lady　to…night；　but　that　he　may　count　on
seeing　her　（with　the　proper　precautions）　at　the　earliest
propitious　hour；　after　she　is　awake　to…morrow　morning。　As　there
is　no　hotel　near；　and　as　the　propitious　hour　may　occur　at　a
moment's　notice；　it　was　clearly　incumbent　on　me；　under　the
peculiar　circumstances；　to　offer　him　the　hospitality　of　the
Sanitarium。　He　has　accepted　it　with　the　utmost　gratitude；　and　has
thanked　me　in　a　most　gentlemanly　and　touching　manner　for　the
pains　I　have　taken　to　set　his　mind　at　ease。　Perfectly　gratifying；
perfectly　satisfactory；　so　far！　But　there　has　been　a　little
hitchnow　happily　got　over…which　I　think　it　right　to　mention
to　you　before　we　all　retire　for　the　night。〃

Having　paved　the　way　in　those　words　（and　in　Mr。　Bashwood's
hearing）　for　the　statement　which　he　had　previously　announced　his
intention　of　making；　in　the　event　of　Allan's　dying　in　the
Sanitarium；　the　doctor　was　about　to　proceed；　when　his　attention
was　attracted　by　a　sound　below　like　the　trying　of　a　door。

He　instantly　descended　the　stairs；　and　unlocked　the　door　of
communication　between　the　first　and　second　floors；　which　he　had
locked　behind　him　on　his　way　up。　But　the　person　who　had　tried　the
doorif　such　a　person　there　really　had　beenwas　too　quick　for
him。　He　looked　along　the　corridor；　and　over　the　staircase　into
the　hall；　and；　discovering　nothing；　returned　to　Miss　Gwilt；　after
securing　the　door　of　communication　behind　him　once　more。

〃Pardon　me；〃　he　resumed；　〃I　thought　I　heard　something　downstairs。
With　regard　to　the　little　hitch　that　I　adverted　to　just　now；
permit　me　to　inform　you　that　Mr。　Armadale　has　brought　a　friend
here　with　him；　who　bears　the　strange　name　of　Midwinter。　Do　you
know　the　gentleman　at　all？〃　asked　the　doctor；　with　a　suspicious
anxiety　in　his　eyes；　which　strangely　belied　the　elaborate
indifference　of　his　tone。

〃I　know　him　to　be　an　old　friend　of　Mr。　Armadale's；〃　she　said。
〃Does　he？〃　Her　voice　failed　her；　and　her　eyes　fell　before　the
doctor's　steady　scrutiny。　She　mastered　the　momentary　weakness；
and　finished　her　question。　〃Does　he；　too；　stay　here　to…night？〃

〃Mr。　Midwinter　is　a　person　of　coarse　manners　and　suspicious
temper；〃　rejoined　the　doctor；　steadily　watching　her。　〃He　was　rude
enough　to　insist　on　staying　here　as　soon　as　Mr。　Armadale　had
accepted　my　invitation。〃

He　paused　to　note　the　effect　of　those　words　on　her。　Left　utterly
in　the　dark　by　the　caution　with　which　she　had　avoided　mentioning
her　husband's　assumed　name　to　him　at　their　first　interview；　the
doctor's　distrust　of　her　was　necessarily　of　the　vaguest　kind。　He
had　heard　her　voice　fail　herhe　had　seen　her　color　change。　He
suspected　her　of　a　mental　reservation　on　the　subject　of
Midwinterand　of　nothing　more。

〃Did　you　permit　him　to　have　his　way？〃　she　asked。　〃In　your　place；
I　should　have　shown　him　the　door。〃

The　impenetrable　composure　of　her　tone　warned　the　doctor　that　her
self…command　was　not　to　be　further　shaken　that　night。　He　resumed
the　character　of　Mrs。　Armadale's　medical　referee　on　the　subject
of　Mr。　Armadale's　mental　health。

〃If　I　had　only　had　my　own　feelings　to　consult；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't
disguise　from　you　that　I　should　（as　you　say）　have　shown　Mr。
Midwinter　the　door。　But　on　appealing　to　Mr。　Armadale；　I　found　he
was　himself　anxious　not　to　be　parted　from　his　friend。　Under　those
circumstances；　but　one　alternative　was　leftthe　alternative　of
humoring　him　again。　The　responsibility　of　thwarting　himto　say
nothing；〃　added　the　doctor；　drifting　for　a　moment　toward　the
truth；　〃of　my　natural　apprehension；　with　such　a　temper　as　his
friend's；　of　a　scandal　and　disturbance　in　the　housewas　not　to
be　thought　of　for　a　moment。　Mr。　Midwinter　accordingly　remains
here　for　the　night；　and　occupies　（I　ought　to　say；　insists　on
occupying）　the　next　room　to　Mr。　Armadale。　Advise　me；　my　dear
madam；　in　this　emergency；〃　concluded　the　doctor；　with　his　loudest
emphasis。　〃What　rooms　shall　we　put　them　in；　on　the　first　floor？〃

〃Put　Mr。　Armadale　in　Number　Four。〃

〃And　his　friend　next　to　him；　in　Number　Three？〃　said　the　doctor。
〃Well！　well！　well！　perhaps　they　_are_　the　most　comfortable　rooms。
I'll　give　my　orders　immediately。　Don't　hurry　away；　Mr。　Bashwood；〃
he　called　out；　cheerfully；　as　he　reached　the　top　of　the
staircase。　〃I　have　left　the　assistant　physician's　key　on　the
windowsill　yonder；　and　Mrs。　Armadale　can　let　you　out　at　the
staircase　door　whenever　she　pleases。　Don't　sit　up　late；　Mrs。
Armadale！　Yours　is　a　nervous　system　that　requires　plenty　of
sleep。　'Tired　nature's　sweet　restorer；　balmy　sleep。'　Grand　line！
God　bless　yougood…night！〃

Mr。　Bashwood　came　back　from　the　far　end　of　the　corridorstill
pondering；　in　unutterable　expectation；　on　what　was　to　come　with
the　night。

〃Am　I　to　go　now？〃　he　asked。

〃No。　You　are　to　stay。　I　said　you　should　know　all　if　you　waited
till　the　morning。　Wait　here。〃

He　hesitated；　and　looked　about　him。　〃The　doctor；〃　he　faltered。　〃I
thought　the　doctor　said〃

〃The　doctor　will　interfere　with　nothing　that　I　do　in　this　house
to…night。　I　tell　you　to　stay。　There　are　empty　rooms　on　the　floor
above　this。　Take　one　of　them。〃

Mr。　Bashwood　felt　the　trembling　fit　coming　on　him　again　as　he
looked　at　her。　〃May　I　ask？〃　he　began。

〃Ask　nothing。　I　want　you。〃

〃Will　you　please　to　tell　me？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　nothing　till　the　night　is　over　and　the　morning
has　come。〃

His　curiosity　conquered　his　fear。　He　persisted。

〃Is　it　something　dreadful？〃　he　whispered。　〃Too　dreadful　to　tell
me？〃

She　stamped　her　foot　with　a　sudden　outbreak　of　impatience。　〃Go！〃
she　said；　snatching　the　key　of　the　staircase　door　from　the
window…sil