armadale-第39部分

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〃Ladies'　Toilet　Repository；　Tuesday。

〃MY　DEAR　LYDIAIt　is　a　thousand　pities　your　letter　was　not
addressed　to　Mr。　Armadale；　your　graceful　audacity　would　have
charmed　him。　It　doesn't　affect　me；　I　am　so　well　used　to　audacity
in　my　way　of　life；　you　know。　Why　waste　your　sparkling　wit；　my
love；　on　your　own　impenetrable　Oldershaw？　It　only　splutters　and
goes　out。　Will　you　try　and　be　serious　this　next　time？　I　have　news
for　you　from　Thorpe　Ambrose；　which　is　beyond　a　joke；　and　which
must　not　be　trifled　with。

〃An　hour　after　I　got　your　letter　I　set　the　inquiries　on　foot。　Not
knowing　what　consequences　they　might　lead　to；　I　thought　it　safest
to　begin　in　the　dark。　Instead　of　employing　any　of　the　people　whom
I　have　at　my　own　disposal　（who　know　you　and　know　me）；　I　went　to
the　Private　Inquiry　Office　in　Shadyside　Place；　and　put　the　matter
in　the　inspector's　hands；　in　the　character　of　a　perfect　stranger；
and　without　mentioning　you　at　all。　This　was　not　the　cheapest　way
of　going　to　work；　I　own；　but　it　was　the　safest　way；　which　is　of
much　greater　consequence。

〃The　inspector　and　I　understood　each　other　in　ten　minutes；　and
the　right　person　for　the　purposethe　most　harmless　looking　young
man　you　ever　saw　in　your　lifewas　produced　immediately。　He　left
for　Thorpe　Ambrose　an　hour　after　I　saw　him。　I　arranged　to　call　at
the　office　on　the　afternoons　of　Saturday；　Monday；　and　to…day　for
news。　There　was　no　news　till　to…day；　and　there　I　found　our
confidential　agent　just　returned　to　town；　and　waiting　to　favor　me
with　a　full　account　of　his　trip　to　Norfolk。

〃First　of　all；　let　me　quiet　your　mind　about　those　two　questions
of　yours；　I　have　got　answers　to　both　the　one　and　the　other。　The
Blanchard　women　go　away　to　foreign　parts　on　the　thirteenth；　and
young　Armadale　is　at　this　moment　cruising　somewhere　at　sea　in　his
yacht。　There　is　talk　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　of　giving　him　a　public
reception；　and　of　calling　a　meeting　of　the　local　grandees　to
settle　it　all。　The　speechifying　and　fuss　on　these　occasions
generally　wastes　plenty　of　time；　and　the　public　reception　is　not
thought　likely　to　meet　the　new　squire　much　before　the　end　of　the
month。

〃If　our　messenger　had　done　no　more　for　us　than　this；　I　think　he
would　have　earned　his　money。　But　the　harmless　young　man　is　a
regular　Jesuit　at　a　private　inquiry；　with　this　great　advantage
over　all　the　Popish　priests　I　have　ever　seen；　that　he　has　not　got
his　slyness　written　in　his　face。

〃Having　to　get　his　information　through　the　female　servants　in　the
usual　way；　he　addressed　himself；　with　admirable　discretion；　to
the　ugliest　woma　n　in　the　house。　'When　they　are　nice…looking；　and
can　pick　and　choose；'　as　he　neatly　expressed　it　to　me；　'they
waste　a　great　deal　of　valuable　time　in　deciding　on　a　sweetheart。
When　they　are　ugly；　and　haven't　got　the　ghost　of　a　chance　of
choosing；　they　snap　at　a　sweetheart；　if　he　comes　their　way；　like
a　starved　dog　at　a　bone。'　Acting　on　these　excellent　principles；
our　confidential　agent　succeeded；　after　certain　unavoidable
delays；　in　addressing　himself　to　the　upper　housemaid　at　Thorpe
Ambrose；　and　took　full　possession　of　her　confidence　at　the　first
interview。　Bearing　his　instructions　carefully　in　mind；　he
encouraged　the　woman　to　chatter；　and　was　favored；　of　course；　with
all　the　gossip　of　the　servants'　hall。　The　greater　part　of　it　（as
repeated　to　me）　was　of　no　earthly　importance。　But　I　listened
patiently；　and　was　rewarded　by　a　valuable　discovery　at　last。　Here
it　is。

〃It　seems　there　is　an　ornamental　cottage　in　the　grounds　at　Thorpe
Ambrose。　For　some　reason　unknown；　young　Armadale　has　chosen　to
let　it；　and　a　tenant　has　come　in　already。　He　is　a　poor　half…pay
major　in　the　army；　named　Milroy；　a　meek　sort　of　man；　by　all
accounts；　with　a　turn　for　occupying　himself　in　mechanical
pursuits；　and　with　a　domestic　incumbrance　in　the　shape　of　a
bedridden　wife；　who　has　not　been　seen　by　anybody。　Well；　and　what
of　all　this？　you　will　ask；　with　that　sparkling　impatience　which
becomes　you　so　well。　My　dear　Lydia；　don't　sparkle！　The　man's
family　affairs　seriously　concern　us　both；　for；　as　ill　luck　will
have　it；　the　man　has　got　a　daughter！

〃You　may　imagine　how　I　questioned　our　agent；　and　how　our　agent
ransacked　his　memory；　when　I　stumbled；　in　due　course；　on　such　a
discovery　as　this。　If　Heaven　is　responsible　for　women's
chattering　tongues；　Heaven　be　praised！　From　Miss　Blanchard　to
Miss　Blanchard's　maid；　from　Miss　Blanchard's　maid　to　Miss
Blanchard's　aunt's　maid；　from　Miss　Blanchard's　aunt's　maid；　to
the　ugly　housemaid；　from　the　ugly　housemaid　to　the
harmless…looking　young　manso　the　stream　of　gossip　trickled　into
the　right　reservoir　at　last；　and　thirsty　Mother　Oldershaw　has
drunk　it　all　up。

〃In　plain　English；　my　dear；　this　is　how　it　stands。　The　major's
daughter　is　a　minx　just　turned　sixteen；　lively　and　nice…looking
（hateful　little　wretch！）；　dowdy　in　her　dress　（thank　Heaven！）　and
deficient　in　her　manners　（thank　Heaven　again！）。　She　has　been
brought　up　at　home。　The　governess　who　last　had　charge　of　her　left
before　her　father　moved　to　Thorpe　Ambrose。　Her　education　stands
woefully　in　want　of　a　finishing　touch；　and　the　major　doesn't
quite　know　what　to　do　next。　None　of　his　friends　can　recommend　him
a　new　governess　and　he　doesn't　like　the　notion　of　sending　the
girl　to　school。　So　matters　rest　at　present；　on　the　major's　own
showing；　for　so　the　major　expressed　himself　at　a　morning　call
which　the　father　and　daughter　paid　to　the　ladies　at　the　great
house。

〃You　have　now　got　my　promised　news；　and　you　will　have　little
difficulty；　I　think；　in　agreeing　with　me　that　the　Armadale
business　must　be　settled　at　once；　one　way　or　the　other。　If；　with
your　hopeless　prospects；　and　with　what　I　may　call　your　family
claim　on　this　young　fellow；　you　decide　on　giving　him　up；　I　shall
have　the　pleasure　of　sending　you　the　balance　of　your　account　with
me　（seven…and…twenty　shillings）；　and　shall　then　be　free　to　devote
myself　entirely　to　my　own　proper　business。　If；　on　the　contrary；
you　decide　to　try　your　luck　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　then　（there　being
no　kind　of　doubt　that　the　major's　minx　will　set　her　cap　at　the
young　squire）　I　should　be　glad　to　hear　how　you　mean　to　meet　the
double　difficulty　of　inflaming　Mr。　Armadale　and　extinguishing
Miss　Milroy。

〃Affectionately　yours；

〃MARIA　OLDERSHAW。

5。　_From　Miss　Gwilt　to　Mrs。　Oldershaw。

（First　Answer。）_

〃Richmond；　Wednesday　Morning。

〃MRS。　OLDERSHAWSend　me　my　seven…and…twenty　shillings；　and
devote　yourself　to　your　own　proper　business。　Yours；　L。　G。〃

6。　_From　Miss　Gwilt　to　Mrs。　Oldershaw。

（Second　Answer。）_

〃Richmond；　Wednesday　Night。

〃DEAR　OLD　LOVEKeep　the　seven…and…twenty　shillings；　and　burn　my
other　letter。　I　have　changed　my　mind。

〃I　wrote　the　first　time　after　a　horrible　night。　I　write　this　time
after　a　ride　on　horseback；　a　tumbler　of　claret；　and　the　breast　of
a　chicken。　Is　that　explanation　enough？　Please　say　Yes；　for　I　want
to　go　back　to　my　piano。

〃No；　I　can't　go　back　yet；　I　must　answer　your　question　first。　But
are　you　really　so　very　simple　as　to　suppose　that　I　don't　see
straight　through　you　and　your　letter？　You　know　that　the　major's
difficulty　is　our　opportunity　as　well　as　I　do；　but　you　want　me　to
take　the　responsibility　of　making　the　first　proposal；　don't　you？
Suppose　I　take　it　in　your　own　roundabout　way？　Suppose　I　say；
'Pray　don't　ask　me　how　I　propose　inflaming　Mr。　Armadale　and
extinguishing　Miss　Milroy；　the　question　is　so　shockingly　abrupt　I
really　can't　answer　it。　Ask　me；　instead；　if　it　is　the　modest
ambition　of　my　life　to　become　Miss　Milroy's　governess？'　Yes；　if
you　please；　Mrs。　Oldershaw；　and　if　you　will　assist　me　by　becoming
my　reference。

〃There　it　is　for　you！　If　some　serious　disaster　happens　（which　is
quite　possible）；　what　a　comfort　it　will　be　to　remember　that　it
was　all　my　fault！

〃Now　I　have　done　this　for　you；　will　you　do　something　for　me。　I
want　to　dream　away　the　little　time　I　am　likely　to　have　left　here
in　my　own　way。　Be　a　merciful　Mother　Oldershaw；　and　spare　me　the
worry　of　looking　at　the　Ins　and　Outs；　and　adding　up　the　chances
For　and　Against；　in　this　new　venture　of　mine。　Think　for　me；　in
short；　until　I　am　obliged　to　think　for　myself。

〃I　had　better　not　write　any　more；　or　I　shall　say　something　savage
that　you　won't　like。　I　am　in　one　of　my　tempers　to…night。　I　want　a
husband　to　vex；　or　a　child　to　beat；　or　something　of　that　sort。　Do
you　ever　like　to　see　the　summer　insects　kill　themselves　in　the
candle？　I　do；　sometimes。　Good…night；　Mrs。　Jezebel　The　longer　you
can　leave　me　here　the　better。　The　air　agrees　with　me；　and　I　am
looking　charmingly。

〃L。　G。〃

7。　_From　Mrs。　Oldershaw　to　Miss　Gwilt。_

〃Thursday。

〃MY　DEAR　LYDIASome　persons　in　my　situation　might　be　a　little
offended　at　the　tone　of　your　last　letter。　But　I　am　so　fondly
attached　to　you！　And　when　I　love　a　person；　it　is　so　very　hard；　my
dear；　for　that　person　to　offend　me！　Don't　ride　quite　so　far；　and
only　drink　half　a　tumblerful　of　claret　next　time。　I　say　no　more。

〃Shall　we　leave　off　our　fencing…match　and　come　to　serious　matters
now？　How　curiously　hard　it　always　seems　to　be　for　women　to
understand　each　other；　especially　when　they　have　got　their　pens
in　their　hands！　But　suppose　we　try。

〃Well；　then；　to　begin　with：　I　gather　from　your　letter　that　you
have　wisely　decided　to　try　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　experiment；　and　to
secure；　if　you　can；　an　excellent　position　at　starting　by　becoming
a　member　of　Major　Milroy's　household。　If　the　circumstances　turn
against　you；　and　some　other　woman　gets　the　governess's　place
（about　which　I　shall　have　something　more　to　say　presently）；　you
will　then　have　no　choice　but　to　make　Mr。　Armadale's　acquaintance
in　some　other　character。　In　any　case；　you　will　want　my
assistance；　and　the　first　question；　therefore；　to　set　at　rest
between　us　is　the　question　of　what　I　am　willing　to　do；　and　what　I
can　do；　to　help　you。

〃A　woman；　my　dear　Lydia；　with　your　appearance；　your　manners；　your
abilities；　and　your　education；　can　make　almost　any　excursions
into　society　that　she　pleases　if　she　only　has　money　in　her　pocket
and　a　respectable　reference　to　appeal　to　in　cases　of　emergency。
As　to　the　money；　in　the　first　place。　I　will　engage　to　find　it；　on
condition　of　your　remembering　my　assistanc