armadale-第51部分

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talking　when　he　met　us；　and　your　voice　is　one　among　your　many
charms；　I　doubted　his　remembering　your　voice；　either。　And　yet　I
felt　persuaded　that　he　knew　you。　'How？'　you　will　ask。　My　dear；　as
ill…luck　would　have　it；　we　were　speaking　at　the　time　of　young
Armadale。　I　firmly　believe　that　the　name　was　the　first　thing　that
struck　him；　and　when　he　heard　_that；_；　your　voice　certainly　and
your　figure　perhaps；　came　back　to　his　memory。　'And　what　if　it
did？'　you　may　say。　Think　again；　Lydia；　and　tell　me　whether　the
parson　of　the　place　where　Mrs。　Armadale　lived　was　not　likely　to
be　Mrs。　Armadale's　friend？　If　he　_was_　her　friend；　the　very　first
person　to　whom　she　would　apply　for　advice　after　the　manner　in
which　you　frightened　her；　and　after　what　you　most　injudiciously
said　on　the　subject　of　appealing　to　her　son；　would　be　the
clergyman　of　the　parishand　the　magistrate；　too；　as　the　landlord
at　the　inn　himself　told　you。

〃You　will　now　understand　why　I　left　you　in　that　extremely　uncivil
manner；　and　I　may　go　on　to　what　happened　next。

〃I　followed　the　old　gentleman　till　he　turned　into　a　quiet　street；
and　then　accosted　him；　with　respect　for　the　Church　written　（I
flatter　myself）　in　every　line　of　my　face。

〃　'Will　you　excuse　me；'　I　said；　'if　I　venture　to　inquire；　sir；
whether　you　recognized　the　lady　who　was　walking　with　me　when　you
happened　to　pass　us　in　the　Gardens？'

〃　'Will　you　excuse　my　asking；　ma'am；　why　you　put　that　question？'
was　all　the　answer　I　got。

〃　'I　will　endeavor　to　tell　you；　sir；'　I　said。　'If　my　friend　is
not　an　absolute　stranger　to　you；　I　should　wish　to　request　your
attention　to　a　very　delicate　subject；　connected　with　a　lady
deceased；　and　with　her　son　who　survives　her。'

〃He　was　staggered；　I　could　see　that。　But　he　was　sly　enough　at　the
same　time　to　hold　his　tongue　and　wait　till　I　said　something　more。

〃　'If　I　am　wrong；　sir；　in　thinking　that　you　recognized　my
friend；'　I　went　on；　'I　beg　to　apologize。　But　I　could　hardly
suppose　it　possible　that　a　gentleman　in　your　profession　would
follow　a　lady　home　who　was　a　total　stranger　to　him。'

〃There　I　had　him。　He　colored　up　（fancy　that；　at　his　age！）；　and
owned　the　truth；　in　defense　of　his　own　precious　character。

〃　'I　have　met　with　the　lady　once　before；　and　I　acknowledge　that　I
recognized　her　in　the　Gardens；'　he　said。　'You　will　excuse　me　if　I
decline　entering　into　the　question　of　whether　I　did　or　did　not
purposely　follow　her　home。　If　you　wish　to　be　assured　that　your
friend　is　not　an　absolute　stranger　to　me；　you　now　have　that
assurance；　and　if　you　have　anything　particular　to　say　to　me；　I
leave　you　to　decide　whether　the　time　has　come　to　say　it。'

〃He　waited；　and　looked　about。　I　waited；　and　looked　about。　He　said
the　street　was　hardly　a　fit　place　to　speak　of　a　delicate　subject
in。　I　said　the　street　was　hardly　a　fit　place　to　speak　of　a
delicate　subject　in。　He　didn't　offer　to　take　me　to　where　he
lived。　I　didn't　offer　to　take　him　to　where　I　lived。　Have　you　ever
seen　two　strange　cats；　my　dear；　nose　to　nose　on　the　tiles？　If　you
have；　you　have　seen　the　parson　and　me　done　to　the　life。

〃　'Well；　ma'am；'　he　said；　at　last；　'shall　we　go　on　with　our
conversation　in　spite　of　circumstances？'

〃　'Yes；　sir；'　I　said；　'we　are　both　of　us；　fortunately；　of　an　age
to　set　circumstances　at　defiance'　（I　had　seen　the　old　wretch
looking　at　my　gray　hair；　and　satisfying　himself　that　his
character　was　safe　if　he　_was_　seen　with　me）。

〃After　all　this　snapping　and　snarling；　we　came　to　the　point　at
last。　I　began　by　telling　him　that　I　feared　his　interest　in　you
was　not　of　the　friendly　sort。　He　admitted　that　muchof　course；
in　defense　of　his　own　character　once　more。　I　next　repeated　to　him
everything　you　had　told　me　about　your　proceedings　in
Somersetshire；　when　we　first　found　that　he　was　following　us　home。
Don't　be　alarmed　my　dearI　was　acting　on　principle。　If　you　want
to　make　a　dish　of　lies　digestible；　always　give　it　a　garnish　of
truth。　Well；　having　appealed　to　the　reverend　gentleman's
confidence　in　this　matter；　I　next　declared　that　you　had　become　an
altered　woman　since　he　had　seen　you　last。　I　revived　that　dead
wretch；　your　husband　（without　mentioning　names；　of　course）；
established　him　（the　first　place　I　thought　of）　in　business　at　the
Brazils；　and　described　a　letter　which　he　had　written；　offering　to
forgive　his　erring　wife；　if　she　would　repent　and　go　back　to　him。
I　assured　the　parson　that　your　husband's　noble　conduct　had
softened　your　obdurate　nature；　and　then；　thinking　I　had　produced
the　right　impression；　I　came　boldly　to　close　quarters　with　him。　I
said；　'At　the　very　time　when　you　met　us；　sir；　my　unhappy　friend
was　speaking　in　terms　of　touching；　self…reproach　of　her　conduct
to　the　　late　Mrs。　Armadale。　She　confided　to　me　her　anxiety
　to　make　some　atonement；　if　possible；　to　Mrs。　Armadale's　son；　and
it　is　at　her　entreaty　（for　she　cannot　prevail　on　herself　to　face
you）　that　I　now　beg　to　inquire　whether　Mr。　Armadale　is　still　in
Somersetshire；　and　whether　he　would　consent　to　take　back　in　small
installments　the　sum　of　money　which　my　friend　acknowledges　that
she　received　by　practicing　on　Mrs。　Armadale's　fears。'　Those　were
my　very　words。　A　neater　story　（accounting　so　nicely　for
everything）　was　never　told；　it　was　a　story　to　melt　a　stone。　But
this　Somersetshire　parson　is　harder　than　stone　itself。　I　blush
for　_him；_　my　dear；　when　I　assure　you　that　he　was　evidently
insensible　enough　to　disbelieve　every　word　I　said　about　your
reformed　character；　your　husband　in　the　Brazils；　and　your
penitent　anxiety　to　pay　the　money　back。　It　is　really　a　disgrace
that　such　a　man　should　be　in　the　Church；　such　cunning　as　his　is
in　the　last　degree　unbecoming　in　a　member　of　a　sacred　profession。

〃　'Does　your　friend　propose　to　join　her　husband　by　the　next
steamer？'　was　all　he　condescended　to　say；　when　I　had　done。

〃I　acknowledge　I　was　angry。　I　snapped　at　him。　I　said；　'Yes；　she
does。'

〃　'How　am　I　to　communicate　with　her？'　he　asked。

〃I　snapped　at　him　again。　'By　letterthrough　me。'

〃　'At　what　address；　ma'am？'

〃There；　I　had　him　once　more。　'You　have　found　my　address　out　for
yourself；　sir；'　I　said。　'The　directory　will　tell　you　my　name；　if
you　wish　to　find　that　out　for　yourself　also；　otherwise；　you　are
welcome　to　my　card。'

〃　'Many　thanks；　ma'am。　If　your　friend　wishes　to　communicate　with
Mr。　Armadale；　I　will　give　you　_my_　card　in　return。'

〃　'Thank　you；　sir。'

〃　'Thank　you；　ma'am。'

〃　'Good…afternoon；　sir。'

〃　'Good…afternoon；　ma'am。'

〃So　we　parted。　I　went　my　way　to　an　appointment　at　my　place　of
business；　and　he　went　his　in　a　hurry；　which　is　of　itself
suspicious。　What　I　can't　get　over　is　his　heartlessness。　Heaven
help　the　people　who　send　for　_him_　to　comfort　them　on　their
death…beds！

〃The　next　consideration　is；　What　are　we　to　do？　If　we　don't　find
out　the　right　way　to　keep　this　old　wretch　in　the　dark；　he　may　be
the　ruin　of　us　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　just　as　we　are　within　easy　reach
of　our　end　in　view。　Wait　up　till　I　come　to　you；　with　my　mind
free；　I　hope；　from　the　other　difficulty　which　is　worrying　me
here。　Was　there　ever　such　ill　luck　as　ours？　Only　think　of　that
man　deserting　his　congregation；　and　coming　to　London　just　at　the
very　time　when　we　have　answered　Major　Milroy's　advertisement；　and
may　expect　the　inquiries　to　be　made　next　week！　I　have　no　patience
with　him；　his　bishop　ought　to　interfere。

〃Affectionately　yours；

〃MARIA　OLDERSHAW。〃

2。　_From　Miss　Gwilt　to　Mrs。　Oldershaw。_

〃West　Place；　June　20th。

〃MY　POOR　OLD　DEARHow　very　little　you　know　of　my　sensitive
nature；　as　you　call　it！　Instead　of　feeling　offended　when　you　left
me；　I　went　to　your　piano；　and　forgot　all　about　you　till　your
messenger　came。　Your　letter　is　irresistible；　I　have　been　laughing
over　it　till　I　am　quite　out　of　breath。　Of　all　the　absurd　stories
I　ever　read；　the　story　you　addressed　to　the　Somersetshire
clergyman　is　the　most　ridiculous。　And　as　for　your　interview　with
him　in　the　street；　it　is　a　perfect　sin　to　keep　it　to　ourselves。
The　public　ought　really　to　enjoy　it　in　the　form　of　a　farce　at　one
of　the　theaters。

〃Luckily　for　both　of　us　（to　come　to　serious　matters）；　your
messenger　is　a　prudent　person。　He　sent　upstairs　to　know　if　there
was　an　answer。　In　the　midst　of　my　merriment　I　had　presence　of
mind　enough　to　send　downstairs　and　say　'Yes。'

〃Some　brute　of　a　man　says；　in　some　book　which　I　once　read；　that
no　woman　can　keep　two　separate　trains　of　ideas　in　her　mind　at　the
same　time。　I　declare　you　have　almost　satisfied　me　that　the　man　is
right。　What！　when　you　have　escaped　unnoticed　to　your　place　of
business；　and　when　you　suspect　this　house　to　be　watched；　you
propose　to　come　back　here；　and　to　put　it　in　the　parson's　power　to
recover　the　lost　trace　of　you！　What　madness！　Stop　where　you　are；
and　when　you　have　got　over　your　difficulty　at　Pimlico　（it　is　some
woman's　business；　of　course；　what　worries　women　are！）；　be　so　good
as　to　read　what　I　have　got　to　say　about　our　difficulty　at
Brompton。

〃In　the　first　place；　the　house　（as　you　supposed）　is　watched。

〃Half　an　hour　after　you　left　me；　loud　voices　in　the　street
interrupted　me　at　the　piano；　and　I　went　to　the　window。　There　was
a　cab　at　the　house　opposite；　where　they　let　lodgings；　and　an　old
man；　who　looked　like　a　respectable　servant；　was　wrangling　with
the　driver　about　his　fare。　An　elderly　gentleman　came　out　of　the
house；　and　stopped　them。　An　elderly　gentleman　returned　into　the
house；　and　appeared　cautiously　at　the　front　drawing…room　window。
You　know　him；　you　worthy　creature；　he　had　the　bad　taste；　some　few
hours　since；　to　doubt　whether　you　were　telling　him　the　truth。
Don't　be　afraid；　he　didn't　see　me。　When　he　looked　up；　after
settling　with　the　cab　driver；　I　was　behind　the　curtain。　I　have
been　behind　the　curtain　once　or　twice　since；　and　I　have　seen
enough　to　satisfy　me　that　he　and　his　servant　will　relieve　each
other　at　the　window；　so　as　never　to　lose　sight　of　your　house
here；　night　or　day。　That　the　parson　suspects　the　real　truth　is　of
course　impossible。　But　that　he　firmly　believes　I　mean　some
mischief　to　young　Armadale；　and　that　you　have　entirely　confirmed
him　in　that　conviction；　is　as　plain　as　that　two　and　two　make
four。　And　this　has　happened　（as　you　helplessly　remind　me）　just
when　we　ha