armadale-第58部分

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hardly　know　why）　expected　to　see。

〃This　is　all　I　can　now　tell　you。　If　nothing　more　happens　by
Monday　or　Tuesday　next；　I　shall　have　no　choice　but　to　apply　to　my
lawyers　for　assistance；　though　I　am　most　unwilling　to　trust　this
delicate　and　dangerous　matter　in　other　hands　than　mine。　Setting
my　own　feelings　however；　out　of　the　question；　the　business　which
has　been　the　cause　of　my　journey　to　London　is　too　important　to　be
trifled　with　much　longer　as　I　am　trifling　with　it　now。　In　any　and
every　case；　depend　on　my　keeping　you　informed　of　the　progress　of
events；　and　believe　me　yours　truly；

〃DECIMUS　BROCK。〃


Midwinter　secured　the　letter　as　he　had　secured　the　letter　that
preceded　itside　by　side　in　his　pocket…book　with　the　narrative
of　Allan's　Dream。

〃How　many　days　more？〃　he　asked　himself；　as　he　went　back　to　the
house。　〃How　many　days　more？〃

Not　many。　The　time　he　was　waiting　for　was　a　time　close　at　hand。


Monday　came；　and　brought　Mr。　Bashwood；　punctual　to　the　appointed
hour。　Monday　came；　and　found　Allan　immersed　in　his　preparations
for　the　picnic。　He　held　a　series　of　interviews；　at　home　and
abroad；　all　through　the　day。　He　transacted　business　with　Mrs。
Gripper；　with　the　butler；　and　with　the　coachman；　in　their　three
several　departments　of　eating；　drinking；　and　driving。　He　went　to
the　town　to　consult　his　professional　advisers　on　the　subject　of
the　Broads；　and　to　invite　both　the　lawyers；　father　and　son　（in
the　absence　of　anybody　else　in　the　neighborhood　whom　he　could
ask）；　to　join　the　picnic。　Pedgift　Senior　（in　his　department）
supplied　general　information；　but　begged　to　be　excused　from
appearing　at　the　picnic；　on　the　score　of　business　engagements。
Pedgift　Junior　（in　his　department）　added　all　the　details；　and；
casting　business　engagements　to　the　winds；　accepted　the
invitation　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　Returning　from　the
lawyer's　office；　Allan's　next　proceeding　was　to　go　to　the　major's
cottage　and　obtain　Miss　Milroy's　approval　of　the　proposed
locality　for　the　pleasure　party。　This　object　accomplished；　he
returned　to　his　own　house；　to　meet　the　last　difficulty　now　left
to　encounterthe　difficulty　of　persuading　Midwinter　to　join　the
expedition　to　the　Broads。

On　first　broaching　the　subject；　Allan　found　his　friend
impenetrably　resolute　to　remain　at　home。　Midwinter's　natural
reluctance　to　meet　the　major　and　his　daughter　after　what　had
happened　at　the　cottage；　might　probably　have　been　overcome。　But
Midwinter's　determination　not　to　allow　Mr。　Bashwood's　course　of
instruction　to　be　interrupted　was　proof　against　every　effort　that
could　be　made　to　shake　it。　After　exerting　his　influence　to　the
utmost；　Allan　was　obliged　to　remain　contented　with　a　compromise。
Midwinter　promised；　not　very　willingly；　to　join　the　party　toward
evening；　at　the　place　appointed　for　a　gypsy　tea…making；　which　was
to　close　the　proceedings　of　the　day。　To　this　extent　he　would
consent　to　take　the　opportunity　of　placing　himself　on　a　friendly
footing　with　the　Milroys。　More　he　could　not　concede；　even　to
Allan's　persuasion；　and　for　more　it　would　he　useless　to　ask。

The　day　of　the　picnic　came。　The　lovely　morning；　and　the　cheerful
bustle　of　preparation　for　the　expedition；　failed　entirely　to
tempt　Midwinter　into　altering　his　resolution。　At　the　regular　hour
he　left　the　breakfast…table　to　join　Mr。　Bashwood　in　the　steward's
office。　The　two　were　quietly　closeted　over　the　books；　at　the　back
of　the　house；　while　the　packing　for　the　picnic　went　on　in　front。
Young　Pedgift　（short　in　stature；　smart　in　costume；　and
self…reliant　in　manner）　arrived　some　little　time　before　the　hour
for　starting；　to　revise　all　the　arrangements；　and　to　make　any
final　improvements　which　his　local　knowledge　might　suggest。　Allan
and　he　were　still　busy　in　consultation　when　the　first　hitch
occurred　in　the　proceedings。　The　woman…servant　from　the　cottage
was　reported　to　be　waiting　below　for　an　answer　to　a　note　from　her
young　mistress；　which　was　placed　in　Allan's　hands。

On　this　occasion　Miss　Milroy's　emotions　had　apparently　got　the
better　of　her　sense　of　propriety。　The　tone　of　the　letter　was
feverish；　and　the　handwriting　wandered　crookedly　up　and　down　in
deplorable　freedom　from　all　proper　restraint。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Armadale〃　（wrote　the　major's　daughter）；　〃such　a
misfortune！　What　_are_　we　to　do？　Papa　has　got　a　letter　from
grandmamma　this　morning　about　the　new　governess。　Her　reference
has　answered　all　the　questions；　and　she's　ready　to　come　at　the
shortest　notice。　Grandmamma　thinks　（how　provoking！）　the　sooner
the　better；　and　she　says　we　may　expect　herI　mean　the
governesseither　to…day　or　to…morrow。　Papa　says　（he　_will_　be　so
absurdly　considerate　to　everybody！）　that　we　can't　allow　Miss
Gwilt　to　come　here　（if　she　comes　to…day）　and　find　nobody　at　home
to　receive　her。　What　is　to　be　done？　I　am　ready　to　cry　with
vexation。　I　have　got　the　worst　possible　impression　（though
grandmamma　says　she　is　a　charming　person）　of　Miss　Gwilt。　_Can_
you　suggest　something；　dear　Mr。　Armadale？　I'm　sure　papa　would
give　way　if　you　could。　Don't　stop　to　write；　send　me　a　message
back。　I　have　got　a　new　hat　for　the　picnic；　and　oh；　the　agony　of
not　knowing　whether　I　am　to　keep　it　on　or　take　it　off。　Yours
truly；　E。　M。〃

〃The　devil　take　Miss　Gwilt！〃　said　Allan；　staring　at　his　legal
adviser　in　a　state　of　helpless　consternation。

〃With　all　my　heart；　sirI　don't　wish　to　interfere；〃　remarked
Pedgift　Junior。　〃May　I　ask　what's　the　matter？〃

Allan　told　him。　Mr。　Pedgift　the　younger　might　have　his　faults；
but　a　want　of　quickness　of　resource　was　not　among　them。

〃There's　a　way　out　of　the　difficulty；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he　said。　〃If
the　governess　comes　today；　let's　have　her　at　the　picnic。〃

Allan's　eyes　opened　wide　in　astonishment。

〃All　the　horses　and　carriages　in　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　stables　are
not　wanted　for　this　small　party　of　ours；〃　proceeded　Pedgift
Junior。　〃Of　course　not！　Very　good。　If　Miss　Gwilt　comes　to…day；
she　can't　possibly　get　here　before　five　o'clock。　Good　again。　You
order　an　open　carriage　to　be　waiting　at　the　major's　door　at　that
time；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　I'll　give　the　man　his　directions　where　to
drive　to。　When　the　governess　comes　to　the　cottage；　let　her　find　a
nice　little　note　of　apology　（along　with　the　cold　fowl；　or
whatever　else　they　give　her　after　her　journey）　begging　her　to
join　us　at　the　picnic；　and　putting　a　carriage　at　her　own　sole
disposal　to　take　her　there。　Gad；　sir！〃　said　young　Pedgift；　gayly；
〃she　_must_　be　a　Touchy　One　if　she　thinks　herself　neglected　after
that！〃

〃Capital！〃　cried　Allan。　〃She　shall　have　every　attention。　I'll
give　her　the　pony…chaise　and　the　white　harness；　and　she　shall
drive　herself；　if　she　likes。〃

He　scribbled　a　line　to　relieve　Miss　Milroy's　apprehensions；　and
gave　the　necessary　orders　for　the　pony…chaise。　Ten　minutes　later；
the　carriages　for　the　pleasure　party　were　at　the　door。

〃Now　we've　taken　all　this　trouble　about　her；〃　said　Allan；
reverting　to　the　governess　as　they　left　the　house；　〃I　wonder；　if
she　does　come　today；　whether　we　shall　see　her　at　the　picnic！〃

〃Depends；　entirely　on　her　age；　sir；〃　remarked　young　Pedgift；
pronouncing　judgment　with　the　happy　confidence　in　himself　which
eminently　distinguished　him。　〃If　she's　an　old　one；　she'll　be
knocked　up　with　the　journey；　and　she'll　stick　to　the　cold　fowl
and　the　cottage。　If　she's　a　young　one；　either　I　know　nothing　of
women；　or　the　pony　in　the　white　harness　will　bring　her　to　the
picnic。〃

They　started　for　the　major's　cottage。

CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　NORFOLK　BROADS。

THE　little　group　gathered　together　in　Major　Milroy's　parlor　to
wait　for　the　carriages　from　Thorpe　Ambrose　would　hardly　have
conveyed　the　idea；　to　any　previously　uninstructed　person
introduced　among　them；　of　a　party　assembled　in　expectation　of　a
picnic。　They　were　almost　dull　enough；　as　far　as　outward
appearances　went；　to　have　been　a　party　assembled　in　expectation
of　a　marriage。

Even　Miss　Milroy　herself；　though　conscious；　of　looking　her　best
in　her　bright　muslin　dress　and　her　gayly　feathered　new　hat；　was
at　this　inaus　picious　moment　Miss　Milroy　under　a　cloud。　Although
Allan's　note　had　assured　her；　in　Allan's　strongest　language；　that
the　one　great　object　of　reconciling　the　governess's　arrival　with
the　celebration　of　the　picnic　was　an　object　achieved；　the　doubt
still　remained　whether　the　plan　proposedwhatever　it　might
bewould　meet　with　her　father's　approval。　In　a　word；　Miss　Milroy
declined　to　feel　sure　of　her　day's　pleasure　until　the　carriage
made　its　appearance　and　took　her　from　the　door。　The　major；　on　his
side；　arrayed　for　the　festive　occasion　in　a　tight　blue　frock…coat
which　he　had　not　worn　for　years；　and　threatened　with　a　whole　long
day　of　separation　from　his　old　friend　and　comrade　the　clock；　was
a　man　out　of　his　element；　if　ever　such　a　man　existed　yet。　As　for
the　friends　who　had　been　asked　at　Allan's　requestthe　widow　lady
（otherwise　Mrs。　Pentecost）　and　her　son　（the　Reverend　Samuel）　in
delicate　healthtwo　people　less　capable；　apparently　of　adding　to
the　hilarity　of　the　day　could　hardly　have　been　discovered　in　the
length　and　breadth　of　all　England。　A　young　man　who　plays　his　part
in　society　by　looking　on　in　green　spectacles；　and　listening　with
a　sickly　smile；　may　be　a　prodigy　of　intellect　and　a　mine　of
virtue；　but　he　is　hardly；　perhaps；　the　right　sort　of　man　to　have
at　a　picnic。　An　old　lady　afflicted　with　deafness；　whose　one
inexhaustible　subject　of　interest　is　the　subject　of　her　son；　and
who　（on　the　happily　rare　occasions　when　that　son　opens　his　lips）
asks　everybody　eagerly；　〃What　does　my　boy　say？〃　is　a　person　to　be
pitied　in　respect　of　her　infirmities；　and　a　person　to　be　admired
in　respect　of　her　maternal　devotedness；　but　not　a　person；　if　the
thing　could　possibly　be　avoided；　to　take　to　a　picnic。　Such　a　man；
nevertheless；　was　the　Reverend　Samuel　Pentecost；　and　such　a　woman
was　the　Reverend　Samuel's　mother；　and　in　the　dearth　of　any　other
producible　guests；　there　they　were；　engaged　to　eat；　drink；　and　be
merry　for　the　day　at　Mr。　Armadale's　pleasure　party　to　the　Norfolk
Broads。

The　arrival　of　Allan；　with　his　faithful　follower；　Pedgift　Junior；
at　his　heels；　roused　the　flagging　spirits　of　the　party　at　the
cottage。　The　plan　for　enabling　the　governess　to　join　the　picnic