armadale-第74部分

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the　vagabond　man；　I　hardly　know　whichin　me　still。　Does　it
distress　you　to　hear　me　talk　of　myself　in　this　way？　I　won't
distress　you。　I　will　only　say　that　the　comfort　and　the　luxury　of
our　life　here　are；　at　times；　I　think；　a　little　too　much　for　a　man
to　whom　comforts　and　luxuries　come　as　strange　things。　I　want
nothing　to　put　me　right　again　but　more　air　and　exercise；　fewer
good　breakfasts　and　dinners；　my　dear　friend；　than　I　get　here。　Let
me　go　back　to　some　of　the　hardships　which　this　comfortable　house
is　expressly　made　to　shut　out。　Let　me　meet　the　wind　and　weather
as　I　used　to　meet　them　when　I　was　a　boy；　let　me　feel　weary　again
for　a　little　while；　without　a　carriage　near　to　pick　me　up；　and
hungry　when　the　night　falls；　with　miles　of　walking　between　my
supper　and　me。　Give　me　a　week　or　two　away；　Allanup　northward；
on　foot；　to　the　Yorkshire　moorsand　I　promise　to　return　to
Thorpe　Ambrose；　better　company　for　you　and　for　your　friends。　I
shall　be　back　before　you　have　time　to　miss　me。　Mr。　Bashwood　will
take　care　of　the　business　in　the　office；　it　is　only　for　a
fortnight；　and　it　is　for　my　own　goodlet　me　go！〃

〃I　don't　like　it；〃　said　Allan。　〃I　don't　like　your　leaving　me　in
this　sudden　manner。　There's　something　so　strange　and　dreary　about
it。　Why　not　try　riding；　if　you　want　more　exercise；　all　the　horses
in　the　stables　are　at　your　disposal。　At　all　events；　you　can't
possibly　go　to…day。　Look　at　the　rain！〃

Midwinter　looked　toward　the　window；　and　gently　shook　his　head。

〃I　thought　nothing　of　the　rain；〃　he　said；　〃when　I　was　a　mere
child；　getting　my　living　with　the　dancing　dogswhy　should　I
think　anything　of　it　now？　_My_　getting　wet；　and　_your_　getting
wet；　Allan；　are　two　very　different　things。　When　I　was　a
fisherman's　boy　in　the　Hebrides；　I　hadn't　a　dry　thread　on　me　for
weeks　together。　〃

〃But　you're　not　in　the　Hebrides　now；〃　persisted　Allan；　〃and　I
expect　our　friends　from　the　cottage　to…morrow　evening。　You　can't
start　till　after　to…morrow。　Miss　Gwilt　is　going　to　give　us　some
more　music；　and　you　know　you　like　Miss　Gwilt's　playing。〃

Midwinter　turned　aside　to　buckle　the　straps　of　his　knapsack。
〃Give　me　another　chance　of　hearing　Miss　Gwilt　when　I　come　back；〃
he　said；　with　his　head　down；　and　his　fingers　busy　at　the　straps。

〃You　have　one　fault；　my　dear　fellow；　and　it　grows　on　you；〃
remonstrated　Allan；　〃when　you　have　once　taken　a　thing　into　our
head；　you're　the　most　obstinate　man　alive。　There's　no　persuading
you　to　listen　to　reason。　If　you　_will_　go；〃　added　Allan；　suddenly
rising；　as　Midwinter　took　up　his　hat　and　stick　in　silence；　〃I
have　half　a　mind　to　go　with　you；　and　try　a　little　roughing　it
too！〃

〃Go　with　_me！_〃　repeated　Midwinter；　with　a　momentar　y　bitterness
in　his　tone；　〃and　leave　Miss　Gwilt！〃

Allan　sat　down　again；　and　admitted　the　force　of　the　objection　in
significant　silence。　Without　a　word　more　on　his　side；　Midwinter
held　out　his　hand　to　take　leave。　They　were　both　deeply　moved；　and
each　was　anxious　to　hide　his　agitation　from　the　other。　Allan　took
the　last　refuge　which　his　friend's　firmness　left　to　him：　he　tried
to　lighten　the　farewell　moment　by　a　joke。

〃I'll　tell　you　what；〃　he　said；　〃I　begin　to　doubt　if　you're　quite
cured　yet　of　your　belief　in　the　Dream。　I　suspect　you're　running
away　from　me；　after　all！〃

Midwinter　looked　at　him；　uncertain　whether　he　was　in　jest　or
earnest。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked。

〃What　did　you　tell　me；〃　retorted　Allan；　〃when　you　took　me　in　here
the　other　day；　and　made　a　clean　breast　of　it？　What　did　you　say
about　this　room；　and　the　second　vision　of　the　dream？　By　Jupiter！〃
he　exclaimed；　starting　to　his　feet　once　more；　〃now　I　look　again；
here　_is_　the　Second　Vision！　There's　the　rain　pattering　against
the　window…there's　the　lawn　and　the　garden　outsidehere　am　I
where　I　stood　in　the　Dreamand　there　are　you　where　the　Shadow
stood。　The　whole　scene　complete；　out…of…doors　and　in；　and　_I've_
discovered　it　this　time！〃

A　moment's　life　stirred　again　in　the　dead　remains　of　Midwinter's
superstition。　His　color　changed；　and　he　eagerly；　almost　fiercely；
disputed　Allan's　conclusion。

〃No！〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　little　marble　figure　on　the
bracket；　〃the　scene　is　_not_　completeyou　have　forgotten
something；　as　usual。　The　Dream　is　wrong　this　time；　thank
Godutterly　wrong！　In　the　vision　you　saw；　the　statue　was　lying
in　fragments　on　the　floor；　and　you　were　stooping　over　them　with　a
troubled　and　an　angry　mind。　There　stands　the　statue　safe　and
sound！　and　you　haven't　the　vestige　of　an　angry　feeling　in　your
mind；　have　you？〃　He　seized　Allan　impulsively　by　the　hand。　At　the
same　moment　the　consciousness　came　to　him　that　he　was　speaking
and　acting　as　earnestly　as　if　he　still　believed　in　the　Dream。　The
color　rushed　back　over　his　face；　and　he　turned　away　in　confused
silence。

〃What　did　I　tell　you？〃　said　Allan；　laughing；　a　little　uneasily。
〃That　night　on　the　Wreck　is　hanging　on　your　mind　as　heavily　as
ever。〃

〃Nothing　hangs　heavy　on　me；〃　retorted　Midwinter；　with　a　sudden
outburst　of　impatience；　〃but　the　knapsack　on　my　back；　and　the
time　I'm　wasting　here。　I'll　go　out；　and　see　if　it's　likely　to
clear　up。〃

〃You'll　come　back？〃　interposed　Allan。

Midwinter　opened　the　French　window；　and　stepped　out　into　the
garden。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　answering　with　all　his　former　gentleness　of
manner；　〃I'll　come　back　in　a　fortnight。　Good…by；　Allan；　and　good
luck　with　Miss　Gwilt！〃

He　pushed　the　window　to；　and　was　away　across　the　garden　before
his　friend　could　open　it　again　and　follow　him。

Allan　rose；　and　took　one　step　into　the　garden；　then　checked
himself　at　the　window；　and　returned　to　his　chair。　He　knew
Midwinter　well　enough　to　feel　the　total　uselessness　of　attempting
to　follow　him　or　to　call　him　back。　He　was　gone；　and　for　two　weeks
to　come　there　was　no　hope　of　seeing　him　again。　An　hour　or　more
passed；　the　rain　still　fell；　and　the　sky　still　threatened。　A
heavier　and　heavier　sense　of　loneliness　and　despondencythe
sense　of　all　others　which　his　previous　life　had　least　fitted　him
to　understand　and　endurepossessed　itself　of　Allan's　mind。　In
sheer　horror　of　his　own　uninhabitably　solitary　house；　he　rang　for
his　hat　and　umbrella；　and　resolved　to　take　refuge　in　the　major's
cottage。

〃I　might　have　gone　a　little　way　with　him；〃　thought　Allan；　his
mind　still　running　on　Midwinter　as　he　put　on　his　hat。　〃I　should
like　to　have　seen　the　dear　old　fellow　fairly　started　on　his
journey。〃

He　took　his　umbrella。　If　he　had　noticed　the　face　of　the　servant
who　gave　it　to　him；　he　might　possibly　have　asked　some　questions；
and　might　have　heard　some　news　to　interest　him　in　his　present
frame　of　mind。　As　it　was；　he　went　out　without　looking　at　the　man；
and　without　suspecting　that　his　servants　knew　more　of　Midwinter's
last　moments　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　than　he　knew　himself。　Not　ten
minutes　since；　the　grocer　and　butcher　had　called　in　to　receive
payment　of　their　bills；　and　the　grocer　and　the　butcher　had　seen
how　Midwinter　started　on　his　journey。

The　grocer　had　met　him　first；　not　far　from　the　house；　stopping　on
his　way；　in　the　pouring　rain；　to　speak　to　a　little　ragged　imp　of
a　boy；　the　pest　of　the　neighborhood。　The　boy's　customary
impudence　had　broken　out　even　more　unrestrainedly　than　usual　at
the　sight　of　the　gentleman's　knapsack。　And　what　had　the　gentleman
done　in　return？　He　had　stopped　and　looked　distressed；　and　had　put
his　two　hands　gently　on　the　boy's　shoulders。　The　grocer's　own
eyes　had　seen　that；　and　the　grocer's　own　ears　had　heard　him　say；
〃Poor　little　chap！　I　know　how　the　wind　gnaws　and　the　rain　wets
through　a　ragged　jacket；　better　than　most　people　who　have　got　a
good　coat　on　their　backs。〃　And　with　those　words　he　had　put　his
hand　in　his　pocket；　and　had　rewarded　the　boy's　impudence　with　a
present　of　a　shilling。　〃Wrong　here…abouts；〃　said　the　grocer；
touching　his　forehead。　〃That's　my　opinion　of　Mr。　Armadale's
friend！〃

The　butcher　had　seen　him　further　on　in　the　journey；　at　the　other
end　of　the　town。　He　had　stoppedagain　in　the　pouring　rainand
this　time　to　look　at　nothing　more　remarkable　than　a　half…starved
cur；　shivering　on　a　doorstep。　〃I　had　my　eye　on　him；〃　said　the
butcher；　〃and　what　do　you　think　he　did？　He　crossed　the　road　over
to　my　shop；　and　bought　a　bit　of　meat　fit　for　a　Christian。　Very
well。　He　says　good…morning；　and　crosses　back　again；　and；　on　the
word　of　a　man；　down　he　goes　on　his　knees　on　the　wet　doorstep；　and
out　he　takes　his　knife；　and　cuts　up　the　meat；　and　gives　it　to　the
dog。　Meat；　I　tell　you　again；　fit　for　a　Christian！　I'm　not　a　hard
man；　ma'am；〃　concluded　the　butcher；　addressing　the　cook；　〃but
meat's　meat；　and　it　will　serve　your　master's　friend　right　if　he
lives　to　want　it。〃

With　those　old　unforgotten　sympathies　of　the　old　unforgotten　time
to　keep　him　company　on　his　lonely　road；　he　had　left　the　town
behind　him；　and　had　been　lost　to　view　in　the　misty　rain。　The
grocer　and　the　butcher　had　seen　the　last　of　him；　and　had　judged　a
great　nature；　as　all　natures　_are_　judged　from　the　grocer　and　the
butcher　point　of　view。

THE　END　OF　THE　SECOND　BOOK。

BOOK　THE　THIRD。

CHAPTER　I。

MRS。　MILROY。

Two　days　after　Midwinter's　departure　from　Thorpe　Ambrose；　Mrs。
Milroy；　having　completed　her　morning　toilet；　and　having　dismissed
her　nurse；　rang　the　bell　again　five　minutes　afterward；　and　on　the
woman's　re…appearance　asked　impatiently　if　the　post　had　come　in

〃Post？〃　echoed　the　nurse。　〃Haven't　you　got　your　watch？　Don't　you
know　that　it's　a　good　half…hour　too　soon　to　ask　for　your
letters？〃　She　spoke　with　the　confident　insolence　of　a　servant
long　accustomed　to　presume　on　her　mistress's　weakness　and　her
mistress's　necessities。　Mrs。　Milroy；　on　her　side；　appeared　to　be
well　used　to　her　nurses　manner；　she　gave　her　orders　composedly；
without　noticing　it。

〃When　the　postman　does　come；〃　she　said；　〃see　him　yourself。　I　am
expecting　a　letter　which　I　ought　to　have　had　two　days　since。　I
don't　understand　it。　I'm　beginning　to　suspect　the　servants。〃

The　nurse　smiled　contemptuously。　〃Whom　will　you　suspect　next？〃
she　asked。　〃There！　don't　put　yourself　out。　I'll　answer　the
gate…bell　this　morning；　and　we'll　see　if　I　can't　bring　you　a
letter　when　the　postman　comes。〃　Saying　those　words；　with　the　tone
and　manner　of　a　woman　who　is　quieting　a　fra