the queen of hearts-第21部分

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〃I've　lost　the　place；　but　that's　my　luck。　I　dreamed　an　ill　dream
last　night；　motheror　maybe　I　saw　a　ghost。　Take　it　either　way；
it　scared　me　out　of　my　senses；　and　I'm　not　my　own　man　again　yet。〃

〃Isaac；　your　face　frightens　me。　Come　in　to　the　firecome　in；　and
tell　mother　all　about　it。〃

He　was　as　anxious　to　tell　as　she　was　to　hear；　for　it　had　been　his
hope；　all　the　way　home；　that　his　mother；　with　her　quicker
capacity　and　superior　knowledge；　might　be　able　to　throw　some
light　on　the　mystery　which　he　could　not　clear　up　for　himself。　His
memory　of　the　dream　was　still　mechanically　vivid；　though　his
thoughts　were　entirely　confused　by　it。

His　mother's　face　grew　paler　and　paler　as　he　went　on。　She　never
interrupted　him　by　so　much　as　a　single　word；　but　when　he　had
done；　she　moved　her　chair　close　to　his；　put　her　arm　round　his
neck；　and　said　to　him：

〃Isaac；　you　dreamed　your　ill　dream　on　this　Wednesday　morning。
What　time　was　it　when　you　saw　the　fair　woman　with　the　knife　in
her　hand？〃　Isaac　reflected　on　what　the　landlord　had　said　when
they　had　passed　by　the　clock　on　his　leaving　the　inn；　allowed　as
nearly　as　he　could　for　the　time　that　must　have　elapsed　between
the　unlocking　of　his　bedroom　door　and　the　paying　of　his　bill　just
before　going　away；　and　answered：

〃Somewhere　about　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃

His　mother　suddenly　quitted　her　hold　of　his　neck；　and　struck　her
hands　together　with　a　gesture　of　despair。

〃This　Wednesday　is　your　birthday；　Isaac；　and　two　o'clock　in　the
morning　was　the　time　when　you　were　born。〃

Isaac's　capacities　were　not　quick　enough　to　catch　the　infection
of　his　mother's　superstitious　dread。　He　was　amazed；　and　a　little
startled；　also；　when　she　suddenly　rose　from　her　chair；　opened　her
old　writing…desk；　took　pen；　ink　and　paper；　and　then　said　to　him：

〃Your　memory　is　but　a　poor　one；　Isaac；　and；　now　I'm　an　old　woman；
mine's　not　much　better。　I　want　all　about　this　dream　of　yours　to
be　as　well　known　to　both　of　us；　years　hence；　as　it　is　now。　Tell
me　over　again　all　you　told　me　a　minute　ago；　when　you　spoke　of
what　the　woman　with　the　knife　looked　like。〃

Isaac　obeyed；　and　marveled　much　as　he　saw　his　mother　carefully
set　down　on　paper　the　very　words　that　he　was　saying。

〃Light　gray　eyes；〃　she　wrote；　as　they　came　to　the　descriptive
part；　〃with　a　droop　in　the　left　eyelid；　flaxen　hair；　with　a
gold…yellow　streak　in　it；　white　arms；　with　a　down　upon　them；
little　lady's　hand；　with　a　reddish　look　about　the　finger　nails；
clasp…knife　with　a　buck…horn　handle；　that　seemed　as　good　as　new。〃
To　these　particulars　Mrs。　Scatchard　added　the　year；　month；　day　of
the　week；　and　time　in　the　morning　when　the　woman　of　the　dream
appeared　to　her　son。　She　then　locked　up　the　paper　carefully　in
her　writing…desk。

Neither　on　that　day　nor　on　any　day　after　could　her　son　induce　her
to　return　to　the　matter　of　the　dream。　She　obstinately　kept　her
thoughts　about　it　to　herself；　and　even　refused　to　refer　again　to
the　paper　in　her　writing…desk。　Ere　long　Isaac　grew　weary　of
attempting　to　make　her　break　her　resolute　silence；　and　time；
which　sooner　or　later　wears　out　all　things；　gradually　wore　out
the　impression　produced　on　him　by　the　dream。　He　began　by　thinking
of　it　carelessly；　and　he　ended　by　not　thinking　of　it　at　all。

The　result　was　the　more　easily　brought　about　by　the　advent　of
some　important　changes　for　the　better　in　his　prospects　which
commenced　not　long　after　his　terrible　night's　experience　at　the
inn。　He　reaped　at　last　th　e　reward　of　his　long　and　patient
suffering　under　adversity　by　getting　an　excellent　place；　keeping
it　for　seven　years；　and　leaving　it；　on　the　death　of　his　master；
not　only　with　an　excellent　character；　but　also　with　a　comfortable
annuity　bequeathed　to　him　as　a　reward　for　saving　his　mistress's
life　in　a　carriage　accident。　Thus　it　happened　that　Isaac
Scatchard　returned　to　his　old　mother；　seven　years　after　the　time
of　the　dream　at　the　inn；　with　an　annual　sum　of　money　at　his
disposal　sufficient　to　keep　them　both　in　ease　and　independence
for　the　rest　of　their　lives。

The　mother；　whose　health　had　been　bad　of　late　years；　profited　so
much　by　the　care　bestowed　on　her　and　by　freedom　from　money
anxieties；　that　when　Isaac's　birthday　came　round　she　was　able　to
sit　up　comfortably　at　table　and　dine　with　him。

On　that　day；　as　the　evening　drew　on；　Mrs。　Scatchard　discovered
that　a　bottle　of　tonic　medicine　which　she　was　accustomed　to　take；
and　in　which　she　had　fancied　that　a　dose　or　more　was　still　left；
happened　to　be　empty。　Isaac　immediately　volunteered　to　go　to　the
chemist's　and　get　it　filled　again。　It　was　as　rainy　and　bleak　an
autumn　night　as　on　the　memorable　past　occasion　when　he　lost　his
way　and　slept　at　the　road…side　inn。

On　going　into　the　chemist's　shop　he　was　passed　hurriedly　by　a
poorly…dressed　woman　coming　out　of　it。　The　glimpse　he　had　of　her
face　struck　him；　and　he　looked　back　after　her　as　she　descended
the　door…steps。

〃You're　noticing　that　woman？〃　said　the　chemist's　apprentice
behind　the　counter。　〃It's　my　opinion　there's　something　wrong　with
her。　She's　been　asking　for　laudanum　to　put　to　a　bad　tooth。
Master's　out　for　half　an　hour；　and　I　told　her　I　wasn't　allowed　to
sell　poison　to　strangers　in　his　absence。　She　laughed　in　a　queer
way；　and　said　she　would　come　back　in　half　an　hour。　If　she　expects
master　to　serve　her；　I　think　she'll　be　disappointed。　It's　a　case
of　suicide；　sir；　if　ever　there　was　one　yet。〃

These　words　added　immeasurably　to　the　sudden　interest　in　the
woman　which　Isaac　had　felt　at　the　first　sight　of　her　face。　After
he　had　got　the　medicine…bottle　filled；　he　looked　about　anxiously
for　her　as　soon　as　he　was　out　in　the　street。　She　was　walking
slowly　up　and　down　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road。　With　his
heart；　very　much　to　his　own　surprise；　beating　fast；　Isaac　crossed
over　and　spoke　to　her。

He　asked　if　she　was　in　any　distress。　She　pointed　to　her　torn
shawl；　her　scanty　dress；　her　crushed；　dirty　bonnet；　then　moved
under　a　lamp　so　as　to　let　the　light　fall　on　her　stern；　pale；　but
still　most　beautiful　face。

〃I　look　like　a　comfortable；　happy　woman；　don't　I？〃　she　said；　with
a　bitter　laugh。

She　spoke　with　a　purity　of　intonation　which　Isaac　had　never　heard
before　from　other　than　ladies'　lips。　Her　slightest　actions　seemed
to　have　the　easy；　negligent　grace　of　a　thoroughbred　woman。　Her
skin；　for　all　its　poverty…stricken　paleness；　was　as　delicate　as
if　her　life　had　been　passed　in　the　enjoyment　of　every　social
comfort　that　wealth　can　purchase。　Even　her　small；　finely…shaped
hands；　gloveless　as　they　were；　had　not　lost　their　whiteness。

Little　by　little；　in　answer　to　his　questions；　the　sad　story　of
the　woman　came　out。　There　is　no　need　to　relate　it　here；　it　is
told　over　and　over　again　in　police　reports　and　paragraphs　about
attempted　suicides。

〃My　name　is　Rebecca　Murdoch；〃　said　the　woman；　as　she　ended。　〃I
have　nine…pence　left；　and　I　thought　of　spending　it　at　the
chemist's　over　the　way　in　securing　a　passage　to　the　other　world。
Whatever　it　is；　it　can't　be　worse　to　me　than　this；　so　why　should
I　stop　here？〃

Besides　the　natural　compassion　and　sadness　moved　in　his　heart　by
what　he　heard；　Isaac　felt　within　him　some　mysterious　influence　at
work　all　the　time　the　woman　was　speaking　which　utterly　confused
his　ideas　and　almost　deprived　him　of　his　powers　of　speech。　All
that　he　could　say　in　answer　to　her　last　reckless　words　was　that
he　would　prevent　her　from　attempting　her　own　life；　if　he　followed
her　about　all　night　to　do　it。　His　rough；　trembling　earnestness
seemed　to　impress　her。

〃I　won't　occasion　you　that　trouble；〃　she　answered；　when　he
repeated　his　threat。　〃You　have　given　me　a　fancy　for　living　by
speaking　kindly　to　me。　No　need　for　the　mockery　of　protestations
and　promises。　You　may　believe　me　without　them。　Come　to　Fuller's
Meadow　to…morrow　at　twelve；　and　you　will　find　me　alive；　to　answer
for　myselfNo　！no　money。　My　ninepence　will　do　to　get　me　as
good　a　night's　lodging　as　I　want。〃

She　nodded　and　left　him。　He　made　no　attempt　to　followhe　felt　no
suspicion　that　she　was　deceiving　him。

〃It's　strange；　but　I　can't　help　believing　her；〃　he　said　to
himself；　and　walked　away；　bewildered；　toward　home。

On　entering　the　house；　his　mind　was　still　so　completely　absorbed
by　its　new　subject　of　interest　that　he　took　no　notice　of　what　his
mother　was　doing　when　he　came　in　with　the　bottle　of　medicine。　She
had　opened　her　old　writing…desk　in　his　absence；　and　was　now
reading　a　paper　attentively　that　lay　inside　it。　On　every　birthday
of　Isaac's　since　she　had　written　down　the　particulars　of　his
dream　from　his　own　lips；　she　had　been　accustomed　to　read　that
same　paper；　and　ponder　over　it　in　private。

The　next　day　he　went　to　Fuller's　Meadow。

He　had　done　only　right　in　believing　her　so　implicitly。　She　was
there；　punctual　to　a　minute；　to　answer　for　herself。　The　last…left
faint　defenses　in　Isaac's　heart　against　the　fascination　which　a
word　or　look　from　her　began　inscrutably　to　exercise　over　him　sank
down　and　vanished　before　her　forever　on　that　memorable　morning。

When　a　man；　previously　insensible　to　the　influence　of　women；
forms　an　attachment　in　middle　life；　the　instances　are　rare
indeed；　let　the　warning　circumstances　be　what　they　may；　in　which
he　is　found　capable　of　freeing　himself　from　the　tyranny　of　the
new　ruling　passion。　The　charm　of　being　spoken　to　familiarly；
fondly；　and　gratefully　by　a　woman　whose　language　and　manners
still　retained　enough　of　their　early　refinement　to　hint　at　the
high　social　station　that　she　had　lost；　would　have　been　a
dangerous　luxury　to　a　man　of　Isaac's　rank　at　the　age　of　twenty。
But　it　was　far　more　than　thatit　was　certain　ruin　to　himnow
that　his　heart　was　opening　unworthily　to　a　new　influence　at　that
middle　time　of　life　when　strong　feelings　of　all　kinds；　once
implanted；　strike　root　most　stubbornly　in　a　man's　moral　nature。　A
few　more　stolen　interviews　after　that　first　morning　in　Fuller's
Meadow　completed　his　infatuation。　In　less　than　a　month　from　the
time　when　he　first　met　her；　Isaac　Scatchard　had　consented　to　give
Rebecca　Murdoch　a　new　interest　in　existence；　and　a　chance　of
recovering　the　character　she　had　lost　by　promising　to　make　her
his　wife。

She　had　taken　possession；　not　of　his　passions　on