the queen of hearts-第60部分

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his　fiddle　under　his　arm。　This　renewal　of　their　old　habits　might
have　been　imprudent　enough；　as　tending　to　weaken　my　mistress's
case　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　but；　for　all　that；　it　was　the　most
sensible　course　she　could　take　for　her　own　sake。　The　harmless
company　of　Mr。　Meeke；　and　the　relief　of　playing　the　old　tunes
again　in　the　old　way；　saved　her；　I　verily　believe；　from　sinking
altogether　under　the　oppression　of　the　shocking　situation　in
which　she　was　now　placed。

So；　with　the　assistance　of　Mr。　Meeke　and　his　fiddle；　my　mistress
got　though　the　weary　time。　The　winter　passed；　the　spring　came；
and　no　fresh　tidings　reached　us　of　Mr。　James　Smith。　It　had　been　a
long；　hard　winter　that　year；　and　the　spring　was　backward　and
rainy。　The　first　really　fine　day　we　had　was　the　day　that　fell　on
the　fourteenth　of　March。

I　am　particular　in　mentioning　this　date　merely　because　it　is
fixed　forever　in　my　memory。　As　long　as　there　is　life　in　me　I
shall　remember　that　fourteenth　of　March；　and　the　smallest
circumstances　connected　with　it。

The　day　began　ill；　with　what　superstitious　people　would　think　a
bad　omen。　My　mistress　remained　late　in　her　room　in　the　morning；
amusing　herself　by　looking　over　her　clothes；　and　by　setting　to
rights　some　drawers　in　her　cabinet　which　she　had　not　opened　for
some　time　past。　Just　before　luncheon　we　were　startled　by　hearing
the　drawing…room　bell　rung　violently。　I　ran　up　to　see　what　was
the　matter；　and　the　quadroon；　Josephine；　who　had　heard　the　bell
in　another　part　of　the　house；　hastened　to　answer　it　also。　She　got
into　the　drawing…room　first；　and　I　followed　close　on　her　heels。
My　mistress　was　standing　alone　on　the　hearth…rug；　with　an
appearance　of　great　discomposure　in　her　face　and　manner。

〃I　have　been　robbed！〃　she　said；　vehemently；　〃I　don't　know　when　or
how；　but　I　miss　a　pair　of　bracelets；　three　rings；　and　a　quantity
of　old…fashioned　lace　pocket…handkerchiefs。〃

〃If　you　have　any　suspicions；　ma'am；〃　said　Josephine；　in　a　sharp；
sudden　way；　〃say　who　they　point　at。　My　boxes；　for　one；　are　quite
at　your　disposal。〃

〃Who　asked　about　your　boxes？〃　said　my　mistress；　angrily。　〃Be　a
little　less　ready　with　your　answer；　if　you　please；　the　next　time
I　speak。〃

She　then　turned　to　me；　and　began　explaining　the　circumstances
under　which　she　had　discovered　her　loss。　I　suggested　that　the
missing　things　should　be　well　searched　for　first；　and　then；　if
nothing　came　of　that；　that　I　should　go　for　the　constable；　and
place　the　matter　under　his　direction。

My　mistress　agreed　to　this　plan；　and　the　search　was　undertaken
immediately。　It　lasted　till　dinner…time；　and　led　to　no　results。　I
then　proposed　going　for　the　constable。　But　my　mistress　said　it
was　too　late　to　do　anything　that　day；　and　told　me　to　wait　at
table　as　usual；　and　to　go　on　my　errand　the　first　thing　the　next
morning。　Mr。　Meeke　was　coming　with　some　new　music　in　the　evening；
and　I　suspect　she　was　not　willing　to　be　disturbed　at　her　favorite
occupation　by　the　arrival　of　the　constable。

When　dinner　was　over　the　parson　came；　and　the　concert　went　on　as
usual　through　the　evening。　At　ten　o'clock　I　took　up　the　tray；
with　the　wine；　and　soda…water；　and　biscuits。　Just　as　I　was
opening　one　of　the　bottles　of　soda…water；　there　was　a　sound　of
wheels　on　the　drive　outside；　and　a　ring　at　the　bell。

I　had　unfastened　the　wires　of　the　cork；　and　could　not　put　the
bottle　down　to　run　at　once　to　the　door。　One　of　the　female
servants　answered　it。　I　heard　a　sort　of　half　screamthen　the
sound　of　a　footstep　that　was　familiar　to　me。

My　mistress　turned　round　from　the　piano；　and　looked　me　hard　in
the　face。

〃William；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　know　that　step？〃　Before　I　could
answer　the　door　was　pushed　open；　and　Mr。　James　Smith　walked　into
the　room。

He　had　his　hat　on。　His　long　hair　flowed　down　under　it　over　the
collar　of　his　coat；　his　bright　black　eyes；　after　resting　an
instant　on　my　mistress；　turned　to　Mr。　Meeke。　His　heavy　eyebrows
met　together；　and　one　of　his　hands　went　up　to　one　of　his　bushy
black　whiskers；　and　pulled　at　it　angrily。

〃You　here　again！〃　he　said；　advancing　a　few　steps　toward　the
little　parson；　who　sat　trembling　all　over；　with　his　fiddle　hugged
up　in　his　arms　as　if　it　had　been　a　child。

Seeing　her　villainous　husband　advance；　my　mistress　moved；　too；　so
as　to　face　him。　He　turned　round　on　her　at　the　first　step　she
took；　as　quick　as　lightning。

〃You　shameless　woman！〃　he　said。　〃Can　you　look　me　in　　the　face　in
the　presence　of　that　man？〃　He　pointed；
　as　he　spoke；　to　Mr。　Meeke。

My　mistress　never　shrank　when　he　turned　upon　her。　Not　a　sign　of
fear　was　in　her　face　when　they　confronted　each　other。　Not　the
faintest　flush　of　anger　came　into　her　cheeks　when　he　spoke。　The
sense　of　the　insult　and　injury　that　he　had　inflicted　on　her；　and
the　consciousness　of　knowing　his　guilty　secret；　gave　her　all　her
self…possession　at　that　trying　moment。

〃I　ask　you　again；〃　he　repeated；　finding　that　she　did　not　answer
him；　〃how　dare　you　look　me　in　the　face　in　the　presence　of　that
man？〃

She　raised　her　steady　eyes　to　his　hat；　which　he　still　kept　on　his
head。

〃Who　has　taught　you　to　come　into　a　room　and　speak　to　a　lady　with
your　hat　on？〃　she　asked；　in　quiet；　contemptuous　tones。　〃Is　that　a
habit　which　is　sanctioned　by　_your　new　wife？_〃

My　eyes　were　on　him　as　she　said　those　last　words。　His　complexion；
naturally　dark　and　swarthy；　changed　instantly　to　a　livid　yellow
white；　his　hand　caught　at　the　chair　nearest　to　him；　and　he
dropped　into　it　heavily。

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment　of　silence；
looking　about　the　room　unsteadily　while　he　spoke。

〃You　do；〃　said　my　mistress。　〃Your　tongue　lies；　but　your　face
speaks　the　truth。〃

He　called　back　his　courage　and　audacity　by　a　desperate　effort；
and　started　up　from　the　chair　again　with　an　oath。

The　instant　before　this　happened　I　thought　I　heard　the　sound　of　a
rustling　dress　in　the　passage　outside；　as　if　one　of　the　women
servants　was　stealing　up　to　listen　outside　the　door。　I　should
have　gone　at　once　to　see　whether　this　was　the　case　or　not；　but　my
master　stopped　me　just　after　he　had　risen　from　the　chair。

〃Get　the　bed　made　in　the　Red　Room；　and　light　a　fire　there
directly；〃　he　said；　with　his　fiercest　look　and　in　his　roughest
tones。　〃When　I　ring　the　bell；　bring　me　a　kettle　of　boiling　water
and　a　bottle　of　brandy。　As　for　you；〃　he　continued；　turning　toward
Mr。　Meeke；　who　still　sat　pale　and　speechless　with　his　fiddle
hugged　up　in　his　arms；　〃leave　the　house；　or　you　won't　find　your
cloth　any　protection　to　you。〃

At　this　insult　the　blood　flew　into　my　mistress's　face。　Before　she
could　say　anything；　Mr。　James　Smith　raised　his　voice　loud　enough
to　drown　hers。

〃I　won't　hear　another　word　from　you；〃　he　cried　out；　brutally。
〃You　have　been　talking　like　a　mad　woman；　and　you　look　like　a　mad
woman。　You　are　out　of　your　senses。　As　sure　as　you　live；　I'll　have
you　examined　by　the　doctors　to…morrow。　Why　the　devil　do　you　stand
there；　you　scoundrel？〃　he　roared；　wheeling　round　on　his　heel　to
me。　〃Why　don't　you　obey　my　orders？〃

I　looked　at　my　mistress。　If　she　had　directed　me　to　knock　Mr。
James　Smith　down；　big　as　he　was；　I　think　at　that　moment　I　could
have　done　it。

〃Do　as　he　tells　you；　William；〃　she　said；　squeezing　one　of　her
hands　firmly　over　her　bosom；　as　if　she　was　trying　to　keep　down
the　rising　indignation　in　that　way。　〃This　is　the　last　order　of
his　giving　that　I　shall　ask　you　to　obey。〃

〃Do　you　threaten　me；　you　mad〃

He　finished　the　question　by　a　word　I　shall　not　repeat。

〃I　tell　you；〃　she　answered；　in　clear；　ringing；　resolute　tones；
〃that　you　have　outraged　me　past　all　forgiveness　and　all
endurance；　and　that　you　shall　never　insult　me　again　as　you　have
insulted　me　to…night。〃

After　saying　those　words　she　fixed　one　steady　look　on　him；　then
turned　away　and　walked　slowly　to　the　door。

A　minute　previously　Mr。　Meeke　had　summoned　courage　enough　to　get
up　and　leave　the　room　quietly。　I　noticed　him　walking　demurely
away；　close　to　the　wall；　with　his　fiddle　held　under　one　tail　of
his　long　frock…coat；　as　if　he　was　afraid　that　the　savage　passions
of　Mr。　James　Smith　might　be　wreaked　on　that　unoffending
instrument。　He　got　to　the　door　before　my　mistress。　As　he　softly
pulled　it　open；　I　saw　him　start；　and　the　rustling　of　the　gown
caught　my　ear　again　from　the　outside。

My　mistress　followed　him　into　the　passage；　turning；　however；　in
the　opposite　direction　to　that　taken　by　the　little　parson；　in
order　to　reach　the　staircase　that　led　to　her　own　room。　I　went　out
next；　leaving　Mr。　James　Smith　alone。

I　overtook　Mr。　Meeke　in　the　hall；　and　opened　the　door　for　him。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　I　said；　〃but　did　you　come　upon　anybody
listening　outside　the　music…room　when　you　left　it　just　now？〃

〃Yes；　William；〃　said　Mr。　Meeke；　in　a　faint　voice；　〃I　think　it　was
Josephine；　but　I　was　so　dreadfully　agitated　that　I　can't　be　quite
certain　about　it。〃

Had　she　surprised　our　secret？　That　was　the　question　I　asked
myself　as　I　went　away　to　light　the　fire　in　the　Red　Room。　Calling
to　mind　the　exact　time　at　which　I　had　first　detected　the　rustling
outside　the　door；　I　came　to　the　conclusion　that　she　had　only
heard　the　last　part　of　the　quarrel　between　my　mistress　and　her
rascal　of　a　husband。　Those　bold　words　about　the　〃new　wife〃　had
been　assuredly　spoken　before　I　heard　Josephine　stealing　up　to　the
door。

As　soon　as　the　fire　was　alight　and　the　bed　made；　I　went　back　to
the　music…room　to　announce　that　my　orders　had　been　obeyed。　Mr。
James　Smith　was　walking　up　and　down　in　a　perturbed　way；　still
keeping　his　hat　on。　He　followed　me　to　the　Red　Room　without　saying
a　word。

Ten　minutes　later　he　rang　for　the　kettle　and　the　bottle　of
brandy。　When　I　took　them　in　I　found　him　unpacking　a　small
carpet…bag；　which　was　the　only　luggage　he　had　brought　with　him。
He　still　kept　silence；　and　did　not　appear　to　take　any　notice　of
me。　I　left　him　immediately　without　our　having　so　much　as
exchanged　a　single　word。

So　far　as　I　could　tell；　the　night　passed　quietly。　The　next
morning　I　heard　that　my　mistress　was　suffering　so　severely　from　a
nervous　attack　that　she　was　unable　to　rise　from　her　bed。　It　was
no　surprise　to　me　to　be　told　that；　knowing　as　I　did　what　she　had
gone　through　the　night　before。