desperate remedies-第1部分

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Desperate　Remedies

by　Thomas　Hardy








CONTENTS

PREFATORY　NOTE
I。　　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THIRTY　YEARS
II。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　A　FORTNIGHT
III。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHT　DAYS
IV。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY
V。　　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY
VI。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　TWELVE　HOURS
VII。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHTEEN　DAYS
VIII。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHTEEN　DAYS
IX。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　TEN　WEEKS
X。　　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　A　DAY　AND　NIGHT
XI。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　FIVE　DAYS
XII。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　TEN　MONTHS
XIII。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY
XIV。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　FIVE　WEEKS
XV。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THREE　WEEKS
XVI。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　WEEK
XVII。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY
XVIII。　THE　EVENTS　OF　THREE　DAYS
XIX。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　A　DAY　AND　NIGHT
XX。　　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THREE　HOURS
XXI。　　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHTEEN　HOURS
　　　　　　　SEQUEL






PREFATORY　NOTE



The　following　story；　the　first　published　by　the　author；　was　written
nineteen　years　ago；　at　a　time　when　he　was　feeling　his　way　to　a
method。　　The　principles　observed　in　its　composition　are；　no　doubt；
too　exclusively　those　in　which　mystery；　entanglement；　surprise；　and
moral　obliquity　are　depended　on　for　exciting　interest；　but　some　of
the　scenes；　and　at　least　one　of　the　characters；　have　been　deemed　not
unworthy　of　a　little　longer　preservation；　and　as　they　could　hardly
be　reproduced　in　a　fragmentary　form　the　novel　is　reissued　complete
the　more　readily　that　it　has　for　some　considerable　time　been
reprinted　and　widely　circulated　in　America。
January　1889。

To　the　foregoing　note　I　have　only　to　add　that；　in　the　present
edition　of　'Desperate　Remedies；'　some　Wessex　towns　and　other　places
that　are　common　to　the　scenes　of　several　of　these　stories　have　been
called　for　the　first　time　by　the　names　under　which　they　appear
elsewhere；　for　the　satisfaction　of　any　reader　who　may　care　for
consistency　in　such　matters。

This　is　the　only　material　change；　for；　as　it　happened　that　certain
characteristics　which　provoked　most　discussion　in　my　latest　story
were　present　in　this　my　firstpublished　in　1871；　when　there　was　no
French　name　for　them　it　has　seemed　best　to　let　them　stand　unaltered。


T。H。
February　1896。








I。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　THIRTY　YEARS

1。　　DECEMBER　AND　JANUARY；　1835…36

In　the　long　and　intricately　inwrought　chain　of　circumstance　which
renders　worthy　of　record　some　experiences　of　Cytherea　Graye；　Edward
Springrove；　and　others；　the　first　event　directly　influencing　the
issue　was　a　Christmas　visit。

In　the　above…mentioned　year；　1835；　Ambrose　Graye；　a　young　architect
who　had　just　begun　the　practice　of　his　profession　in　the　midland
town　of　Hocbridge；　to　the　north　of　Christminster；　went　to　London　to
spend　the　Christmas　holidays　with　a　friend　who　lived　in　Bloomsbury。
They　had　gone　up　to　Cambridge　in　the　same　year；　and；　after
graduating　together；　Huntway；　the　friend；　had　taken　orders。

Graye　was　handsome；　frank；　and　gentle。　　He　had　a　quality　of　thought
which；　exercised　on　homeliness；　was　humour；　on　nature；
picturesqueness；　on　abstractions；　poetry。　　Being；　as　a　rule；
broadcast；　it　was　all　three。

Of　the　wickedness　of　the　world　he　was　too　forgetful。　　To　discover
evil　in　a　new　friend　is　to　most　people　only　an　additional
experience：　　to　him　it　was　ever　a　surprise。

While　in　London　he　became　acquainted　with　a　retired　officer　in　the
Navy　named　Bradleigh；　who；　with　his　wife　and　their　daughter；　lived
in　a　street　not　far　from　Russell　Square。　　Though　they　were　in　no
more　than　comfortable　circumstances；　the　captain's　wife　came　of　an
ancient　family　whose　genealogical　tree　was　interlaced　with　some　of
the　most　illustrious　and　well…known　in　the　kingdom。

The　young　lady；　their　daughter；　seemed　to　Graye　by　far　the　most
beautiful　and　queenly　being　he　had　ever　beheld。　　She　was　about
nineteen　or　twenty；　and　her　name　was　Cytherea。　　In　truth　she　was　not
so　very　unlike　country　girls　of　that　type　of　beauty；　except　in　one
respect。　　She　was　perfect　in　her　manner　and　bearing；　and　they　were
not。　　A　mere　distinguishing　peculiarity；　by　catching　the　eye；　is
often　read　as　the　pervading　characteristic；　and　she　appeared　to　him
no　less　than　perfection　throughouttranscending　her　rural　rivals　in
very　nature。　　Graye　did　a　thing　the　blissfulness　of　which　was　only
eclipsed　by　its　hazardousness。　　He　loved　her　at　first　sight。

His　introductions　had　led　him　into　contact　with　Cytherea　and　her
parents　two　or　three　times　on　the　first　week　of　his　arrival　in
London；　and　accident　and　a　lover's　contrivance　brought　them　together
as　frequently　the　week　following。　　The　parents　liked　young　Graye；
and　having　few　friends　（for　their　equals　in　blood　were　their
superiors　in　position）；　he　was　received　on　very　generous　terms。　　His
passion　for　Cytherea　grew　not　only　strong；　but　ineffably　exalted：
she；　without　positively　encouraging　him；　tacitly　assented　to　his
schemes　for　being　near　her。　　Her　father　and　mother　seemed　to　have
lost　all　confidence　in　nobility　of　birth；　without　money　to　give
effect　to　its　presence；　and　looked　upon　the　budding　consequence　of
the　young　people's　reciprocal　glances　with　placidity；　if　not　actual
favour。

Graye's　whole　impassioned　dream　terminated　in　a　sad　and
unaccountable　episode。　　After　passing　through　three　weeks　of　sweet
experience；　he　had　arrived　at　the　last　stagea　kind　of　moral　Gaza
before　plunging　into　an　emotional　desert。　　The　second　week　in
January　had　come　round；　and　it　was　necessary　for　the　young　architect
to　leave　town。

Throughout　his　acquaintanceship　with　the　lady　of　his　heart　there　had
been　this　marked　peculiarity　in　her　love：　　she　had　delighted　in　his
presence　as　a　sweetheart　should　do；　yet　from　first　to　last　she　had
repressed　all　recognition　of　the　true　nature　of　the　thread　which
drew　them　together；　blinding　herself　to　its　meaning　and　only　natural
tendency；　and　appearing　to　dread　his　announcement　of　them。　　The
present　seemed　enough　for　her　without　cumulative　hope：　　usually；
even　if　love　is　in　itself　an　end；　it　must　be　regarded　as　a　beginning
to　be　enjoyed。

In　spite　of　evasions　as　an　obstacle；　and　in　consequence　of　them　as　a
spur；　he　would　put　the　matter　off　no　longer。　　It　was　evening。　　He
took　her　into　a　little　conservatory　on　the　landing；　and　there　among
the　evergreens；　by　the　light　of　a　few　tiny　lamps；　infinitely
enhancing　the　freshness　and　beauty　of　the　leaves；　he　made　the
declaration　of　a　love　as　fresh　and　beautiful　as　they。

'My　lovemy　darling；　be　my　wife！'

She　seemed　like　one　just　awakened。　　'Ahwe　must　part　now！'　she
faltered；　in　a　voice　of　anguish。　　'I　will　write　to　you。'　　She
loosened　her　hand　and　rushed　away。

In　a　wild　fever　Graye　went　home　and　watched　for　the　next　morning。
Who　shall　express　his　misery　and　wonder　when　a　note　containing　these
words　was　put　into　his　hand？

'Good…bye；　good…bye　for　ever。　　As　recognized　lovers　something
divides　us　eternally。　　Forgive　meI　should　have　told　you　before；
but　your　love　was　sweet！　　Never　mention　me。'

That　very　day；　and　as　it　seemed；　to　put　an　end　to　a　painful
condition　of　things；　daughter　and　parents　left　London　to　pay　off　a
promised　visit　to　a　relative　in　a　western　county。　　No　message　or
letter　of　entreaty　could　wring　from　her　any　explanation。　　She　begged
him　not　to　follow　her；　and　the　most　bewildering　point　was　that　her
father　and　mother　appeared；　from　the　tone　of　a　letter　Graye　received
from　them；　as　vexed　and　sad　as　he　at　this　sudden　renunciation。　　One
thing　was　plain：　　without　admitting　her　reason　as　valid；　they　knew
what　that　reason　was；　and　did　not　intend　to　reveal　it。

A　week　from　that　day　Ambrose　Graye　left　his　friend　Huntway's　house
and　saw　no　more　of　the　Love　he　mourned。　　From　time　to　time　his
friend　answered　any　inquiry　Graye　made　by　letter　respecting　her。
But　very　poor　food　to　a　lover　is　intelligence　of　a　mistress　filtered
through　a　friend。　　Huntway　could　tell　nothing　definitely。　　He　said
he　believed　there　had　been　some　prior　flirtation　between　Cytherea
and　her　cousin；　an　officer　of　the　line；　two　or　three　years　before
Graye　met　her；　which　had　suddenly　been　terminated　by　the　cousin's
departure　for　India；　and　the　young　lady's　travelling　on　the
Continent　with　her　parents　the　whole　of　the　ensuing　summer；　on
account　of　delicate　health。　　Eventually　Huntway　said　that
circumstances　had　rendered　Graye's　attachment　more　hopeless　still。
Cytherea's　mother　had　unexpectedly　inherited　a　large　fortune　and
estates　in　the　west　of　England　by　the　rapid　fall　of　some　intervening
lives。　　This　had　caused　their　removal　from　the　small　house　in
Bloomsbury；　and；　as　it　appeared；　a　renunciation　of　their　old　friends
in　that　quarter。

Young　Graye　concluded　that　his　Cytherea　had　forgotten　him　and　his
love。　　But　he　could　not　forget　her。

2。　　FROM　1843　TO　1861

Eight　years　later；　feeling　lonely　and　depresseda　man　without
relatives；　with　many　acquaintances　but　no　friendsAmbrose　Graye　met
a　young　lady　of　a　different　kind；　fairly　endowed　with　money　and　good
gifts。　　As　to　caring　very　deeply　for　another　woman　after　the　loss　of
Cytherea；　it　was　an　absolute　impossibility　with　him。　　With　all；　the
beautiful　things　of　the　earth　become　more　dear　as　they　elude
pursuit；　but　with　some　natures　utter　elusion　is　the　one　special
event　which　will　make　a　passing　love　permanent　for　ever。

This　second　young　lady　and　Graye　were　married。　　That　he　did　not；
first　or　last；　love　his　wife　as　he　should　have　done；　was　known　to
all；　but　few　knew　that　his　unmanageable　heart　could　never　be　weaned
from　useless　repining　at　the　loss　of　its　first　idol。

His　character　to　some　extent　deteriorated；　as　emotional
constitutions　will　under　the　long　sense　of　disappointment　at　having
missed　their　imagined　destiny。　　And　thus；　though　naturally　of　a
gentle　and　pleasant　disposition；　he　grew　to　be　not　so　tenderly
regarded　by　his　acquaintances　as　it　is　the　lot　of　some　of　those
persons　to　be。　　The　winning　and　sanguine　receptivity　of　his　early
life　developed　by　degrees　a　moody　nervousness；　and　when　not
picturing　prospects　drawn　from　baseless　hope　he　was　the　victim　of
indescribable　depression。　　The　practical　issue　of　such　a　condition
was　improvidence；　originally　almost　an　unconscious　improvidence；　for
every　debt　incurred　had　been　mentally　paid　off　with　a　religious
exactness　from　the　treasures　of　expecta