desperate remedies-第15部分

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movements。　　The　other　withdrew　her　eyes；　Cytherea　went　to　fetch　the
dressing…gown；　and　wheeled　round　again　to　bring　it　up　to　Miss
Aldclyffe；　who　had　now　partly　removed　her　night…dress　to　put　it　on
the　proper　way；　and　still　sat　with　her　back　towards　Cytherea。

Her　neck　was　again　quite　open　and　uncovered；　and　though　hidden　from
the　direct　line　of　Cytherea's　vision；　she　saw　it　reflected　in　the
glassthe　fair　white　surface；　and　the　inimitable　combination　of
curves　between　throat　and　bosom　which　artists　adore；　being　brightly
lit　up　by　the　light　burning　on　either　side。

And　the　lady's　prior　proceedings　were　now　explained　in　the　simplest
manner。　　In　the　midst　of　her　breast；　like　an　island　in　a　sea　of
pearl；　reclined　an　exquisite　little　gold　locket；　embellished　with
arabesque　work　of　blue；　red；　and　white　enamel。　　That　was　undoubtedly
what　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　been　contemplating；　and；　moreover；　not
having　been　put　off　with　her　other　ornaments；　it　was　to　be　retained
during　the　nighta　slight　departure　from　the　custom　of　ladies　which
Miss　Aldclyffe　had　at　first　not　cared　to　exhibit　to　her　new
assistant；　though　now；　on　further　thought；　she　seemed　to　have　become
indifferent　on　the　matter。

'My　dressing…gown；'　she　said；　quietly　fastening　her　night…dress　as
she　spoke。

Cytherea　came　forward　with　it。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　did　not　turn　her
head；　but　looked　inquiringly　at　her　maid　in　the　glass。

'You　saw　what　I　wear　on　my　neck；　I　suppose？'　she　said　to　Cytherea's
reflected　face。

'Yes；　madam；　I　did；'　said　Cytherea　to　Miss　Aldclyffe's　reflected
face。

Miss　Aldclyffe　again　looked　at　Cytherea's　reflection　as　if　she　were
on　the　point　of　explaining。　　Again　she　checked　her　resolve；　and　said
lightly

'Few　of　my　maids　discover　that　I　wear　it　always。　　I　generally　keep
it　a　secretnot　that　it　matters　much。　　But　I　was　careless　with　you；
and　seemed　to　want　to　tell　you。　　You　win　me　to　make　confidences
that。　。　。'

She　ceased；　took　Cytherea's　hand　in　her　own；　lifted　the　locket　with
the　other；　touched　the　spring　and　disclosed　a　miniature。

'It　is　a　handsome　face；　is　it　not？'　she　whispered　mournfully；　and
even　timidly。

'It　is。'

But　the　sight　had　gone　through　Cytherea　like　an　electric　shock；　and
there　was　an　instantaneous　awakening　of　perception　in　her；　so
thrilling　in　its　presence　as　to　be　well…nigh　insupportable。　　The
face　in　the　miniature　was　the　face　of　her　own　fatheryounger　and
fresher　than　she　had　ever　known　himbut　her　father！

Was　this　the　woman　of　his　wild　and　unquenchable　early　love？　　And　was
this　the　woman　who　had　figured　in　the　gate…man's　story　as　answering
the　name　of　Cytherea　before　her　judgment　was　awake？　　Surely　it　was。
And　if　so；　here　was　the　tangible　outcrop　of　a　romantic　and　hidden
stratum　of　the　past　hitherto　seen　only　in　her　imagination；　but　as
far　as　her　scope　allowed；　clearly　defined　therein　by　reason　of　its
strangeness。

Miss　Aldclyffe's　eyes　and　thoughts　were　so　intent　upon　the　miniature
that　she　had　not　been　conscious　of　Cytherea's　start　of　surprise。
She　went　on　speaking　in　a　low　and　abstracted　tone。

'Yes；　I　lost　him。'　　She　interrupted　her　words　by　a　short　meditation；
and　went　on　again。　　'I　lost　him　by　excess　of　honesty　as　regarded　my
past。　　But　it　was　best　that　it　should　be　so。　。　。　。　　I　was　led　to
think　rather　more　than　usual　of　the　circumstances　to…night　because
of　your　name。　　It　is　pronounced　the　same　way；　though　differently
spelt。'

The　only　means　by　which　Cytherea's　surname　could　have　been　spelt　to
Miss　Aldclyffe　must　have　been　by　Mrs。　Morris　or　Farmer　Springrove。
She　fancied　Farmer　Springrove　would　have　spelt　it　properly　if　Edward
was　his　informant；　which　made　Miss　Aldclyffe's　remark　obscure。

Women　make　confidences　and　then　regret　them。　　The　impulsive　rush　of
feeling　which　had　led　Miss　Aldclyffe　to　indulge　in　this　revelation；
trifling　as　it　was；　died　out　immediately　her　words　were　beyond
recall；　and　the　turmoil；　occasioned　in　her　by　dwelling　upon　that
chapter　of　her　life；　found　vent　in　another　kind　of　emotionthe
result　of　a　trivial　accident。

Cytherea；　after　letting　down　Miss　Aldclyffe's　hair；　adopted　some
plan　with　it　to　which　the　lady　had　not　been　accustomed。　　A　rapid
revulsion　to　irritation　ensued。　　The　maiden's　mere　touch　seemed　to
discharge　the　pent…up　regret　of　the　lady　as　if　she　had　been　a　jar　of
electricity。

'How　strangely　you　treat　my　hair！'　she　exclaimed。

A　silence。

'I　have　told　you　what　I　never　tell　my　maids　as　a　rule；　of　course
NOTHING　that　I　say　in　this　room　is　to　be　mentioned　outside　it。'　　She
spoke　crossly　no　less　than　emphatically。

'It　shall　not　be；　madam；'　said　Cytherea；　agitated　and　vexed　that　the
woman　of　her　romantic　wonderings　should　be　so　disagreeable　to　her。

'Why　on　earth　did　I　tell　you　of　my　past？'　she　went　on。

Cytherea　made　no　answer。

The　lady's　vexation　with　herself；　and　the　accident　which　had　led　to
the　disclosure　swelled　little　by　little　till　it　knew　no　bounds。　　But
what　was　done　could　not　be　undone；　and　though　Cytherea　had　shown　a
most　winning　responsiveness；　quarrel　Miss　Aldclyffe　must。　　She
recurred　to　the　subject　of　Cytherea's　want　of　expertness；　like　a
bitter　reviewer；　who　finding　the　sentiments　of　a　poet　unimpeachable；
quarrels　with　his　rhymes。

'Never；　never　before　did　I　serve　myself　such　a　trick　as　this　in
engaging　a　maid！'　　She　waited　for　an　expostulation：　　none　came。
Miss　Aldclyffe　tried　again。

'The　idea　of　my　taking　a　girl　without　asking　her　more　than　three
questions；　or　having　a　single　reference；　all　because　of　her　good　l
；　the　shape　of　her　face　and　body！　　It　WAS　a　fool's　trick。　　There；　I
am　served　right；　quite　rightby　being　deceived　in　such　a　way。'

'I　didn't　deceive　you；'　said　Cytherea。　　The　speech　was　an
unfortunate　one；　and　was　the　very　'fuel　to　maintain　its　fires'　that
the　other's　petulance　desired。

'You　did；'　she　said　hotly。

'I　told　you　I　couldn't　promise　to　be　acquainted　with　every　detail　of
routine　just　at　first。'

'Will　you　contradict　me　in　this　way！　　You　are　telling　untruths；　I
say。'

Cytherea's　lip　quivered。　　'I　would　answer　the　remark　ifif'

'If　what？'

'If　it　were　a　lady's！'

'You　girl　of　impudencewhat　do　you　say？　　Leave　the　room　this
instant；　I　tell　you。'

'And　I　tell　you　that　a　person　who　speaks　to　a　lady　as　you　do　to　me；
is　no　lady　herself！'

'To　a　lady？　　A　lady's…maid　speaks　in　this　way。　　The　idea！'

'Don't　〃lady's…maid〃　me：　　nobody　is　my　mistress　I　won't　have　it！'

'Good　Heavens！'

'I　wouldn't　have　comenoI　wouldn't！　if　I　had　known！'

'What？'

'That　you　were　such　an　ill…tempered；　unjust　woman！'

'Possest　beyond　the　Muse's　painting；'　Miss　Aldclyffe　exclaimed

'A　Woman；　am　I！　　I'll　teach　you　if　I　am　a　Woman！'　and　lifted　her
hand　as　if　she　would　have　liked　to　strike　her　companion。　　This　stung
the　maiden　into　absolute　defiance。

'I　dare　you　to　touch　me！'　she　cried。　　'Strike　me　if　you　dare；　madam！
I　am　not　afraid　of　youwhat　do　you　mean　by　such　an　action　as　that？'

Miss　Aldclyffe　was　disconcerted　at　this　unexpected　show　of　spirit；
and　ashamed　of　her　unladylike　impulse　now　it　was　put　into　words。
She　sank　back　in　the　chair。　　'I　was　not　going　to　strike　yougo　to
your　roomI　beg　you　to　go　to　your　room！'　she　repeated　in　a　husky
whisper。

Cytherea；　red　and　panting；　took　up　her　candlestick　and　advanced　to
the　table　to　get　a　light。　　As　she　stood　close　to　them　the　rays　from
the　candles　struck　sharply　on　her　face。　　She　usually　bore　a　much
stronger　likeness　to　her　mother　than　to　her　father；　but　now；　looking
with　a　grave；　reckless；　and　angered　expression　of　countenance　at　the
kindling　wick　as　she　held　it　slanting　into　the　other　flame；　her
father's　features　were　distinct　in　her。　　It　was　the　first　time　Miss
Aldclyffe　had　seen　her　in　a　passionate　mood；　and　wearing　that
expression　which　was　invariably　its　concomitant。　　It　was　Miss
Aldclyffe's　turn　to　start　now；　and　the　remark　she　made　was　an
instance　of　that　sudden　change　of　tone　from　high…flown　invective　to
the　pettiness　of　curiosity　which　so　often　makes　women's　quarrels
ridiculous。　　Even　Miss　Aldclyffe's　dignity　had　not　sufficient　power
to　postpone　the　absorbing　desire　she　now　felt　to　settle　the　strange
suspicion　that　had　entered　her　head。

'You　spell　your　name　the　common　way；　G；　R；　E；　Y；　don't　you？'　she
said；　with　assumed　indifference。

'No；'　said　Cytherea；　poised　on　the　side　of　her　foot；　and　still
looking　into　the　flame。

'Yes；　surely？　　The　name　was　spelt　that　way　on　your　boxes：　　I　looked
and　saw　it　myself。'

The　enigma　of　Miss　Aldclyffe's　mistake　was　solved。　　'O；　was　it？'
said　Cytherea。　　　'Ah；　I　remember　Mrs。　Jackson；　the　lodging…house
keeper　at　Budmouth；　labelled　them。　　We　spell　our　name　G；　R；　A；　Y；
E。'

'What　was　your　father's　trade？'

Cytherea　thought　it　would　be　useless　to　attempt　to　conceal　facts　any
longer。　　'His　was　not　a　trade；'　she　said。　　'He　was　an　architect。'

'The　idea　of　your　being　an　architect's　daughter！'

'There's　nothing　to　offend；　you　in　that；　I　hope？'

'O　no。'

'Why　did　you　say　〃the　idea〃？'

'Leave　that　alone。　　Did　he　ever　visit　in　Gower　Street；　Bloomsbury；
one　Christmas；　many　years　ago？but　you　would　not　know　that。'

'I　have　heard　him　say　that　Mr。　Huntway；　a　curate　somewhere　in　that
part　of　London；　and　who　died　there；　was　an　old　college　friend　of
his。'

'What　is　your　Christian　name？'

'Cytherea。'

'No！　　And　is　it　really？　　And　you　knew　that　face　I　showed　you？　　Yes；
I　see　you　did。'　　Miss　Aldclyffe　stopped；　and　closed　her　lips
impassibly。　　She　was　a　little　agitated。

'Do　you　want　me　any　longer？'　said　Cytherea；　standing　candle　in　hand
and　looking　quietly　in　Miss　Aldclyffe's　face。

'Wellno：　　no　longer；'　said　the　other　lingeringly。

'With　your　permission；　I　will　leave　the　house　to　morrow　morning；
madam。'

'Ah。'　　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　no　notion　of　what　she　was　saying。

'And　I　know　you　will　be　so　good　as　not　to　intrude　upon　me　during　the
short　remainder　of　my　stay？'

Saying　this　Cytherea　left　the　room　before　her　companion　had
answered。　　Miss　Aldclyffe；　then；　had　recognized　her　at　last；　and　had
been　curious　about　her　name　from　the　beginning。

The　other　members　of　the　household　had　retired　to　rest。　　As　Cytherea
went　along　the　passage　leading　to　her　room　her　skirts　rustled
against　the　partition。　　A　door