desperate remedies-第29部分

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question　whether　she　had　acted　very　wisely　in　writing　to　either　of
the　two　men　who　had　so　influenced　her。



IX。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　TEN　WEEKS

1。　　FROM　SEPTEMBER　THE　TWENTY…FIRST　TO　THE　MIDDLE　OF　NOVEMBER

The　foremost　figure　within　Cytherea's　horizon；　exclusive　of　the
inmates　of　Knapwater　House；　was　now　the　steward；　Mr。　Manston。　　It
was　impossible　that　they　should　live　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile　of
each　other；　be　engaged　in　the　same　service；　and　attend　the　same
church；　without　meeting　at　some　spot　or　another；　twice　or　thrice　a
week。　　On　Sundays；　in　her　pew；　when　by　chance　she　turned　her　head；
Cytherea　found　his　eyes　waiting　desirously　for　a　glimpse　of　hers；
and；　at　first　more　strangely；　the　eyes　of　Miss　Aldclyffe　furtively
resting　on　him。　　On　coming　out　of　church　he　frequently　walked　beside
Cytherea　till　she　reached　the　gate　at　which　residents　in　the　House
turned　into　the　shrubbery。　　By　degrees　a　conjecture　grew　to　a
certainty。　　She　knew　that　he　loved　her。

But　a　strange　fact　was　connected　with　the　development　of　his　love。
He　was　palpably　making　the　strongest　efforts　to　subdue；　or　at　least
to　hide；　the　weakness；　and　as　it　sometimes　seemed；　rather　from　his
own　conscience　than　from　surrounding　eyes。　　Hence　she　found　that　not
one　of　his　encounters　with　her　was　anything　more　than　the　result　of
pure　accident。　　He　made　no　advances　whatever：　　without　avoiding　her；
he　never　sought　her：　　the　words　he　had　whispered　at　their　first
interview　now　proved　themselves　to　be　quite　as　much　the　result　of
unguarded　impulse　as　was　her　answer。　　Something　held　him　back；　bound
his　impulse　down；　but　she　saw　that　it　was　neither　pride　of　his
person；　nor　fear　that　she　would　refuse　hima　course　she
unhesitatingly　resolved　to　take　should　he　think　fit　to　declare
himself。　　She　was　interested　in　him　and　his　marvellous　beauty；　as
she　might　have　been　in　some　fascinating　panther　or　leopardfor　some
undefinable　reason　she　shrank　from　him；　even　whilst　she　admired。
The　keynote　of　her　nature；　a　warm　'precipitance　of　soul；'　as
Coleridge　happily　writes　it；　which　Manston　had　so　directly　pounced
upon　at　their　very　first　interview；　gave　her　now　a　tremulous　sense
of　being　in　some　way　in　his　power。

The　state　of　mind　was；　on　the　whole；　a　dangerous　one　for　a　young　and
inexperienced　woman；　and　perhaps　the　circumstance　which；　more　than
any　other；　led　her　to　cherish　Edward's　image　now；　was　that　he　had
taken　no　notice　of　the　receipt　of　her　letter；　stating　that　she
discarded　him。　　It　was　plain　then；　she　said；　that　he　did　not　care
deeply　for　her；　and　she　thereupon　could　not　quite　leave　off　caring
deeply　for　him：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Ingenium　mulierum；
　　　　　Nolunt　ubi　velis；　ubi　nolis　cupiunt　ultro。'

The　month　of　October　passed；　and　November　began　its　course。　　The
inhabitants　of　the　village　of　Carriford　grew　weary　of　supposing　that
Miss　Aldclyffe　was　going　to　marry　her　steward。　　New　whispers　arose
and　became　very　distinct　（though　they　did　not　reach　Miss　Aldclyffe's
ears）　to　the　effect　that　the　steward　was　deeply　in　love　with
Cytherea　Graye。　　Indeed；　the　fact　became　so　obvious　that　there　was
nothing　left　to　say　about　it　except　that　their　marriage　would　be　an
excellent　one　for　both；for　her　in　point　of　comfortand　for　him　in
point　of　love。

As　circles　in　a　pond　grow　wider　and　wider；　the　next　fact；　which　at
first　had　been　patent　only　to　Cytherea　herself；　in　due　time　spread
to　her　neighbours；　and　they；　too；　wondered　that　he　made　no　overt
advances。　　By　the　middle　of　November；　a　theory　made　up　of　a
combination　of　the　other　two　was　received　with　general　favour：　　its
substance　being　that　a　guilty　intrigue　had　been　commenced　between
Manston　and　Miss　Aldclyffe；　some　years　before；　when　he　was　a　very
young　man；　and　she　still　in　the　enjoyment　of　some　womanly　beauty；
but　now　that　her　seniority　began　to　grow　emphatic　she　was　becoming
distasteful　to　him。　　His　fear　of　the　effect　of　the　lady's　jealousy
would；　they　said；　thus　lead　him　to　conceal　from　her　his　new
attachment　to　Cytherea。　　Almost　the　only　woman　who　did　not　believe
this　was　Cytherea　herself；　on　unmistakable　grounds；　which　were
hidden　from　all　besides。　　It　was　not　only　in　public；　but　even　more
markedly　in　secluded　places；　on　occasions　when　gallantry　would　have
been　safe　from　all　discovery；　that　this　guarded　course　of　action　was
pursued；　all　the　strength　of　a　consuming　passion　burning　in　his　eyes
the　while。

2。　　NOVEMBER　THE　EIGHTEENTH

It　was　on　a　Friday　in　this　month　of　November　that　Owen　Graye　paid　a
visit　to　his　sister。

His　zealous　integrity　still　retained　for　him　the　situation　at
Budmouth；　and　in　order　that　there　should　be　as　little　interruption
as　possible　to　his　duties　there；　he　had　decided　not　to　come　to
Knapwater　till　late　in　the　afternoon；　and　to　return　to　Budmouth　by
the　first　train　the　next　morning；　Miss　Aldclyffe　having　made　a　point
of　frequently　offering　him　lodging　for　an　unlimited　period；　to　the
great　pleasure　of　Cytherea。

He　reached　the　house　about　four　o'clock；　and　ringing　the　bell；　asked
of　the　page　who　answered　it　for　Miss　Graye。

When　Graye　spoke　the　name　of　his　sister；　Manston；　who　was　just
coming　out　from　an　interview　with　Miss　Aldclyffe；　passed　him　in　the
vestibule　and　heard　the　question。　　The　steward's　face　grew　hot；　and
he　secretly　clenched　his　hands。　　He　half　crossed　the　court；　then
turned　his　head　and　saw　that　the　lad　still　stood　at　the　door；　though
Owen　had　been　shown　into　the　house。　　Manston　went　back　to　him。

'Who　was　that　man？'　he　said。

'I　don't　know；　sir。'

'Has　he　ever　been　here　before？'

'Yes；　sir。'

'How　many　times？'

'Three。'

'You　are　sure　you　don't　know　him？'

'I　think　he　is　Miss　Graye's　brother；　sir。'

'Then；　why　the　devil　didn't　you　say　so　before！'　Manston　exclaimed；
and　again　went　on　his　way。

'Of　course；　that　was　not　the　man　of　my　dreamsof　course；　it
couldn't　be！'　he　said　to　himself。　　'That　I　should　be　such　a　fool
such　an　utter　fool。　　Good　God！　to　allow　a　girl　to　influence　me　like
this；　day　after　day；　till　I　am　jealous　of　her　very　brother。　　A
lady's　dependent；　a　waif；　a　helpless　thing　entirely　at　the　mercy　of
the　world；　yes；　curse　it；　that　is　just　why　it　is；　that　fact　of　her
being　so　helpless　against　the　blows　of　circumstances　which　renders
her　so　deliciously　sweet！'

He　paused　opposite　his　house。　　Should　he　get　his　horse　saddled？　　No。

He　went　down　the　drive　and　out　of　the　park；　having　started　to
proceed　to　an　outlying　spot　on　the　estate　concerning　some　draining；
and　to　call　at　the　potter's　yard　to　make　an　arrangement　for　the
supply　of　pipes。　　But　a　remark　which　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　dropped　in
relation　to　Cytherea　was　what　still　occupied　his　mind；　and　had　been
the　immediate　cause　of　his　excitement　at　the　sight　of　her　brother。
Miss　Aldclyffe　had　meaningly　remarked　during　their　intercourse；　that
Cytherea　was　wildly　in　love　with　Edward　Springrove；　in　spite　of　his
engagement　to　his　cousin　Adelaide。

'How　I　am　harassed！'　he　said　aloud；　after　deep　thought　for　half…an…
hour；　while　still　continuing　his　walk　with　the　greatest　vehemence。
'How　I　am　harassed　by　these　emotions　of　mine！'　　He　calmed　himself　by
an　effort。　　'Well；　duty　after　all　it　shall　be；　as　nearly　as　I　can
effect　it。　　〃Honesty　is　the　best　policy；〃'　with　which　vigorously
uttered　resolve　he　once　more　attempted　to　turn　his　attention　to　the
prosy　object　of　his　journey。

The　evening　had　closed　in　to　a　dark　and　dreary　night　when　the
steward　came　from　the　potter's　door　to　proceed　homewards　again。　　The
gloom　did　not　tend　to　raise　his　spirits；　and　in　the　total　lack　of
objects　to　attract　his　eye；　he　soon　fell　to　introspection　as　before。
It　was　along　the　margin　of　turnip　fields　that　his　path　lay；　and　the
large　leaves　of　the　crop　struck　flatly　against　his　feet　at　every
step；　pouring　upon　them　the　rolling　drops　of　moisture　gathered　upon
their　broad　surfaces；　but　the　annoyance　was　unheeded。　　Next　reaching
a　fir　plantation；　he　mounted　the　stile　and　followed　the　path　into
the　midst　of　the　darkness　produced　by　the　overhanging　trees。

After　walking　under　the　dense　shade　of　the　inky　boughs　for　a　few
minutes；　he　fancied　he　had　mistaken　the　path；　which　as　yet　was
scarcely　familiar　to　him。　　This　was　proved　directly　afterwards　by
his　coming　at　right　angles　upon　some　obstruction；　which　careful
feeling　with　outstretched　hands　soon　told　him　to　be　a　rail　fence。
However；　as　the　wood　was　not　large；　he　experienced　no　alarm　about
finding　the　path　again；　and　with　some　sense　of　pleasure　halted
awhile　against　the　rails；　to　listen　to　the　intensely　melancholy　yet
musical　wail　of　the　fir…tops；　and　as　the　wind　passed　on；　the　prompt
moan　of　an　adjacent　plantation　in　reply。　　He　could　just　dimly
discern　the　airy　summits　of　the　two　or　three　trees　nearest　him
waving　restlessly　backwards　and　forwards；　and　stretching　out　their
boughs　like　hairy　arms　into　the　dull　sky。　　The　scene；　from　its
striking　and　emphatic　loneliness；　began　to　grow　congenial　to　his
mood；　all　of　human　kind　seemed　at　the　antipodes。

A　sudden　rattle　on　his　right　hand　caused　him　to　start　from　his
reverie；　and　turn　in　that　direction。　　There；　before　him；　he　saw　rise
up　from　among　the　trees　a　fountain　of　sparks　and　smoke；　then　a　red
glare　of　light　coming　forward　towards　him；　then　a　flashing　panorama
of　illuminated　oblong　pictures；　then　the　old　darkness；　more
impressive　than　ever。

The　surprise；　which　had　owed　its　origin　to　his　imperfect
acquaintance　with　the　topographical　features　of　that　end　of　the
estate；　had　been　but　momentary；　the　disturbance；　a　well…known　one　to
dwellers　by　a　railway；　being　caused　by　the　6。50　down…train　passing
along　a　shallow　cutting　in　the　midst　of　the　wood　immediately　below
where　he　stood；　the　driver　having　the　fire…door　of　the　engine　open
at　the　minute　of　going　by。　　The　train　had；　when　passing　him；　already
considerably　slackened　speed；　and　now　a　whistle　was　heard；
announcing　that　Carriford　Road　Station　was　not　far　in　its　van。

But　contrary　to　the　natural　order　of　things；　the　discovery　that　it
was　only　a　commonplace　train　had　not　caused　Manston　to　stir　from　his
position　of　facing　the　railway。

If　the　6。50　down…train　had　been　a　flash　of　forked　lightning
transfixing　him　to　the　earth；　he　could　scarcely　have　remained　in　a
more