desperate remedies-第48部分

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hoary　drizzle　still　continued；　but　the　trees　and　shrubs　were　laden
with　icicles　to　an　extent　such　as　she　had　never　before　witnessed。　　A
shoot　of　the　diameter　of　a　pin's　head　was　iced　as　thick　as　her
finger；　all　the　boughs　in　the　park　were　bent　almost　to　the　earth
with　the　immense　weight　of　the　glistening　incumbrance；　the　walks
were　like　a　looking…glass。　　Many　boughs　had　snapped　beneath　their
burden；　and　lay　in　heaps　upon　the　icy　grass。　　Opposite　her　eye；　on
the　nearest　tree；　was　a　fresh　yellow　scar；　showing　where　the　branch
that　had　terrified　her　had　been　splintered　from　the　trunk。

'I　never　could　have　believed　it　possible；'　she　thought；　surveying
the　bowed…down　branches；　'that　trees　would　bend　so　far　out　of　their
true　positions　without　breaking。'　　By　watching　a　twig　she　could　see
a　drop　collect　upon　it　from　the　hoary　fog；　sink　to　the　lowest　point；
and　there　become　coagulated　as　the　others　had　done。

'Or　that　I　could　so　exactly　have　imitated　them；'　she　continued。　　'On
this　morning　I　am　to　be　marriedunless　this　is　a　scheme　of　the
great　Mother　to　hinder　a　union　of　which　she　does　not　approve。　　Is　it
possible　for　my　wedding　to　take　place　in　the　face　of　such　weather　as
this？'

2。　　MORNING

Her　brother　Owen　was　staying　with　Manston　at　the　Old　House。
Contrary　to　the　opinion　of　the　doctors；　the　wound　had　healed　after
the　first　surgical　operation；　and　his　leg　was　gradually　acquiring
strength；　though　he　could　only　as　yet　get　about　on　crutches；　or
ride；　or　be　dragged　in　a　chair。

Miss　Aldclyffe　had　arranged　that　Cytherea　should　be　married　from
Knapwater　House；　and　not　from　her　brother's　lodgings　at　Budmouth；
which　was　Cytherea's　first　idea。　　Owen；　too；　seemed　to　prefer　the
plan。　　The　capricious　old　maid　had　latterly　taken　to　the
contemplation　of　the　wedding　with　even　greater　warmth　than　had　at
first　inspired　her；　and　appeared　determined　to　do　everything　in　her
power；　consistent　with　her　dignity；　to　render　the　adjuncts　of　the
ceremony　pleasing　and　complete。

But　the　weather　seemed　in　flat　contradiction　of　the　whole
proceeding。　　At　eight　o'clock　the　coachman　crept　up　to　the　House
almost　upon　his　hands　and　knees；　entered　the　kitchen；　and　stood　with
his　back　to　the　fire；　panting　from　his　exertions　in　pedestrianism。

The　kitchen　was　by　far　the　pleasantest　apartment　in　Knapwater　House
on　such　a　morning　as　this。　　The　vast　fire　was　the　centre　of　the
whole　system；　like　a　sun；　and　threw　its　warm　rays　upon　the　figures
of　the　domestics；　wheeling　about　it　in　true　planetary　style。　　A
nervously…feeble　imitation　of　its　flicker　was　continually　attempted
by　a　family　of　polished　metallic　utensils　standing　in　rows　and
groups　against　the　walls　opposite；　the　whole　collection　of　shines
nearly　annihilating　the　weak　daylight　from　outside。　　A　step　further
in；　and　the　nostrils　were　greeted　by　the　scent　of　green　herbs　just
gathered；　and　the　eye　by　the　plump　form　of　the　cook；　wholesome；
white…aproned；　and　flourylooking　as　edible　as　the　food　she
manipulatedher　movements　being　supported　and　assisted　by　her
satellites；　the　kitchen　and　scullery　maids。　　Minute　recurrent　sounds
prevailedthe　click　of　the　smoke…jack；　the　flap　of　the　flames；　and
the　light　touches　of　the　women's　slippers　upon　the　stone　floor。

The　coachman　hemmed；　spread　his　feet　more　firmly　upon　the
hearthstone；　and　looked　hard　at　a　small　plate　in　the　extreme　corner
of　the　dresser。

'No　wedden　this　mornenthat's　my　opinion。　　In　fact；　there　can't
be；'　he　said　abruptly；　as　if　the　words　were　the　mere　torso　of　a
many…membered　thought　that　had　existed　complete　in　his　head。

The　kitchen…maid　was　toasting　a　slice　of　bread　at　the　end　of　a　very
long　toasting…fork；　which　she　held　at　arm's　length　towards　the
unapproachable　fire；　travestying　the　Flanconnade　in　fencing。

'Bad　out　of　doors；　isn't　it？'　she　said；　with　a　look　of　commiseration
for　things　in　general。

'Bad？　　Not　even　a　liven　soul；　gentle　or　simple；　can　stand　on　level
ground。　　As　to　getten　up　hill　to　the　church；　'tis　perfect　lunacy。
And　I　speak　of　foot…passengers。　　As　to　horses　and　carriage；　'tis
murder　to　think　of　'em。　　I　am　going　to　send　straight　as　a　line　into
the　breakfast…room；　and　say　'tis　a　closer。　。　。　。　　Hullohere's
Clerk　Crickett　and　John　Day　a…comen！　　Now　just　look　at　'em　and
picture　a　wedden　if　you　can。'

All　eyes　were　turned　to　the　window；　from　which　the　clerk　and
gardener　were　seen　crossing　the　court；　bowed　and　stooping　like　Bel
and　Nebo。

'You'll　have　to　go　if　it　breaks　all　the　horses'　legs　in　the　county；'
said　the　cook；　turning　from　the　spectacle；　knocking　open　the　oven…
door　with　the　tongs；　glancing　critically　in；　and　slamming　it
together　with　a　clang。

'O；　O；　why　shall　I？'　asked　the　coachman；　including　in　his　auditory
by　a　glance　the　clerk　and　gardener　who　had　just　entered。

'Because　Mr。　Manston　is　in　the　business。　　Did　you　ever　know　him　to
give　up　for　weather　of　any　kind；　or　for　any　other　mortal　thing　in
heaven　or　earth？'

'　Mornen　so'ssuch　as　it　is！'　interrupted　Mr。　Crickett
cheerily；　coming　forward　to　the　blaze　and　warming　one　hand　without
looking　at　the　fire。　　'Mr。　Manston　gie　up　for　anything　in　heaven　or
earth；　did　you　say？　　You　might　ha'　cut　it　short　by　sayen　〃to　Miss
Aldclyffe；〃　and　leaven　out　heaven　and　earth　as　trifles。　　But　it
might　be　put　off；　putten　off　a　thing　isn't　getten　rid　of　a　thing；　if
that　thing　is　a　woman。　　O　no；　no！'

The　coachman　and　gardener　now　naturally　subsided　into　secondaries。
The　cook　went　on　rather　sharply；　as　she　dribbled　milk　into　the　exact
centre　of　a　little　crater　of　flour　in　a　platter

'It　might　be　in　this　case；　she's　so　indifferent。'

'Dang　my　old　sides！　and　so　it　might　be。　　I　have　a　bit　of　newsI
thought　there　was　something　upon　my　tongue；　but　'tis　a　secret；　not　a
word；　mind；　not　a　word。　　Why；　Miss　Hinton　took　a　holiday　yesterday。'

'Yes？'　inquired　the　cook；　looking　up　with　perplexed　curiosity。

'D'ye　think　that's　all？'

'Don't　be　so　three…cunningif　it　is　all；　deliver　you　from　the　evil
of　raising　a　woman's　expectations　wrongfully；　I'll　skimmer　your　pate
as　sure　as　you　cry　Amen！'

'Well；　it　isn't　all。　　When　I　got　home　last　night　my　wife　said；　〃Miss
Adelaide　took　a　holiday　this　mornen；〃　says　she　（my　wife；　that　is）；
〃walked　over　to　Nether　Mynton；　met　the　comen　man；　and　got　married！〃
says　she。'

'Got　married！　what；　Lord…a…mercy；　did　Springrove　come？'

'Springrove；　nonoSpringrove's　nothen　to　do　wi'　it'twas　Farmer
Bollens。　　They've　been　playing　bo…peep　for　these　two　or　three　months
seemingly。　　Whilst　Master　Teddy　Springrove　has　been　daddlen；　and
hawken；　and　spetten　about　having　her；　she's　quietly　left　him　all
forsook。　　Serve　him　right。　　I　don't　blame　the　little　woman　a　bit。'

'Farmer　Bollens　is　old　enough　to　be　her　father！'

'Ay；　quite；　and　rich　enough　to　be　ten　fathers。　　They　say　he's　so
rich　that　he　has　business　in　every　bank；　and　measures　his　money　in
half…pint　cups。'

'Lord；　I　wish　it　was　me；　don't　I　wish　'twas　me！'　said　the　scullery…
maid。

'Yes；　'twas　as　neat　a　bit　of　stitching　as　ever　I　heard　of；'
continued　the　clerk；　with　a　fixed　eye；　as　if　he　were　watching　the
process　from　a　distance。　　'Not　a　soul　knew　anything　about　it；　and　my
wife　is　the　only　one　in　our　parish　who　knows　it　yet。　　Miss　Hinton
came　back　from　the　wedden；　went　to　Mr。　Manston；　puffed　herself　out
large；　and　said　she　was　Mrs。　Bollens；　but　that　if　he　wished；　she　had
no　objection　to　keep　on　the　house　till　the　regular　time　of　giving
notice　had　expired；　or　till　he　could　get　another　tenant。'

'Just　like　her　independence；'　said　the　cook。

'Well；　independent　or　no；　she's　Mrs。　Bollens　now。　　Ah；　I　shall　never
forget　once　when　I　went　by　Farmer　Bollens's　gardenyears　ago　now
years；　when　he　was　taking　up　ashleaf　taties。　　A　merry　feller　I　was
at　that　time；　a　very　merry　fellerfor　'twas　before　I　took　holy
orders；　and　it　didn't　prick　my　conscience　as　'twould　now。　　〃Farmer；〃
says　I；　〃little　taties　seem　to　turn　out　small　this　year；　don't　em？〃
〃O　no；　Crickett；〃　says　he；　〃some　be　fair…sized。〃　　He's　a　dull　man
Farmer　Bollens　ishe　always　was。　　However；　that's　neither　here　nor
there；　he's　a…married　to　a　sharp　woman；　and　if　I　don't　make　a
mistake　she'll　bring　him　a　pretty　good　family；　gie　her　time。'

'Well；　it　don't　matter；　there's　a　Providence　in　it；'　said　the
scullery…maid。　　'God　A'mighty　always　sends　bread　as　well　as
children。'

'But　'tis　the　bread　to　one　house　and　the　children　to　another　very
often。　　However；　I　think　I　can　see　my　lady　Hinton's　reason　for
chosen　yesterday　to　sickness…or…health…it。　　Your　young　miss；　and
that　one；　had　crossed　one　another's　path　in　regard　to　young　Master
Springrove；　and　I　expect　that　when　Addy　Hinton　found　Miss　Graye
wasn't　caren　to　have　en；　she　thought　she'd　be　beforehand　with　her
old　enemy　in　marrying　somebody　else　too。　　That's　maids'　logic　all
over；　and　maids'　malice　likewise。'

Women　who　are　bad　enough　to　divide　against　themselves　under　a　man's
partiality　are　good　enough　to　instantly　unite　in　a　common　cause
against　his　attack。　　'I'll　just　tell　you　one　thing　then；'　said　the
cook；　shaking　out　her　words　to　the　time　of　a　whisk　she　was　beating
eggs　with。　　'Whatever　maids'　logic　is　and　maids'　malice　too；　if
Cytherea　Graye　even　now　knows　that　young　Springrove　is　free　again；
she'll　fling　over　the　steward　as　soon　as　look　at　him。'

'No；　no：　　not　now；'　the　coachman　broke　in　like　a　moderator。
'There's　honour　in　that　maid；　if　ever　there　was　in　one。　　No　Miss
Hinton's　tricks　in　her。　　She'll　stick　to　Manston。'

'Pifh！'

'Don't　let　a　word　be　said　till　the　wedden　is　over；　for　Heaven's
sake；'　the　clerk　continued。　　'Miss　Aldclyffe　would　fairly　hang　and
quarter　me；　if　my　news　broke　off　that　there　wedden　at　a　last　minute
like　this。'

'Then　you　had　better　get　your　wife　to　bolt　you　in　the　closet　for　an
hour　or　two；　for　you'll　chatter　it　yourself　to　the　whole　boiling
parish　if　she　don't！　　'Tis　a　poor　womanly　feller！'

'You　shouldn't　ha'　begun　it；　clerk。　　I　knew　how　'twould　be；'　said
the　gardener　soothingly；　in　a　whisper　to　the　clerk's　mangled
remains。

The　clerk　turned　and　smiled　at　the　fire；　and　warmed　his　other　hand。

3。　　NOON

The　weather　gave　way。　　In　half…an…hour　there　began　a　rapid　thaw。　　By
ten　o'clock　the　roads；　though　still　dangerous；　were　practicable　to