desperate remedies-第60部分

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'About　where　Mrs。　Manston　has　been　living。　　We　must　get　this　part　of
it　firstlearn　the　place　of　her　stay　in　the　early　stage　of　their
separation；　during　the　period　of　Manston's　arrival　here；　and　so　on；
for　that　was　where　she　was　first　communicated　with　on　the　subject　of
coming　to　Knapwater；　before　the　fire；　and　that　address；　too；　was　her
point　of　departure　when　she　came　to　her　husband　by　stealth　in　the
nightyou　knowthe　time　I　visited　you　in　the　evening　and　went　home
early　in　the　morning；　and　it　was　found　that　he　had　been　visited　too。
Ah！　couldn't　we　inquire　of　Mrs。　Leat；　who　keeps　the　post…office　at
Carriford；　if　she　remembers　where　the　letters　to　Mrs。　Manston　were
directed？'

'He　never　posted　his　letters　to　her　in　the　parishit　was　remarked
at　the　time。　　I　was　thinking　if　something　relating　to　her　address
might　not　be　found　in　the　report　of　the　inquest　in　the　Casterbridge
Chronicle　of　the　date。　　Some　facts　about　the　inquest　were　given　in
the　papers　to　a　certainty。'

Her　brother　caught　eagerly　at　the　suggestion。　　'Who　has　a　file　of
the　Chronicles？'　he　said。

'Mr。　Raunham　used　to　file　them；'　said　Cytherea。　　'He　was　rather
friendly…disposed　towards　me；　too。'

Owen　could　not；　on　any　consideration；　escape　from　his　attendance　at
the　church…building　till　Saturday　evening；　and　thus　it　became
necessary；　unless　they　actually　wasted　time；　that　Cytherea　herself
should　assist。　　'I　act　under　your　orders；　Owen；'　she　said。



XVI。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　WEEK

1。　　MARCH　THE　SIXTH

The　next　morning　the　opening　move　of　the　game　was　made。　　Cytherea；
under　cover　of　a　thick　veil；　hired　a　conveyance　and　drove　to　within
a　mile　or　so　of　Carriford。　　It　was　with　a　renewed　sense　of
depression　that　she　saw　again　the　objects　which　had　become　familiar
to　her　eye　during　her　sojourn　under　Miss　Aldclyffe's　roofthe
outline　of　the　hills；　the　meadow　streams；　the　old　park　trees。　　She
hastened　by　a　lonely　path　to　the　rectory…house；　and　asked　if　Mr。
Raunham　was　at　home。

Now　the　rector；　though　a　solitary　bachelor；　was　as　gallant　and
courteous　to　womankind　as　an　ancient　Iberian；　and；　moreover；　he　was
Cytherea's　friend　in　particular；　to　an　extent　far　greater　than　she
had　ever　surmised。　　Rarely　visiting　his　relative；　Miss　Aldclyffe；
except　on　parish　matters；　more　rarely　still　being　called　upon　by
Miss　Aldclyffe；　Cytherea　had　learnt　very　little　of　him　whilst　she
lived　at　Knapwater。　　The　relationship　was　on　the　impecunious
paternal　side；　and　for　this　branch　of　her　family　the　lady　of　the
estate　had　never　evinced　much　sympathy。　　In　looking　back　upon　our
line　of　descent　it　is　an　instinct　with　us　to　feel　that　all　our
vitality　was　drawn　from　the　richer　party　to　any　unequal　marriage　in
the　chain。

Since　the　death　of　the　old　captain；　the　rector's　bearing　in
Knapwater　House　had　been　almost　that　of　a　stranger；　a　circumstance
which　he　himself　was　the　last　man　in　the　world　to　regret。　　This
polite　indifference　was　so　frigid　on　both　sides　that　the　rector　did
not　concern　himself　to　preach　at　her；　which　was　a　great　deal　in　a
rector；　and　she　did　not　take　the　trouble　to　think　his　sermons　poor
stuff；　which　in　a　cynical　woman　was　a　great　deal　more。

Though　barely　fifty　years　of　age；　his　hair　was　as　white　as　snow；
contrasting　strangely　with　the　redness　of　his　skin；　which　was　as
fresh　and　healthy　as　a　lad's。　　Cytherea's　bright　eyes；　mutely　and
demurely　glancing　up　at　him　Sunday　after　Sunday；　had　been　the　means
of　driving　away　many　of　the　saturnine　humours　that　creep　into　an
empty　heart　during　the　hours　of　a　solitary　life；　in　this　case；
however；　to　supplant　them；　when　she　left　his　parish；　by　those　others
of　a　more　aching　nature　which　accompany　an　over…full　one。　　In　short；
he　had　been　on　the　verge　of　feeling　towards　her　that　passion　to
which　his　dignified　self…respect　would　not　give　its　true　name；　even
in　the　privacy　of　his　own　thought。

He　received　her　kindly；　but　she　was　not　disposed　to　be　frank　with
him。　　He　saw　her　wish　to　be　reserved；　and　with　genuine　good　taste
and　good　nature　made　no　comment　whatever　upon　her　request　to　be
allowed　to　see　the　Chronicle　for　the　year　before　the　last。　　He
placed　the　papers　before　her　on　his　study　table；　with　a　timidity　as
great　as　her　own；　and　then　left　her　entirely　to　herself。

She　turned　them　over　till　she　came　to　the　first　heading　connected
with　the　subject　of　her　search'Disastrous　Fire　and　Loss　of　Life　at
Carriford。'

The　sight；　and　its　calamitous　bearing　upon　her　own　life；　made　her　so
dizzy　that　she　could；　for　a　while；　hardly　decipher　the　letters。
Stifling　recollection　by　an　effort　she　nerved　herself　to　her　work；
and　carefully　read　the　column。　　The　account　reminded　her　of　no　other
fact　than　was　remembered　already。

She　turned　on　to　the　following　week's　report　of　the　inquest。　　After
a　miserable　perusal　she　could　find　no　more　pertaining　to　Mrs。
Manston's　address　than　this：

'ABRAHAM　BROWN；　of　Hoxton；　London；　at　whose　house　the　deceased　woman
had　been　living；　deposed；'　etc。

Nobody　else　from　London　had　attended　the　inquest。　　She　arose　to
depart；　first　sending　a　message　of　thanks　to　Mr。　Raunham；　who　was
out　of　doors　gardening。

He　stuck　his　spade　into　the　ground；　and　accompanied　her　to　the　gate。

'Can　I　help　you　in　anything；　Cytherea？'　he　said；　using　her　Christian
name　by　an　intuition　that　unpleasant　memories　might　be　revived　if　he
called　her　Miss　Graye　after　wishing　her　good…bye　as　Mrs。　Manston　at
the　wedding。　　Cytherea　saw　the　motive　and　appreciated　it；
nevertheless　replying　evasively

'I　only　guess　and　fear。'

He　earnestly　looked　at　her　again。

'Promise　me　that　if　you　want　assistance；　and　you　think　I　can　give
it；　you　will　come　to　me。'

'I　will；'　she　said。

The　gate　closed　between　them。

'You　don't　want　me　to　help　you　in　anything　now；　Cytherea？'　he
repeated。

If　he　had　spoken　what　he　felt；　'I　want　very　much　to　help　you；
Cytherea；　and　have　been　watching　Manston　on　your　account；'　she　would
gladly　have　accepted　his　offer。　　As　it　was；　she　was　perplexed；　and
raised　her　eyes　to　his；　not　so　fearlessly　as　before　her　trouble；　but
as　modestly；　and　with　still　enough　brightness　in　them　to　do　fearful
execution　as　she　said　over　the　gate

'No；　thank　you。'

She　returned　to　Tolchurch　weary　with　her　day's　work。　　Owen's
greeting　was　anxious

'Well；　Cytherea？'

She　gave　him　the　words　from　the　report　of　the　inquest；　pencilled　on
a　slip　of　paper。

'Now　to　find　out　the　name　of　the　street　and　number；'　Owen　remarked。

'Owen；'　she　said；　'will　you　forgive　me　for　what　I　am　going　to　say？
I　don't　think　I　canindeed　I　don't　think　I　cantake　any　further
steps　towards　disentangling　the　mystery。　　I　still　think　it　a　useless
task；　and　it　does　not　seem　any　duty　of　mine　to　be　revenged　upon　Mr。
Manston　in　any　way。'　　She　added　more　gravely；　'It　is　beneath　my
dignity　as　a　woman　to　labour　for　this；　I　have　felt　it　so　all　day。'

'Very　well；'　he　said；　somewhat　shortly；　'I　shall　work　without　you
then。　　There's　dignity　in　justice。'　　He　caught　sight　of　her　pale
tired　face；　and　the　dilated　eye　which　always　appeared　in　her　with
weariness。　　'Darling；'　he　continued　warmly；　and　kissing　her；　'you
shall　not　work　so　hard　againyou　are　worn　out　quite。　　But　you　must
let　me　do　as　I　like。'

2。　　MARCH　THE　TENTH

On　Saturday　evening　Graye　hurried　off　to　Casterbridge；　and　called　at
the　house　of　the　reporter　to　the　Chronicle。　　The　reporter　was　at
home；　and　came　out　to　Graye　in　the　passage。　　Owen　explained　who　and
what　he　was；　and　asked　the　man　if　he　would　oblige　him　by　turning　to
his　notes　of　the　inquest　at　Carriford　in　the　December　of　the　year
preceding　the　lastjust　adding　that　a　family　entanglement；　of　which
the　reporter　probably　knew　something；　made　him　anxious　to　ascertain
some　additional　details　of　the　event；　if　any　existed。

'Certainly；'　said　the　other；　without　hesitation；　'though　I　am　afraid
I　haven't　much　beyond　what　we　printed　at　the　time。　　Let　me　seemy
old　note…books　are　in　my　drawer　at　the　office　of　the　paper：　　if　you
will　come　with　me　I　can　refer　to　them　there。'　　His　wife　and　family
were　at　tea　inside　the　room；　and　with　the　timidity　of　decent　poverty
everywhere　he　seemed　glad　to　get　a　stranger　out　of　his　domestic
groove。

They　crossed　the　street；　entered　the　office；　and　went　thence　to　an
inner　room。　　Here；　after　a　short　search；　was　found　the　book
required。　　The　precise　address；　not　given　in　the　condensed　report
that　was　printed；　but　written　down　by　the　reporter；　was　as　follows：…
…

　　　　　'ABRAHAM　BROWN；
　　　　　　　　　　LODGING…HOUSE　KEEPER；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　41　CHARLES　SQUARE；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HOXTON。'

Owen　copied　it；　and　gave　the　reporter　a　small　fee。　　'I　want　to　keep
this　inquiry　private　for　the　present；'　he　said　hesitatingly。　　'You
will　perhaps　understand　why；　and　oblige　me。'

The　reporter　promised。　　'News　is　shop　with　me；'　he　said；　'and　to
escape　from　handling　it　is　my　greatest　social　enjoyment。'

It　was　evening；　and　the　outer　room　of　the　publishing…office　was
lighted　up　with　flaring　jets　of　gas。　　After　making　the　above　remark；
the　reporter　came　out　from　the　inner　apartment　in　Graye's　company；
answering　an　expression　of　obligation　from　Owen　with　the　words　that
it　was　no　trouble。　　At　the　moment　of　his　speech；　he　closed　behind
him　the　door　between　the　two　rooms；　still　holding　his　note…book　in
his　hand。

Before　the　counter　of　the　front　room　stood　a　tall　man；　who　was　also
speaking；　when　they　emerged。　　He　said　to　the　youth　in　attendance；　'I
will　take　my　paper　for　this　week　now　I　am　here；　so　that　you　needn't
post　it　to　me。'

The　stranger　then　slightly　turned　his　head；　saw　Owen；　and　recognized
him。　　Owen　passed　out　without　recognizing　the　other　as　Manston。

Manston　then　looked　at　the　reporter；　who；　after　walking　to　the　door
with　Owen；　had　come　back　again　to　lock　up　his　books。　　Manston　did
not　need　to　be　told　that　the　shabby　marble…covered　book　which　he
held　in　his　hand；　opening　endways　and　interleaved　with　blotting…
paper；　was　an　old　reporting…book。　　He　raised　his　eyes　to　the
reporter's　face；　whose　experience　had　not　so　schooled　his　features
but　that　they　betrayed　a　consciousness；　to　one　half　initiated　as　the
other　was；　that　his　late　proceeding　had　been　connected　with　events
in　the　life　of　the　steward。　　Manston　said　no　m