desperate remedies-第75部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


under　which　this　man　was　lying。　　They　followed　the　track　he　pointed
out　and　ultimately　came　to　a　stile。　　On　the　other　side　was　a　heap　of
half…hardened　mud；　scraped　from　the　road。　　On　the　surface　of　the
heap；　where　it　had　been　smoothed　by　the　shovel；　was　distinctly
imprinted　the　form　of　a　man's　hand；　the　buttons　of　his　waistcoat；
and　his　watch…chain；　showing　that　he　had　stumbled　in　hurrying　over
the　stile；　and　fallen　there。　　The　pattern　of　the　chain　proved　the
man　to　have　been　Manston。　　They　followed　on　till　they　reached　a　ford
crossed　by　stepping…stoneson　the　further　bank　were　the　same
footmarks　that　had　shown　themselves　beside　the　stile。　　The　whole　of
this　course　had　been　in　the　direction　of　Budmouth。　　On　they　went；
and　the　next　clue　was　furnished　them　by　a　shepherd。　　He　said　that
wherever　a　clear　space　three　or　four　yards　wide　ran　in　a　line
through　a　flock　of　sheep　lying　about　a　ewe…lease；　it　was　a　proof
that　somebody　had　passed　there　not　more　than　half…an…hour　earlier。
At　twelve　o'clock　that　day　he　had　noticed　such　a　feature　in　his
flock。　　Nothing　more　could　be　heard　of　him；　and　they　got　into
Budmouth。　　The　steam…packet　to　the　Channel　Islands　was　to　start　at
eleven　last　night；　and　they　at　once　concluded　that　his　hope　was　to
get　to　France　by　way　of　Jersey　and　St。　Malohis　only　chance；　all
the　railway…stations　being　watched。

'Well；　they　went　to　the　boat：　　he　was　not　on　board　then。　　They　went
again　at　half…past　ten：　　he　had　not　come。　　Two　men　now　placed
themselves　under　the　lamp　immediately　beside　the　gangway。　　Another
stayed　by　the　office　door；　and　one　or　two　more　up　Mary　Streetthe
straight　cut　to　the　quay。　　At　a　quarter　to　eleven　the　mail…bags　were
put　on　board。　　Whilst　the　attention　of　the　idlers　was　directed　to
the　mails；　down　Mary　Street　came　a　man　as　boldly　as　possible。　　The
gait　was　Manston's；　but　not　the　clothes。　　He　passed　over　to　the
shaded　part　of　the　street：　　heads　were　turned。　　I　suppose　this
warned　him；　for　he　never　emerged　from　the　shadow。　　They　watched　and
waited；　but　the　steward　did　not　reappear。　　The　alarm　was　raised
they　searched　the　town　high　and　lowno　Manston。　　All　this　morning
they　have　been　searching；　but　there's　not　a　sign　of　him　anywhere。
However；　he　has　lost　his　last　chance　of　getting　across　the　Channel。
It　is　reported　that　he　has　since　changed　clothes　with　a　labourer。'

During　this　narration；　Edward；　lost　in　thought；　had　let　his　eyes
follow　a　shabby　man　in　a　smock…frock；　but　wearing　light　bootswho
was　stalking　down　the　street　under　a　bundle　of　straw　which　overhung
and　concealed　his　head。　　It　was　a　very　ordinary　circumstance　for　a
man　with　a　bundle　of　straw　on　his　shoulders　and　overhanging　his
head；　to　go　down　the　High　Street。　　Edward　saw　him　cross　the　bridge
which　divided　the　town　from　the　country；　place　his　shaggy
encumbrance　by　the　side　of　the　road；　and　leave　it　there。

Springrove　now　parted　from　his　acquaintance；　and　went　also　in　the
direction　of　the　bridge；　and　some　way　beyond　it。　　As　far　as　he　could
see　stretched　the　turnpike　road；　and；　while　he　was　looking；　he
noticed　a　man　to　leap　from　the　hedge　at　a　point　two　hundred；　or　two
hundred　and　fifty　yards　ahead；　cross　the　road；　and　go　through　a
wicket　on　the　other　side。　　This　figure　seemed　like　that　of　the　man
who　had　been　carrying　the　bundle　of　straw。　　He　looked　at　the　straw：
it　still　stood　alone。

The　subjoined　facts　sprang；　as　it　were；　into　juxtaposition　in　his
brain：

Manston　had　been　seen　wearing　the　clothes　of　a　labouring　mana
brown　smock…frock。　　So　had　this　man；　who　seemed　other　than　a
labourer；　on　second　thoughts：　　and　he　had　concealed　his　face　by　his
bundle　of　straw　with　the　greatest　ease　and　naturalness。

The　path　the　man　had　taken　led；　among　other　places；　to　Tolchurch；
where　Cytherea　was　living。

If　Mrs。　Manston　was　murdered；　as　some　said；　on　the　night　of　the
fire；　Cytherea　was　the　steward's　lawful　wife。　　Manston　at　bay；　and
reckless　of　results；　might　rush　to　his　wife　and　harm　her。

It　was　a　horrible　supposition　for　a　man　who　loved　Cytherea　to
entertain；　but　Springrove　could　not　resist　its　influence。　　He
started　off　for　Tolchurch。

2。　　ONE　TO　TWO　O'CLOCK　P。M。

On　that　self…same　mid…day；　whilst　Edward　was　proceeding　to　Tolchurch
by　the　footpath　across　the　fields；　Owen　Graye　had　left　the　village
and　was　riding　along　the　turnpike　road　to　the　county…town；　that　he
might　ascertain　the　exact　truth　of　the　strange　rumour　which　had
reached　him　concerning　Manston。　　Not　to　disquiet　his　sister；　he　had
said　nothing　to　her　of　the　matter。

She　sat　by　the　window　reading。　　From　her　position　she　could　see　up
the　lane　for　a　distance　of　at　least　a　hundred　yards。　　Passers…by
were　so　rare　in　this　retired　nook；　that　the　eyes　of　those　who　dwelt
by　the　wayside　were　invariably　lifted　to　every　one　on　the　road；
great　and　small；　as　to　a　novelty。

A　man　in　a　brown　smock…frock　turned　the　corner　and　came　towards　the
house。　　It　being　market…day　at　Casterbridge；　the　village　was　nearly
deserted；　and　more　than　this；　the　old　farm…house　in　which　Owen　and
his　sister　were　staying；　stood；　as　has　been　stated；　apart　from　the
body　of　cottages。　　The　man　did　not　look　respectable；　Cytherea　arose
and　bolted　the　door。

Unfortunately　he　was　near　enough　to　see　her　cross　the　room。　　He
advanced　to　the　door；　knocked；　and；　receiving　no　answer；　came　to　the
window；　he　next　pressed　his　face　against　the　glass；　peering　in。

Cytherea's　experience　at　that　moment　was　probably　as　trying　a　one　as
ever　fell　to　the　lot　of　a　gentlewoman　to　endure。　　She　recognized　in
the　peering　face　that　of　the　man　she　had　married。

But　not　a　movement　was　made　by　her；　not　a　sound　escaped　her。　　Her
fear　was　great；　but　had　she　known　the　truththat　the　man　outside；
feeling　he　had　nothing　on　earth　to　lose　by　any　act；　was　in　the　last
stage　of　recklessness；　terrified　nature　must　have　given　way。

'Cytherea；'　he　said；　'let　me　come　in：　　I　am　your　husband。'

'No；'　she　replied；　still　not　realizing　the　magnitude　of　her　peril。
'If　you　want　to　speak　to　us；　wait　till　my　brother　comes。'

'O；　he's　not　at　home？　　Cytherea；　I　can't　live　without　you！　　All　my
sin　has　been　because　I　love　you　so！　　Will　you　fly　with　me？　　I　have
money　enough　for　us　bothonly　come　with　me。'

'Not　nownot　now。'

'I　am　your　husband；　I　tell　you；　and　I　must　come　in。'

'You　cannot；'　she　said　faintly。　　His　words　began　to　terrify　her。

'I　will；　I　say！'　he　exclaimed。　　'Will　you　let　me　in；　I　ask　once
more？'

'NoI　will　not；'　said　Cytherea。

'Then　I　will　let　myself　in！'　he　answered　resolutely。　　'I　will；　if　I
die　for　it！'

The　windows　were　glazed　in　lattice　panes　of　leadwork；　hung　in
casements。　　He　broke　one　of　the　panes　with　a　stone；　thrust　his　hand
through　the　hole；　unfastened　the　latch　which　held　the　casement
close；　and　began　opening　the　window。

Instantly　the　shutters　flew　together　with　a　slam；　and　were　barred
with　desperate　quickness　by　Cytherea　on　the　inside。

'Damn　you！'　he　exclaimed。

He　ran　round　to　the　back　of　the　house。　　His　impatience　was　greater
now：　　he　thrust　his　fist　through　the　pantry　window　at　one　blow；　and
opened　it　in　the　same　way　as　the　former　one　had　been　opened；　before
the　terror…stricken　girl　was　aware　that　he　had　gone　round。　　In　an
instant　he　stood　in　the　pantry；　advanced　to　the　front　room　where　she
was；　flung　back　the　shutters；　and　held　out　his　arms　to　embrace　her。

In　extremely　trying　moments　of　bodily　or　mental　pain；　Cytherea
either　flushed　hot　or　faded　pale；　according　to　the　state　of　her
constitution　at　the　moment。　　Now　she　burned　like　fire　from　head　to
foot；　and　this　preserved　her　consciousness。

Never　before　had　the　poor　child's　natural　agility　served　her　in　such
good　stead　as　now。　　A　heavy　oblong　table　stood　in　the　middle　of　the
room。　　Round　this　table　she　flew；　keeping　it　between　herself　and
Manston；　her　large　eyes　wide　open　with　terror；　their　dilated　pupils
constantly　fixed　upon　Manston's；　to　read　by　his　expression　whether
his　next　intention　was　to　dart　to　the　right　or　the　left。

Even　he；　at　that　heated　moment；　could　not　endure　the　expression　of
unutterable　agony　which　shone　from　that　extraordinary　gaze　of　hers。
It　had　surely　been　given　her　by　God　as　a　means　of　defence。　　Manston
continued　his　pursuit　with　a　lowered　eye。

The　panting　and　maddened　desperadoblind　to　everything　but　the
capture　of　his　wifewent　with　a　rush　under　the　table：　　she　went
over　it　like　a　bird。　　He　went　heavily　over　it：　　she　flew　under　it；
and　was　out　at　the　other　side。

　　　　　'One　on　her　youth　and　pliant　limbs　relies；
　　　　　　One　on　his　sinews　and　his　giant　size。'

But　his　superior　strength　was　sure　to　tire　her　down　in　the　long…run。
She　felt　her　weakness　increasing　with　the　quickness　of　her　breath；
she　uttered　a　wild　scream；　which　in　its　heartrending　intensity
seemed　to　echo　for　miles。

At　the　same　juncture　her　hair　became　unfastened；　and　rolled　down
about　her　shoulders。　　The　least　accident　at　such　critical　periods　is
sufficient　to　confuse　the　overwrought　intelligence。　　She　lost　sight
of　his　intended　direction　for　one　instant；　and　he　immediately
outmanoeuvred　her。

'At　last！　my　Cytherea！'　he　cried；　overturning　the　table；　springing
over　it；　seizing　one　of　the　long　brown　tresses；　pulling　her　towards
him；　and　clasping　her　round。　　She　writhed　downwards　between　his　arms
and　breast；　and　fell　fainting　on　the　floor。　　For　the　first　time　his
action　was　leisurely。　　He　lifted　her　upon　the　sofa；　exclaiming；
'Rest　there　for　a　while；　my　frightened　little　bird！'

And　then　there　was　an　end　of　his　triumph。　　He　felt　himself　clutched
by　the　collar；　and　whizzed　backwards　with　the　force　of　a　battering…
ram　against　the　fireplace。　　Springrove；　wild；　red；　and　breathless；
had　sprung　in　at　the　open　window；　and　stood　once　more　between　man
and　wife。

Manston　was　on　his　legs　again　in　an　instant。　　A　fiery　glance　on　the
one　side；　a　glance　of　pitiless　justice　on　the　other；　passed　between
them。　　It　was　again　the　meeting　in　the　vineyard　of　Naboth　the
Jezreelite：　　'Hast　thou　found　me；　O　mine　enemy？　　And　he　answered；　I
have　found　thee：　　because　thou　hast　sold　thyself　to　work　evil　in　the
sight　of　the　Lord。'

A　desperate　wrestle　now　began　between　the　two　men。　　Manston　was　the
taller；　but　there　was　in　Edward　much　hard　tough　muscle