wessex tales-第20章

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wife　whose　pretence　distracted　his　home；　she　now　lay　as　in　death；　by
merely　doing　nothingby　letting　the　intelligence　which　had　gone
forth　to　the　world　lie　undisturbedhe　would　effect　such　a
deliverance　for　himself　as　he　had　never　hoped　for；　and　open　up　an
opportunity　of　which　till　now　he　had　never　dreamed。　　Whether　the
conjuncture　had　arisen　through　any　unscrupulous；　ill…considered
impulse　of　Charlson　to　help　out　of　a　strait　the　friend　who　was　so
kind　as　never　to　press　him　for　what　was　due　could　not　be　told；　there
was　nothing　to　prove　it；　and　it　was　a　question　which　could　never　be
asked。　　The　triangular　situationhimselfhis　wifeLucy　Savile
was　the　one　clear　thing。

From　Barnet's　actions　we　may　infer　that　he　SUPPOSED　such　and　such　a
result；　for　a　moment；　but　did　not　deliberate。　　He　withdrew　his　hazel
eyes　from　the　scene　without；　calmly　turned；　rang　the　bell　for
assistance；　and　vigorously　exerted　himself　to　learn　if　life　still
lingered　in　that　motionless　frame。　　In　a　short　time　another　surgeon
was　in　attendance；　and　then　Barnet's　surmise　proved　to　be　true。　　The
slow　life　timidly　heaved　again；　but　much　care　and　patience　were
needed　to　catch　and　retain　it；　and　a　considerable　period　elapsed
before　it　could　be　said　with　certainty　that　Mrs。　Barnet　lived。　　When
this　was　the　case；　and　there　was　no　further　room　for　doubt；　Barnet
left　the　chamber。　　The　blue　evening　smoke　from　Lucy's　chimney　had
died　down　to　an　imperceptible　stream；　and　as　he　walked　about
downstairs　he　murmured　to　himself；　'My　wife　was　dead；　and　she　is
alive　again。'

It　was　not　so　with　Downe。　　After　three　hours'　immersion　his　wife's
body　had　been　recovered；　life；　of　course；　being　quite　extinct。
Barnet　on　descending；　went　straight　to　his　friend's　house；　and　there
learned　the　result。　　Downe　was　helpless　in　his　wild　grief；
occasionally　even　hysterical。　　Barnet　said　little；　but　finding　that
some　guiding　hand　was　necessary　in　the　sorrow…stricken　household；
took　upon　him　to　supervise　and　manage　till　Downe　should　be　in　a
state　of　mind　to　do　so　for　himself。



CHAPTER　VI



One　September　evening；　four　months　later；　when　Mrs。　Barnet　was　in
perfect　health；　and　Mrs。　Downe　but　a　weakening　memory；　an　errand…boy
paused　to　rest　himself　in　front　of　Mr。　Barnet's　old　house；
depositing　his　basket　on　one　of　the　window…sills。　　The　street　was
not　yet　lighted；　but　there　were　lights　in　the　house；　and　at
intervals　a　flitting　shadow　fell　upon　the　blind　at　his　elbow。　　Words
also　were　audible　from　the　same　apartment；　and　they　seemed　to　be
those　of　persons　in　violent　altercation。　　But　the　boy　could　not
gather　their　purport；　and　he　went　on　his　way。

Ten　minutes　afterwards　the　door　of　Barnet's　house　opened；　and　a　tall
closely…veiled　lady　in　a　travelling…dress　came　out　and　descended　the
freestone　steps。　　The　servant　stood　in　the　doorway　watching　her　as
she　went　with　a　measured　tread　down　the　street。　　When　she　had　been
out　of　sight　for　some　minutes　Barnet　appeared　at　the　door　from
within。

'Did　your　mistress　leave　word　where　she　was　going？'　he　asked。

'No；　sir。'

'Is　the　carriage　ordered　to　meet　her　anywhere？'

'No；　sir。'

'Did　she　take　a　latch…key？'

'No；　sir。'

Barnet　went　in　again；　sat　down　in　his　chair；　and　leaned　back。　　Then
in　solitude　and　silence　he　brooded　over　the　bitter　emotions　that
filled　his　heart。　　It　was　for　this　that　he　had　gratuitously　restored
her　to　life；　and　made　his　union　with　another　impossible！　　The
evening　drew　on；　and　nobody　came　to　disturb　him。　　At　bedtime　he　told
the　servants　to　retire；　that　he　would　sit　up　for　Mrs。　Barnet
himself；　and　when　they　were　gone　he　leaned　his　head　upon　his　hand
and　mused　for　hours。

The　clock　struck　one；　two；　still　his　wife　came　not；　and；　with
impatience　added　to　depression；　he　went　from　room　to　room　till
another　weary　hour　had　passed。　　This　was　not　altogether　a　new
experience　for　Barnet；　but　she　had　never　before　so　prolonged　her
absence。　　At　last　he　sat　down　again　and　fell　asleep。

He　awoke　at　six　o'clock　to　find　that　she　had　not　returned。　　In
searching　about　the　rooms　he　discovered　that　she　had　taken　a　case　of
jewels　which　had　been　hers　before　her　marriage。　　At　eight　a　note　was
brought　him；　it　was　from　his　wife；　in　which　she　stated　that　she　had
gone　by　the　coach　to　the　house　of　a　distant　relative　near　London；
and　expressed　a　wish　that　certain　boxes；　articles　of　clothing；　and
so　on；　might　be　sent　to　her　forthwith。　　The　note　was　brought　to　him
by　a　waiter　at　the　Black…Bull　Hotel；　and　had　been　written　by　Mrs。
Barnet　immediately　before　she　took　her　place　in　the　stage。

By　the　evening　this　order　was　carried　out；　and　Barnet；　with　a　sense
of　relief；　walked　out　into　the　town。　　A　fair　had　been　held　during
the　day；　and　the　large　clear　moon　which　rose　over　the　most　prominent
hill　flung　its　light　upon　the　booths　and　standings　that　still
remained　in　the　street；　mixing　its　rays　curiously　with　those　from
the　flaring　naphtha　lamps。　　The　town　was　full　of　country…people　who
had　come　in　to　enjoy　themselves；　and　on　this　account　Barnet　strolled
through　the　streets　unobserved。　　With　a　certain　recklessness　he　made
for　the　harbour…road；　and　presently　found　himself　by　the　shore；
where　he　walked　on　till　he　came　to　the　spot　near　which　his　friend
the　kindly　Mrs。　Downe　had　lost　her　life；　and　his　own　wife's　life　had
been　preserved。　　A　tremulous　pathway　of　bright　moonshine　now
stretched　over　the　water　which　had　engulfed　them；　and　not　a　living
soul　was　near。

Here　he　ruminated　on　their　characters；　and　next　on　the　young　girl　in
whom　he　now　took　a　more　sensitive　interest　than　at　the　time　when　he
had　been　free　to　marry　her。　　Nothing；　so　far　as　he　was　aware；　had
ever　appeared　in　his　own　conduct　to　show　that　such　an　interest
existed。　　He　had　made　it　a　point　of　the　utmost　strictness　to　hinder
that　feeling　from　influencing　in　the　faintest　degree　his　attitude
towards　his　wife；　and　this　was　made　all　the　more　easy　for　him　by　the
small　demand　Mrs。　Barnet　made　upon　his　attentions；　for　which　she
ever　evinced　the　greatest　contempt；　thus　unwittingly　giving　him　the
satisfaction　of　knowing　that　their　severance　owed　nothing　to
jealousy；　or；　indeed；　to　any　personal　behaviour　of　his　at　all。　　Her
concern　was　not　with　him　or　his　feelings；　as　she　frequently　told
him；　but　that　she　had；　in　a　moment　of　weakness；　thrown　herself　away
upon　a　common　burgher　when　she　might　have　aimed　at；　and　possibly
brought　down；　a　peer　of　the　realm。　　Her　frequent　depreciation　of
Barnet　in　these　terms　had　at　times　been　so　intense　that　he　was
sorely　tempted　to　retaliate　on　her　egotism　by　owning　that　he　loved
at　the　same　low　level　on　which　he　lived；　but　prudence　had　prevailed；
for　which　he　was　now　thankful。

Something　seemed　to　sound　upon　the　shingle　behind　him　over　and　above
the　raking　of　the　wave。　　He　looked　round；　and　a　slight　girlish　shape
appeared　quite　close　to　him；　He　could　not　see　her　face　because　it
was　in　the　direction　of　the　moon。

'Mr。　Barnet？'　the　rambler　said；　in　timid　surprise。　　The　voice　was
the　voice　of　Lucy　Savile。

'Yes；'　said　Barnet。　　'How　can　I　repay　you　for　this　pleasure？'

'I　only　came　because　the　night　was　so　clear。　　I　am　now　on　my　way
home。'

'I　am　glad　we　have　met。　　I　want　to　know　if　you　will　let　me　do
something　for　you；　to　give　me　an　occupation；　as　an　idle　man？　　I　am
sure　I　ought　to　help　you；　for　I　know　you　are　almost　without
friends。'

She　hesitated。　　'Why　should　you　tell　me　that？'　she　said。

'In　the　hope　that　you　will　be　frank　with　me。'

'I　am　not　altogether　without　friends　here。　　But　I　am　going　to　make　a
little　change　in　my　lifeto　go　out　as　a　teacher　of　freehand　drawing
and　practical　perspective；　of　course　I　mean　on　a　comparatively
humble　scale；　because　I　have　not　been　specially　educated　for　that
profession。　　But　I　am　sure　I　shall　like　it　much。'

'You　have　an　opening？'

'I　have　not　exactly　got　it；　but　I　have　advertised　for　one。'

'Lucy；　you　must　let　me　help　you！'

'Not　at　all。'

'You　need　not　think　it　would　compromise　you；　or　that　I　am
indifferent　to　delicacy。　　I　bear　in　mind　how　we　stand。　　It　is　very
unlikely　that　you　will　succeed　as　teacher　of　the　class　you　mention；
so　let　me　do　something　of　a　different　kind　for　you。　　Say　what　you
would　like；　and　it　shall　be　done。'

'No；　if　I　can't　be　a　drawing…mistress　or　governess；　or　something　of
that　sort；　I　shall　go　to　India　and　join　my　brother。'

'I　wish　I　could　go　abroad；　anywhere；　everywhere　with　you；　Lucy；　and
leave　this　place　and　its　associations　for　ever！'

She　played　with　the　end　of　her　bonnet…string；　and　hastily　turned
aside。　　'Don't　ever　touch　upon　that　kind　of　topic　again；'　she　said；
with　a　quick　severity　not　free　from　anger。　　'It　simply　makes　it
impossible　for　me　to　see　you；　much　less　receive　any　guidance　from
you。　　No；　thank　you；　Mr。　Barnet；　you　can　do　nothing　for　me　at
present；　and　as　I　suppose　my　uncertainty　will　end　in　my　leaving　for
India；　I　fear　you　never　will。　　If　ever　I　think　you　CAN　do　anything；
I　will　take　the　trouble　to　ask　you。　　Till　then；　good…bye。'

The　tone　of　her　latter　words　was　equivocal；　and　while　he　remained　in
doubt　whether　a　gentle　irony　was　or　was　not　inwrought　with　their
sound；　she　swept　lightly　round　and　left　him　alone。　　He　saw　her　form
get　smaller　and　smaller　along　the　damp　belt　of　sea…sand　between　ebb
and　flood；　and　when　she　had　vanished　round　the　cliff　into　the
harbour…road；　he　himself　followed　in　the　same　direction。

That　her　hopes　from　an　advertisement　should　be　the　single　thread
which　held　Lucy　Savile　in　England　was　too　much　for　Barnet。　　On
reaching　the　town　he　went　straight　to　the　residence　of　Downe；　now　a
widower　with　four　children。　　The　young　motherless　brood　had　been
sent　to　bed　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　earlier；　and　when　Barnet
entered　he　found　Downe　sitting　alone。　　It　was　the　same　room　as　that
from　which　the　family　had　been　looking　out　for　Downe　at　the
beginning　of　the　year；　when　Downe　had　slipped　into　the　gutter　and
his　wife　had　been　so　enviably　tender　towards　him。　　The　old　neatness
had　gone　from　the　house；　articles　lay　in　places　which　could　show　no
reason　for　their　presence；　as　if　momentarily　deposited　there　some
months　ago；　and　forgotten　ever　since；　there　were　no　flowers；　things
were　jumbled　together　on　the　furniture　which　should　have　been　in
cupboards；　and　the　place　in　general　had　that　stagnant；　unrenovated
air　which　usually　pervades　the　maimed　home　of　the　widower。

Downe　soon　renewed　his　customary　full…worded　lament　over　his　wife；
and　even　when　he　had　worked　himself　up　to　tears；　went　on　volubly；　as
if　a　listener　were　a　luxury　to　be　enjoyed　whenever　he　could　be
caught。

'She　was　a　treasure　beyond　compare；　Mr。　Barnet！　　I　shall　never　see
such　another。　　Nobody　now　to　nurse　menobody　to　console　me　in　those
daily　troubles；　you　know；　Barnet；　which　make　consolation　so
necessary　to　a　nature　like　mine。　　It　would　be　unbecoming　to　repine；
for　her　spirit's　home　was　elsewherethe　tender　light　in　her　eyes
always　showed　it；　but　it　is　a　long　dreary　time　that　I　have　before
me；　and　nobody　else　can　ever　fill　the　void　left　in　my　heart　by　her
lossnobodynobody！'　　And　Downe　wiped　his　eyes　again。

'She　was　a　good　woman　in　the　highest　sense；'　gravely　answered
Barnet；　who；　though　Downe's　words　drew　genuine　compassion　from　his
heart；