armadale-第103章

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〃And　take　a　pill；　Mr。　Bashwoodtake　a　pill。〃

Five　minutes　later；　the　porter　charged　with　the　business　of
locking　up　the　station　found　Mr。　Bashwood；　still　standing
bare…headed　against　the　wall；　and　still　looking　straight　into　the
black　depths　of　the　tunnel；　as　if　the　train　to　London　had
disappeared　in　it　but　a　moment　since。

〃Come；　sir！〃　said　the　porter；　〃I　must　lock　up。　Are　you　out　of
sorts？　Anything　wrong　with　your　inside？　Try　a　drop　of
gin…and…bitters。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Bashwood；　answering　the　porter；　exactly　as　he　had
answered　the　old　gentleman；　〃I'll　try　a　drop　of　gin…and…bitters。〃

The　porter　took　him　by　the　arm；　and　led　him　out。　〃You'll　get　it
there；〃　said　the　man；　pointing　confidentially　to　a　public…house；
〃and　you'll　get　it　good。〃

〃I　shall　get　it　there；〃　echoed　Mr。　Bashwood；　still　mechanically
repeating　what　was　said　to　him；　〃and　I　shall　get　it　good。〃

His　will　seemed　to　be　paralyzed；　his　actions　depended　absolutely
on　what　other　people　told　him　to　do。　He　took　a　few　steps　in　the
direction　of　the　public…house；　hesitated；　staggered；　and　caught
at　the　pillar　of　one　of　the　station　lamps　near　him。

The　porter　followed；　and　took　him　by　the　arm　once　more。

〃Why；　you've　been　drinking　already！〃　exclaimed　the　man；　with　a
suddenly　quickened　interest　in　Mr。　Bashwood's　case。　〃What　was　it？
Beer？〃

Mr。　Bashwood；　in　his　low；　lost　tones；　echoed　the　last　word。

It　was　close　on　the　porter's　dinner…time。　But；　when　the　lower
orders　of　the　English　people　believe　they　have　discovered　an
intoxicated　man；　their　sympathy　with　him　is　boundless。　The　porter
let　his　dinner　take　i　ts　chance；　and　carefully　assisted　Mr。
Bashwood　to　reach　the　public…house。　〃Gin…and…bitters　will　put　you
on　your　legs　again；〃　whispered　this　Samaritan　setter…right　of　the
alcoholic　disasters　of　mankind。

If　Mr。　Bashwood　had　really　been　intoxicated；　the　effect　of　the
porter's　remedy　would　have　been　marvelous　indeed。　Almost　as　soon
as　the　glass　was　emptied；　the　stimulant　did　its　work。　The
long…weakened　nervous　system　of　the　deputy…steward；　prostrated
for　the　moment　by　the　shock　that　had　fallen　on　it；　rallied　again
like　a　weary　horse　under　the　spur。　The　dull　flush　on　his　cheeks；
the　dull　stare　in　his　eyes；　disappeared　simultaneously。　After　a
momentary　effort；　he　recovered　memory　enough　of　what　had　passed
to　thank　the　porter；　and　to　ask　whether　he　would　take　something
himself。　The　worthy　creature　instantly　accepted　a　dose　of　his　own
remedyin　the　capacity　of　a　preventiveand　went　home　to　dinner
as　only　those　men　can　go　home　who　are　physically　warmed　by
gin…and…bitters　and　morally　elevated　by　the　performance　of　a　good
action。

Still　strangely　abstracted　（but　conscious　now　of　the　way　by　which
he　went）；　Mr。　Bashwood　left　the　public…house　a　few　minutes　later；
in　his　turn。　He　walked　on　mechanically；　in　his　dreary　black
garments；　moving　like　a　blot　on　the　white　surface　of　the
sun…brightened　road；　as　Midwinter　had　seen　him　move　in　the　early
days　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　when　they　had　first　met。　Arrived　at　the
point　where　he　had　to　choose　between　the　way　that　led　into　the
town　and　the　way　that　led　to　the　great　house；　he　stopped；
incapable　of　deciding；　and　careless；　apparently；　even　of　making
the　attempt。　〃I'll　be　revenged　on　her！〃　he　whispered　to　himself；
still　absorbed　in　his　jealous　frenzy　of　rage　against　the　woman
who　had　deceived　him。　〃I'll　be　revenged　on　her；〃　he　repeated；　in
louder　tones；　〃if　I　spend　every　half…penny　I've　got！〃

Some　women　of　the　disorderly　sort；　passing　on　their　way　to　the
town；　heard　him。　〃Ah；　you　old　brute；〃　they　called　out；　with　the
measureless　license　of　their　class；　〃whatever　she　did；　she　served
you　right！〃

The　coarseness　of　the　voices　startled　him；　whether　he
comprehended　the　words　or　not。　He　shrank　away　from　more
interruption　and　more　insult；　into　the　quieter　road　that　led　to
the　great　house。

At　a　solitary　place　by　the　wayside　he　stopped　and　sat　down。　He
took　off　his　hat　and　lifted　his　youthful　wig　a　little　from　his
bald　old　head；　and　tried　desperately　to　get　beyond　the　one
immovable　conviction　which　lay　on　his　mind　like　leadthe
conviction　that　Miss　Gwilt　had　been　purposely　deceiving　him　from
the　first。　It　was　useless。　No　effort　would　free　him　from　that　one
dominant　impression；　and　from　the　one　answering　idea　that　it　had
evokedthe　idea　of　revenge。　He　got　up　again；　and　put　on　his　hat
and　walked　rapidly　forward　a　little　waythen　turned　without
knowing　why；　and　slowly　walked　back　again　〃If　I　had　only　dressed
a　little　smarter！〃　said　the　poor　wretch；　helplessly。　〃If　I　had
only　been　a　little　bolder　with　her；　she　might　have　overlooked　my
being　an　old　man！〃　The　angry　fit　returned　on　him。　He　clinched　his
clammy；　trembling　hands；　and　shook　them　fiercely　in　the　empty
air。　〃I'll　be　revenged　on　her；〃　he　reiterated。　〃I'll　be　revenged
on　her；　if　I　spend　every　half…penny　I've　got！〃　It　was　terribly
suggestive　of　the　hold　she　had　taken　on　him；　that　his　vindictive
sense　of　injury　could　not　get　far　enough　away　from　her　to　reach
the　man　whom　he　believed　to　be　his　rival；　even　yet。　In　his　rage；
as　in　his　love；　he　was　absorbed；　body　and　soul；　by　Miss　Gwilt。

In　a　moment　more；　the　noise　of　running　wheels　approaching　from
behind　startled　him。　He　turned　and　looked　round。　There　was　Mr。
Pedgift　the　elder；　rapidly　overtaking　him　in　the　gig；　just　as　Mr。
Pedgift　had　overtaken　him　once　already；　on　that　former　occasion
when　he　had　listened　under　the　window　at　the　great　house；　and
when　the　lawyer　had　bluntly　charged　him　with　feeling　a　curiosity
about　Miss　Gwilt！

In　an　instant　the　inevitable　association　of　ideas　burst　on　his
mind。　The　opinion　of　Miss　Gwilt；　which　he　had　heard　the　lawyer
express　to　Allan　at　parting；　flashed　back　into　his　memory；　side
by　side　with　Mr。　Pedgift's　sarcastic　approval　of　anything　in　the
way　of　inquiry　which　his　own　curiosity　might　attempt。　〃I　may　be
even　with　her　yet；〃　he　thought；　〃if　Mr。　Pedgift　will　help
me！Stop；　sir！〃　he　called　out；　desperately；　as　the　gig　came　up
with　him。　〃If　you　please；　sir；　I　want　to　speak　to　you。〃

Pedgift　Senior　slackened　the　pace　of　his　fast…trotting　mare；
without　pulling　up。　〃Come　to　the　office　in　half　an　hour；〃　he
said；　〃I'm　busy　now。〃　Without　waiting　for　an　answer；　without
noticing　Mr。　Bashwood's　bow；　he　gave　the　mare　the　rein　again；　and
was　out　of　sight　in　another　minute。

Mr。　Bashwood　sat　down　once　more　in　a　shady　place　by　the　roadside。
He　appeared　to　be　incapable　of　feeling　any　slight　but　the　one
unpardonable　slight　put　upon　him　by　Miss　Gwilt。　He　not　only
declined　to　resent；　he　even　made　the　best　of　Mr。　Pedgift's
unceremonious　treatment　of　him。　〃Half　an　hour；〃　he　said；
resignedly。　〃Time　enough　to　compose　myself；　and　I　want　time。　Very
kind　of　Mr。　Pedgift；　though　he　mightn't　have　meant　it。〃

The　sense　of　oppression　in　his　head　forced　him　once　again　to
remove　his　hat。　He　sat　with　it　on　his　lap；　deep　in　thought；　his
face　bent　low；　and　the　wavering　fingers　of　one　hand　drumming
absently　on　the　crown　of　the　hat。　If　Mr。　Pedgift　the　elder；
seeing　him　as　he　sat　now；　could　only　have　looked　a　little　way
into　the　future；　the　monotonously　drumming　hand　of　the
deputy…steward　might　have　been　strong　enough；　feeble　as　it　was；
to　stop　the　lawyer　by　the　roadside。　It　was　the　worn；　weary；
miserable　old　hand　of　a　worn；　weary；　miserable　old　man；　but　it
was；　for　all　that　（to　use　the　language　of　Mr。　Pedgift's　own
parting　prediction　to　Allan）；　the　hand　that　was　now　destined　to
〃let　the　light　in　on　Miss　Gwilt。〃

CHAPTER　XIII。

AN　OLD　MAN'S　HEART。

PUNCTUAL　to　the　moment；　when　the　half　hour's　interval　had
expired；　Mr。　Bashwood　was　announced　at　the　office　as　waiting　to
see　Mr。　Pedgift　by　special　appointment。

The　lawyer　looked　up　from　his　papers　with　an　air　of　annoyance：　he
had　totally　forgotten　the　meeting　by　the　roadside。　〃See　what　he
wants；〃　said　Pedgift　Senior　to　Pedgift　Junior；　working　in　the
same　room　with　him。　〃And　if　it's　nothing　of　importance；　put　it
off　to　some　other　time。〃

Pedgift　Junior　swiftly　disappeared　and　swiftly　returned。

〃Well？〃　asked　the　father。

〃Well；〃　answered　the　son；　〃he　is　rather　more　shaky　and
unintelligible　than　usual。　I　can　make　nothing　out　of　him；　except
that　he　persists　in　wanting　to　see　you。　My　own　idea；〃　pursued
Pedgift　Junior；　with　his　usual；　sardonic　gravity；　〃is　that　he　is
going　to　have　a　fit；　and　that　he　wishes　to　acknowledge　your
uniform　kindness　to　him　by　obliging　you　with　a　private　view　of
the　whole　proceeding。〃

Pedgift　Senior　habitually　matched　everybodyhis　son
includedwith　their　own　weapons。　〃Be　good　enough　to　remember；
Augustus；〃　he　rejoined；　〃that　my　Room　is　not　a　Court　of　Law。　A
bad　joke　is　not　invariably　followed　by　'roars　of　laughter'
_here。_　Let　Mr。　Bashwood　come　in。〃

Mr。　Bashwood　was　introduced；　and　Pedgift　Junior　withdrew。　〃You
mustn't　bleed　him；　sir；〃　whispered　the　incorrigible　joker；　as　he
passed　the　back　of　his　father's　chair。　〃Hot…water　bottles　to　the
soles　of　his　feet；　and　a　mustard　plaster　on　the　pit　of　his
stomachthat's　the　modern　treatment。〃

〃Sit　down；　Bashwood；〃　said　Pedgift　Senior　when　they　were　alone。
〃And　don't　forget　that　time's　money。　Out　with　it；　whatever　it　is；
at　the　quickest　possible　rate；　and　in　the　fewest　possible　words。〃

These　preliminary　directions；　bluntly　but　not　at　all　unkindly
spoken；　rather　increased　than　diminished　the　painful　agitation
under　which　Mr。　Bashwood　was　suffering。　He　stammered　more
helplessly；　he　trembled　more　continuously　than　usual；　as　he　made
his　little　speech　of　thanks；　and　added　his　apologies　at　the　end
for　intruding　on　his　patron　in　business　hours。

〃Everybody　in　the　place；　Mr。　Pedgift；　sir；　knows　your　time　is
valuable。　Oh；　dear；　yes！　oh；　dear；　yes！　most　valuable；　most
valuable！　Excuse　me；　sir；　I'm　coming　out　with　it。　Your
goodnessor　rather　your　businessno；　your　goodness　gave　me　half
an　hour　to　waitand　I　ha　ve　thought　of　what　I　had　to　say；　and
prepared　it；　and　put　it　short。〃　Having　got　as　far　as　that；　he
stopped　with　a　pained；　bewildered　look。　He　had　put　it　away　in　his
memory；　and　now；　when　the　time　came；　he　was　too　confused　to　find
it。　And　there　was　Mr。　Pedgift　mutely　waiting；　his　face　and　manner
expressive　alike　of　that　silent　sense　of　the　value　of　his　own
time　which　every　patient　who　has　visited　a　great　doctor；　every
client　who　has　consulted　a　lawyer　in　large　practice；　knows　so
well。　〃Have　you　heard　the　news；　sir？〃　stammered　Mr。　Bashwood；
shifting　his　ground　in　despair；　and　letting　the　uppermost　idea　in
his　mind　escape　him；　simply　because　it　was　the　one　idea　in　him
that　was　ready　to　come　out。

〃Does　it　concern　_me？_〃　asked　Pedgift　Senior；　mercilessly　brief；
and　mercilessly　straight　in　coming　to　the　point。

〃It　concerns　a　lady；　sirno；　not　a　ladya　young　man；　I　ought　to
say；　in　whom　you　used　to　feel　some　interest。　Oh；　Mr。　Pedgift；
sir；　what　do　you　think！　Mr。　Armadale　and　Miss　Gwilt　have　gone　up
to　London　together　to…dayalone；　siralone　in　a　carriage
reserved　for　their　two　selves。　Do　you　think　he's　going　to　marry
her？　Do　you　really　think；　like　the　rest　of　them；　he's　going　to
marry　her？〃

He　put　the　question　with　a　sudden　flush　in　his　face　and　a　sudden
energy　in　his　manner。　His　sense　of　the　value　of　the　lawyer's
time；　his　conviction　of　the　greatness　of　the　lawyer's