armadale-第120章

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！


his　shilling。　〃They　went　away　on　foot。〃

〃And　that　is　all　you　know　about　it？〃

〃That；　sir；　is　all　I　know　about　it。〃

Left　by　himself；　even　the　Detective　of　the　Private　Inquiry　Office
paused　for　a　moment　before　he　returned　to　his　father　at　the　gate。
He　was　roused　from　his　hesitation　by　the　sudden　appearance；
within　the　church　inclosure；　of　the　driver　of　the　cab。

〃I'm　afraid　the　old　gentleman　is　going　to　be　taken　ill；　sir；〃
said　the　man。

Bashwood　the　younger　frowned　angrily；　and　walked　back　to　the　cab。
As　he　opened　the　door　and　looked　in；　his　father　leaned　forward
and　confronted　him；　with　lips　that　moved　speechlessly；　and　with　a
white　stillness　over　all　the　rest　of　his　face。

〃She's　done　us；〃　said　the　spy。　〃They　were　married　here　this
morning。〃

The　old　man's　body　swayed　for　a　moment　from　one　side　to　the
other。　The　instant　after；　his　eyes　closed　and　his　head　fell
forward　toward　the　front　seat　of　the　cab。　〃Drive　to　the
hospital！〃　cried　his　son。　〃He's　in　a　fit。　This　is　what　comes　of
putting　myself　out　of　my　way　to　please　my　father；〃　he　muttered；
sullenly　raising　Mr。　Bashwood's　head；　and　loosening　his　cravat。
〃A　nice　morning's　work。　Upon　my　soul；　a　nice　morning's　work！〃

The　hospital　was　near；　and　the　house　surgeon　was　at　his　post。

〃Will　he　come　out　of　it？〃　asked　Bashwood　the　younger；　roughly。

〃Who　are　_you？_〃　asked　the　surgeon；　sharply；　on　his　side。

〃I　am　his　son。〃

〃I　shouldn't　have　thought　it；〃　rejoined　the　surgeon；　taking　the
restoratives　that　were　handed　to　him　by　the　nurse；　and　turning
from　the　son　to　the　father　with　an　air　of　relief　which　he　was　at
no　pains　to　conceal。　〃Yes；〃　he　added；　after　a　minute　or　two；　〃
your　father　will　come　out　of　it　this　time。〃

〃When　can　he　be　moved　away　from　here？〃

〃He　can　be　moved　from　the　hospital　in　an　hour　or　two。〃

The　spy　laid　a　card　on　the　table。　〃I'll　come　back　for　him　or　send
for　him；〃　he　said。　〃I　suppose　I　can　go　now；　if　I　leave　my　name
and　address？〃　With　those　words；　he　put　on　his　hat；　and　walked
out。

〃He's　a　brute！〃　said　the　nurse。

〃No；〃　said　the　surgeon；　quietly。　〃He's　a　man。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　*　*　*　*　*　*

Between　nine　and　ten　o'clock　that　night；　Mr。　Bashwood　awoke　in
his　bed　at　the　inn　in　the　Borough。　He　had　slept　for　some　hours
since　he　had　been　brought　back　from　the　hospital；　and　his　mind
and　body　were　now　slowly　recovering　together。

A　light　was　burning　on　the　bedside　table；　and　a　letter　lay　on　it；
waiting　for　him　till　he　was　awake。　It　was　in　his　son's
handwriting；　and　it　contained　these　words：


〃MY　DEAR　DADHaving　seen　you　safe　out　of　the　hospital；　and　back
at　your　hotel；　I　think　I　may　fairly　claim　to　have　done　my　duty　by
you；　and　may　consider　myself　free　to　look　after　my　own　affairs。
Business　will　prevent　me　from　seeing　you　to…night；　and　I　don't
think　it　at　all　likely　I　shall　be　in　your　neighborhood　to…morrow
morning。　My　advice　to　you　is　to　go　back　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　to
stick　to　your　employment　in　the　steward's　office。　Wherever　Mr。
Armadale　may　be；　he　must；　sooner　or　later；　write　to　you　on
business。　I　wash　my　hands　of　the　whole　matter；　mind；　so　far　as　I
am　concerned；　from　this　time　forth。　But　if　_you_　like　to　go　on
with　it；　my　professional　opinion　is　（though　you　couldn't　hinder
his　marriage）；　you　may　part　him　from　his　wife。

〃Pray　take　care　of　yourself。

〃Your　affectionate　son；

〃JAMES　BASHWOOD。〃

The　letter　dropped　from　the　old　man's　feeble　hands。　〃I　wish　Jemmy
could　have　come　to　see　me　to…night；〃　he　thought。　〃But　it's　very
kind　of　him　to　advise　me；　all　the　same。〃

He　turned　wearily　on　the　pillow；　and　read　the　letter　a　second
time。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃there's　nothing　left　for　me　but　to　go
back。　I'm　too　poor　and　too　old　to　hunt　after　them　all　by　myself。〃
He　closed　his　eyes：　the　tears　trickled　slowly　over　his　wrinkled
cheeks。　〃I've　been　a　trouble　to　Jemmy；〃　he　murmured；　faintly；
〃I've　been　a　sad　trouble；　I'm　afraid；　to　poor　Jemmy！〃　In　a　minute
more　his　weakness　overpowered　him；　and　he　fell　asleep　again。

The　clock　of　the　neighboring　church　struck。　It　was　ten。　As　the
bell　tolled　the　hour；　the　tidal　trainwith　Midwinter　and　his
wife　among　the　passengerswas　speeding　nearer　and　nearer　to
Paris。　As　the　bell　tolled　the　hour；　the　watch　on　board　Allan's
outward…bound　yacht　had　sighted　the　light…house　off　the　Land's
End；　and　had　set　the　course　of　the　vessel　for　Ushant　and
Finisterre。

THE　END　OF　THE　THIRD　BOOK。


BOOK　THE　FOURTH。

CHAPTER　I。

MISS　GWILT'S　DIARY。

〃NAPLES；　October　10th。It　is　two　months　to…day　since　I　declared
that　I　had　closed　my　Diary；　never　to　open　it　again。

〃Why　have　I　broken　my　resolution？　Why　have　I　gone　back　to　this
secret　friend　of　my　wretchedest　and　wickedest　hours？　Because　I　am
more　friendless　than　ever；　because　I　am　more　lonely　than　ever；
though　my　husband　is　sitting　writing　in　the　next　room　to　me。　My
misery　is　a　woman's　misery；　and　it　_will_　speakhere；　rather
than　nowhere；　to　my　second　self；　in　this　book；　if　I　have　no　one
else　to　hear　me。

〃How　happy　I　was　in　the　first　days　that　followed　our　marriage；
and　how　happy　I　made　_him！_　Only　two　months　have　passed；　and　that
time　is　a　by…gone　time　already！　I　try　to　think　of　anything　I
might　have　said　or　done　wrongly；　on　my　sideof　anything　he　might
have　said　or　done　wrongly；　on　his；　and　I　can　remember　nothing
unworthy　of　my　husband；　nothing　unworthy　of　myself。　I　cannot　even
lay　my　finger　on　the　day　when　the　cloud　first　rose　between　us。

〃I　could　bear　it；　if　I　loved　him　less　dearly　than　I　do。　I　could
conquer　the　misery　of　our　estrangement；　if　he　only　showed　the
change　in　him　as　brutally　as　other　men　would　show　it。

〃But　this　never　has　happenednever　will　happen。　It　is　not　in　his
nature　to　inflict　suffering　on　others。　Not　a　hard　word；　not　a
hard　look；　escapes　him。　It　is　only　at　night；　when　I　hear　him
sighing　in　his　sleep；　and　sometimes　when　I　see　him　dreaming　in
the　morning　hours；　that　I　know　how　hopelessly　I　am　losing　the
love　he　once　felt　for　me。　He　hides；　or　tries　to　hide；　it　in　the
day；　for　my　sake。　He　is　all　gentleness；　all　kindness；　but　his
heart　is　not　on　his　lips　when　he　kisses　me　now；　his　hand　tells　me
nothing　when　it　touches　mine。　Day　after　day　the　hours　that　he
gives　to　his　hateful　writing　grow　longer　and　longer；　day　after
day　he　becomes　more　and　more　silent　in　the　hours　that　he　gives　to
Me。

〃And；　with　all　this；　there　is　nothing　that　I　can　complain
ofnothing　marked　enough　to　justify　me　in　noticing　it。　His
disappointment　shrinks　from　all　open　confession；　his　resignation
collects　itself　by　such　fine　degrees　that　even　my　watchfulness
fails　to　see　the　growth　of　it。　Fifty　times　a　day　I　feel　the
longing　in　me　to　throw　my　arms　round　his　neck；　and　say：　'For
God's　sake；　do　anything　to　me；　rather　than　treat　me　like　this！'
and　fifty　times　a　day　the　words　are　forced　back　into　my　heart　by
the　cruel　considerateness　of　his　conduct；　which　gives　me　no
excuse　for　speaking　them。　I　thought　I　had　suffered　the　sharpest
pain　that　I　could　feel　when　my　first　husband　laid　his　whip　across
my　face。　I　thought　I　knew　the　worst　that　despair　could　do　on　the
day　when　I　knew　that　the　other　villain；　the　meaner　villain　still；
had　cast　me　off。　Live　and　learn。　There　is　sharper　pain　than　I
felt　under　Waldron's　whip；　there　is　bitterer　despair　than　the
despair　I　knew　when　Manuel　deserted　me。

〃Am　I　too　old　for　him？　Surely　not　yet！　Have　I　lost　my　beauty？　Not
a　man　passes　me　in　the　street　but　his　eyes　tell　me　I　am　as
handsome　as　ever。

〃Ah；　no！　no！　the　secret　lies　deeper　than　_that！_　I　have　thought
and　thought　about　it　till　a　horrible　fancy　has　taken　possession
of　me。　He　has　been　noble　and　good　in　his　past　life；　and　I　have
been　wicked　and　disgraced。　Who　can　tell　what　a　gap　that　dreadful
difference　may　make　between　us；　unknown　to　him　and　unknown　to　me？
It　is　folly；　it　is　madness；　but；　when　I　lie　awake　by　him　in　the
darkness；　I　ask　myself　whether　any　unconscious　disclosure　of　the
truth　escapes　me　in　the　close　intimacy　that　now　unites　us？　Is
there　an　unutterable　Something　left　by　the　horror　of　my　past
life；　which　clings　invisibly　to　me　still？　And　is　he　feeling　the
influence　of　it；　sensibly；　and　yet　incomprehensibly　to　himself？
Oh　me！　is　there　no　purifying　power　in　such　love　as　mine？　Are
there　plague…spots　of　past　wickedness　on　my　heart　which　no
after…repentance　can　wash　out？

〃Who　can　tell？　There　is　something　wrong　in　our　married　lifeI
can　only　come　back　to　that。　There　is　some　adverse　influence　that
neither　he　nor　I　can　trace　which　is　parting　us　further　and
further　from　each　other　day　by　day。　Well！　I　suppose　I　shall　be
hardened　in　time；　and　learn　to　bear　it。

〃An　open　carriage　has　just　driven　by　my　window；　with　a　nicely
dressed　lady　in　it。　She　had　her　husband　by　her　side；　and　her
children　on　the　seat　opposite。　At　the　moment　when　I　saw　her　she
was　laughing　and　talking　in　high　spiritsa　sparkling；
light…hearted；　happy　woman。　Ah；　my　lady；　when　you　were　a　few
years　younger；　if　you　had　been　left　to　yourself；　and　thrown　on
the　world　like　me


〃October　11th。The　eleventh　day　of　the　month　was　the　day　（two
months　since）　when　we　were　married。　He　said　nothing　about　it　to
me　when　we　woke；　nor　I　to　him。　But　I　thought　I　would　make　it　the
occasion；　at　breakfast…time；　of　trying　to　win　him　back。

〃I　don't　think　I　ever　took　such　pains　with　my　toilet　before。　I
don't　think　I　ever　looked　better　than　I　looked　when　I　went
downstairs　this　morning。　He　had　breakfasted　by　himself；　and　I
found　a　little　slip　of　paper　on　the　table　with　an　apology　written
on　it。　The　post　to　England；　he　said；　went　out　that　day；　and　his
letter　to　the　newspaper　must　be　finished。　In　his　place　I　would
have　let　fifty　posts　go　out　rather　than　breakfast　without　him。　I
went　into　his　room。　There　he　was；　immersed　body　and　soul　in　his
hateful　writing！　'Can't　you　give　me　a　little　time　this　morning？'
I　asked。　He　got　up　with　a　start。　'Certainly；　if　you　wish　it。'　He
never　even　looked　at　me　as　he　s　aid　the　words。　The　very　sound　of
his　voice　told　me　that　all　his　interest　was　centered　in　the　pen
that　he　had　just　laid　down。　'I　see　you　are　occupied；'　I　said；　'I
don't　wish　it。'　Before　I　had　closed　the　door　on　him　he　was　back
at　his　desk。　I　have　often　heard　that　the　wives　of　authors　have
been　for　the　most　part　unhappy　women。　And　now　I　know　why。

〃I　suppose；　as　I　said　yesterday；　I　shall　learn　to　bear　it。　（What
_stuff；_　by…the…by；　I　seem　to　have　written　yesterday！　How　ashamed
I　should　be　if　anybody　saw　it　but　myself！）　I　hope　the　trumpery
newspaper　he　writes　for　won't　succeed！　I　hope　his　rubbishing
letter　will　be　well　cut　up　by　some　other　newspaper　as　soon　as　it
gets　into　print！

〃What　am　I　to　do　with　myself　all　the　morning？　I　can't　go　out；
it's　raining。　If　I　open　the　piano；　I　shall　disturb　the
industrious　journalist　who　is　scribbling　in　the　next　room。　Oh；
dear；　it　was　lonely　enough　in　my　lodging　in　Thorpe　Ambrose；　but
how　much　lonelier　it　is　here！　Shall　I　read？　No；　books　don't
interest　me；　I　hate　the　whole　tribe　of　authors。　I　think　I　shall
look　back　through　these　pages；　and　live　my　life　over　again　when　I
was　plotting　and　planning；　and　finding　a　new　excitement　to　occupy
me　in　every　new　hour　of　the　day。

〃He　might　have　looked　at　me；　though　he　_was_　so　busy　with　his
writing。He　might　have　sa