armadale-第14章

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the　one　great　merit　（in　those　parts）　of　being　a　way　of　his　own。

Leaving　all　remonstrances　for　a　fitter　opportunity；　the　rector
went　back　to　Mrs。　Armadale。　He　could　not　disguise　from　himself
that　Allan's　mother　was　the　person　really　answerable　for　Allan's
present　indiscretion。　If　the　lad　had　seen　a　little　less　of　the
small　gentry　in　the　neighborhood；　and　a　little　more　of　the　great
outside　world　at　home　and　abroad；　the　pleasure　of　cultivating
Ozias　Midwinter's　society　might　have　had　fewer　attractions　for
him。

Conscious　of　the　unsatisfactory　result　of　his　visit　to　the　inn；
Mr。　Brock　felt　some　anxiety　about　the　reception　of　his　report
when　he　found　himself　once　more　in　Mrs。　Armadale's　presence。　His
forebodings　were　soon　realized。　Try　as　he　might　to　make　the　best
of　it；　Mrs。　Armadale　seized　on　the　one　suspicious　fact　of　the
usher's　silence　about　himself　as　justifying　the　strongest
measures　that　could　be　taken　to　separate　him　from　her　son。　If　the
rector　refused　to　interfere；　she　declared　her　intention　of
writing　to　Ozias　Midwinter　with　her　own　hand。　Remonstrance
irritated　her　to　such　a　pitch　that　she　astounded　Mr。　Brock　by
reverting　to　the　forbidden　subject　of　five　years　since；　and
referring　him　to　the　conversation　which　had　passed　between　them
when　the　advertisement　had　been　discovered　in　the　newspaper。　She
passionately　declared　that　the　vagabond　Armadale　of　that
advertisement；　and　the　vagabond　Midwinter　at　the　village　inn；
might；　for　all　she　know　to　the　contrary；　be　one　and　the　same。
Foreboding　a　serious　disagreement　between　the　mother　and　son　if
the　mother　interfered；　Mr。　Brock　undertook　to　see　Midwinter
again；　and　to　tell　him　plainly　that　he　must　give　a　proper　account
of　himself；　or　that　his　intimacy　with　Allan　must　cease。　The　two
concessions　which　he　exacted　from　Mrs。　Armadale　in　return　were
that　she　should　wait　patiently　until　the　doctor　reported　the　man
fit　to　travel；　and　that　she　should　be　careful　in　the　interval　not
to　mention　the　matter　in　any　way　to　her　son。

In　a　week's　time　Midwinter　was　able　to　drive　out　（with　Allan　for
his　coachman）　in　the　pony　chaise　belonging　to　the　inn；　and　in　ten
days　the　doctor　privately　reported　him　as　fit　to　travel。　Toward
the　close　of　that　tenth　day；　Mr。　Brock　met　Allan　and　his　new
friend　enjoying　the　last　gleams　of　wintry　sunshine　in　one　of　the
inland　lanes。　He　waited　until　the　two　had　separated；　and　then
followed　the　usher　on　his　way　back　to　the　inn。

The　rector's　resolution　to　speak　pitilessly　to　the　purpose　was　in
some　danger　of　failing　him　as　he　drew　nearer　and　nearer　to　the
friendless　man；　and　saw　how　feebly　he　still　walked；　how　loosely
his　worn　coat　hung　about　him；　and　how　heavily　he　leaned　on　his
cheap；　clumsy　stick。　Humanely　reluctant　to　say　the　decisive　words
too　precipitately；　Mr。　Brock　tried　him　first　with　a　little
compliment　on　the　range　of　his　reading；　as　shown　by　the　volume　of
Sophocles　and　the　volume　of　Goethe　which　had　been　found　in　his
bag；　and　asked　how　long　he　had　been　acquainted　with　German　and
Greek。　The　quick　ear　of　Midwinter　detected　something　wrong　in　the
tone　of　Mr。　Brock's　voice。　He　turned　in　the　darkening　twilight；
and　looked　suddenly　and　suspiciously　in　the　rector's　face。

〃You　have　something　to　say　to　me；〃　he　answered；　〃and　it　is　not
what　you　are　saying　now。〃

There　was　no　help　for　it　but　to　accept　the　challenge。　Very
delicately；　with　many　preparatory　words；　to　which　the　other
listened　in　unbroken　silence；　Mr。　Brock　came　little　by　little
nearer　and　nearer　to　the　point。　Long　before　he　had　really　reached
itlong　before　a　man　of　no　more　than　ordinary　sensibility　would
have　felt　what　was　comingOzias　Midwinter　stood　still　in　the
lane；　and　told　the　rector　that　he　need　say　no　more。

〃I　understand　you；　sir；〃　said　the　usher。　〃Mr。　Armadale　has　an
ascertained　position　in　the　world；　Mr。　Armadale　has　nothing　to
conceal；　and　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of。　I　agree　with　you　that　I　am
not　a　fit　companion　for　him。　The　best　return　I　can　make　for　his
kindness　is　to　presume　on　it　no　longer。　You　may　depend　on　my
leaving　this　place　to…morrow　morning。〃

He　spoke　no　word　more；　he　would　hear　no　word　more。　With　a
self…control　which；　at　his　years　and　with　his　temperament；　was
nothing　less　than　marvelous；　he　civilly　took　off　his　hat；　bowed；
and　returned　to　the　inn　by　himself

Mr。　Brock　slept　badly　that　night。　The　issue　of　the　interview　in
the　lane　had　made　the　problem　of　Ozias　Midwinter　a　harder　problem
to　solve　than　ever。

Early　the　next　morning　a　letter　was　brought　to　the　rector　from
the　inn；　and　the　messenger　announced　that　the　strange　gentleman
had　taken　his　departure。　The　letter　inclosed　an　open　note
addressed　to　Allan；　and　requested　Allan's　tutor　（after　first
reading　it　himself）　to　forward　it　or　not　at　his　own　sole
discretion。　The　note　was　a　startlingly　short　one；　it　began　and
ended　in　a　dozen　words：　〃Don't　blame　Mr。　Brock；　Mr。　Brock　is
right。　Thank　you；　and　good…by。O。　M。〃

The　rector　forwarded　the　note　to　its　proper　destination；　as　a
matter　of　course；　and　sent　a　few　lines　to　Mrs。　Armadale　at　the
same　time　to　quiet　her　anxiety　by　the　news　of　the　usher's
departure。　This　done；　he　waited　the　visit　from　his　pupil；　which
would　probably　follow　the　delivery　of　the　note；　in　no　very
tranquil　frame　of　mind。　There　might　or　might　not　be　some　deep
motive　at　the　bottom　of　Midwinter's　conduct；　but　thus　far　it　was
impossible　to　deny　that　he　had　behaved　in　such　a　manner　as　to
rebuke　the　rector's　distrust；　and　to　justify　Allan's　good　opinion
of　him。

The　morning　wore　on；　and　young　Armadale　never　appeared。　After
looking　for　him　vainly　in　the　yard　where　the　yacht　was　building；
Mr。　Brock　went　to　Mrs。　Armadale's　house；　and　there　heard　news
from　the　servant　which　turned　his　steps　in　the　direction　of　the
inn。　The　landlord　at　once　acknowledged　the　truth：　young　Mr。
Armadale　had　come　there　with　an　open　letter　in　his　hand；　and　had
insisted　on　being　informed　of　the　road　which　his　friend　had
taken。　For　the　first　time　in　the　landlord's　experience　of　him；
the　young　gentleman　was　out　of　temper；　and　the　girl　who　waited　on
the　customers　had　stupidly　mentioned　a　circumstance　which　had
added　fuel　to　the　fire。　She　had　acknowledged　having　heard　Mr。
Midwinter　lock　himself　into　his　room　overnight；　and　burst　into　a
violent　fit　of　crying。　That　trifling　particular　had　set　Mr。
Armadale's　face　all　of　a　flame；　he　had　shouted　and　sworn；　he　had
rushed　into　the　stables；　and　forced　the　hostler　to　saddle　him　a
horse；　and　had　set　off　full　gallop　on　the　road　that　Ozias
Midwinter　had　taken　before　him。

After　cautioning　the　landlord　to　keep　Allan's　conduct　a　secret　if
any　of　Mrs。　Armadale's　servants　came　that　morning　to　the　inn；　Mr。
Brock　went　home　again；　and　waited　anxiously　to　see　what　the　day
would　bring　forth。

To　his　infinite　relief　his　pupil　appeared　at　the　rectory　late　in
the　afternoon。

Allan　looked　and　spoke　with　a　dogged　determination　which　was
quite　new　in　his　old　friend's　experience　of　him。　Without　waiting
to　be　questioned；　he　told　his　story　in　his　usual　straightforward
way。　He　had　overtaken　Midwinter　on　the　road；　andafter　trying
vainly　first　to　induce　him　to　return；　then　to　find　out　where　he
was　going　tohad　threatened　to　keep　company　with　him　for　the
rest　of　the　day；　and　had　so　extorted　the　confession　that　he　was
going　to　try　his　luck　in　London。　Having　gained　this　point；　Allan
had　asked　next　for　his　friend's　address　in　London；　had　been
entreated　by　the　other　not　to　press　his　request；　had　pressed　it；
nevertheless；　with　all　his　might；　and　had　got　the　address　at　last
by　making　an　appeal　to　Midwinter's　gratitude；　for　which　（feeling
heartily　ashamed　of　himself）　he　had　afterward　asked　Midwinter's
pardon。　〃I　like　the　poor　fellow；　and　I　won't　give　him　up；〃
concluded　Allan；　bringing　his　clinched　fist　down　with　a　thump　on
the　rectory　table。　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　my　vexing　my　mother；　I'll
leave　you　to　speak　to　her；　Mr。　Brock；　at　your　own　time　and　in
your　own　way；　and　I'll　just　say　this　much　more　by　way　of　bringing
the　thing　to　an　end。　Here　is　the　address　safe　in　my　pocket…book；
and　here　am　I；　standing　firm　for　once　on　a　resolution　of　my　own。
I'll　give　you　and　my　mother　time　to　reconsider　this；　and；　when
the　time　is　up；　if　my　friend　Midwinter　doesn't　come　to　_me；_　I'll
go　to　my　friend　Midwinter。〃

So　the　matter　rested　for　the　present；　and　such　was　the　result　of
turning　the　castaway　usher　adrift　in　the　world　again。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…

A　month　passed；　and　brought　in　the　new　year'51。　Overleaping
that　short　lapse　of　time；　Mr。　Brock　paused；　with　a　heavy　heart；
at　the　next　event；　to　his　mind　the　one　mournful；　the　one
memorable　event　of　the　seriesMrs。　Armadale's　death。

The　first　warning　of　the　affliction　that　was　near　at　hand　had
followed　close　on　the　usher's　departure　in　December；　and　had
arisen　out　of　a　circumstance　which　dwelt　painfully　on　the
rector's　memory　from　that　time　forth。

But　three　days　after　Midwinter　had　left　for　London；　Mr。　Brock　was
accosted　in　the　village　by　a　neatly　dressed　woman；　wearing　a　gown
and　bonnet　of　black　silk　and　a　red　Paisley　shawl；　who　was　a　total
stranger　to　him；　and　who　inquired　the　way　to　Mrs。　Armadale's
house。　She　put　the　question　without　raising　the　thick　black　veil
that　hung　over　her　face。　Mr。　Brock；　in　giving　her　the　necessary
directions；　observed　that　she　was　a　remarkably　elegant　and
graceful　woman；　and　looked　after　her　as　she　bowed　and　left　him；
wondering　who　Mrs。　Armadale's　visitor　could　possibly　be。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　lady；　still　veiled　as　before；
passed　Mr。　Brock　again　close　to　the　inn。　She　entered　the　house；
and　spoke　to　the　landlady。　Seeing　the　landlord　shortly　afterward
hurrying　round　to　the　stables；　Mr。　Brock　asked　him　if　the　lady
was　going　away。　Yes；　she　had　come　from　the　railway　in　the
omnibus；　but　she　was　going　back　again　more　creditably　in　a
carriage　of　her　own　hiring；　supplied　by　the　inn。

The　rector　proceeded　on　his　walk；　rather　surprised　to　find　his
thoughts　running　inquisitively　on　a　woman　who　was　a　stranger　to
him。　When　he　got　home　again；　he　found　the　village　surgeon　waiting
his　return　with　an　urgent　message　from　Allan's　mother。　About　an
hour　since；　the　surgeon　had　been　sent　for　in　great　haste　to　see
Mrs。　Armadale。　He　had　found　her　suffering　from　an　alarming
nervous　attack；　brought　on　（as　the　servants　suspected）　by　an
unexpected；　and；　possibly；　an　unwelcome　visitor；　who　had　called
that　morning。　The　surgeon　had　done　all　that　was　needful；　and　had
no　apprehension　of　any　dangerous　results。　Finding　his　patient
eagerly　desirous；　on　recovering　herself；　to　see　Mr。　Brock
immediately；　he　had　thought　it　important　to　humor　her；　and　had
readily　undertaken　to　call　at　the　rectory　with　a　message　to　that
effect。

Looking　at　Mrs。　Armadale　with　a　far　deeper　interest　in　her　than
the　surgeon's　interest；　Mr。　Brock　saw　enough　in　her　face；　when　it
turned　toward　him　on　his　entering　the　room；　to　justify　instant
and　serious　alarm。　She　allowed　him　no　opportunity　of　soothing
her；　she　heeded　none　of　his　inquiries。　Answers　to　certain
questions　of　her　own　were　what　she　wanted；　and　what　she　was
determined　to　have：　Had　Mr。　Brock　seen　the　woman　who　had　presumed
to　visit　her　that　morning？　Yes。　Had　Allan　seen　her？　No；　Al