armadale-第143章

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extricate　himself　he　lost　sight　of　Mr。　Bashwood　for　the　first
time。

A　lapse　of　some　few　minutes　had　passed　before　he　again　discovered
the　steward　talking　eagerly　to　a　man　in　a　loose　shaggy　coat；
whose　back　was　turned　toward　him。　Forgetful　of　all　the　cautions
and　restraints　which　he　had　imposed　on　himself　before　the　train
appeared；　Midwinter　instantly　advanced　on　them。　Mr。　Bashwood　saw
his　threatening　face　as　he　came　on；　and　fell　back　in　silence。　The
man　in　the　loose　coat　turned　to　look　where　the　steward　was
looking；　and　disclosed　to　Midwinter；　in　the　full　light　of　the
station…lamp；　Allan's　face！

For　the　moment　they　both　stood　speechless；　hand　in　hand；　looking
at　each　other。　Allan　was　the　first　to　recover　himself。

〃Thank　God　for　this！〃　he　said；　fervently。　〃I　don't　ask　how　you
came　here：　it's　enough　for　me　that　you　have　come。　Miserable　news
has　met　me　already；　Midwinter。　Nobody　but　you　can　comfort　me；　and
help　me　to　bear　it。〃　His　voice　faltered　over　those　last　words；
and　he　said　no　more。

The　tone　in　which　he　had　spoken　roused　Midwinter　to　meet　the
circums　tances　as　they　were；　by　appealing　to　the　old　grateful
interest　in　his　friend　which　had　once　been　the　foremost　interest
of　his　life。　He　mastered　his　personal　misery　for　the　first　time
since　it　had　fallen　on　him；　and　gently　taking　Allan　aside；　asked
what　had　happened。

The　answerafter　informing　him　of　his　friend's　reported　death　at
seaannounced　（on　Mr。　Bashwood's　authority）　that　the　news　had
reached　Miss　Milroy；　and　that　the　deplorable　result　of　the　shock
thus　inflicted　had　obliged　the　major　to　place　his　daughter　in　the
neighborhood　of　London；　under　medical　care。

Before　saying　a　word　on　his　side；　Midwinter　looked　distrustfully
behind　him。　Mr。　Bashwood　had　followed　them。　Mr。　Bashwood　was
watching　to　see　what　they　did　next。

〃Was　he　waiting　your　arrival　here　to　tell　you　this　about　Miss
Milroy？〃　asked　Midwinter；　looking　again　from　the　steward　to
Allan。

〃Yes；〃　said　Allan。　〃He　has　been　kindly　waiting　here；　night　after
night；　to　meet　me；　and　break　the　news　to　me。〃

Midwinter　paused　once　more。　The　attempt　to　reconcile　the
conclusion　he　had　drawn　from　his　wife's　conduct　with　the
discovery　that　Allan　was　the　man　for　whose　arrival　Mr。　Bashwood
had　been　waiting　was　hopeless。　The　one　present　chance　of
discovering　a　truer　solution　of　the　mystery　was　to　press　the
steward　on　the　one　available　point　in　which　he　had　laid　himself
open　to　attack。　He　had　positively　denied　on　the　previous　evening
that　he　knew　anything　of　Allan's　movements；　or　that　he　had　any
interest　in　Allan's　return　to　England。　Having　detected　Mr。
Bashwood　in　one　lie　told　to　himself。　Midwinter　instantly
suspected　him　of　telling　another　to　Allan。　He　seized　the
opportunity　of　sifting　the　statement　about　Miss　Milroy　on　the
spot。

〃How　have　you　become　acquainted　with　this　sad　news？〃　he　inquired；
turning　suddenly　on　Mr。　Bashwood。

〃Through　the　major；　of　course；〃　said　Allan；　before　the　steward
could　answer。

〃Who　is　the　doctor　who　has　the　care　of　Miss　Milroy？〃　persisted
Midwinter；　still　addressing　Mr。　Bashwood。

For　the　second　time　the　steward　made　no　reply。　For　the　second
time；　Allan　answered　for　him。

〃He　is　a　man　with　a　foreign　name；〃　said　Allan。　〃He　keeps　a
Sanitarium　near　Hampstead。　What　did　you　say　the　place　was　called；
Mr。　Bashwood？〃

〃Fairweather　Vale；　sir；〃　said　the　steward；　answering　his
employer；　as　a　matter　of　necessity；　but　answering　very
unwillingly。

The　address　of　the　Sanitarium　instantly　reminded　Midwinter　that
he　had　traced　his　wife　to　Fairweather　Vale　Villas　the　previous
night。　He　began　to　see　light　through　the　darkness；　dimly；　for　the
first　time。　The　instinct　which　comes　with　emergency；　before　the
slower　process　of　reason　can　assert　itself；　brought　him　at　a　leap
to　the　conclusion　that　Mr。　Bashwoodwho　had　been　certainly
acting　under　his　wife's　influence　the　previous　daymight　be
acting　again　under　his　wife's　influence　now。　He　persisted　in
sifting　the　steward's　statement；　with　the　conviction　growing
firmer　and　firmer　in　his　mind　that　the　statement　was　a　lie；　and
that　his　wife　was　concerned　in　it。

〃Is　the　major　in　Norfolk？〃　he　asked；　〃or　is　he　near　his　daughter
in　London？〃

〃In　Norfolk；〃　said　Mr。　Bashwood。　Having　answered　Allan's　look　of
inquiry；　instead　of　Midwinter's　spoken　question；　in　those　words；
he　hesitated；　looked　Midwinter　in　the　face　for　the　first　time；
and　added；　suddenly：　〃I　object；　if　you　please；　to　be
cross…examined；　sir。　I　know　what　I　have　told　Mr。　Armadale；　and　I
know　no　more。〃

The　words；　and　the　voice　in　which　they　were　spoken；　were　alike　at
variance　with　Mr。　Bashwood's　usual　language　and　Mr。　Bashwood's
usual　tone。　There　was　a　sullen　depression　in　his　facethere　was
a　furtive　distrust　and　dislike　in　his　eyes　when　they　looked　at
Midwinter；　which　Midwinter　himself　now　noticed　for　the　first
time。　Before　he　could　answer　the　steward's　extraordinary
outbreak；　Allan　interfered。

〃Don't　think　me　impatient；〃　he　said；　〃but　it's　getting　late；　it's
a　long　way　to　Hampstead。　I'm　afraid　the　Sanitarium　will　be　shut
up。〃

Midwinter　started。　〃You　are　not　going　to　the　Sanitarium
to…night！〃　he　exclaimed。

Allan　took　his　friend's　hand　and　wrung　it　hard。　〃If　you　were　as
fond　of　her　as　I　am；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　would　take　no　rest；　you
could　get　no　sleep；　till　you　had　seen　the　doctor；　and　heard　the
best　and　the　worst　he　had　to　tell　you。　Poor　dear　little　soul！　who
knows；　if　she　could　only　see　me　alive　and　well〃　The　tears　came
into　his　eyes；　and　he　turned　away　his　head　in　silence。

Midwinter　looked　at　the　steward。　〃Stand　back；〃　he　said。　〃I　want
to　speak　to　Mr。　Armadale。〃　There　was　something　in　his　eye　which
it　was　not　safe　to　trifle　with。　Mr。　Bashwood　drew　back　out　of
hearing；　but　not　out　of　sight。　Midwinter　laid　his　hand　fondly　on
his　friend's　shoulder。

〃Allan；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　reasons〃　He　stopped。　Could　the
reasons　be　given　before　he　had　fairly　realized　them　himself；　at
that　time；　too；　and　under　those　circumstances？　Impossible！　〃I
have　reasons；〃　he　resumed；　〃for　advising　you　not　to　believe　too
readily　what　Mr。　Bashwood　may　say。　Don't　tell　him　this；　but　take
the　warning。〃

Allan　looked　at　his　friend　in　astonishment。　〃It　was　you　who
always　liked　Mr。　Bashwood！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃It　was　you　who　trusted
him；　when　he　first　came　to　the　great　house！〃

〃Perhaps　I　was　wrong；　Allan；　and　perhaps　you　were　right。　Will　you
only　wait　till　we　can　telegraph　to　Major　Milroy　and　get　his
answer？　Will　you　only　wait　over　the　night？〃

〃I　shall　go　mad　if　I　wait　over　the　night；〃　said　Allan。　〃You　have
made　me　more　anxious　than　I　was　before。　If　I　am　not　to　speak
about　it　to　Bashwood；　I　must　and　will　go　to　the　Sanitarium；　and
find　out　whether　she　is　or　is　not　there；　from　the　doctor
himself。〃

Midwinter　saw　that　it　was　useless。　In　Allan's　interests　there　was
only　one　other　course　left　to　take。　〃Will　you　let　me　go　with
you？〃　he　asked。

Allan's　face　brightened　for　the　first　time。　〃You　dear；　good
fellow！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃It　was　the　very　thing　I　was　going　to　beg
of　you　myself。〃

Midwinter　beckoned　to　the　steward。　〃Mr。　Armadale　is　going　to　the
Sanitarium；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　mean　to　accompany　him。　Get　a　cab　and
come　with　us。〃

He　waited；　to　see　whether　Mr。　Bashwood　would　comply。　Having　been
strictly　ordered；　when　Allan　did　arrive；　not　to　lose　sight　of
him；　and　having；　in　his　own　interests；　Midwinter's　unexpected
appearance　to　explain　to　Miss　Gwilt；　the　steward　had　no　choice
but　to　comply。　In　sullen　submission　he　did　as　he　had　been　told。
The　keys　of　Allan's　baggage　was　given　to　the　foreign　traveling
servant　whom　he　had　brought　with　him；　and　the　man　was　instructed
to　wait　his　master's　orders　at　the　terminus　hotel。　In　a　minute
more　the　cab　was　on　its　way　out　of　the　stationwith　Midwinter
and　Allan　inside；　and　Mr。　Bashwood　by　the　driver　on　the　box。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　*　*　*　*　*

Between　eleven　and　twelve　o'clock　that　night；　Miss　Gwilt；
standing　alone　at　the　window　which　lit　the　corridor　of　the
Sanitarium　on　the　second　floor；　heard　the　roll　of　wheels　coming
toward　her。　The　sound；　gathering　rapidly　in　volume　through　the
silence　of　the　lonely　neighborhood；　stopped　at　the　iron　gates。　In
another　minute　she　saw　the　cab　draw　up　beneath　her；　at　the　house
door。

The　earlier　night　had　been　cloudy；　but　the　sky　was　clearing　now
and　the　moon　was　out。　She　opened　the　window　to　see　and　hear　more
clearly。　By　the　light　of　the　moon　she　saw　Allan　get　out　of　the
cab；　and　turn　round　to　speak　to　some　other　person　inside。　The
answering　voice　told　her；　before　he　appeared　in　his　turn；　that
Armadale's　companion　was　her　husband。

The　same　petrifying　influence　that　had　fallen　on　her　at　the
interview　with　him　of　the　previous　day　fell　on　her　now。　She　stood
by　the　window；　white　and　still；　and　haggard　and　oldas　she　had
stood　when　she　first　faced　him　in　her　widow's　weeds。

Mr。　Bashwood；　stealing　up　alone　to　the　second　floor　to　make　his
report；　knew；　the　instant　he　set　eyes　on　her；　that　the　report　was
needless。　〃It's　not　my　fault；〃　was　all　he　said；　as　she　slowly
turned　her　head　and　looked　at　him。　〃They　met　together；　and　there
was　no　parting　them。〃

She　drew　a　long　breath；　and　motioned　him　to　be　silent。　〃Wait　a
little；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　all　about　it。〃

Turning　from　him　at　those　words；　she　slowly　paced　the　corridor　to
its　furthest　en　d；　turned；　and　slowly　came　back　to　him　with
frowning　brow　and　drooping　headwith　all　the　grace　and　beauty
gone　from　her；　but　the　inbred　grace　and　beauty　in　the　movement　of
her　limbs。

〃Do　you　wish　to　speak　to　me？〃　she　asked；　her　mind　far　away　from
him；　and　her　eyes　looking　at　him　vacantly　as　she　put　the
question。

He　roused　his　courage　as　he　had　never　roused　it　in　her　presence
yet。

〃Don't　drive　me　to　despair！〃　he　cried；　with　a　startling
abruptness。　〃Don't　look　at　me　in　that　way；　now　I　have　found　it
out！〃

〃What　have　you　found　out？〃　she　asked；　with　a　momentary　surprise
on　her　face；　which　faded　from　it　again　before　he　could　gather
breath　enough　to　go　on。

〃Mr。　Armadale　is　not　the　man　who　took　you　away　from　me；〃　he
answered。　〃Mr。　Midwinter　is　the　man。　I　found　it　out　in　your　face
yesterday。　I　see　it　in　your　face　now。　Why　did　you　sign　your　name
'Armadale'　when　you　wrote　to　me？　Why　do　you　call　yourself　'Mrs。
Armadale'　still？〃

He　spoke　those　bold　words　at　long　intervals；　with　an　effort　to
resist　her　influence　over　him；　pitiable　and　terrible　to　see。

She　looked　at　him　for　the　first　time　with　softened　eyes。　〃I　wish
I　had　pitied　you　when　we　first　met；〃　she　said；　gently；　〃as　I　pity
you　now。〃

He　struggled　desperately　to　go　on　and　say　the　words　to　her　which
he　had　strung　himself　to　the　pitch　of　saying　on　the　drive　from
the　terminus。　They　were　words　which　hinted　darkly　at　his
knowledge　of　her　past　life；　words　which　warned　herdo　what　else
she　might；　commit　what　crimes　she　pleasedto　think　twice　before
she　deceived　and　deserted　him　again。　In　those　terms　he　had　vowed
to　himself　to　address　her。　He　had　the　phrases　picked　and　chosen；
he　had　the　sentences　ranged　and　ordered　in　his　mind；　nothing　was
wanting　but　to　make　the　one　crowning　effort　of　speaking
themand；　even　now；　after　all　he　had　said　and　all　he　had　dared；
the　effort　was　more　than　he　could　compa