armadale-第25章

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up；　he　observed　that　Midwinter's　whole　attention　was　strangely
concentrated　on　the　half　crown　as　it　lay　head　uppermost　on　the
table。　Allan　suspended　his　whistling　in　astonishment。

〃What　on　earth　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked。

〃I　was　only　wondering；〃　replied　Midwinter。

〃What　about？〃　persisted　Allan。

〃I　was　wondering；〃　said　the　other；　handing　him　back　the
half…crown；　〃whether　there　is　such　a　thing　as　chance。〃

Half　an　hour　later　the　two　notes　were　posted；　and　Allan；　whose
close　superintendence　of　the　repairs　of　the　yacht　had　hitherto
allowed　him　but　little　leisure　time　on　shore；　had　proposed　to
while　away　the　idle　hours　by　taking　a　walk　in　Castletown。　Even
Midwinter's　nervous　anxiety　to　deserve　Mr。　Brock's　confidence　in
him　could　detect　nothing　objectionable　in　this　harmless　proposal；
and　the　young　men　set　forth　together　to　see　what　they　could　make
of　the　metropolis　of　the　Isle　of　Man。

It　is　doubtful　if　there　is　a　place　on　the　habitable　globe　which；
regarded　as　a　sight…seeing　investment　offering　itself　to　the
spare　attention　of　strangers；　yields　so　small　a　percentage　of
interest　in　return　as　Castletown。　Beginning　with　the　waterside；
there　was　an　inner　harbor　to　see；　with　a　drawbridge　to　let
vessels　through；　an　outer　harbor；　ending　in　a　dwarf　lighthouse；　a
view　of　a　flat　coast　to　the　right；　and　a　view　of　a　flat　coast　to
the　left。　In　the　central　solitudes　of　the　city；　there　was　a　squat
gray　building　called　〃the　castle〃；　also　a　memorial　pillar
dedicated　to　one　Governor　Smelt；　with　a　flat　top　for　a　statue；
and　no　statue　standing　on　it；　also　a　barrack；　holding　the
half…company　of　soldiers　allotted　to　the　island；　and　exhibiting
one　spirit…broken　sentry　at　its　lonely　door。　The　prevalent　color
of　the　town　was　faint　gray。　The　few　shops　open　were　parted　at
frequent　intervals　by　other　shops　closed　and　deserted　in　despair。
The　weary　lounging　of　boatmen　on　shore　was　trebly　weary　here；　the
youth　of　the　district　smoked　together　in　speechless　depression
under　the　lee　of　a　dead　wall；　the　ragged　children　said
mechanically：　〃Give　us　a　penny；〃　and　before　the　charitable　hand
could　search　the　merciful　pocket；　lapsed　away　again　in
misanthropic　doubt　of　the　human　nature　they　addressed。　The
silence　of　the　grave　overflowed　the　churchyard；　and　filled　this
miserable　town。　But　one　edifice；　prosperous　to　look　at；　rose
consolatory　in　the　desolation　of　these　dreadful　streets。
Frequented　by　the　students　of　the　neighboring　〃College　of　King
William；〃　this　building　was　naturally　dedicated　to　the　uses　of　a
pastry…cook's　shop。　Here；　at　least　（viewed　through　the　friendly
medium　of　the　window）；　there　was　something　going　on　for　a
stranger　to　see；　for　here；　on　high　stools；　the　pupils　of　the
college　sat；　with　swinging　legs　and　slowly　moving　jaws；　and；
hushed　in　the　horrid　stillness　of　Castletown；　gorged　their　pastry
gravely；　in　an　atmosphere　of　awful　silence。

〃Hang　me　if　I　can　look　any　longer　at　the　boys　and　the　tarts！〃
said　Allan；　dragging　his　friend　away　from　the　pastry…cook's　shop。
〃Let's　try　if　we　can't　find　something　else　to　amuse　us　in　the
next　street。〃

The　first　amusing　object　which　the　next　street　presented　was　a
carver…and…gilder's　shop；　expiring　feebly　in　the　last　stage　of
commercial　decay。　The　counter　inside　displayed　nothing　to　view
but　the　recumbent　head　of　a　boy；　peacefully　asleep　in　the
unbroken　solitude　of　the　place。　In　the　window　were　exhibited　to
the　passing　stranger　three　forlorn　little　fly…spotted　frames；　a
small　posting…bill；　dusty　with　long…continued　neglect；　announcing
that　the　premises　were　to　let；　and　one　colored　print；　the　last　of
a　series　illustrating　the　horrors　of　drunkenness；　on　the　fiercest
temperance　principles。　The　compositionrepresenting　an　empty
bottle　of　gin；　an　immensely　spacious　garret；　a　perpendicular
Scripture　reader；　and　a　horizontal　expiring　familyappealed　to
public　favor；　under　the　entirely　unobjectionable　title　of　〃The
Hand　of　Death。〃　Allan's　resolution　to　extract　amusement　from
Castletown　by　main　force　had　resisted　a　great　deal；　but　it　failed
him　at　this　stage　of　the　investigations。　He　suggested　trying　an
excursion　to　some　other　place。　Midwinter　readily　agreeing；　they
went　back　to　the　hotel　to　make　inquiries。

Thanks　to　the　mixed　influence　of　Allan's　ready　gift　of
familiarity；　and　total　want　of　method　in　putting　his　questions；　a
perfect　deluge　of　information　flowed　in　on　the　two　strangers；
relating　to　every　subje　ct　but　the　subject　which　had　actually
brought　them　to　the　hotel。　They　made　various　interesting
discoveries　in　connection　with　the　laws　and　constitution　of　the
Isle　of　Man；　and　the　manners　and　customs　of　the　natives。　To
Allan's　delight；　the　Manxmen　spoke　of　England　as　of　a　well…known
adjacent　island；　situated　at　a　certain　distance　from　the　central
empire　of　the　Isle　of　Man。　It　was　further　revealed　to　the　two
Englishmen　that　this　happy　little　nation　rejoiced　in　laws　of　its
own；　publicly　proclaimed　once　a　year　by　the　governor　and　the　two
head　judges；　grouped　together　on　the　top　of　an　ancient　mound；　in
fancy　costumes　appropriate　to　the　occasion。　Possessing　this
enviable　institution；　the　island　added　to　it　the　inestimable
blessing　of　a　local　parliament；　called　the　House　of　Keys；　an
assembly　far　in　advance　of　the　other　parliament　belonging　to　the
neighboring　island；　in　this　respectthat　the　members　dispensed
with　the　people；　and　solemnly　elected　each　other。　With　these　and
many　more　local　particulars；　extracted　from　all　sorts　and
conditions　of　men　in　and　about　the　hotel；　Allan　whiled　away　the
weary　time　in　his　own　essentially　desultory　manner；　until　the
gossip　died　out　of　itself；　and　Midwinter　（who　had　been　speaking
apart　with　the　landlord）　quietly　recalled　him　to　the　matter　in
hand。　The　finest　coast　scenery　in　the　island　was　said　to　be　to
the　westward　and　the　southward；　and　there　was　a　fishing　town　in
those　regions　called　Port　St。　Mary；　with　a　hotel　at　which
travelers　could　sleep。　If　Allan's　impressions　of　Castletown　still
inclined　him　to　try　an　excursion　to　some　other　place；　he　had　only
to　say　so；　and　a　carriage　would　be　produced　immediately。　Allan
jumped　at　the　proposal；　and　in　ten　minutes　more　he　and　Midwinter
were　on　their　way　to　the　western　wilds　of　the　island。

With　trifling　incidents；　the　day　of　Mr。　Brock's　departure　had
worn　on　thus　far。　With　trifling　incidents；　in　which　not　even
Midwinter's　nervous　watchfulness　could　see　anything　to　distrust；
it　was　still　to　proceed；　until　the　night　camea　night　which　one
at　least　of　the　two　companions　was　destined　to　remember　to　the
end　of　his　life。

Before　the　travelers　had　advanced　two　miles　on　their　road；　an
accident　happened。　The　horse　fell；　and　the　driver　reported　that
the　animal　had　seriously　injured　himself。　There　was　no
alternative　but　to　send　for　another　carriage　to　Castletown；　or　to
get　on　to　Port　St。　Mary　on　foot。

Deciding　to　walk；　Midwinter　and　Allan　had　not　gone　far　before
they　were　overtaken　by　a　gentleman　driving　alone　in　an　open
chaise。　He　civilly　introduced　himself　as　a　medical　man；　living
close　to　Port　St。　Mary；　and　offered　seats　in　his　carriage。　Always
ready　to　make　new　acquaintances；　Allan　at　once　accepted　the
proposal。　He　and　the　doctor　（whose　name　was　ascertained　to　be
Hawbury）　became　friendly　and　familiar　before　they　had　been　five
minutes　in　the　chaise　together；　Midwinter；　sitting　behind　them；
reserved　and　silent；　on　the　back　seat。　They　separated　just
outside　Port　St。　Mary；　before　Mr。　Hawbury's　house；　Allan
boisterously　admiring　the　doctor's　neat　French　windows　and　pretty
flower…garden　and　lawn；　and　wringing　his　hand　at　parting　as　if
they　had　known　each　other　from　boyhood　upward。　Arrived　in　Port
St。　Mary；　the　two　friends　found　themselves　in　a　second　Castletown
on　a　smaller　scale。　But　the　country　round；　wild；　open；　and　hilly；
deserved　its　reputation。　A　walk　brought　them　well　enough　on　with
the　daystill　the　harmless；　idle　day　that　it　had　been　from　the
firstto　see　the　evening　near　at　hand。　After　waiting　a　little　to
admire　the　sun；　setting　grandly　over　hill；　and　heath；　and　crag；
and　talking；　while　they　waited；　of　Mr。　Brock　and　his　long　journey
home；　they　returned　to　the　hotel　to　order　their　early　supper。
Nearer　and　nearer　the　night；　and　the　adventure　which　the　night
was　to　bring　with　it；　came　to　the　two　friends；　and　still　the　only
incidents　that　happened　were　incidents　to　be　laughed　at；　if　they
were　noticed　at　all。　The　supper　was　badly　cooked；　the
waiting…maid　was　impenetrably　stupid；　the　old…fashioned　bell…rope
in　the　coffee…room　had　come　down　in　Allan's　hands；　and；　striking
in　its　descent　a　painted　china　shepherdess　on　the　chimney…piece；
had　laid　the　figure　in　fragments　on　the　floor。　Events　as　trifling
as　these　were　still　the　only　events　that　had　happened；　when　the
twilight　faded；　and　the　lighted　candles　were　brought　into　the
room。

Finding　Midwinter；　after　the　double　fatigue　of　a　sleepless　night
and　a　restless　day；　but　little　inclined　for　conversation；　Allan
left　him　resting　on　the　sofa；　and　lounged　into　the　passage　of　the
hotel；　on　the　chance　of　discovering　somebody　to　talk　to。　Here
another　of　the　trivial　incidents　of　the　day　brought　Allan　and　Mr。
Hawbury　together　again；　and　helpedwhether　happily　or　not；　yet
remained　to　be　seento　strengthen　the　acquaintance　between　them
on　either　side。

The　〃bar〃　of　the　hotel　was　situated　at　one　end　of　the　passage；
and　the　landlady　was　in　attendance　there；　mixing　a　glass　of
liquor　for　the　doctor；　who　had　just　looked　in　for　a　little
gossip。　On　Allan's　asking　permission　to　make　a　third　in　the
drinking　and　the　gossiping；　Mr。　Hawbury　civilly　handed　him　the
glass　which　the　landlady　had　just　filled。　It　contained　cold
brandy…and…water。　A　marked　change　in　Allan's　face；　as　he　suddenly
drew　back　and　asked　for　whisky　instead；　caught　the　doctor's
medical　eye。　〃A　case　of　nervous　antipathy；〃　said　Mr。　Hawbury；
quietly　taking　the　glass　away　again。　The　remark　obliged　Allan　to
acknowledge　that　he　had　an　insurmountable　loathing　（which　he　was
foolish　enough　to　be　a　little　ashamed　of　mentioning）　to　the　smell
and　taste　of　brandy。　No　matter　with　what　diluting　liquid　the
spirit　was　mixed；　the　presence　of　it；　instantly　detected　by　his
organs　of　taste　and　smell；　turned　him　sick　and　faint　if　the　drink
touched　his　lips。　Starting　from　this　personal　confession；　the
talk　turned　on　antipathies　in　general；　and　the　doctor
acknowledged；　on　his　side；　that　he　took　a　professional　interest
in　the　subject；　and　that　he　possessed　a　collection　of　curious
cases　at　home；　which　his　new　acquaintance　was　welcome　to　look　at；
if　Allan　had　nothing　else　to　do　that　evening；　and　if　he　would
call；　when　the　medical　work　of　the　day　was　over；　in　an　hour's
time。

Cordially　accepting　the　invitation　（which　was　extended　to
Midwinter　also；　if　he　cared　to　profit　by　it）；　Allan　returned　to
the　coffee…room　to　look　after　his　friend。　Half　asleep　and　half
awake；　Midwinter　was　still　stretched　on　the　sofa；　with　the　local
newspaper　just　dropping　out　of　his　languid　hand。

〃I　heard　your　voice　in　the　passage；〃　he　said；　drowsily。　〃Whom
were　you　talking　to？〃

〃The　doctor；〃　replied　Allan。　〃I　am　going　to　smoke　a　cigar　with
him；　in　an　hour's　time。　Will　you　come　too？〃

Midwinter　assented　with　a　weary　sigh。　Always　shyly　unwil