armadale-第30章

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rise　from　cottage　chimneys　had　not　risen　yet。

After　a　moment's　thought　he　went　back　again　to　the　after…part　of
the　vessel；　to　see　if　there　might　be　a　fisherman's　boat　within
hail　astern　of　them。　Absorbed　for　the　moment　by　the　new　idea；　he
passed　Allan　hastily；　after　barely　noticing　that　he　still　lay
asleep。　One　step　more　would　have　brought　him　to　the　taffrail；
when　that　step　was　suspended　by　a　sound　behind　him；　a　sound　like
a　faint　groan。　He　turned；　and　looked　at　the　sleeper　on　the　deck。
He　knelt　softly；　and　looked　closer。

〃It　has　come！〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃Not　to　_me_but　to
_him。_　〃

It　had　come；　in　the　bright　freshness　of　the　morning；　it　had　come；
in　the　mystery　and　terror　of　a　Dream。　The　face　which　Midwinter
had　last　seen　in　perfect　repose　was　now　the　distorted　face　of　a
suffering　man。　The　perspiration　stood　thick　on　Allan's　forehead；
and　matted　his　curling　hair。　His　partially　opened　eyes　showed
nothing　but　the　white　of　the　eyeball　gleaming　blindly。　His
outstretched　hands　scratched　and　struggled　on　the　deck。　From
moment　to　moment　he　moaned　and　muttered　helplessly；　but　the　words
that　escaped　him　were　lost　in　the　grinding　and　gnashing　of　his
teeth。　There　he　layso　near　in　the　body　to　the　friend　who　bent
over　him；　so　far　away　in　the　spirit；　that　the　two　might　have　been
in　different　worldsthere　he　lay；　with　the　morning　sunshine　on
his　face；　in　the　torture　of　his　dream。

One　question；　and　one　only；　rose　in　the　mind　of　the　man　who　was
looking　at　him。　What　had　the　fatality　which　had　imprisoned　him　in
the　wreck　decreed　that　he　should　see？

Had　the　treachery　of　Sleep　opened　the　gates　of　the　grave　to　that
one　of　the　two　Armadales　whom　the　other　had　kept　in　ignorance　of
the　truth？　Was　the　murder　of　the　father　revealing　itself　to　the
sonthere；　on　the　very　spot　where　the　crime　had　been
committedin　the　vision　of　a　dream？

With　that　question　overshadowing　all　else　in　his　mind；　the　son　of
the　homicide　knelt　on　the　deck；　and　looked　at　the　son　of　the　man
whom　his　father's　hand　had　slain。

The　conflict　between　the　sleeping　body　and　the　waking　mind　was
strengthening　every　moment。　The　dreamer's　helpless　groaning　for
deliverance　grew　louder；　his　hands　raised　themselves；　and
clutched　at　the　empty　air。　Struggling　with　the　all…mastering
dread　that　still　held　him；　Midwinter　laid　his　hand　gently　on
Allan's　forehead。　Light　as　the　touch　was；　there　were　mysterious
sympathies　in　the　dreaming　man　that　answered　it。　His　groaning
ceased；　and　his　hands　dropped　slowly。　There　was　an　instant　of
suspense　and　Midwinter　looked　closer。　His　breath　just　fluttered
over　the　sleeper's　face。　Before　the　next　breath　had　risen　to　his
lips；　Allan　suddenly　sprang　up　on　his　kneessprang　up；　as　if　the
call　of　a　trumpet　had　rung　on　his　ear；　awake　in　an　instant。

〃You　have　been　dreaming；〃　said　Midwinter；　as　the　other　looked　at
him　wildly；　in　the　first　bewilderment　of　waking。

Allan's　eyes　began　to　wander　about　the　wreck；　at　first　vacantly；
then　with　a　look　of　angry　surprise。　〃Are　we　here　still？〃　he　said；
as　Midwinter　helped　him　to　his　feet。　〃Whatever　else　I　do　on　board
this　infernal　ship；〃　he　added；　after　a　moment；　〃I　won't　go　to
sleep　again！〃

As　he　said　those　words；　his　friend's　eyes　searched　his　face　in
silent　inquiry。　They　took　a　turn　together　on　the　deck。

〃Tell　me　your　dream；〃　said　Midwinter；　with　a　strange　tone　of
suspicion　in　his　voice；　and　a　strange　appearance　of　abruptness　in
his　manner。

〃I　can't　tell　it　yet；〃　returned　Allan。　〃Wait　a　little　till　I'm　my
own　man　again。〃

They　took　another　turn　on　the　deck。　Midwinter　stopped；　and　spoke
once　more。

〃Look　at　me　for　a　moment；　Allan；〃　he　said。

There　was　something　of　the　trouble　left　by　the　dream；　and
something　of　natural　surprise　at　the　strange　request　just
addressed　to　him；　in　Allan's　face；　as　he　turned　it　full　on　the
speaker；　but　no　shadow　of　ill…will；　no　lurking　lines　of　distrust
anywhere。　Midwinter　turned　aside　quickly；　and　hid；　as　he　best
might；　an　irrepressible　outburst　of　relief。

〃Do　I　look　a　little　upset？〃　asked　Allan；　taking　his　arm；　and
leading　him　on　again。　〃Don't　make　yourself　nervous　about　me　if　I
do。　My　head　feels　wild　and　giddy；　but　I　shall　soon　get　over　it。〃

For　the　next　few　minutes　they　walked　backward　and　forward　in
silence；　the　one　bent　on　dismissing　the　terror　of　the　dream　from
his　thoughts；　the　other　bent　on　discovering　what　the　terror　of
the　dream　might　be。　Relieved　of　the　dread　that　had　oppressed　it；
the　superstitious　nature　of　Midwinter　had　leaped　to　its　next
conclusion　at　a　bound。　What　if　the　sleeper　had　been　visited　by
another　revelation　than　the　revelation　of　the　Past？　What　if　the
dream　had　opened　those　unturned　pages　in　the　book　of　the　Future
which　told　the　story　of　his　life　to　come？　The　bare　doubt　that　it
might　be　so　strengthened　tenfold　Midwinter's　longing　to　penetrate
the　mystery　which　Allan's　silence　still　kept　a　secret　from　him。

〃Is　your　head　more　composed？〃　he　asked。　〃Can　you　tell　me　your
dream　now？〃

While　he　put　the　question；　a　last　memorable　moment　in　the
Adventure　of　the　Wreck　was　at　hand。

They　had　reached　the　stern；　and　were　just　turning　again　when
Midwinter　spoke。　As　Allan　opened　his　lips　to　answer；　he　looked
out　mechanically　to　sea。　Instead　of　replying；　he　suddenly　ran　to
the　taffrail；　and　waved　his　hat　over　his　head；　with　a　shout　of
exultation。

Midwinter　joined　him；　and　saw　a　large　six…oared　boat　pulling
straight　for　the　channel　of　the　Sound。　A　figure；　which　they　both
thought　they　recognized；　rose　eagerly　in　the　stern…sheets　and
returned　the　waving　of　Allan's　hat。　The　boat　came　nearer；　the
steersman　called　to　them　cheerfully；　and　they　recognized　the
doctor's　voice。

〃Thank　God　you're　both　above　water！〃　said　Mr。　Hawbury；　as　they
met　him　on　the　deck　of　the　timber…ship。　〃Of　all　the　winds　of
heaven；　which　wind　blew　you　here？〃

He　looked　at　Midwinter　as　he　made　the　inquiry；　but　it　was　Allan
who　told　him　the　story　of　the　night；　and　Allan　who　asked　the
doctor　for　information　in　return。　The　one　absorbing　interest　in
Midwinter's　mindthe　interest　of　penetrating　the　mystery　of　the
dreamkept　him　silent　throughout。　Heedless　of　all　that　was　said
or　done　about　him；　he　watched　Allan；　and　followed　Allan；　like　a
dog；　until　the　time　came　for　getting　down　into　the　boat。　Mr。
Hawbury's　professional　eye　rested　on　him　curiously；　noting　his
varying　color；　and　the　incessant　restlessness　of　his　hands。　〃I
wouldn't　change　nervous　systems　with　that　man　for　the　largest
fortune　that　could　be　offered　me；〃　thought　　the　doctor　as　he　took
the　boat's　t　iller；　and　gave　the　oarsmen　their　order　to　push　off
from　the　wreck。

Having　reserved　all　explanations　on　his　side　until　they　were　on
their　way　back　to　Port　St。　Mary；　Mr。　Hawbury　next　addressed
himself　to　the　gratification　of　Allan's　curiosity。　The
circumstances　which　had　brought　him　to　the　rescue　of　his　two
guests　of　the　previous　evening　were　simple　enough。　The　lost　boat
had　been　met　with　at　sea　by　some　fishermen　of　Port　Erin；　on　the
western　side　of　the　island；　who　at　once　recognized　it　as　the
doctor's　property；　and　at　once　sent　a　messenger　to　make　inquiry；
at　the　doctor's　house。　The　man's　statement　of　what　had　happened
had　naturally　alarmed　Mr。　Hawbury　for　the　safety　of　Allan　and　his
friend。　He　had　immediately　secured　assistance；　and；　guided　by　the
boatman's　advice；　had　made　first　for　the　most　dangerous　place　on
the　coastthe　only　place；　in　that　calm　weather；　in　which　an
accident　could　have　happened　to　a　boat　sailed　by　experienced
menthe　channel　of　the　Sound。　After　thus　accounting　for　his
welcome　appearance　on　the　scene；　the　doctor　hospitably　insisted
that　his　guests　of　the　evening　should　be　his　guests　of　the
morning　as　well。　It　would　still　be　too　early　when　they　got　back
for　the　people　at　the　hotel　to　receive　them；　and　they　would　find
bed　and　breakfast　at　Mr。　Hawbury's　house。

At　the　first　pause　in　the　conversation　between　Allan　and　the
doctor；　Midwinter；　who　had　neither　joined　in　the　talk　nor
listened　to　the　talk；　touched　his　friend　on　the　arm。　〃Are　you
better？〃　he　asked；　in　a　whisper。　〃Shall　you　soon　be　composed
enough　to　tell　me　what　I　want　to　know？〃

Allan's　eyebrows　contracted　impatiently；　the　subject　of　the
dream；　and　Midwinter's　obstinacy　in　returning　to　it；　seemed　to　be
alike　distasteful　to　him。　He　hardly　answered　with　his　usual　good
humor。　〃I　suppose　I　shall　have　no　peace　till　I　tell　you；〃　he
said；　〃so　I　may　as　well　get　it　over　at　once。〃

〃No！〃　returned　Midwinter；　with　a　look　at　the　doctor　and　his
oarsmen。　〃Not　where　other　people　can　hear　itnot　till　you　and　I
are　alone。〃

〃If　you　wish　to　see　the　last；　gentlemen；　of　your　quarters　for　the
night；〃　interposed　the　doctor；　〃now　is　your　time！　The　coast　will
shut　the　vessel　out　in　a　minute　more。〃

In　silence　on　the　one　side　and　on　the　other；　the　two　Armadales
looked　their　last　at　the　fatal　ship。　Lonely　and　lost　they　had
found　the　wreck　in　the　mystery　of　the　summer　night；　lonely　and
lost　they　left　the　wreck　in　the　radiant　beauty　of　the　summer
morning。

An　hour　later　the　doctor　had　seen　his　guests　established　in　their
bedrooms；　and　had　left　them　to　take　their　rest　until　the
breakfast　hour　arrived。

Almost　as　soon　as　his　back　was　turned；　the　doors　of　both　rooms
opened　softly；　and　Allan　and　Midwinter　met　in　the　passage。

〃Can　you　sleep　after　what　has　happened？〃　asked　Allan。

Midwinter　shook　his　head。　〃You　were　coming　to　my　room；　were　you
not？〃　he　said。　〃What　for？〃

〃To　ask　you　to　keep　me　company。　What　were　you　coming　to　_my_　room
for？〃

〃To　ask　you　to　tell　me　your　dream。〃

〃Damn　the　dream！　I　want　to　forget　all　about　it。〃

〃And　_I_　want　to　know　all　about　it。〃

Both　paused；　both　refrained　instinctively　from　saying　more。　For
the　first　time　since　the　beginning　of　their　friendship　they　were
on　the　verge　of　a　disagreement；　and　that　on　the　subject　of　the
dream。　Allan's　good　temper　just　stopped　them　on　the　brink。

〃You　are　the　most　obstinate　fellow　alive；〃　he　said；　〃but　if　you
will　know　all　about　it；　you　must　know　all　about　it；　I　suppose。
Come　into　my　room；　and　I'll　tell　you。〃

He　led　the　way；　and　Midwinter　followed。　The　door　closed　and　shut
them　in　together。

CHAPTER　V。

THE　SHADOW　OF　THE　FUTURE。

WHEN　Mr。　Hawbury　joined　his　guests　in　the　breakfast…room；　the
strange　contrast　of　character　between　them　which　he　had　noticed
already　was　impressed　on　his　mind　more　strongly　than　ever。　One　of
them　sat　at　the　well…spread　table；　hungry　and　happy；　ranging　from
dish　to　dish；　and　declaring　that　he　had　never　made　such　a
breakfast　in　his　life。　The　other　sat　apart　at　the　window；　his　cup
thanklessly　deserted　before　it　was　empty；　his　meat　left
ungraciously　half…eaten　on　his　plate。　The　doctor's　morning
greeting　to　the　two　accurately　expressed　the　differing
impressions　which　they　had　produced　on　his　mind。

He　clapped　Allan　on　the　shoulder；　and　saluted　him　with　a　joke。　He
bowed　constrainedly　to　Midwinter；　and　said；　〃I　am　afraid　you　have
not　recovered　the　fatigues　of　the　night。〃

〃It's　not　the　night；　doctor；　that　has　damped　his　spirits；〃　said
Allan。　〃It's　something　I　have　been　telling　him。　It　is　not　my
fault；　mind。　If　I　had　only　known　beforehand　that　he　believed　in
dreams；　I　wouldn't　have　opened　my　lips。〃

〃Dreams？〃　repeat