armadale-第34章

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once　to　the　morning　of　yesterday；　the　fourteenth。　We　had　come　in
with　the　night…tide　to　Douglas　Harbor；　and；　as　soon　as　the
post…office　was　open；　Allan；　by　my　advice；　sent　on　shore　for
letters。　The　messenger　returned　with　one　letter　only；　and　the
writer　of　it　proved　to　be　the　former　mistress　of　Thorpe
AmbroseMrs。　Blanchard。

〃You　ought　to　be　informed；　I　think；　of　the　contents　of　this
letter；　for　it　has　seriously　influenced　Allan's　plans。　He　loses
everything；　sooner　or　later；　as　you　know；　and　he　has　lost　the
letter　already。　So　I　must　give　you　the　substance　of　what　Mrs。
Blanchard　wrote　to　him；　as　plainly　as　I　can。

〃The　first　page　announced　the　departure　of　the　ladies　from　Thorpe
Ambrose。　They　left　on　the　day　before　yesterday；　the　thirteenth；
having；　after　much　hesitation；　finally　decided　on　going　abroad；
to　visit　some　old　friends　settled　in　Italy；　in　the　neighborhood
of　Florence。　It　appears　to　be　quite　possible　that　Mrs。　Blanchard
and　her　niece　may　settle　there；　too；　if　they　can　find　a　suitable
house　and　grounds　to　let。　They　both　like　the　Italian　country　and
the　Italian　people；　and　they　are　well　enough　off　to　please
themselves。　The　elder　lady　has　her　jointure；　and　the　younger　is
in　possession　of　all　her　father's　fortune。

〃The　next　page　of　the　letter　was；　in　Allan's　opinion；　far　from　a
pleasant　page　to　read。

〃After　referring；　in　the　most　grateful　terms；　to　the　kindness
which　had　left　her　niece　and　herself　free　to　leave　their　old　home
at　their　own　time；　Mrs。　Blanchard　added　that　Allan's　considerate
conduct　had　produced　such　a　strongly　favorable　impression　among
the　friends　and　dependents　of　the　family　that　they　were　desirous
of　giving　him　a　public　reception　on　his　arrival　among　them。　A
preliminary　meeting　of　the　tenants　on　the　estate　and　the
principal　persons　in　the　neighboring　town　had　already　been　held
to　discuss　the　arrangements；　and　a　letter　might　be　expected
shortly　from　the　clergyman　inquiring　when　it　would　suit　Mr。
Armadale's　convenience　to　take　possession　personally　and　publicly
of　his　estates　in　Norfolk。

〃You　will　now　be　able　to　guess　the　cause　of　our　sudden　departure
from　the　Isle　of　Man。　The　first　and　foremost　idea　in　your　old
pupil's　mind；　as　soon　as　he　had　read　Mrs。　Blanchard's　account　of
the　proceedings　at　the　meeting；　was　the　idea　of　escaping　the
public　reception；　and　the　one　certain　way　he　could　see　of
avoiding　it　was　to　start　for　Thorpe　Ambrose　before　the
clergyman's　letter　could　reach　him。

〃I　tried　hard　to　make　him　think　a　little　before　he　acted　an　his
first　impulse　in　this　matter；　but　he　only　went　on　packing　his
portmanteau　in　his　own　impenetrably　good…humored　way。　In　ten
minutes　his　luggage　was　ready；　and　in　five　minutes　more　he　had
given　the　crew　their　directions　for　taking　the　yacht　back　to
Somersetshire。　The　steamer　to　Liverpool　was　alongside　of　us　in
the　harbor；　and　I　had　really　no　choice　but　to　go　on　board　with
him　or　to　let　him　go　by　himself。　I　spare　you　the　account　of　our
stormy　voyage；　of　our　detention　at　Liverpool；　and　of　the　trains
we　missed　on　our　journey　across　the　country。　You　know　that　we
have　got　here　safely；　and　that　is　enough。　What　the　servants　think
of　the　new　squire's　sudden　appearance　among　them；　without　a　word
of　warning；　is　of　no　great　consequence。　What　　the　committee　for
arranging　the　publi　c　reception　may　think　of　it　when　the　news
flies　abroad　to…morrow　is；　I　am　afraid；　a　more　serious　matter。

〃Having　already　mentioned　the　servants；　I　may　proceed　to　tell　you
that　the　latter　part　of　Mrs。　Blanchard誷　letter　was　entirely
devoted　to　instructing　Allan　on　the　subject　of　the　domestic
establishment　which　she　has　left　behind　her。　It　seems　that　all
the　servants；　indoors　and　out　（with　three　exceptions）；　are
waiting　here；　on　the　chance　that　Allan　will　continue　them　in
their　places。　Two　of　these　exceptions　are　readily　accounted　for：
Mrs。　Blanchard's　maid　and　Miss　Blanchard's　maid　go　abroad　with
their　mistresses。　The　third　exceptional　case　is　the　case　of　the
upper　housemaid；　and　here　there　is　a　little　hitch。　In　plain
words；　the　housemaid　has　been　sent　away　at　a　moment's　notice；　for
what　Mrs。　Blanchard　rather　mysteriously　describes　as　'levity　of
conduct　with　a　stranger。'

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　laugh　at　me；　but　I　must　confess　the　truth。
I　have　been　made　so　distrustful　（after　what　happened　to　us　in　the
Isle　of　Man）　of　even　the　most　trifling　misadventures　which
connect　themselves　in　any　way　with　Allan's　introduction　to　his
new　life　and　prospects；　that　I　have　already　questioned　one　of　the
men…servants　here　about　this　apparently　unimportant　matter　of　the
housemaid's　going　away　in　disgrace。

〃All　I　can　learn　is　that　a　strange　man　had　been　noticed　hanging
suspiciously　about　the　grounds；　that　the　housemaid　was　so　ugly　a
woman　as　to　render　it　next　to　a　certainty　that　he　had　some
underhand　purpose　to　serve　in　making　himself　agreeable　to　her；
and　that　he　has　not　as　yet　been　seen　again　in　the　neighborhood
since　the　day　of　her　dismissal。　So　much　for　the　one　servant　who
has　been　turned　out　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。　I　can　only　hope　there　is
no　trouble　for　Allan　brewing　in　that　quarter。　As　for　the　other
servants　who　remain；　Mrs。　Blanchard　describes　them；　both　men　and
women；　as　perfectly　trustworthy；　and　they　will　all；　no　doubt；
continue　to　occupy　their　present　places。

〃Having　now　done　with　Mrs。　Blanchard's　letter；　my　next　duty　is　to
beg　you；　in　Allan's　name　and　with　Allan's　love；　to　come　here　and
stay　with　him　at　the　earliest　moment　when　you　can　leave
Somersetshire。　Although　I　cannot　presume　to　think　that　my　own
wishes　will　have　any　special　influence　in　determining　you　to
accept　this　invitation；　I　must　nevertheless　acknowledge　that　I
have　a　reason　of　my　own　for　earnestly　desiring　to　see　you　here。
Allan　has　innocently　caused　me　a　new　anxiety　about　my　future
relations　with　him；　and　I　sorely　need　your　advice　to　show　me　the
right　way　of　setting　that　anxiety　at　rest。

〃The　difficulty　which　now　perplexes　me　relates　to　the　steward's
place　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。　Before　to…day　I　only　knew　that　Allan　had
hit　on　some　plan　of　his　own　for　dealing　with　this　matter；　rather
strangely　involving；　among　other　results；　the　letting　of　the
cottage　which　was　the　old　steward's　place　of　abode；　in
consequence　of　the　new　steward's　contemplated　residence　in　the
great　house。　A　chance　word　in　our　conversation　on　the　journey
here　led　Allan　into　speaking　out　more　plainly　than　he　had　spoken
yet；　and　I　heard　to　my　unutterable　astonishment　that　the　person
who　was　at　the　bottom　of　the　whole　arrangement　about　the　steward
was　no　other　than　myself！

〃It　is　needless　to　tell　you　how　I　felt　this　new　instance　of
Allan's　kindness。　The　first　pleasure　of　hearing　from　his　own　lips
that　I　had　deserved　the　strongest　proof　he　could　give　of　his
confidence　in　me　was　soon　dashed　by　the　pain　which　mixes　itself
with　all　pleasureat　least；　with　all　that　I　have　ever　known。
Never　has　my　past　life　seemed　so　dreary　to　look　back　on　as　it
seems　now；　when　I　feel　how　entirely　it　has　unfitted　me　to　take
the　place　of　all　others　that　I　should　have　liked　to　occupy　in　my
friend's　service。　I　mustered　courage　to　tell　him　that　I　had　none
of　the　business　knowledge　and　business　experience　which　his
steward　ought　to　possess。　He　generously　met　the　objection　by
telling　me　that　I　could　learn；　and　he　has　promised　to　send　to
London　for　the　person　who　has　already　been　employed　for　the　time
being　in　the　steward's　office；　and　who　will；　therefore；　be
perfectly　competent　to　teach　me。

〃Do　you；　too；　think　I　can　learn？　If　you　do；　I　will　work　day　and
night　to　instruct　myself。　But　if　（as　I　am　afraid）　the　steward's
duties　are　of　far　too　serious　a　kind　to　be　learned　off…hand　by　a
man　so　young　and　so　inexperienced　as　I　am；　then　pray　hasten　your
journey　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　exert　your　influence　over　Allan
personally。　Nothing　less　will　induce　him　to　pass　me　over；　and　to
employ　a　steward　who　is　really　fit　to　take　the　place。　Pray；　pray
act　in　this　matter　as　you　think　best　for　Allan's　interests。
Whatever　disappointment　I　may　feel；　_he_　shall　not　see　it。

〃Believe　me；　dear　Mr。　Brock；

〃Gratefuly　yours；

〃OZIAS　MIDWINTER。

〃P。S。I　open　the　envelope　again　to　add　one　word　more。　If　you
have　heard　or　seen　anything　since　your　return　to　Somersetshire　of
the　woman　in　the　black　dress　and　the　red　shawl；　I　hope　you　will
not　forget；　when　you　write；　to　let　me　know　it。

O。　M。〃

2。　_From　Mrs。　Oldershaw　to　Miss　Gwilt。_

〃Ladies'　Toilet　Repository；　Diana　Street；　Pimlico；

Wednesday。

〃MY　DEAR　LYDIATo　save　the　post；　I　write　to　you；　after　a　long
day's　worry　at　my　place　of　business；　on　the　business
letter…paper；　having　news　since　we　last　met　which　it　seems
advisable　to　send　you　at　the　earliest　opportunity。

〃To　begin　at　the　beginning。　After　carefully　considering　the
thing；　I　am　quite　sure　you　will　do　wisely　with　young　Armadale　if
you　hold　your　tongue　about　Madeira　and　all　that　happened　there。
Your　position　was；　no　doubt；　a　very　strong　one　with　his　mother。
You　had　privately　helped　her　in　playing　a　trick　on　her　own
father；　you　had　been　ungratefully　dismissed；　at　a　pitiably　tender
age；　as　soon　as　you　had　served　her　purpose；　and；　when　you　came
upon　her　suddenly；　after　a　separation　of　more　than　twenty　years；
you　found　her　in　failing　health；　with　a　grown…up　son；　whom　she
had　kept　in　total　ignorance　of　the　true　story　of　her　marriage。

〃Have　you　any　such　advantages　as　these　with　the　young　gentleman
who　has　survived　her？　If　he　is　not　a　born　idiot　he　will　decline
to　believe　your　shocking　aspersions　on　the　memory　of　his　mother；
andseeing　that　you　have　no　proofs　at　this　distance　of　time　to
meet　him　withthere　is　an　end　of　your　money…grubbing　in　the
golden　Armadale　diggings。　Mind；　I　don't　dispute　that　the　old
lady's　heavy　debt　of　obligation；　after　what　you　did　for　her　in
Madeira；　is　not　paid　yet；　and　that　the　son　is　the　next　person　to
settle　with　you；　now　the　mother　has　slipped　through　your　fingers。
Only　squeeze　him　the　right　way；　my　dear；　that's　what　I　venture　to
suggestsqueeze　him　the　right　way。

〃And　which　is　the　right　way？　That　question　brings　me　to　my　news。

〃Have　you　thought　again　of　that　other　notion　of　yours　of　trying
your　hand　on　this　lucky　young　gentleman；　with　nothing　but　your
own　good　looks　and　your　own　quick　wits　to　help　you？　The　idea　hung
on　my　mind　so　strangely　after　you　were　gone　that　it　ended　in　my
sending　a　little　note　to　my　lawyer；　to　have　the　will　under　which
young　Armadale　has　got　his　fortune　examined　at　Doctor's　Commons。
The　result　turns　out　to　be　something　infinitely　more　encouraging
than　either　you　or　I　could　possibly　have　hoped　for。　After　the
lawyer's　report　to　me；　there　cannot　be　a　moment's　doubt　of　what
you　ought　to　do。　In　two　words；　Lydia；　take　the　bull　by　the
hornsand　marry　him！

〃I　am　quite　serious。　He　is　much　better　worth　the　venture　than　you
suppose。　Only　persuade　him　to　make　you　Mrs。　Armadale；　and　you　may
set　all　after…discoveries　at　flat　defiance。　As　long　as　he　lives；
you　can　make　your　own　terms　with　him；　and；　if　he　dies；　the　will
entitles　you；　in　spite　of　anything　he　can　say　or　dowith
children　or　without　themto　an　income　chargeable　on　his　estate
of　_twelve　hundred　a　year　for　life。_　There　is　no　doubt　about
this；　the　lawyer　hims