armadale-第37章

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right；　too；〃　thought　Allan；　sauntering　contentedly　down　the
broad；　gently　graduated　stairs。　〃Deuce　take　all　mystery　and
romance！　Let's　be　clean　and　comfortable；　that's　what　I　say。〃

Arrived　in　the　hall；　the　new　master　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　hesitated；
and　looked　about　him；　uncertain　which　way　to　turn　next。

The　four　reception…rooms　on　the　ground…floor　opened　into　the
hall；　two　on　either　side。　Allan　tried　the　nearest　door　on　his
right　hand　at　a　venture；　and　found　himself　in　the　drawing…room。
Here　the　first　sign　of　life　appeared；　under　life's　most
attractive　form。　A　young　girl　was　in　solitary　possession　of　the
drawing…room。　The　duster　in　her　hand　appeared　to　associate　her
with　the　domestic　duties　of　the　house；　but　at　that　particular
moment　she　was　occupied　in　asserting　the　rights　of　nature　over
the　obligations　of　service。　In　other　words；　she　was　attentively
contemplating　her　own　face　in　the　glass　over　the　mantelpiece。

〃There！　there！　don't　let　me　frighten　you；〃　said　Allan；　as　the
girl　started　away　from　the　glass；　and　stared　at　him　in
unutterable　confusion。　〃I　quite　agree　with　you；　my　dear；　your
face　is　well　worth　looking　at。　Who　are　you？　Oh；　the　housemaid。
And　what's　your　name？　Susan；　eh？　Come！　I　like　your　name；　to　begin
with。　Do　you　know　who　I　am；　Susan？　I'm　your　master；　though　you
may　not　think　it。　Your　character？　Oh；　yes！　Mrs。　Blanchard　gave
you　a　capital　character。　You　shall　stop　here；　don't　be　afraid。
And　you'll　be　a　good　girl；　Susan；　and　wear　smart　little　caps　and
aprons　and　bright　ribbons；　and　you'll　look　nice　and　pretty；　and
dust　the　furniture；　won't　you？〃　With　this　summary　of　a
housemaid's　duties；　Allan　sauntered　back　into　the　hall；　and　found
more　signs　of　life　in　that　quarter。　A　man…servant　appeared　on
this　occasion；　and　bowed；　as　became　a　vassal　in　a　linen　jacket；
before　his　liege　lord　in　a　wide…awake　hat。

〃And　who　may　you　be？〃　asked　Allan。　〃Not　the　man　who　let　us　in
last　night？　Ah；　I　thought　not。　The　second　footman；　eh？　Character？
Oh；　yes；　capital　character。　Stop　here；　of　course。　You　can　valet
me；　can　you？　Bother　valeting　me！　I　like　to　put　on　my　own　clothes；
and　brush　them；　too；　when　they　_are_　on；　and；　if　I　only　knew　how
to　black　my　own　boots；　by　George；　I　should　like　to　do　it！　What
room's　this？　Morning…room；　eh？　And　here's　the　dining…room；　of
course。　Good　heavens；　what　a　table！　it's　as　long　as　my　yacht；　and
longer。　I　say；　by…the…by；　what's　your　name？　Richard；　is　it？　Well；
Richard；　the　vessel　I　sail　in　is　a　vessel　of　my　own　building？
What　do　you　think　of　that？　You　look　to　me　just　the　right　sort　of
man　to　be　my　steward　on　board。　If　you're　not　sick　at　seaoh；　you
_are_　sick　at　sea？　Well；　then；　we'll　say　nothing　more　about　it。
And　what　room　is　this？　Ah；　yes；　the　library；　of　coursemore　in
Mr。　Midwinter's　way　than　mine。　Mr。　Midwinter　is　the　gentleman　who
came　here　with　me　last　night；　and　mind　this；　Richard；　you're　al　l
to　show　him　as　much　attention　as　you　show　me。　Where　are　we　now？
What's　this　door　at　the　back？　Billiard…room　and　smoking…room；　eh？
Jolly。　Another　door！　and　more　stairs！　Where　do　they　go　to？　and
who's　this　coming　up？　Take　your　time；　ma'am；　you're　not　quite　so
young　as　you　were　oncetake　your　time。〃

The　object　of　Allan's　humane　caution　was　a　corpulent　elderly
woman　of　the　type　called　〃motherly。〃　Fourteen　stairs　were　all
that　separated　her　from　the　master　of　the　house；　she　ascended
them　with　fourteen　stoppages　and　fourteen　sighs。　Nature；　various
in　all　things；　is　infinitely　various　in　the　female　sex。　There　are
some　women　whose　personal　qualities　reveal　the　Loves　and　the
Graces；　and　there　are　other　women　whose　personal　qualities
suggest　the　Perquisites　and　the　Grease　Pot。　This　was　one　of　the
other　women。

〃Glad　to　see　you　looking　so　well；　ma'am；〃　said　Allan；　when　the
cook；　in　the　majesty　of　her　office；　stood　proclaimed　before　him。
〃Your　name　is　Gripper；　is　it？　I　consider　you；　Mrs。　Gripper；　the
most　valuable　person　in　the　house。　For　this　reason；　that　nobody
in　the　house　eats　a　heartier　dinner　every　day　than　I　do。
Directions？　Oh；　no；　I've　no　directions　to　give。　I　leave　all　that
to　you。　Lots　of　strong　soup；　and　joints　done　with　the　gravy　in
themthere's　my　notion　of　good　feeding；　in　two　words。　Steady！
Here's　somebody　else。　Oh；　to　be　surethe　butler！　Another
valuable　person。　We'll　go　right　through　all　the　wine　in　the
cellar；　Mr。　Butler；　and　if　I　can't　give　you　a　sound　opinion　after
that；　we'll　persevere　boldly；　and　go　right　through　it　again。
Talking　of　winehalloo！　here　are　more　of　them　coming　up　stairs。
There！　there！　don't　trouble　yourselves。　You've　all　got　capital
characters；　and　you　shall　all　stop　here　along　with　me。　What　was　I
saying　just　now？　Something　about　wine；　so　it　was。　I'll　tell　you
what；　Mr。　Butler；　it　isn't　every　day　that　a　new　master　comes　to
Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　it's　my　wish　that　we　should　all　start
together　on　the　best　possible　terms。　Let　the　servants　have　a
grand　jollification　downstairs　to　celebrate　my　arrival；　and　give
them　what　they　like　to　drink　my　health　in。　It's　a　poor　heart；
Mrs。　Gripper；　that　never　rejoices；　isn't　it？　No；　I　won't　look　at
the　cellar　now：　I　want　to　go　out；　and　get　a　breath　of　fresh　air
before　breakfast。　Where's　Richard？　I　say；　have　I　got　a　garden
here？　Which　side　of　the　house　is　it！　That　side；　eh？　You　needn't
show　me　round。　I'll　go　alone；　Richard；　and　lose　myself；　if　I　can；
in　my　own　property。〃

With　those　words　Allan　descended　the　terrace　steps　in　front　of
the　house；　whistling　cheerfully。　He　had　met　the　serious
responsibility　of　settling　his　domestic　establishment　to　his　own
entire　satisfaction。　〃People　talk　of　the　difficulty　of　managing
their　servants；〃　thought　Allan。　〃What　on　earth　do　they　mean？　I
don't　see　any　difficulty　at　all。〃　He　opened　an　ornamental　gate
leading　out　of　the　drive　at　the　side　of　the　house；　and；　following
the　footman's　directions；　entered　the　shrubbery　that　sheltered
the　Thorpe　Ambrose　gardens。　〃Nice　shady　sort　of　place　for　a
cigar；〃　said　Allan；　as　he　sauntered　along　with　his　hands　in　his
pockets　〃I　wish　I　could　beat　it　into　my　head　that　it　really
belongs　to　_me。_〃

The　shrubbery　opened　on　the　broad　expanse　of　a　flower　garden；
flooded　bright　in　its　summer　glory　by　the　light　of　the　morning
sun。

On　one　side；　an　archway；　broken　through；　a　wall；　led　into　the
fruit　garden。　On　the　other；　a　terrace　of　turf　led　to　ground　on　a
lower　level；　laid　out　as　an　Italian　garden。　Wandering　past　the
fountains　and　statues；　Allan　reached　another　shrubbery；　winding
its　way　apparently　to　some　remote　part　of　the　grounds。　Thus　far；
not　a　human　creature　had　been　visible　or　audible　anywhere；　but；
as　he　approached　the　end　of　the　second　shrubbery；　it　struck　him
that　he　heard　something　on　the　other　side　of　the　foliage。　He
stopped　and　listened。　There　were　two　voices　speaking
distinctlyan　old　voice　that　sounded　very　obstinate；　and　a　young
voice　that　sounded　very　angry。

〃It's　no　use；　miss；〃　said　the　old　voice。　〃I　mustn't　allow　it；　and
I　won't　allow　it。　What　would　Mr。　Armadale　say？〃

〃If　Mr。　Armadale　is　the　gentleman　I　take　him　for；　you　old　brute！〃
replied　the　young　voice；　〃he　would　say；　'Come　into　my　garden；
Miss　Milroy；　as　often　as　you　like；　and　take　as　many　nosegays　as
you　please。'　〃　Allan's　bright　blue　eyes　twinkled　mischievously。
Inspired　by　a　sudden　idea；　he　stole　softly　to　the　end　of　the
shrubbery；　darted　round　the　corner　of　it；　and；　vaulting　over　a
low　ring　fence；　found　himself　in　a　trim　little　paddock；　crossed
by　a　gravel　walk。　At　a　short　distance　down　the　wall　stood　a　young
lady；　with　her　back　toward　him；　trying　to　force　her　way　past　an
impenetrable　old　man；　with　a　rake　in　his　hand；　who　stood
obstinately　in　front　of　her；　shaking　his　head。

〃Come　into　my　garden；　Miss　Milroy；　as　often　as　you　like；　and　take
as　many　nosegays　as　you　please；〃　cried　Allan；　remorselessly
repeating　her　own　words。

The　young　lady　turned　round；　with　a　scream；　her　muslin　dress；
which　she　was　holding　up　in　front；　dropped　from　her　hand；　and　a
prodigious　lapful　of　flowers　rolled　out　on　the　gravel　walk。

Before　another　word　could　be　said；　the　impenetrable　old　man
stepped　forward；　with　the　utmost　composure；　and　entered　on　the
question　of　his　own　personal　interests；　as　if　nothing　whatever
had　happened；　and　nobody　was　present　but　his　new　master　and
himself。

〃I　bid　you　humbly　welcome　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　sir；〃　said　this
ancient　of　the　gardens。　〃My　name　is　Abraham　Sage。　I've　been
employed　in　the　grounds　for　more　than　forty　years；　and　I　hope
you'll　be　pleased　to　continue　me　in　my　place。〃

So；　with　vision　inexorably　limited　to　the　horizon　of　his　own
prospects；　spoke　the　gardener；　and　spoke　in　vain。　Allan　was　down
on　his　knees　on　the　gravel　walk；　collecting　the　fallen　flowers；
and　forming　his　first　impressions　of　Miss　Milroy　from　the　feet
upward。

She　was　pretty；　she　was　not　pretty；　she　charmed；　she
disappointed；　she　charmed　again。　Tried　by　recognized　line　and
rule；　she　was　too　short　and　too　well　developed　for　her　age。　And
yet　few　men's　eyes　would　have　wished　her　figure　other　than　it
was。　Her　hands　were　so　prettily　plump　and　dimpled　that　it　was
hard　to　see　how　red　they　were　with　the　blessed　exuberance　of
youth　and　health。　Her　feet　apologized　gracefully　for　her　old　and
ill　fitting　shoes；　and　her　shoulders　made　ample　amends　for　the
misdemeanor　in　muslin　which　covered　them　in　the　shape　of　a　dress。
Her　dark…gray　eyes　were　lovely　in　their　clear　softness　of　color；
in　their　spirit；　tenderness；　and　sweet　good　humor　of　expression；
and　her　hair　（where　a　shabby　old　garden　hat　allowed　it　to　be
seen）　was　of　just　that　lighter　shade　of　brown　which　gave　value　by
contrast　to　the　darker　beauty　of　her　eyes。　But　these　attractions
passed；　the　little　attendant　blemishes　and　imperfections　of　this
self…contradictory　girl　began　again。　Her　nose　was　too　short；　her
mouth　was　too　large；　her　face　was　too　round　and　too　rosy。　The
dreadful　justice　of　photography　would　have　had　no　mercy　on　her；
and　the　sculptors　of　classical　Greece　would　have　bowed　her
regretfully　out　of　their　studios。　Admitting　all　this；　and　more；
the　girdle　round　Miss　Milroy's　waist　was　the　girdle　of　Venus
nevertheless；　and　the　passkey　that　opens　the　general　heart　was
the　key　she　carried；　if　ever　a　girl　possessed　it　yet。　Before
Allan　had　picked　up　his　second　handful　of　flowers；　Allan　was　in
love　with　her。

〃Don't！　pray　don't；　Mr。　Armadale！〃　she　said；　receiving　the
flowers　under　protest；　as　Allan　vigorously　showered　them　back
into　the　lap　of　her　dress。　〃I　am　so　ashamed！　I　didn't　mean　to
invite　myself　in　that　bold　way　into　your　garden；　my　tongue　ran
away　with　meit　did；　indeed！　What　can　I　say　to　excuse　myself？
Oh；　Mr。　Armadale；　what　must　you　think　of　me？〃

Allan　suddenly　saw　his　way　to　a　compliment；　and　tossed　it　up　to
her　forthwith；　with　the　third　handful　of　flowers。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　think；　Miss　Milroy；〃　he　said；　in　his　blunt；
boyish　way。　〃I　think　the　luckiest　walk　I　ever　took　in　my　life　was
the　walk　this　morning　that　brought　me　here。〃

He　looked　eager　and　handsome。　He　was　not　addressing　a　woman　worn
out　with　admiration；　but　a　girl　just　beginning　a　woman's　life；
and　it　did　him　no　harm；　at　any　rate；　to　speak　in　the　character　of
master　of　Thorpe　Ambrose。　The　penitential　expression　on　Miss
Milroy's　face　gen