armadale-第42章

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sadly　as　he　descended　the　steps。　〃Who　would　have　imagined；〃　he
thought；　〃that　my　foot…boy's　experience　of　the　ways　of
gentlefolks　would　be　worth　looking　back　at　one　day　for　Allan's
sake？〃

The　object　of　the　popular　odium　lay　innocently　slumbering　on　the
grass；　with　his　garden　hat　over　his　nose；　his　waistcoat
unbuttoned；　and　his　trousers　wrinkled　half　way　up　his
outstretched　legs。　Midwinter　roused　him　without　hesitation；　and
remorselessly　repeated　the　servant's　news。

Allan　accepted　the　disclosure　thus　forced　on　him　without　the
slightest　disturbance　of　temper。　〃Oh；　hang　'em！〃　was　all　he　said。
〃Let's　have　another　cigar。〃　Midwinter　took　the　cigar　out　of　his
hand；　and；　insisting　on　his　treating　the　matter　seriously；　told
him　in　plain　words　that　he　must　set　himself　right　with　his
offended　neighbors　by　calling　on　them　personally　to　make　his
apologies。　Allan　sat　up　on　the　grass　in　astonishment；　his　eyes
opened　wide　in　incredulous　dismay。　Did　Midwinter　positively
meditate　forcing　him　into　a　〃chimney…pot　hat；〃　a　nicely　brushed
frock…coat；　and　a　clean　pair　of　gloves？　Was　it　actually　in
contemplation　to　shut　him　up　in　a　carriage；　with　his　footman　on
the　box　and　his　card…case　in　his　hand；　and　send　him　round　from
house　to　house；　to　tell　a　pack　of　fools　that　he　begged　their
pardon　for　not　letting　them　make　a　public　show　of　him？　If
anything　so　outrageously　absurd　as　this　was　really　to　be　done；　it
could　not　be　done　that　day；　at　any　rate。　He　had　promised　to　go
back　to　the　charming　Milroy　at　the　cottage　and　to　take　Midwinter
with　him。　What　earthly　need　had　he　of　the　good　opinion　of　the
resident　gentry？　The　only　friends　he　wanted　were　the　friends　he
had　got　already。　Let　the　whole　neighborhood　turn　its　back　on　him
if　it　liked；　back　or　face；　the　Squire　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　didn't
care　two　straws　about　it。

After　allowing　him　to　run　on　in　this　way　until　his　whole　stock　of
objections　was　exhausted；　Midwinter　wisely　tried　his　personal
influence　next。　He　took　Allan　affectionately　by　the　hand。　〃I　am
going　to　ask　a　great　favor；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　won't　call　on　these
people　for　your　own　sake；　will　you　call　on　them　to　please　_me？_〃

Allan　delivered　himself　of　a　groan　of　despair；　stared　in　mute
surprise　at　the　anxious　face　of　his　friend；　and　good…humoredly
gave　way。　As　Midwinter　took　his　arm；　and　led　him　back　to　the
house；　he　looked　round　with　rueful　eyes　at　the　cattle　hard　by；
placidly　whisking　their　tails　in　the　pleasant　shade。　〃Don't
mention　it　in　the　neighborhood；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　like　to
change　places　with　one　of　my　own　cows。〃

Midwinter　left　him　to　dress；　engaging　to　return　when　the　carriage
was　at　the　door。　Allan's　toilet　did　not　promise　to　be　a　speedy
one。　He　began　it　by　reading　his　own　visiting　cards；　and　he
advanced　it　a　second　stage　by　looking　into　his　wardrobe；　and
devoting　the　resident　gentry　to　the　infernal　regions。　Before　he
could　discover　any　third　means　of　delaying　his　own　proceedings；
the　necessary　pretext　was　unexpectedly　supplied　by　Richard's
appearance　with　a　note　in　his　hand。　The　messenger　had　just　called
with　Mr。　Darch's　answer。　Allan　briskly　shut　up　the　wardrobe；　and
gave　his　whole　attention　to　the　lawyer's　letter。　The　lawyer's
letter　rewarded　him　by　the　following　lines：


〃SIRI　beg　to　acknowledge　the　receipt　of　your　favor　of　to…day's
date；　honoring　me　with　two　proposals；　namely；　ONE　inviting　me　to
act　as　your　legal　adviser；　and　ONE　inviting　me　to　pay　you　a　visit
at　your　house。　In　reference　to　the　first　proposal；　I　beg
permission　to　decline　it　with　thanks。　With　regard　to　the　second
proposal；　I　have　to　inform　you　that　circumstances　have　come　to　my
knowledge　relating　to　the　letting　of　the　cottage　at　Thorpe
Ambrose　which　render　it　impossible　for　me　（in　justice　to　myself）
to　accept　your　invitation。　I　have　ascertained；　sir；　that　my　offer
reached　you　at　the　same　time　as　Major　Milroy's；　and　that；　with
both　proposals　thus　before　you；　you　gave　the　preference　to　a
total　stranger；　who　addressed　you　through　a　house　agent；　over　a
man　who　had　faithfully　served　your　relatives　for　two　generations；
and　who　had　been　the　first　person　to　inform　you　of　the　most
important　event　in　your　life。　After　this　specimen　of　your
estimate　of　what　is　due　to　the　claims　of　common　courtesy　and
common　justice；　I　cannot　flatter　myself　that　I　possess　any　of　the
qualities　which　would　fit　me　to　take　my　place　on　the　list　of　your
friends。

〃I　remain；　sir；　your　obedient　servant；

〃JAMES　DARCH。〃


〃Stop　the　messenger！〃　cried　Allan；　leaping　to　his　feet；　his　ruddy
face　aflame　with　indignation。　〃Give　me　pen；　ink；　and　paper！　By
the　Lord　Harry；　they're　a　nice　set　of　people　in　these　parts；　the
whole　neighborhood　is　in　a　conspiracy　to　bully　me！〃　He　snatched
up　the　pen　in　a　fine　frenzy　of　epistolary　inspiration。　〃SirI
despise　you　and　your　letter。〃　At　that　point　the　pen　made　a
blot；　and　the　writer　was　seized　　with　a　momentary　hesitation。　〃Too
strong；〃　h　e　thought；　〃I'll　give　it　to　the　lawyer　in　his　own　cool
and　cutting　style。〃　He　began　again　on　a　clean　sheet　of　paper。
〃SirYou　remind　me　of　an　Irish　bull。　I　mean　that　story　in　'Joe
Miller'　where　Pat　remarked；　in　the　hearing　of　a　wag　hard　by；　that
'the　reciprocity　was　all　on　one　side。'　_Your_　reciprocity　is　all
on　one　side。　You　take　the　privilege　of　refusing　to　be　my　lawyer；
and　then　you　complain　of　my　taking　the　privilege　of　refusing　to
be　your　landlord。〃　He　paused　fondly　over　those　last　words。
〃Neat！〃　he　thought。　〃Argument　and　hard　hitting　both　in　one。　I
wonder　where　my　knack　of　writing　comes　from？〃　He　went　on；　and
finished　the　letter　in　two　more　sentences。　〃As　for　your　casting
my　invitation　back　in　my　teeth；　I　beg　to　inform　you　my　teeth　are
none　the　worse　for　it。　I　am　equally　glad　to　have　nothing　to　say
to　you；　either　in　the　capacity　of　a　friend　or　a　tenant。ALLAN
ARMADALE。〃　He　nodded　exultantly　at　his　own　composition；　as　he
addressed　it　and　sent　it　down　to　the　messenger。　〃Darch's　hide
must　be　a　thick　one；〃　he　said；　〃if　he　doesn't　feel　_that！_〃

The　sound　of　the　wheels　outside　suddenly　recalled　him　to　the
business　of　the　day。　There　was　the　carriage　waiting　to　take　him
on　his　round　of　visits；　and　there　was　Midwinter　at　his　post；
pacing　to　and　fro　on　the　drive。

〃Read　that；〃　cried　Allan；　throwing　out　the　lawyer's　letter；　〃I've
written　him　back　a　smasher。〃

He　bustled　away　to　the　wardrobe　to　get　his　coat。　There　was　a
wonderful　change　in　him；　he　felt　little　or　no　reluctance　to　pay
the　visits　now。　The　pleasurable　excitement　of　answering　Mr。　Darth
had　put　him　in　a　fine　aggressive　frame　of　mind　for　asserting
himself　in　the　neighborhood。　〃Whatever　else　they　may　say　of　me；
they　shan't　say　I　was　afraid　to　face　them。〃　Heated　red…hot　with
that　idea；　he　seized　his　hat　and　gloves；　and　hurrying　out　of　the
room；　met　Midwinter　in　the　corridor　with　the　lawyer's　letter　in
his　hand。

〃Keep　up　your　spirits！〃　cried　Allan；　seeing　the　anxiety　in　his
friend's　face；　and　misinterpreting　the　motive　of　it　immediately。
〃If　Darch　can't　be　counted　on　to　send　us　a　helping　hand　into　the
steward's　office；　Pedgift　can。〃

〃My　dear　Allan；　I　was　not　thinking　of　that；　I　was　thinking　of　Mr。
Darch's　letter。　I　don't　defend　this　sour…tempered　man；　but　I　am
afraid　we　must　admit　he　has　some　cause　for　complaint。　Pray　don't
give　him　another　chance　of　putting　you　in　the　wrong。　Where　is
your　answer　to　his　letter？〃

〃Gone！〃　replied　Allan。　〃I　always　strike　while　the　iron's　hota
word　and　a　blow；　and　the　blow　first；　that's　my　way。　Don't；
there's　a　good　fellow；　don't　fidget　about　the　steward's　books　and
the　rent…day。　Here！　here's　a　bunch　of　keys　they　gave　me　last
night：　one　of　them　opens　the　room　where　the　steward's　books　are；
go　in　and　read　them　till　I　come　back。　I　give　you　my　sacred　word
of　honor　I'll　settle　it　all　with　Pedgift　before　you　see　me
again。〃

〃One　moment；〃　interposed　Midwinter；　stopping　him　resolutely　on
his　way　out　to　the　carriage。　〃I　say　nothing　against　Mr。　Pedgift's
fitness　to　possess　your　confidence；　for　I　know　nothing　to　justify
me　in　distrusting　him。　But　he　has　not　introduced　himself　to　your
notice　in　a　very　delicate　way；　and　he　has　not　acknowledged　（what
is　quite　clear　to　my　mind）　that　he　knew　of　Mr。　Darch's　unfriendly
feeling　toward　you　when　he　wrote。　Wait　a　little　before　you　go　to
this　stranger；　wait　till　we　can　talk　it　over　together　to…night。〃

〃Wait！〃　replied　Allan。　〃Haven't　I　told　you　that　I　always　strike
while　the　iron's　hot？　Trust　my　eye　for　character；　old　boy；　I'll
look　Pedgift　through　and　through；　and　act　accordingly。　Don't　keep
me　any　longer；　for　Heaven's　sake。　I'm　in　a　fine　humor　for
tackling　the　resident　gentry；　and　if　I　don't　go　at　once；　I'm
afraid　it　may　wear　off。〃

With　that　excellent　reason　for　being　in　a　hurry；　Allan
boisterously　broke　away。　Before　it　was　possible　to　stop　him
again；　he　had　jumped　into　the　carriage　and　had　left　the　house。

CHAPTER　IV。

THE　MARCH　OF　EVENTS。

MIDWINTER'S　face　darkened　when　the　last　trace　of　the　carriage　had
disappeared　from　view。　〃I　have　done　my　best；〃　he　said；　as　he
turned　back　gloomily　into　the　house　〃If　Mr。　Brock　himself　were
here；　Mr。　Brock　could　do　no　more！〃

He　looked　at　the　bunch　of　keys　which　Allan　had　thrust　into　his
hand；　and　a　sudden　longing　to　put　himself　to　the　test　over　the
steward's　books　took　possession　of　his　sensitive　self…tormenting
nature。　Inquiring　his　way　to　the　room　in　which　the　various
movables　of　the　steward's　office　had　been　provisionally　placed
after　the　letting　of　the　cottage；　he　sat　down　at　the　desk；　and
tried　how　his　own　unaided　capacity　would　guide　him　through　the
business　records　of　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　estate。　The　result　exposed
his　own　ignorance　unanswerably　before　his　own　eyes。　The　ledgers
bewildered　him；　the　leases；　the　plans；　and　even　the
correspondence　itself；　might　have　been　written；　for　all　he　could
understand　of　them；　in　an　unknown　tongue。　His　memory　reverted
bitterly　as　he　left　the　room　again　to　his　two　years'　solitary
self…instruction　in　the　Shrewsbury　book…seller's　shop。　〃If　I
could　only　have　worked　at　a　business！〃　he　thought。　〃If　I　could
only　have　known　that　the　company　of　poets　and　philosophers　was
company　too　high　for　a　vagabond　like　me！〃

He　sat　down　alone　in　the　great　hall；　the　silence　of　it　fell
heavier　and　heavier　on　his　sinking　spirits；　the　beauty　of　it
exasperated　him；　like　an　insult　from　a　purse…proud　man。　〃Curse
the　place！〃　he　said；　snatching　up　his　hat　and　stick。　〃I　like　the
bleakest　hillside　I　ever　slept　on　better　than　I　like　this　house！〃

He　impatiently　descended　the　door…steps；　and　stopped　on　the
drive；　considering；　by　which　direction　he　should　leave　the　park
for　the　country　beyond。　If　he　followed　the　road　taken　by　the
carriage；　he　might　risk　unsettling　Allan　by　accidentally　meeting
him　in　the　town。　If　he　went　out　by　the　back　gate；　he　knew　his　own
nature　well　enough　to　doubt　his　ability　to　pass　the　room　of　the
dream　without　entering　it　again。　But　one　other　way　remained：　the
way　which　he　had　taken；　and　then　abandoned　again；　in　the　morning。
There　was　no　fear　of　disturbing　Allan　and　the　major's　daughter
now。　Without　further　hesitation；　Midwinter　set　forth　through　the
gardens　to　explore　the　open　country　on　that　side　of　the　estate。

Thrown　off　its　balance　by　the　events　of　the　day；　hi