°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > armadale >

µÚ44ÕÂ

armadale-µÚ44ÕÂ

С˵£º armadale ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



under¡¡that¡¡tree¡¡in¡¡the¡¡park¡£¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡calculating¡¡it¡¡to¡¡a
nicety£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡beg¡¡to¡¡inform¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡sunk¡¡exactly¡¡three
degrees¡¡lower¡¡in¡¡the¡¡estimation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡resident¡¡gentry¡¡since¡¡I
had¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡you¡¡last¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡_will_¡¡have¡¡your¡¡joke¡¡out£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Midwinter£»¡¡bitterly¡£¡¡¡¨Well£»
if¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡laugh£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡wait¡£¡¨

¡¨My¡¡dear¡¡fellow£»¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡joking£»¡¡I¡¡really¡¡mean¡¡what¡¡I¡¡say¡£¡¡You
shall¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡happened£»¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡a¡¡report¡¡in¡¡full¡¡of¡¡my
first¡¡visit¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡do£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡promise¡¡you£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sample¡¡for¡¡all
the¡¡rest¡£¡¡Mind¡¡this£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡I've¡¡gone¡¡wrong¡¡with¡¡the
best¡¡possible¡¡intentions¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡started¡¡for¡¡these¡¡visits£»¡¡I¡¡own
I¡¡was¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡that¡¡old¡¡brute¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lawyer£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡certainly¡¡had
a¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡carrying¡¡things¡¡with¡¡a¡¡high¡¡hand¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡wore¡¡off
somehow¡¡on¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡family¡¡I¡¡called¡¡on£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡in£»
as¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡best¡¡possible¡¡intentions¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡dear£»¡¡dear£¡
there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡spick¡­and¡­span¡¡reception¡­room¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡wait
in£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡neat¡¡conservatory¡¡beyond£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡again¡¡and
again¡¡and¡¡again¡¡at¡¡every¡¡other¡¡house¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡afterward¡£¡¡There
was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡choice¡¡selection¡¡of¡¡books¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡look¡¡ata
religious¡¡book£»¡¡a¡¡book¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Duke¡¡of¡¡Wellington£»¡¡a¡¡book¡¡about
sporting£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡book¡¡about¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡beautifully
illustrated¡¡with¡¡pictures¡£¡¡Down¡¡came¡¡papa¡¡with¡¡his¡¡nice¡¡white
hair£»¡¡and¡¡mamma¡¡with¡¡her¡¡nice¡¡lace¡¡cap£»¡¡down¡¡came¡¡young¡¡mister
with¡¡the¡¡pink¡¡face¡¡and¡¡straw¡­colored¡¡whiskers£»¡¡and¡¡young¡¡miss
with¡¡the¡¡plump¡¡cheeks¡¡and¡¡the¡¡large¡¡petticoats¡£¡¡Don't¡¡suppose
there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡least¡¡unfriendliness¡¡on¡¡my¡¡side£»¡¡I¡¡always¡¡began
with¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡wayI¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡shaking¡¡hands¡¡all¡¡round¡£
That¡¡staggered¡¡them¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡with¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sore
subject¡¡nextthe¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡¡receptionI¡¡give¡¡you¡¡my
word¡¡of¡¡honor¡¡I¡¡took¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡possible¡¡pains¡¡with¡¡my
apologies¡£¡¡It¡¡hadn't¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡effect£»¡¡they¡¡let¡¡my¡¡apologies
in¡¡at¡¡one¡¡ear¡¡and¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡waited¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡more¡£
Some¡¡men¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡disheartened£º¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡another¡¡way¡¡with
them£»¡¡I¡¡addressed¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡it
pleasantly¡¡next¡£¡¡'The¡¡fact¡¡is£»'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡the
speechifyingmy¡¡getting¡¡up£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡telling¡¡you¡¡to¡¡your
face¡¡you're¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡beg¡¡to¡¡propose¡¡your¡¡health£»
and¡¡your¡¡getting¡¡up¡¡and¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡to¡¡my¡¡face¡¡I'm¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of
men£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡beg¡¡to¡¡thank¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡on£»¡¡man¡¡after¡¡man£»¡¡praising
each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡pestering¡¡each¡¡other¡¡all¡¡round¡¡the¡¡table¡£'¡¡That's
how¡¡I¡¡put¡¡it£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡easy£»¡¡light¡­handed£»¡¡convincing¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡way¡£
Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡any¡¡of¡¡them¡¡took¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡friendly¡¡spirit£¿¡¡Not
one£¡¡¡It's¡¡my¡¡belief¡¡they¡¡had¡¡got¡¡their¡¡speeches¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡the
reception£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flags¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flowers£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they're
secretly¡¡angry¡¡with¡¡me¡¡for¡¡stopping¡¡their¡¡open¡¡mouths¡¡just¡¡as
they¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡begin¡£¡¡Anyway£»¡¡whenever¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡matter
of¡¡the¡¡speechifying¡¡£¨whether¡¡they¡¡touched¡¡it¡¡first¡¡or¡¡I£©£»¡¡down¡¡I
fell¡¡in¡¡their¡¡estimation¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡those¡¡three¡¡steps¡¡I¡¡told
you¡¡of¡¡just¡¡now¡£¡¡Don't¡¡suppose¡¡I¡¡made¡¡no¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡get¡¡up¡¡again£¡
I¡¡made¡¡desperate¡¡efforts¡£¡¡I¡¡found¡¡they¡¡were¡¡all¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡know
what¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡life¡¡I¡¡had¡¡led¡¡before¡¡I¡¡came¡¡in¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Thorpe
Ambrose¡¡property£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡my¡¡best¡¡to¡¡satisfy¡¡them¡£¡¡And¡¡what
came¡¡of¡¡that£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think£¿¡¡Hang¡¡me£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡disappoint¡¡them
for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time£¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡actually
never¡¡been¡¡to¡¡Eton¡¡or¡¡Harrow£»¡¡or¡¡Oxford¡¡or¡¡Cambridge£»¡¡they¡¡were
quite¡¡dumb¡¡with¡¡astonishment¡£¡¡I¡¡fancy¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡me¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of
outlaw¡£¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡froze¡¡up¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡down¡¡I¡¡fell¡¡the
second¡¡step¡¡in¡¡their¡¡estimation¡£¡¡Never¡¡mind£¡¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡to¡¡be
beaten£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡promised¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡my¡¡best£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡tried
cheerful¡¡small¡­talk¡¡about¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡¡next¡£¡¡The¡¡women¡¡said
nothing¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡unutterable¡¡astonishment£»
all¡¡began¡¡to¡¡condole¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡shouldn't¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡pack
of¡¡hounds£»¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡within¡¡twenty¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡my¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡they
thought¡¡it¡¡only¡¡right¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡me¡¡for¡¡the¡¡disgracefully
careless¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Thorpe¡¡Ambrose¡¡covers¡¡had¡¡been
preserved¡£¡¡I¡¡let¡¡them¡¡go¡¡on¡¡condoling¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡what¡¡do
you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡did£¿¡¡I¡¡put¡¡my¡¡foot¡¡in¡¡it¡¡again¡£¡¡'Oh£»¡¡don't¡¡take¡¡that
to¡¡heart£¡'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡care¡¡two¡¡straws¡¡about¡¡hunting¡¡or
shooting£»¡¡either¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡meet¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bird¡¡in¡¡my¡¡walk£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡for
the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡me¡¡feel¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡rather¡¡like¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the
bird¡¡flying¡¡about¡¡and¡¡enjoying¡¡itself¡£'¡¡You¡¡should¡¡have¡¡seen
their¡¡faces£¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡me¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡outlaw¡¡before£»¡¡now
they¡¡evidently¡¡thought¡¡me¡¡mad¡£¡¡Dead¡¡silence¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡all£»
and¡¡down¡¡I¡¡tumbled¡¡the¡¡third¡¡step¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general¡¡estimation¡£¡¡It
was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡same¡¡at¡¡the¡¡next¡¡house£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡£
The¡¡devil¡¡possessed¡¡us¡¡all£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¡It¡¡_would_¡¡come¡¡out£»¡¡now¡¡in
one¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡in¡¡another£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡make¡¡speechesthat
I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡up¡¡without¡¡a¡¡university¡¡educationand¡¡that¡¡I
could¡¡enjoy¡¡a¡¡ride¡¡on¡¡horseback¡¡without¡¡galloping¡¡after¡¡a
wretched¡¡stinking¡¡fox¡¡or¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡distracted¡¡little¡¡hare¡£¡¡These
three¡¡unlucky¡¡defects¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡are¡¡not¡¡excused£»¡¡it¡¡seems£»¡¡in¡¡a
country¡¡gentleman¡¡£¨especially¡¡when¡¡he¡¡has¡¡dodged¡¡a¡¡public
reception¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡with£©¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡got¡¡on¡¡best£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡whole£»
with¡¡the¡¡wives¡¡and¡¡daughters¡£¡¡The¡¡women¡¡and¡¡I¡¡always¡¡fell£»¡¡sooner
or¡¡later£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡and¡¡her¡¡niece¡£¡¡We
invariably¡¡agreed¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡done¡¡wisely¡¡in¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Florence£»
and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡reason¡¡we¡¡had¡¡to¡¡give¡¡for¡¡our¡¡opinion¡¡was¡¡that¡¡we
thought¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡would¡¡be¡¡benefited¡¡after¡¡their¡¡sad
bereavement£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡contemplation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡Italian
art¡£¡¡Every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ladiesI¡¡solemnly¡¡declare¡¡itat¡¡every
house¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to£»¡¡came¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡and¡¡Miss
Blanchard's¡¡bereavement¡¡and¡¡the¡¡masterpieces¡¡of¡¡Italian¡¡art¡£¡¡What
we¡¡should¡¡have¡¡done¡¡without¡¡that¡¡bright¡¡idea¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us£»¡¡I¡¡really
don't¡¡know¡£¡¡The¡¡one¡¡pleasant¡¡thing¡¡at¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡visits¡¡was¡¡when
we¡¡all¡¡shook¡¡our¡¡heads¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the
masterpieces¡¡would¡¡console¡¡them¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡there's
only¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡more¡¡to¡¡be¡¡said¡£¡¡What¡¡I¡¡might¡¡be¡¡in¡¡other¡¡places¡¡I
don't¡¡know£º¡¡I'm¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡place¡¡here¡£¡¡Let¡¡me
muddle¡¡on¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡way£»¡¡with¡¡my¡¡own¡¡few¡¡friends£»
and¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡anything¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡ask
me¡¡to¡¡make¡¡any¡¡more¡¡calls¡¡on¡¡my¡¡neighbors¡£¡¨

With¡¡that¡¡characteristic¡¡request£»¡¡Allan's¡¡report¡¡of¡¡his¡¡exploring
expedition¡¡among¡¡the¡¡resident¡¡gentry¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡close¡£¡¡For¡¡a
moment¡¡Midwinter¡¡remained¡¡silent¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡allowed¡¡Allan¡¡to¡¡run¡¡on
from¡¡first¡¡to¡¡last¡¡without¡¡uttering¡¡a¡¡word¡¡on¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡The
disastrous¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡visitscoming¡¡after¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened
earlier¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡threatening¡¡Allan£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡did£»¡¡with
exclusion¡¡from¡¡all¡¡local¡¡sympathies¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡outset¡¡of¡¡his
local¡¡careerhad¡¡broken¡¡down¡¡Midwinter's¡¡power¡¡of¡¡resisting¡¡the
stealthily¡¡depressing¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡superstition¡£¡¡It¡¡was
with¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡that¡¡he¡¡now¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡Allan£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡with¡¡an
effort¡¡that¡¡he¡¡roused¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡answer¡£

¡¨It¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡as¡¡you¡¡wish£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡quietly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡what
has¡¡happened£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡the¡¡less¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Allan£»¡¡for
having¡¡done¡¡what¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡you¡£¡¨

His¡¡head¡¡sank¡¡on¡¡his¡¡breast£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fatalist¡¡resignation¡¡which
had¡¡once¡¡already¡¡quieted¡¡him¡¡on¡¡board¡¡the¡¡wreck¡¡now¡¡quieted¡¡him
again¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡_must_¡¡be£»¡¡_will_¡¡be£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡once¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¨What
have¡¡I¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡and¡¡what
¡¡has¡¡he£¿¡¨

¡¨Cheer¡¡up£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Allan¡£¡¡¡¨_Your_¡¡affairs¡¡are¡¡in¡¡a¡¡thriving
condition£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡£¡¡I¡¡paid¡¡one¡¡pleasant¡¡visit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town£»
which¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡told¡¡you¡¡of¡¡yet¡£¡¡I've¡¡seen¡¡Pedgift£»¡¡and¡¡Pedgift's
son£»¡¡who¡¡helps¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡office¡£¡¡They're¡¡the¡¡two¡¡jolliest
lawyers¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡met¡¡with¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and£»¡¡what's¡¡more£»¡¡they¡¡can
produce¡¡the¡¡very¡¡man¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡you¡¡the¡¡steward's
business¡£¡¨

Midwinter¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡quickly¡£¡¡Distrust¡¡of¡¡Allan's¡¡discovery¡¡was
plainly¡¡written¡¡in¡¡his¡¡face¡¡already£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡said¡¡nothing¡£

¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡Allan¡¡proceeded£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡two¡¡Pedgifts
and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡wine¡¡all¡¡round¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡to¡¡our¡¡friendly
connection¡£¡¡The¡¡finest¡¡sherry¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡tasted¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡I've
ordered¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡samebut¡¡that's¡¡not¡¡the¡¡question¡¡just¡¡now¡£
In¡¡two¡¡words¡¡I¡¡told¡¡these¡¡worthy¡¡fellows¡¡your¡¡difficulty£»¡¡and¡¡in
two¡¡seconds¡¡old¡¡Pedgift¡¡understood¡¡all¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡got¡¡the
man¡¡in¡¡my¡¡office£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'and¡¡before¡¡the¡¡audit¡­day¡¡comes£»¡¡I'll
place¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡pleasure¡¡at¡¡your¡¡friend's¡¡disposal¡£'
¡¨

At¡¡this¡¡last¡¡announcement£»¡¡Midwinter's¡¡distrust¡¡found¡¡its
expression¡¡in¡¡words¡£¡¡He¡¡questioned¡¡Allan¡¡unsparingly¡£

The¡¡man's¡¡name£»¡¡it¡¡appeared¡¡was¡¡Bashwood¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡some¡¡time
£¨how¡¡long£»¡¡Allan¡¡could¡¡not¡¡remember£©¡¡in¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Pedgift's¡¡service¡£¡¡He
had¡¡been¡¡previously¡¡steward¡¡to¡¡a¡¡Norfolk¡¡gentleman¡¡£¨name
forgotten£©¡¡in¡¡the¡¡westward¡¡district¡¡of¡¡the¡¡county¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lost
the¡¡steward's¡¡place£»¡¡through¡¡some¡¡domestic¡¡trouble£»¡¡in¡¡connection
with¡¡his¡¡son£»¡¡the¡¡precise¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Allan¡¡was¡¡not¡¡able¡¡to
specify¡£¡¡Pedgift¡¡vouched¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Pedgift¡¡would¡¡send¡¡him¡¡to
Thorpe¡¡Ambrose¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡days¡¡before¡¡the¡¡rent¡­day¡¡dinner¡£¡¡He
could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡spared£»¡¡for¡¡office¡¡reasons£»¡¡before¡¡that¡¡time¡£¡¡There
was¡¡no¡¡need¡¡to¡¡fidget¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡Pedgift¡¡laughed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of
there¡¡being¡¡any¡¡difficulty¡¡with¡¡the¡¡tenants¡£¡¡Two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡day's
work¡¡over¡¡the¡¡steward's¡¡books¡¡with¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡help¡¡Midwinter¡¡who
practically¡¡understood¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing¡¡would¡¡put¡¡him¡¡all¡¡right
for¡¡the¡¡audit£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡business¡¡would¡¡keep¡¡till¡¡afterward¡£

¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡this¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bashwood¡¡yourself£»¡¡Allan£¿¡¨¡¡asked
Midwinter£»¡¡still¡¡obstinately¡¡on¡¡his¡¡guard¡£

¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Allan¡¡¡¨he¡¡was¡¡outout¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bag£»¡¡as¡¡young
Pedgift¡¡called¡¡it¡£¡¡They¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡he's¡¡a¡¡decent¡¡elderly¡¡man¡£¡¡A
little¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡his¡¡troubles£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡nervous¡¡and
confused¡¡in¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡with¡¡strangers£»¡¡but¡¡thoroughly¡¡competent
and¡¡thoroughly¡¡to¡¡be¡¡depended¡¡onthose¡¡are¡¡Pedgift's¡¡own¡¡words¡£¡¨

Midwinter¡¡paused¡¡and¡¡considered¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡new¡¡interest¡¡in
the¡¡subject¡£¡¡The¡¡strange¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just¡¡heard¡¡described£»
and¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡man¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡his¡¡way¡¡where¡¡the¡¡three
roads¡¡met£»¡¡were¡¡remarkably¡¡like¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡Was¡¡this¡¡another¡¡link
in¡¡the¡¡fast¡­lengthening¡¡chain¡¡of¡¡events£¿¡¡Midwinter¡¡grew¡¡doubly
determined¡¡to¡¡be¡¡careful£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡so
passed¡¡through¡¡his¡¡mind¡£

¡¨When¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bashwood¡¡comes£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨will¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡him£»¡¡and
speak¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡before¡¡anything¡¡definite¡¡is¡¡done£¿¡¨

¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡will£¡¡¨¡¡rejoined¡¡Allan¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his
watch¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡I'll¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what¡¡I'll¡¡do¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡old¡¡boy£»¡¡in¡¡the
meantime£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡introduce¡¡you¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prettiest¡¡girl¡¡in
Norfolk£¡¡¡There's¡¡just¡¡time¡¡to¡¡run¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cottage¡¡before
dinner¡£¡¡Come¡¡along£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡introduced¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡Milroy¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡can't¡¡introduce¡¡me¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡Milroy¡¡today£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Midwinter£»
and¡¡he¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡message¡¡of¡¡apology¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought
from¡¡the¡¡major¡¡that¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡Allan¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡and
disappointed£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡foiled¡¡in¡¡his¡¡resolution¡¡to
advance¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡good¡¡graces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the
cottage¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡little¡¡consideration¡¡he¡¡hit¡¡on¡¡a¡¡means¡¡of
turning¡¡the¡¡present¡¡adverse¡¡circumstances¡¡to¡¡good¡¡account¡£¡¡¡¨I'll
show¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡anxiety¡¡for¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Milroy's¡¡recovery£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»
gravely¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡send¡¡her¡¡a¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡straw

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ