armadale-第45章

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show　a　proper　anxiety　for　Mrs。　Milroy's　recovery；〃　he　said；
gravely。　〃I'll　send　her　a　basket　of　strawberries；　with　my　best
respects；　to…morrow　morning。〃

Nothing　more　happened　to　mark　the　end　of　that　first　day　in　the
new　house。


The　one　noticeable　event　of　the　next　day　was　another　disclosure
of　Mrs。　Milroy's　infirmity　of　temper。　Half　an　hour　after　Allan's
basket　of　strawberries　had　been　delivered　at　the　cottage；　it　was
returned　to　him　intact　（by　the　hands　of　the　invalid　lady's
nurse）；　with　a　short　and　sharp　message；　shortly　and　sharply
delivered。　〃Mrs。　Milroy's　compliments　and　thanks。　Strawberries
invariably　disagreed　with　her。〃　If　this　curiously　petulant
acknowledgment　of　an　act　of　politeness　was　intended　to　irritate
Allan；　it　failed　entirely　in　accomplishing　its　object。　Instead　of
being　offended　with　the　mother；　he　sympathized　with　the　daughter。
〃Poor　little　thing；〃　was　all　he　said；　〃she　must　have　a　hard　life
of　it　with　such　a　mother　as　that！〃

He　called　at　the　cottage　himself　later　in　the　day；　but　Miss
Milroy　was　not　to　be　seen；　she　was　engaged　upstairs。　The　major
received　his　visitor　in　his　working　apronfar　more　deeply
immersed　in　his　wonderful　clock；　and　far　less　readily　accessible
to　outer　influences；　than　Allan　had　seen　him　at　their　first
interview。　His　manner　was　as　kind　as　before；　but　not　a　word　more
could　be　extracted　from　him　on　the　subject　of　his　wife　than　that
Mrs。　Milroy　〃had　not　improved　since　yesterday。〃

The　two　next　days　passed　quietly　and　uneventfully。　Allan
persisted　in　making　his　inquiries　at　the　cottage；　but　all　he　saw
of　the　major's　daughter　was　a　glimpse　of　her　on　one　occasion　at　a
window　on　the　bedroom　floor。　Nothing　more　was　heard　from　Mr。
Pedgift；　and　Mr。　Bashwood's　appearance　was　still　delayed。
Midwinter　declined　to　move　in　the　matter　until　time　enough　had
passed　to　allow　of　his　first　hearing　from　Mr。　Brock；　in　answer　to
the　letter　which　he　had　addressed　to　the　rector　on　the　night　of
his　arrival　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。　He　was　unusually　silent　and　quiet；
and　passed　most　of　his　hours　in　the　library　among　the　books。　The
time　wore　on　wearily。　The　resident　gentry　acknowledged　Allan's
visit　by　formally　leaving　their　cards。　Nobody　came　near　the　house
afterward；　the　weather　was　monotonously　fine。　Allan　grew　a　little
restless　and　dissatisfied。　He　began　to　resent　Mrs。　Milroy's
illness；　he　began　to　think　regretfully　of　his　deserted　yacht。

The　next　daythe　twentiethbrought　some　news　with　it　from　the
outer　world。　A　message　was　delivered　from　Mr。　Pedgift；　announcing
that　his　clerk；　Mr。　Bashwood；　would　personally　present　himself　at
Thorpe　Ambrose　on　the　following　day；　and　a　letter　in　answer　to
Midwinter　was　received　from　Mr。　Brock。

The　letter　was　dated　the　18th；　and　the　news　which　it　contained
raised　not　Allan's　spirits　only；　but　Midwinter's　as　well。

On　the　day　on　which　he　wrote；　Mr。　Brock　announced　that　he　was
about　to　journey　to　London；　having　been　summoned　thither　on
business　connected　with　the　interests　of　a　sick　relative；　to　whom
he　stood　in　the　position　of　trustee。　The　business　completed；　he
had　good　hope　of　finding　one　or　other　of　his　clerical　friends　in
the　metropolis　who　would　be　able　and　willing　to　do　duty　for　him
at　the　rectory；　and；　in　that　case；　he　trusted　to　travel　on　from
London　to　Thorpe　Ambrose　in　a　week's'　time　or　less。　Under　these
circumstances；　he　would　leave　the　majority　of　the　subjects　on
which　Midwinter　had　written　to　him　to　be　discussed　when　they　met。
But　as　time　might　be　of　importance；　in　relation　to　the
stewardship　of　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　estate；　he　would　say　at　once
that　he　saw　no　reason　why　Midwinter　should　not　apply　his　mind　to
learning　the　steward's　duties；　and　should　not　succeed　in
rendering　himself　invaluably　serviceable　in　that　way　to　the
interests　of　his　friend。

Leaving　Midwinter　reading　and　re…reading　the　rector's　cheering
letter；　as　if　he　was　bent　on　getting　every　sentence　in　it　by
heart；　Allan　went　out　rather　earlier　than　usual；　to　make　his
daily　inquiry　at　the　cottageor；　in　plainer　words；　to　make　a
fourth　attempt　at　improving　his　acquaintance　with　Miss　Milroy。
The　day　had　begun　encouragingly；　and　encouragingly　it　seemed
destined　to　go　on。　When　Allan　turned　the　corner　of　the　second
shrubbery；　and　entered　the　little　paddock　where　he　and　the
major's　daughter　had　first　met；　there　was　Miss　Milroy　herself
loitering　to　and　fro　on　the　grass；　to　all　appearance　on　the　watch
for　somebody。

She　gave　a　little　start　when　Allan　appeared；　an　d　came　forward
without　hesitation　to　meet　him。　She　was　not　in　her　best　looks。
Her　rosy　complexion　had　suffered　under　confinement　to　the　house；
and　a　marked　expression　of　embarrassment　clouded　her　pretty　face。

〃I　hardly　know　how　to　confess　it；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　she　said；
speaking　eagerly；　before　Allan　could　utter　a　word；　〃but　I
certainly　ventured　here　this　morning　in　the　hope　of　meeting　with
you。　I　have　been　very　much　distressed；　I　have　only　just　heard；　by
accident；　of　the　manner　in　which　mamma　received　the　present　of
fruit　you　so　kindly　sent　to　her。　Will　you　try　to　excuse　her？　She
has　been　miserably　ill　for　years；　and　she　is　not　always　quite
herself。　After　your　being　so　very；　very　kind　to　me　（and　to　papa）；
I　really　could　not　help　stealing　out　here　in　the　hope　of　seeing
you；　and　telling　you　how　sorry　I　was。　Pray　forgive　and　forget；
Mr。　Armadalepray　do！〃　her　voice　faltered　over　the　last　words；
and；　in　her　eagerness　to　make　her　mother's　peace　with　him；　she
laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。

Allan　was　himself　a　little　confused。　Her　earnestness　took　him　by
surprise；　and　her　evident　conviction　that　he　had　been　offended
honestly　distressed　him。　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　followed
his　instincts；　and　possessed　himself　of　her　hand　to　begin　with。

〃My　dear　Miss　Milroy；　if　you　say　a　word　more　you　will　distress
_me_　next；〃　he　rejoined；　unconsciously　pressing　her　hand　closer
and　closer；　in　the　embarrassment　of　the　moment。　〃I　never　was　in
the　least　offended；　I　made　allowancesupon　my　honor　I　didfor
poor　Mrs。　Milroy's　illness。　Offended！〃　cried　Allan；　reverting
energetically　to　the　old　complimentary　strain。　〃I　should　like　to
have　my　basket　of　fruit　sent　back　every　dayif　I　could　only　be
sure　of　its　bringing　you　out　into　the　paddock　the　first　thing　in
the　morning。〃

Some　of　Miss　Milroy's　missing　color　began　to　appear　again　in　her
cheeks。　〃Oh；　Mr。　Armadale；　there　is　really　no　end　to　your
kindness；〃　she　said；　〃you　don't　know　how　you　relieve　me！　She
paused；　her　spirits　rallied　with　as　happy　a　readiness　of　recovery
as　if　they　had　been　the　spirits　of　a　child；　and　her　native
brightness　of　temper　sparkled　again　in　her　eyes；　as　she　looked
up；　shyly　smiling　in　Allan's　face。　〃Don't　you　think；〃　she　asked；
demurely；　〃that　it　is　almost　time　now　to　let　go　of　my　hand？〃

Their　eyes　met。　Allan　followed　his　instincts　for　the　second　time。
Instead　of　releasing　her　hand；　he　lifted　it　to　his　lips　and
kissed　it。　All　the　missing　tints　of　the　rosier　sort　returned　to
Miss　Milroy's　complexion　on　the　instant。　She　snatched　away　her
hand　as　if　Allan　had　burned　it。

〃I'm　sure　_that's_　wrong；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　she　said；　and　turned　her
head　aside　quickly；　for　she　was　smiling　in　spite　of　herself。

〃I　meant　it　as　an　apology　forfor　holding　your　hand　too　long；〃
stammered　Allan。　〃An　apology　can't　be　wrongcan　it？〃

There　are　occasions；　though　not　many；　when　the　female　mind
accurately　appreciates　an　appeal　to　the　force　of　pure　reason。
This　was　one　of　the　occasions。　An　abstract　proposition　had　been
presented　to　Miss　Milroy；　and　Miss　Milroy　was　convinced。　If　it
was　meant　as　an　apology；　that；　she　admitted；　made　all　the
difference。　〃I　only　hope；〃　said　the　little　coquet；　looking　at　him
slyly；　〃you're　not　misleading　me。　Not　that　it　matters　much　now；〃
she　added；　with　a　serious　shake　of　her　head。　〃If　we　have
committed　any　improprieties；　Mr。　Armadale；　we　are　not　likely　to
have　the　opportunity　of　committing　many　more。〃

〃You're　not　going　away？〃　exclaimed　Allan；　in　great　alarm。

〃Worse　than　that；　Mr。　Armadale。　My　new　governess　is　coming。〃

〃Coming？〃　repeated　Allan。　〃Coming　already？〃

〃As　good　as　coming；　I　ought　to　have　saidonly　I　didn't　know　you
wished　me　to　be　so　very　particular。　We　got　the　answers　to　the
advertisements　this　morning。　Papa　and　I　opened　them　and　read　them
together　half　an　hour　ago；　and　we　both　picked　out　the　same　letter
from　all　the　rest。　I　picked　it　out；　because　it　was　so　prettily
expressed；　and　papa　picked　it　out　because　the　terms　were　so
reasonable。　He　is　going　to　send　the　letter　up　to　grandmamma　in
London　by　today's　post；　and；　if　she　finds　everything　satisfactory
on　inquiry；　the　governess　is　to　be　engaged　You　don't　know　how
dreadfully　nervous　I　am　getting　about　it　already；　a　strange
governess　is　such　an　awful　prospect。　But　it　is　not　quite　so　bad
as　going　to　school；　and　I　have　great　hopes　of　this　new　lady；
because　she　writes　such　a　nice　letter！　As　I　said　to　papa；　it
almost　reconciles　me　to　her　horrid；　unromantic　name。〃

〃What　is　her　name？〃　asked　Allan。　〃Brown？　Grubb？　Scraggs？　Anything
of　that　sort？〃

〃Hush！　hush！　Nothing　quite　so　horrible　as　that。　Her　name　is
Gwilt。　Dreadfully　unpoetical；　isn't　it？　Her　reference　must　be　a
respectable　person；　though；　for　she　lives　in　the　same　part　of
London　as　grandmamma。　Stop；　Mr。　Armadale！　we　are　going　the　wrong
way。　No；　I　can't　wait　to　look　at　those　lovely　flowers　of　yours
this　morning；　and；　many　thanks；　I　can't　accept　your　arm。　I　have
stayed　here　too　long　already。　Papa　is　waiting　for　his　breakfast；
and　I　must　run　back　every　step　of　the　way。　Thank　you　for　making
those　kind　allowances　for　mamma；　thank　you　again　and　again；　and
good…by！　〃

〃Won't　you　shake　hands？〃　asked　Allan。

She　gave　him　her　hand。　〃No　more　apologies；　if　you　please；　Mr。
Armadale；〃　she　said；　saucily。　Once　more　their　eyes　met；　and　once
more　the　plump；　dimpled　little　hand　found　its　way　to　Allan's
lips。　〃It　isn't　an　apology　this　time！〃　cried　Allan；　precipitately
defending　himself。　〃It'sit's　a　mark　of　respect。〃

She　started　back　a　few　steps；　and　burst　out　laughing。　〃You　won't
find　me　in　our　grounds　again；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　she　said；　merrily；
〃till　I　have　got　Miss　Gwilt　to　take　care　of　me！〃　With　that
farewell；　she　gathered　up　her　skirts；　and　ran　back　across　the
paddock　at　the　top　of　her　speed。

Allan　stood　watching　her　in　speechless　admiration　till　she　was
out　of　sight。　His　second　interview　with　Miss　Milroy　had　produced
an　extraordinary　effect　on　him。　For　the　first　time　since　he　had
become　the　master　of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　he　was　absorbed　in　serious
consideration　of　what　he　owed　to　his　new　position　in　life。　〃The
question　is；〃　pondered　Allan；　〃whether　I　hadn't　better　set　myself
right　with　my　neighbors　by　becoming　a　married　man？　I'll　take　the
day　to　consider；　and　if　I　keep　in　the　same　mind　about　it；　I'll
consult　Midwinter　to…morrow　morning。〃


When　the　morning　came；　and　when　Allan　descended　to　the
breakfast…room；　resolute　to　consult　his　friend　on　the　obligations
that　he　owed　to　his　neighbors　in　general；　and　to　Miss　Milroy　in
particular；　no　Midwinter　was　to　he　seen。　On　making　inquiry；　it
appeared　that　he　had　been　observed　in　the　hall；　that　he　had　taken
from　the　table　a　letter　which　the　morning's　post　had　brought　to
him；　and　that　he　had　gon