armadale-第47章

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〃There；　I　had　him　once　more。　'You　have　found　my　address　out　for
yourself；　sir；'　I　said。　'The　directory　will　tell　you　my　name；　if
you　wish　to　find　that　out　for　yourself　also；　otherwise；　you　are
welcome　to　my　card。'

〃　'Many　thanks；　ma'am。　If　your　friend　wishes　to　communicate　with
Mr。　Armadale；　I　will　give　you　_my_　card　in　return。'

〃　'Thank　you；　sir。'

〃　'Thank　you；　ma'am。'

〃　'Good…afternoon；　sir。'

〃　'Good…afternoon；　ma'am。'

〃So　we　parted。　I　went　my　way　to　an　appointment　at　my　place　of
business；　and　he　went　his　in　a　hurry；　which　is　of　itself
suspicious。　What　I　can't　get　over　is　his　heartlessness。　Heaven
help　the　people　who　send　for　_him_　to　comfort　them　on　their
death…beds！

〃The　next　consideration　is；　What　are　we　to　do？　If　we　don't　find
out　the　right　way　to　keep　this　old　wretch　in　the　dark；　he　may　be
the　ruin　of　us　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　just　as　we　are　within　easy　reach
of　our　end　in　view。　Wait　up　till　I　come　to　you；　with　my　mind
free；　I　hope；　from　the　other　difficulty　which　is　worrying　me
here。　Was　there　ever　such　ill　luck　as　ours？　Only　think　of　that
man　deserting　his　congregation；　and　coming　to　London　just　at　the
very　time　when　we　have　answered　Major　Milroy's　advertisement；　and
may　expect　the　inquiries　to　be　made　next　week！　I　have　no　patience
with　him；　his　bishop　ought　to　interfere。

〃Affectionately　yours；

〃MARIA　OLDERSHAW。〃

2。　_From　Miss　Gwilt　to　Mrs。　Oldershaw。_

〃West　Place；　June　20th。

〃MY　POOR　OLD　DEARHow　very　little　you　know　of　my　sensitive
nature；　as　you　call　it！　Instead　of　feeling　offended　when　you　left
me；　I　went　to　your　piano；　and　forgot　all　about　you　till　your
messenger　came。　Your　letter　is　irresistible；　I　have　been　laughing
over　it　till　I　am　quite　out　of　breath。　Of　all　the　absurd　stories
I　ever　read；　the　story　you　addressed　to　the　Somersetshire
clergyman　is　the　most　ridiculous。　And　as　for　your　interview　with
him　in　the　street；　it　is　a　perfect　sin　to　keep　it　to　ourselves。
The　public　ought　really　to　enjoy　it　in　the　form　of　a　farce　at　one
of　the　theaters。

〃Luckily　for　both　of　us　（to　come　to　serious　matters）；　your
messenger　is　a　prudent　person。　He　sent　upstairs　to　know　if　there
was　an　answer。　In　the　midst　of　my　merriment　I　had　presence　of
mind　enough　to　send　downstairs　and　say　'Yes。'

〃Some　brute　of　a　man　says；　in　some　book　which　I　once　read；　that
no　woman　can　keep　two　separate　trains　of　ideas　in　her　mind　at　the
same　time。　I　declare　you　have　almost　satisfied　me　that　the　man　is
right。　What！　when　you　have　escaped　unnoticed　to　your　place　of
business；　and　when　you　suspect　this　house　to　be　watched；　you
propose　to　come　back　here；　and　to　put　it　in　the　parson's　power　to
recover　the　lost　trace　of　you！　What　madness！　Stop　where　you　are；
and　when　you　have　got　over　your　difficulty　at　Pimlico　（it　is　some
woman's　business；　of　course；　what　worries　women　are！）；　be　so　good
as　to　read　what　I　have　got　to　say　about　our　difficulty　at
Brompton。

〃In　the　first　place；　the　house　（as　you　supposed）　is　watched。

〃Half　an　hour　after　you　left　me；　loud　voices　in　the　street
interrupted　me　at　the　piano；　and　I　went　to　the　window。　There　was
a　cab　at　the　house　opposite；　where　they　let　lodgings；　and　an　old
man；　who　looked　like　a　respectable　servant；　was　wrangling　with
the　driver　about　his　fare。　An　elderly　gentleman　came　out　of　the
house；　and　stopped　them。　An　elderly　gentleman　returned　into　the
house；　and　appeared　cautiously　at　the　front　drawing…room　window。
You　know　him；　you　worthy　creature；　he　had　the　bad　taste；　some　few
hours　since；　to　doubt　whether　you　were　telling　him　the　truth。
Don't　be　afraid；　he　didn't　see　me。　When　he　looked　up；　after
settling　with　the　cab　driver；　I　was　behind　the　curtain。　I　have
been　behind　the　curtain　once　or　twice　since；　and　I　have　seen
enough　to　satisfy　me　that　he　and　his　servant　will　relieve　each
other　at　the　window；　so　as　never　to　lose　sight　of　your　house
here；　night　or　day。　That　the　parson　suspects　the　real　truth　is　of
course　impossible。　But　that　he　firmly　believes　I　mean　some
mischief　to　young　Armadale；　and　that　you　have　entirely　confirmed
him　in　that　conviction；　is　as　plain　as　that　two　and　two　make
four。　And　this　has　happened　（as　you　helplessly　remind　me）　just
when　we　have　answered　the　advertisement；　and　when　we　may　expect
the　major's　inquiries　to　be　made　in　a　few　days'　time。

〃Surely；　here　is　a　terrible　situation　for　two　women　to　find
themselves　in？　A　fiddlestick's　end　for　the　situation！　We　have　got
an　easy　way　out　of　itthanks；　Mother　Oldershaw；　to　what　I　myself
forced　you　to　do；　not　three　hours　before　the　Somersetshire
clergyman　met　with　us。

〃Has　that　venomous　little　quarrel　of　ours　this　morningafter　we
had　pounced　on　the　major's　advertisement　in　the　newspaperquite
slipped　out　of　your　memory？　Have　you　forgotten　how　I　persisted　in
my　opinion　that　you　were　a　great　deal　too　well　known　in　London　to
appear　safely　as　my　reference　in　your　own　name；　or　to　receive　an
inquiring　lady　or　gentleman　（as　you　were　rash　enough　to　propose）
in　your　own　house？　Don't　you　remember　what　a　passion　you　were　in
when　I　brought　our　dispute　to　an　end　by　declining　to　stir　a　step
in　the　matter；　unless　I　could　conclude　my　application　to　Major
Milroy　by　referring　him　to　an　address　at　which　you　were　totally
unknown；　and　to　a　name　which　might　be　anything　you　pleased；　as
long　as　it　was　not　yours？　What　a　look　you　gave　me　when　you　found
there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　drop　the　whole　speculation　or　to
let　me　have　my　own　way！　How　you　fumed　over　the　lodging　hunting　on
the　other　side　of　the　Park！　and　how　you　groaned　when　you　came
back；　possessed　of　furnished　apartments　in　respectable　Bayswater；
over　the　useless　expense　I　had　put　you　to！

〃What　do　you　think　of　those　furnished　apartments　_now；_　you
obstinate　old　woman？　Here　we　are；　with　discovery　threatening　us
at　our　very　door；　and　with　no　hope　of　escape　unless　we　can
contrive　to　disappear　from　the　parson　in　the　dark。　And　there　are
the　lodgings　in　Bayswater；　to　which　no　inquisitive　strangers　have
traced　either　you　or　me；　ready　and　waiting　to　swallow　us　upthe
lodgings　in　which　we　can　escape　all　further　molestation；　and
answer　the　major's　inquiries　at　our　ease。　Can　you　see；　at　last；　a
little　further　than　your　poor　old　nose？　Is　there　anything　in　the
world　to　prevent　your　safe　disappearance　from　Pimlico　to…night；
and　your　safe　establishment　at　the　new　lodgings；　in　the　character
of　my　respectable　reference；　half　an　hour　afterward？　Oh；　fie；
fie；　Mother　Oldershaw！　Go　down　on　your　wicked　old　knees；　and
thank　your　stars　that　you　had　a　she…devil　like　me　to　deal　with
this　morning！

〃Suppose　we　come　now　to　the　only　difficulty　worth　mentioning_
my_　difficulty。　Watched　as　I　am　in　this　house；　how　am　I　to　join
you　without　bringing　the　parson　or　the　parson's　servant　with　me
at　my　heels？

〃Being　to　all　intents　and　purposes　a　prisoner　here；　it　seems　to
me　that　I　have　no　choice　but　to　try　the　old　prison　plan　of
escapea　change　of　clothes。　I　have　been　looking　at　your
house…maid。　Excep　t　that　we　are　both　light；　her　face　and　hair　and
my　face　and　hair　are　as　unlike　each　other　as　possible。　But　she　is
as　nearly　as　can　be　my　height　and　size；　and　（if　she　only　knew　how
to　dress　herself；　and　had　smaller　feet）　her　figure　is　a　very　much
better　one　than　it　ought　to　be　for　a　person　in　her　station　in
life。

〃My　idea　is；　to　dress　her　in　the　clothes　I　wore　in　the　Gardens
to…day；　to　send　her　out；　with　our　reverend　enemy　in　full　pursuit
of　her；　and；　as　soon　as　the　coast　is　clear；　to　slip　away　myself
and　join　you。　The　thing　would　be　quite　impossible；　of　course；　if
I　had　been　seen　with　my　veil　up；　but；　as　events　have　turned　out；
it　is　one　advantage　of　the　horrible　exposure　which　followed　my
marriage　that　I　seldom　show　myself　in　public；　and　never；　of
course；　in　such　a　populous　place　as　London；　without　wearing　a
thick　veil　and　keeping　that　veil　down。　If　the　house…maid　wears　my
dress；　I　don't　really　see　why　the　house…maid　may　not　be　counted
on　to　represent　me　to　the　life。

〃The　one　question　is；　Can　the　woman　be　trusted？　If　she　can；　send
me　a　line；　telling　her；　on　your　authority；　that　she　is　to　place
herself　at　my　disposal。　I　won't　say　a　word　till　I　have　heard　from
you　first。

〃Let　me　have　my　answer　to…night。　As　long　as　we　were　only　talking
about　my　getting　the　governess's　place；　I　was　careless　enough　how
it　ended。　But　now　that　we　have　actually　answered　Major　Milroy's
advertisement；　I　am　in　earnest　at　last。　I　mean　to　be　Mrs。
Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　woe　to　the　man　or　woman　who　tries
to　stop　me！　Yours；

〃LYDIA　GWILT。

〃P。S。I　open　my　letter　again　to　say　that　you　need　have　no　fear
of　your　messenger　being　followed　on　his　return　to　Pimlico。　He
will　drive　to　a　public…house　where　he　is　known；　will　dismiss　the
cab　at　the　door；　and　will　go　out　again　by　a　back　way　which　is
only　used　by　the　landlord　and　his　friends。L。　G。〃

3。　_From　Mrs。　Oldershaw　to　Miss　Gwilt。_

〃Diana　Street；　10　o'clock。

〃MY　DEAR　LYDIAYou　have　written　me　a　heartless　letter。　If　you
had　been　in　my　trying　position；　harassed　as　I　was　when　I　wrote　to
you；　I　should　have　made　allowances　for　my　friend　when　I　found　my
friend　not　so　sharp　as　usual。　But　the　vice　of　the　present　age　is
a　want　of　consideration　for　persons　in　the　decline　of　life。
Morally　speaking；　you　are　in　a　sad　state；　my　dear；　and　you　stand
much　in　need　of　a　good　example。　You　shall　have　a　good　exampleI
forgive　you。

〃Having　now　relieved　my　mind　by　the　performance　of　a　good　action；
suppose　I　show　you　next　（though　I　protest　against　the　vulgarity
of　the　expression）　that　I　_can_　see　a　little　further　than　my　poor
old　nose？

〃I　will　answer　your　question　about　the　house…maid　first。　You　may
trust　her　implicitly。　She　has　had　her　troubles；　and　has　learned
discretion。　She　also　looks　your　age；　though　it　is　only　her　due　to
say　that；　in　this　particular；　she　has　some　years　the　advantage　of
you。　I　inclose　the　necessary　directions　which　will　place　her
entirely　at　your　disposal。

〃And　what　comes　next？

〃Your　plan　for　joining　me　at　Bayswater　comes　next。　It　is　very
well　as　far　as　it　goes；　but　it　stands　sadly　in　need　of　a　little
judicious　improvement。　There　is　a　serious　necessity　（you　shall
know　why　presently）　for　deceiving　the　parson　far　more　completely
than　you　propose　to　deceive　him。　I　want　him　to　see　the
house…maid's　face　under　circumstances　which　will　persuade　him
that　it　is　_your_　face。　And　then；　going　a　step　further；　I　want
him　to　see　the　house…maid　leave　London；　under　the　impression　that
he　has　seen　_you_　start　on　the　first　stage　of　your　journey　to　the
Brazils。　He　didn't　believe　in　that　journey　when　I　announced　it　to
him　this　afternoon　in　the　street。　He　may　believe　in　it　yet；　if
you　follow　the　directions　I　am　now　going　to　give　you。

〃To…morrow　is　Saturday。　Send　the　housemaid　out　in　your　walking
dress　of　to…day；　just　as　you　propose；　but　don't　stir　out
yourself；　and　don't　go　near　the　window。　Desire　the　woman　to　keep
her　veil　down；　to　take　half　an　hour's　walk　（quite　unconscious；　of
course；　of　the　parson　or　his　servant　at　her　heels）；　and　then　to
come　back　to　you。　As　soon　as　she　appears；　send　her　instantly　to
the　open　window；　instructing　her　to　lift　her　veil　carelessly　and
look　out。　Let　her　go　away　again　after　a　minute　or　two；　take　off
her　bonnet