armadale-第50章

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Allan　left　the　cottage；　sorely　puzzled　to　account　for　Miss
Milroy's　sudden　coolness　toward　him。　His　grand　idea　of
conciliating　the　whole　neighborhood　by　becoming　a　married　man
underwent　some　modification　as　he　closed　the　garden　gate　behind
him。　The　virtue　called　Prudence　and　the　Squire　of　Thorpe　Ambrose
became　personally　acquainted　with　each　other；　on　this　occasion；
for　the　first　time；　and　Allan；　entering　headlong　as　usual　on　the
high…road　to　moral　improvement；　actually　decided　on　doing　nothing
in　a　hurry！

A　man　who　is　entering　on　a　course　of　reformation　ought；　if　virtue
is　its　own　reward；　to　be　a　man　engaged　in　an　essentially
inspiriting　pursuit。　But　virtue　is　not　always　its　own　reward；　and
the　way　that　leads　to　reformation　is　remarkably　ill…lighted　for
so　respectable　a　thoroughfare。　Allan　seemed　to　have　caught　the
infection　of　his　friend's　despondency。　As　he　walked　home；　he；
too；　began　to　doubtin　his　widely　different　way；　and　for　his
widely　different　reasonswhether　the　life　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　was
promising　quite　as　fairly　for　the　future　as　it　had　promised　at
first。

CHAPTER　VII。

THE　PLOT　THICKENS。

Two　messages　were　waiting　for　Allan　when　he　returned　to　the
house。　One　had　been　left　by　Midwinter。　〃He　had　gone　out　for　a
long　walk；　and　Mr。　Armadale　was　not　to　be　alarmed　if　he　did　not
get　back　till　late　in　the　day。〃　The　other　message　had　been　left
by　〃a　person　from　Mr。　Pedgift's　office；〃　who　had　called；
according　to　appointment；　while　the　two　gentlemen　were　away　at
the　major's。　〃Mr。　Bashwood's　respects；　and　he　would　have　the
honor　of　waiting　on　Mr。　Armadale　again　in　the　course　of　the
evening。〃

Toward　five　o'clock；　Midwinter　returned；　pale　and　silent。　Allan
hastened　to　assure　him　that　his　peace　was　made　at　the　cottage；
and　then；　to　change　the　subject；　mentioned　Mr。　Bashwood's
message。　Midwinter's　mind　was　so　preoccupied　or　so　languid　that
he　hardly　seemed　to　remember　the　name。　Allan　was　obliged　to
remind　him　that　Bashwood　was　the　elderly　clerk；　whom　Mr。　Pedgift
had　sent　to　be　his　instructor　in　the　duties　of　the　steward's
office。　He　listened　without　making　any　remark；　and　withdrew　to
his　room；　to　rest　till　dinner…time。

Left　by　himself；　Allan　went　into　the　library；　to　try　if　he　could
while　away　the　time　over　a　book。

He　took　many　volumes　off　the　shelves；　and　put　a　few　of　them　back
again；　and　there　he　ended。　Miss　Milroy　contrived　in　some
mysterious　manner　to　get；　in　this　case；　between　the　reader　and
the　books。　Her　formal　bow　and　her　merciless　parting　speech　dwelt；
try　how　he　might　to　forget　them；　on　Allan's　mind；　he　began　to
grow　more　and　more　anxious　as　the　idle　hour　wore　on；　to　recover
his　lost　place　in　her　favor。　To　call　again　that　day　at　the
cottage；　and　ask　if　he　had　been　so　unfortunate　as　to　offend　her；
was　impossible。　To　put　the　question　in　writing　with　the　needful
nicety　of　expression　proved；　on　trying　the　experiment；　to　be　a
task　beyond　his　literary　reach。　After　a　turn　or　two　up　and　down
the　room；　with　his　pen　in　his　mouth；　he　decided　on　the　more
diplomatic　course　（which　happened；　in　this　case；　to　be　the
easiest　course；　too）；　of　writing　to　Miss　Milroy　as　cordially　as
if　nothing　had　happened；　and　of　testing　his　position　in　her　good
graces　by　the　answer　that　she　sent　him　back。　An　invitation　of
some　kind　（including　her　father；　of　course；　but　addressed
directly　to　herself）　was　plainly　the　right　thing　to　oblige　her　to
send　a　written　reply；　but　here　the　difficulty　occurred　of　what
the　invitation　was　to　be。　A　ball　was　not　to　be　thought　of；　in　his
present　position　with　the　resident　gentry。　A　dinner…party；　with
no　indispensable　elderly　lady　on　the　premises　to　receive　Miss
Milroyexcept　Mrs。　Gripper；　who　could　only　receive　her　in　the
kitchenwas　equally　out　of　the　question。　What　was　the　invitation
to　be？　Never　backward；　when　he　wanted　help；　in　asking　for　it
right　and　left　in　every　available　direction；　Allan；　feeling
himself　at　the　end　of　his　own　resources；　coolly　rang　the　bell；
and　astonished　the　servant　who　answered　it　by　inquiring　how　the
late　family　at　Thorpe　Ambrose　used　to　amuse　themselves；　and　what
sort　of　invitations　they　were　in　the　habit　of　sending　to　their
friends。

〃The　family　did　what　the　rest　of　the　gentry　did；　sir；〃　said　the
man；　staring　at　his　master　in　utter　bewilderment。　〃They　gave
dinner…parties　and　balls。　And　in　fine　summer　weather；　sir；　like
this；　they　sometimes　had　lawn…parties　and　picnics〃

〃That'll　do！〃　shouted　Allan。　〃A　picnic's　just　the　thing　to　please
her。　Richard；　you're　an　invaluable　man；　you　may　go　downstairs
again。〃

Richard　retired　wondering；　and　Richard's　master　seized　his　ready
pen。


〃DEAR　MISS　MILROYSince　I　left　you　it　has　suddenly　struck　me
that　we　might　have　a　picnic。　A　little　change　and　amusement　（what
I　should　call　a　good　shaking…up；　if　I　wasn't　writing　to　a　young
lady）　is　just　the　thing　for　you；　after　being　so　long　indoors
lately　in　Mrs。　Milroy's　room。　A　picnic　is　a　change；　and　（when　the
wine　is　good）　amusement；　too。　Will　you　ask　the　major　if　he　will
consent　to　the　picnic；　and　come？　And　if　you　have　got　any　friends
in　the　neighborhood　who　like　a　picnic；　pray　ask　them　too；　for　I
have　got　none。　It　shall　be　your　picnic；　but　I　will　provide
everything　and　take　everybody。　You　shall　choose　the　day；　and　we
will　picnic　where　you　like。　I　have　set　my　heart　on　this　picnic。

〃Believe　me；　ever　yours；

〃ALLAN　ARMADALE。〃


On　reading　over　his　composition　before　sealing　it　up；　Allan
frankly　acknowledged　to　himself；　this　time；　that　it　was　not　quite
faultless。　〃　'Picnic'　comes　in　a　little　too　often；〃　he　said。
〃Never　mind；　if　she　likes　the　idea；　she　won't　quarrel　with　that。〃
He　sent　off　the　letter　on　the　spot；　with　strict　instructions　to
the　messenger　to　wait　for　a　reply。

In　half　an　hour　the　answer　came　back　on　scented　paper；　without　an
erasure　anywhere；　fragrant　to　smell；　and　beautiful　to　see。

The　presentation　of　the　naked　truth　is　one　of　those　exhibitions
from　which　the　native　delicacy　of　the　female　mind　seems
instinctively　to　revolt。　Never　were　the　tables　turned　more
completely　than　they　were　now　turned　on　Allan　by　his　fair
correspondent。　Machiavelli　himself　would　never　have　suspected；
from　Miss　Milroy's　letter；　how　heartily　she　had　repented　her
petulance　to　the　young　squire　as　soon　as　his　back　was　turned；　and
how　extravagantly　delighted　she　was　when　his　invitation　was
placed　in　her　hands。　Her　letter　was　the　composition　of　a　model
young　lady　whose　emotions　are　all　kept　under　parental　lock　and
key；　and　served　out　for　her　judiciously　as　occasion　may　re　quire。
〃Papa；〃　appeared　quite　as　frequently　in　Miss　Milroy's　reply　as
〃picnic〃　had　appeared　in　Allan's　invitation。　〃Papa〃　had　been　as
considerately　kind　as　Mr。　Armadale　in　wishing　to　procure　her　a
little　change　and　amusement；　and　had　offered　to　forego　his　usual
quiet　habits　and　join　the　picnic。　With　〃papa's〃　sanction；
therefore；　she　accepted；　with　much　pleasure；　Mr。　Armadale's
proposal；　and；　at　〃papa's〃　suggestion；　she　would　presume　on　Mr。
Armadale's　kindness　to　add　two　friends　of　theirs　recently　settled
at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　to　the　picnic　partya　widow　lady　and　her　son；
the　latter　in　holy　orders　and　in　delicate　health。　If　Tuesday　next
would　suit　Mr。　Armadale；　Tuesday　next　would　suit　〃papa〃being
the　first　day　he　could　spare　from　repairs　which　were　required　by
his　clock。　The　rest；　by　〃papa's〃　advice；　she　would　beg　to　leave
entirely　in　Mr。　Armadale's　hands；　and；　in　the　meantime；　she　would
remain；　with　〃papa's〃　compliments；　Mr。　Armadale's　trulyELEANOR
MILROY。〃

Who　would　ever　have　supposed　that　the　writer　of　that　letter　had
jumped　for　joy　when　Allan's　invitation　arrived？　Who　would　ever
have　suspected　that　there　was　an　entry　already　in　Miss　Milroy's
diary；　under　that　day's　date；　to　this　effect：　〃The　sweetest；
dearest　letter　from　_I…know…who；_　I'll　never　behave　unkindly　to
him　again　as　long　as　I　live？〃　As　for　Allan；　he　was　charmed　with
the　sweet　success　of　his　maneuver。　Miss　Milroy　had　accepted　his
invitation；　consequently；　Miss　Milroy　was　not　offended　with　him。
It　was　on　the　tip　of　his　tongue　to　mention　the　correspondence　to
his　friend　when　they　met　at　dinner。　But　there　was　something　in
Midwinter's　face　and　manner　（even　plain　enough　for　Allan　to　see）
which　warned　him　to　wait　a　little　before　he　said　anything　to
revive　the　painful　subject　of　their　visit　to　the　cottage。　By
common　consent　they　both　avoided　all　topics　connected　with　Thorpe
Ambrose；　not　even　the　visit　from　Mr。　Bashwood；　which　was　to　come
with　the　evening；　being　referred　to　by　either　of　them。　All
through　the　dinner　they　drifted　further　and　further　back　into　the
old　endless　talk　of　past　times　about　ships　and　sailing。　When　the
butler　withdrew　from　his　attendance　at　table；　he　came　downstairs
with　a　nautical　problem　on　his　mind；　and　asked　his
fellow…servants　if　they　any　of　them　knew　the　relative　merits　〃on
a　wind〃　and　〃off　a　wind〃　of　a　schooner　and　a　brig。

The　two　young　men　had　sat　longer　at　table　than　usual　that　day。
When　they　went　out　into　the　garden　with　their　cigars；　the　summer
twilight　fell　gray　and　dim　on　lawn　and　flower　bed；　and　narrowed
round　them　by　slow　degrees　the　softly　fading　circle　of　the
distant　view。　The　dew　was　heavy；　and；　after　a　few　minutes　in　the
garden；　they　agreed　to　go　back　to　the　drier　ground　on　the　drive
in　front　of　the　house。

They　were　close　to　the　turning　which　led　into　the　shrubbery；　when
there　suddenly　glided　out　on　them；　from　behind　the　foliage；　a
softly　stepping　black　figurea　shadow；　moving　darkly　through　the
dim　evening　light。　Midwinter　started　back　at　the　sight　of　it；　and
even　the　less　finely　strung　nerves　of　his　friend　were　shaken　for
the　moment。

〃Who　the　devil　are　you？〃　cried　Allan。

The　figure　bared　its　head　in　the　gray　light；　and　came　slowly　a
step　nearer。　Midwinter　advanced　a　step　on　his　side；　and　looked
closer。　It　was　the　man　of　the　timid　manners　and　the　mourning
garments；　of　whom　he　had　asked　the　way　to　Thorpe　Ambrose　where
the　three　roads　met。

〃Who　are　you？〃　repeated　Allan。

〃I　humbly　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　faltered　the　stranger；　stepping
back　again；　confusedly。　〃The　servants　told　me　I　should　find　Mr。
Armadale〃

〃What；　are　you　Mr。　Bashwood？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　please；　sir。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon　for　speaking　to　you　so　roughly；〃　said　Allan；
〃but　the　fact　is；　you　rather　startled　me。　My　name　is　Armadale
（put　on　your　hat；　pray）；　and　this　is　my　friend；　Mr。　Midwinter；
who　wants　your　help　in　the　steward's　office。〃

〃We　hardly　stand　in　need　of　an　introduction；〃　said　Midwinter。　〃I
met　Mr。　Bashwood　out　walking　a　few　days　since；　and　he　was　kind
enough　to　direct　me　when　I　had　lost　my　way。〃

〃Put　on　your　hat；〃　reiterated　Allan；　as　Mr。　Bashwood；　still
bareheaded；　stood　bowing　speechlessly；　now　to　one　of　the　young
men；　and　now　to　the　other。　〃My　good　sir；　put　on　your　hat；　and　let
me　show　you　the　way　back　to　the　house。　Excuse　me　for　noticing
it；〃　added　Allan；　as　the　man；　in　sheer　nervous　helplessness；　let
his　hat　fall；　instead　of　putting　it　back　on　his　head；　〃but　you
seem　a　little　out　of　sorts；　a　glass　of　good　wine　will　do　you　no
harm　before　you　and　my　friend　come　to　business。　Whereabouts　did
you　meet　with　Mr。　Bashwood；　Midwinter；　when　you　lost　your　way？〃

〃I　am　too　ignorant　of　the　neighborhoo