armadale-第52章

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besides；　I　only　mentioned　my　late　wife　because　if　she　hadn't
tried　Sir　John's　patience　to　begin　with；　things　might　have　turned
out　differently〃　He　paused；　gave　up　the　disjointed　sentence　in
which　he　had　involved　himself；　and　tried　another。　〃I　had　only　two
children；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　advancing　to　a　new　point　in　his
narrative；　〃a　boy　and　a　girl。　The　girl　died　when　she　was　a　baby。
My　son　lived　to　grow　up；　and　it　was　my　son　who　lost　me　my　place。
I　did　my　best　for　him；　I　got　him　into　a　respectable　office　in
London。　They　wouldn't　take　him　without　security。　I'm　afraid　it
was　imprudent；　but　I　had　no　rich　friends　to　help　me；　and　I　became
security。　My　boy　turned　out　badly；　sir。　He　perhaps　you　will
kindly　understand　what　I　mean；　if　I　say　he　behaved　dishonestly。
His　employers　consented；　at　my　entreaty；　to　let　him　off　without
prosecuting。　I　begged　very　hardI　was　fond　of　my　son　Jamesand
I　took　him　home；　and　did　my　best　to　reform　him。　He　wouldn't　stay
with　me；　he　went　away　again　to　London；　heI　beg　your　pardon；
sir！　I'm　afraid　I'm　confusing　things；　I'm　afraid　I'm　wandering
from　the　point。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Midwinter；　kindly。　〃If　you　think　it　right　to　tell
me　this　sad　story；　tell　it　in　your　own　way。　Have　you　seen　your
son　since　he　left　you　to　go　to　London？〃

〃No；　sir。　He's　in　London　still；　for　all　I　know。　When　I　last　heard
of　him；　he　was　getting　his　breadnot　very　creditably。　He　was
employed；　under　the　inspector；　at　the　Private　Inquiry　Office　in
Shadyside　Place。〃

He　spoke　those　wordsapparently　（as　events　then　stood）　the　most
irrelevant　to　the　matter　in　hand　that　had　yet　escaped　him；
actually　（as　events　were　soon　to　be）　the　most　vitally　important
that　he　had　uttered　yethe　spoke　those　words　absently；　looking
about　him　in　confusion；　and　trying　vainly　to　recover　the　lost
thread　of　his　narrative。

Midwinter　compassionately　helped　him。　〃You　were　telling　me；〃　he
said；　〃that　your　son　had　been　the　cause　of　your　losing　your
place。　How　did　that　happen？〃

〃In　this　way；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Bashwood；　getting　back　again
excitedly　into　the　right　train　of　thought。　〃His　employers
consented　to　let　him　off；　but　they　came　down　on　his　security；　and
I　was　the　man。　I　suppose　they　were　not　to　blame；　the　security
covered　their　loss。　I　couldn't　pay　it　all　out　of　my　savings；　I
had　to　borrowon　the　word　of　a　man；　sir；　I　couldn't　help　itI
had　to　borrow。　My　creditor　pressed　me；　it　seemed　cruel；　but；　if
he　wanted　the　money；　I　suppose　it　was　only　just。　I　was　sold　out
of　house　and　home。　I　dare　say　other　gentlemen　would　have　said
what　Sir　John　said；　I　dare　say　most　people　would　have　refused　to
keep　a　steward　who　had　had　the　bailiffs　after　him；　and　his
furniture　sold　in　the　neighborhood。　That　was　how　it　ended；　Mr。
Midwinter。　I　needn't　detain　you　any　longerhere　is　Sir　John's
address；　if　you　wish　to　apply　to　him。〃　Midwinter　generously
refused　to　receive　the　address。

〃Thank　you　kindly；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Bashwood；　getting　tremulously
on　his　legs。　〃There　is　nothing　more；　I　think；　exceptexcept　that
Mr。　Pedgift　will　speak　for　me；　if　you　wish　to　inquire　into　my
conduct　in　his　service。　I'm　very　much　indebted　to　Mr。　Pedgift；
he's　a　little　rough　with　me　sometimes；　but；　if　he　hadn't　taken　me
into　his　office；　I　think　I　should　have　gone　to　the　workhouse　when
I　left　Sir　John；　I　was　so　broken　down。〃　He　picked　up　his　dingy
old　hat　from　the　floor。　〃I　won't　intrude　any　longer；　sir。　I　shall
be　happy　to　call　again　if　you　wish　to　have　time　to　consider
before　you　decide…〃

〃I　want　no　time　to　consider　after　what　you　have　told　me；〃　replied
Midwinter；　warmly；　his　memory　busy；　while　he　spoke；　with　the　time
when　_he_　had　told　_his_　story　to　Mr。　Brock；　and　was　waiting　for
a　generous　word　in　return；　as　the　man　before　him　was　waiting　now。
〃To…day　is　Saturday；〃　he　went　on。　〃Can　you　come　and　give　me　my
first　lesson　on　Monday　morning？　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　added；
interrupting　Mr。　Bashwood's　profuse　expressions　of
acknowledgment；　and　stopping　him　on　his　way　out　of　the　room；
〃there　is　one　thing　we　ought　to　settle；　ought　we　not？　We　haven't
spoken　yet　about　your　own　interest　in　this　matter；　I　mean；　about
the　terms。〃　He　referred；　a　little　confusedly；　to　the　pecuniary
part　of　the　subject。　Mr。　Bashwood　（getting　nearer　and　nearer　to
the　door）　answered　him　more　confusedly　still。

〃Anything；　siranything　you　think　right。　I　won't　intrude　any
longer；　I'll　leave　it　to　you　and　Mr。　Armadale。〃

〃I　will　send　for　Mr。　Armadale；　if　you　like；〃　said　Midwinter；
following　him　into　the　hall。　〃But　I　am　afraid　he　has　as　little
experience　in　matters　of　this　kind　as　I　have。　Perhaps；　if　you　see
no　objection；　we　might　be　guided　by　Mr。　Pedgift？〃

Mr。　Bashwood　caught　eagerly　at　the　last　suggestion；　pushing　his
retreat；　while　he　spoke；　as　far　as　the　front　door。　〃Yes；　siroh；
yes；　yes！　nobody　better　than　Mr。　Pedgift。　Don'tpray　don't
disturb　Mr。　Armadale！〃　His　watery　eyes　looked　quite　wild　with
nervous　alarm　as　he　turned　round　for　a　moment　in　the　light　of　the
hall　lamp　to　make　that　polite　request。　If　sending　for　Allan　had
been　equivalent　to　unchaining　a　ferocious　watch…dog；　Mr。　Bashwood
could　hardly　have　been　more　anxious　to　stop　the　proceeding。　〃I
wish　you　kindly　good…evening；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　getting　out　to
the　steps。　〃I'm　much　obliged　to　you。　I　will　be　scrupulously
punctual　on　Monday　morningI　hopeI　thinkI'm　sure　you　will
soon　learn　everything　I　can　teach　you。　It's　not　difficultoh
dear；　nonot　difficult　at　all！　I　wish　you　kindly　good…evening；
sir。　A　beautiful　night；　yes；　indeed；　a　beautiful　night　for　a　walk
home。〃

With　those　words；　all　dropping　out　of　his　lips　one　on　the　top　of
the　other；　and　without　noticing；　in　his　agony　of　embarrassment　at
effecting　his　departure；　Midwinter's　outstretched　hand；　he　went
noiselessly　down　the　steps；　and　was　lost　in　the　darkness　of　the
night。

As　Midwinter　turned　to　re…enter　the　house；　the　dining…room　door
opened　and　his　friend　met　him　in　the　hall。

〃Has　Mr。　Bashwood　gone？〃　asked　Allan。

〃He　has　gone；〃　replied　Midwinter；　〃after　telling　me　a　very　sad
story；　and　leaving　me　a　little　ashamed　of　myself　for　having
doubted　him　without　any　just　cause。　I　have　arranged　that　he　is　to
give　me　my　first　lesson　in　the　steward's　office　on　Monday
morning。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Allan。　〃You　needn't　be　afraid；　old　boy；　of　my
interrupting　you　over　your　studies。　I　dare　say　I'm　wrongbut　I
don't　like　Mr。　Bashwood。〃

〃I　dare　say　_I'm_　wrong；〃　retorted　the　other；　a　little
petulantly。　〃I　do。〃


The　Sunday　morning　found　Midwinter　in　the　park；　waiting　to
intercept　the　postman；　on　the　chance　of　his　bringing　more　news
from　Mr。　Brock。

At　the　customary　hour　the　man　made　his　appearance；　and　placed　the
expected　letter　in　Midwinter's　hands。　He　opened　it；　far　away　from
all　fear　of　observation　this　time；　and　read　these　lines：


〃MY　DEAR　MIDWINTERI　write　more　for　the　purpose　of　quieting　your
anxiety　than　because　I　have　anything　definite　to　say。　In　my　last
hurried　letter　I　had　no　time　to　tell　you　that　the　elder　of　the
two　women　whom　I　met　in　the　Gardens　had　followed　me；　and　spoken
to　me　in　the　street。　I　believe　I　may　characterize　what　she　said
（without　doing　her　any　injustice）　as　a　tissue　of　falsehoods　from
beginning　to　end。　At　any　rate；　she　confirmed　me　in　the　suspicion
that　some　underhand　proceeding　is　on　foot；　of　which　Allan　is
destined　to　be　the　victim；　and　that　the　prime　mover　in　the
conspiracy　is　the　vile　woman　who　helped　his　mother's　marriage　and
who　hastened　his　mother's　death。

〃Feeling　this　conviction；　I　have　not　hesitated　to　do；　for　Allan's
sake；　what　I　would　have　done　for　no　other　creature　in　the　world。
I　have　left　my　hotel；　and　have　installed　myself　（with　my　old
servant　Robert）　in　a　house　opposite　the　house　to　which　I　traced
the　two　women。　We　are　alternately　on　the　watch　（quite
unsuspected；　I　am　certain；　by　the　people　opposite）　day　and　night。
All　my　feelings；　as　a　gentleman　and　a　clergyman；　revolt　from　such
an　occupation　as　I　am　now　engaged　in；　but　there　is　no　other
choice。　I　must　either　do　this　violence　to　my　own　self…respect；　or
I　must　leave　Allan；　with　his　easy　nature；　and　in　his　assailable
position；　to　defend　himself　against　a　wretch　who　is　prepared；　I
firmly　believe；　to　take　the　most　unscrupulous　advantage　of　his
weakness　and　his　youth。　His　mother's　dying　entreaty　has　never
left　my　memory；　and；　God　help　me；　I　am　now　degrading　myself　in　my
own　eyes　in　consequence。

'There　has　been　some　reward　already　for　the　sacrifice。　This　day
（Saturday）　I　have　gained　an　immense　advantageI　have　at　last
seen　the　woman's　face。　She　went　out　with　her　veil　down　as　before；
and　Robert　kept　her　in　view；　having　my　instructions；　if　she
returned　to　the　house；　not　to　follow　her　back　to　the　door。　She
did　return　to　the　house；　and　the　result　of　my　precaution　was；　as
I　had　expected；　to　throw　her　off　her　guard。　I　saw　her　face
unveiled　at　the　window；　and　　afterward　again　in　the　balcony。　If
any　occasion　should　ari　se　for　describing　her　particularly；　you
shall　have　the　description。　At　present　I　need　only　say　that　she
looks　the　full　age　（five…and…thirty）　at　which　you　estimated　her；
and　that　she　is　by　no　means　so　handsome　a　woman　as　I　had　（I
hardly　know　why）　expected　to　see。

〃This　is　all　I　can　now　tell　you。　If　nothing　more　happens　by
Monday　or　Tuesday　next；　I　shall　have　no　choice　but　to　apply　to　my
lawyers　for　assistance；　though　I　am　most　unwilling　to　trust　this
delicate　and　dangerous　matter　in　other　hands　than　mine。　Setting
my　own　feelings　however；　out　of　the　question；　the　business　which
has　been　the　cause　of　my　journey　to　London　is　too　important　to　be
trifled　with　much　longer　as　I　am　trifling　with　it　now。　In　any　and
every　case；　depend　on　my　keeping　you　informed　of　the　progress　of
events；　and　believe　me　yours　truly；

〃DECIMUS　BROCK。〃


Midwinter　secured　the　letter　as　he　had　secured　the　letter　that
preceded　itside　by　side　in　his　pocket…book　with　the　narrative
of　Allan's　Dream。

〃How　many　days　more？〃　he　asked　himself；　as　he　went　back　to　the
house。　〃How　many　days　more？〃

Not　many。　The　time　he　was　waiting　for　was　a　time　close　at　hand。


Monday　came；　and　brought　Mr。　Bashwood；　punctual　to　the　appointed
hour。　Monday　came；　and　found　Allan　immersed　in　his　preparations
for　the　picnic。　He　held　a　series　of　interviews；　at　home　and
abroad；　all　through　the　day。　He　transacted　business　with　Mrs。
Gripper；　with　the　butler；　and　with　the　coachman；　in　their　three
several　departments　of　eating；　drinking；　and　driving。　He　went　to
the　town　to　consult　his　professional　advisers　on　the　subject　of
the　Broads；　and　to　invite　both　the　lawyers；　father　and　son　（in
the　absence　of　anybody　else　in　the　neighborhood　whom　he　could
ask）；　to　join　the　picnic。　Pedgift　Senior　（in　his　department）
supplied　general　information；　but　begged　to　be　excused　from
appearing　at　the　picnic；　on　the　score　of　business　engagements。
Pedgift　Junior　（in　his　department）　added　all　the　details；　and；
casting　business　engagements　to　the　winds；　accepted　the
invitation　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　Returning　from　the
lawyer's　office；　Allan's　next　proceeding　was　to　go　to　the　major's
cottage　and　obtain　Miss　Milroy's　approval　of　the　proposed
locality　for　the　pleasure　party。　This　object　accomplished；　he
returned　to　his　own　house；　to　meet　the　last　difficulty　no