armadale-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


locality　for　the　pleasure　party。　This　object　accomplished；　he
returned　to　his　own　house；　to　meet　the　last　difficulty　now　left
to　encounterthe　difficulty　of　persuading　Midwinter　to　join　the
expedition　to　the　Broads。

On　first　broaching　the　subject；　Allan　found　his　friend
impenetrably　resolute　to　remain　at　home。　Midwinter's　natural
reluctance　to　meet　the　major　and　his　daughter　after　what　had
happened　at　the　cottage；　might　probably　have　been　overcome。　But
Midwinter's　determination　not　to　allow　Mr。　Bashwood's　course　of
instruction　to　be　interrupted　was　proof　against　every　effort　that
could　be　made　to　shake　it。　After　exerting　his　influence　to　the
utmost；　Allan　was　obliged　to　remain　contented　with　a　compromise。
Midwinter　promised；　not　very　willingly；　to　join　the　party　toward
evening；　at　the　place　appointed　for　a　gypsy　tea…making；　which　was
to　close　the　proceedings　of　the　day。　To　this　extent　he　would
consent　to　take　the　opportunity　of　placing　himself　on　a　friendly
footing　with　the　Milroys。　More　he　could　not　concede；　even　to
Allan's　persuasion；　and　for　more　it　would　he　useless　to　ask。

The　day　of　the　picnic　came。　The　lovely　morning；　and　the　cheerful
bustle　of　preparation　for　the　expedition；　failed　entirely　to
tempt　Midwinter　into　altering　his　resolution。　At　the　regular　hour
he　left　the　breakfast…table　to　join　Mr。　Bashwood　in　the　steward's
office。　The　two　were　quietly　closeted　over　the　books；　at　the　back
of　the　house；　while　the　packing　for　the　picnic　went　on　in　front。
Young　Pedgift　（short　in　stature；　smart　in　costume；　and
self…reliant　in　manner）　arrived　some　little　time　before　the　hour
for　starting；　to　revise　all　the　arrangements；　and　to　make　any
final　improvements　which　his　local　knowledge　might　suggest。　Allan
and　he　were　still　busy　in　consultation　when　the　first　hitch
occurred　in　the　proceedings。　The　woman…servant　from　the　cottage
was　reported　to　be　waiting　below　for　an　answer　to　a　note　from　her
young　mistress；　which　was　placed　in　Allan's　hands。

On　this　occasion　Miss　Milroy's　emotions　had　apparently　got　the
better　of　her　sense　of　propriety。　The　tone　of　the　letter　was
feverish；　and　the　handwriting　wandered　crookedly　up　and　down　in
deplorable　freedom　from　all　proper　restraint。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Armadale〃　（wrote　the　major's　daughter）；　〃such　a
misfortune！　What　_are_　we　to　do？　Papa　has　got　a　letter　from
grandmamma　this　morning　about　the　new　governess。　Her　reference
has　answered　all　the　questions；　and　she's　ready　to　come　at　the
shortest　notice。　Grandmamma　thinks　（how　provoking！）　the　sooner
the　better；　and　she　says　we　may　expect　herI　mean　the
governesseither　to…day　or　to…morrow。　Papa　says　（he　_will_　be　so
absurdly　considerate　to　everybody！）　that　we　can't　allow　Miss
Gwilt　to　come　here　（if　she　comes　to…day）　and　find　nobody　at　home
to　receive　her。　What　is　to　be　done？　I　am　ready　to　cry　with
vexation。　I　have　got　the　worst　possible　impression　（though
grandmamma　says　she　is　a　charming　person）　of　Miss　Gwilt。　_Can_
you　suggest　something；　dear　Mr。　Armadale？　I'm　sure　papa　would
give　way　if　you　could。　Don't　stop　to　write；　send　me　a　message
back。　I　have　got　a　new　hat　for　the　picnic；　and　oh；　the　agony　of
not　knowing　whether　I　am　to　keep　it　on　or　take　it　off。　Yours
truly；　E。　M。〃

〃The　devil　take　Miss　Gwilt！〃　said　Allan；　staring　at　his　legal
adviser　in　a　state　of　helpless　consternation。

〃With　all　my　heart；　sirI　don't　wish　to　interfere；〃　remarked
Pedgift　Junior。　〃May　I　ask　what's　the　matter？〃

Allan　told　him。　Mr。　Pedgift　the　younger　might　have　his　faults；
but　a　want　of　quickness　of　resource　was　not　among　them。

〃There's　a　way　out　of　the　difficulty；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　he　said。　〃If
the　governess　comes　today；　let's　have　her　at　the　picnic。〃

Allan's　eyes　opened　wide　in　astonishment。

〃All　the　horses　and　carriages　in　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　stables　are
not　wanted　for　this　small　party　of　ours；〃　proceeded　Pedgift
Junior。　〃Of　course　not！　Very　good。　If　Miss　Gwilt　comes　to…day；
she　can't　possibly　get　here　before　five　o'clock。　Good　again。　You
order　an　open　carriage　to　be　waiting　at　the　major's　door　at　that
time；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　I'll　give　the　man　his　directions　where　to
drive　to。　When　the　governess　comes　to　the　cottage；　let　her　find　a
nice　little　note　of　apology　（along　with　the　cold　fowl；　or
whatever　else　they　give　her　after　her　journey）　begging　her　to
join　us　at　the　picnic；　and　putting　a　carriage　at　her　own　sole
disposal　to　take　her　there。　Gad；　sir！〃　said　young　Pedgift；　gayly；
〃she　_must_　be　a　Touchy　One　if　she　thinks　herself　neglected　after
that！〃

〃Capital！〃　cried　Allan。　〃She　shall　have　every　attention。　I'll
give　her　the　pony…chaise　and　the　white　harness；　and　she　shall
drive　herself；　if　she　likes。〃

He　scribbled　a　line　to　relieve　Miss　Milroy's　apprehensions；　and
gave　the　necessary　orders　for　the　pony…chaise。　Ten　minutes　later；
the　carriages　for　the　pleasure　party　were　at　the　door。

〃Now　we've　taken　all　this　trouble　about　her；〃　said　Allan；
reverting　to　the　governess　as　they　left　the　house；　〃I　wonder；　if
she　does　come　today；　whether　we　shall　see　her　at　the　picnic！〃

〃Depends；　entirely　on　her　age；　sir；〃　remarked　young　Pedgift；
pronouncing　judgment　with　the　happy　confidence　in　himself　which
eminently　distinguished　him。　〃If　she's　an　old　one；　she'll　be
knocked　up　with　the　journey；　and　she'll　stick　to　the　cold　fowl
and　the　cottage。　If　she's　a　young　one；　either　I　know　nothing　of
women；　or　the　pony　in　the　white　harness　will　bring　her　to　the
picnic。〃

They　started　for　the　major's　cottage。

CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　NORFOLK　BROADS。

THE　little　group　gathered　together　in　Major　Milroy's　parlor　to
wait　for　the　carriages　from　Thorpe　Ambrose　would　hardly　have
conveyed　the　idea；　to　any　previously　uninstructed　person
introduced　among　them；　of　a　party　assembled　in　expectation　of　a
picnic。　They　were　almost　dull　enough；　as　far　as　outward
appearances　went；　to　have　been　a　party　assembled　in　expectation
of　a　marriage。

Even　Miss　Milroy　herself；　though　conscious；　of　looking　her　best
in　her　bright　muslin　dress　and　her　gayly　feathered　new　hat；　was
at　this　inaus　picious　moment　Miss　Milroy　under　a　cloud。　Although
Allan's　note　had　assured　her；　in　Allan's　strongest　language；　that
the　one　great　object　of　reconciling　the　governess's　arrival　with
the　celebration　of　the　picnic　was　an　object　achieved；　the　doubt
still　remained　whether　the　plan　proposedwhatever　it　might
bewould　meet　with　her　father's　approval。　In　a　word；　Miss　Milroy
declined　to　feel　sure　of　her　day's　pleasure　until　the　carriage
made　its　appearance　and　took　her　from　the　door。　The　major；　on　his
side；　arrayed　for　the　festive　occasion　in　a　tight　blue　frock…coat
which　he　had　not　worn　for　years；　and　threatened　with　a　whole　long
day　of　separation　from　his　old　friend　and　comrade　the　clock；　was
a　man　out　of　his　element；　if　ever　such　a　man　existed　yet。　As　for
the　friends　who　had　been　asked　at　Allan's　requestthe　widow　lady
（otherwise　Mrs。　Pentecost）　and　her　son　（the　Reverend　Samuel）　in
delicate　healthtwo　people　less　capable；　apparently　of　adding　to
the　hilarity　of　the　day　could　hardly　have　been　discovered　in　the
length　and　breadth　of　all　England。　A　young　man　who　plays　his　part
in　society　by　looking　on　in　green　spectacles；　and　listening　with
a　sickly　smile；　may　be　a　prodigy　of　intellect　and　a　mine　of
virtue；　but　he　is　hardly；　perhaps；　the　right　sort　of　man　to　have
at　a　picnic。　An　old　lady　afflicted　with　deafness；　whose　one
inexhaustible　subject　of　interest　is　the　subject　of　her　son；　and
who　（on　the　happily　rare　occasions　when　that　son　opens　his　lips）
asks　everybody　eagerly；　〃What　does　my　boy　say？〃　is　a　person　to　be
pitied　in　respect　of　her　infirmities；　and　a　person　to　be　admired
in　respect　of　her　maternal　devotedness；　but　not　a　person；　if　the
thing　could　possibly　be　avoided；　to　take　to　a　picnic。　Such　a　man；
nevertheless；　was　the　Reverend　Samuel　Pentecost；　and　such　a　woman
was　the　Reverend　Samuel's　mother；　and　in　the　dearth　of　any　other
producible　guests；　there　they　were；　engaged　to　eat；　drink；　and　be
merry　for　the　day　at　Mr。　Armadale's　pleasure　party　to　the　Norfolk
Broads。

The　arrival　of　Allan；　with　his　faithful　follower；　Pedgift　Junior；
at　his　heels；　roused　the　flagging　spirits　of　the　party　at　the
cottage。　The　plan　for　enabling　the　governess　to　join　the　picnic；
if　she　arrived　that　day；　satisfied　even　Major　Milroy's　anxiety　to
show　all　proper　attention　to　the　lady　who　was　coming　into　his
house。　After　writing　the　necessary　note　of　apology　and
invitation；　and　addressing　it　in　her　very　best　handwriting　to　the
new　governess；　Miss　Milroy　ran　upstairs　to　say　good…by　to　her
mother；　and　returned　with　a　smiling　face　and　a　side　look　of
relief　directed　at　her　father；　to　announce　that　there　was　nothing
now　to　keep　any　of　them　a　moment　longer　indoors。　The　company　at
once　directed　their　steps　to　the　garden　gate；　and　were　there　met
face　to　face　by　the　second　great　difficulty　of　the　day。　How　were
the　six　persons　of　the　picnic　to　be　divided　between　the　two　open
carriages　that　were　in　waiting　for　them？

Here；　again；　Pedgift　Junior　exhibited　his　invaluable　faculty　of
contrivance。　This　highly　cultivated　young　man　possessed　in　an
eminent　degree　an　accomplishment　more　or　less　peculiar　to　all　the
young　men　of　the　age　we　live　in：　he　was　perfectly　capable　of
taking　his　pleasure　without　forgetting　his　business。　Such　a
client　as　the　Master　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　fell　but　seldom　in　his
father's　way；　and　to　pay　special　but　unobtrusive　attention　to
Allan　all　through　the　day　was　the　business　of　which　young
Pedgift；　while　proving　himself　to　be　the　life　and　soul　of　the
picnic；　never　once　lost　sight　from　the　beginning　of　the
merry…making　to　the　end。　He　had　detected　the　state　of　affairs
between　Miss　Milroy　and　Allan　at　glance；　and　he　at　once　provided
for　his　client's　inclinations　in　that　quarter　by　offering；　in
virtue　of　his　local　knowledge；　to　lead　the　way　in　the　first
carriage；　and　by　asking　Major　Milroy　and　the　curate　if　they　would
do　him　the　honor　of　accompanying　him。

〃We　shall　pass　a　very　interesting　place　to　a　military　man；　sir；〃
said　young　Pedgift；　addressing　the　major；　with　his　happy　and
unblushing　confidence〃the　remains　of　a　Roman　encampment。　And　my
father；　sir；　who　is　a　subscriber；〃　proceeded　this　rising　lawyer；
turning　to　the　curate；　〃wished　me　to　ask　your　opinion　of　the　new
Infant　School　buildings　at　Little　Gill　Beck。　Would　you　kindly
give　it　me　as　we　go　along？〃　He　opened　the　carriage　door；　and
helped　in　the　major　and　the　curate　before　they　could　either　of
them　start　any　difficulties。　The　necessary　result　followed。　Allan
and　Miss　Milroy　rode　together　in　the　same　carriage；　with　the
extra　convenience　of　a　deaf　old　lady　in　attendance　to　keep　the
squire's　compliments　within　the　necessary　limits。

Never　yet　had　Allan　enjoyed　such　an　interview　with　Miss　Milroy　as
the　interview　he　now　obtained　on　the　road　to　the　Broads。

The　dear　old　lady；　after　a　little　anecdote　or　two　on　the　subject
of　her　son；　did　the　one　thing　wanting　to　secure　the　perfect
felicity　of　her　two　youthful　companions：　she　became　considerately
blind　for　the　occasion；　as　well　as　deaf。　A　quarter　of　an　hour
after　the　carriage　left　the　major's　cottage；　the　poor　old　soul；
reposing　on　snug　cushions；　and　fanned　by　a　fine　summer　air；　fell
peaceably　asleep。