armadale-第57章

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shall　be　so　glad　to　see　him　at　the　Mere；　the　day's　pleasure　won't
be　complete　till　he　joins　us！〃

〃Should　I　be　right　or　wrong；　Mr。　Armadale；　if　I　guessed　that　you
were　thinking　of　somebody？〃　asked　a　voice；　softly；　behind　him。

Allan　turned；　and　found　the　major誷　daughter　at　his　side。　Miss
Milroy　（not　unmindful　of　a　certain　tender　interview　which　had
taken　place　behind　a　carriage）　had　noticed　her　admirer　standing
thoughtfully　by　himself；　and　had　determined　on　giving　him　another
opportunity；　while　her　father　and　young　Pedgift　were　at　the　top
of　the　watch…tower。

〃You　know　everything；〃　said　Allan；　smiling。　〃I　_was_　thinking　of
somebody。〃

Miss　Milroy　stole　a　glance　at　hima　glance　of　gentle
encouragement。　There　could　be　but　one　human　creature　in　Mr。
Armadale's　mind　after　what　had　passed　between　them　that　morning！
It　would　be　only　an　act　of　mercy　to　take　him　back　again　at　once
to　the　interrupted　conversation　of　a　few　hours　since　on　the
subject　of　names。

〃I　have　bean　thinking　of　somebody；　too；〃　she　said；　half…inviting；
half…repelling　the　coming　avowal。　〃If　I　tell　you　the　first　letter
of　my　Somebody's　name；　will　you　tell　me　the　first　letter　of
yours？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　anything　you　like；〃　rejoined　Allan；　with　the
utmost　enthusiasm。

She　still　shrank　coquettishly　from　the　very　subject　that　she
wanted　to　approach。　〃Tell　me　your　letter　first；〃　she　said；　in　low
tones；　looking　away　from　him。

Allan　laughed。　〃M；〃　he　said；　〃is　my　first　letter。〃

She　started　a　little。　Strange　that　he　should　be　thinking　of　her
by　her　surname　instead　of　her　Christian　name；　but　it　mattered
little　as　long　as　he　_was_　thinking　of　her。

〃What　is　your　letter？〃　asked　Allan。

She　blushed　and　smiled。　〃Aif　you　will　have　it！〃　she　answered；
in　a　reluctant　little　whisper。　She　stole　another　look　at　him；　and
luxuriously　protracted　her　enjoyment　of　the　coming　avowal　once
more。　〃How　many　syllables　is　the　name　in？〃　she　asked；　drawing
patterns　shyly　on　the　ground　with　the　end　of　the　parasol。

No　man　with　the　slightest　knowledge　of　the　sex　would　have　been
rash　enough；　in　Allan's　position；　to　tell　her　the　truth。　Allan；
who　knew　nothing　whatever　of　woman's　natures；　and　who　told　the
truth　right　and　left　in　all　mortal　emergencies；　answered　as　if　he
had　been　under　examination　in　a　court　of　justice。

〃It's　a　name　in　three　syllables；〃　he　said。

Miss　Milroy's　downcast　eyes　flashed　up　at　him　like　lightning。
〃Three！〃　she　repeated　in　the　blankest　astonishment。

Allan　was　too　inveterately　straightforward　to　take　the　warning
even　now。　〃I'm　not　strong　at　my　spelling；　I　know；〃　he　said；　with
his　lighthearted　laugh。　〃But　I　don't　think　I'm　wrong；　in　calling
Midwinter　a　name　in　t　hree　syllables。　I　was　thinking　of　my
friend；　but　never　mind　my　thoughts。　Tell　me　who　A　istell　me
whom　_you_　were　thinking　of？〃

〃Of　the　first　letter　of　the　alphabet；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　I　beg
positively　to　inform　you　of　nothing　more！〃

With　that　annihilating　answer　the　major's　daughter　put　up　her
parasol　and　walked　back　by　herself　to　the　boat。

Allan　stood　petrified　with　amazement。　If　Miss　Milroy　had　actually
boxed　his　ears　（and　there　is　no　denying　that　she　had　privately
longed　to　devote　her　hand　to　that　purpose）；　he　could　hardly　have
felt　more　bewildered　than　he　felt　now。　〃What　on　earth　have　I
done？〃　he　asked　himself；　helplessly；　as　the　major　and　young
Pedgift　joined　him；　and　the　three　walked　down　together　to　the
water…side。　〃I　wonder　what　she'll　say　to　me　next？〃

She　said　absolutely　nothing；　she　never　so　much　as　looked　at　Allan
when　he　took　his　place　in　the　boat。　There　she　sat；　with　her　eyes
and　her　complexion　both　much　brighter　than　usual；　taking　the
deepest　interest　in　the　curate's　progress　toward　recovery；　in　the
state　of　Mrs。　Pentecost's　spirits；　in　Pedgift　Junior　（for　whom
she　ostentatiously　made　room　enough　to　let　him　sit　beside　her）；
in　the　scenery　and　the　reed…cutter's　cottage；　in　everybody　and
everything　but　Allanwhom　she　would　have　married　with　the
greatest　pleasure　five　minutes　since。　〃I'll　never　forgive　him；〃
thought　the　major's　daughter。　〃To　be　thinking　of　that　ill…bred
wretch　when　I　was　thinking　of　_him；_　and　to　make　me　all　but
confess　it　before　I　found　him　out！　Thank　Heaven；　Mr。　Pedgift　is
in　the　boat！〃

In　this　frame　of　mind　Miss　Neelie　applied　herself　forthwith　to
the　fascination　of　Pedgift　and　the　discomfiture　of　Allan。　〃Oh；
Mr。　Pedgift；　how　extremely　clever　and　kind　of　you　to　think　of
showing　us　that　sweet　cottage！　Lonely；　Mr。　Armadale？　I　don't
think　it's　lonely　at　all；　I　should　like　of　all　things　to　live
there。　What　would　this　picnic　have　been　without　you；　Mr。　Pedgift；
you　can't　think　how　I　have　enjoyed　it　since　we　got　into　the　boat。
Cool；　Mr。　Armadale？　What　can　you　possibly　mean　by　saying　it's
cool；　it's　the　warmest　evening　we've　had　this　summer。　And　the
music；　Mr。　Pedgift；　how　nice　it　was　of　you　to　bring　your
concertina！　I　wonder　if　I　could　accompany　you　on　the　piano？　I
would　so　like　to　try。　Oh；　yes；　Mr。　Armadale；　no　doubt　you　meant
to　do　something　musical；　too；　and　I　dare　say　you　sing　very　well
when　you　know　the　words；　but；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　always
did；　and　always　shall；　hate　Moore's　Melodies！〃

Thus；　with　merciless　dexterity　of　manipulation；　did　Miss　Milroy
work　that　sharpest　female　weapon　of　offense；　the　tongue；　and　thus
she　would　have　used　it　for　some　time　longer；　if　Allan　had　only
shown　the　necessary　jealousy；　or　if　Pedgift　had　only　afforded　the
necessary　encouragement。　But　adverse　fortune　had　decreed　that　she
should　select　for　her　victims　two　men　essentially　unassailable
under　existing　circumstances。　Allan　was　too　innocent　of　all
knowledge　of　female　subtleties　and　susceptibilities　to　understand
anything；　except　that　the　charming　Neelie　was　unreasonably　out　of
temper　with　him　without　the　slightest　cause。　The　wary　Pedgift；　as
became　one　of　the　quick…witted　youth　of　the　present　generation；
submitted　to　female　influence；　with　his　eye　fixed　immovably　all
the　time　on　his　own　interests。　Many　a　young　man　of　the　past
generation；　who　was　no　fool；　has　sacrificed　everything　for　love。
Not　one　young　man　in　ten　thousand　of　the　present　generation；
_except_　the　fools；　has　sacrificed　a　half…penny。　The　daughters　of
Eve　still　inherit　their　mother's　merits　and　commit　their　mother's
faults。　But　the　sons　of　Adam；　in　these　latter　days；　are　men　who
would　have　handed　the　famous　apple　back　with　a　bow；　and　a
〃Thanks；　no；　it　might　get　me　into　a　scrape。〃　When
Allansurprised　and　disappointedmoved　away　out　of　Miss
Milroy's　reach　to　the　forward　part　of　the　boat；　Pedgift　Junior
rose　and　followed　him。　〃You're　a　very　nice　girl；〃　thought　this
shrewdly　sensible　young　man；　〃but　a　client's　a　client；　and　I　am
sorry　to　inform　you；　miss；　it　won't　do。〃　He　set　himself　at　once
to　rouse　Allan's　spirits　by　diverting　his　attention　to　a　new
subject。　There　was　to　be　a　regatta　that　autumn　on　one　of　the
Broads；　and　his　client's　opinion　as　a　yachtsman　might　be　valuable
to　the　committee。　〃Something　new；　I　should　think；　to　you；　sir；　in
a　sailing　match　on　fresh　water？〃　he　said；　in　his　most
ingratiatory　manner。　And　Allan；　instantly　interested；　answered；
〃Quite　new。　Do　tell　me　about　it！〃

As　for　the　rest　of　the　party　at　the　other　end　of　the　boat；　they
were　in　a　fair　way　to　confirm　Mrs。　Pentecost's　doubts　whether　the
hilarity　of　the　picnic　would　last　the　day　out。　Poor　Neelie's
natural　feeling　of　irritation　under　the　disappointment　which
Allan's　awkwardness　had　inflicted　on　her　was　now　exasperated　into
silent　and　settled　resentment　by　her　own　keen　sense　of
humiliation　and　defeat。　The　major　had　relapsed　into　his
habitually　dreamy；　absent　manner；　his　mind　was　turning
monotonously　with　the　wheels　of　his　clock。　The　curate　still
secluded　his　indigestion　from　public　view　in　the　innermost
recesses　of　the　cabin；　and　the　curate's　mother；　with　a　second
dose　ready　at　a　moment's　notice；　sat　on　guard　at　the　door。　Women
of　Mrs。　Pentecost's　age　and　character　generally　enjoy　their　own
bad　spirits。　〃This；〃　sighed　the　old　lady；　wagging　her　head　with　a
smile　of　sour　satisfaction　〃is　what　you　call　a　day's　pleasure；　is
it？　Ah；　what　fools　we　all　were　to　leave　our　comfortable　homes！〃

Meanwhile　the　boat　floated　smoothly　along　the　windings　of　the
watery　labyrinth　which　lay　between　the　two　Broads。　The　view　on
either　side　was　now　limited　to　nothing　but　interminable　rows　of
reeds。　Not　a　sound　was　heard；　far　or　near；　not　so　much　as　a
glimpse　of　cultivated　or　inhabited　land　appeared　anywhere。　〃A
trifle　dreary　hereabouts；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　said　the　ever…cheerful
Pedgift。　〃But　we　are　just　out　of　it　now。　Look　ahead；　sir！　Here　we
are　at　Hurle　Mere。〃

The　reeds　opened　back　on　the　right　hand　and　the　left；　and　the
boat　glided　suddenly　into　the　wide　circle　of　a　pool。　Round　the
nearer　half　of　the　circle；　the　eternal　reeds　still　fringed　the
margin　of　the　water。　Round　the　further　half；　the　land　appeared
again；　here　rolling　back　from　the　pool　in　desolate　sand…hills；
there　rising　above　it　in　a　sweep　of　grassy　shore。　At　one　point
the　ground　was　occupied　by　a　plantation；　and　at　another　by　the
out…buildings　of　a　lonely　old　red　brick　house；　with　a　strip　of
by…road　near；　that　skirted　the　garden　wall　and　ended　at　the　pool。
The　sun　was　sinking　in　the　clear　heaven；　and　the　water；　where　the
sun's　reflection　failed　to　tinge　it；　was　beginning　to　look　black
and　cold。　The　solitude　that　had　been　soothing；　the　silence　that
had　felt　like　an　enchantment；　on　the　other　Broad；　in　the　day's
vigorous　prime；　was　a　solitude　that　saddened　herea　silence　that
struck　cold；　in　the　stillness　and　melancholy　of　the　day's
decline。

The　course　of　the　boat　was　directed　across　the　Mere　to　a　creek　in
the　grassy　shore。　One　or　two　of　the　little　flat…bottomed　punts
peculiar　to　the　Broads　lay　in　the　creek；　and　the　reed　cutters　to
whom　the　punts　belonged；　surprised　at　the　appearance　of
strangers；　came　out；　staring　silently；　from　behind　an　angle　of
the　old　garden　wall。　Not　another　sign　of　life　was　visible
anywhere。　No　pony…chaise　had　been　seen　by　the　reed　cutters；　no
stranger；　either　man　or　woman；　had　approached　the　shores　of　Hurle
Mere　that　day。

Young　Pedgift　took　another　look　at　his　watch；　and　addressed
himself　to　Miss　Milroy。　〃You　may；　or　may　not；　see　the　governess
when　you　get　back　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；〃　he　said；　〃but；　as　the　time
stands　now；　you　won't　see　her　here。　You　know　best；　Mr。　Armadale；〃
he　added；　turning　to　Allan；　〃whether　your　friend　is　to　be
depended　on　to　keep　his　appointment？〃

〃I　am　certain　he　is　to　be　depended　on；〃　replied　Allan；　looking
about　himin　unconcealed　disappointment　at　Midwinter's　absence。

〃Very　good；〃　pursued　Pedgift　Junior。　〃If　we　light　the　fire　for
our　gypsy　tea…making　on　the　open　ground　there；　your　friend　may
find　us　out；　sir；　by　the　smoke。　That's　the　Indian　dodge　for
picking　up　a　lost　man　on　the　prairie；　Miss　Milroy　and　it's　pretty
nearly　wild　enough　（isn't　it？）　to　be　a　prairie　here！〃

There　are　some　tem　ptationsprincipally　those　of　the　smaller
kindwhich　it　is　not　in　the　defensive　capacity　of　female　human
nature　to　resist。　The　temptation　to　direct　the　whole　force　of　her
influence；　as　the　one　young　lady　of　the　party；　toward　the　instant
overthrow　of　Allan's　arrangement　for　meeting　his　friend；　was　too
much　fo