armadale-第58章

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influence；　as　the　one　young　lady　of　the　party；　toward　the　instant
overthrow　of　Allan's　arrangement　for　meeting　his　friend；　was　too
much　for　the　major's　daughter。　She　turned　on　the　smiling　Pedgift
with　a　look　which　ought　to　have　overwhelmed　him。　But　who　ever
overwhelmed　a　solicitor？

〃I　think　it's　the　most　lonely；　dreary；　hideous　place　I　ever　saw
in　my　life！〃　said　Miss　Neelie。　〃If　you　insist　on　making　tea　here；
Mr。　Pedgift；　don't　make　any　for　me。　No！　I　shall　stop　in　the　boat；
and；　though　I　am　absolutely　dying　with　thirst；　I　shall　touch
nothing　till　we　get　back　again　to　the　other　Broad！〃

The　major　opened　his　lips　to　remonstrate。　To　his　daughter's
infinite　delight；　Mrs。　Pentecost　rose　from　her　seat　before　he
could　say　a　word；　and；　after　surveying　the　whole　landward
prospect；　and　seeing　nothing　in　the　shape　of　a　vehicle　anywhere；
asked　indignantly　whether　they　were　going　all　the　way　back　again
to　the　place　where　they　had　left　the　carriages　in　the　middle　of
the　day。　On　ascertaining　that　this　was；　in　fact；　the　arrangement
proposed；　and　that；　from　the　nature　of　the　country；　the　carriages
could　not　have　been　ordered　round　to　Hurle　Mere　without；　in　the
first　instance；　sending　them　the　whole　of　the　way　back　to　Thorpe
Ambrose；　Mrs。　Pentecost　（speaking　in　her　son's　interests）
instantly　declared　that　no　earthly　power　should　induce　her　to　be
out　on　the　water　after　dark。　〃Call　me　a　boat！〃　cried　the　old
lady；　in　great　agitation。　〃Wherever　there's　water；　there's　a
night　mist；　and　wherever　there's　a　night　mist；　my　son　Samuel
catches　cold。　Don't　talk　to　_me_　about　your　moonlight　and　your
tea…makingyou're　all　mad！　Hi！　you　two　men　there！〃　cried　Mrs。
Pentecost；　hailing　the　silent　reed　cutters　on　shore。　〃Sixpence
apiece　for　you；　if　you'll　take　me　and　my　son　back　in　your　boat！〃

Before　young　Pedgift　could　interfere；　Allan　himself　settled　the
difficulty　this　time；　with　perfect　patience　and　good　temper。

〃I　can't　think；　Mrs。　Pentecost；　of　your　going　back　in　any　boat
but　the　boat　you　have　come　out　in；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　not　the
least　need　（as　you　and　Miss　Milroy　don't　like　the　place）　for
anybody　to　go　on　shore　here　but　me。　I　_must_　go　on　shore。　My
friend　Midwinter　never　broke　his　promise　to　me　yet；　and　I　can't
consent　to　leave　Hurle　Mere　as　long　as　there　is　a　chance　of　his
keeping　his　appointment。　But　there's　not　the　least　reason　in　the
world　why　I　should　stand　in　the　way　on　that　account。　You　have　the
major　and　Mr。　Pedgift　to　take　care　of　you；　and　you　can　get　back
to　the　carriages　before　dark；　if　you　go　at　once。　I　will　wait
here；　and　give　my　friend　half　an　hour　more；　and　then　I　can　follow
you　in　one　of　the　reed…cutters'　boats。〃

〃That's　the　most　sensible　thing；　Mr。　Armadale；　you've　said
to…day；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Pentecost；　seating　herself　again　in　a
violent　hurry

〃Tell　them　to　be　quick！　〃　cried　the　old　lady；　shaking　her　fist　at
the　boatmen。　〃Tell　them　to　be　quick！〃

Allan　gave　the　necessary　directions；　and　stepped　on　shore。　The
wary　Pedgift　（sticking　fast　to　his　client）　tried　to　follow。

〃We　can't　leave　you　here　alone；　sir；〃　he　said；　protesting　eagerly
in　a　whisper。　〃Let　the　major　take　care　of　the　ladies；　and　let　me
keep　you　company　at　the　Mere。〃

〃No；　no！〃　said　Allan；　pressing　him　back。　〃They're　all　in　low
spirits　on　board。　If　you　want　to　be　of　service　to　me；　stop　like　a
good　fellow　where　you　are；　and　do　your　best　to　keep　the　thing
going。〃

He　waved　his　hand；　and　the　men　pushed　the　boat　off　from　the
shore。　The　others　all　waved　their　hands　in　return　except　the
major's　daughter；　who　sat　apart　from　the　rest；　with　her　face
hidden　under　her　parasol。　The　tears　stood　thick　in　Neelie's　eyes。
Her　last　angry　feeling　against　Allan　died　out；　and　her　heart　went
back　to　him　penitently　the　moment　he　left　the　boat。　〃How　good　he
is　to　us　all！〃　she　thought；　〃and　what　a　wretch　I　am！〃　She　got　up
with　every　generous　impulse　in　her　nature　urging　her　to　make
atonement　to　him。　She　got　up；　reckless　of　appearances　and　looked
after　him　with　eager　eyes　and　flushed　checks；　as　he　stood　alone
on　the　shore。　〃Don't　be　long；　Mr。　Armadale！〃　she　said；　with　a
desperate　disregard　of　what　the　rest　of　the　company　thought　of
her。

The　boat　was　already　far　out　in　the　water；　and　with　all　Neelie's
resolution　the　words　were　spoken　in　a　faint　little　voice；　which
failed　to　reach　Allan's　ears。　The　one　sound　he　heard；　as　the　boat
gained　the　opposite　extremity　of　the　Mere；　and　disappeared　slowly
among　the　reeds；　was　the　sound　of　the　concertina。　The
indefatigable　Pedgift　was　keeping　things　goingevidently　under
the　auspices　of　Mrs。　Pentecostby　performing　a　sacred　melody。

Left　by　himself；　Allan　lit　a　cigar；　and　took　a　turn　backward　and
forward　on　the　shore。　〃She　might　have　said　a　word　to　me　at
parting！〃　he　thought。　〃I've　done　everything　for　the　best；　I've　as
good　as　told　her　how　fond　of　her　I　am；　and　this　is　the　way　she
treats　me！〃　He　stopped；　and　stood　looking　absently　at　the　sinking
sun；　and　the　fast…darkening　waters　of　the　Mere。　Some　inscrutable
influence　in　the　scene　forced　its　way　stealthily　into　his　mind；
and　diverted　his　thoughts　from　Miss　Milroy　to　his　absent　friend。
He　started；　and　looked　about　him。

The　reed…cutters　had　gone　back　to　their　retreat　behind　the　angle
of　the　wall；　not　a　living　creature　was　visible；　not　a　sound　rose
anywhere　along　the　dreary　shore。　Even　Allan's　spirits　began　to
get　depressed。　It　was　nearly　an　hour　after　the　time　when
Midwinter　had　promised　to　be　at　Hurle　Mere。　He　had　himself
arranged　to　walk　to　the　pool　（with　a　stable…boy　from　Thorpe
Ambrose　as　his　guide）；　by　lanes　and　footpaths　which　shortened　the
distance　by　the　road。　The　boy　knew　the　country　well；　and
Midwinter　was　habitually　punctual　at　all　his　appointments。　Had
anything　gone　wrong　at　Thorpe　Ambrose？　Had　some　accident　happened
on　the　way？　Determined　to　remain　no　longer　doubting　and　idling　by
himself；　Allan　made　up　his　mind　to　walk　inland　from　the　Mere；　on
the　chance　of　meeting　his　friend。　He　went　round　at　once　to　the
angle　in　the　wall；　and　asked　one　of　the　reedcutters　to　show　him
the　footpath　to　Thorpe　Ambrose。

The　man　led　him　away　from　the　road；　and　pointed　to　a　barely
perceptible　break　in　the　outer　trees　of　the　plantation。　After
pausing　for　one　more　useless　look　around　him；　Allan　turned　his
back　on　the　Mere　and　made　for　the　trees。

For　a　few　paces；　the　path　ran　straight　through　the　plantation。
Thence　it　took　a　sudden　turn；　and　the　water　and　the　open　country
became　both　lost　to　view。　Allan　steadily　followed　the　grassy
track　before　him；　seeing　nothing　and　hearing　nothing；　until　he
came　to　another　winding　of　the　path。　Turning　in　the　new
direction；　he　saw　dimly　a　human　figure　sitting　alone　at　the　foot
of　one　of　the　trees。　Two　steps　nearer　were　enough　to　make　the
figure　familiar　to　him。　〃Midwinter！〃　he　exclaimed；　in
astonishment。　〃This　is　not　the　place　where　I　was　to　meet　you！
What　are　you　waiting　for　here？〃

Midwinter　rose；　without　answering。　The　evening　dimness　among　the
trees；　which　obscured　his　face；　made　his　silence　doubly
perplexing。

Allan　went　on　eagerly　questioning　him。　〃Did　you　come　here　by
yourself？〃　he　asked。　〃I　thought　the　boy　was　to　guide　you？〃

This　time　Midwinter　answered。　〃When　we　got　as　far　as　these
trees；〃　he　said；　〃I　sent　the　boy　back。　He　told　me　I　was　close　to
the　place；　and　couldn't　miss　it。〃

〃What　made　you　stop　here　when　he　left　you？〃　reiterated　Allan。
〃Why　didn't　you　walk　on？〃

〃Don't　despise　me；〃　answered　the　other。　〃I　hadn't　the　courage！〃

〃Not　the　courage？〃　repeated　Allan。　He　paused　a　moment。　〃Oh；　I
know！〃　he　resumed；　putting　his　hand　gayly　on　Midwinter's
shoulder。　〃You're　still　shy　of　the　Milroys。　What　nonsense；　when　I
told　you　myself　that　your　peace　was　made　at　the　cottage！〃

〃I　wasn't　thinking；　Allan；　of　your　friends　at　the　cottage。　The
truth　is；　I'm　hardly　myself　to…day。　I　am　ill　and　unnerved；
trifles　startle　me。〃　He　stopped；　and　shrank　away；　under　the
anxious　scrutiny　of　Allan's　eyes。　〃If　you　_will_　have　it；〃　he
burst　out；　abruptly；　〃the　horror　of　that　night　on　board　the　Wreck
has　got　me　again；　there's　a　dreadful　op　pression　on　my　head；
there's　a　dreadful　sinking　at　my　heart。　I　am　afraid　of　something
happening　to　us；　if　we　don't　part　before　the　day　is　out。　I　can't
break　my　promise　to　you；　for　God's　sake；　release　me　from　it；　and
let　me　go　back！〃

Remonstrance；　to　any　one　who　knew　Midwinter；　was　plainly　useless
at　that　moment。　Allan　humored　him。　〃Come　out　of　this　dark；
airless　place；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　will　talk　about　it。　The　water
and　the　open　sky　are　within　a　stone's　throw　of　us。　I　hate　a　wood
in　the　evening；　it　even　gives　_me_　the　horrors。　You　have　been
working　too　hard　over　the　steward's　books。　Come　and　breathe
freely　in　the　blessed　open　air。〃

Midwinter　stopped；　considered　for　a　moment；　and　suddenly
submitted。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'm　wrong；　as　usual。　I'm　wasting
time　and　distressing　you　to　no　purpose。　What　folly　to　ask　you　to
let　me　go　back！　Suppose　you　had　said　yes？〃

〃Well？〃　asked　Allan。

〃Well；〃　repeated　Midwinter；　〃something　would　have　happened　at　the
first　step　to　stop　me；　that's　all。　Come　on。〃

They　walked　together　in　silence　on　the　way　to　the　Mere。

At　the　last　turn　in　the　path　Allan's　cigar　went　out。　While　he
stopped　to　light　it　again；　Midwinter　walked　on　before　him；　and
was　the　first　to　come　in　sight　of　the　open　ground。

Allan　had　just　kindled　the　match；　when；　to　his　surprise；　his
friend　came　back　to　him　round　the　turn　in　the　path。　There　was
light　enough　to　show　objects　more　clearly　in　this　part　of　the
plantation。　The　match；　as　Midwinter　faced　him；　dropped　on　the
instant　from　Allan's　hand。

〃Good　God！〃　he　cried；　starting　back；　〃you　look　as　you　looked　on
board　the　Wreck！〃

Midwinter　held　up　his　band　for　silence。　He　spoke　with　his　wild
eyes　riveted　on　Allan's　face；　with　his　white　lips　close　at
Allan's　ear。

〃You　remember　how　I　_looked；_〃　he　answered；　in　a　whisper。　〃Do　you
remember　what　I　_said_　when　you　and　the　doctor　were　talking　of
the　Dream？〃

〃I　have　forgotten　the　Dream；〃　said　Allan。

As　he　made　that　answer；　Midwinter　took　his　hand；　and　led　him
round　the　last　turn　in　the　path。

〃Do　you　remember　it　now？〃　he　asked；　and　pointed　to　the　Mere。

The　sun　was　sinking　in　the　cloudless　westward　heaven。　The　waters
of　the　Mere　lay　beneath；　tinged　red　by　the　dying　light。　The　open
country　stretched　away；　darkening　drearily　already　on　the　right
hand　and　the　left。　And　on　the　near　margin　of　the　pool；　where　all
had　been　solitude　before；　there　now　stood；　fronting　the　sunset；
the　figure　of　a　woman。

The　two　Armadales　stood　together　in　silence；　and　looked　at　the
lonely　figure　and　the　dreary　view。

Midwinter　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃Your　own　eyes　have　seen　it；〃　he　said。　〃Now　look　at　our　own
words。〃

He　opened　the　narrative　of　the　Dream；　and　held　it　under　Allan's
eyes。　His　finger　pointed　to　the　lines　which　recorded　the　first
Vision；　his　voice；　sinking　lower　and　lower；　repeated　the　words：


〃The　sense　came　to　me　of　being　left　alone　in　the　darkness。

〃I　waited。

〃The　darkness　opened；　and　showed　me　the　visionas　in　a
pictureof　a　broad；　lonely　pool；　surrounded　by　open　ground。
Above　the　further　margin　of　the　pool　I　saw　the　cloudless　western
sky；　red　with　the　light　of　sun