armadale-第59章

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Above　the　further　margin　of　the　pool　I　saw　the　cloudless　western
sky；　red　with　the　light　of　sunset。

〃On　the　near　margin　of　the　pool　there　stood　the　Shadow　of　a
Woman。〃

He　ceased；　and　let　the　hand　which　held　the　manuscript　drop　to　his
side。　The　other　hand　pointed　to　the　lonely　figure；　standing　with
its　back　turned　on　them；　fronting　the　setting　sun。

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃stands　the　living　Woman；　in　the　Shadow's
place！　There　speaks　the　first　of　the　dream　warnings　to　you　and　to
me！　Let　the　future　time　find　us　still　together；　and　the　second
figure　that　stands　in　the　Shadow's　place　will　be　Mine。〃

Even　Allan　was　silenced　by　the　terrible　certainty　of　conviction
with　which　he　spoke。

In　the　pause　that　followed；　the　figure　at　the　pool　moved；　and
walked　slowly　away　round　the　margin　of　the　shore。　Allan　stepped
out　beyond　the　last　of　the　trees；　and　gained　a　wider　view　of　the
open　ground。　The　first　object　that　met　his　eyes　was　the
pony…chaise　from　Thorpe　Ambrose。

He　turned　back　to　Midwinter　with　a　laugh　of　relief。　〃What
nonsense　have　you　been　talking！〃　he　said。　〃And　what　nonsense　have
I　been　listening　to！　It's　the　governess　at　last。〃

Midwinter　made　no　reply。　Allan　took　him　by　the　arm；　and　tried　to
lead　him　on。　He　released　himself　suddenly；　and　seized　Allan　with
both　hands；　holding　him　back　from　the　figure　at　the　pool；　as　he
had　held　him　back　from　the　cabin　door　on　the　deck　of　the　timber
ship。　Once　again　the　effort　was　in　vain。　Once　again　Allan　broke
away　as　easily　as　he　had　broken　away　in　the　past　time。

〃One　of　us　must　speak　to　her；〃　he　said。　〃And　if　you　won't；　I
will。〃

He　had　only　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　the　Mere；　when　he　heard；
or　thought　he　heard；　a　voice　faintly　calling　after　him；　once　and
once　only；　the　word　Farewell。　He　stopped；　with　a　feeling　of
uneasy　surprise；　and　looked　round。

〃Was　that　you；　Midwinter？〃　he　asked。

There　was　no　answer。　After　hesitating　a　moment　more；　Allan
returned　to　the　plantation。　Midwinter　was　gone。

He　looked　back　at　the　pool；　doubtful　in　the　new　emergency　what　to
do　next。　The　lonely　figure　had　altered　its　course　in　the
interval；　it　had　turned；　and　was　advancing　toward　the　trees。
Allan　had　been　evidently　either　heard　or　seen。　It　was　impossible
to　leave　a　woman　unbefriended；　in　that　helpless　position　and　in
that　solitary　place。　For　the　second　time　Allan　went　out　from　the
trees　to　meet　her。

As　he　came　within　sight　of　her　face；　he　stopped　in　ungovernable
astonishment。　The　sudden　revelation　of　her　beauty；　as　she　smiled
and　looked　at　him　inquiringly；　suspended　the　movement　in　his
limbs　and　the　words　on　his　lips。　A　vague　doubt　beset　him　whether
it　was　the　governess；　after　all。

He　roused　himself；　and；　advancing　a　few　paces；　mentioned　his
name。　〃May　I　ask；〃　he　added；　〃if　I　have　the　pleasure？〃

The　lady　met　him　easily　and　gracefully　half…way。　〃Major　Milroy's
governess；〃　she　said。　〃Miss　Gwilt。〃

CHAPTER　X

THE　HOUSE…MAID'S　FACE。

ALL　was　quiet　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。　The　hall　was　solitary；　the　rooms
were　dark。　The　servants；　waiting　for　the　supper　hour　in　the
garden　at　the　back　of　the　house；　looked　up　at　the　clear　heaven
and　the　rising　moon；　and　agreed　that　there　was　little　prospect　of
the　return　of　the　picnic　party　until　later　in　the　night。　The
general　opinion；　led　by　the　high　authority　of　the　cook；　predicted
that　they　might　all　sit　down　to　supper　without　the　least　fear　of
being　disturbed　by　the　bell。　Having　arrived　at　this　conclusion；
the　servants　assembled　round　the　table；　and　exactly　at　the　moment
when　they　sat　down　the　bell　rang。

The　footman；　wondering；　went　up　stairs　to　open　the　door；　and
found　to　his　astonishment　Midwinter　waiting　alone　on　the
threshold；　and　looking　（in　the　servant's　opinion）　miserably　ill。
He　asked　for　a　light；　and；　saying　he　wanted　nothing　else；
withdrew　at　once　to　his　room。　The　footman　went　back　to　his
fellow…servants；　and　reported　that　something　had　certainly
happened　to　his　master's　friend。

On　entering　his　room；　Midwinter　closed　the　door；　and　hurriedly
filled　a　bag　with　the　necessaries　for　traveling。　This　done；　he
took　from　a　locked　drawer；　and　placed　in　the　breast　pocket　of　his
coat；　some　little　presents　which　Allan　had　given　hima　cigar
case；　a　purse；　and　a　set　of　studs　in　plain　gold。　Having　possessed
himself　of　these　memorials；　he　snatched　up　the　bag　and　laid　his
hand　on　the　door。　There；　for　the　first　time；　he　paused。　There；
the　headlong　haste　of　all　his　actions　thus　far　suddenly　ceased；
and　the　hard　despair　in　his　face　began　to　soften：　he　waited；　with
the　door　in　his　hand。

Up　to　that　moment　he　had　been　conscious　of　but　one　motive　that
animated　him；　but　one　purpose　that　he　was　resolute　to　achieve。
〃For　Allan's　sake！〃　he　had　said　to　himself；　when　he　looked　back
toward　the　fatal　landscape　and　saw　his　friend　leaving　him　to　meet
the　woman　at　the　pool。　〃For　Allan's　sake！〃　he　had　said　again；
when　he　crossed　the　open　country　beyond　the　wood；　and　saw　afar；
in　the　gray　twilight；　the　long　line　of　embankment　and　the　distant
glimmer　of　the　railway　lamps　beckoning　him　away　already　to　the
iron　road。

It　was　only　when　he　now　paused　before　he　closed　the　door　behind
himit　was　only　when　his　own　impetuous　rapidity　of　action　came
for　the　first　time　to　a　check；　that　the　nobler　nature　of　the　man
rose　in　protest　against　the　superstitious　despair　which　was
hurrying　him　from　all　that　he　held　dear。　His　conviction　of　the
terrible　necessity　of　leaving　Allan　for　Allan's　good　had　not　been
shaken　for　an　instant　since　he　had　seen　the　first　Vision　of　the
Dream　realized　on　the　shores　of　the　Mere。　But　now；　for　the　first
time；　his　own　heart　rose　against　him　in　unanswerable　rebuke。　〃Go；
if　you　must　and　will！　but　remember　the　time　when　you　were　ill；
and　he　sat　by　your　bedside；　friendless；　and　he　opened　his　heart
to　youand　write；　if　you　fear　to　speak；　write　and　ask　him　to
forgive　you；　before　you　leave　him　forever！〃

The　half…opened　door　closed　again　softly。　Midwinter　sat　down　at
the　writing…table　and　took　up　the　pen。

He　tried　again　and　again；　and　yet　again；　to　write　the　farewell
words；　he　tried；　till　the　floor　all　round　him　was　littered　with
torn　sheets　of　paper。　Turn　from　them　which　way　he　would；　the　old
times　still　came　back　and　faced　him　reproachfully。　The　spacious
bed…chamber　in　which　he　sat；　narrowed；　in　spite　of　him；　to　the
sick　usher誷　garret　at　the　west…country　inn。　The　kind　hand　that
had　once　patted　him　on　the　shoulder　touched　him　again；　the　kind
voice　that　had　cheered　him　spoke　unchangeably　in　the　old　friendly
tones。　He　flung　his　arms　on　the　table　and　dropped　his　head　on
them　in　tearless　despair。　The　parting　words　that　his　tongue　was
powerless　to　utter　his　pen　was　powerless　to　write。　Mercilessly　in
earnest；　his　superstition　pointed　to　him　to　go　while　the　time　was
his　own。　Mercilessly　in　earnest；　his　love　for　Allan　held　him　back
till　the　farewell　plea　for　pardon　and　pity　was　written。

He　rose　with　a　sudden　resolution；　and　rang　for　the　servant；　〃When
Mr。　Armadale　returns；〃　he　said；　〃ask　him　to　excuse　my　coming
downstairs；　and　say　that　I　am　trying　to　get　to　sleep。〃　He　locked
the　door　and　put　out　the　light；　and　sat　down　alone　in　the
darkness。　〃The　night　will　keep　us　apart；〃　he　said；　〃and　time　may
help　me　to　write。　I　may　go　in　the　early　morning；　I　may　go
while〃　The　thought　died　in　him　uncompleted；　and　the　sharp　agony
of　the　struggle　forced　to　his　lips　the　first　cry　of　suffering
that　had　escaped　him　yet。

He　waited　in　the　darkness。

As　the　time　stole　on；　his　senses　remained　mechanically　awake；　but
his　mind　began　to　sink　slowly　under　the　heavy　strain　that　had　now
been　laid　on　it　for　some　hours　past。　A　dull　vacancy　possessed
him；　he　made　no　attempt　to　kindle　the　light　and　write　once　more。
He　never　started；　he　never　moved　to　the　open　window；　when　the
first　sound　of　approaching　wheels　broke　in　on　the　silence　of　the
night。　He　heard　the　carriages　draw　up　at　the　door；　he　heard　the
horses　champing　their　bits；　he　heard　the　voices　of　Allan　and
young　Pedgift　on　the　steps；　and　still　he　sat　quiet　in　the
darkness；　and　still　no　interest　was　aroused　in　him　by　the　sounds
that　reached　his　ear　from　outside。

The　voices　remained　audible　after　the　carriages　had　been　driven
away；　the　two　young　men　were　evidently　lingering　on　the　steps
before　they　took　leave　of　each　other。　Every　word　they　said
reached　Midwinter　through　the　open　window。　Their　one　subject　of
conversation　was　the　new　governess。　Allan's　voice　was　loud　in　her
praise。　He　had　never　passed　such　an　hour　of　delight　in　his　life
as　the　hour　he　had　spent　with　Miss　Gwilt　in　the　boat；　on　the　way
from　Hurle　Mere　to　the　picnic　party　waiting　at　the　other　Broad。
Agreeing；　on　his　side；　with　all　that　his　client　said　in　praise　of
the　charming　stranger；　young　Pedgift　appeared　to　treat　the
subject；　when　it　fell　into　his　hands；　from　a　different　point　of
view。　Miss　Gwilt's　attractions　had　not　so　entirely　absorbed　his
attention　as　to　prevent　him　from　noticing　the　impression　which
the　new　governess　had　produced　on　her　employer　and　her　pupil。

〃There's　a　screw　loose　somewhere；　sir；　in　Major　Milroy's　family；〃
said　the　voice　of　young　Pedgift。　〃Did　you　notice　how　the　major
and　his　daughter　looked　when　Miss　Gwilt　made　her　excuses　for
being　late　at　the　Mere？　You　don't　remember？　Do　you　remember　what
Miss　Gwilt　said？〃

〃Something　about　Mrs。　Milroy；　wasn't　it？〃　Allan　rejoined。

Young　Pedgift's　voice　dropped　mysteriously　a　note　lower。

〃Miss　Gwilt　reached　the　cottage　this　afternoon；　sir；　at　the　time
when　I　told　you　she　would　reach　it；　and　she　would　have　joined　us
at　the　time　I　told　you　she　would　come；　but　for　Mrs。　Milroy。　Mrs。
Milroy　sent　for　her　upstairs　as　soon　as　she　entered　the　house；
and　kept　her　upstairs　a　good　half…hour　and　more。　That　was　Miss
Gwilt's　excuse；　Mr。　Armadale；　for　being　late　at　the　Mere。〃

〃Well；　and　what　then？〃

〃You　seem　to　forget；　sir；　what　the　whole　neighborhood　has　heard
about　Mrs。　Milroy　ever　since　the　major　first　settled　among　us。　We
have　all　been　told；　on　the　doctor's　own　authority；　that　she　is
too　great　a　sufferer　to　see　strangers。　Isn't　it　a　little　odd　that
she　should　have　suddenly　turned　out　well　enough　to　see　Miss　Gwilt
（in　her　husband's　absence）　the　moment　Miss　Gwilt　entered　the
house？〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it！　Of　course　she　was　anxious　to　make　acquaintance
with　her　daughter's　governess。〃

〃Likely　enough；　Mr。　Armadale。　But　the　major　and　Miss　Neelie　don't
see　it　in　that　light；　at　any　rate。　I　had　my　eye　on　them　both　when
the　governess　told　them　that　Mrs。　Milroy　had　sent　for　her。　If
ever　I　saw　a　girl　look　thoroughly　frightened；　Miss　Milroy　was
that　girl；　and　（if　I　may　be　allowed；　in　the　strictest　confidence；
to　libel　a　gallant　soldier）　I　should　say　that　the　major　himself
was　much　in　the　same　condition。　Take　my　word　for　it；　sir；　there's
something　wrong　upstairs　in　that　pretty　cottage　of　yours；　and
Miss　Gwilt　is　mixed　up　in　it　already！〃

There　was　a　minute　of　silence。　When　the　voices　were　next　heard　by
Midwinter；　they　were　further　away　from　the　houseAllan　was
probably　accompanying　young　Pedgift　a　few　steps　on　his　way　back。

After　a　while；　Allan's　voice　was　audible　once　more　under　the
portico；　making　inquiries　after　his　friend；　answered　by　the
servant's　voice　giving　Midwinter's　mes