armadale-第61章

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finished　or　not；　I　will　start　for　Norfolk　by　the　first　train。

〃Always　your　friend；　DECIMUS　BROCK。〃


Hardened　by　the　fatalist　conviction　that　now　possessed　him；
Midwinter　read　the　rector's　confession　of　defeat；　from　the　first
line　to　the　last；　without　the　slightest　betrayal　either　of
interest　or　surprise。　The　one　part　of　the　letter　at　which　he
looked　back　was　the　closing　part　of　it。　〃I　owe　much　to　Mr。
Brock's　kindness；〃　he　thought；　〃and　I　shall　never　see　Mr。　Brock
again。　It　is　useless　and　hopeless；　but　he　asks　me　to　do　it；　and
it　shall　be　done。　A　moment's　look　at　her　will　be　enougha
moment's　look　at　her　with　his　letter　in　my　handand　a　line　to
tell　him　that　the　woman　is　here！〃

Again　he　stood　hesitating　at　the　half…opened　door；　again　the
cruel　necessity　of　writing　his　farewell　to　Allan　stopped　him；　and
stared　him　in　the　face。

He　looked　aside　doubtingly　at　the　rector's　letter。　〃I　will　write
the　two　together；〃　he　said。　〃One　may　help　the　other。〃　His　face
flushed　deep　as　the　words　escaped　him。　He　was　conscious　of　doing
what　he　had　not　done　yetof　voluntarily　putting　off　the　evil
hour；　of　making　Mr。　Brock　the　pretext　for　gaining　the　last
respite　left；　the　respite　of　time。

The　only　sound　that　reached　him　through　the　open　door　was　the
sound　of　Allan　stirring　noisily　in　the　next　room。　He　stepped　at
once　into　the　empty　corridor；　and　meeting　no　one　on　the　stairs；
made　his　way　out　of　the　house。　The　dread　that　his　resolution　to
leave　Allan　might　fail　him　if　he　saw　Allan　again　was　as　vividly
present　to　his　mind　in　the　morning　as　it　had　been　all　through　the
night。　He　drew　a　deep　breath　of　relief　as　he　descended　the　house
stepsrelief　at　having　escaped　the　friendly　greeting　of　the
morning；　from　the　one　human　creature　whom　he　loved！

He　entered　the　shrubbery　with　Mr。　Brock's　letter　in　his　hand；　and
took　the　nearest　way　that　led　to　the　major's　cottage。　Not　the
slightest　recollection　was　in　his　mind　of　the　talk　which　had
found　its　way　to　his　ears　during　the　night。　His　one　reason　for
determining　to　see　the　woman　was　the　reason　which　the　rector　had
put　in　his　mind。　The　one　remembrance　that　now　guided　him　to　the
place　in　which　she　lived　was　the　remembrance　of　Allan's
exclamation　when　he　first　identified　the　governess　with　the
figure　at　the　pool。

Arrived　at　the　gate　of　the　cottage；　he　stopped。　The　thought
struck　him　that　he　might　defeat　his　own　object　if　he　looked　at
the　rector's　questions　in　the　woman's　presence。　Her　suspicions
would　be　probably　roused；　in　the　first　instance；　by　his　asking　to
see　her　（as　he　had　determined　to　ask；　with　or　without　an　excuse）；
and　the　appearance　of　the　letter　in　his　hand　might　confirm　them。

She　might　defeat　him　by　instantly　leaving　the　room。　Determined　to
fix　the　description　in　his　mind　first；　and　then　to　confront　her；
he　opened　the　letter；　and；　turning　away　slowly　by　the　side　of　the
house；　read　the　seven　questions　which　he　felt　absolutely　assured
beforehand　the　woman's　face　would　answer。

In　the　morning　quiet　of　the　park　slight　noises　traveled　far。　A
slight　noise　disturbed　Midwinter　over　the　letter。

He　looked　up　and　found　himself　on　the　brink　of　a　broad　grassy
trench；　having　the　park　on　one　side　and　the　high　laurel　hedge　of
an　inclosure　on　the　other。　The　inclosure　evidently　surrounded　the
back　garden　of　the　cottage；　and　the　trench　was　intended　to
protect　it　from　being　damaged　by　the　cattle　grazing　in　the　park。

Listening　carefully　as　the　slight　sound　which　had　disturbed　him
grew　fainter；　he　recognized　in　it　the　rustling　of　women's
dresses。　A　few　paces　ahead；　the　trench　was　crossed　by　a　bridge
（closed　by　a　wicket　gate）　which　connected　the　garden　with　the
park。　He　passed　through　the　gate；　crossed　the　bridge；　and；
opening　a　door　at　the　other　end；　found　himself　in　a　summer…house
thickly　covered　with　creepers；　and　commanding　a　full　view　of　the
garden　from　end　to　end。

He　looked；　and　saw　the　figures　of　two　ladies　walking　slowly　away
from　him　toward　the　cottage。　The　shorter　of　the　two　failed　to
occupy　his　attention　for　an　instant；　he　never　stopped　to　think
whether　she　was　or　was　not　the　major's　daughter。　His　eyes　were
riveted　on　the　other　figurethe　figure　that　moved　over　the
garden　walk　with　the　long；　lightly　falling　dress　and　the　easy；
seductive　grace。　There；　presented　exactly　as　be　had　seen　her　once
alreadythere；　with　her　back　again　turned　on　him；　was　the　Woman
at　the　pool！

There　was　a　chance　that　they　might　take　another　turn　in　the
gardena　turn　back　toward　the　summer…house。　On　that　chance
Midwinter　waited。　No　consciousness　of　the　intrusion　that　he　was
committing　had　stopped　him　at　the　door　of　the　summer…house；　and
no　consciousness　of　it　troubled　him　even　now。　Every　finer
sensibility　in　his　nature；　sinking　under　the　cruel　laceration　of
the　past　night；　had　ceased　to　feel。　The　dogged　resolution　to　do
what　he　had　come　to　do　was　the　one　animating　influence　left　alive
in　him。　He　acted；　he　even　looked；　as　the　most　stolid　man　living
might　have　acted　and　looked　in　his　place。　He　was　self…possessed
enough；　in　the　interval　of　expectation　before　governess　and　pupil
reached　the　end　of　the　walk；　to　open　Mr。　Brock's　letter；　and　to
fortify　his　memory　by　a　last　look　at　the　paragraph　which
described　her　face。

He　was　still　absorbed　over　the　description　when　he　heard　the
smooth　rustle　of　the　dresses　traveling　toward　him　again。　Standing
in　the　shadow　of　the　summer…house；　he　waited　while　she　lessened
the　distance　between　them。　With　her　written　portrait　vividly
impressed　on　his　mind；　and　with　the　clear　light　of　the　morning　to
help　him；　his　eyes　questioned　her　as　she　came　on；　and　these　were
the　answers　that　her　face　gave　him　back。

The　hair　in　the　rector's　description　was　light　brown　and　not
plentiful。　This　woman's　hair；　superbly　luxuriant　in　its　growth；
was　of　the　one　unpardonably　remarkable　shade　of　color　which　the
prejudice　of　the　Northern　nations　never　entirely　forgivesit　was
_red！_　The　forehead　in　the　rector's　description　was　high；　narrow；
and　sloping　backward　from　the　brow；　the　eyebrows　were　faintly
marked；　and　the　eyes　small；　and　in　color　either　gray　or　hazel。
This　woman's　forehead　was　low；　upright；　and　broad　toward　the
temples；　her　eyebrows；　at　once　strongly　and　delicately　marked；
were　a　shade　darker　than　her　hair；　her　eyes；　large；　bright；　and
well　opened；　were　of　that　purely　blue　color；　without　a　tinge　in
it　of　gray　or　green；　so　often　presented　to　our　admiration　in
pictures　and　books；　so　rarely　met　with　in　the　living　face。　The
nose　in　the　rector's　description　was　aquiline。　The　line　of　this
woman's　nose　bent　neither　outward　nor　inward：　it　was　the
straight；　delicately　molded　nose　（with　the　short　upper　lip
beneath）　of　the　ancient　statues　and　busts。　The　lips　in　the
rector's　description　were　thin　and　the　upper　lip　long；　the
complexion　was　of　a　dull；　sickly　paleness；　the　chin　retreating
and　the　mark　of　a　mole　or　a　scar　on　the　left　side　of　it。　This
woman's　lips　were　full；　rich；　and　sensual。　Her　complexion　was　the
lovely　complexion　which　accompanies　such　hair　as　hersso
delicately　bright　in　its　rosier　tints；　so　warmly　and　softly　white
in　its　gentler　gradations　of　color　on　the　forehead　and　the　neck。
Her　chin；　round　and　dimpled；　was　pure　of　the　slightest　blemish　in
every　part　of　it；　and　perfectly　in　line　with　her　forehead　to　the
end。　Nearer　and　nearer；　and　fairer　and　fairer　she　came；　in　the
glow　of　the　morning　lightthe　most　startling；　the　most
unanswerable　contradiction　that　eye　could　see　or　mind　conceive　to
the　description　in　the　rector's　letter。

Both　governess　and　pupil　　were　close　to　the　summer…house　before
they　looked　that　way；　and　noti　ced　Midwinter　standing　inside。　The
governess　saw　him　first。

〃A　friend　of　yours；　Miss　Milroy？〃　she　asked；　quietly；　without
starting　or　betraying　any　sign　of　surprise。

Neelie　recognized　him　instantly。　Prejudiced　against　Midwinter　by
his　conduct　when　his　friend　had　introduced　him　at　the　cottage；
she　now　fairly　detested　him　as　the　unlucky　first　cause　of　her
misunderstanding　with　Allan　at　the　picnic。　Her　face　flushed　and
she　drew　back　from　the　summerhouse　with　an　expression　of
merciless　surprise。

〃He　is　a　friend　of　Mr。　Armadale's；〃　she　replied　sharply。　〃I　don't
know　what　he　wants；　or　why　he　is　here。〃

〃A　friend　of　Mr。　Armadale's！〃　The　governess's　face　lighted　up
with　a　suddenly　roused　interest　as　she　repeated　the　words；　She
returned　Midwinter's　look；　still　steadily　fixed　on　her；　with
equal　steadiness　on　her　side。

〃For　my　part；〃　pursued　Neelie；　resenting　Midwinter's
insensibility　to　her　presence　on　the　scene；　〃I　think　it　a　great
liberty　to　treat　papa's　garden　as　if　it　were　the　open　park！〃

The　governess　turned　round；　and　gently　interposed。

〃My　dear　Miss　Milroy；〃　she　remonstrated；　〃there　are　certain
distinctions　to　be　observed。　This　gentleman　is　a　friend　of　Mr。
Armadale's。　You　could　hardly　express　yourself　more　strongly　if　he
was　a　perfect　stranger。〃

〃I　express　my　opinion；〃　retorted　Neelie；　chafing　under　the
satirically　indulgent　tone　in　which　the　governess　addressed　her。
〃It's　a　matter　of　taste；　Miss　Gwilt；　and　tastes　differ。〃　She
turned　away　petulantly；　and　walked　back　by　herself　to　the
cottage。

〃She　is　very　young；〃　said　Miss　Gwilt；　appealing　with　a　smile　to
Midwinter's　forbearance；　〃and；　as　you　must　see　for　yourself；　sir；
she　is　a　spoiled　child。〃　She　pausedshowed；　for　an　instant　only；
her　surprise　at　Midwinter's　strange　silence　and　strange
persistency　in　keeping　his　eyes　still　fixed　on　herthen　set
herself；　with　a　charming　grace　and　readiness；　to　help　him　out　of
the　false　position　in　which　he　stood。　〃As　you　have　extended　your
walk　thus　far；〃　she　resumed；　〃perhaps　you　will　kindly　favor　me；
on　your　return；　by　taking　a　message　to　your　friend？　Mr。　Armadale
has　been　so　good　as　to　invite　me　to　see　the　Thorpe　Ambrose
gardens　this　morning。　Will　you　say　that　Major　Milroy　permits　me
to　accept　the　invitation　（in　company　with　Miss　Milroy）　between
ten　and　eleven　o'clock？〃　For　a　moment　her　eyes　rested；　with　a
renewed　look　of　interest；　on　Midwinter's　face。　She　waited；　still
in　vain；　for　an　answering　word　from　himsmiled；　as　if　his
extraordinary　silence　amused　rather　than　angered　herand
followed　her　pupil　back　to　the　cottage。


It　was　only　when　the　last　trace　of　her　had　disappeared　that
Midwinter　roused　himself；　and　attempted　to　realize　the　position
in　which　he　stood。　The　revelation　of　her　beauty　was　in　no　respect
answerable　for　the　breathless　astonishment　which　had　held　him
spell…bound　up　to　this　moment。　The　one　clear　impression　she　had
produce　on　him　thus　far　began　and　ended　with　his　discovery　of　the
astounding　contradiction　that　her　face　offered；　in　one　feature
after　another；　to　the　description　in　Mr。　Brock's　letter。　All
beyond　this　was　vague　and　mistya　dim　consciousness　of　a　tall；
elegant　woman；　and　of　kind　words；　modestly　and　gracefully　spoken
to　him；　and　nothing　more。

He　advanced　a　few　steps　into　the　garden　without　knowing
whystopped；　glancing　hither　and　thither　like　a　man
lostrecognized　the　summer…house　by　an　effort；　as　if　years　had
elapsed　since　he　had　seen　itand　made　his　way　out　again；　at
last；　into　the　park。　Even　here；　he　wandered　first　in　one
direction；　then　in　another。　His　mind　was　still　reeling　under　the
shock