armadale-第72章

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she　failed　to　see　that　her　mother　never　even　turned　on　the　pillow
to　look　round　at　her。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy；　vacantly。　〃You're　a　good　girl；　you
shall　go　to　school。〃

The　cruel　brevity　of　the　reply；　and　the　tone　in　which　it　was
spoken；　told　Neelie　plainly　that　her　mother's　attention　had　been
wandering　far　away　from　her；　and　that　it　was　useless　and　needless
to　prolong　the　interview。　She　turned　aside　quietly；　without　a
word　of　remonstrance。　It　was　nothing　new　in　her　experience　to
find　herself　shut　out　from　her　mother's　sympathies。　She　looked　at
her　eyes　in　the　glass；　and；　pouring
　out　some　cold　water；　bathed　her　face。　〃Miss　Gwilt　shan't　see
I've　been　crying！〃　thought　Neelie；　as　she　went　back　to　the
bedside　to　take　her　leave。　〃I've　tired　you　out；〃　mamma；〃　she
said；　gently。　〃Let　me　go　now；　and　let　me　come　back　a　little　later
when　you　have　had　some　rest。〃

〃Yes；〃　repeated　her　mother；　as　mechanically　as　ever；　〃a　little
later　when　I　have　had　some　rest。〃

Neelie　left　the　room。　The　minute　after　the　door　had　closed　on
her；　Mrs。　Milroy　rang　the　bell　for　her　nurse。　In　the　face　of　the
narrative　she　had　just　heard；　in　the　face　of　every　reasonable
estimate　of　probabilities；　she　held　to　her　own　jealous
conclusions　as　firmly　as　ever。　〃Mr。　Armadale　may　believe　her；　and
my　daughter　may　believe　her；〃　thought　the　furious　woman。　〃But　I
know　the　major；　and　she　can't　deceive　_me！_〃

The　nurse　came　in。　〃Prop　me　up；〃　said　Mrs。　Milroy。　〃And　give　me
my　desk。　I　want　to　write。〃

〃You're　excited；〃　replied　the　nurse。　〃You're　not　fit　to　write。〃

〃Give　me　the　desk；〃　reiterated　Mrs。　Milroy。

〃Anything　more？〃　asked　Rachel；　repeating　her　invariable　formula
as　she　placed　the　desk　on　the　bed。

〃Yes。　Come　back　in　half　an　hour。　I　shall　want　you　to　take　a
letter　to　the　great　house。〃

The　nurse's　sardonic　composure　deserted　her　for　once。　〃Mercy　on
us！〃　she　exclaimed；　with　an　accent　of　genuine　surprise。　〃What
next？　You　don't　mean　to　say　you're　going　to　write？〃

〃I　am　going　to　write　to　Mr。　Armadale；〃　interposed　Mrs。　Milroy；
〃and　you　are　going　to　take　the　letter　to　him；　and　wait　for　an
answer；　and；　mind　this；　not　a　living　soul　but　our　two　selves　must
know　of　it　in　the　house。〃

〃Why　are　you　writing　to　Mr。　Armadale？〃　asked　Rachel。　〃And　why　is
nobody　to　know　of　it　but　our　two　selves？〃

〃Wait；〃　rejoined　Mrs。　Milroy；　〃and　you　will　see。〃

The　nurse's　curiosity；　being　a　woman's　curiosity；　declined　to
wait。

〃I'll　help　you　with　my　eyes　open；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　won't　help
you　blindfold。〃

〃Oh；　if　I　only　had　the　use　of　my　limbs！〃　groaned　Mrs。　Milroy。
〃You　wretch；　if　I　could　only　do　without　you！〃

〃You　have　the　use　of　your　head；〃　retorted　the　impenetrable　nurse。
〃And　you　ought　to　know　better　than　to　trust　me　by　halves；　at　this
time　of　day。〃

It　was　brutally　put；　but　it　was　truedoubly　true；　after　the
opening　of　Miss　Gwilt's　letter。　Mrs。　Milroy　gave　way。

〃What　do　you　want　to　know？〃　she　asked。　〃Tell　me；　and　leave　me。〃

〃I　want　to　know　what　you　are　writing　to　Mr。　Armadale　about？〃

〃About　Miss　Gwilt。〃

〃What　has　Mr。　Armadale　to　do　with　you　and　Miss　Gwilt？〃

Mrs。　Milroy　held　up　the　letter　that　had　been　returned　to　her　by
the　authorities　at　the　Post…office。

〃Stoop；〃　she　said。　〃Miss　Gwilt　may　be　listening　at　the　door。　I'll
whisper。〃

The　nurse　stooped；　with　her　eye　on　the　door。　〃You　know　that　the
postman　went　with　this　letter　to　Kingsdown　Crescent？〃　said　Mrs。
Milroy。　〃And　you　know　that　he　found　Mrs。　Mandeville　gone　away；
nobody　could　tell　where？〃

〃Well；〃　whispered　Rachel　〃what　next？〃

〃This；　next。　When　Mr。　Armadale　gets　the　letter　that　I　am　going　to
write　to　him；　he　will　follow　the　same　road　as　the　postman；　and
we'll　see　what　happens　when　he　knocks　at　Mrs。　Mandeville's　door。〃

〃How　do　you　get　him　to　the　door？〃

〃I　tell　him　to　go　to　Miss　Gwilt's　reference。〃

〃Is　he　sweet　on　Miss　Gwilt？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　nurse。　〃I　see！〃

CHAPTER　III。

THE　BRINK　OF　DISCOVERY。

THE　morning　of　the　interview　between　Mrs。　Milroy　and　her　daughter
at　the　cottage　was　a　morning　of　serious　reflection　for　the　squire
at　the　great　house。

Even　Allan's　easy…tempered　nature　had　not　been　proof　against　the
disturbing　influences　exercised　on　it　by　the　events　of　the　last
three　days。　Midwinter's　abrupt　departure　had　vexed　him；　and　Major
Milroy's　reception　of　his　inquiries　relating　to　Miss　Gwilt
weighed　unpleasantly　on　his　mind。　Since　his　visit　to　the　cottage；
he　had　felt　impatient　and　ill　at　ease；　for　the　first　time　in　his
life；　with　everybody　who　came　near　him。　Impatient　with　Pedgift
Junior；　who　had　called　on　the　previous　evening　to　announce　his
departure　for　London；　on　business；　the　next　day；　and　to　place　his
services　at　the　disposal　of　his　client；　ill　at　ease　with　Miss
Gwilt；　at　a　secret　meeting　with　her　in　the　park　that　morning；　and
ill　at　ease　in　his　own　company；　as　he　now　sat　moodily　smoking　in
the　solitude　of　his　room。　〃I　can't　live　this　sort　of　life　much
longer；〃　thought　Allan。　〃If　nobody　will　help　me　to　put　the
awkward　question　to　Miss　Gwilt；　I　must　stumble　on　some　way　of
putting　it　for　myself。〃

What　way？　The　answer　to　that　question　was　as　hard　to　find　as
ever。　Allan　tried　to　stimulate　his　sluggish　invention　by　walking
up　and　down　the　room；　and　was　disturbed　by　the　appearance　of　the
footman　at　the　first　turn。

〃Now　then！　what　is　it？〃　he　asked；　impatiently。

〃A　letter；　sir；　and　the　person　waits　for　an　answer。〃

Allan　looked　at　the　address。　It　was　in　a　strange　handwriting。　He
opened　the　letter；　and　a　little　note　inclosed　in　it　dropped　to
the　ground。　The　note　was　directed；　still　in　the　strange
handwriting；　to　〃Mrs。　Mandeville；　18　Kingsdown　Crescent；
Bayswater。　Favored　by　Mr。　Armadale。〃　More　and　more　surprised；
Allan　turned　for　information　to　the　signature　at　the　end　of　the
letter。　It　was　〃Anne　Milroy。〃

〃Anne　Milroy？〃　he　repeated。　〃It　must　be　the　major's　wife。　What
can　she　possibly　want　with　me？〃　By　way　of　discovering　what　she
wanted；　Allan　did　at　last　what　he　might　more　wisely　have　done　at
first。　He　sat　down　to　read　the　letter。

＇〃Private。〃＇　〃The　Cottage；　Monday。

〃DEAR　SIRThe　name　at　the　end　of　these　lines　will；　I　fear；
recall　to　you　a　very　rude　return　made　on　my　part；　some　time
since；　for　an　act　of　neighborly　kindness　on　yours。　I　can　only　say
in　excuse　that　I　am　a　great　sufferer；　and　that；　if　I　was
ill…tempered　enough；　in　a　moment　of　irritation　under　severe　pain；
to　send　back　your　present　of　fruit；　I　have　regretted　doing　so
ever　since。　Attribute　this　letter；　if　you　please；　to　my　desire　to
make　some　atonement；　and　to　my　wish　to　be　of　service　to　our　good
friend　and　landlord；　if　I　possibly　can。

〃I　have　been　informed　of　the　question　which　you　addressed　to　my
husband；　the　day　before　yesterday；　on　the　subject　of　Miss　Gwilt。
From　all　I　have　heard　of　you；　I　am　quite　sure　that　your　anxiety
to　know　more　of　this　charming　person　than　you　know　now　is　an
anxiety　proceeding　from　the　most　honorable　motives。　Believing
this；　I　feel　a　woman's　interestincurable　invalid　as　I　amin
assisting　you。　If　you　are　desirous　of　becoming　acquainted　with
Miss　Gwilt's　family　circumstances　without　directly　appealing　to
Miss　Gwilt　herself；　it　rests　with　you　to　make　the　discovery；　and
I　will　tell　you　how。

〃It　so　happens　that；　some　few　days　since；　I　wrote　privately　to
Miss　Gwilt's　reference　on　this　very　subject。　I　had　long　observed
that　my　governess　was　singularly　reluctant　to　speak　of　her　family
and　her　friends；　and；　without　attributing　her　silence　to　other
than　perfectly　proper　motives；　I　felt　it　my　duty　to　my　daughter
to　make　some　inquiry　on　the　subject。　The　answer　that　I　have
received　is　satisfactory　as　far　as　it　goes。　My　correspondent
informs　me　that　Miss　Gwilt's　story　is　a　very　sad　one；　and　that
her　own　conduct　throughout　has　been　praiseworthy　in　the　extreme。
The　circumstances　（of　a　domestic　nature；　as　I　gather）　are　all
plainly　stated　in　a　collection　of　letters　now　in　the　possession
of　Miss　Gwilt's　reference。　This　lady　is　perfectly　willing　to　let
me　see　the　letters；　but　not　possessing　copies　of　them；　and　being
personally　responsible　for　their　security；　she　is　reluctant；　if
it　can　be　avoided；　to　trust　them　to　the　post；　and　she　begs　me　to
wait　until　she　or　I　can　find　some　reliable　person　who　can　be
employed　to　transmit　the　packet　from　her　hands　to　mine。

〃Under　these　circumstances；　it　has　struck　me　that　you　might
possibly；　with　your　interest　in　the　matter；　be　not　unwilling　to
take　charge　of　the　papers。　If　I　am　wrong　in　this　idea；　and　if　you
are　not　disposed；　after　what　I　have　told　you；　to　go　to　the
trouble　and　expense　of　a　journey　to　London；　you　have　only　to　burn
my　letter　and　inclosure；　and　to　think　no　more　about　it。　If　you
decide　on　becoming　my　envoy；　I　gladly　provide　you　with　the
necessary　introduction　to　Mrs。　Mandeville。　You　have　only；　on
presenting　it；　to　receive　the　letters　in　a　sealed　packet；　to　send
them　her　e　on　your　return　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　to　wait　an　early
communication　from　me　acquainting　you　with　the　result。

〃In　conclusion；　I　have　only　to　add　that　I　see　no　impropriety　in
your　taking　（if　you　feel　so　inclined）　the　course　that　I　propose
to　you。　Miss　Gwilt's　manner　of　receiving　such　allusions　as　I　have
made　to　her　family　circumstances　has　rendered　it　unpleasant　for
me　（and　would　render　it　quite　impossible　for　you）　to　seek
information　in　the　first　instance　from　herself。　I　am　certainly
justified　in　applying　to　her　reference；　and　you　are　certainly　not
to　blame　for　being　the　medium　of　safely　transmitting　a　sealed
communication　with　one　lady　to　another。　If　I　find　in　that
communication　family　secrets　which　cannot　honorably　be　mentioned
to　any　third　person；　I　shall；　of　course；　be　obliged　to　keep　you
waiting　until　I　have　first　appealed　to　Miss　Gwilt。　If　I　find
nothing　recorded　but　what　is　to　her　honor；　and　what　is　sure　to
raise　her　still　higher　in　your　estimation；　I　am　undeniably　doing
her　a　service　by　taking　you　into　my　confidence。　This　is　how　I
look　at　the　matter；　but　pray　don't　allow　me　to　influence　_you。_

〃In　any　case；　I　have　one　condition　to　make；　which　I　am　sure　you
will　understand　to　be　indispensable。　The　most　innocent　actions
are　liable；　in　this　wicked　world；　to　the　worst　possible
interpretation　I　must；　therefore；　request　that　you　will　consider
this　communication　as　strictly　_private。_。　I　write　to　you　in　a
confidence　which　is　on　no　account　（until　circumstances　may；　in　my
opinion；　justify　the　revelation　of　it）　to　extend　beyond　our　two
selves；

〃Believe　me；　dear　sir；　truly　yours；

〃ANNE　MILROY。〃

In　this　tempting　form　the　unscrupulous　ingenuity　of　the　major's
wife　had　set　the　trap。　Without　a　moment's　hesitation；　Allan
followed　his　impulses；　as　usual；　and　walked　straight　into　it；
writing　his　answer　and　pursuing　his　own　reflections
simultaneously　in　a　highly　characteristic　state　of　mental
confusion。

〃By　Jupiter；　this　is　kind　of　Mrs。　Milroy！〃　（〃My　dear　madam。〃）
〃Just　the　thing　I　wanted；　at　the　time　when　I　needed　it　most！〃　（〃I
don't　know　how　to　express　my　sense　of　your　kindness；　except　by
saying　that　I　will　go　to　London　and　fetch　the　letters　with　the
greatest　pleasure。〃）　〃She　shall　have　a　basket　of　fruit　regularly
every　day；　all　through　the　season。　〃　（〃I　will　go　at　once；　dear
madam；　and　be　back　t