armadale-第82章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


with　a　pretty　girl　on　my　arm；　I　can't　entirely　divest　myself　of
my　professional　caution。　Don't　look　distressed；　sir；　pray！　I　set
things　right　in　due　course　of　time。　Before　I　left　Miss　Milroy；　I
told　her；　in　the　plainest　terms；　no　such　idea　had　ever　entered
your　head。〃

〃Did　she　seem　relieved？〃　asked　Allan。

〃She　was　able　to　dispense　with　the　use　of　my　arm；　sir；〃　replied
old　Pedgift；　as　dryly　as　ever；　〃and　to　pledge　me　to　inviolable
secrecy　on　the　subject　of　our　interview。　She　was　particularly
desirous　that　_you_　should　hear　nothing　about　it。　If　you　are　at
all　anxious　on　your　side　to　know　why　I　am　now　betraying　her
confidence；　I　beg　to　inform　you　that　her　confidence　related　to　no
less　a　person　than　the　lady　who　favored　you　with　a　call　just
nowMiss　Gwilt。〃

Allan；　who　had　been　once　more　restlessly　pacing　the　room；
stopped；　and　returned　to　his　chair。

〃Is　this　serious？〃　he　asked。

〃Most　serious；　sir；〃　returned　Pedgift　Senior。　〃I　am　betraying
Miss　Neelie's　secret；　in　Miss　Neelie's　own　interest。　Let　us　go
back　to　that　cautious　question　I　put　to　her。　She　found　some
little　difficulty　in　answering　it；　for　the　reply　involved　her　in
a　narrative　of　the　parting　interview　between　her　governess　and
herself。　This　is　the　substance　of　it。　The　two　were　alone　when
Miss　Gwilt　took　leave　of　her　pupil；　and　the　words　she　used　（as
reported　to　me　by　Miss　Neelie）　were　these。　She　said；　'Your　mother
has　declined　to　allow　me　to　take　leave　of　her。　Do　you　decline
too？'　Miss　Neelie's　answer　was　a　remarkably　sensible　one　for　a
girl　of　her　age。　'We　have　not　been　good　friends；'　she　said；　'and
I　believe　we　are　equally　glad　to　part　with　each　other。　But　I　have
no　wish　to　decline　taking　leave　of　you。'　Saying　that；　she　held
out　her　hand。　Miss　Gwilt　stood　looking　at　her　steadily；　without
taking　it；　and　addressed　her　in　these　words：　'_You　are　not　Mrs。
Armadale　yet。_'　Gently；　sir！　Keep　your　temper。　It's　not　at　all
wonderful　that　a　woman；　conscious　of　having　her　own　mercenary
designs　on　you；　should　attribute　similar　designs　to　a　young　lady
who　happens　to　be　your　near　neighbor。　Let　me　go　on。　Miss　Neelie；
by　her　own　confession　（and　quite　naturally；　I　think）；　was
excessively　indignant。　She　owns　to　having　answered；　'You
shameless　creature；　how　dare　you　say　that　to　me！'　Miss　Gwilt's
rejoinder　was　rather　a　remarkable　onethe　anger；　on　her　side；
appears　to　have　been　of　the　cool；　still；　venomous　kind。　'Nobody
ever　yet　injured　me；　Miss　Milroy；'　she　said；　'without　sooner　or
later　bitterly　repenting　it。　_You_　will　bitterly　repent　it。'　She
stood　looking　at　her　pupil　for　a　moment　in　dead　silence；　and　then
left　the　room。　Miss　Neelie　appears　to　have　felt　the　imputation
fastened　on　her；　in　connection　with　you；　far　more　sensitively
than　she　felt　the　threat。　She　had　previously　known；　as　everybody
had　known　in　the　house；　that　some　unacknowledged　proceedings　of
yours　in　London　had　led　to　Miss　Gwilt's　voluntary　withdrawal　from
her　situation。　And　she　now　inferred；　from　the　language　addressed
to　her；　that　she　was　actually　believed　by　Miss　Gwilt　to　have　set
those　proceedings　on　foot；　to　advance　herself；　and　to　injure　her
governess；　in　your　estimation。　Gently；　sir；　gently！　I　haven't
quite　done　yet。　As　soon　as　Miss　Neelie　had　recovered　herself；　she
went　upstairs　to　speak　to　Mrs。　Milroy。　Miss　Gwilt's　abominable
imputation　had　taken　her　by　surprise；　and　she　went　to　her　mother
first　for　enlightenment　and　advice。　She　got　neither　the　one　nor
the　other。　Mrs。　Milroy　declared　she　was　too　ill　to　enter　on　the
subject；　and　she　has　remained　too　ill　to　enter　on　it　ever　since。
Miss　Neelie　applied　next　to　her　father。　The　major　stopped　her　the
moment　your　name　passed　her　lips：　he　declared　he　would　never　hear
you　mentioned　again　by　any　member　of　his　family。　She　has　been
left　in　the　dark　from　that　time　to　this；　not　knowing　how　she
might　have　been　misrepresented　by　Miss　Gwilt；　or　what　falsehoods
you　might　have　been　led　to　believe　of　her。　At　my　age　and　in　my
profession；　I　don't　profess　to　have　any　extraordinary　softness　of
heart。　But　I　do　think；　Mr。　Armadale；　that　Miss　Neelie's　position
deserves　our　sympathy。〃

〃I'll　do　anything　to　help　her！〃　cried　Allan；　impulsively。　〃You
don't　know；　Mr。　Pedgift；　what　reason　I　have〃　He　checked
himself；　and　confusedly　repeated　his　first　words。　〃I'll　do
anything；〃　he　reiterated　earnestly〃anything　in　the　world　to
help　her！〃

〃Do　you　really　mean　that；　Mr。　Armadale？　Excuse　my　asking；　but　you
can　very　materially　help　Miss　Neelie；　if　you　choose！　〃

〃How？〃　asked　Allan。　〃Only　tell　me　how！〃

〃By　giving　me　your　authority；　sir；　to　protect　her　from　Miss
Gwilt。〃

Having　fired　that　shot　pointblank　at　his　client；　the　wise　lawyer
waited　a　little　to　let　it　take　its　effect　before　he　said　any
more。

Allan's　face　clouded；　and　he　shifted　uneasily　from　side　to　side
of　his　chair。

〃Your　son　is　hard　enough　to　deal　with；　Mr。　Pedgift；〃　he　said；
〃and　you　are　harder　than　your　son。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　rejoined　the　ready　Pedgift；　〃in　my　son's　name
and　my　own；　for　a　handsome　compliment　to　the　firm。　If　you　really
wish　to　be　of　assistance　to　Miss　Neelie；〃　he　went　on；　more
seriously；　〃I　have　shown　you　the　way。　You　can　do　nothing　to　quiet
her　anxiety　which　I　have　not　done　already。　As　soon　as　I　had
assured　her　that　no　misconception　of　her　conduct　existed　in　your
mind；　she　went　away　satisfied。　Her　governess's　parting　threat
doesn't　seem　to　have　dwelt　on　her　memory。　I　can　tell　you；　Mr。
Armadale；　it　dwells　on　mine！　You　know　my　opinion　of　Miss　Gwilt；
and　you　know　what　Miss　Gwilt　herself　has　done　this　very　evening
to　justify　that　opinion　even　in　your　eyes。　May　I　ask；　after　all
that　has　passed；　whether　you　think　she　is　the　sort　of　woman　who
can　be　trusted　to　confine　herself　to　empty　threats？〃

The　question　was　a　formidable　one　to　answer。　Forced　steadily　back
from　the　position　which　he　had　occupied　at　the　outset　of　the
interview；　by　the　irresistible　pressure　of　plain　facts；　Allan
began　for　the　first　time　to　show　symptoms　of　yielding　on　the
subject　of　Miss　Gwilt。　〃Is　there　no　other　way　of　protecting　Miss
Milroy　but　the　way　you　have　mentioned？〃　he　asked；　uneasily。

〃Do　you　think　the　major　would　listen　to　you；　sir；　if　you　spoke　to
him？〃　asked　Pedgift　Senior；　sarcastically。　〃I'm　rather　afraid　he
wouldn't　honor　_me_　with　his　attention。　Or　perhaps　you　would
prefer　alarming　Miss　Neelie　by　telling　her　in　plain　words　that　we
both　think　her　in　danger？　Or；　suppose　you　send　me　to　Miss　Gwilt；
with　instructions　to　inform　her　that　she　has　done　her　pupil　a
cruel　injustice？　Women　are　so　proverbially　ready　to　listen　to
reason；　and　they　are　so　universally　disposed　to　alter　their
opinions　of　each　other　on　applicationespecially　when　one　woman
thinks　that　another　woman　has　destroyed　her　prospect　of　making　a
good　marriage。　Don't　mind　_me；_　Mr。　Armadale；　I'm　only　a　lawyer；
and　I　can　sit　waterproof　under　another　shower　of　Miss　Gwilt's
tears！〃

〃Damn　it；　Mr。　Pedgift；　tell　me　in　plain　words　what　you　want　to
do！〃　cried　Allan；　losing　his　temper　at　last。

〃In　plain　words；　Mr。　Armadale；　I　want　to　keep　Miss　Gwilt's
proceedings　privately　under　view；　as　long　as　she　stops　in　this
neighborhood。　I　answer　for　finding　a　person　who　will　look　after
her　delicately　and　discreetly。　And　I　agree　to　discontinue　even
this　harmless　superintendence　of　her　actions；　if　there　isn't　good
reasons　shown　for　continuing　it；　to　your　entire　satisfaction；　in
a　week's　time。　I　make　that　moderate　proposal；　sir；　in　what　I
sincerely　believe　to　be　Miss　Milroy's　interest；　and　I　wait　your
answer；　Yes　or　No。〃

〃Can't　I　have　time　to　consider？〃　asked　Allan；　driven　to　the　last
helpless　expedient　of　taking　refuge　in　delay。

〃Certainly；　Mr。　Armadale。　But　don't　forget；　while　you　are
considering；　that　Miss　Milroy　is　in　the　habit　of　walking　out
alone　in　your　park；　innocent　of　all　apprehension　of　danger；　and
that　Miss　Gwilt　is　perfectly　free　to　take　any　advantage　of　that
circumstance　that　Miss　Gwilt　pleases。〃

〃Do　as　you　like！〃　exclaimed　Allan；　in　despair。　〃And；　for　God's
sake；　don't　torment　me　any　longer！〃

Popular　prejudice　may　deny　it；　but　the　profession　of　the　law　is　a
practically　Christian　profession　in　one　respect　at　least。　Of　all
the　large　collection　of　ready　answers　lying　in　wait　for　mankind
on　a　lawyer's　lips；　none　is　kept　in　better　working　order　than
〃the　soft　answer　which　turneth　away　wrath。〃　Pedgift　Senior　rose
with　the　alacrity　of　youth　in　his　legs；　and　the　wise　moderation
of　age　on　his　tongue。　〃Many　thanks；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃for　the
attention　you　have　bestowed　on　me。　I　congratulate　you　on　your
decision；　and　I　wish　you　good…evening。〃　This　time　his　indicative
snuff…box　was　not　in　his　hand　when　he　opened　the　door；　and　he
actually　disappeared　without　coming　back　for　a　second　postscript。

Allan's　head　sank　on　his　breast　when　he　was　left　alone。　〃If　it
was　only　the　end　of　the　week！〃　he　thought；　longingly。　〃If　I　only
had　Midwinter　back　again！〃

As　that　aspiration　escaped　the　client's　lips；　the　lawyer　got
gayly　into　his　gig。　〃Hie　away；　old　girl！〃　cried　Pedgift　Senior；
patting　the　fast…trotting　mare　with　the　end　of　his　whip。　〃I　never
keep　a　lady　waitingand　I've　got　business　to…night　with　one　of
your　own　sex！〃

CHAPTER　VII。

THE　MARTYRDOM　OF　MISS　GWILT。

THE　outskirts　of　the　little　town　of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　on　the　side
nearest　to　〃the　great　house；〃　have　earned　some　local　celebrity　as
exhibiting　the　prettiest　suburb　of　the　kind　to　be　found　in　East
Norfolk。　Here　the　villas　and　gardens　are　for　the　most　part　built
and　laid　out　in　excellent　taste；　the　trees　are　in　the　prime　of
their　growth；　and　the　healthy　common　beyond　the　houses　rises　and
falls　in　picturesque　and　delightful　variety　of　broken　ground。　The
rank；　fashion；　and　beauty　of　the　town　make　this　place　their
evening　promenade；　and　when　a　stranger　goes　out　for　a　drive；　if
he　leaves　it　to　the　coachman；　the　coachman　starts　by　way　of　the
common　as　a　matter　of　course。

On　the　opposite　side；　that　is　to　say；　on　the　side　furthest　from
〃the　great　house；〃　the　suburbs　（in　the　year　1851）　were
universally　regarded　as　a　sore　subject　by　all　persons　zealous　for
the　reputation　of　the　town。

Here　nature　was　uninviting；　man　was　poor；　and　social　progress；　as
exhibited　under　the　form　of　building；　halted　miserably。　The
streets　dwindled　feebly；　as　they　receded　from　the　center　of　the
town；　into　smaller　and　smaller　houses；　and　died　away　on　the
barren　open　ground　into　an　atrophy　of　skeleton　cottages。　Builders
hereabouts　appeared　to　have　universally　abandoned　their　work　in
the　first　stage　of　its　creation。　Land…holders　set　up　poles　on
lost　patches　of　ground；　and；　plaintively　advertising　that　they
were　to　let　for　building；　raised　sickly　little　crops　meanwhile；
in　despair　of　finding　a　purchaser　to　deal　with　them。　All　the
waste　paper　of　the　town　seemed　to　float　congenially　to　this
neglected　spot；　and　all　the　fretful　children　came　and　cried　here；
in　charge　of　all　the　slatternly　nurses　who　disgraced　the　place。
If　there　was　any　intention　in　Thorpe　Ambrose　of　sending　a
worn…out　horse　to　the　knacker's；　that　horse　was　sure　to　be　found
waiting　his　doom　in　a　field　on　this　side　of　the　town。　No　growth
flourished　in　these　desert　regions　but　the　arid　growth　of
rubbish；　and　no　creatures　rejoiced　but　t