armadale-第87章

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Allan　was　too　eager　for　the　answer　which　the　weather　had
interrupted　to　wait　for　it　till　they　reached　the　breakfast…room。
He　stopped　close　at　the　window；　and　added　two　more　to　his　string
of　questions。

〃How　can　you　possibly　have　heard　about　me　and　Miss　Gwilt？〃　he
asked。　〃Who　told　you？〃

〃Miss　Gwilt　herself；〃　replied　Midwinter；　gravely。

Allan's　manner　changed　the　moment　the　governess's　name　passed　his
friend's　lips。

〃I　wish　you　had　heard　my　story　first；〃　he　said。　〃Where　did　you
meet　with　Miss　Gwilt？〃

There　was　a　momentary　pause。　They　both　stood　still　at　the　window；
absorbed　in　the　interest　of　the　moment。　They　both　forgot　that
their　contemplated　place　of　shelter　from　the　rain　had　been　the
breakfast…room　upstairs。

〃Before　I　answer　your　question；〃　said　Midwinter；　a　little
constrainedly；　〃I　want　to　ask　you　something；　Allan；　on　my　side。
Is　it　really　true　that　you　are　in　some　way　concerned　in　Miss
Gwilt's　leaving　Major　Milroy's　service？〃

There　was　another　pause。　The　disturbance　which　had　begun　to
appear　in　Allan's　manner　palpably　increased。

〃It's　rather　a　long　story；〃　he　began。　〃I　have　been　taken　in；
Midwinter。　I've　been　imposed　on　by　a　person；　whoI　can't　help
saying　itwho　cheated　me　into　promising　what　I　oughtn't　to　have
promised；　and　doing　what　I　had　better　not　have　done。　It　isn't
breaking　my　promise　to　tell　you。　I　can　trust　in　your　discretion；
can't　I？　You　will　never　say　a　word；　will　you？〃

〃Stop！〃　said　Midwinter。　〃Don't　trust　me　with　any　secrets　which
are　not　your　own。　If　you　have　given　a　promise；　don't　trifle　with
it；　even　in　speaking　to　such　an　intimate　friend　as　I　am。〃　He　laid
his　hand　gently　and　kindly　on　Allan's　shoulder。　〃I　can't　help
seeing　that　I　have　made　you　a　little　uncomfortable；〃　he　went　on。
〃I　can't　help　seeing　that　my　question　is　not　so　easy　a　one　to
answer　as　I　had　hoped　and　supposed。　Shall　we　wait　a　little？　Shall
we　go　upstairs　and　breakfast　first？〃

Allan　was　far　too　earnestly　bent　on　presenting　his　conduct　to　his
friend　in　the　right　aspect　to　heed　Midwinter's　suggestion。　He
spoke　eagerly　on　the　instant；　without　moving　from　the　window。

〃My　dear　fellow；　it's　a　perfectly　easy　question　to　answer。
Only〃he　hesitated〃only　it　requires　what　I'm　a　bad　hand　at：　it
requires　an　explanation。〃

〃Do　you　mean；〃　asked　Midwinter；　more　seriously；　but　not　less
gently　than　before；　〃that　you　must　first　justify　yourself；　and
then　answer　my　question？〃

〃That's　it！〃　said　Allan；　with　an　air　of　relief。　〃You're　hit　the
right　nail　on　the　head；　just　as　usual。〃

Midwinter's　face　darkened　for　the　first　time。　〃I　am　sorry　to　hear
it；〃　he　said；　his　voice　sinking　low；　and　his　eyes　dropping　to　the
ground　as　he　spoke。

The　rain　was　beginning　to　fall　thickly。　It　swept　across　the
garden；　straight　on　the　closed　windows；　and　pattered　heavily
against　the　glass。

〃Sorry！〃　repeated　Allan。　〃My　dear　fellow；　you　haven't　heard　the
particulars　yet。　Wait　till　I　explain　the　thing　first。〃

〃You　are　a　bad　hand　at　explanations；〃　said　Midwinter；　repeating
Allan's　own　words。　〃Don't　place　yourself　at　a　disadvantage。　Don't
explain　it。〃

Allan　looked　at　him；　in　silent　perplexity　and　surprise。

〃You　are　my　friendmy　best　and　dearest　friend；〃　Midwinter　went
on。　〃I　can't　bear　to　let　you　justify　yourself　to　me　as　if　I　was
your　judge；　or　as　if　I　doubted　you。〃　He　looked　up　again　at　Allan
frankly　and　kindly　as　he　said　those　words。　〃Besides；〃　he　resumed；
〃I　think；　if　I　look　into　my　memory；　I　can　anticipate　your
explanation。　We　had　a　moment's　talk；　before　I　went　away；　about
some　very　delicate　questions　which　you　proposed　putting　to　Major
Milroy。　I　remember　I　warned　you；　I　remember　I　had　my　misgivings。
Should　I　be　guessing　right　if　I　guessed　that　those　questions　have
been　in　some　way　the　means　of　leading　you　into　a　false　position？
If　it　is　true　that　you　have　been　concerned　in　Miss　Gwilt's
leaving　her　situation；　is　it　also　trueis　it　only　doing　you
justice　to　believethat　any　mischief　for　which　you　are
responsible　has　been　mischief　innocently　done？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Allan；　speaking；　for　the　first　time；　a　little
constrainedly　on　his　side。　〃It　is　only　doing　me　justice　to　say
that。〃　He　stopped　and　began　drawing　lines　absently　with　his
finger　on　the　blurred　surface　of　the　window…pane。　〃You're　not
like　other　people；　Midwinter；〃　he　resumed；　suddenly；　with　an
effort；　〃and　I　should　have　liked　you　to　have　heard　the
particulars　all　the　same。〃

〃I　will　hear　them　if　you　desire　it；〃　returned　Midwinter。　〃But　I
am　satisfied；　without　another　word；　that　you　have　not　willingly
been　the　means　of　depriving　Miss　Gwilt　of　her　situation。　If　that
is　understood　between　you　and　me；　I　think　we　need　say　no　more。
Besides；　I　have　another　question　to　ask；　of　much　greater
importancea　question　that　has　been　forced　on　me　by　what　I　saw
with　my　own　eyes；　and　heard　with　my　own　ears；　last　night。〃

He　stopped；　recoiling　in　spite　of　himself。　〃Shall　we　go　upstairs
first？〃　he　asked；　abruptly；　leading　the　way　to　the　door；　and
trying　to　gain　time。

It　was　useless。　Once　again；　the　room　which　they　were　both　free　to
leave；　the　room　which　one　of　them　had　twice　tried　to　leave
already；　held　them　as　if　they　were　prisoners。

Without　answering；　without　even　appearing　to　have　heard
Midwinter's　proposal　to　go　upstairs；　Allan　followed　him
mechanically　as　far　as　the　opposite　side　of　the　window。　There　he
stopped。　〃Midwinter！〃　he　burst　out；　in　a　sudden　panic　of
astonishment　and　alarm；　〃there　seems　to　be　something　strange
between　us！　You're　not　like　yourself。　What　is　it？〃

With　his　hand　on　the　lock　of　the　door；　Midwinter　turned；　and
looked　back　into　the　room。　The　moment　had　come。　His　haunting　fear
of　doing　his　friend　an　injustice　had　shown　itself　in　a　restraint
of　word；　look；　and　action　which　had　been　marked　enough　to　force
its　way　to　Allan's　notice。　The　one　course　left　now；　in　the
dearest　interests　of　the　friendship　that　united　them；　was　to
speak　at　once；　and　to　speak　boldly。

〃There's　something　strange　between　us；〃　reiterated　Allan。　〃For
God's　sake；　what　is　it？〃

Midwinter　took　his　hand　from　the　door；　and　came　down　again　to　the
window；　fronting　Allan。　He　occupied　the　place；　of　necessity；
which　Allan　had　just　left。　It　was　the　side　of　the　window　on　which
the　Statuette　stood。　The　little　figure；　placed　on　its　projecting
bracket；　was；　close　behind　him　on　his　right　hand。　No　signs　of
change　appeared　in　the　stormy　sky。　The　rain　still　swept　slanting
across　the　garden；　and　pattered　heavily　against　the　glass。

〃Give　me　your　hand；　Allan。〃

Allan　gave　it；　and　Midwinter　held　it　firmly　while　he　spoke。

〃There　is　something　strange　between　us；〃　he　said。　〃There　is
something　to　be　set　right　which　touches　you　nearly；　and　　it　has
not　been　set　right　yet。　You　asked　me　just　now　where　I　met　with
Miss　Gwilt。　I　met　with　h　er　on　my　way　back　here；　upon　the
high…road　on　the　further　side　of　the　town。　She　entreated　me　to
protect　her　from　a　man　who　was　following　and　frightening　her。　I
saw　the　scoundrel　with　my　own　eyes；　and　I　should　have　laid　hands
on　him；　if　Miss　Gwilt　herself　had　not　stopped　me。　She　gave　a　very
strange　reason　for　stopping　me。　She　said　I　didn't　know　who　his
employer　was。〃

Allan's　ruddy　color　suddenly　deepened；　he　looked　aside　quickly
through　the　window　at　the　pouring　rain。　At　the　same　moment　their
hands　fell　apart；　and　there　was　a　pause　of　silence　on　either
side。　Midwinter　was　the　first　to　speak　again。

〃Later　in　the　evening；〃　he　went　on；　〃Miss　Gwilt　explained
herself。　She　told　me　two　things。　She　declared　that　the　man　whom　I
had　seen　following　her　was　a　hired　spy。　I　was　surprised；　but　I
could　not　dispute　it。　She　told　me　next；　Allanwhat　I　believe
with　my　whole　heart　and　soul　to　be　a　falsehood　which　has　been
imposed　on　her　as　the　truthshe　told　me　that　the　spy　was　in　your
employment！〃

Allan　turned　instantly　from　the　window；　and　looked　Midwinter　full
in　the　face　again。　〃I　must　explain　myself　this　time；〃　he　said；
resolutely。

The　ashy　paleness　peculiar　to　him　in　moments　of　strong　emotion
began　to　show　itself　on　Midwinter's　cheeks。

〃More　explanations！〃　he　said；　and　drew　back　a　step；　with　his　eyes
fixed　in　a　sudden　terror　of　inquiry　on　Allan's　face。

〃You　don't　know　what　I　know；　Midwinter。　You　don't　know　that　what
I　have　done　has　been　done　with　a　good　reason。　And　what　is　more；　I
have　not　trusted　to　myselfI　have　had　good　advice。〃

〃Did　you　hear　what　I　said　just　now？〃　asked　Midwinter；
incredulously。　〃You　can'tsurely；　you　can't　have　been　attending
to　me？〃

〃I　haven't　missed　a　word；〃　rejoined　Allan。　〃I　tell　you　again；　you
don't　know　what　I　know　of　Miss　Gwilt。　She　has　threatened　Miss
Milroy。　Miss　Milroy　is　in　danger　while　her　governess　stops　in
this　neighborhood。〃

Midwinter　dismissed　the　major's　daughter　from　the　conversation
with　a　contemptuous　gesture　of　his　hand。

〃I　don't　want　to　hear　about　Miss；　Milroy；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　mix　up
Miss　Milroy　Good　God；　Allan；　am　I　to　understand　that　the　spy
set　to　watch　Miss　Gwilt　was　doing　his　vile　work　with　your
approval？〃

〃Once　for　all；　my　dear　fellow；　will　you；　or　will　you　not；　let　me
explain？〃

〃Explain！〃　cried　Midwinter；　his　eyes　aflame；　and　his　hot　Creole
blood　rushing　crimson　into　his　face。　〃Explain　the　employment　of　a
spy？　What！　after　having　driven　Miss　Gwilt　out　of　her　situation　by
meddling　with　her　private　affairs；　you　meddle　again　by　the　vilest
of　all　meansthe　means　of　a　paid　spy？　You　set　a　watch　on　the
woman　whom　you　yourself　told　me　you　loved；　only　a　fortnight
sincethe　woman　you　were　thinking　of　as　your　wife！　I　don't
believe　it；　I　won't　believe　it。　Is　my　head　failing　me？　Is　it
Allan　Armadale　I　am　speaking　to？　Is　it　Allan　Armadale's　face
looking　at　me？　Stop！　you　are　acting　under　some　mistaken　scruple。
Some　low　fellow　has　crept　into　your　confidence；　and　has　done　this
in　your　name　without　telling　you　first。〃

Allan　controlled　himself　with　admirable　patience　and　admirable
consideration　for　the　temper　of　his　friend。　〃If　you　persist　in
refusing　to　hear　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　must　wait　as　well　as　I　can　till
my　turn　comes。〃

〃Tell　me　you　are　a　stranger　to　the　employment　of　that　man；　and　I
will　hear　you　willingly。〃

〃Suppose　there　should　be　a　necessity；　that　you　know　nothing
about；　for　employing　him？〃

〃I　acknowledge　no　necessity　for　the　cowardly　persecution　of　a
helpless　woman。〃

A　momentary　flush　of　irritationmomentary；　and　no　morepassed
over　Allan's　face。　〃You　mightn't　think　her　quite　so　helpless；〃　he
said；　〃if　you　knew　the　truth。〃

〃Are　_you_　the　man　to　tell　me　the　truth？〃　retorted　the　other。
〃You　who　have　refused　to　hear　her　in　her　own　defense！　You　who
have　closed　the　doors　of　this　house　against　her！〃

Allan　still　controlled　himself；　but　the　effort　began　at　last　to
be　visible。

〃I　know　your　temper　is　a　hot　one；〃　he　said。　〃But　for　all　that；
your　violence　quite　takes　me　by　surprise。　I　can't　account　for　it；
unless〃he　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　finished　the　sentence　in
his　usual　frank；　outspoken　way〃unless　you　are　sweet　yourself　on
Miss　Gwilt。〃

Those　last　words　heaped　fuel　on　the　fire。　They　stripped　the　truth
instantly　of　all　concealments　and　disguises；　and　laid　it　bare　to
view。　Allan's　instinct　had　guessed；　and　the　guiding　influence
stood　revealed　of　Midwinter's　interest　in　Miss　Gwilt。

〃Wha