for the term of his natural life-第88章

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eadied　step；　he　reached　the　door　of　the　old　prison。　　To　his　surprise；　Gimblett　refused　him　admission！

〃But　I　have　come　direct　from　the　Commandant；〃　said　North。

〃Got　any　order；　sir？〃

〃Order！　　No。〃

〃I　can't　let　you　in；　your　reverence；〃　said　Gimblett。

〃I　want　to　see　the　prisoner　Dawes。　　I　have　a　special　message　for　him。　I　have　come　ashore　on　purpose。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry；　sir〃

〃The　ship　will　sail　in　two　hours；　man；　and　I　shall　miss　her；〃　said　North；　indignant　at　being　frustrated　in　his　design。　　〃Let　me　pass。〃

〃Upon　my　honour；　sir；　I　daren't；〃　said　Gimblett；　who　was　not　without　his　good　points。　　〃You　know　what　authority　is；　sir。〃

North　was　in　despair；　but　a　bright　thought　struck　hima　thought　that；　in　his　soberer　moments；　would　never　have　entered　his　headhe　would　buy　admission。　　He　produced　the　rum　flask　from　beneath　the　sheltering　cloak。　〃Come；　don't　talk　nonsense　to　me；　Gimblett。　　You　don't　suppose　I　would　come　here　without　authority。　　Here；　take　a　pull　at　this；　and　let　me　through。〃　Gimblett's　features　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃Well；　sir；　I　suppose　it's　all　right；　if　you　say　so；〃　said　he。　　And　clutching　the　rum　bottle　with　one　hand；　he　opened　the　door　of　Dawes's　cell　with　the　other。

North　entered；　and　as　the　door　closed　behind　him；　the　prisoner；　who　had　been　lying　apparently　asleep　upon　his　bed；　leapt　up；　and　made　as　though　to　catch　him　by　the　throat。



Rufus　Dawes　had　dreamt　a　dream。　　Alone；　amid　the　gathering　glooms；　his　fancy　had　recalled　the　past；　and　had　peopled　it　with　memories。　He　thought　that　he　was　once　more　upon　the　barren　strand　where　he　had　first　met　with　the　sweet　child　he　loved。　　He　lived　again　his　life　of　usefulness　and　honour。　　He　saw　himself　working　at　the　boat；　embarking；　and　putting　out　to　sea。　　The　fair　head　of　the　innocent　girl　was　again　pillowed　on　his　breast；　her　young　lips　again　murmured　words　of　affection　in　his　greedy　ear。　　Frere　was　beside　him；　watching　him；　as　he　had　watched　before。　　Once　again　the　grey　sea　spread　around　him；　barren　of　succour。　Once　again；　in　the　wild；　wet　morning；　he　beheld　the　American　brig　bearing　down　upon　them；　and　saw　the　bearded　faces　of　the　astonished　crew。　　He　saw　Frere　take　the　child　in　his　arms　and　mount　upon　the　deck；　he　heard　the　shout　of　delight　　that　went　up；　and　pressed　again　the　welcoming　hands　which　greeted　the　rescued　castaways。　　The　deck　was　crowded。　　All　the　folk　he　had　ever　known　were　there。　　He　saw　the　white　hair　and　stern　features　of　Sir　Richard　Devine；　and　beside　him　stood；　wringing　her　thin　hands；　his　weeping　mother。　Then　Frere　strode　forward；　and　after　him　John　Rex；　the　convict；　who；　roughly　elbowing　through　the　crowd　of　prisoners　and　gaolers；　would　have　reached　the　spot　where　stood　Sir　Richard　Devine；　but　that　the　corpse　of　the　murdered　Lord　Bellasis　arose　and　thrust　him　back。　　How　the　hammers　clattered　in　the　shipbuilder's　yard！　Was　it　a　coffin　they　were　making？　Not　for　Sylviasurely　not　for　her！　　The　air　grows　heavy；　lurid　with　flame；　and　black　with　smoke。　　The　Hydaspes　is　on　fire！　　Sylvia　clings　to　her　husband。　Base　wretch；　would　you　shake　her　off！　　Look　up；　the　midnight　heaven　is　glittering　with　stars；　above　the　smoke　the　air　breathes　delicately！　One　stepanother！　　Fix　your　eyes　on　minesoto　my　heart！　　Alas！　she　turns；　he　catches　at　her　dress。　　What！　　It　is　a　priesta　priestwho；　smiling　with　infernal　joy；　would　drag　her　to　the　flaming　gulf　that　yawns　for　him。　　The　dreamer　leaps　at　the　wretch's　throat；　and　crying；　〃Villain；　was　it　for　this　fate　I　saved　her？〃and　awakes　to　find　himself　struggling　with　the　monster　of　his　dream；　the　idol　of　his　waking　senses〃Mr。　North。〃　



North；　paralysed　no　less　by　the　suddenness　of　the　attack　than　by　the　words　with　which　it　was　accompanied；　let　fall　his　cloak；　and　stood　trembling　before　the　prophetic　accusation　of　the　man　whose　curses　he　had　come　to　earn。

〃I　was　dreaming；〃　said　Rufus　Dawes。　　〃A　terrible　dream！　　But　it　has　passed　now。　The　messageyou　have　brought　me　a　message；　have　you　not？　　Whywhat　ails　you？　You　are　paleyour　knees　tremble。　　Did　my　violence？〃

North　recovered　himself　with　a　great　effort。　　〃It　is　nothing。　　Let　us　talk；　for　my　time　is　short。　　You　have　thought　me　a　good　manone　blessed　of　God；　one　consecrated　to　a　holy　service；　a　man　honest；　pure；　and　truthful。　I　have　returned　to　tell　you　the　truth。　　I　am　none　of　these　things。〃　Rufus　Dawes　sat　staring；　unable　to　comprehend　this　madness。　　〃I　told　you　that　the　woman　you　lovedfor　you　do　love　hersent　you　a　message　of　forgiveness。　　I　lied。〃

〃What！〃

　〃I　never　told　her　of　your　confession。　　I　never　mentioned　your　name　to　her。〃

〃And　she　will　go　without　knowingOh；　Mr。　North；　what　have　you　done？〃

〃Wrecked　my　own　soul！〃　cried　North；　wildly；　stung　by　the　reproachful　agony　of　the　tone。　　〃Do　not　cling　to　me。　　My　task　is　done。　　You　will　hate　me　now。　That　is　my　wishI　merit　it。　　Let　me　go；　I　say。　　I　shall　be　too　late。〃

〃Too　late！　　For　what？〃　He　looked　at　the　cloakthrough　the　open　window　came　the　voices　of　the　men　in　the　boatthe　memory　of　the　rose；　of　the　scene　in　the　prison；　flashed　across　him；　and　he　understood　it　all。

〃Great　Heaven；　you　go　together！〃

〃Let　me　go；〃　repeated　North；　in　a　hoarse　voice。

Rufus　Dawes　stepped　between　him　and　the　door。　　〃No；　madman；　I　will　not　let　you　go；　to　do　this　great　wrong；　to　kill　this　innocent　young　soul；　whoGod　help　herloves　you！〃　　North；　confounded　at　this　sudden　reversal　of　their　position　towards　each　other；　crouched　bewildered　against　the　wall。　〃I　say　you　shall　not　go！　　You　shall　not　destroy　your　own　soul　and　hers！　You　love　her！　　So　do　I！　and　my　love　is　mightier　than　yours；　for　it　shall　save　her！〃

〃In　God's　name〃　cried　the　unhappy　priest；　striving　to　stop　his　ears。

〃Ay；　in　God's　name！　　In　the　name　of　that　God　whom　in　my　torments　I　had　forgotten！　　In　the　name　of　that　God　whom　you　taught　me　to　remember！　That　God　who　sent　you　to　save　me　from　despair；　gives　me　strength　to　save　you　in　my　turn！　　Oh；　Mr。　Northmy　teachermy　friendmy　brotherby　the　sweet　hope　of　mercy　which　you　preached　to　me；　be　merciful　to　this　erring　woman！〃

North　lifted　agonized　eyes。　　〃But　I　love　her！　　Love　her；　do　you　hear？　What　do　you　know　of　love？〃

〃Love！〃　cried　Rufus　Dawes；　his　pale　face　radiant。　　〃Love！　Oh；　it　is　you　who　do　not　know　it。　　Love　is　the　sacrifice　of　self；　the　death　of　all　desire　that　is　not　for　another's　good。　　Love　is　Godlike！　　You　love？no；　no；　your　love　is　selfishness；　and　will　end　in　shame！　　Listen；　I　will　tell　you　the　history　of　such　a　love　as　yours。〃

North；　enthralled　by　the　other's　overmastering　will；　fell　back　trembling。

〃I　will　tell　you　the　secret　of　my　life；　the　reason　why　I　am　here。　Come　closer。〃


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CHAPTER　XV。

THE　DISCOVERY。



The　house　in　Clarges　Street　was　duly　placed　at　the　disposal　of　Mrs。　Richard　Devine；　who　was　installed　in　it；　to　the　profound　astonishment　and　disgust　of　Mr。　Smithers　and　his　fellow…servants。　　It　now　only　remained　that　the　lady　should　be　formally　recognized　by　Lady　Devine。　　The　rest　of　the　ingenious　programme　would　follow　as　a　matter　of　course。　John　Rex　was　well　aware　of　the　position　which；　in　his　assumed　personality；　he　occupied　in　society。　　He　knew　that　by　the　world　of　servants；　of　waiters；　of　those　to　whom　servants　and　waiters　could　babble；　of　such　turfites　and　men…about…town　as　had　reason　to　inquire　concerning　Mr。　Richard's　domestic　affairsno　opinion　could　be　expressed；　save　that　〃Devine's　married　somebody；　I　hear；〃　with　variations　to　the　same　effect。　　He　knew　well　that　the　really　great　world；　the　Society；　whose　scandal　would　have　been　socially　injurious；　had　long　ceased　to　trouble　itself　with　Mr。　Richard　Devine's　doings　in　any　particular。　　If　it　had　been　reported　that　the　Leviathan　of　the　Turf　had　married　his　washerwoman；　Society　would　only　have　intimated　that　〃it　was　just　what　might　have　been　expected　of　him〃。　　To　say　the　truth；　however；　Mr。　Richard　had　rather　hoped　thatdisgusted　at　his　brutalityLady　Devine　would　have　nothing　more　to　do　with　him；　and　that　the　ordeal　of　presenting　his　wife　would　not　be　necessary。　　Lady　Devine；　however；　had　resolved　on　a　different　line　of　conduct。　The　intelligence　concerning　Mr。　Richard　Devine's　threatened　proceedings　seemed　to　nerve　her　to　the　confession　of　the　dislike　which　had　been　long　growing　in　her　mind；　seemed　even　to　aid　the　formation　of　those　doubts；　the　shadows　of　which　had　now　and　then　cast　themselves　upon　her　belief　in　the　identity　of　the　man　who　called　himself　her　son。　　〃His　conduct　is　brutal；〃　said　she　to　her　brother。　　〃I　cannot　understand　it。〃

　〃It　is　more　than　brutal；　it　is　unnatural；〃　returned　Francis　Wade；　　and　stole　a　look　at　her。　　〃Moreover；　he　is　married。〃

〃Married！〃　cried　Lady　Devine。

〃So　he　says；〃　continued　the　other；　producing　the　letter　sent　to　him　by　Rex　at　Sarah's　dictation。　　〃He　writes　to　me　stating　that　his　wife；　whom　he　married　last　year　abroad；　has　come　to　England；　and　wishes　us　to　receive　her。〃

〃I　will　not　receive　her！〃　cried　Lady　Devine；　rising　and　pacing　down　the　path。

〃But　that　would　be　a　declaration　of　war；〃　said　poor　Francis；　twisting　an　Italian　onyx　which　adorned　his　irresolute　hand。　　〃I　would　not　advise　that。〃

Lady　Devine　stopped　suddenly；　with　the　gesture　of　one　who　has　finally　made　a　difficult　and　long…considered　resolution。　　〃Richard　shall　not　sell　this　house；〃　she　said。

〃But；　my　dear　Ellinor；〃　cried　her　brother；　in　some　alarm　at　this　unwonted　decision；　〃I　am　afraid　that　you　can't　prevent　him。〃

〃If　he　is　the　man　he　says　he　is；　I　can；〃　returned　she；　with　effort。

Francis　Wade　gasped。　　〃If　he　is　the　man！　It　is　trueI　have　sometimes　thoughtOh；　Ellinor；　can　it　be　that　we　have　been　deceived？〃

She　came　to　him　and　leant　upon　him　for　support；　as　she　had　leant　upon　her　son　in　the　garden　where　they　now　stood；　nineteen　years　ago。　　〃I　do　not　know；　I　am　afraid　to　think。　　But　between　Richard　and　myself　is　a　secreta　shameful　secret；　Frank；　known　to　no　other　living　person。　　If　the　man　who　threatens　me　does　not　know　that　secret；　he　is　not　my　son。　　If　he　does　know　it〃

〃Well；　in　Heaven's　name；　what　then？〃

〃He　knows　that　he　has　neither　part　nor　lot　in　the　fortune　of　the　man　who　was　my　husband。〃

〃Ellinor；　you　terrify　me。　　What　does　this　mean？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　if　there　be　need　to　do　so；〃　said　the　unhappy　lady。　〃But　I　cannot　now。　　I　never　meant　to　speak　of　it　again；　even　to　him。　Consider　that　it　is　hard　to　break　a　silence　of　nearly　twenty　years。　Write　to　this　man；　and　tell　him　that　before　I　receive　his　wife；　I　wish　to　see　him　alone。　　Nodo　not　let　him　come　here　until　the　truth　be　known。　　I　will　go　to　him。〃

It　was　with　some　trepidation　that　Mr。　Richard；　sitting　with　his　wife　on　the　afternoon　of　the　3rd　May；　1846；　awaited　the　arrival　of　his　mother。　He　had　been　very　nervous　and　unstrung　for　some　days　past；　and　the　prospect　of　the　coming　interview　was；　for　some　reason　he　could　not　explain　to　himself；　weighty　with　fears。　　〃What　does　she　want　to　come　alone　for？　　And　what　can　she　have　to　say？〃　he　asked　himself。　　〃She　cannot　suspect　anything　after　all　these　years；　surely？〃　　He　endeavoured　to　reason　with　himself；　but　in　vain；　the　knock　at　the　door　which　announced　the　arrival　of　his　pretended　mother　made　his　heart　jump。

〃I　feel　deuced　shaky；　Sarah；〃　he　said。　　〃Let's　have　a　nip　of　something。〃

〃You'