°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the darrow enigma >

µÚ37ÕÂ

the darrow enigma-µÚ37ÕÂ

С˵£º the darrow enigma ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



however£»¡¡Maitland¡¡steadily¡¡grew¡¡worse¡£¡¡¡¡Gwen¡¡watched¡¡by¡¡him¡¡night
and¡¡day¡¡until¡¡I¡¡was¡¡finally¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡insist£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡her
own¡¡health£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡sick¡¡room¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡take
the¡¡rest¡¡she¡¡so¡¡needed¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡feared¡¡lest¡¡I¡¡should¡¡soon¡¡have
two¡¡invalids¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡but¡¡Gwen¡¡yielded¡¡her¡¡place¡¡to¡¡Jeannette
and¡¡Alice¡¡during¡¡the¡¡nights¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡began¡¡to¡¡show¡¡the¡¡good¡¡effects
of¡¡sleep¡£

I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that£»¡¡during¡¡all¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡Jeannette¡¡was
staying¡¡with¡¡us¡¡as¡¡a¡¡guest¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡convinced¡¡her¡¡father¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was
best¡¡she¡¡should¡¡remain¡¡with¡¡us¡¡until¡¡the¡¡unpleasant¡¡notoriety¡¡caused
by¡¡his¡¡arrest¡¡had£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡measure£»¡¡subsided¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡too£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him
with¡¡a¡¡frankness¡¡warranted£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡by¡¡circumstances¡¡that¡¡he
could¡¡not¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡live¡¡many¡¡weeks¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡every¡¡effort
should¡¡be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡blow¡¡his¡¡death¡¡would¡¡deal¡¡Jeannette¡¡as
light¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡he¡¡almost¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡self¡­control¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨What
will¡¡become¡¡of¡¡my¡¡child¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am¡¡gone£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡moaned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡shall¡¡leave
her¡¡penniless¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡means¡¡of¡¡support¡£¡¨

¡¨My¡¡dear¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Latour£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨you¡¡need¡¡give¡¡yourself¡¡no
uneasiness¡¡on¡¡that¡¡score¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡give¡¡you¡¡my¡¡word£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of
honour£»¡¡that¡¡so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡Miss¡¡Darrow¡¡and¡¡I¡¡live¡¡we¡¡will¡¡see¡¡that¡¡your
daughter¡¡wants¡¡for¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡necessities¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡¡­¡¡unless¡¡she
shall¡¡find¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡a¡¡better¡¡right¡¡than¡¡either¡¡of¡¡us
to¡¡care¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡promise¡¡acted¡¡like¡¡magic¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He
showered¡¡his¡¡blessings¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡exclaiming£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡lifted¡¡a¡¡great
load¡¡from¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡can¡¡now¡¡die¡¡in¡¡peace£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡And¡¡so£»¡¡indeed£»
he¡¡did¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡week¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡prepared¡¡Jeannette
for¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡and¡¡so¡¡had¡¡her¡¡father£»¡¡but£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡this£»¡¡her¡¡grief
was¡¡intense£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡her¡¡father¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡love¡¡few
children¡¡give¡¡their¡¡parents¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡time£»¡¡however£»¡¡her¡¡grief¡¡grew¡¡less
insistent¡¡and¡¡she¡¡began¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡something¡¡of¡¡her¡¡old¡¡buoyancy¡£

In¡¡the¡¡meantime£»¡¡Maitland's¡¡life¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡hang¡¡by¡¡a¡¡single¡¡thread¡£
It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡very¡¡worst¡¡case¡¡of¡¡nervous¡¡prostration¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡been
called¡¡to¡¡combat£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡weeks¡¡we¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡contented¡¡if¡¡we¡¡enabled
him¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡all¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Gwen¡¡watched¡¡both
Maitland¡¡and¡¡myself¡¡with¡¡a¡¡closeness¡¡that¡¡suffered¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡escape
her¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡his¡¡condition¡¡better¡¡even¡¡than
I¡¡did¡£

And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡relate¡¡a¡¡most¡¡singular¡¡action¡¡on¡¡Gwen's¡¡part¡£¡¡¡¡I
doubt¡¡not¡¡most¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡sex¡¡would¡¡have¡¡considered¡¡it¡¡very
unfeminine£»¡¡but¡¡anyone¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡all¡¡as¡¡I¡¡did¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡I¡¡think£»
fail¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡the¡¡nobility¡¡of¡¡womanhood¡¡which¡¡made¡¡it¡¡possible¡£
Gwen¡¡was¡¡not¡¡dominated¡¡by¡¡those¡¡characteristics¡¡usually¡¡epitomised
in¡¡the¡¡epithet¡¡'lady¡£'¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡possessed£»¡¡in¡¡a
remarkable¡¡degree£»¡¡that¡¡fineness¡¡of¡¡fibre£»¡¡that¡¡solidity¡¡of
character£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡largeness¡¡of¡¡soul¡¡which¡¡rise¡¡above¡¡the¡¡petty
conventionalities¡¡of¡¡life¡¡into¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡realm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡real¡¡verities
of¡¡existence¡£

It¡¡occurred¡¡on¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡day¡¡that¡¡Maitland¡¡showed
the¡¡slightest¡¡improvement¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡distinctly¡¡how¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fallen
into¡¡a¡¡troubled¡¡sleep¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡would¡¡occasionally¡¡cry¡¡out¡¡in¡¡a
half¡­articulate¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡Gwen¡¡and¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡waiting¡¡for
him¡¡to¡¡awaken¡£¡¡¡¡Suddenly¡¡he¡¡said¡¡something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡sleep¡¡that¡¡riveted
our¡¡attention¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡Doc£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡muttered£»¡¡¡¨though¡¡love¡¡of¡¡her
burn¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡a¡¡cinder£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡never¡¡trade¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡gratitude£»
nor¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡profit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡she¡¡made¡¡her¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡Never£»¡¡so
help¡¡me¡¡God£¡¡¨

Gwen¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡one¡¡hurried£»¡¡sweeping¡¡glance¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡throwing¡¡herself
upon¡¡the¡¡sofa£»¡¡buried¡¡her¡¡face¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cushions¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡forbore¡¡to
disturb¡¡her¡¡till¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡Maitland¡¡was¡¡waking£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡laid¡¡my¡¡hand
upon¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡to¡¡dry¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡should¡¡notice¡¡her
tears¡£

¡¨May¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡him£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡resolution¡¡upon¡¡her
face¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡divine¡¡her¡¡thoughts£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡smiled¡¡at¡¡me¡¡through
her¡¡tears£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hesitancy¡¡in¡¡relying¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡judgment£»¡¡so
I¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡permission¡¡and¡¡started¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡room¡£

¡¨Please¡¡don't¡¡go£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡prefer¡¡you¡¡should¡¡hear
what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡I=20reseated¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡Gwen¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡the
bedside¡£¡¡¡¡Maitland¡¡was¡¡now¡¡awake¡¡and¡¡following¡¡her¡¡every¡¡motion¡£

¡¨I¡¡have¡¡something¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡him¡£
¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡feel¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡listen£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡she
continued¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡already¡¡done¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡come
to¡¡you¡¡now¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡a¡¡further¡¡favour£»¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡say¡¡a¡¡sacrifice
¡­¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rest¡£¡¡¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡try¡¡to¡¡grant¡¡it£¿¡¨

The¡¡rich£»¡¡deep¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡her¡¡voice£»¡¡vibrant¡¡with¡¡tender¡¡earnestness£»
seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡irresistible¡£

¡¨I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡my¡¡power£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡invalid¡¡replied£»¡¡never¡¡once
moving¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡hers¡£

¡¨Then¡¡Heaven¡¡grant¡¡it¡¡be¡¡within¡¡your¡¡power£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡murmured£»¡¡scarcely
above¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Try¡¡not¡¡to¡¡despise¡¡me¡¡for¡¡what¡¡I¡¡am¡¡about¡¡to¡¡say¡£
Be¡¡lenient¡¡in¡¡your¡¡judgment¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡happiness£»¡¡perhaps¡¡my¡¡very¡¡life£»
depends¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡issue¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡love¡¡you¡¡more¡¡than¡¡life£»¡¡try¡¡to¡¡love¡¡me£»
if¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little£¡¡¨

I¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡this¡¡declaration¡¡with¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡anxiety¡£
For¡¡fully¡¡half¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡Maitland¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡his
senses¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡pinch¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡awake£»¡¡and¡¡being
thus¡¡reassured£»¡¡he¡¡said¡¡slowly£º¡¡¡¨Try¡¡¡­¡¡to¡¡¡­¡¡love¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡vain
have¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡not¡¡to¡¡love¡¡you¡¡from¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡first¡¡saw¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Oh£»
my¡¡God£¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡I¡¡adore¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡reached¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡out¡¡toward¡¡her£»¡¡and£»
in¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡locked¡¡in¡¡each¡¡other's¡¡embrace¡£

I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡first¡¡kiss¡¡given¡¡and¡¡then¡¡stole¡¡stealthily¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room¡£
There¡¡was¡¡now¡¡no¡¡need¡¡of¡¡a¡¡doctor¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡weird£»¡¡irresistible¡¡alchemy
of¡¡love¡¡was¡¡at¡¡work¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡medicine¡¡was¡¡over¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not
wish¡¡to¡¡dim¡¡the¡¡newly¡¡found¡¡light¡¡by¡¡my¡¡shadow£»¡¡and£»¡¡¡­¡¡well£»¡¡¡­¡¡I
wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Jeannette£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡left¡£

I¡¡need¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡bachelor£»¡¡how¡¡fast
Maitland¡¡improved¡£¡¡¡¡Gwen¡¡would¡¡permit¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡to¡¡nurse¡¡him£»¡¡and
this¡¡had¡¡much¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rapidity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡recovery¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡month
he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡another¡¡month¡¡Gwen¡¡became¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Maitland¡£
A¡¡happier¡¡pair£»¡¡or¡¡one¡¡better¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡never
been¡¡my¡¡privilege¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡visited¡¡them¡¡in¡¡their¡¡new¡¡home¡¡I
became¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡dissatisfied¡¡with¡¡bachelor¡¡existence£»¡¡and¡¡there
were¡¡times¡¡when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡go¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡Jeannette¡¡and
ask¡¡her¡¡advice¡¡in¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡Ah£»¡¡those¡¡days£¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡will¡¡never¡¡come
to¡¡me¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Never¡¡again¡¡will¡¡a¡¡pink¡¡and¡¡white¡¡angel¡¡knock¡¡so¡¡loudly
at¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡or¡¡be¡¡so¡¡warmly¡¡welcomed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡where¡¡she¡¡is¡¡and¡¡if
she¡¡is¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡me¡£


And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡may¡¡as¡¡well¡¡stop£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡narrative¡¡is¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡hear
someone¡¡coming¡¡along¡¡the¡¡hail£»¡¡doubtless¡¡after¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡only
Harold£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡may¡¡add¡¡a¡¡word¡¡or¡¡two¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡writing¡¡now¡¡with
difficulty£»¡¡for¡¡some¡¡frolicsome¡¡individual¡¡has¡¡placed¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡over
my¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨Guess¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡can¡¡just¡¡see¡¡to¡¡write¡¡between¡¡the
fingers¡£¡¡¡¡Again¡¡I¡¡am¡¡commanded£»¡¡¡¨¡¡Guess£¡¡¨¡¡so¡¡I¡¡say¡¡carelessly£»
¡¨Alice¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡would¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡it£»¡¡someone¡¡kisses¡¡me¡¡and
says£º¡¡¡¨Will¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡have¡¡done¡¡with¡¡that¡¡writing£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡children
wish¡¡me¡¡to¡¡inform¡¡you¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have¡¡some¡¡small¡¡claim¡¡upon¡¡your
time¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡You¡¡see¡¡how¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡stop£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡say£»¡¡as¡¡becomes
an¡¡obedient¡¡gentleman£º¡¡¡¨Very¡¡well£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡quit¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡condition¡£
I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡wondering¡¡where¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡you¡¡were¡£¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you
have¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡with¡¡yourself¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡repeating¡¡in¡¡retrospect
all¡¡the¡¡horrors¡¡of¡¡bachelordom¡£¡¨

¡¨Why£»¡¡Ned¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡replies£»¡¡¡¨I've¡¡only¡¡been¡¡down¡­town
shopping¡¡for¡¡Harold¡¡and¡¡little¡¡Jeannette¡£¡¡¡¡Bless¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡think
I'd¡¡been¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡year£¡¡¨

¡¨Bless¡¡you£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡Jeannette£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡reply£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡you¡¡had£»¡¨
and¡¡I¡¡draw¡¡her¡¡down¡¡gently¡¡into¡¡my¡¡lap¡¡and¡¡kiss¡¡her¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again
for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conviction¡¡it¡¡will¡¡carry¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡says¡¡I¡¡am
smothering¡¡her£»¡¡which¡¡means¡¡she¡¡is¡¡convinced¡£


You¡¡see¡¡I¡¡have¡¡learned¡¡some¡¡things¡¡since¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bachelor¡£







End¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ