little novels-第15章

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while；　and　tried　again。　This　time　Adela's　voice　answered　strangely　from　the　shrubbery　in　tones　of　surprise：　〃Edwin；　is　it　really　you？〃

〃Did　you　expect　any　one　else？〃　Cosway　asked。　〃My　darling；　your　message　said　ten　o'clockand　here　I　am。　〃

The　door　was　suddenly　unlocked。

〃I　sent　no　message；〃　said　Adela；　as　they　confronted　each　other　on　the　threshold。

In　the　silence　of　utter　bewilderment　they　went　together　into　the　summer…house。　At　Adela's　request；　Cosway　repeated　the　message　that　he　had　received；　and　described　the　woman　who　had　delivered　it。　The　description　applied　to　no　person　known　to　Miss　Restall。　〃Mrs。　Margery　never　sent　you　the　invitation；　and　I　repeat；　I　never　sent　you　the　message。　This　meeting　has　been　arranged　by　some　one　who　knows　that　I　always　walk　in　the　shrubbery　after　breakfast。　There　is　some　underhand　work　going　on〃

Still　mentally　in　search　of　the　enemy　who　had　betrayed　them；　she　checked　herself；　and　considered　a　little。　〃Is　it　possible？〃　she　began；　and　paused　again。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃My　mind　is　so　completely　upset；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　can't　think　clearly　of　anything。　Oh；　Edwin；　we　have　had　a　happy　dream；　and　it　has　come　to　an　end。　My　father　knows　more　than　we　think　for。　Some　friends　of　ours　are　going　abroad　tomorrowand　I　am　to　go　with　them。　Nothing　I　can　say　has　the　least　effect　upon　my　father。　He　means　to　part　us　foreverand　this　is　his　cruel　way　of　doing　it！〃

She　put　her　arm　round　Cosway's　neck　and　lovingly　laid　her　head　on　his　shoulder。　With　tenderest　kisses　they　reiterated　their　vows　of　eternal　fidelity　until　their　voices　faltered　and　failed　them。　Cosway　filled　up　the　pause　by　the　only　useful　suggestion　which　it　was　now　in　his　power　to　makehe　proposed　an　elopement。

Adela　received　this　bold　solution　of　the　difficulty　in　which　they　were　placed　exactly　as　thousands　of　other　young　ladies　have　received　similar　proposals　before　her　time；　and　after。

She　first　said　positively　No。　Cosway　persisted。　She　began　to　cry；　and　asked　if　he　had　no　respect　for　her。　Cosway　declared　that　his　respect　was　equal　to　any　sacrifice　except　the　sacrifice　of　parting　with　her　forever。　He　could；　and　would；　if　she　preferred　it；　die　for　her；　but　while　he　was　alive　he　must　refuse　to　give　her　up。　Upon　this　she　shifted　her　ground。　Did　he　expect　her　to　go　away　with　him　alone？　Certainly　not。　Her　maid　could　go　with　her；　or；　if　her　maid　was　not　to　be　trusted；　he　would　apply　to　his　landlady；　and　engage　〃a　respectable　elderly　person〃　to　attend　on　her　until　the　day　of　their　marriage。　Would　she　have　some　mercy　on　him；　and　just　consider　it？　No：　she　was　afraid　to　consider　it。　Did　she　prefer　misery　for　the　rest　of　her　life？　Never　mind　_his_　happiness：　it　was　_her_　happiness　only　that　he　had　in　his　mind。　Traveling　with　unsympathetic　people；　absent　from　England；　no　one　could　say　for　how　long；　married；　when　she　did　return；　to　some　rich　man　whom　she　hatedwould　she；　could　she；　contemplate　that　prospect？　She　contemplated　it　through　tears；　she　contemplated　it　to　an　accompaniment　of　sighs；　kisses；　and　protestationsshe　trembled；　hesitated；　gave　way。　At　an　appointed　hour　of　the　coming　night；　when　her　father　would　be　in　the　smoking…room；　and　Mrs。　Margery　would　be　in　bed；　Cosway　was　to　knock　at　the　door　in　the　lane　once　more；　leaving　time　to　make　all　the　necessary　arrangements　in　the　interval。

The　one　pressing　necessity；　under　these　circumstances；　was　to　guard　against　the　possibility　of　betrayal　and　surprise。　Cosway　discreetly　alluded　to　the　unsolved　mysteries　of　the　invitation　and　the　message。　〃Have　you　taken　anybody　into　our　confidence？〃　he　asked。

Adela　answered　with　some　embarrassment。　〃Only　one　person；〃　She　said〃dear　Miss　Benshaw。〃

〃Who　is　Miss　Benshaw？〃

〃Don't　you　really　know；　Edwin？　She　is　richer　even　than　papashe　has　inherited　from　her　late　brother　one　half…share　in　the　great　business　in　the　City。　Miss　Benshaw　is　the　lady　who　disappointed　papa　by　not　coming　to　the　garden…party。　You　remember；　dear；　how　happy　we　were　when　we　were　together　at　Mr。　Atherton's？　I　was　very　miserable　when　they　took　me　away。　Miss　Benshaw　happened　to　call　the　next　day　and　she　noticed　it。　'My　dear；'　she　said　（Miss　Benshaw　is　quite　an　elderly　lady　now）；　'I　am　an　old　maid；　who　has　missed　the　happiness　of　her　life；　through　not　having　had　a　friend　to　guide　and　advise　her　when　she　was　young。　Are　you　suffering　as　I　once　suffered？'　She　spoke　so　nicelyand　I　was　so　wretchedthat　I　really　couldn't　help　it。　I　opened　my　heart　to　her。〃

Cosway　looked　grave。　〃Are　you　sure　she　is　to　be　trusted？〃　he　asked。

〃Perfectly　sure。〃

〃Perhaps；　my　love；　she　has　spoken　about　us　（not　meaning　any　harm）　to　some　friend　of　hers？　Old　ladies　are　so　fond　of　gossip。　It's　just　possibledon't　you　think　so？〃

Adela　hung　her　head。

〃I　have　thought　it　just　possible　myself；〃　she　admitted。　〃There　is　plenty　of　time　to　call　on　her　to…day。　I　will　set　our　doubts　at　rest　before　Miss　Benshaw　goes　out　for　her　afternoon　drive。〃

On　that　understanding　they　parted。

Toward　evening　Cosway's　arrangements　for　the　elopement　were　completed。　He　was　eating　his　solitary　dinner　when　a　note　was　brought　to　him。　It　had　been　left　at　the　door　by　a　messenger。　The　man　had　gone　away　without　waiting　for　an　answer。　The　note　ran　thus：

〃Miss　Benshaw　presents　her　compliments　to　Mr。　Cosway；　and　will　be　obliged　if　he　can　call　on　her　at　nine　o'clock　this　evening；　on　business　which　concerns　himself。〃

This　invitation　was　evidently　the　result　of　Adela's　visit　earlier　in　the　day。　Cosway　presented　himself　at　the　house；　troubled　by　natural　emotions　of　anxiety　and　suspense。　His　reception　was　not　of　a　nature　to　compose　him。　He　was　shown　into　a　darkened　room。　The　one　lamp　on　the　table　was　turned　down　low；　and　the　little　light　thus　given　was　still　further　obscured　by　a　shade。　The　corners　of　the　room　were　in　almost　absolute　darkness。

A　voice　out　of　one　of　the　corners　addressed　him　in　a　whisper：

〃I　must　beg　you　to　excuse　the　darkened　room。　I　am　suffering　from　a　severe　cold。　My　eyes　are　inflamed；　and　my　throat　is　so　bad　that　I　can　only　speak　in　a　whisper。　Sit　down；　sir。　I　have　got　news　for　you　。〃

〃Not　bad　news；　I　hope；　ma'am？〃　Cosway　ventured　to　inquire。

〃The　worst　possible　news；〃　said　the　whispering　voice。　〃You　have　an　enemy　striking　at　you　in　the　dark。〃

Cosway　asked　who　it　was；　and　received　no　answer。　He　varied　the　form　of　inquiry；　and　asked　why　the　unnamed　person　struck　at　him　in　the　dark。　The　experiment　succeeded；　he　obtained　a　reply。

〃It　is　reported　to　me；〃　said　Miss　Benshaw；　〃that　the　person　thinks　it　necessary　to　give　you　a　lesson；　and　takes　a　spiteful　pleasure　in　doing　it　as　mischievously　as　possible。　The　person；　as　I　happen　to　know；　sent　you　your　invitation　to　the　party；　and　made　the　appointment　which　took　you　to　the　door　in　the　lane。　Wait　a　little；　sir；　I　have　not　done　yet。　The　person　has　put　it　into　Mr。　Restall's　head　to　send　his　daughter　abroad　tomorrow。

Cosway　attempted　to　make　her　speak　more　plainly。

〃Is　this　wretch　　a　man　or　a　woman？〃　he　said。

Miss　Benshaw　proceeded　without　noticing　the　interruption。

〃You　needn't　be　afraid；　Mr。　Cosway；　Miss　Restall　will　not　leave　England。　Your　enemy　is　all…powerful。　Your　enemy's　object　could　only　be　to　provoke　you　into　planning　an　elopementand；　your　arrangements　once　completed；　to　inform　Mr。　Restall；　and　to　part　you　and　Miss　Adela　quite　as　effectually　as　if　you　were　at　opposite　ends　of　the　world。　Oh；　you　will　undoubtedly　be　parted！　Spiteful；　isn't　it？　And；　what　is　worse；　the　mischief　is　as　good　as　done　already。〃

Cosway　rose　from　his　chair。

〃Do　you　wish　for　any　further　explanation？〃　asked　Miss　Benshaw。

〃One　thing　more；〃　he　replied。　〃Does　Adela　know　of　this？〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Benshaw；　〃it　is　left　to　you　to　tell　her。〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Cosway　looked　at　the　lamp。　Once　roused；　as　usual　with　men　of　his　character；　his　temper　was　not　to　be　trifled　with。

〃Miss　Benshaw；〃　he　said；　〃I　dare　say　you　think　me　a　fool；　but　I　can　draw　my　own　conclusion；　for　all　that。　_You_　are　my　enemy。〃

The　only　reply　was　a　chuckling　laugh。　All　voices　can　be　more　or　less　effectually　disguised　by　a　whisper　but　a　laugh　carries　the　revelation　of　its　own　identity　with　it。　Cosway　suddenly　threw　off　the　shade　over　the　lamp　and　turned　up　the　wick。

The　light　flooded　the　room；　and　showed　him　His　Wife。


_The　Third　Epoch　in　Mr。　Cosway's　Life。_

Three　days　had　passed。　Cosway　sat　alone　in　his　lodgingpale　and　worn：　the　shadow　already　of　his　former　self。

He　had　not　seen　Adela　since　the　discovery。　There　was　but　one　way　in　which　he　could　venture　to　make　the　inevitable　disclosurehe　wrote　to　her；　and　Mr。　Atherton's　daughter　took　care　that　the　letter　should　be　received。　Inquiries　made　afterward；　by　help　of　the　same　good　friend；　informed　him　that　Miss　Restall　was　suffering　from　illness。

The　mistress　of　the　house　came　in。

〃Cheer　up；　sir；　〃　said　the　good　woman。　〃There　is　better　news　of　Miss　Restall　to…day。〃

He　raised　his　head。

〃Don't　trifle　with　me！〃　he　answered　fretfully；　〃tell　me　exactly　what　the　servant　said。〃

The　mistress　repeated　the　words。　Miss　Restall　had　passed　a　quieter　night；　and　had　been　able　for　a　few　hours　to　leave　her　room。　He　asked　next　if　any　reply　to　his　letter　had　arrived。　No　reply　had　been　received。

If　Adela　definitely　abstained　from　writing　to　him；　the　conclusion　would　be　too　plain　to　be　mistaken。　She　had　given　him　upand　who　could　blame　her？

There　was　a　knock　at　the　street…door。　The　mistress　looked　out。

〃Here's　Mr。　Stone　come　back；　sir！〃　she　exclaimed　joyfullyand　hurried　away　to　let　him　in。

Cosway　never　looked　up　when　his　friend　appeared。

〃I　knew　I　should　succeed；〃　said　Stone。　〃I　have　seen　your　wife。〃

〃Don't　speak　of　her；〃　cried　Cosway。　〃I　should　have　murdered　her　when　I　saw　her　face；　if　I　had　not　instantly　left　the　house。　I　may　be　the　death　of　the　wretch　yet；　if　you　presist　in　speaking　of　her！〃

Stone　put　his　hand　kindly　on　his　friend's　shoulder。

〃Must　I　remind　you　that　you　owe　something　to　your　old　comrade？〃　he　asked。　〃I　left　my　father　and　mother；　the　morning　I　got　your　letter　and　my　one　thought　has　been　to　serve　you。　Reward　me。　Be　a　man；　and　hear　what　is　your　right　and　duty　to　know。　After　that；　if　you　like；　we　will　never　refer　to　the　woman　again。〃

Cosway　took　his　hand；　in　silent　acknowledgment　that　he　was　right。　They　sat　down　together。　Stone　began。

〃She　is　so　entirely　shameless；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　had　no　difficulty　in　getting　her　to　speak。　And　she　so　cordially　hates　you　that　she　glories　in　her　own　falsehood　and　treachery。〃

〃Of　course；　she　lies；〃　Cosway　said　bitterly；　〃when　she　calls　herself　Miss　Benshaw？〃

〃No；　she　is　really　the　daughter　of　the　man　who　founded　the　great　house　in　the　City。　With　every　advantage　that　wealth　and　position　could　give　her　the　perverse　creature　married　one　of　her　father's　clerks；　who　had　been　deservedly　dismissed　from　his　situation。　From　that　moment　her　family　discarded　her。　With　the　money　procured　by　the　sale　of　her　jewels；　her　husband　took　the　inn　which　we　have　such　bitter　cause　to　rememberand　she　managed　the　house　after　his　death。　So　much　for　the　past。　Carry　your　mind　on　now　to　the　time　when　our　ship　brought　us　back　to　England。　At　that　date；　the　last　surviving　member　of　your　wife's　familyher　elder　brotherlay　at　the　point　of　death。　He　had　taken　his　father's　place　in　the　b