little novels-第4章

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y。　When　I　turned　toward　the　Gardens；　he　dropped　behind　me。　In　a　little　while　I　looked　back。　He　was　following　me　no　longer；　he　stood　irresolute。　I　called　to　him。　He　advanced　a　few　stepshesitatedand　ran　back　to　the　house。

I　went　on　by　myself。　Shall　I　confess　my　superstition？　I　thought　the　dog's　desertion　of　me　a　bad　omen。

Arrived　at　the　tree；　I　placed　myself　under　it。　The　minutes　followed　each　other　uneventfully。　The　cloudy　sky　darkened。　The　dull　surface　of　the　grass　showed　no　shuddering　consciousness　of　an　unearthly　creature　passing　over　it。

I　still　waited；　with　an　obstinacy　which　was　fast　becoming　the　obstinacy　of　despair。　How　long　an　interval　elapsed；　while　I　kept　watch　on　the　ground　before　me；　I　am　not　able　to　say。　I　only　know　that　a　change　came。

Under　the　dull　gray　light　I　saw　the　grass　movebut　not　as　it　had　moved；　on　the　day　before。　It　shriveled　as　if　a　flame　had　scorched　it。　No　flame　appeared。　The　brown　underlying　earth　showed　itself　winding　onward　in　a　thin　stripwhich　might　have　been　a　footpath　traced　in　fire。　It　frightened　me。　I　longed　for　the　protection　of　the　Invisible　Presence。　I　prayed　for　a　warning　of　it；　if　danger　was　near。

A　touch　answered　me。　It　was　as　if　a　hand　unseen　had　taken　my　handhad　raised　it；　little　by　littlehad　left　it；　pointing　to　the　thin　brown　path　that　wound　toward　me　under　the　shriveled　blades　of　grass。

I　looked　to　the　far　end　of　the　path。

The　unseen　hand　closed　on　my　hand　with　a　warning　pressure：　the　revelation　of　the　coming　danger　was　near　meI　waited　for　it。　I　saw　it。

The　figure　of　a　man　appeared；　advancing　toward　me　along　the　thin　brown　path。　I　looked　in　his　face　as　he　came　nearer。　It　showed　me　dimly　the　face　of　my　husband's　brotherJohn　Zant。

The　consciousness　of　myself　as　a　living　creature　left　me。　I　knew　nothing；　I　felt　nothing。　I　was　dead。

When　the　torture　of　revival　made　me　open　my　eyes；　I　found　myself　on　the　grass。　Gentle　hands　raised　my　head；　at　the　moment　when　I　recovered　my　senses。　Who　had　brought　me　to　life　again？　Who　was　taking　care　of　me？

I　looked　upward；　and　sawbending　over　meJohn　Zant。

VII。

THERE；　the　manuscript　ended。

Some　lines　had　been　added　on　the　last　page；　but　they　had　been　so　carefully　erased　as　to　be　illegible。　These　words　of　explanation　appeared　below　the　canceled　sentences：

〃I　had　begun　to　write　the　little　that　remains　to　be　told；　when　it　struck　me　that　I　might；　unintentionally；　be　exercising　an　unfair　influence　on　your　opinion。　Let　me　only　remind　you　that　I　believe　absolutely　in　the　supernatural　revelation　which　I　have　endeavored　to　describe。　Remember　thisand　decide　for　me　what　I　dare　not　decide　for　myself。〃

There　was　no　serious　obstacle　in　the　way　of　compliance　with　this　request。

Judged　from　the　point　of　view　of　the　materialist；　Mrs。　Zant　might　no　doubt　be　the　victim　of　illusions　（produced　by　a　diseased　state　of　the　nervous　system）；　which　have　been　known　to　existas　in　the　celebrated　case　of　the　book…seller；　Nicolai；　of　Berlinwithout　being　accompanied　by　derangement　of　the　intellectual　powers。　But　Mr。　Rayburn　was　not　asked　to　solve　any　such　intricate　problem　as　this。　He　had　been　merely　instructed　to　read　the　manuscript；　and　to　say　what　impression　it　had　left　on　him　of　the　mental　condition　of　the　writer；　whose　doubt　of　herself　had　been；　in　all　probability；　first　suggested　by　remembrance　of　the　illness　from　which　she　had　sufferedbrain…fever。

Under　these　circumstances；　there　could　be　little　difficulty　in　forming　an　opinion。　The　memory　which　had　recalled；　and　the　judgment　which　had　arranged；　the　succession　of　events　related　in　the　narrative；　revealed　a　mind　in　full　possession　of　its　resources。

Having　satisfied　himself　so　far；　Mr。　Rayburn　abstained　from　considering　the　more　serious　question　suggested　by　what　he　had　read。

At　any　time　his　habits　of　life　and　his　ways　of　thinking　would　have　rendered　him　unfit　to　weigh　the　arguments；　which　assert　or　deny　supernatural　revelation　among　the　creatures　of　earth。　But　his　mind　was　now　so　disturbed　by　the　startling　record　of　experience　which　he　had　just　read；　that　he　was　only　conscious　of　feeling　certain　impressionswithout　possessing　the　capacity　to　reflect　on　them。　That　his　anxiety　on　Mrs。　Zant's　account　had　been　increased；　and　that　his　doubts　of　Mr。　John　Zant　had　been　encouraged；　were　the　only　practical　results　of　the　confidence　placed　in　him　of　which　he　was　thus　far　aware。　In　the　ordinary　exigencies　of　life　a　man　of　hesitating　disposition；　his　interest　in　Mrs。　Zant's　welfare；　and　his　desire　to　discover　what　had　passed　between　her　brother…in…law　and　herself；　after　their　meeting　in　the　Gardens；　urged　him　into　instant　action。　In　half　an　hour　more；　he　had　arrived　at　her　lodgings。　He　was　at　once　admitted。

VIII。

MRS。　ZANT　was　alone；　in　an　imperfectly　lighted　room。

〃I　hope　you　will　excuse　the　bad　light；〃　she　said；　〃my　head　has　been　burning　as　if　the　fever　had　come　back　again。　Oh；　don't　go　away！　After　what　I　have　suffered；　you　don't　know　how　dreadful　it　is　to　be　alone。〃

The　tone　of　her　voice　told　him　that　she　had　been　crying。　He　at　once　tried　the　best　means　of　setting　the　poor　lady　at　ease；　by　telling　her　of　the　conclusion　at　which　he　had　arrived；　after　reading　her　manuscript。　The　happy　result　showed　itself　instantly：　her　face　brightened；　her　manner　changed；　she　was　eager　to　hear　more。

〃Have　I　produced　any　other　impression　on　you？〃　she　asked。

He　understood　the　allusion。　Expressing　sincere　respect　for　her　own　convictions；　he　told　her　honestly　that　he　was　not　prepared　to　enter　on　the　obscure　and　terrible　question　of　supernatural　interposition。　Grateful　for　the　tone　in　which　he　had　answered　her；　she　wisely　and　delicately　changed　the　subject。

〃I　must　speak　to　you　of　my　brother…in…law；〃　she　said。　〃He　has　told　me　of　your　visit；　and　I　am　anxious　to　know　what　you　think　of　him。　Do　you　like　Mr。　John　Zant？〃

Mr。　Rayburn　hesitated。

The　careworn　look　appeared　again　in　her　face。　〃If　you　had　felt　as　kindly　toward　him　as　he　feels　toward　you；〃　she　said；　〃I　might　have　gone　to　St。　Sallins　with　a　lighter　heart。〃

Mr。　Rayburn　thought　of　the　supernatural　appearances；　described　at　the　close　of　her　narrative。　〃You　believe　in　that　terrible　warning；〃　he　remonstrated；　〃and　yet；　you　go　to　your　brother…in…law's　house！〃

〃I　believe；〃　she　answered；　〃in　the　spirit　of　the　man　who　loved　me　in　the　days　of　his　earthly　bondage。　I　am　under　_his_　protection。　What　have　I　to　do　but　to　cast　away　my　fears；　and　to　wait　in　faith　and　hope？　It　might　have　helped　my　resolution　if　a　friend　had　been　near　to　encourage　me。〃　She　paused　and　smiled　sadly。　〃I　must　remember；〃　she　resumed；　〃that　your　way　of　understanding　my　position　is　not　my　way。　I　ought　to　have　told　you　that　Mr。　John　Zant　feels　needless　anxiety　about　my　health。　He　declares　that　he　will　not　lose　sight　of　me　until　his　mind　is　at　ease。　It　is　useless　to　attempt　to　alter　his　opinion。　He　says　my　nerves　are　shatteredand　who　that　sees　me　can　doubt　it？　He　tells　me　that　my　only　chance　of　getting　better　is　to　try　change　of　air　and　perfect　reposehow　can　I　contradict　him？　He　reminds　me　that　I　have　no　relation　but　himself；　and　no　house　open　to　me　but　his　ownand　God　knows　he　is　right！〃

She　said　those　last　words　in　accents　of　melancholy　resignation；　which　grieved　the　good　man　whose　one　merciful　purpose　was　to　serve　and　console　her。　He　spoke　impulsively　with　the　freedom　of　an　old　friend

〃I　want　to　know　more　of　you　and　Mr。　John　Zant　than　I　know　now；〃　he　said。　〃My　motive　is　a　better　one　than　mere　curiosity。　Do　you　believe　that　I　feel　a　sincere　interest　in　you？〃

〃With　my　whole　heart。〃

That　reply　encouraged　him　to　proceed　with　what　he　had　to　say。　〃When　you　recovered　from　your　fainting…fit；〃　he　began；　〃Mr。　John　Zant　asked　questions；　of　course？〃

〃He　asked　what　could　possibly　have　happened；　in　such　a　quiet　place　as　Kensington　Gardens；　to　make　me　faint。〃

〃And　how　did　you　answer？〃

〃Answer？　I　couldn't　even　look　at　him！〃

〃You　said　nothing？〃

〃Nothing。　I　don't　know　what　he　thought　of　me；　he　might　have　been　surprised；　or　he　might　have　been　offended。〃

〃Is　he　easily　offended？〃　Mr。　Rayburn　asked。

〃Not　in　my　experience　of　him。〃

〃Do　you　mean　your　experience　of　him　before　your　illness？〃

〃Yes。　Since　my　recovery；　his　engagements　with　country　patients　have　kept　him　away　from　London。　I　have　not　seen　him　since　he　took　these　lodgings　for　me。　But　he　is　always　considerate。　He　has　written　more　than　once　to　beg　that　I　will　not　think　him　neglectful；　and　to　tell　me　（what　I　knew　already　through　my　poor　husband）　that　he　has　no　money　of　his　own；　and　must　live　by　his　profession。〃

〃In　your　husband's　lifetime；　were　the　two　brothers　on　good　terms？〃

〃Always。　The　one　complaint　I　ever　heard　my　husband　make　of　John　Zant　was　that　he　didn't　come　to　see　us　often　enough；　after　our　marriage。　Is　there　some　wickedness　in　him　which　we　have　never　suspected？　It　may　bebut　_how_　can　it　be？　I　have　every　reason　to　be　grateful　to　the　man　against　whom　I　have　been　supernaturally　warned！　His　conduct　to　me　has　been　always　perfect。　I　can't　tell　you　what　I　owe　to　his　influence　in　quieting　my　mind；　when　a　dreadful　doubt　arose　about　my　husband's　death。〃

〃Do　you　mean　doubt　if　he　died　a　natural　death？〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！　He　was　dying　of　rapid　consumptionbut　his　sudden　death　took　the　doctors　by　surprise。　One　of　them　thought　that　he　might　have　taken　an　overdose　of　his　sleeping　drops；　by　mistake。　The　other　disputed　this　conclusion；　or　there　might　have　been　an　inquest　in　the　house。　Oh；　don't　speak　of　it　any　more！　Let　us　talk　of　something　else。　Tell　me　when　I　shall　see　you　again。〃

〃I　hardly　know。　When　do　you　and　your　brother…in…law　leave　London？〃

〃To…morrow。〃　She　looked　at　Mr。　Rayburn　with　a　piteous　entreaty　in　her　eyes；　she　said；　timidly：　〃Do　you　ever　go　to　the　seaside；　and　take　your　dear　little　girl　with　you？〃

The　request；　at　which　she　had　only　dared　to　hint；　touched　on　the　idea　which　was　at　that　moment　in　Mr。　Rayburn's　mind。

Interpreted　by　his　strong　prejudice　against　John　Zant；　what　she　had　said　of　her　brother…in…law　filled　him　with　forebodings　of　peril　to　herself；　all　the　more　powerful　in　their　influence；　for　this　reasonthat　he　shrank　from　distinctly　realizing　them。　If　another　person　had　been　present　at　the　interview；　and　had　said　to　him　afterward：　〃That　man's　reluctance　to　visit　his　sister…in…law；　while　her　husband　was　living；　is　associated　with　a　secret　sense　of　guilt　which　her　innocence　cannot　even　imagine：　he；　and　he　alone；　knows　the　cause　of　her　husband's　sudden　death：　his　feigned　anxiety　about　her　health　is　adopted　as　the　safest　means　of　enticing　her　into　his　houseif　those　formidable　conclusions　had　been　urged　on　Mr。　Rayburn；　he　would　have　felt　it　his　duty　to　reject　them；　as　unjustifiable　aspersions　on　an　absent　man。　And　yet；　when　he　took　leave　that　evening　of　Mrs。　Zant；　he　had　pledged　himself　to　give　Lucy　a　holiday　at　the　seaside：　and　he　had　said；　without　blushing；　that　the　child　really　deserved　it；　as　a　reward　for　general　good　conduct　and　attention　to　her　lessons！

IX。

THREE　days　later；　the　father　and　daughter　arrived　toward　evening　at　St。　Sallins…on…Sea。　They　found　Mrs。　Zant　at　the　station。

The　poor　woman's　joy；　on　seeing　them；　expressed　itself　like　the　joy　of　a　child。　〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！　so　glad！〃　was　all　she　could　say　when　they　met。　Lucy　was　half…smothered　with　kisses；　and　w