the queen of hearts-µÚ82ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
being¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡previously¡¡in¡¡a¡¡court¡¡of¡¡law¡£
¡¨In¡¡short£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dark£»¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡leave£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡I¡¡have
told¡¡you¡¡already£»¡¡William£»¡¡it's¡¡checkmate¡¡for¡¡marmzelle¡£¡¡She
didn't¡¡manage¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡the¡¡robbery¡¡half¡¡as¡¡sharply¡¡as¡¡I
should¡¡have¡¡expected¡£¡¡She¡¡certainly¡¡began¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡by¡¡staying
modestly¡¡at¡¡a¡¡lodging¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡to¡¡give¡¡her¡¡attendance¡¡at
the¡¡examinations£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡required£»¡¡nothing¡¡could¡¡look
more¡¡innocent¡¡and¡¡respectable¡¡so¡¡far£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡hiding¡¡the¡¡property
between¡¡the¡¡mattresses¡¡of¡¡her¡¡bedthe¡¡very¡¡first¡¡place¡¡that¡¡any
experienced¡¡man¡¡would¡¡think¡¡of¡¡looking¡¡inwas¡¡such¡¡an¡¡amazingly
stupid¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡really¡¡can't¡¡account¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡unless
her¡¡mind¡¡had¡¡more¡¡weighing¡¡on¡¡it¡¡than¡¡it¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡bear£»¡¡which£»
considering¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡stakes¡¡she¡¡played¡¡for£»¡¡is¡¡likely¡¡enough¡£
Anyhow£»¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡are¡¡tied¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡tongue¡¡too£»¡¡for¡¡the
matter¡¡of¡¡that¡£¡¡Give¡¡my¡¡respects¡¡to¡¡your¡¡mistress£»¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡her
that¡¡her¡¡runaway¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡her¡¡lying¡¡maid¡¡will¡¡never¡¡either¡¡of
them¡¡harm¡¡her¡¡again¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡they¡¡live¡£¡¡She¡¡has¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do
now¡¡but¡¡to¡¡pluck¡¡up¡¡her¡¡spirits¡¡and¡¡live¡¡happy¡£¡¡Here's¡¡long¡¡life
to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡William£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡last¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡ale£»¡¡and¡¡here's
the¡¡same¡¡toast¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jug¡£¡¨
With¡¡those¡¡words¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dark¡¡pocketed¡¡his¡¡large¡¡snuff¡box£»¡¡gave¡¡a
last¡¡wink¡¡with¡¡his¡¡bright¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡rapidly¡¡away£»
whistling£»¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡London¡¡coach¡£¡¡From¡¡that¡¡time¡¡to¡¡this¡¡he
and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡met¡¡again¡£
A¡¡few¡¡last¡¡words¡¡relating¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mistress¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡persons
chiefly¡¡concerned¡¡in¡¡this¡¡narrative¡¡will¡¡conclude¡¡all¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is
now¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡say¡£
For¡¡some¡¡months¡¡the¡¡relatives¡¡and¡¡friends£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡myself£»¡¡felt¡¡sad
misgivings¡¡on¡¡my¡¡poor¡¡mistress's¡¡account¡£¡¡We¡¡doubted¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was
possible£»¡¡with¡¡such¡¡a¡¡quick£»¡¡sensitive¡¡nature¡¡as¡¡hers£»¡¡that¡¡she
could¡¡support¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡inflicted¡¡on¡¡her¡£¡¡But¡¡our
powers¡¡of¡¡endurance¡¡are£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡believe£»¡¡more¡¡often
equal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡burdens¡¡laid¡¡upon¡¡us¡¡than¡¡we¡¡are¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡imagine¡£¡¡I
have¡¡seen¡¡many¡¡surprising¡¡recoveries¡¡from¡¡illness¡¡after¡¡all¡¡hope
had¡¡been¡¡lost£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡to¡¡see¡¡my¡¡mistress¡¡recover¡¡from
the¡¡grief¡¡and¡¡terror¡¡which¡¡we¡¡once¡¡thought¡¡would¡¡prove¡¡fatal¡¡to
her¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡long¡¡before¡¡she¡¡began¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡up¡¡her¡¡head¡¡again£»¡¡but
care¡¡and¡¡kindness£»¡¡and¡¡time¡¡and¡¡change¡¡wrought¡¡their¡¡effect¡¡on
her¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡She¡¡is¡¡not¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡will¡¡be¡¡again£»¡¡the¡¡woman
she¡¡was¡¡once£»¡¡her¡¡manner¡¡is¡¡altered£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡looks¡¡older¡¡by¡¡many
a¡¡year¡¡than¡¡she¡¡really¡¡is¡£¡¡But¡¡her¡¡health¡¡causes¡¡us¡¡no¡¡anxiety
now£»¡¡her¡¡spirits¡¡are¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡equal£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡good¡¡hope¡¡that
many¡¡quiet¡¡years¡¡of¡¡service¡¡in¡¡her¡¡house¡¡are¡¡left¡¡for¡¡me¡¡still¡£¡¡I
myself¡¡have¡¡married¡¡during¡¡the¡¡long¡¡interval¡¡of¡¡time¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am
now¡¡passing¡¡over¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words¡£¡¡This¡¡change¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡¡is£»
perhaps£»¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡mentioning£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡reminded¡¡of¡¡my¡¡two¡¡little
children¡¡when¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mistress¡¡in¡¡her¡¡present¡¡position¡£¡¡I
really¡¡think¡¡they¡¡make¡¡the¡¡great¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡interest£»¡¡and
amusement¡¡of¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡prevent¡¡her¡¡from¡¡feeling¡¡lonely¡¡and
dried¡¡up¡¡at¡¡heart¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡reflection¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡remember
this£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡the¡¡same¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡reason
only¡¡I¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡it¡£
As¡¡for¡¡the¡¡other¡¡persons¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡troubles¡¡at¡¡Darrock
Hall£»¡¡I¡¡may¡¡mention¡¡the¡¡vile¡¡woman¡¡Josephine¡¡first£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡have
the¡¡sooner¡¡done¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Dark's¡¡guess£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to
account¡¡for¡¡her¡¡want¡¡of¡¡cunning¡¡in¡¡hiding¡¡the¡¡stolen¡¡property£»¡¡by
saying¡¡that¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡might¡¡have¡¡had¡¡more¡¡¡¡weighing¡¡on¡¡it¡¡than¡¡she
was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡bear£»¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡to¡¡b¡¡e¡¡nothing¡¡less¡¡than¡¡the¡¡plain
and¡¡awful¡¡truth¡£¡¡After¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡guilty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡robbery£»
and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡condemned¡¡to¡¡seven¡¡years'¡¡transportation£»¡¡a¡¡worse
sentence¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡from¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡tribunal¡¡than¡¡any¡¡in¡¡this
world¡£¡¡While¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡county¡¡jail£»¡¡previous¡¡to¡¡her
removal£»¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡gave¡¡way£»¡¡the¡¡madness¡¡breaking¡¡out¡¡in¡¡an
attempt¡¡to¡¡set¡¡fire¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prison¡£¡¡Her¡¡case¡¡was¡¡pronounced¡¡to¡¡be
hopeless¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡The¡¡lawful¡¡asylum¡¡received¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡the
lawful¡¡asylum¡¡will¡¡keep¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡her¡¡days¡£
Mr¡£¡¡James¡¡Smith£»¡¡who£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡humble¡¡opinion£»¡¡deserved¡¡hanging¡¡by
law£»¡¡or¡¡drowning¡¡by¡¡accident¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡lived¡¡quietly¡¡abroad¡¡with
his¡¡Scotch¡¡wife¡¡£¨or¡¡no¡¡wife£©¡¡for¡¡two¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡died¡¡in¡¡the
most¡¡quiet¡¡and¡¡customary¡¡manner£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡bed£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡short
illness¡£¡¡His¡¡end¡¡was¡¡described¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡a¡¡¡¨highly¡¡edifying¡¡one¡£¡¨
But¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡also¡¡reported¡¡to¡¡have¡¡sent¡¡his¡¡forgiveness¡¡to¡¡his
wifewhich¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡_he_¡¡was¡¡the¡¡injured
person¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twoI¡¡take¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same
impudent¡¡vagabond¡¡in¡¡his¡¡last¡¡moments¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡his
life¡£¡¡His¡¡Scotch¡¡widow¡¡has¡¡married¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡now¡¡settled¡¡in
London¡£¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡is¡¡all¡¡her¡¡own¡¡property¡¡this¡¡time¡£
Mr¡£¡¡Meeke¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡forgotten£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡has¡¡dropped¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡latter¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡story¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the
serious¡¡events¡¡which¡¡followed¡¡Josephine's¡¡perjury¡£¡¡In¡¡the
confusion¡¡and¡¡wretchedness¡¡of¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡very
little¡¡ceremony£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡when¡¡we¡¡left¡¡the
neighborhood¡£¡¡After¡¡pining¡¡and¡¡fretting¡¡some¡¡time£»¡¡as¡¡we
afterward¡¡heard£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lonely¡¡parsonage£»¡¡he¡¡resigned¡¡his¡¡living
at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡chance¡¡he¡¡got£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡under¡chaplain's
place¡¡in¡¡an¡¡English¡¡chapel¡¡abroad¡£¡¡He¡¡writes¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mistress¡¡once
or¡¡twice¡¡a¡¡year¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡after¡¡her¡¡health¡¡and¡¡well¡being£»¡¡and¡¡she
writes¡¡back¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡all¡¡the¡¡communication¡¡they¡¡are¡¡ever
likely¡¡to¡¡have¡¡with¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡The¡¡music¡¡they¡¡once¡¡played
together¡¡will¡¡never¡¡sound¡¡again¡£¡¡Its¡¡last¡¡notes¡¡have¡¡long¡¡since
faded¡¡away¡¡and¡¡the¡¡last¡¡words¡¡of¡¡this¡¡story£»¡¡trembling¡¡on¡¡the
lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡teller£»¡¡may¡¡now¡¡fade¡¡with¡¡them¡£
THE¡¡NINTH¡¡DAY¡£
A¡¡LITTLE¡¡change¡¡in¡¡the¡¡weather¡£¡¡The¡¡rain¡¡still¡¡continues£»¡¡but¡¡the
wind¡¡is¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡high¡£¡¡Have¡¡I¡¡any¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡believe£»¡¡because
it¡¡is¡¡calmer¡¡on¡¡land£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡also¡¡calmer¡¡at¡¡sea£¿¡¡Perhaps¡¡not¡£
But¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡is¡¡scarcely¡¡so¡¡uneasy¡¡to¡day£»¡¡nevertheless¡£
I¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡with¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡result£»¡¡and¡¡had
laid¡¡it¡¡down¡¡with¡¡the¡¡customary¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡disappointment£»¡¡when
Jessie¡¡handed¡¡me¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡received¡¡that¡¡morning¡£¡¡It
was¡¡written¡¡by¡¡her¡¡aunt£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡upbraided¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡highly
exaggerated¡¡terms¡¡which¡¡ladies¡¡love¡¡to¡¡employ£»¡¡where¡¡any¡¡tender
interests¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡are¡¡concerned£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡long¡¡silence¡¡and
her¡¡long¡¡absence¡¡from¡¡home¡£¡¡Home£¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡my¡¡poor¡¡boy¡¡and¡¡of
the¡¡one¡¡hope¡¡on¡¡which¡¡all¡¡his¡¡happiness¡¡rested£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡felt
jealous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡word¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡used¡¡persuasively¡¡in¡¡a¡¡letter
to¡¡our¡¡guest¡£¡¡What¡¡right¡¡had¡¡any¡¡one¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡¡¨home¡¨¡¡to¡¡her
until¡¡George¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡first£¿
¡¨I¡¡must¡¡answer¡¡it¡¡by¡¡return¡¡of¡¡post£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jessie£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tone¡¡of
sorrow¡¡in¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡for¡¡which¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡warmed¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have
been¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡more¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡interest¡¡and
amuse¡¡me¡¡than¡¡I¡¡am¡¡worth¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡laugh¡¡about¡¡most¡¡things£»¡¡but¡¡I
can't¡¡laugh¡¡about¡¡going¡¡away¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡honestly¡¡and¡¡sincerely¡¡too
grateful¡¡for¡¡that¡£¡¨
She¡¡paused£»¡¡came¡¡round¡¡to¡¡where¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sitting£»¡¡perched¡¡herself¡¡on
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and£»¡¡resting¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡my¡¡shoulders£»
added¡¡gently£º
¡¨It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡to¡morrow£»¡¡must¡¡it¡¡not£¿¡¨
I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡answer¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡had¡¡spoken£»¡¡I¡¡should
have¡¡betrayed¡¡George's¡¡secret¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡myself¡£
¡¨To¡morrow¡¡is¡¡the¡¡tenth¡¡day£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡looks¡¡so
selfish¡¡and¡¡so¡¡ungrateful¡¡to¡¡go¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡last
of¡¡the¡¡stories£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡quite¡¡distressed¡¡at¡¡being¡¡obliged¡¡to
enter¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡And¡¡yet£»¡¡what¡¡choice¡¡is¡¡left¡¡me£¿
what¡¡can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡when¡¡my¡¡aunt¡¡writes¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡that¡¡way£¿¡¨
She¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡it¡¡so¡¡ruefully¡¡that¡¡I
drew¡¡her¡¡head¡¡a¡¡little¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡gratefully¡¡kissed¡¡the
smooth¡¡white¡¡forehead¡£
¡¨If¡¡your¡¡aunt¡¡is¡¡only¡¡half¡¡as¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡¡again£»¡¡my¡¡love£»
as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡see¡¡my¡¡son£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡forgive¡¡her¡¡for¡¡taking¡¡you¡¡away
from¡¡us¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡words¡¡came¡¡from¡¡me¡¡without¡¡premeditation¡£¡¡It¡¡was
not¡¡calculation¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡sheer¡¡instinct¡¡that¡¡impelled¡¡me¡¡to
test¡¡her¡¡in¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡direct¡¡reference¡¡to¡¡George¡£
She¡¡was¡¡so¡¡close¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡her¡¡breath¡¡quiver¡¡on¡¡my¡¡cheek¡£
Her¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡been¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡my¡¡face