armadale-第115章

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possibly）　the　stronger　of　the　two。

〃Take　your　hat　off；　you　blackguard；　when　you　speak　to　a　lady；〃
she　said；　and　tossed　his　hat　in　an　instant；　across　a　ditch　by
which　they　were　standing；　into　a　pool　on　the　other　side。

This　time　the　spy　was　on　his　guard。　He　knew　as　well　as　Miss　Gwilt
knew　the　use　which　might　be　made　of　the　precious　minutes；　if　he
turned　his　back　on　her　and　crossed　the　ditch　to　recover　his　hat。
〃It's　well　for　you　you're　a　woman；〃　he　said；　standing　scowling　at
her　bareheaded　in　the　fast…darkening　light。

Miss　Gwilt　glanced　sidelong　down　the　onward　vista　of　the　road；
and　saw；　through　the　gathering　obscurity；　the　solitary　figure　of
a　man　rapidly　advancing　toward　her。　Some　women　would　have　noticed
the　approach　of　a　stranger　at　that　hour　and　in　that　lonely　place
with　a　certain　anxiety。　Miss　Gwilt　was　too　confident　in　her　own
powers　of　persuasion　not　to　count　on　the　man's　assistance
beforehand；　whoever　he　might　be；　_because_　he　was　a　man。　She
looked　back　at　the　spy　with　redoubled　confidence　in　herself；　and
measured　him　contemptuously　from　head　to　foot　for　the　second
time。

〃I　wonder　whether　I'm　strong　enough　to　throw　you　after　your　hat？〃
she　said。　〃I'll　take　a　turn　and　consider　it。〃

She　sauntered　on　a　few　steps　toward　the　figure　advancing　along
the　road。　The　spy　followed　her　close。　〃Try　it；〃　he　said；
brutally。　〃You're　a　fine　woman；　you're　welcome　to　put　your　arms
round　me　if　you　like。〃　As　the　words　escaped　him；　he　too　saw　the
stranger　for　the　first　time。　He　drew　back　a　step　and　waited。　Miss
Gwilt；　on　her　side；　advanced　a　step　and　waited；　too。

The　stranger　came　on；　with　the　lithe；　light　step　of　a　practiced
walker；　swinging　a　stick　in　his　hand　and　carrying　a　knapsack　on
his　shoulders。　A　few　paces　nearer；　and　his　face　became　visible。
He　was　a　dark　man；　his　black　hair　was　powdered　with　dust；　and　his
black　eyes　were　looking　steadfastly　forward　along　the　road　before
him。

Miss　Gwilt　advanced　with　the　first　signs　of　agitation　she　had
shown　yet。　〃Is　it　possible？〃　she　said；　softly。　〃Can　it　really　be
you？〃

It　was　Midwinter；　on　his　way　back　to　Thorpe　Ambrose；　after　his
fortnight　among　the　Yorkshire　moors。

He　stopped　and　looked　at　her；　in　breathless　surprise。　The　image
of　the　woman　had　been　in　his　thoughts；　at　the　moment　when　the
woman　herself　spoke　to　him。　〃Miss　Gwilt！〃　he　exclaimed；　and
mechanically　held　out　his　hand。

She　took　it；　and　pressed　it　gently。　〃I　should　have　been　glad　to
see　you　at　any　time；〃　she　said。　〃You　don't　know　how　glad　I　am　to
see　you　now。　May　I　trouble　you　to　speak　to　that　man？　He　has　been
following　me；　and　annoying　me　all　the　way　from　the　town。〃

Midwinter　stepped　past　her　without　uttering　a　word。　Faint　as　the
light　was；　the　spy　saw　what　was　coming　in　his　face；　and；　turning
instantly；　leaped　the　ditch　by　the　road…side。　Before　Midwinter
could　follow；　Miss　Gwilt's　hand　was　on　his　shoulder。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃you　don't　know　who　his　employer　is。〃

Midwinter　stopped　and　looked　at　her。

〃Strange　things　have　happened　since　you　left　us；〃　she　went　on。　〃I
have　been　forced　to　give　up　my　situation；　and　I　am　followed　and
watched　by　a　paid　spy。　Don't　ask　who　forced　me　out　of　my
situation；　and　who　pays　the　spyat　least　not　just　yet。　I　can't
make　up　my　mind　to　tell　you　till　I　am　a　little　more　composed。　Let
the　wretch　go。　Do　you　mind　seeing　me　safe　back　to　my　lodging？
It's　in　your　way　home。　May　Imay　I　ask　for　the　support　of　your
arm？　My　little　stock　of　courage　is　quite　exhausted。〃　She　took　his
arm　and　clung　close　to　it。　The　woman　who　had　tyrannized　over　Mr。
Bashwood　was　gone；　and　the　woman　who　had　tossed　the　spy's　hat
into　the　pool　was　gone。　A　timid；　shrinking；　interesting　creature
filled　the　fair　skin　and　trembled　on　the　symmetrical　limbs　of
Miss　Gwilt。　She　put　her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。　〃They　say
necessity　has　no　law；〃　she　murmured；　faintly。　〃I　am　treating　you
like　an　old　friend。　God　knows　I　want　one！〃

They　went　on　toward　the　town。　She　recovered　herself　with　a
touching　fortitude；　she　put　her　handkerchief　back　in　her　pocket；
and　persisted　in　turning　the　conversation　on　Midwinter's　walking
tour。　〃It　is　bad　enough　to　be　a　burden　on　you；〃　she　said；　gently
pressing　on　his　arm　as　she　spoke；　〃I　mustn't　distress　you　as
well。　Tell　me　where　you　have　been；　and　what　you　have　seen。
Interest　me　in　your　journey；　help　me　to　escape　from　myself。〃

They　reached　the　modest　little　lodging　in　the　miserable　little
suburb。　Miss　Gwilt　sighed；　and　removed　her　glove　before　she　took
Midwinter's　hand。　〃I　have　taken　refuge　here；〃　she　said；　simply。
〃It　is　clean　and　quiet；　I　am　too　poor　to　want　or　expect　more。　We
must　say　good…by；　I　suppose；　unless〃she　hesitated　modestly；　and
satisfied　herself　by　a　quick　look　round　that　they　were
unobserved〃unless　you　would　like　to　come　in　and　rest　a　little？
I　feel　so　gratefully　toward　you；　Mr。　Midwinter！　Is　there　any
harm；　do　you　think；　in　my　offering　you　a　cup　of　tea？〃

The　magnetic　influence　of　her　touch　was　thrilling　through　him
while　she　spoke。　Change　and　absence；　to　which　he　had　trusted　to
weaken　her　hold　on　him；　had　treacherously　strengthened　it
instead。　A　man　exceptionally　sensitive；　a　man　exceptionally　pure
in　his　past　life；　he　stood　hand　in　hand；　in　the　tempting　secrecy
of　the　night；　with　the　first　woman　who　had　exercised　over　him　the
all…absorbing　influence　of　her　sex。　At　his　age；　and　in　his
position；　who　could　have　left　her？　The　man　（with　a　man's
temperament）　doesn't　live　who　could　have　left　her。　Midwinter　went
in。

A　stupid；　sleepy　lad　opened　the　house　door。　Even　he；　being　a　male
creature；　brightened　under　the　influence　of　Miss　Gwilt。　〃The　urn；
John；〃　she　said；　kindly；　〃and　another　cup　and　saucer。　I'll　borrow
your　candle　to　light　my　candles　upstairs；　and　then　I　won't
trouble　you　any　more　to…night。〃　John　was　wakeful　and　active　in　an
instant。　〃No　trouble；　miss；〃　he　said；　with　awkward　civility。　Miss
Gwilt　took　his　candle　with　a　smile。　〃How　good　people　are　to　me！〃
she　whispered；　innocently；　to　Midwinter；　as　she　led　the　way
upstairs　to　the　little　drawing…room　on　the　first　floor。

She　lit　the　candles；　and；　turning　quickly　on　her　guest；　stopped
him　at　the　first　attempt　he　made　to　remove　the　knapsack　from　his
shoulders。　〃No；〃　she　said；　gently；　〃in　the　good　old　times　there
were　occasions　when　the　ladies　unarmed　their　knights。　I　claim　the
privilege　of　unarming　_my_　knight。〃　Her　dexterous　fingers
intercepted　his　at　the　straps　and　buckles；　and　she　had　the　dusty
knapsack　off；　before　he　could　protest　against　her　touching　it。

They　sat　down　at　the　one　little　table　in　the　room。　It　was　very
poorly　furnished；　but　there　was　something　of　the　dainty　neatness
of　the　woman　who　inhabited　it　in　the　arrangement　of　the　few　poor
ornaments　on　the　chimney…piece；　in　the　one　or　two　prettily　bound
volumes　on　the　chiffonier；　in　the　flowers　on　the　table；　and　the
modest　little　work…basket　in　the　window。　〃Women　are　not　all
coquettes；〃　she　said；　as　she　took　off　her　bonnet　and　mantilla；
and　laid　them　carefully　on　a　chair。　〃I　won't　go　into　my　room；　and
look　in　my　glass；　and　make　myself　smart；　you　shall　take　me　just
as　I　am。〃　Her　hands　moved　about　among　the　tea…things　with　a
smooth；　noiseless　activity。

Her　magnificent　hair　flashed　crimson　in　the　candle…light；　as　she
turned　her　head　hither　and　thither；　searching　with　an　easy　grace
for　the　things　she　wanted　in　the　tray。　Exercise　had　heightened
the　brilliancy　of　her　complexion；　and　had　quickened　the　rapid
alternations　of　expression　in　her　eyesthe　delicious　languor
that　stole　over　them　when　she　was　listening　or　thinking；　the
bright　intelligence　that　flashed　from　them　softly　when　she　spoke。
In　the　lightest　word　she　said；　in　the　least　thing　she　did；　there
was　something　that　gently　solicited　the　heart　of　the　man　who　sat
with　her。　Perfectly　modest　in　her　manner；　possessed　to　perfection
of　the　graceful　restraints　and　refinements　of　a　lady；　she　had　all
the　allurements　that　feast　the　eye；　all　the　siren　invitations
that　seduce　the　sensea　subtle　suggestiveness　in　her　silence；
and　a　sexual　sorcery　in　her　smile。

〃Should　I　be　wrong；〃　she　asked；　suddenly　suspending　the
conversation　which　she　had　thus　far　persistently　restricted　to
the　subject　of　Midwinter's