armadale-第177章

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minutes　I　was　shown　into　the　drawing…room。

〃There　sat　Mother　Jezebel；　with　the　air　of　a　woman　resting　on　the
high…road　to　heaven；　dressed　in　a　slate…colored　gown；　with　gray
mittens　on　her　hands；　a　severely　simple　cap　on　her　head；　and　a
volume　of　sermons　on　her　lap。　She　turned　up　the　whites　of　her
eyes　dev　outly　at　the　sight　of　me；　and　the　first　words　she　said
were'Oh；　Lydia！　Lydia！　why　are　you　not　at　church？'

〃If　I　had　been　less　anxious；　the　sudden　presentation　of　Mrs。
Oldershaw　in　an　entirely　new　character　might　have　amused　me。　But
I　was　in　no　humor　for　laughing；　and　（my　notes　of　hand　being　all
paid）　I　was　under　no　obligation　to　restrain　my　natural　freedom　of
speech。　'Stuff　and　nonsense！'　I　said。　'Put　your　Sunday　face　in
your　pocket。　I　have　got　some　news　for　you；　since　I　last　wrote
from　Thorpe　Ambrose。'

〃The　instant　I　mentioned　'Thorpe　Ambrose；'　the　whites　of　the　old
hypocrite's　eyes　showed　themselves　again；　and　she　flatly　refused
to　hear　a　word　more　from　me　on　the　subject　of　my　proceedings　in
Norfolk。　I　insisted；　but　it　was　quite　useless。　Mother　Oldershaw
only　shook　her　head　and　groaned；　and　informed　me　that　her
connection　with　the　pomps　and　vanities　of　the　world　was　at　an　end
forever。　'I　have　been　born　again；　Lydia；'　said　the　brazen　old
wretch；　wiping　her　eyes。　'Nothing　will　induce　me　to　return　to　the
subject　of　that　wicked　speculation　of　yours　on　the　folly　of　a
rich　young　man。'

〃After　hearing　this；　I　should　have　left　her　on　the　spot；　but　for
one　consideration　which　delayed　me　a　moment　longer。

〃It　was　easy　to　see；　by　this　time；　that　the　circumstances
（whatever　they　might　have　been）　which　had　obliged　Mother
Oldershaw　to　keep　in　hiding；　on　the　occasion　of　my　former　visit
to　London；　had　been　sufficiently　serious　to　force　her　into　giving
up；　or　appearing　to　give　up；　her　old　business。　And　it　was　hardly
less　plain　that　she　had　found　it　to　her　advantageeverybody　in
England　finds　it　to　their　advantage　in　some　way　to　cover　the
outer　side　of　her　character　carefully　with　a　smooth　varnish　of
Cant。　This　was；　however；　no　business　of　mine；　and　I　should　have
made　these　reflections　outside　instead　of　inside　the　house；　if　my
interests　had　not　been　involved　in　putting　the　sincerity　of
Mother　Oldershaw's　reformation　to　the　testso　far　as　it　affected
her　past　connection　with　myself。　At　the　time　when　she　had　fitted
me　out　for　our　enterprise；　I　remembered　signing　a　certain
business　document　which　gave　her　a　handsome　pecuniary　interest　in
my　success；　if　I　became　Mrs。　Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose。　The
chance　of　turning　this　mischievous　morsel　of　paper　to　good
account；　in　the　capacity　of　a　touchstone；　was　too　tempting　to　be
resisted。　I　asked　my　devout　friend's　permission　to　say　one　last
word　before　I　left　the　house。

〃　'As　you　have　no　further　interest　in　my　wicked　speculation　at
Thorpe　Ambrose；'　I　said；　'perhaps　you　will　give　me　back　the
written　paper　that　I　signed；　when　you　were　not　quite　such　an
exemplary　person　as　you　are　now？'

〃The　shameless　old　hypocrite　instantly　shut　her　eyes　and
shuddered。

〃　'Does　that　mean　Yes；　or　No'？'　I　asked。

〃　'On　moral　and　religious　grounds；　Lydia；'　said　Mrs。　Oldershaw；
'it　means　No。'

〃　'On　wicked　and　worldly　grounds；'　I　rejoined；　'I　beg　to　thank
you　for　showing　me　your　hand。'

〃There　could；　indeed；　be　no　doubt　now　about　the　object　she　really
had　in　view。　She　would　run　no　more　risks　and　lend　no　more　money；
she　would　leave　me　to　win　or　lose　single…handed。　If　I　lost；　she
would　not　be　compromised。　If　I　won；　she　would　produce　the　paper　I
had　signed；　and　profit　by　it　without　remorse。　In　my　present
situation；　it　was　mere　waste　of　time　and　words　to　prolong　the
matter　by　any　useless　recrimination　on　my　side。　I　put　the　warning
away　privately　in　my　memory　for　future　use；　and　got　up　to　go。

〃At　the　moment　when　I　left　my　chair　there　was　a　sharp　double
knock　at　the　street　door。　Mrs。　Oldershaw　evidently　recognized　it。
She　rose　in　a　violent　hurry；　and　rang　the　bell。　'I　am　too　unwell
to　see　anybody；'　she　said；　when　the　servant　appeared。　'Wait　a
moment；　if　you　please；'　she　added；　turning　sharply　on　me；　when
the　woman　had　left　us　to　answer　the　door。

〃It　was　small；　very　small；　spitefulness　on　my　part；　I　know；　but
the　satisfaction　of　thwarting　Mother　Jezebel；　even　in　a　trifle；
was　not　to　be　resisted。　'I　can't　wait；'　I　said；　'you　reminded　me
just　now　that　I　ought　to　be　at　church。'　Before　she　could　answer　I
was　out　of　the　room。

〃As　I　put　my　foot　on　the　first　stair　the　street　door　was　opened；
and　a　man's　voice　inquired　whether　Mrs。　Oldershaw　was　at　home。

〃I　instantly　recognized　the　voice。　Doctor　Downward！

〃The　doctor　repeated　the　servant's　message　in　a　tone　which
betrayed　unmistakable　irritation　at　finding　himself　admitted　no
further　than　the　door。

〃　'Your　mistress　is　not　well　enough　to　see　visitors？　Give　her
that　card；'　said　the　doctor；　'and　say　I　expect　her；　the　next　time
I　call；　to　be　well　enough　to　see　_me。_'

〃If　his　voice　had　not　told　me　plainly　that　he　felt　in　no　friendly
mood　toward　Mrs。　Oldershaw；　I　dare　say　I　should　have　let　him　go
without　claiming　his　acquaintance；　but；　as　things　were；　I　felt　an
impulse　to　speak　to　him　or　to　anybody　who　had　a　grudge　against
Mother　Jezebel。　There　was　more　of　my　small　spitefulness　in　this；
I　suppose。　Anyway；　I　slipped　downstairs；　and；　following　the
doctor　out　quietly；　overtook　him　in　the　street。

〃I　had　recognized　his　voice；　and　I　recognized　his　back　as　I
walked　behind　him。　But　when　I　called　him　by　his　name；　and　when　he
turned　round　with　a　start　and　confronted　me；　I　followed　his
example；　and　started　on　my　side。　The　doctor's　face　was
transformed　into　the　face　of　a　perfect　stranger！　His　baldness　had
hidden　itself　under　an　artfully　grizzled　wig。　He　had　allowed　his
whiskers　to　grow；　and　had　dyed　them　to　match　his　new　head　of
hair。　Hideous　circular　spectacles　bestrode　his　nose　in　place　of
the　neat　double　eyeglass　that　he　used　to　carry　in　his　hand；　and　a
black　neckerchief；　surmounted　by　immense　shirt…collars；　appeared
as　the　unworthy　successor　of　the　clerical　white　cravat　of　former
times。　Nothing　remained　of　the　man　I　once　knew　but　the
comfortable　plumpness　of　his　figure；　and　the　confidential
courtesy　and　smoothness　of　his　manner　and　his　voice。

〃　'Charmed　to　see　you　again；'　said　the　doctor；　looking　about　him
a　little　anxiously；　and　producing　his　card…case　in　a　very
precipitate　manner。　'But；　my　dear　Miss　Gwilt；　permit　me　to
rectify　a　slight　mistake　on　your　part。　Doctor　Downward　of　Pimlico
is　dead　and　buried；　and　you　will　infinitely　oblige　me　if　you　will
never；　on　any　consideration；　mention　him　again！'

〃I　took　the　card　he　offered　me；　and　discovered　that　I　was　now
supposed　to　be　speaking　to　'Doctor　Le　Doux；　of　the　Sanitarium；
Fairweather　Vale；　Hampstead！'

〃　'You　seem　to　have　found　it　necessary；'　I　said；　'to　change　a
great　many　things　since　I　last　saw　you？　Your　name；　your
residence；　your　personal　appearance？'

〃　'And　my　branch　of　practice；'　interposed　the　doctor。　'I　have
purchased　of　the　original　possessor　（a　person　of　feeble
enterprise　and　no　resources）　a　name；　a　diploma；　and　a　partially
completed　sanitarium　for　the　reception　of　nervous　invalids。　We
are　open　already　to　the　inspection　of　a　few　privileged
friendscome　and　see　us。　Are　you　walking　my　way？　Pray　take　my
arm；　and　tell　me　to　what　happy　chance　I　am　indebted　for　the
pleasure　of　seeing　you　again？'

〃I　told　him　the　circumstances　exactly　as　they　had　happened；　and　I
added　（with　a　view　to　making　sure　of　his　relations　with　his
former　ally　at　Pimlico）　that　I　had　been　greatly　surprised　to　hear
Mrs。　Oldershaw's　door　shut　on　such　an　old　friend　as　himself。
Cautious　as　he　was；　the　doctor's　manner　of　receiving　my　remark
satisfied　me　at　once　that　my　suspicions　of　an　estrangement　were
well　founded。　His　smile　vanished；　and　he　settled　his　hideous
spectacles　irritably　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose。

〃　'Pardon　me　if　I　leave　you　to　draw　your　own　conclusions；'　he
said。　'The　subject　of　Mrs。　Oldershaw　is；　I　regret　to　say；　far
from　agreeable　to　me　under　existing　circumstancesa　business
difficulty　connected　with　our　late　partnership　at　Pimlico；
entirely　without　interest　for　a　young　and　brilliant　woman　like
yoursel