armadale-第197章
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readily what Mr。 Bashwood may say。 Don't tell him this； but take
the warning。〃
Allan looked at his friend in astonishment。 〃It was you who
always liked Mr。 Bashwood！〃 he exclaimed。 〃It was you who trusted
him； when he first came to the great house！〃
〃Perhaps I was wrong； Allan； and perhaps you were right。 Will you
only wait till we can telegraph to Major Milroy and get his
answer？ Will you only wait over the night？〃
〃I shall go mad if I wait over the night；〃 said Allan。 〃You have
made me more anxious than I was before。 If I am not to speak
about it to Bashwood； I must and will go to the Sanitarium； and
find out whether she is or is not there； from the doctor
himself。〃
Midwinter saw that it was useless。 In Allan's interests there was
only one other course left to take。 〃Will you let me go with
you？〃 he asked。
Allan's face brightened for the first time。 〃You dear； good
fellow！〃 he exclaimed。 〃It was the very thing I was going to beg
of you myself。〃
Midwinter beckoned to the steward。 〃Mr。 Armadale is going to the
Sanitarium；〃 he said； 〃and I mean to accompany him。 Get a cab and
come with us。〃
He waited； to see whether Mr。 Bashwood would comply。 Having been
strictly ordered； when Allan did arrive； not to lose sight of
him； and having； in his own interests； Midwinter's unexpected
appearance to explain to Miss Gwilt； the steward had no choice
but to comply。 In sullen submission he did as he had been told。
The keys of Allan's baggage was given to the foreign traveling
servant whom he had brought with him； and the man was instructed
to wait his master's orders at the terminus hotel。 In a minute
more the cab was on its way out of the stationwith Midwinter
and Allan inside； and Mr。 Bashwood by the driver on the box。
* * * * * *
Between eleven and twelve o'clock that night； Miss Gwilt；
standing alone at the window which lit the corridor of the
Sanitarium on the second floor； heard the roll of wheels coming
toward her。 The sound； gathering rapidly in volume through the
silence of the lonely neighborhood； stopped at the iron gates。 In
another minute she saw the cab draw up beneath her； at the house
door。
The earlier night had been cloudy； but the sky was clearing now
and the moon was out。 She opened the window to see and hear more
clearly。 By the light of the moon she saw Allan get out of the
cab； and turn round to speak to some other person inside。 The
answering voice told her； before he appeared in his turn； that
Armadale's companion was her husband。
The same petrifying influence that had fallen on her at the
interview with him of the previous day fell on her now。 She stood
by the window； white and still； and haggard and oldas she had
stood when she first faced him in her widow's weeds。
Mr。 Bashwood； stealing up alone to the second floor to make his
report； knew； the instant he set eyes on her； that the report was
needless。 〃It's not my fault；〃 was all he said； as she slowly
turned her head and looked at him。 〃They met together； and there
was no parting them。〃
She drew a long breath； and motioned him to be silent。 〃Wait a
little；〃 she said； 〃I know all about it。〃
Turning from him at those words； she slowly paced the corridor to
its furthest en d； turned； and slowly came back to him with
frowning brow and drooping headwith all the grace and beauty
gone from her； but the inbred grace and beauty in the movement of
her limbs。
〃Do you wish to speak to me？〃 she asked； her mind far away from
him； and her eyes looking at him vacantly as she put the
question。
He roused his courage as he had never roused it in her presence
yet。
〃Don't drive me to despair！〃 he cried； with a startling
abruptness。 〃Don't look at me in that way； now I have found it
out！〃
〃What have you found out？〃 she asked； with a momentary surprise
on her face； which faded from it again before he could gather
breath enough to go on。
〃Mr。 Armadale is not the man who took you away from me；〃 he
answered。 〃Mr。 Midwinter is the man。 I found it out in your face
yesterday。 I see it in your face now。 Why did you sign your name
'Armadale' when you wrote to me？ Why do you call yourself 'Mrs。
Armadale' still？〃
He spoke those bold words at long intervals； with an effort to
resist her influence over him； pitiable and terrible to see。
She looked at him for the first time with softened eyes。 〃I wish
I had pitied you when we first met；〃 she said； gently； 〃as I pity
you now。〃
He struggled desperately to go on and say the words to her which
he had strung himself to the pitch of saying on the drive from
the terminus。 They were words which hinted darkly at his
knowledge of her past life； words which warned herdo what else
she might； commit what crimes she pleasedto think twice before
she deceived and deserted him again。 In those terms he had vowed
to himself to address her。 He had the phrases picked and chosen；
he had the sentences ranged and ordered in his mind； nothing was
wanting but to make the one crowning effort of speaking
themand； even now； after all he had said and all he had dared；
the effort was more than he could compass！ In helpless gratitude；
even for so little as her pity； he stood looking at her； and wept
the silent； womanish tears that fall from old men's eyes。
She took his hand and spoke to himwith marked forbearance； but
without the slightest sign of emotion on her side。
〃You have waited already at my request；〃 she said。 〃Wait till
to…morrow； and you will know all。 If you trust nothing else that
I have told you； you may trust what I tell you now。 _It will end
to…night。_〃
As she said the words； the doctor's step was heard on the stairs。
Mr。 Bashwood drew back from her； with his heart beating fast in
unutterable expectation。 〃It will end to…night！〃 he repeated to
himself； under his breath； as he moved away toward the far end of
the corridor。
〃Don't let me disturb you； sir；〃 said the doctor； cheerfully； as
they met。 〃I have nothing to say to Mrs。 Armadale but what you or
anybody may hear。〃
Mr。 Bashwood went on； without answering； to the far end of the
corridor； still repeating to himself： 〃It will end to…night！〃 The
doctor； passing him in the opposite direction； joined Miss Gwilt。
〃You have heard； no doubt；〃 he began； in his blandest manner and
his roundest tones； 〃that Mr。 Armadale has arrived。 Permit me to
add； my dear lady； that there is not the least reason for any
nervous agitation on your part。 He has been carefully humored；
and he is as quiet and manageable as his best friends could wish。
I have informed him that it is impossible to allow him an
interview with the young lady to…night； but that he may count on
seeing her （with the proper precautions） at the earliest
propitious hour； after she is awake to…morrow morning。 As there
is no hotel near； and as the propitious hour may occur at a
moment's notice； it was clearly incumbent on me； under the
peculiar circumstances； to offer him the hospitality of the
Sanitarium。 He has accepted it with the utmost gratitude； and has
thanked me in a most gentlemanly and touching manner for the
pains I have taken to set his mind at ease。 Perfectly gratifying；
perfectly satisfactory； so far！ But there has been a little
hitchnow happily got over…which I think it right to mention
to you before we all retire for the night。〃
Having paved the way in those words （and in Mr。 Bashwood's
hearing） for the statement which he had previously announced his
intention of making； in the event of Allan's dying in the
Sanitarium； the doctor was about to proceed； when his attention
was attracted by a sound below like the trying of a door。
He instantly descended the stairs； and unlocked the door of
communication between the first and second floors； which he had
locked behind him on his way up。 But the person who had tried the
doorif such a person there really had beenwas too quick for
him。 He looked along the corridor； and over the staircase into
the hall； and； discovering nothing； returned to Miss Gwilt； after
securing the door of communication behind him once more。
〃Pardon me；〃 he resumed； 〃I thought I heard something downstairs。
With regard
