armadale-第95章
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been asked with the most exasperating politeness if she wished to
join Miss Gwilt in a walk。 Small circumstances of this kind；
which were sufficiently suspicious to the mind of a jealous
woman； were discovered in abundance。 But circumstances； on which
to found a valid ground of complaint that might be laid before
the major； proved to be utterly wanting。 Day followed day； and
Miss Gwilt remained persistently correct in her conduct； and
persistently irreproachable in her relations toward her employer
and her pupil。
Foiled in this direction； Mrs。 Milroy tried next to find an
assailable place in the statement which the governess's reference
had made on the subject of the governess's character。
Obtaining from the major the minutely careful report which his
mother had addressed to him on this topic； Mrs。 Milroy read and
reread it； and failed to find the weak point of which she was in
search in any part of the letter。 All the customary questions on
such occasions had been asked； and all had been scrupulously and
plainly answered。 The one sole opening for an attack which it was
possible to discover was an opening which showed itself； after
more practical matters had been all disposed of； in the closing
sentences of the letter。
〃I was so struck；〃 the passage ran； 〃by the grace and distinction
of Miss Gwilt's manners that I took an opportunity； when she was
out of the room； of asking how she first came to be governess。
'In the usual way；' I was told。 'A sad family misfortune； in
which she behaved nobly。 She is a very sensitive person； and
shrinks from speaking of it among strangersa natural reluctance
which I have always felt it a matter of delicacy to respect。'
Hearing this； of course； I felt the same delicacy on my side。 It
was no part of my duty to intrude on the poor thing's private
sorrows； my only business was to do what I have now done； to make
sure that I was engaging a capable and respectable governess to
instruct my grandchild。〃
After careful consideration of these lines； Mrs。 Milroy； having a
strong desire to find circumstances suspicious； found them
suspicious accordingly。 She determined to sift the mystery of
Miss Gwilt's family misfortunes to the bottom； on the chance of
extracting from it something useful to her purpose。 There were
two ways of doing this。 She might begin by questioning the
governess herself； or she might begin by questioning the
governess's reference。 Experience of Miss Gwilt's quickness of
resource in dealing with awkward questions at their introductory
interview decided her on taking the latter course。 〃I'll get the
particulars from the reference first；〃 thought Mrs。 Milroy； 〃and
then question the creature herself； and see if the two stories
agree。〃
The letter of inquiry was short； and scrupuously to the point。
Mrs。 Milroy began by informing her correspondent that the state
of her health necessitated leaving her daughter entirely under
the governess's influence and control。 On that account she was
more anxious than most mothers to be thoroughly informed in every
respect about the person to whom she confided the entire charge
of an only child； and feeling this anxiety； she might perhaps be
excused for putting what might be thought； after the excellent
character Miss Gwilt had received； a somewhat unnecessary
question。 With that preface； Mrs。 Milroy came to the point； and
requested to be informed of the circumstances which had obliged
Miss Gwilt to go out as a governess。
The letter； expressed in these terms； was posted the same day。 On
the morning when the answer was due； no answer appeared。 The next
morning arrived； and still there was no reply。 When the third
morning came； Mrs。 Milroy's impatience had broken loose from all
restraint。 She had rung for the nurse in the manner which has
been already recorded； and had ordered the woman to be in waiting
to receive the letters of the morning with her own hands。 In this
position matters now stood； and in these domestic circumstances
the new series of events at Thorpe Ambrose took their rise。
Mrs。 Milroy had just looked at her watch； and had just put her
hand once more to the bell…pull； when the door opened and the
nurse entered the room。
〃Has the postman come？〃 asked Mrs。 Milroy。
The nurse laid a letter on the bed without answering； and waited；
with unconcealed curiosity； to watch the effect which it produced
on her mistress。
Mrs。 Milroy tore open the envelope the instant it was in her
hand。 A printed paper appeared （which she threw aside）；
surrounding a letter （which she looked at） in her own
handwriting！ She snatched up the printed paper。 It was the
customary Post… office circular； informing her that her letter
had been duly presented at the right address； and that the person
whom she had written to was not to be found。
〃Something wrong？〃 asked the nurse； detecting a change in her
mistress's face。
The question passed unheeded。 Mrs。 Milroy's writing…desk was on
the table at the bedside。 She took from it the letter which the
major's mother had written to her son； and turned to the page
containing the name and address of Miss
Gwilt's reference。 〃Mrs。 Mandeville； 18 Kingsdown Crescent；
Bayswater；〃 she read； eagerly to herself； and then looked at the
address on her own returned letter。 No error had been committed：
the directions were identically the same。
〃Something wrong？〃 reiterated the nurse； advancing a step nearer
to the bed。
〃Thank Godyes！〃 cried Mrs。 Milroy； with a sudden outburst of
exultation。 She tossed the Post…office circular to the nurse； and
beat her bony hands on the bedclothes in an ecstasy of
anticipated triumph。 〃Miss Gwilt's an impostor！ Miss Gwilt's an
impostor！ If I die for it； Rachel； I'll be carried to the window
to see the police take her away！〃
〃It's one thing to say she's an impostor behind her back； and
another thing to prove it to her face；〃 remarked the nurse。 She
put her hand as she spoke into her apron pocket； and； with a
significant look at her mistress； silently produced a second
letter。
〃For me？〃 asked Mrs。 Milroy。
〃No！〃 said the nurse； 〃for Miss Gwilt。〃
The two women eyed each other； and understood each other without
another word。
〃Where is she？〃 said Mrs。 Milroy。
The nurse pointed in the direction of the park。 〃Out again； for
another walk before breakfastby herself。〃
Mrs。 Milroy beckoned to the nurse to stoop close over her。 〃Can
you open it； Rachel？〃 she whispered。
Rachel nodded。
〃Can you close it again； so that nobody would know？〃
〃Can you spare the scarf that matches your pearl gray dress？〃
asked Rachel。
〃Take it！〃 said Mrs。 Milroy； impatiently。
The nurse opened the wardrobe in silence； took the scarf in
silence； and left the room in silence。 In less than five minutes
she came back with the envelope of Miss Gwilt's letter open in
her hand。
〃Thank you； ma'am； for the scarf；〃 said Rachel； putting the open
letter composedly on the counterpane of the bed。
Mrs。 Milroy looked at the envelope。 It had been closed as usual
by means of adhesive gum； which had been made to give way by the
application of steam。 As Mrs。 Milroy took out the letter； her
hand trembled violently； and the white enamel parted into cracks
over the wrinkles on her forehead。
Rachel withdrew to the window to keep watch on the park。 〃Don't
hurry；〃 she said。 〃No signs of her yet。〃
Mrs。 Milroy still paused； keeping the all…important morsel of
paper folded in her hand。 She could have taken Miss Gwilt's life；
but she hesitated at reading Miss Gwilt's letter。
〃Are you troubled with scruples？〃 asked the nurse； with a sneer。
〃Consider it a duty you owe to your daughter。〃
〃You wretch！〃 said Mrs。 Milroy。 With that expression of opinion；
she opened the letter。
It was evidently written in great haste； was undated； and was
signed in initials only。 Thus it ran：
〃Diana Street。
〃BY DEAR LYDIAThe cab is waiting at the door； and I have only a
moment to tell you that I am obliged to leave London； on
business； for three or four days； or a week at longest。 My
letters will be forwarded if you write。 I got yours yesterday；
and I agree with you that it is very important to put hi
