desperate remedies-第1章
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Desperate Remedies
by Thomas Hardy
CONTENTS
PREFATORY NOTE
I。 THE EVENTS OF THIRTY YEARS
II。 THE EVENTS OF A FORTNIGHT
III。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHT DAYS
IV。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
V。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
VI。 THE EVENTS OF TWELVE HOURS
VII。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN DAYS
VIII。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN DAYS
IX。 THE EVENTS OF TEN WEEKS
X。 THE EVENTS OF A DAY AND NIGHT
XI。 THE EVENTS OF FIVE DAYS
XII。 THE EVENTS OF TEN MONTHS
XIII。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
XIV。 THE EVENTS OF FIVE WEEKS
XV。 THE EVENTS OF THREE WEEKS
XVI。 THE EVENTS OF ONE WEEK
XVII。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
XVIII。 THE EVENTS OF THREE DAYS
XIX。 THE EVENTS OF A DAY AND NIGHT
XX。 THE EVENTS OF THREE HOURS
XXI。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN HOURS
SEQUEL
PREFATORY NOTE
The following story； the first published by the author； was written
nineteen years ago； at a time when he was feeling his way to a
method。 The principles observed in its composition are； no doubt；
too exclusively those in which mystery； entanglement； surprise； and
moral obliquity are depended on for exciting interest； but some of
the scenes； and at least one of the characters； have been deemed not
unworthy of a little longer preservation； and as they could hardly
be reproduced in a fragmentary form the novel is reissued complete
the more readily that it has for some considerable time been
reprinted and widely circulated in America。
January 1889。
To the foregoing note I have only to add that； in the present
edition of 'Desperate Remedies；' some Wessex towns and other places
that are common to the scenes of several of these stories have been
called for the first time by the names under which they appear
elsewhere； for the satisfaction of any reader who may care for
consistency in such matters。
This is the only material change； for； as it happened that certain
characteristics which provoked most discussion in my latest story
were present in this my firstpublished in 1871； when there was no
French name for them it has seemed best to let them stand unaltered。
T。H。
February 1896。
I。 THE EVENTS OF THIRTY YEARS
1。 DECEMBER AND JANUARY； 1835…36
In the long and intricately inwrought chain of circumstance which
renders worthy of record some experiences of Cytherea Graye； Edward
Springrove； and others； the first event directly influencing the
issue was a Christmas visit。
In the above…mentioned year； 1835； Ambrose Graye； a young architect
who had just begun the practice of his profession in the midland
town of Hocbridge； to the north of Christminster； went to London to
spend the Christmas holidays with a friend who lived in Bloomsbury。
They had gone up to Cambridge in the same year； and； after
graduating together； Huntway； the friend； had taken orders。
Graye was handsome； frank； and gentle。 He had a quality of thought
which； exercised on homeliness； was humour； on nature；
picturesqueness； on abstractions； poetry。 Being； as a rule；
broadcast； it was all three。
Of the wickedness of the world he was too forgetful。 To discover
evil in a new friend is to most people only an additional
experience： to him it was ever a surprise。
While in London he became acquainted with a retired officer in the
Navy named Bradleigh； who； with his wife and their daughter； lived
in a street not far from Russell Square。 Though they were in no
more than comfortable circumstances； the captain's wife came of an
ancient family whose genealogical tree was interlaced with some of
the most illustrious and well…known in the kingdom。
The young lady； their daughter； seemed to Graye by far the most
beautiful and queenly being he had ever beheld。 She was about
nineteen or twenty； and her name was Cytherea。 In truth she was not
so very unlike country girls of that type of beauty； except in one
respect。 She was perfect in her manner and bearing； and they were
not。 A mere distinguishing peculiarity； by catching the eye； is
often read as the pervading characteristic； and she appeared to him
no less than perfection throughouttranscending her rural rivals in
very nature。 Graye did a thing the blissfulness of which was only
eclipsed by its hazardousness。 He loved her at first sight。
His introductions had led him into contact with Cytherea and her
parents two or three times on the first week of his arrival in
London； and accident and a lover's contrivance brought them together
as frequently the week following。 The parents liked young Graye；
and having few friends （for their equals in blood were their
superiors in position）； he was received on very generous terms。 His
passion for Cytherea grew not only strong； but ineffably exalted：
she； without positively encouraging him； tacitly assented to his
schemes for being near her。 Her father and mother seemed to have
lost all confidence in nobility of birth； without money to give
effect to its presence； and looked upon the budding consequence of
the young people's reciprocal glances with placidity； if not actual
favour。
Graye's whole impassioned dream terminated in a sad and
unaccountable episode。 After passing through three weeks of sweet
experience； he had arrived at the last stagea kind of moral Gaza
before plunging into an emotional desert。 The second week in
January had come round； and it was necessary for the young architect
to leave town。
Throughout his acquaintanceship with the lady of his heart there had
been this marked peculiarity in her love： she had delighted in his
presence as a sweetheart should do； yet from first to last she had
repressed all recognition of the true nature of the thread which
drew them together； blinding herself to its meaning and only natural
tendency； and appearing to dread his announcement of them。 The
present seemed enough for her without cumulative hope： usually；
even if love is in itself an end； it must be regarded as a beginning
to be enjoyed。
In spite of evasions as an obstacle； and in consequence of them as a
spur； he would put the matter off no longer。 It was evening。 He
took her into a little conservatory on the landing； and there among
the evergreens； by the light of a few tiny lamps； infinitely
enhancing the freshness and beauty of the leaves； he made the
declaration of a love as fresh and beautiful as they。
'My lovemy darling； be my wife！'
She seemed like one just awakened。 'Ahwe must part now！' she
faltered； in a voice of anguish。 'I will write to you。' She
loosened her hand and rushed away。
In a wild fever Graye went home and watched for the next morning。
Who shall express his misery and wonder when a note containing these
words was put into his hand？
'Good…bye； good…bye for ever。 As recognized lovers something
divides us eternally。 Forgive meI should have told you before；
but your love was sweet！ Never mention me。'
That very day； and as it seemed； to put an end to a painful
condition of things； daughter and parents left London to pay off a
promised visit to a relative in a western county。 No message or
letter of entreaty could wring from her any explanation。 She begged
him not to follow her； and the most bewildering point was that her
father and mother appeared； from the tone of a letter Graye received
from them； as vexed and sad as he at this sudden renunciation。 One
thing was plain： without admitting her reason as valid； they knew
what that reason was； and did not intend to reveal it。
A week from that day Ambrose Graye left his friend Huntway's house
and saw no more of the Love he mourned。 From time to time his
friend answered any inquiry Graye made by letter respecting her。
But very poor food to a lover is intelligence of a mistress filtered
through a friend。 Huntway could tell nothing definitely。 He said
he believed there had been some prior flirtation between Cytherea
and her cousin； an officer of the line； two or three years before
Graye met her； which had suddenly been terminated by the cousin's
departure for India； and the young lady's travelling on the
Continent with her parents the whole of the ensuing summer； on
account of delicate health。 Eventually
