desperate remedies-第14章

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attendant。

'That　will　door　you　needn't　go　in；　I　will　call　her。'

Cytherea　had　risen；　and　she　advanced　to　the　middle　door　with　the
chink　under　it　as　the　servant　retired。　　She　had　just　laid　her　hand
on　the　knob；　when　it　slipped　round　within　her　fingers；　and　the　door
was　pulled　open　from　the　other　side。

2。　　FOUR　O'CLOCK

The　direct　blaze　of　the　afternoon　sun；　partly　refracted　through　the
crimson　curtains　of　the　window；　and　heightened　by　reflections　from
the　crimson…flock　paper　which　covered　the　walls；　and　a　carpet　on　the
floor　of　the　same　tint；　shone　with　a　burning　glow　round　the　form　of
a　lady　standing　close　to　Cytherea's　front　with　the　door　in　her　hand。
The　stranger　appeared　to　the　maiden's　eyesfresh　from　the　blue
gloom；　and　assisted　by　an　imagination　fresh　from　naturelike　a　tall
black　figure　standing　in　the　midst　of　fire。　　It　was　the　figure　of　a
finely…built　woman；　of　spare　though　not　angular　proportions。

Cytherea　involuntarily　shaded　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　retreated　a
step　or　two；　and　then　she　could　for　the　first　time　see　Miss
Aldclyffe's　face　in　addition　to　her　outline；　lit　up　by　the　secondary
and　softer　light　that　was　reflected　from　the　varnished　panels　of　the
door。　　She　was　not　a　very　young　woman；　but　could　boast　of　much
beauty　of　the　majestic　autumnal　phase。

'O；'　said　the　lady；　'come　this　way。'　　Cytherea　followed　her　to　the
embrasure　of　the　window。

Both　the　women　showed　off　themselves　to　advantage　as　they　walked
forward　in　the　orange　light；　and　each　showed　too　in　her　face　that
she　had　been　struck　with　her　companion's　appearance。　　The　warm　tint
added　to　Cytherea's　face　a　voluptuousness　which　youth　and　a　simple
life　had　not　yet　allowed　to　express　itself　there　ordinarily；　whilst
in　the　elder　lady's　face　it　reduced　the　customary　expression；　which
might　have　been　called　sternness；　if　not　harshness；　to　grandeur；　and
warmed　her　decaying　complexion　with　much　of　the　youthful　richness　it
plainly　had　once　possessed。

She　appeared　now　no　more　than　five…and…thirty；　though　she　might
easily　have　been　ten　or　a　dozen　years　older。　　She　had　clear　steady
eyes；　a　Roman　nose　in　its　purest　form；　and　also　the　round　prominent
chin　with　which　the　Caesars　are　represented　in　ancient　marbles；　a
mouth　expressing　a　capability　for　and　tendency　to　strong　emotion；
habitually　controlled　by　pride。　　There　was　a　severity　about　the
lower　outlines　of　the　face　which　gave　a　masculine　cast　to　this
portion　of　her　countenance。　　Womanly　weakness　was　nowhere　visible
save　in　one　partthe　curve　of　her　forehead　and　browsthere　it　was
clear　and　emphatic。　　She　wore　a　lace　shawl　over　a　brown　silk　dress；
and　a　net　bonnet　set　with　a　few　blue　cornflowers。

'You　inserted　the　advertisement　for　a　situation　as　lady's…maid
giving　the　address；　G。；　Cross　Street？'

'Yes；　madam。　　Graye。'

'Yes。　　I　have　heard　your　nameMrs。　Morris；　my　housekeeper；
mentioned　you；　and　pointed　out　your　advertisement。'

This　was　puzzling　intelligence；　but　there　was　not　time　enough　to
consider　it。

'Where　did　you　live　last？'　continued　Miss　Aldclyffe。

'I　have　never　been　a　servant　before。　　I　lived　at　home。'

'Never　been　out？　　I　thought　too　at　sight　of　you　that　you　were　too
girlish…looking　to　have　done　much。　　But　why　did　you　advertise　with
such　assurance？　　It　misleads　people。'

'I　am　very　sorry：　　I　put　〃inexperienced〃　at　first；　but　my　brother
said　it　is　absurd　to　trumpet　your　own　weakness　to　the　world；　and
would　not　let　it　remain。'

'But　your　mother　knew　what　was　right；　I　suppose？'

'I　have　no　mother；　madam。'

'Your　father；　then？'

'I　have　no　father。'

'Well；'　she　said；　more　softly；　'your　sisters；　aunts；　or　cousins。'

'They　didn't　think　anything　about　it。'

'You　didn't　ask　them；　I　suppose。'

'No。'

'You　should　have　done　so；　then。　　Why　didn't　you？'

'Because　I　haven't　any　of　them；　either。'

Miss　Aldclyffe　showed　her　surprise。　　'You　deserve　forgiveness　then
at　any　rate；　child；'　she　said；　in　a　sort　of　drily…kind　tone。
'However；　I　am　afraid　you　do　not　suit　me；　as　I　am　looking　for　an
elderly　person。　　You　see；　I　want　an　experienced　maid　who　knows　all
the　usual　duties　of　the　office。'　　She　was　going　to　add；　'Though　I
like　your　appearance；'　but　the　words　seemed　offensive　to　apply　to
the　ladylike　girl　before　her；　and　she　modified　them　to；　'though　I
like　you　much。'

'I　am　sorry　I　misled　you；　madam；'　said　Cytherea。

Miss　Aldclyffe　stood　in　a　reverie；　without　replying。

'Good　afternoon；'　continued　Cytherea。

'Good…bye；　Miss　GrayeI　hope　you　will　succeed。'

Cytherea　turned　away　towards　the　door。　　The　movement　chanced　to　be
one　of　her　masterpieces。　　It　was　precise：　　it　had　as　much　beauty　as
was　compatible　with　precision；　and　as　little　coquettishness　as　was
compatible　with　beauty。

And　she　had　in　turning　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　other　lady
with　a　faint　accent　of　reproach　in　her　face。　　Those　who　remember
Greuze's　'Head　of　a　Girl；'　have　an　idea　of　Cytherea's　look　askance
at　the　turning。　　It　is　not　for　a　man　to　tell　fishers　of　men　how　to
set　out　their　fascinations　so　as　to　bring　about　the　highest　possible
average　of　takes　within　the　year：　　but　the　action　that　tugs　the
hardest　of　all　at　an　emotional　beholder　is　this　sweet　method　of
turning　which　steals　the　bosom　away　and　leaves　the　eyes　behind。

Now　Miss　Aldclyffe　herself　was　no　tyro　at　wheeling。　　When　Cytherea
had　closed　the　door　upon　her；　she　remained　for　some　time　in　her
motionless　attitude；　listening　to　the　gradually　dying　sound　of　the
maiden's　retreating　footsteps。　　She　murmured　to　herself；　'It　is
almost　worth　while　to　be　bored　with　instructing　her　in　order　to　have
a　creature　who　could　glide　round　my　luxurious　indolent　body　in　that
manner；　and　look　at　me　in　that　wayI　warrant　how　light　her　fingers
are　upon　one's　head　and　neck。　。　。　。　　What　a　silly　modest　young　thing
she　is；　to　go　away　so　suddenly　as　that！'　　She　rang　the　bell。

'Ask　the　young　lady　who　has　just　left　me　to　step　back　again；'　she
said　to　the　attendant。　　'Quick！　or　she　will　be　gone。'

Cytherea　was　now　in　the　vestibule；　thinking　that　if　she　had　told　her
history；　Miss　Aldclyffe　might　perhaps　have　taken　her　into　the
household；　yet　her　history　she　particularly　wished　to　conceal　from　a
stranger。　　When　she　was　recalled　she　turned　back　without　feeling
much　surprise。　　Something；　she　knew　not　what；　told　her　she　had　not
seen　the　last　of　Miss　Aldclyffe。

'You　have　somebody　to　refer　me　to；　of　course；'　the　lady　said；　when
Cytherea　had　re…entered　the　room。

'Yes：　　Mr。　Thorn；　a　solicitor　at　Aldbrickham。'

'And　are　you　a　clever　needlewoman？'

'I　am　considered　to　be。'

'Then　I　think　that　at　any　rate　I　will　write　to　Mr。　Thorn；'　said　Miss
Aldclyffe；　with　a　little　smile。　　'It　is　true；　the　whole　proceeding
is　very　irregular；　but　my　present　maid　leaves　next　Monday；　and
neither　of　the　five　I　have　already　seen　seem　to　do　for　me。　。　。　。
Well；　I　will　write　to　Mr。　Thorn；　and　if　his　reply　is　satisfactory；
you　shall　hear　from　me。　　It　will　be　as　well　to　set　yourself　in
readiness　to　come　on　Monday。'

When　Cytherea　had　again　been　watched　out　of　the　room；　Miss　Aldclyffe
asked　for　writing　materials；　that　she　might　at　once　communicate　with
Mr。　Thorn。　　She　indecisively　played　with　the　pen。　　'Suppose　Mr。
Thorn's　reply　to　be　in　any　way　dishearteningand　even　if　so　from
his　own　imperfect　acquaintance　with　the　young　creature　more　than
from　circumstantial　knowledgeI　shall　feel　obliged　to　give　her　up。
Then　I　shall　regret　that　I　did　not　give　her　one　trial　in　spite　of
other　people's　prejudices。　　All　her　account　of　herself　is　reliable
enoughyes；　I　can　see　that　by　her　face。　　I　like　that　face　of　hers。'

Miss　Aldclyffe　put　down　the　pen　and　left　the　hotel　without　writing
to　Mr。　Thorn。



V。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　ONE　DAY

1。　　AUGUST　THE　EIGHTH。　　MORNING　AND　AFTERNOON

At　post…time　on　that　following　Monday　morning；　Cytherea　watched　so
anxiously　for　the　postman；　that　as　the　time　which　must　bring　him
narrowed　less　and　less　her　vivid　expectation　had　only　a　degree　less
tangibility　than　his　presence　itself。　　In　another　second　his　form
came　into　view。　　He　brought　two　letters　for　Cytherea。

One　from　Miss　Aldclyffe；　simply　stating　that　she　wished　Cytherea　to
come　on　trial：　　that　she　would　requir