desperate remedies-第18章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
arranging it could please her。 She continued in a smouldering
passion during the remainder of the performance； keeping her lips
firmly closed； and the muscles of her body rigid。 Finally；
snatching up her gloves； and taking her handkerchief and fan in her
hand； she silently sailed out of the room； without betraying the
least consciousness of another woman's presence behind her。
Cytherea's fears that at the undressing this suppressed anger would
find a vent； kept her on thorns throughout the evening。 She tried
to read； she could not。 She tried to sew； she could not。 She tried
to muse； she could not do that connectedly。 'If this is the
beginning； what will the end be！' she said in a whisper； and felt
many misgivings as to the policy of being overhasty in establishing
an independence at the expense of congruity with a cherished past。
3。 MIDNIGHT
The clock struck twelve。 The Aldclyffe state dinner was over。 The
company had all gone； and Miss Aldclyffe's bell rang loudly and
jerkingly。
Cytherea started to her feet at the sound； which broke in upon a
fitful sleep that had overtaken her。 She had been sitting drearily
in her chair waiting minute after minute for the signal； her brain
in that state of intentness which takes cognizance of the passage of
Time as a real motionmotion without matterthe instants throbbing
past in the company of a feverish pulse。 She hastened to the room；
to find the lady sitting before the dressing shrine； illuminated on
both sides； and looking so queenly in her attitude of absolute
repose； that the younger woman felt the awfullest sense of
responsibility at her Vandalism in having undertaken to demolish so
imposing a pile。
The lady's jewelled ornaments were taken off in silencesome by her
own listless hands； some by Cytherea's。 Then followed the outer
stratum of clothing。 The dress being removed； Cytherea took it in
her hand and went with it into the bedroom adjoining； intending to
hang it in the wardrobe。 But on second thoughts； in order that she
might not keep Miss Aldclyffe waiting a moment longer than
necessary； she flung it down on the first resting…place that came to
hand； which happened to be the bed； and re…entered the dressing…room
with the noiseless footfall of a kitten。 She paused in the middle
of the room。
She was unnoticed； and her sudden return had plainly not been
expected。 During the short time of Cytherea's absence； Miss
Aldclyffe had pulled off a kind of chemisette of Brussels net； drawn
high above the throat； which she had worn with her evening dress as
a semi…opaque covering to her shoulders； and in its place had put
her night…gown round her。 Her right hand was lifted to her neck； as
if engaged in fastening her night…gown。
But on a second glance Miss Aldclyffe's proceeding was clearer to
Cytherea。 She was not fastening her night…gown； it had been
carelessly thrown round her； and Miss Aldclyffe was really occupied
in holding up to her eyes some small object that she was keenly
scrutinizing。 And now on suddenly discovering the presence of
Cytherea at the back of the apartment； instead of naturally
continuing or concluding her inspection； she desisted hurriedly； the
tiny snap of a spring was heard； her hand was removed； and she began
adjusting her robes。
Modesty might have directed her hasty action of enwrapping her
shoulders； but it was scarcely likely； considering Miss Aldclyffe's
temperament； that she had all her life been used to a maid；
Cytherea's youth； and the elder lady's marked treatment of her as if
she were a mere child or plaything。 The matter was too slight to
reason about； and yet upon the whole it seemed that Miss Aldclyffe
must have a practical reason for concealing her neck。
With a timid sense of being an intruder Cytherea was about to step
back and out of the room； but at the same moment Miss Aldclyffe
turned； saw the impulse； and told her companion to stay； looking
into her eyes as if she had half an intention to explain something。
Cytherea felt certain it was the little mystery of her late
movements。 The other withdrew her eyes； Cytherea went to fetch the
dressing…gown； and wheeled round again to bring it up to Miss
Aldclyffe； who had now partly removed her night…dress to put it on
the proper way； and still sat with her back towards Cytherea。
Her neck was again quite open and uncovered； and though hidden from
the direct line of Cytherea's vision； she saw it reflected in the
glassthe fair white surface； and the inimitable combination of
curves between throat and bosom which artists adore； being brightly
lit up by the light burning on either side。
And the lady's prior proceedings were now explained in the simplest
manner。 In the midst of her breast； like an island in a sea of
pearl； reclined an exquisite little gold locket； embellished with
arabesque work of blue； red； and white enamel。 That was undoubtedly
what Miss Aldclyffe had been contemplating； and； moreover； not
having been put off with her other ornaments； it was to be retained
during the nighta slight departure from the custom of ladies which
Miss Aldclyffe had at first not cared to exhibit to her new
assistant； though now； on further thought； she seemed to have become
indifferent on the matter。
'My dressing…gown；' she said； quietly fastening her night…dress as
she spoke。
Cytherea came forward with it。 Miss Aldclyffe did not turn her
head； but looked inquiringly at her maid in the glass。
'You saw what I wear on my neck； I suppose？' she said to Cytherea's
reflected face。
'Yes； madam； I did；' said Cytherea to Miss Aldclyffe's reflected
face。
Miss Aldclyffe again looked at Cytherea's reflection as if she were
on the point of explaining。 Again she checked her resolve； and said
lightly
'Few of my maids discover that I wear it always。 I generally keep
it a secretnot that it matters much。 But I was careless with you；
and seemed to want to tell you。 You win me to make confidences
that。 。 。'
She ceased； took Cytherea's hand in her own； lifted the locket with
the other； touched the spring and disclosed a miniature。
'It is a handsome face； is it not？' she whispered mournfully； and
even timidly。
'It is。'
But the sight had gone through Cytherea like an electric shock； and
there was an instantaneous awakening of perception in her； so
thrilling in its presence as to be well…nigh insupportable。 The
face in the miniature was the face of her own fatheryounger and
fresher than she had ever known himbut her father！
Was this the woman of his wild and unquenchable early love？ And was
this the woman who had figured in the gate…man's story as answering
the name of Cytherea before her judgment was awake？ Surely it was。
And if so； here was the tangible outcrop of a romantic and hidden
stratum of the past hitherto seen only in her imagination； but as
far as her scope allowed； clearly defined therein by reason of its
strangeness。
Miss Aldclyffe's eyes and thoughts were so intent upon the miniature
that she had not been conscious of Cytherea's start of surprise。
She went on speaking in a low and abstracted tone。
'Yes； I lost him。' She interrupted her words by a short meditation；
and went on again。 'I lost him by excess of honesty as regarded my
past。 But it was best that it should be so。 。 。 。 I was led to
think rather more than usual of the circumstances to…night because
of your name。 It is pronounced the same way； though differently
spelt。'
The only means by which Cytherea's surname could have been spelt to
Miss Aldclyffe must have been by Mrs。 Morris or Farmer Springrove。
She fancied Farmer Springrove would have spelt it properly if Edward
was his informant； which made Miss Aldclyffe's remark obscure。
Women make confidences and then regret them。 The impulsive rush of
feeling which had led Miss Aldclyffe to indulge in this revelation；
trifling as it was； died out immediately her words were beyond
recall； and the turmoil； occasioned in her by dwelling upon that
chapter of her life； found vent in another kind of emotionthe
result of a trivial accident。
Cytherea； after letting down Miss Aldclyffe's hair； adopted some
plan with i
