desperate remedies-第22章
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you heartily nowthat is； as heartily as a man canand you love
him in return； your loves may be impracticable and hopeless； and you
may be separated for ever。 You； as the weary； weary years pass by
will fade and fadebright eyes WILL fadeand you will perhaps then
die earlytrue to him to your latest breath； and believing him to
be true to the latest breath also； whilst he； in some gay and busy
spot far away from your last quiet nook； will have married some
dashing lady； and not purely oblivious of you； will long have ceased
to regret youwill chat about you； as you were in long past years
will say； 〃Ah； little Cytherea used to tie her hair like thatpoor
innocent trusting thing； it was a pleasant useless idle dreamthat
dream of mine for the maid with the bright eyes and simple； silly
heart； but I was a foolish lad at that time。〃 Then he will tell the
tale of all your little Wills and Wont's and particular ways； and as
he speaks； turn to his wife with a placid smile。'
'It is not true！ He can't； he c…can't be s…so crueland you are
cruel to meyou are； you are！' She was at last driven to
desperation： her natural common sense and shrewdness had seen all
through the piece how imaginary her emotions wereshe felt herself
to be weak and foolish in permitting them to rise； but even then she
could not control them： be agonized she must。 She was only
eighteen； and the long day's labour； her weariness； her excitement；
had completely unnerved her； and worn her out： she was bent hither
and thither by this tyrannical working upon her imagination； as a
young rush in the wind。 She wept bitterly。 'And now think how much
I like you；' resumed Miss Aldclyffe； when Cytherea grew calmer。 'I
shall never forget you for anybody else； as men donever。 I will
be exactly as a mother to you。 Now will you promise to live with me
always； and always be taken care of； and never deserted？'
'I cannot。 I will not be anybody's maid for another day on any
consideration。'
'No； no； no。 You shan't be a lady's…maid。 You shall be my
companion。 I will get another maid。'
Companionthat was a new idea。 Cytherea could not resist the
evidently heartfelt desire of the strange…tempered woman for her
presence。 But she could not trust to the moment's impulse。
'I will stay； I think。 But do not ask for a final answer to…night。'
'Never mind now； then。 Put your hair round your mamma's neck； and
give me one good long kiss； and I won't talk any more in that way
about your lover。 After all； some young men are not so fickle as
others； but even if he's the ficklest； there is consolation。 The
love of an inconstant man is ten times more ardent than that of a
faithful manthat is； while it lasts。'
Cytherea did as she was told； to escape the punishment of further
talk； flung the twining tresses of her long； rich hair over Miss
Aldclyffe's shoulders as directed； and the two ceased conversing；
making themselves up for sleep。 Miss Aldclyffe seemed to give
herself over to a luxurious sense of content and quiet； as if the
maiden at her side afforded her a protection against dangers which
had menaced her for years； she was soon sleeping calmly。
2。 TWO TO FIVE A。M。
With Cytherea it was otherwise。 Unused to the place and
circumstances； she continued wakeful； ill at ease； and mentally
distressed。 She withdrew herself from her companion's embrace；
turned to the other side； and endeavoured to relieve her busy brain
by looking at the window…blind； and noticing the light of the rising
moonnow in her last quartercreep round upon it： it was the
light of an old waning moon which had but a few days longer to live。
The sight led her to think again of what had happened under the rays
of the same month's moon； a little before its full； the ecstatic
evening scene with Edward： the kiss； and the shortness of those
happy momentsmaiden imagination bringing about the apotheosis of a
status quo which had had several unpleasantnesses in its earthly
reality。
But sounds were in the ascendant that night。 Her ears became aware
of a strange and gloomy murmur。
She recognized it： it was the gushing of the waterfall； faint and
low； brought from its source to the unwonted distance of the House
by a faint breeze which made it distinct and recognizable by reason
of the utter absence of all disturbing sounds。 The groom's
melancholy representation lent to the sound a more dismal effect
than it would have had of its own nature。 She began to fancy what
the waterfall must be like at that hour； under the trees in the
ghostly moonlight。 Black at the head； and over the surface of the
deep cold hole into which it fell； white and frothy at the fall；
black and white； like a pall and its border； sad everywhere。
She was in the mood for sounds of every kind now； and strained her
ears to catch the faintest； in wayward enmity to her quiet of mind。
Another soon came。
The second was quite different from the firsta kind of
intermittent whistle it seemed primarily： no； a creak； a metallic
creak； ever and anon； like a plough； or a rusty wheelbarrow； or at
least a wheel of some kind。 Yes； it was； a wheelthe water…wheel
in the shrubbery by the old manor…house； which the coachman had said
would drive him mad。
She determined not to think any more of these gloomy things； but now
that she had once noticed the sound there was no sealing her ears to
it。 She could not help timing its creaks； and putting on a dread
expectancy just before the end of each half…minute that brought
them。 To imagine the inside of the engine…house； whence these
noises proceeded； was now a necessity。 No window； but crevices in
the door； through which； probably； the moonbeams streamed in the
most attenuated and skeleton…like rays； striking sharply upon
portions of wet rusty cranks and chains； a glistening wheel； turning
incessantly； labouring in the dark like a captive starving in a
dungeon； and instead of a floor below； gurgling water； which on
account of the darkness could only be heard； water which laboured up
dark pipes almost to where she lay。
She shivered。 Now she was determined to go to sleep； there could be
nothing else left to be heard or to imagineit was horrid that her
imagination should be so restless。 Yet just for an instant before
going to sleep she would think thissuppose another sound SHOULD
comejust suppose it should！ Before the thought had well passed
through her brain； a third sound came。
The third was a very soft gurgle or rattleof a strange and
abnormal kindyet a sound she had heard before at some past period
of her lifewhen； she could not recollect。 To make it the more
disturbing； it seemed to be almost close to hereither close
outside the window； close under the floor； or close above the
ceiling。 The accidental fact of its coming so immediately upon the
heels of her supposition； told so powerfully upon her excited nerves
that she jumped up in the bed。 The same instant； a little dog in
some room near； having probably heard the same noise； set up a low
whine。 The watch…dog in the yard； hearing the moan of his
associate； began to howl loudly and distinctly。 His melancholy
notes were taken up directly afterwards by the dogs in the kennel a
long way off； in every variety of wail。
One logical thought alone was able to enter her flurried brain。 The
little dog that began the whining must have heard the other two
sounds even better than herself。 He had taken no notice of them；
but he had taken notice of the third。 The third； then； was an
unusual sound。
It was not like water； it was not like wind； it was not the night…
jar； it was not a clock； nor a rat； nor a person snoring。
She crept under the clothes； and flung her arms tightly round Miss
Aldclyffe； as if for protection。 Cytherea perceived that the lady's
late peaceful warmth had given place to a sweat。 At the maiden's
touch； Miss Aldclyffe awoke with a low scream。
She remembered her position instantly。 'O such a terrible dream！'
she cried； in a hurried whisper； holding to Cytherea in her turn；
'and your touch was the end of it。 It was dreadful。 Time； with his
wings； hour…glass； and scythe； coming nearer and nea
