desperate remedies-第36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！
question whether she had acted very wisely in writing to either of
the two men who had so influenced her。
IX。 THE EVENTS OF TEN WEEKS
1。 FROM SEPTEMBER THE TWENTY…FIRST TO THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER
The foremost figure within Cytherea's horizon； exclusive of the
inmates of Knapwater House； was now the steward； Mr。 Manston。 It
was impossible that they should live within a quarter of a mile of
each other； be engaged in the same service； and attend the same
church； without meeting at some spot or another； twice or thrice a
week。 On Sundays； in her pew； when by chance she turned her head；
Cytherea found his eyes waiting desirously for a glimpse of hers；
and； at first more strangely； the eyes of Miss Aldclyffe furtively
resting on him。 On coming out of church he frequently walked beside
Cytherea till she reached the gate at which residents in the House
turned into the shrubbery。 By degrees a conjecture grew to a
certainty。 She knew that he loved her。
But a strange fact was connected with the development of his love。
He was palpably making the strongest efforts to subdue； or at least
to hide； the weakness； and as it sometimes seemed； rather from his
own conscience than from surrounding eyes。 Hence she found that not
one of his encounters with her was anything more than the result of
pure accident。 He made no advances whatever： without avoiding her；
he never sought her： the words he had whispered at their first
interview now proved themselves to be quite as much the result of
unguarded impulse as was her answer。 Something held him back； bound
his impulse down； but she saw that it was neither pride of his
person； nor fear that she would refuse hima course she
unhesitatingly resolved to take should he think fit to declare
himself。 She was interested in him and his marvellous beauty； as
she might have been in some fascinating panther or leopardfor some
undefinable reason she shrank from him； even whilst she admired。
The keynote of her nature； a warm 'precipitance of soul；' as
Coleridge happily writes it； which Manston had so directly pounced
upon at their very first interview； gave her now a tremulous sense
of being in some way in his power。
The state of mind was； on the whole； a dangerous one for a young and
inexperienced woman； and perhaps the circumstance which； more than
any other； led her to cherish Edward's image now； was that he had
taken no notice of the receipt of her letter； stating that she
discarded him。 It was plain then； she said； that he did not care
deeply for her； and she thereupon could not quite leave off caring
deeply for him：
'Ingenium mulierum；
Nolunt ubi velis； ubi nolis cupiunt ultro。'
The month of October passed； and November began its course。 The
inhabitants of the village of Carriford grew weary of supposing that
Miss Aldclyffe was going to marry her steward。 New whispers arose
and became very distinct （though they did not reach Miss Aldclyffe's
ears） to the effect that the steward was deeply in love with
Cytherea Graye。 Indeed； the fact became so obvious that there was
nothing left to say about it except that their marriage would be an
excellent one for both；for her in point of comfortand for him in
point of love。
As circles in a pond grow wider and wider； the next fact； which at
first had been patent only to Cytherea herself； in due time spread
to her neighbours； and they； too； wondered that he made no overt
advances。 By the middle of November； a theory made up of a
combination of the other two was received with general favour： its
substance being that a guilty intrigue had been commenced between
Manston and Miss Aldclyffe； some years before； when he was a very
young man； and she still in the enjoyment of some womanly beauty；
but now that her seniority began to grow emphatic she was becoming
distasteful to him。 His fear of the effect of the lady's jealousy
would； they said； thus lead him to conceal from her his new
attachment to Cytherea。 Almost the only woman who did not believe
this was Cytherea herself； on unmistakable grounds； which were
hidden from all besides。 It was not only in public； but even more
markedly in secluded places； on occasions when gallantry would have
been safe from all discovery； that this guarded course of action was
pursued； all the strength of a consuming passion burning in his eyes
the while。
2。 NOVEMBER THE EIGHTEENTH
It was on a Friday in this month of November that Owen Graye paid a
visit to his sister。
His zealous integrity still retained for him the situation at
Budmouth； and in order that there should be as little interruption
as possible to his duties there； he had decided not to come to
Knapwater till late in the afternoon； and to return to Budmouth by
the first train the next morning； Miss Aldclyffe having made a point
of frequently offering him lodging for an unlimited period； to the
great pleasure of Cytherea。
He reached the house about four o'clock； and ringing the bell； asked
of the page who answered it for Miss Graye。
When Graye spoke the name of his sister； Manston； who was just
coming out from an interview with Miss Aldclyffe； passed him in the
vestibule and heard the question。 The steward's face grew hot； and
he secretly clenched his hands。 He half crossed the court； then
turned his head and saw that the lad still stood at the door； though
Owen had been shown into the house。 Manston went back to him。
'Who was that man？' he said。
'I don't know； sir。'
'Has he ever been here before？'
'Yes； sir。'
'How many times？'
'Three。'
'You are sure you don't know him？'
'I think he is Miss Graye's brother； sir。'
'Then； why the devil didn't you say so before！' Manston exclaimed；
and again went on his way。
'Of course； that was not the man of my dreamsof course； it
couldn't be！' he said to himself。 'That I should be such a fool
such an utter fool。 Good God！ to allow a girl to influence me like
this； day after day； till I am jealous of her very brother。 A
lady's dependent； a waif； a helpless thing entirely at the mercy of
the world； yes； curse it； that is just why it is； that fact of her
being so helpless against the blows of circumstances which renders
her so deliciously sweet！'
He paused opposite his house。 Should he get his horse saddled？ No。
He went down the drive and out of the park； having started to
proceed to an outlying spot on the estate concerning some draining；
and to call at the potter's yard to make an arrangement for the
supply of pipes。 But a remark which Miss Aldclyffe had dropped in
relation to Cytherea was what still occupied his mind； and had been
the immediate cause of his excitement at the sight of her brother。
Miss Aldclyffe had meaningly remarked during their intercourse； that
Cytherea was wildly in love with Edward Springrove； in spite of his
engagement to his cousin Adelaide。
'How I am harassed！' he said aloud； after deep thought for half…an…
hour； while still continuing his walk with the greatest vehemence。
'How I am harassed by these emotions of mine！' He calmed himself by
an effort。 'Well； duty after all it shall be； as nearly as I can
effect it。 〃Honesty is the best policy；〃' with which vigorously
uttered resolve he once more attempted to turn his attention to the
prosy object of his journey。
The evening had closed in to a dark and dreary night when the
steward came from the potter's door to proceed homewards again。 The
gloom did not tend to raise his spirits； and in the total lack of
objects to attract his eye； he soon fell to introspection as before。
It was along the margin of turnip fields that his path lay； and the
large leaves of the crop struck flatly against his feet at every
step； pouring upon them the rolling drops of moisture gathered upon
their broad surfaces； but the annoyance was unheeded。 Next reaching
a fir plantation； he mounted the stile and followed the path into
the midst of the darkness produced by the overhanging trees。
After walking under the dense shade of the inky boughs for a few
minutes； he fancied he had mistaken the path； which as yet was
scarcely familiar to him。 This was proved directly af
