desperate remedies-第41章
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here； I am vexed as much as you。 Somebody； a member of the
Institute of Architectswho； I could never tellsent to my old
address in London your advertisement cut from the paper； it was
forwarded to me； I wanted to get away from Liverpool； and it seemed
as if this was put in my way on purpose； by some old friend or
other。 I answered the advertisement certainly； but I was not
particularly anxious to come here； nor am I anxious to stay。'
Miss Aldclyffe descended from haughty superiority to womanly
persuasion with a haste which was almost ludicrous。 Indeed； the
Quos ego of the whole lecture had been less the genuine menace of
the imperious ruler of Knapwater than an artificial utterance to
hide a failing heart。
'Now； now； Mr。 Manston； you wrong me； don't suppose I wish to be
overbearing； or anything of the kind； and you will allow me to say
this much； at any rate； that I have become interested in your wife；
as well as in yourself。'
'Certainly； madam；' he said； slowly； like a man feeling his way in
the dark。 Manston was utterly at fault now。 His previous
experience of the effect of his form and features upon womankind en
masse； had taught him to flatter himself that he could account by
the same law of natural selection for the extraordinary interest
Miss Aldclyffe had hitherto taken in him； as an unmarried man； an
interest he did not at all object to； seeing that it kept him near
Cytherea； and enabled him； a man of no wealth； to rule on the estate
as if he were its lawful owner。 Like Curius at his Sabine farm； he
had counted it his glory not to possess gold himself； but to have
power over her who did。 But at this hint of the lady's wish to take
his wife under her wing also； he was perplexed： could she have any
sinister motive in doing so？ But he did not allow himself to be
troubled with these doubts； which only concerned his wife's
happiness。
'She tells me；' continued Miss Aldclyffe； 'how utterly alone in the
world she stands； and that is an additional reason why I should
sympathize with her。 Instead； then； of requesting the favour of
your retirement from the post； and dismissing your interests
altogether； I will retain you as my steward still； on condition that
you bring home your wife； and live with her respectably； in short；
as if you loved her； you understand。 I WISH you to stay here if you
grant that everything shall flow smoothly between yourself and her。'
The breast and shoulders of the steward rose； as if an expression of
defiance was about to be poured forth； before it took form； he
controlled himself and said； in his natural voice
'My part of the performance shall be carried out； madam。'
'And her anxiety to obtain a standing in the world ensures that hers
will；' replied Miss Aldclyffe。 'That will be satisfactory； then。'
After a few additional remarks； she gently signified that she wished
to put an end to the interview。 The steward took the hint and
retired。
He felt vexed and mortified； yet in walking homeward he was
convinced that telling the whole truth as he had done； with the
single exception of his love for Cytherea （which he tried to hide
even from himself）； had never served him in better stead than it had
done that night。
Manston went to his desk and thought of Cytherea's beauty with the
bitterest； wildest regret。 After the lapse of a few minutes he
calmed himself by a stoical effort； and wrote the subjoined letter
to his wife：
'KNAPWATER；
November 21； 1864。
'DEAR EUNICE；I hope you reached London safely after your flighty
visit to me。
'As I promised； I have thought over our conversation that night； and
your wish that your coming here should be no longer delayed。 After
all； it was perfectly natural that you should have spoken unkindly
as you did； ignorant as you were of the circumstances which bound
me。
'So I have made arrangements to fetch you home at once。 It is
hardly worth while for you to attempt to bring with you any luggage
you may have gathered about you （beyond mere clothing）。 Dispose of
superfluous things at a broker's； your bringing them would only make
a talk in this parish； and lead people to believe we had long been
keeping house separately。
'Will next Monday suit you for coming？ You have nothing to do that
can occupy you for more than a day or two； as far as I can see； and
the remainder of this week will afford ample time。 I can be in
London the night before； and we will come down together by the mid…
day trainYour very affectionate husband；
'AENEAS MANSTON。
'Now； of course； I shall no longer write to you as Mrs。 Rondley。'
The address on the envelope was
MRS。 MANSTON；
41 CHARLES SQUARE；
HOXTON；
LONDON； N。
He took the letter to the house； and it being too late for the
country post； sent one of the stablemen with it to Casterbridge；
instead of troubling to go to Budmouth with it himself as
heretofore。 He had no longer any necessity to keep his condition a
secret。
7。 FROM THE TWENTY…SECOND TO THE TWENTY…SEVENTH OF NOVEMBER
But the next morning Manston found that he had been forgetful of
another matter； in naming the following Monday to his wife for the
journey。
The fact was this。 A letter had just come； reminding him that he
had left the whole of the succeeding week open for an important
business engagement with a neighbouring land…agent； at that
gentleman's residence thirteen miles off。 The particular day he had
suggested to his wife； had； in the interim； been appropriated by his
correspondent。 The meeting could not now be put off。
So he wrote again to his wife； stating that business； which could
not be postponed； called him away from home on Monday； and would
entirely prevent him coming all the way to fetch her on Sunday night
as he had intended； but that he would meet her at the Carriford Road
Station with a conveyance when she arrived there in the evening。
The next day came his wife's answer to his first letter； in which
she said that she would be ready to be fetched at the time named。
Having already written his second letter； which was by that time in
her hands； he made no further reply。
The week passed away。 The steward had； in the meantime； let it
become generally known in the village that he was a married man； and
by a little judicious management； sound family reasons for his past
secrecy upon the subject； which were floated as adjuncts to the
story； were placidly received； they seemed so natural and
justifiable to the unsophisticated minds of nine…tenths of his
neighbours； that curiosity in the matter； beyond a strong curiosity
to see the lady's face； was well…nigh extinguished。
X。 THE EVENTS OF A DAY AND NIGHT
1。 NOVEMBER THE TWENTY…EIGHTH。 UNTIL TEN P。M。
Monday came； the day named for Mrs。 Manston's journey from London to
her husband's house； a day of singular and great events； influencing
the present and future of nearly all the personages whose actions in
a complex drama form the subject of this record。
The proceedings of the steward demand the first notice。 Whilst
taking his breakfast on this particular morning； the clock pointing
to eight； the horse…and…gig that was to take him to Chettlewood
waiting ready at the door； Manston hurriedly cast his eyes down the
column of Bradshaw which showed the details and duration of the
selected train's journey。
The inspection was carelessly made； the leaf being kept open by the
aid of one hand； whilst the other still held his cup of coffee； much
more carelessly than would have been the case had the expected new…
comer been Cytherea Graye； instead of his lawful wife。
He did not perceive； branching from the column down which his finger
ran； a small twist； called a shunting…line； inserted at a particular
place； to imply that at that point the train was divided into two。
By this oversight he understood that the arrival of his wife at
Carriford Road Station would not be till late in the evening： by
the second half of the train； containing the third…class passengers；
