desperate remedies-第67章
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of being a widowereverythingand jumped to a conclusion。
'You are not his wife； Cythereacome away； he has a wife living！'
he cried in an agitated whisper。 'Owen will be here directly。'
She started up； recognized the tidings first； the bearer of them
afterwards。 'Not his wife？ O； what is itwhatwho is living？'
She awoke by degrees。 'What must I do？ Edward； it is you！ Why did
you come？ Where is Owen？'
'What has Manston shown you in proof of the death of his other wife？
Tell me quick。'
'Nothingwe have never spoken of the subject。 Where is my brother
Owen？ I want him； I want him！'
'He is coming by…and…by。 Come to the station to meet himdo；'
implored Springrove。 'If Mr。 Manston comes； he will keep you from
me： I am nobody；' he added bitterly； feeling the reproach her words
had faintly shadowed forth。
'Mr。 Manston is only gone out to post a letter he has just written；'
she said； and without being distinctly cognizant of the action； she
wildly looked for her bonnet and cloak； and began putting them on；
but in the act of fastening them uttered a spasmodic cry。
'No； I'll not go out with you；' she said； flinging the articles down
again。 Running to the door she flitted along the passage； and
downstairs。
'Give me a private roomquite private；' she said breathlessly to
some one below。
'Number twelve is a single room； madam； and unoccupied；' said some
tongue in astonishment。
Without waiting for any person to show her into it； Cytherea hurried
upstairs again； brushed through the corridor； entered the room
specified； and closed the door。 Edward heard her sob out
'Nobody but Owen shall speak to menobody！'
'He will be here directly；' said Springrove； close against the
panel； and then went towards the stairs。 He had seen her； it was
enough。
He descended； stepped into the street； and hastened to meet Owen at
the railway…station。
As for the poor maiden who had received the news； she knew not what
to think。 She listened till the echo of Edward's footsteps had died
away； then bowed her face upon the bed。 Her sudden impulse had been
to escape from sight。 Her weariness after the unwonted strain；
mental and bodily； which had been put upon her by the scenes she had
passed through during the long day； rendered her much more timid and
shaken by her position than she would naturally have been。 She
thought and thought of that single fact which had been told her
that the first Mrs。 Manston was still livingtill her brain seemed
ready to burst its confinement with excess of throbbing。 It was
only natural that she should； by degrees； be unable to separate the
discovery； which was matter of fact； from the suspicion of treachery
on her husband's part； which was only matter of inference。 And thus
there arose in her a personal fear of him。
'Suppose he should come in now and seize me！' This at first mere
frenzied supposition grew by degrees to a definite horror of his
presence； and especially of his intense gaze。 Thus she raised
herself to a heat of excitement； which was none the less real for
being vented in no cry of any kind。 No； she could not meet
Manston's eye alone； she would only see him in her brother's
company。
Almost delirious with this idea； she ran and locked the door to
prevent all possibility of her intentions being nullified； or a look
or word being flung at her by anybody whilst she knew not what she
was。
8。 HALF…PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Then Cytherea felt her way amid the darkness of the room till she
came to the head of the bed； where she searched for the bell…rope
and gave it a pull。 Her summons was speedily answered by the
landlady herself； whose curiosity to know the meaning of these
strange proceedings knew no bounds。 The landlady attempted to turn
the handle of the door。 Cytherea kept the door locked。 'Please
tell Mr。 Manston when he comes that I am ill；' she said from the
inside； 'and that I cannot see him。'
'Certainly I will； madam；' said the landlady。 'Won't you have a
fire？'
'No； thank you。'
'Nor a light？'
'I don't want one； thank you。'
'Nor anything？'
'Nothing。'
The landlady withdrew； thinking her visitor half insane。
Manston came in about five minutes later； and went at once up to the
sitting…room； fully expecting to find his wife there。 He looked
round； rang； and was told the words Cytherea had said； that she was
too ill to be seen。
'She is in number twelve room；' added the maid。
Manston was alarmed； and knocked at the door。 'Cytherea！'
'I am unwell； I cannot see you；' she said。
'Are you seriously ill； dearest？ Surely not。'
'No； not seriously。'
'Let me come in； I will get a doctor。'
'No； he can't see me either。'
'She won't open the door； sir； not to nobody at all！' said the
chambermaid； with wonder…waiting eyes。
'Hold your tongue； and be off！' said Manston with a snap。
The maid vanished。
'Come； Cytherea； this is foolishindeed it isnot opening the
door。 。 。 。 I cannot comprehend what can be the matter with you。
Nor can a doctor either； unless he sees you。'
Her voice had trembled more and more at each answer she gave； but
nothing could induce her to come out and confront him。 Hating
scenes； Manston went back to the sitting…room； greatly irritated and
perplexed。
And there Cytherea from the adjoining room could hear him pacing up
and down。 She thought； 'Suppose he insists upon seeing mehe
probably mayand will burst open the door！' This notion increased；
and she sank into a corner in a half…somnolent state； but with ears
alive to the slightest sound。 Reason could not overthrow the
delirious fancy that outside her door stood Manston and all the
people in the hotel； waiting to laugh her to scorn。
9。 HALF…PAST EIGHT TO ELEVEN P。M。
In the meantime； Springrove was pacing up and down the arrival
platform of the railway…station。 Half…past eight o'clockthe time
at which Owen's train was duehad come； and passed； but no train
appeared。
'When will the eight…thirty train be in？' he asked of a man who was
sweeping the mud from the steps。
'She is not expected yet this hour。'
'How is that？'
'Christmas…time； you see； 'tis always so。 People are running about
to see their friends。 The trains have been like it ever since
Christmas Eve； and will be for another week yet。'
Edward again went on walking and waiting under the draughty roof。
He found it utterly impossible to leave the spot。 His mind was so
intent upon the importance of meeting with Owen； and informing him
of Cytherea's whereabouts； that he could not but fancy Owen might
leave the station unobserved if he turned his back； and become lost
to him in the streets of the town。
The hour expired。 Ten o'clock struck。 'When will the train be in？'
said Edward to the telegraph clerk。
'In five…and…thirty minutes。 She's now at L。 They have extra
passengers； and the rails are bad to…day。'
At last； at a quarter to eleven； the train came in。
The first to alight from it was Owen； looking pale and cold。 He
casually glanced round upon the nearly deserted platform； and was
hurrying to the outlet； when his eyes fell upon Edward。 At sight of
his friend he was quite bewildered； and could not speak。
'Here I am； Mr。 Graye；' said Edward cheerfully。 'I have seen
Cytherea； and she has been waiting for you these two or three
hours。'
Owen took Edward's hand； pressed it； and looked at him in silence。
Such was the concentration of his mind； that not till many minutes
after did he think of inquiring how Springrove had contrived to be
there before him。
10。 ELEVEN O'CLOCK P。M。
On their arrival at the door of the hotel； it was arranged between
Springrove and Graye that the latter only should enter； Edward
waiting outside。 Owen had remembered continually what his friend
had frequently overlooked； that there was yet a possibility of his
sister being Manston's wife； and the recollection taught him to
avoid any rashness in his proceedings which might lead to bitterness
hereafter。
Entering the room； he found Manston sitting in the chair which had
been occupied by Cytherea on Edward's visit； three hours earlier。
Before Owen had spoken； Manston aros
