desperate remedies-第75章
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courteous to womankind as an ancient Iberian； and； moreover； he was
Cytherea's friend in particular； to an extent far greater than she
had ever surmised。 Rarely visiting his relative； Miss Aldclyffe；
except on parish matters； more rarely still being called upon by
Miss Aldclyffe； Cytherea had learnt very little of him whilst she
lived at Knapwater。 The relationship was on the impecunious
paternal side； and for this branch of her family the lady of the
estate had never evinced much sympathy。 In looking back upon our
line of descent it is an instinct with us to feel that all our
vitality was drawn from the richer party to any unequal marriage in
the chain。
Since the death of the old captain； the rector's bearing in
Knapwater House had been almost that of a stranger； a circumstance
which he himself was the last man in the world to regret。 This
polite indifference was so frigid on both sides that the rector did
not concern himself to preach at her； which was a great deal in a
rector； and she did not take the trouble to think his sermons poor
stuff； which in a cynical woman was a great deal more。
Though barely fifty years of age； his hair was as white as snow；
contrasting strangely with the redness of his skin； which was as
fresh and healthy as a lad's。 Cytherea's bright eyes； mutely and
demurely glancing up at him Sunday after Sunday； had been the means
of driving away many of the saturnine humours that creep into an
empty heart during the hours of a solitary life； in this case；
however； to supplant them； when she left his parish； by those others
of a more aching nature which accompany an over…full one。 In short；
he had been on the verge of feeling towards her that passion to
which his dignified self…respect would not give its true name； even
in the privacy of his own thought。
He received her kindly； but she was not disposed to be frank with
him。 He saw her wish to be reserved； and with genuine good taste
and good nature made no comment whatever upon her request to be
allowed to see the Chronicle for the year before the last。 He
placed the papers before her on his study table； with a timidity as
great as her own； and then left her entirely to herself。
She turned them over till she came to the first heading connected
with the subject of her search'Disastrous Fire and Loss of Life at
Carriford。'
The sight； and its calamitous bearing upon her own life； made her so
dizzy that she could； for a while； hardly decipher the letters。
Stifling recollection by an effort she nerved herself to her work；
and carefully read the column。 The account reminded her of no other
fact than was remembered already。
She turned on to the following week's report of the inquest。 After
a miserable perusal she could find no more pertaining to Mrs。
Manston's address than this：
'ABRAHAM BROWN； of Hoxton； London； at whose house the deceased woman
had been living； deposed；' etc。
Nobody else from London had attended the inquest。 She arose to
depart； first sending a message of thanks to Mr。 Raunham； who was
out of doors gardening。
He stuck his spade into the ground； and accompanied her to the gate。
'Can I help you in anything； Cytherea？' he said； using her Christian
name by an intuition that unpleasant memories might be revived if he
called her Miss Graye after wishing her good…bye as Mrs。 Manston at
the wedding。 Cytherea saw the motive and appreciated it；
nevertheless replying evasively
'I only guess and fear。'
He earnestly looked at her again。
'Promise me that if you want assistance； and you think I can give
it； you will come to me。'
'I will；' she said。
The gate closed between them。
'You don't want me to help you in anything now； Cytherea？' he
repeated。
If he had spoken what he felt； 'I want very much to help you；
Cytherea； and have been watching Manston on your account；' she would
gladly have accepted his offer。 As it was； she was perplexed； and
raised her eyes to his； not so fearlessly as before her trouble； but
as modestly； and with still enough brightness in them to do fearful
execution as she said over the gate
'No； thank you。'
She returned to Tolchurch weary with her day's work。 Owen's
greeting was anxious
'Well； Cytherea？'
She gave him the words from the report of the inquest； pencilled on
a slip of paper。
'Now to find out the name of the street and number；' Owen remarked。
'Owen；' she said； 'will you forgive me for what I am going to say？
I don't think I canindeed I don't think I cantake any further
steps towards disentangling the mystery。 I still think it a useless
task； and it does not seem any duty of mine to be revenged upon Mr。
Manston in any way。' She added more gravely； 'It is beneath my
dignity as a woman to labour for this； I have felt it so all day。'
'Very well；' he said； somewhat shortly； 'I shall work without you
then。 There's dignity in justice。' He caught sight of her pale
tired face； and the dilated eye which always appeared in her with
weariness。 'Darling；' he continued warmly； and kissing her； 'you
shall not work so hard againyou are worn out quite。 But you must
let me do as I like。'
2。 MARCH THE TENTH
On Saturday evening Graye hurried off to Casterbridge； and called at
the house of the reporter to the Chronicle。 The reporter was at
home； and came out to Graye in the passage。 Owen explained who and
what he was； and asked the man if he would oblige him by turning to
his notes of the inquest at Carriford in the December of the year
preceding the lastjust adding that a family entanglement； of which
the reporter probably knew something； made him anxious to ascertain
some additional details of the event； if any existed。
'Certainly；' said the other； without hesitation； 'though I am afraid
I haven't much beyond what we printed at the time。 Let me seemy
old note…books are in my drawer at the office of the paper： if you
will come with me I can refer to them there。' His wife and family
were at tea inside the room； and with the timidity of decent poverty
everywhere he seemed glad to get a stranger out of his domestic
groove。
They crossed the street； entered the office； and went thence to an
inner room。 Here； after a short search； was found the book
required。 The precise address； not given in the condensed report
that was printed； but written down by the reporter； was as follows：…
…
'ABRAHAM BROWN；
LODGING…HOUSE KEEPER；
41 CHARLES SQUARE；
HOXTON。'
Owen copied it； and gave the reporter a small fee。 'I want to keep
this inquiry private for the present；' he said hesitatingly。 'You
will perhaps understand why； and oblige me。'
The reporter promised。 'News is shop with me；' he said； 'and to
escape from handling it is my greatest social enjoyment。'
It was evening； and the outer room of the publishing…office was
lighted up with flaring jets of gas。 After making the above remark；
the reporter came out from the inner apartment in Graye's company；
answering an expression of obligation from Owen with the words that
it was no trouble。 At the moment of his speech； he closed behind
him the door between the two rooms； still holding his note…book in
his hand。
Before the counter of the front room stood a tall man； who was also
speaking； when they emerged。 He said to the youth in attendance； 'I
will take my paper for this week now I am here； so that you needn't
post it to me。'
The stranger then slightly turned his head； saw Owen； and recognized
him。 Owen passed out without recognizing the other as Manston。
Manston then looked at the reporter； who； after walking to the door
with Owen； had come back again to lock up his books。 Manston did
not need to be told that the shabby marble…covered book which he
held in his hand； opening endways and interleaved with blotting…
paper； was an old reporting…book。 He raised his eyes to the
reporter's face； whose experience had not so schooled his features
but that they betrayed a consciousness； to one half initiated as the
other was； that his late proceeding had been connected with events
in the life of the steward。 Manston said no more； but； taking his
