desperate remedies-第78章
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under the pincushion； which was movable by a bit of ribbon。 Lifting
this he uncovered a flattened sprig of myrtle； and a small scrap of
crumpled paper。 The paper contained a verse or two in a man's
handwriting。 He recognized it as Manston's； having seen notes and
bills from him at his father's house。 The stanza was of a
complimentary character； descriptive of the lady who was now
Manston's wife。
'EUNICE。
'Whoso for hours or lengthy days
Shall catch her aspect's changeful rays；
Then turn away； can none recall
Beyond a galaxy of all
In hazy portraiture；
Lit by the light of azure eyes
Like summer days by summer skies：
Her sweet transitions seem to be
A kind of pictured melody；
And not a set contour。
'AE。 M。'
To shake； pull； and ransack the box till he had almost destroyed it
was now his natural action。 But it contained absolutely nothing
more。
'Disappointed again；' he said； flinging down the box； the bit of
paper； and the withered twig that had lain with it。
Yet valueless as the new acquisition was； on second thoughts he
considered that it would be worth while to make good the statement
in his late note to Grayethat he had sent everything the box
contained except the sewing…thread。 Thereupon he enclosed the verse
and myrtle…twig in another envelope； with a remark that he had
overlooked them in his first search； and put it on the table for the
next day's post。
In his hurry and concentration upon the matter that occupied him；
Springrove； on entering his lodging and obtaining a light； had not
waited to pull down the blind or close the shutters。 Consequently
all that he had done had been visible from the street。 But as on an
average not one person a minute passed along the quiet pavement at
this time of the evening； the discovery of the omission did not much
concern his mind。
But the real state of the case was that a tall man had stood against
the opposite wall and watched the whole of his proceeding。 When
Edward came out and went to the Charing Cross post…office； the man
followed him and saw him drop the letter into the box。 The stranger
did not further trouble himself to follow Springrove back to his
lodging again。
Manston now knew that there had been photographs of some kind in his
wife's workbox； and though he had not been near enough to see them；
he guessed whose they were。 The least reflection told him to whom
they had been sent。
He paused a minute under the portico of the post…office； looking at
the two or three omnibuses stopping and starting in front of him。
Then he rushed along the Strand； through Holywell Street； and on to
Old Boswell Court。 Kicking aside the shoeblacks who began to
importune him as he passed under the colonnade； he turned up the
narrow passage to the publishing…office of the Post…Office
Directory。 He begged to be allowed to see the Directory of the
south…west counties of England for a moment。
The shopman immediately handed down the volume from a shelf； and
Manston retired with it to the window…bench。 He turned to the
county； and then to the parish of Tolchurch。 At the end of the
historical and topographical description of the village he read：
'PostmistressMrs。 Hurston。 Letters received at 6。3O A。M。 by foot…
post from Anglebury。'
Returning his thanks； he handed back the book and quitted the
office； thence pursuing his way to an obscure coffee…house by the
Strand； where he now partook of a light dinner。 But rest seemed
impossible with him。 Some absorbing intention kept his body
continually on the move。 He paid his bill； took his bag in his
hand； and went out to idle about the streets and over the river till
the time should have arrived at which the night…mail left the
Waterloo Station； by which train he intended to return homeward。
There exists； as it were； an outer chamber to the mind； in which；
when a man is occupied centrally with the most momentous question of
his life； casual and trifling thoughts are just allowed to wander
softly for an interval； before being banished altogether。 Thus；
amid his concentration did Manston receive perceptions of the
individuals about him in the lively thoroughfare of the Strand； tall
men looking insignificant； little men looking great and profound；
lost women of miserable repute looking as happy as the days are
long； wives； happy by assumption； looking careworn and miserable。
Each and all were alike in this one respect； that they followed a
solitary trail like the inwoven threads which form a banner； and all
were equally unconscious of the significant whole they collectively
showed forth。
At ten o'clock he turned into Lancaster Place； crossed the river；
and entered the railway…station； where he took his seat in the down
mail…train； which bore him； and Edward Springrove's letter to Graye；
far away from London。
XVII。 THE EVENTS OF ONE DAY
1。 MARCH THE THIRTEENTH。 THREE TO SIX O'CLOCK A。M。
They entered Anglebury Station in the dead； still time of early
morning； the clock over the booking…office pointing to twenty…five
minutes to three。 Manston lingered on the platform and saw the
mail…bags brought out； noticing； as a pertinent pastime； the many
shabby blotches of wax from innumerable seals that had been set upon
their mouths。 The guard took them into a fly； and was driven down
the road to the post…office。
It was a raw； damp； uncomfortable morning； though； as yet； little
rain was falling。 Manston drank a mouthful from his flask and
walked at once away from the station； pursuing his way through the
gloom till he stood on the side of the town adjoining； at a distance
from the last house in the street of about two hundred yards。
The station road was also the turnpike…road into the country； the
first part of its course being across a heath。 Having surveyed the
highway up and down to make sure of its bearing； Manston
methodically set himself to walk backwards and forwards a stone's
throw in each direction。 Although the spring was temperate； the
time of day； and the condition of suspense in which the steward
found himself； caused a sensation of chilliness to pervade his frame
in spite of the overcoat he wore。 The drizzling rain increased； and
drops from the trees at the wayside fell noisily upon the hard road
beneath them； which reflected from its glassy surface the faint halo
of light hanging over the lamps of the adjacent town。
Here he walked and lingered for two hours； without seeing or hearing
a living soul。 Then he heard the market…house clock strike five；
and soon afterwards； quick hard footsteps smote upon the pavement of
the street leading towards him。 They were those of the postman for
the Tolchurch beat。 He reached the bottom of the street； gave his
bags a final hitch…up； stepped off the pavement； and struck out for
the country with a brisk shuffle。
Manston then turned his back upon the town； and walked slowly on。
In two minutes a flickering light shone upon his form； and the
postman overtook him。
The new…comer was a short； stooping individual of above five…and…
forty； laden on both sides with leather bags large and small； and
carrying a little lantern strapped to his breast； which cast a tiny
patch of light upon the road ahead。
'A tryen mornen for travellers！' the postman cried； in a cheerful
voice； without turning his head or slackening his trot。
'It is； indeed；' said Manston； stepping out abreast of him。 'You
have a long walk every day。'
'Yesa long walkfor though the distance is only sixteen miles on
the straightthat is； eight to the furthest place and eight back；
what with the ins and outs to the gentlemen's houses； it makes two…
and…twenty for my legs。 Two…and…twenty miles a day； how many a
year？ I used to reckon it； but I never do now。 I don't care to
think o' my wear and tear； now it do begin to tell upon me。'
Thus the conversation was begun； and the postman proceeded to
narrate the different strange events that marked his experience。
Manston grew very friendly。
'Postman； I don't know what your custom is；' he said； after a wh
