desperate remedies-第8章
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perfectly smooth； ran one thin line； the healthy freshness of his
remaining features expressing that it had come there prematurely。
Though some years short of the age at which the clear spirit bids
good…bye to the last infirmity of noble mind； and takes to house…
hunting and investments； he had reached the period in a young man's
life when episodic periods； with a hopeful birth and a disappointing
death； have begun to accumulate； and to bear a fruit of
generalities； his glance sometimes seeming to state； 'I have already
thought out the issue of such conditions as these we are
experiencing。' At other times he wore an abstracted look： 'I seem
to have lived through this moment before。'
He was carelessly dressed in dark grey； wearing a rolled…up black
kerchief as a neck…cloth； the knot of which was disarranged； and
stood obliquelya deposit of white dust having lodged in the
creases。
'I am sorry for your disappointment；' he continued； glancing into
her face。 Their eyes having met； became； as it were； mutually
locked together； and the single instant only which good breeding
allows as the length of such a look； became trebled： a clear
penetrating ray of intelligence had shot from each into each； giving
birth to one of those unaccountable sensations which carry home to
the heart before the hand has been touched or the merest compliment
passed； by something stronger than mathematical proof； the
conviction； 'A tie has begun to unite us。'
Both faces also unconsciously stated that their owners had been much
in each other's thoughts of late。 Owen had talked to the young
architect of his sister as freely as to Cytherea of the young
architect。
A conversation began； which was none the less interesting to the
parties engaged because it consisted only of the most trivial and
commonplace remarks。 Then the band of harps and violins struck up a
lively melody； and the deck was cleared for dancing； the sun dipping
beneath the horizon during the proceeding； and the moon showing
herself at their stern。 The sea was so calm； that the soft hiss
produced by the bursting of the innumerable bubbles of foam behind
the paddles could be distinctly heard。 The passengers who did not
dance； including Cytherea and Springrove； lapsed into silence；
leaning against the paddle…boxes； or standing aloofnoticing the
trembling of the deck to the steps of the dancewatching the waves
from the paddles as they slid thinly and easily under each other's
edges。
Night had quite closed in by the time they reached Budmouth harbour；
sparkling with its white； red； and green lights in opposition to the
shimmering path of the moon's reflection on the other side； which
reached away to the horizon till the flecked ripples reduced
themselves to sparkles as fine as gold dust。
'I will walk to the station and find out the exact time the train
arrives；' said Springrove； rather eagerly； when they had landed。
She thanked him much。
'Perhaps we might walk together；' he suggested hesitatingly。 She
looked as if she did not quite know； and he settled the question by
showing the way。
They found； on arriving there； that on the first day of that month
the particular train selected for Graye's return had ceased to stop
at Anglebury station。
'I am very sorry I misled him；' said Springrove。
'O； I am not alarmed at all；' replied Cytherea。
'Well； it's sure to be all righthe will sleep there； and come by
the first in the morning。 But what will you do； alone？'
'I am quite easy on that point； the landlady is very friendly。 I
must go indoors now。 Good…night； Mr。 Springrove。'
'Let me go round to your door with you？' he pleaded。
'No； thank you； we live close by。'
He looked at her as a waiter looks at the change he brings back。
But she was inexorable。
'Don'tforget me；' he murmured。 She did not answer。
'Let me see you sometimes；' he said。
'Perhaps you never will againI am going away；' she replied in
lingering tones； and turning into Cross Street； ran indoors and
upstairs。
The sudden withdrawal of what was superfluous at first； is often
felt as an essential loss。 It was felt now with regard to the
maiden。 More； too； after a meeting so pleasant and so enkindling；
she had seemed to imply that they would never come together again。
The young man softly followed her； stood opposite the house and
watched her come into the upper room with the light。 Presently his
gaze was cut short by her approaching the window and pulling down
the blindEdward dwelling upon her vanishing figure with a hopeless
sense of loss akin to that which Adam is said by logicians to have
felt when he first saw the sun set； and thought； in his
inexperience； that it would return no more。
He waited till her shadow had twice crossed the window； when；
finding the charming outline was not to be expected again； he left
the street； crossed the harbour…bridge； and entered his own solitary
chamber on the other side； vaguely thinking as he went （for
undefined reasons）；
'One hope is too like despair
For prudence to smother。'
III。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHT DAYS
1。 FROM THE TWENTY…SECOND TO THE TWENTY…SEVENTH OF JULY
But things are not what they seem。 A responsive love for Edward
Springrove had made its appearance in Cytherea's bosom with all the
fascinating attributes of a first experience； not succeeding to or
displacing other emotions； as in older hearts； but taking up
entirely new ground； as when gazing just after sunset at the pale
blue sky we see a star come into existence where nothing was before。
His parting words； 'Don't forget me；' she repeated to herself a
hundred times； and though she thought their import was probably
commonplace； she could not help toying with them；looking at them
from all points； and investing them with meanings of love and
faithfulness；ostensibly entertaining such meanings only as fables
wherewith to pass the time； yet in her heart admitting； for detached
instants； a possibility of their deeper truth。 And thus； for hours
after he had left her； her reason flirted with her fancy as a kitten
will sport with a dove； pleasantly and smoothly through easy
attitudes； but disclosing its cruel and unyielding nature at crises。
To turn now to the more material media through which this story
moves； it so happened that the very next morning brought round a
circumstance which； slight in itself； took up a relevant and
important position between the past and the future of the persons
herein concerned。
At breakfast time； just as Cytherea had again seen the postman pass
without bringing her an answer to the advertisement； as she had
fully expected he would do； Owen entered the room。
'Well；' he said； kissing her； 'you have not been alarmed； of course。
Springrove told you what I had done； and you found there was no
train？'
'Yes； it was all clear。 But what is the lameness owing to？'
'I don't knownothing。 It has quite gone off now 。 。 。 Cytherea；
I hope you like Springrove。 Springrove's a nice fellow； you know。'
'Yes。 I think he is； except that'
'It happened just to the purpose that I should meet him there；
didn't it？ And when I reached the station and learnt that I could
not get on by train my foot seemed better。 I started off to walk
home； and went about five miles along a path beside the railway。 It
then struck me that I might not be fit for anything today if I
walked and aggravated the bothering foot； so I looked for a place to
sleep at。 There was no available village or inn； and I eventually
got the keeper of a gate…house； where a lane crossed the line； to
take me in。'
They proceeded with their breakfast。 Owen yawned。
'You didn't get much sleep at the gate…house last night； I'm afraid；
Owen；' said his sister。
'To tell the truth； I didn't。 I was in such very close and narrow
quarters。 Those gate…houses are such small places； and the man had
only his own bed to offer me。 Ah； by…the…bye； Cythie； I have such
an extraordinary thing to tell you in connection with this man！by
Jove； I had nearly forgotten it！ But I'll go straight on。 As I was
saying； he had only his own bed to offer me； but I could not afford
to
