desperate remedies-第86章
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at such a period of their existence。 Some little time after he had
made her his wife； and when he had come to Knapwater； the series
began again； and now their contents arrested her attention more
forcibly。 She closed the cabinet； carried the letters into the
parlour； reclined herself on the sofa； and carefully perused them in
the order of their dates。
'JOHN STREET；
October 17；
1864。
'MY DEAREST HUSBAND；I received your hurried line of yesterday； and
was of course content with it。 But why don't you tell me your exact
address instead of that 〃Post…Office； Budmouth？〃 This matter is all
a mystery to me； and I ought to be told every detail。 I cannot
fancy it is the same kind of occupation you have been used to
hitherto。 Your command that I am to stay here awhile until you can
〃see how things look〃 and can arrange to send for me； I must
necessarily abide by。 But if； as you say； a married man would have
been rejected by the person who engaged you； and that hence my
existence must be kept a secret until you have secured your
position； why did you think of going at all？
'The truth is； this keeping our marriage a secret is troublesome；
vexing； and wearisome to me。 I see the poorest woman in the street
bearing her husband's name openlyliving with him in the most
matter…of…fact ease； and why shouldn't I？ I wish I was back again
in Liverpool。
'To…day I bought a grey waterproof cloak。 I think it is a little
too long for me； but it was cheap for one of such a quality。 The
weather is gusty and dreary； and till this morning I had hardly set
foot outside the door since you left。 Please do tell me when I am
to come。Very affectionately yours； EUNICE。'
'JOHN STREET；
October 25；
1864。
'MY DEAR HUSBAND；Why don't you write？ Do you hate me？ I have not
had the heart to do anything this last week。 That I； your wife；
should be in this strait； and my husband well to do！ I have been
obliged to leave my first lodging for debtamong other things； they
charged me for a lot of brandy which I am quite sure I did not
taste。 Then I went to Camberwell and was found out by them。 I went
away privately from thence； and changed my name the second time。 I
am now Mrs。 Rondley。 But the new lodging was the wretchedest and
dearest I ever set foot in； and I left it after being there only a
day。 I am now at No。 2O in the same street that you left me in
originally。 All last night the sash of my window rattled so
dreadfully that I could not sleep； but I had not energy enough to
get out of bed to stop it。 This morning I have been walkingI
don't know how farbut far enough to make my feet ache。 I have
been looking at the outside of two or three of the theatres； but
they seem forbidding if I regard them with the eye of an actress in
search of an engagement。 Though you said I was to think no more of
the stage； I believe you would not care if you found me there。 But
I am not an actress by nature； and art will never make me one。 I am
too timid and retiring； I was intended for a cottager's wife。 I
certainly shall not try to go on the boards again whilst I am in
this strange place。 The idea of being brought on as far as London
and then left here alone！ Why didn't you leave me in Liverpool？
Perhaps you thought I might have told somebody that my real name was
Mrs。 Manston。 As if I had a living friend to whom I could impart
itno such good fortune！ In fact； my nearest friend is no nearer
than what most people would call a stranger。 But perhaps I ought to
tell you that a week before I wrote my last letter to you； after
wishing that my uncle and aunt in Philadelphia （the only near
relatives I had） were still alive； I suddenly resolved to send a
line to my cousin James； who； I believe； is still living in that
neighbourhood。 He has never seen me since we were babies together。
I did not tell him of my marriage； because I thought you might not
like it； and I gave my real maiden name； and an address at the post…
office here。 But God knows if the letter will ever reach him。
'Do write me an answer； and send something。Your affectionate wife；
EUNICE。'
'FRIDAY；
October 28。
'MY DEAR HUSBAND；The order for ten pounds has just come； and I am
truly glad to get it。 But why will you write so bitterly？ Ah
well； if I had only had the money I should have been on my way to
America by this time； so don't think I want to bore you of my own
free…will。 Who can you have met with at that new place？ Remember I
say this in no malignant tone； but certainly the facts go to prove
that you have deserted me！ You are inconstantI know it。 O； why
are you so？ Now I have lost you； I love you in spite of your
neglect。 I am weakly fondthat's my nature。 I fear that upon the
whole my life has been wasted。 I know there is another woman
supplanting me in your heartyes； I know it。 Come to medo come。
EUNICE。'
'41 CHARLES SQUARE； HOXTON；
November
19。
'DEAR AENEAS；Here I am back again after my visit。 Why should you
have been so enraged at my finding your exact address？ Any woman
would have tried to do ityou know she would have。 And no woman
would have lived under assumed names so long as I did。 I repeat
that I did not call myself Mrs。 Manston until I came to this lodging
at the beginning of this monthwhat could you expect？
'A helpless creature I； had not fortune favoured me unexpectedly。
Banished as I was from your house at dawn； I did not suppose the
indignity was about to lead to important results。 But in crossing
the park I overheard the conversation of a young man and woman who
had also risen early。 I believe her to be the girl who has won you
away from me。 Well； their conversation concerned you and Miss
Aldclyffe； VERY PECULIARLY。 The remarkable thing is that you
yourself； without knowing it； told me of what； added to their
conversation； completely reveals a secret to me that neither of you
understand。 Two negatives never made such a telling positive
before。 One clue more； and you would see it。 A single
consideration prevents my revealing itjust one doubt as to whether
your ignorance was real； and was not feigned to deceive me。
Civility now； please。
EUNICE。'
'41 CHARLES SQUARE；
Tuesday； November 22。
'MY DARLING HUSBAND；Monday will suit me excellently for coming。 I
have acted exactly up to your instructions； and have sold my rubbish
at the broker's in the next street。 All this movement and bustle is
delightful to me after the weeks of monotony I have endured。 It is
a relief to wish the place good…byeLondon always has seemed so
much more foreign to me than Liverpool The mid…day train on Monday
will do nicely for me。 I shall be anxiously looking out for you on
Sunday night。
'I hope so much that you are not angry with me for writing to Miss
Aldclyffe。 You are not； dear； are you？ Forgive me。Your loving
wife； EUNICE。'
This was the last of the letters from the wife to the husband。 One
other； in Mrs。 Manston's handwriting； and in the same packet； was
differently addressed。
'THREE TRANTERS INN； CARRIFORD；
November 28； 1864。
'DEAR COUSIN JAMES；Thank you indeed for answering my letter so
promptly。 When I called at the post…office yesterday I did not in
the least think there would be one。 But I must leave this subject。
I write again at once under the strangest and saddest conditions it
is possible to conceive。
'I did not tell you in my last that I was a married woman。 Don't
blame meit was my husband's influence。 I hardly know where to
begin my story。 I had been living apart from him for a timethen
he sent for me （this was last week） and I was glad to go to him。
Then this is what he did。 He promis
