desperate remedies-第9章
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saying； he had only his own bed to offer me； but I could not afford
to be fastidious； and as he had a hearty manner； though a very queer
one； I agreed to accept it； and he made a rough pallet for himself
on the floor close beside me。 Well； I could not sleep for my life；
and I wished I had not stayed there； though I was so tired。 For one
thing； there were the luggage trains rattling by at my elbow the
early part of the night。 But worse than this； he talked continually
in his sleep； and occasionally struck out with his limbs at
something or another； knocking against the post of the bedstead and
making it tremble。 My condition was altogether so unsatisfactory
that at last I awoke him； and asked him what he had been dreaming
about for the previous hour； for I could get no sleep at all。 He
begged my pardon for disturbing me； but a name I had casually let
fall that evening had led him to think of another stranger he had
once had visit him； who had also accidentally mentioned the same
name； and some very strange incidents connected with that meeting。
The affair had occurred years and years ago； but what I had said had
made him think and dream about it as if it were but yesterday。 What
was the word？ I said。 〃Cytherea；〃 he said。 What was the story？ I
asked then。 He then told me that when he was a young man in London
he borrowed a few pounds to add to a few he had saved up； and opened
a little inn at Hammersmith。 One evening； after the inn had been
open about a couple of months； every idler in the neighbourhood ran
off to Westminster。 The Houses of Parliament were on fire。
'Not a soul remained in his parlour besides himself； and he began
picking up the pipes and glasses his customers had hastily
relinquished。 At length a young lady about seventeen or eighteen
came in。 She asked if a woman was there waiting for herselfMiss
Jane Taylor。 He said no； asked the young lady if she would wait；
and showed her into the small inner room。 There was a glass…pane in
the partition dividing this room from the bar to enable the landlord
to see if his visitors； who sat there； wanted anything。 A curious
awkwardness and melancholy about the behaviour of the girl who
called； caused my informant to look frequently at her through the
partition。 She seemed weary of her life； and sat with her face
buried in her hands； evidently quite out of her element in such a
house。 Then a woman much older came in and greeted Miss Taylor by
name。 The man distinctly heard the following words pass between
them：
'〃Why have you not brought him？〃
'〃He is ill； he is not likely to live through the night。〃
'At this announcement from the elderly woman； the young lady fell to
the floor in a swoon； apparently overcome by the news。 The landlord
ran in and lifted her up。 Well； do what they would they could not
for a long time bring her back to consciousness； and began to be
much alarmed。 〃Who is she？〃 the innkeeper said to the other woman。
〃I know her；〃 the other said； with deep meaning in her tone。 The
elderly and young woman seemed allied； and yet strangers。
'She now showed signs of life； and it struck him （he was plainly of
an inquisitive turn）； that in her half…bewildered state he might get
some information from her。 He stooped over her； put his mouth to
her ear； and said sharply； 〃What's your name？〃 〃To catch a woman
napping is difficult； even when she's half dead； but I did it；〃 says
the gatekeeper。 When he asked her her name； she said immediately
'〃Cytherea〃and stopped suddenly。'
'My own name！' said Cytherea。
'Yesyour name。 Well； the gateman thought at the time it might be
equally with Jane a name she had invented for the occasion； that
they might not trace her； but I think it was truth unconsciously
uttered； for she added directly afterwards： 〃O； what have I said！〃
and was quite overcome againthis time with fright。 Her vexation
that the woman now doubted the genuineness of her other name was
very much greater than that the innkeeper did； and it is evident
that to blind the woman was her main object。 He also learnt from
words the elderly woman casually dropped； that meetings of the same
kind had been held before； and that the falseness of the soi…disant
Miss Jane Taylor's name had never been suspected by this dependent
or confederate till then。
'She recovered； rested there for an hour； and first sending off her
companion peremptorily （which was another odd thing）； she left the
house； offering the landlord all the money she had to say nothing
about the circumstance。 He has never seen her since； according to
his own account。 I said to him again and again； 〃Did you find any
more particulars afterwards？〃 〃Not a syllable；〃 he said。 O； he
should never hear any more of that！ too many years had passed since
it happened。 〃At any rate； you found out her surname？〃 I said。
〃Well； well； that's my secret；〃 he went on。 〃Perhaps I should never
have been in this part of the world if it hadn't been for that。 I
failed as a publican； you know。〃 I imagine the situation of gateman
was given him and his debts paid off as a bribe to silence； but I
can't say。 〃Ah； yes！〃 he said； with a long breath。 〃I have never
heard that name mentioned since that time till to…night； and then
there instantly rose to my eyes the vision of that young lady lying
in a fainting fit。〃 He then stopped talking and fell asleep。
Telling the story must have relieved him as it did the Ancient
Mariner； for he did not move a muscle or make another sound for the
remainder of the night。 Now isn't that an odd story？'
'It is indeed；' Cytherea murmured。 'Very； very strange。'
'Why should she have said your most uncommon name？' continued Owen。
'The man was evidently truthful； for there was not motive sufficient
for his invention of such a tale； and he could not have done it
either。'
Cytherea looked long at her brother。 'Don't you recognize anything
else in connection with the story？' she said。
'What？' he asked。
'Do you remember what poor papa once let dropthat Cytherea was the
name of his first sweetheart in Bloomsbury； who so mysteriously
renounced him？ A sort of intuition tells me that this was the same
woman。'
'O nonot likely；' said her brother sceptically。
'How not likely； Owen？ There's not another woman of the name in
England。 In what year used papa to say the event took place？'
'Eighteen hundred and thirty…five。'
'And when were the Houses of Parliament burnt？stop； I can tell
you。' She searched their little stock of books for a list of dates；
and found one in an old school history。
'The Houses of Parliament were burnt down in the evening of the
sixteenth of October； eighteen hundred and thirty…four。'
'Nearly a year and a quarter before she met father；' remarked Owen。
They were silent。 'If papa had been alive； what a wonderful
absorbing interest this story would have had for him；' said Cytherea
by…and…by。 'And how strangely knowledge comes to us。 We might have
searched for a clue to her secret half the world over； and never
found one。 If we had really had any motive for trying to discover
more of the sad history than papa told us； we should have gone to
Bloomsbury； but not caring to do so； we go two hundred miles in the
opposite direction； and there find information waiting to be told
us。 What could have been the secret； Owen？'
'Heaven knows。 But our having heard a little more of her in this
way （if she is the same woman） is a mere coincidence after alla
family story to tell our friends if we ever have any。 But we shall
never know any more of the episode nowtrust our fates for that。'
Cytherea sat silently thinking。
'There was no answer this morning to your advertisement； Cytherea？'
he continued。
'None。'
'I could see that by your looks when I came in。'
'Fancy not getting a single one；' she said sadly。 'Surely there
must be people somewhere who want governesses？'
'Yes； but those who want them； and can afford to have them； get them
mostly by friends' recommendations； whilst those who want them； and
can't afford to have them； make use of their poor relations。'
'What shall I do？'
'Never mind it。 Go on liv
