desperate remedies-第94章
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entertain； but Springrove could not resist its influence。 He
started off for Tolchurch。
2。 ONE TO TWO O'CLOCK P。M。
On that self…same mid…day； whilst Edward was proceeding to Tolchurch
by the footpath across the fields； Owen Graye had left the village
and was riding along the turnpike road to the county…town； that he
might ascertain the exact truth of the strange rumour which had
reached him concerning Manston。 Not to disquiet his sister； he had
said nothing to her of the matter。
She sat by the window reading。 From her position she could see up
the lane for a distance of at least a hundred yards。 Passers…by
were so rare in this retired nook； that the eyes of those who dwelt
by the wayside were invariably lifted to every one on the road；
great and small； as to a novelty。
A man in a brown smock…frock turned the corner and came towards the
house。 It being market…day at Casterbridge； the village was nearly
deserted； and more than this； the old farm…house in which Owen and
his sister were staying； stood； as has been stated； apart from the
body of cottages。 The man did not look respectable； Cytherea arose
and bolted the door。
Unfortunately he was near enough to see her cross the room。 He
advanced to the door； knocked； and； receiving no answer； came to the
window； he next pressed his face against the glass； peering in。
Cytherea's experience at that moment was probably as trying a one as
ever fell to the lot of a gentlewoman to endure。 She recognized in
the peering face that of the man she had married。
But not a movement was made by her； not a sound escaped her。 Her
fear was great； but had she known the truththat the man outside；
feeling he had nothing on earth to lose by any act； was in the last
stage of recklessness； terrified nature must have given way。
'Cytherea；' he said； 'let me come in： I am your husband。'
'No；' she replied； still not realizing the magnitude of her peril。
'If you want to speak to us； wait till my brother comes。'
'O； he's not at home？ Cytherea； I can't live without you！ All my
sin has been because I love you so！ Will you fly with me？ I have
money enough for us bothonly come with me。'
'Not nownot now。'
'I am your husband； I tell you； and I must come in。'
'You cannot；' she said faintly。 His words began to terrify her。
'I will； I say！' he exclaimed。 'Will you let me in； I ask once
more？'
'NoI will not；' said Cytherea。
'Then I will let myself in！' he answered resolutely。 'I will； if I
die for it！'
The windows were glazed in lattice panes of leadwork； hung in
casements。 He broke one of the panes with a stone； thrust his hand
through the hole； unfastened the latch which held the casement
close； and began opening the window。
Instantly the shutters flew together with a slam； and were barred
with desperate quickness by Cytherea on the inside。
'Damn you！' he exclaimed。
He ran round to the back of the house。 His impatience was greater
now： he thrust his fist through the pantry window at one blow； and
opened it in the same way as the former one had been opened； before
the terror…stricken girl was aware that he had gone round。 In an
instant he stood in the pantry； advanced to the front room where she
was； flung back the shutters； and held out his arms to embrace her。
In extremely trying moments of bodily or mental pain； Cytherea
either flushed hot or faded pale； according to the state of her
constitution at the moment。 Now she burned like fire from head to
foot； and this preserved her consciousness。
Never before had the poor child's natural agility served her in such
good stead as now。 A heavy oblong table stood in the middle of the
room。 Round this table she flew； keeping it between herself and
Manston； her large eyes wide open with terror； their dilated pupils
constantly fixed upon Manston's； to read by his expression whether
his next intention was to dart to the right or the left。
Even he； at that heated moment； could not endure the expression of
unutterable agony which shone from that extraordinary gaze of hers。
It had surely been given her by God as a means of defence。 Manston
continued his pursuit with a lowered eye。
The panting and maddened desperadoblind to everything but the
capture of his wifewent with a rush under the table： she went
over it like a bird。 He went heavily over it： she flew under it；
and was out at the other side。
'One on her youth and pliant limbs relies；
One on his sinews and his giant size。'
But his superior strength was sure to tire her down in the long…run。
She felt her weakness increasing with the quickness of her breath；
she uttered a wild scream； which in its heartrending intensity
seemed to echo for miles。
At the same juncture her hair became unfastened； and rolled down
about her shoulders。 The least accident at such critical periods is
sufficient to confuse the overwrought intelligence。 She lost sight
of his intended direction for one instant； and he immediately
outmanoeuvred her。
'At last！ my Cytherea！' he cried； overturning the table； springing
over it； seizing one of the long brown tresses； pulling her towards
him； and clasping her round。 She writhed downwards between his arms
and breast； and fell fainting on the floor。 For the first time his
action was leisurely。 He lifted her upon the sofa； exclaiming；
'Rest there for a while； my frightened little bird！'
And then there was an end of his triumph。 He felt himself clutched
by the collar； and whizzed backwards with the force of a battering…
ram against the fireplace。 Springrove； wild； red； and breathless；
had sprung in at the open window； and stood once more between man
and wife。
Manston was on his legs again in an instant。 A fiery glance on the
one side； a glance of pitiless justice on the other； passed between
them。 It was again the meeting in the vineyard of Naboth the
Jezreelite： 'Hast thou found me； O mine enemy？ And he answered； I
have found thee： because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the
sight of the Lord。'
A desperate wrestle now began between the two men。 Manston was the
taller； but there was in Edward much hard tough muscle which the
delicate flesh of the steward lacked。 They flew together like the
jaws of a gin。 In a minute they were both on the floor； rolling
over and over； locked in each other's grasp as tightly as if they
had been one organic being at war with itselfEdward trying to
secure Manston's arms with a small thong he had drawn from his
pocket； Manston trying to reach his knife。
Two characteristic noises pervaded the apartment through this
momentous space of time。 One was the sharp panting of the two
combatants； so similar in each as to be undistinguishable； the other
was the stroke of their heels and toes； as they smote the floor at
every contortion of body or limbs。
Cytherea had not lost consciousness for more than half…a…minute。
She had then leapt up without recognizing that Edward was her
deliverer； unfastened the door； and rushed out； screaming wildly；
'Come！ Help！ O； help！'
Three men stood not twenty yards off； looking perplexed。 They
dashed forward at her words。 'Have you seen a shabby man with a
smock…frock on lately？' they inquired。 She pointed to the door； and
ran on the same as before。
Manston； who had just loosened himself from Edward's grasp； seemed
at this moment to renounce his intention of pushing the conflict to
a desperate end。 'I give it all up for lifedear life！' he cried；
with a hoarse laugh。 'A reckless man has a dozen livessee how
I'll baffle you all yet！'
He rushed out of the house； but no further。 The boast was his last。
In one half…minute more he was helpless in the hands of his
pursuers。
Edward staggered to his feet； and paused to recover breath。 His
thoughts had never forsaken Cytherea； and his first act now was to
hasten up the lane after her。 She had not gone far。 He found her
leaning upon a bank by the roadside； where she had flung herself
down in sheer exhaustion。 He ran up and lifted her in his arms； and
thus aided she was enabled to stand uprightclinging to him。 What
would Springrove have given to imprint
