desperate remedies-第95章
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thus aided she was enabled to stand uprightclinging to him。 What
would Springrove have given to imprint a kiss upon her lips then！
They walked slowly towards the house。 The distressing sensation of
whose wife she was could not entirely quench the resuscitated
pleasure he felt at her grateful recognition of him； and her
confiding seizure of his arm for support。 He conveyed her carefully
into the house。
A quarter of an hour later； whilst she was sitting in a partially
recovered； half…dozing state in an arm…chair； Edward beside her
waiting anxiously till Graye should arrive； they saw a spring…cart
pass the door。 Old and dry mud…splashes from long…forgotten rains
disfigured its wheels and sides； the varnish and paint had been
scratched and dimmed； ornament had long been forgotten in a restless
contemplation of use。 Three men sat on the seat； the middle one
being Manston。 His hands were bound in front of him； his eyes were
set directly forward； his countenance pallid； hard； and fixed。
Springrove had told Cytherea of Manston's crime in a few short
words。 He now said solemnly； 'He is to die。'
'And I cannot mourn for him；' she replied with a shudder； leaning
back and covering her face with her hands。
In the silence that followed the two short remarks； Springrove
watched the cart round the corner； and heard the rattle of its
wheels gradually dying away as it rolled in the direction of the
county…town。
XXI。 THE EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN HOURS
1。 MARCH THE TWENTY…NINTH。 NOON
Exactly seven days after Edward Springrove had seen the man with the
bundle of straw walking down the streets of Casterbridge； old Farmer
Springrove was standing on the edge of the same pavement； talking to
his friend； Farmer Baker。
There was a pause in their discourse。 Mr。 Springrove was looking
down the street at some object which had attracted his attention。
'Ah； 'tis what we shall all come to！' he murmured。
The other looked in the same direction。 'True； neighbour
Springrove； true。'
Two men； advancing one behind the other in the middle of the road；
were what the farmers referred to。 They were carpenters； and bore
on their shoulders an empty coffin； covered by a thin black cloth。
'I always feel a satisfaction at being breasted by such a sight as
that；' said Springrove； still regarding the men's sad burden。 'I
call it a sort of medicine。'
'And it is medicine。 。 。 。 I have not heard of any body being ill
up this way lately？ D'seem as if the person died suddenly。'
'May be so。 Ah； Baker； we say sudden death； don't we？ But there's
no difference in their nature between sudden death and death of any
other sort。 There's no such thing as a random snapping off of what
was laid down to last longer。 We only suddenly light upon an end
thoughtfully formed as any otherwhich has been existing at that
very same point from the beginning； though unseen by us to be so
soon。'
'It is just a discovery to your own mind； and not an alteration in
the Lord's。'
'That's it。 Unexpected is not as to the thing； but as to our
sight。'
'Now you'll hardly believe me； neighbour； but this little scene in
front of us makes me feel less anxious about pushing on wi' that
threshing and winnowing next week； that I was speaking about。 Why
should we not stand still； says I to myself； and fling a quiet eye
upon the Whys and the Wherefores； before the end o' it all； and we
go down into the mouldering…place； and are forgotten？'
''Tis a feeling that will come。 But 'twont bear looking into。
There's a back'ard current in the world； and we must do our utmost
to advance in order just to bide where we be。 But； Baker； they are
turning in here with the coffin； look。'
The two carpenters had borne their load into a narrow way close at
hand。 The farmers； in common with others； turned and watched them
along the way。
''Tis a man's coffin； and a tall man's； too；' continued Farmer
Springrove。 'His was a fine frame； whoever he was。'
'A very plain box for the poor souljust the rough elm； you see。'
The corner of the cloth had blown aside。
'Yes； for a very poor man。 Well； death's all the less insult to
him。 I have often thought how much smaller the richer class are
made to look than the poor at last pinches like this。 Perhaps the
greatest of all the reconcilers of a thoughtful man to povertyand
I speak from experienceis the grand quiet it fills him with when
the uncertainty of his life shows itself more than usual。'
As Springrove finished speaking； the bearers of the coffin went
across a gravelled square facing the two men and approached a grim
and heavy archway。 They paused beneath it； rang a bell； and waited。
Over the archway was written in Egyptian capitals；
'COUNTY GAOL。'
The small rectangular wicket； which was constructed in one of the
two iron…studded doors； was opened from the inside。 The men
severally stepped over the threshold； the coffin dragged its
melancholy length through the aperture； and both entered the court；
and were covered from sight。
'Somebody in the gaol； then？'
'Yes； one of the prisoners；' said a boy； scudding by at the moment；
who passed on whistling。
'Do you know the name of the man who is dead？' inquired Baker of a
third bystander。
'Yes； 'tis all over townsurely you know； Mr。 Springrove？ Why；
Manston； Miss Aldclyffe's steward。 He was found dead the first
thing this morning。 He had hung himself behind the door of his
cell； in some way； by a handkerchief and some strips of his clothes。
The turnkey says his features were scarcely changed； as he looked at
'em with the early sun a…shining in at the grating upon him。 He has
left a full account of the murder； and all that led to it。 So
there's an end of him。'
It was perfectly true： Manston was dead。
The previous day he had been allowed the use of writing…materials；
and had occupied himself for nearly seven hours in preparing the
following confession：
'LAST WORDS。
'Having found man's life to be a wretchedly conceived scheme； I
renounce it； and； to cause no further trouble； I write down the
facts connected with my past proceedings。
'After thanking God； on first entering my house； on the night of the
fire at Carriford； for my release from bondage to a woman I
detested； I went； a second time； to the scene of the disaster； and；
finding that nothing could be done by remaining there； shortly
afterwards I returned home again in the company of Mr。 Raunham。
'He parted from me at the steps of my porch； and went back towards
the rectory。 Whilst I still stood at the door； musing on my strange
deliverance； I saw a figure advance from beneath the shadow of the
park trees。 It was the figure of a woman。
'When she came near； the twilight was sufficient to show me her
attire： it was a cloak reaching to the bottom of her dress； and a
thick veil covering her face。 These features； together with her
size and gait； aided also by a flash of perception as to the chain
of events which had saved her life； told me that she was my wife
Eunice。
'I gnashed my teeth in a frenzy of despair； I had lost Cytherea； I
had gained one whose beauty had departed； whose utterance was
complaint； whose mind was shallow； and who drank brandy every day。
The revulsion of feeling was terrible。 Providence； whom I had just
thanked； seemed a mocking tormentor laughing at me。 I felt like a
madman。
'She came closestarted at seeing me outsidethen spoke to me。
Her first words were reproof for what I had unintentionally done；
and sounded as an earnest of what I was to be cursed with as long as
we both lived。 I answered angrily； this tone of mine changed her
complaints to irritation。 She taunted me with a secret she had
discovered； which concerned Miss Aldclyffe and myself。 I was
surprised to learn itmore surprised that she knew it； but
concealed my feeling。
'〃How could you serve me so？〃 she said； her breath smelling of
spirits even then。 〃You love another womanyes； you do。 See how
you drive me about！ I have been to the station； intending to leave
you for ever； and yet I come to try you once more。〃
'An indescriba
