desperate remedies-第98章
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again and again from the broken…spirited woman。
'But you don't know my motive。 O； if you only knew it； how you
would pity me then！'
Cytherea did not break the pause which ensued； and the elder woman
appeared now to nerve herself by a superhuman effort。 She spoke on
in a voice weak as a summer breeze； and full of intermission； and
yet there pervaded it a steadiness of intention that seemed to
demand firm tones to bear it out worthily。
'Cytherea；' she said； 'listen to me before I die。
'A long time agomore than thirty years agoa young girl of
seventeen was cruelly betrayed by her cousin； a wild officer of six…
and…twenty。 He went to India； and died。
'One night when that miserable girl had just arrived home with her
parents from Germany； where her baby had been born； she took all the
money she possessed； pinned it on her infant's bosom； together with
a letter； stating； among other things； what she wished the child's
Christian name to be； wrapped up the little thing； and walked with
it to Clapham。 Here； in a retired street； she selected a house。
She placed the child on the doorstep and knocked at the door； then
ran away and watched。 They took it up and carried it indoors。
'Now that her poor baby was gone； the girl blamed herself bitterly
for cruelty towards it； and wished she had adopted her parents'
counsel to secretly hire a nurse。 She longed to see it。 She didn't
know what to do。 She wrote in an assumed name to the woman who had
taken it in； and asked her to meet the writer with the infant at
certain places she named。 These were hotels or coffee…houses in
Chelsea； Pimlico； or Hammersmith。 The woman； being well paid；
always came； and asked no questions。 At one meetingat an inn in
Hammersmithshe made her appearance without the child； and told the
girl it was so ill that it would not live through the night。 The
news； and fatigue； brought on a fainting…fit 。 。 。'
Miss Aldclyffe's sobs choked her utterance； and she became painfully
agitated。 Cytherea； pale and amazed at what she heard； wept for
her； bent over her； and begged her not to go on speaking。
'YesI must；' she cried； between her sobs。 'I willI must go on！
And I must tell yet more plainly！。 。 。 you must hear it before I am
gone； Cytherea。' The sympathizing and astonished girl sat down
again。
'The name of the woman who had taken the child was MANSTON。 She was
the widow of a schoolmaster。 She said she had adopted the child of
a relation。
'Only one man ever found out who the mother was。 He was the keeper
of the inn in which she fainted； and his silence she has purchased
ever since。
'A twelvemonth passedfifteen monthsand the saddened girl met a
man at her father's house named Grayeyour father； Cytherea； then
unmarried。 Ah； such a man！ Inexperience now perceived what it was
to be loved in spirit and in truth！ But it was too late。 Had he
known her secret he would have cast her out。 She withdrew from him
by an effort； and pined。
'Years and years afterwards； when she became mistress of a fortune
and estates by her father's death； she formed the weak scheme of
having near her the son whom； in her father's life…time； she had
been forbidden to recognize。 Cytherea； you know who that weak woman
is。
。 。 。
'By such toilsome labour as this I got him here as my steward。 And
I wanted to see him YOUR HUSBAND； Cytherea！the husband of my true
lover's child。 It was a sweet dream to me。 。 。 。 Pity meO； pity
me！ To die unloved is more than I can bear！ I loved your father；
and I love him now。'
That was the burden of Cytherea Aldclyffe。
'I suppose you must leave me againyou always leave me；' she said；
after holding the young woman's hand a long while in silence。
'Noindeed I'll stay always。 Do you like me to stay？'
Miss Aldclyffe in the jaws of death was Miss Aldclyffe still； though
the old fire had degenerated to mere phosphorescence now。 'But you
are your brother's housekeeper？'
'Yes。'
'Well； of course you cannot stay with me on a sudden like this。 。 。
Go home； or he will be at a loss for things。 And to…morrow morning
come again； won't you； dearest； come againwe'll fetch you。 But
you mustn't stay now； and put Owen out。 O noit would be absurd。'
The absorbing concern about trifles of daily routine； which is so
often seen in very sick people； was present here。
Cytherea promised to go home； and come the next morning to stay
continuously。
'Stay till I die then； will you not？ Yes； till I dieI shan't die
till to…morrow。'
'We hope for your recoveryall of us。'
'I know best。 Come at six o'clock； darling。'
'As soon as ever I can；' returned Cytherea tenderly。
'But six is too earlyyou will have to think of your brother's
breakfast。 Leave Tolchurch at eight； will you？'
Cytherea consented to this。 Miss Aldclyffe would never have known
had her companion stayed in the house all night； but the honesty of
Cytherea's nature rebelled against even the friendly deceit which
such a proceeding would have involved。
An arrangement was come to whereby she was to be taken home in the
pony…carriage instead of the brougham that fetched her； the carriage
to put up at Tolchurch farm for the night； and on that account to be
in readiness to bring her back earlier。
4。 MARCH THE THIRTIETH。 DAYBREAK
The third and last instance of Cytherea's subjection to those
periodic terrors of the night which had emphasized her connection
with the Aldclyffe name and blood occurred at the present date。
It was about four o'clock in the morning when Cytherea； though most
probably dreaming； seemed to awakeand instantly was transfixed by
a sort of spell； that had in it more of awe than of affright。 At
the foot of her bed； looking her in the face with an expression of
entreaty beyond the power of words to portray； was the form of Miss
Aldclyffewan and distinct。 No motion was perceptible in her； but
longingearnest longingwas written in every feature。
Cytherea believed she exercised her waking judgment as usual in
thinking； without a shadow of doubt； that Miss Aldclyffe stood
before her in flesh and blood。 Reason was not sufficiently alert to
lead Cytherea to ask herself how such a thing could have occurred。
'I would have remained with youwhy would you not allow me to
stay！' Cytherea exclaimed。 The spell was broken： she became
broadly awake； and the figure vanished。
It was in the grey time of dawn。 She trembled in a sweat of
disquiet； and not being able to endure the thought of her brother
being asleep； she went and tapped at his door。
'Owen！'
He was not a heavy sleeper； and it was verging upon his time to
rise。
'What do you want； Cytherea？'
'I ought not to have left Knapwater last night。 I wish I had not。
I really think I will start at once。 She wants me； I know。'
'What time is it？'
'A few minutes past four。'
'You had better not。 Keep to the time agreed upon。 Consider； we
should have such a trouble in rousing the driver； and other things。'
Upon the whole it seemed wiser not to act on a mere fancy。 She went
to bed again。
An hour later； when Owen was thinking of getting up； a knocking came
to the front door。 The next minute something touched the glass of
Owen's window。 He waitedthe noise was repeated。 A little gravel
had been thrown against it to arouse him。
He crossed the room； pulled up the blind； and looked out。 A solemn
white face was gazing upwards from the road； expectantly straining
to catch the first glimpse of a person within the panes。 It was the
face of a Knapwater man sitting on horseback。
Owen saw his errand。 There is an unmistakable look in the face of
every man who brings tidings of death。 Graye opened the window。
'Miss Aldclyffe 。 。 。 ' said the messenger； and paused。
'Ahdead？'
'Yesshe is dead。'
'When did she die？'
'At ten minutes past four； after another effusion。 She knew best；
you see； sir。 I started directly； by the rector's orders。'
SEQUEL
Fifteen months have passed； and we are brought on to Midsummer
Night； 1867。
The picture presented is the interior of the old belfry of Carrifo
