the law and the lady-第87章
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money； my dear； and you _may_ find a letter waiting for you in
the office when you least expect it。 Let me hear how your husband
goes on。 Good…byand God bless you！〃
That evening I was restored to Eustace。
He was too weak； poor fellow； even to raise his head from the
pillow。 I knelt down at the bedside and kissed him。 His languid；
weary eyes kindled with a new life as my lips touched his。 〃I
must try to live now；〃 he whispered； 〃for your sake。〃
My mother…in…law had delicately left us together。 When he said
those words the temptation to tell him of the new hope that had
come to brighten our lives was more than I could resist。
〃You must try to live now； Eustace；〃 I said； 〃for some one else
besides me。〃
His eyes looked wonderingly into mine。
〃Do you mean my mother？〃 he asked。
I laid my head on his bosom； and whispered back〃I mean your
child。〃
I had all my reward for all that I had given up。 I forgot Mr。
Playmore； I forgot Gleninch。 Our new honeymoon dates； in my
remembrance； from that day。
The quiet time passed； in the by…street in which we lived。 The
outer stir and tumult of Parisian life ran its daily course
around us； unnoticed and unheard。 Steadily； though slowly；
Eustace gained strength。 The doctors； with a word or two of
caution； left him almost entirely to me。 〃You are his physician；〃
they said； 〃the happier you make him； the sooner he will
recover。〃 The quiet； monotonous round of my new life was far from
wearying me。 I； too； wanted reposeI had no interests； no
pleasures； out of my husband's room。
Once； and once only； the placid surface of our lives was just
gently ruffled by an allusion to the past。 Something that I
accidentally said reminded Eustace of our last interview at Major
Fitz…David's house。 He referred； very delicately； to what I had
then said of the Verdict pronounced on him at the Trial； and he
left me to infer that a word from my lips； confirming what his
mother had already told him； would quiet his mind at once and
forever。
My answer involved no embarrassments or difficulties； I could and
did honestly tell him that I had made his wishes my law。 But it
was hardly in womanhood； I am afraid； to be satisfied with merely
replying； and to leave it there。 I thought it due to me that
Eustace too should concede something； in the way of an assurance
which might quiet _my_ mind。 As usual with me； the words followed
the impulse to speak them。 〃Eustace；〃 I asked； 〃are you quite
cured of those cruel doubts which once made you leave me？〃
His answer （as he afterward said） made me blush with pleasure。
〃Ah； Valeria； I should never have gone away if I had known you
then as well as I know you now！〃
So the last shadows of distrust melted away out of our lives。
The very remembrance of the turmoil and the trouble of my past
days in London seemed now to fade from my memory。 We were lovers
again； we were absorbed again in each other； we could almost
fancy that our marriage dated back once more to a day or two
since。 But one last victory over myself was wanting to make my
happiness complete。 I still felt secret longings； in those
dangerous moments when I was left by myself； to know whether the
search for the torn letter had or had not taken place。 What
wayward creatures we are！ With everything that a woman could want
to make her happy； I was ready to put that happiness in peril
rather than remain ignorant of what was going on at Gleninch！ I
actually hailed the day when my empty purse gave me an excuse for
going to my banker's correspondent on business； and so receiving
any letters waiting for me which might be placed in my hands。
I applied for my money without knowing what I was about；
wondering all the time whether Benjamin had written to me or not。
My eyes wandered over the desks and tables in the office； looking
for letters furtively。 Nothing of the sort was visible。 But a man
appeared from an inner office： an ugly man； who was yet beautiful
to my eyes； for this sufficient reasonhe had a letter in his
hand； and he said； 〃Is this for you； ma'am？〃
A glance at the address showed me Benjamin's handwriting。
Had they tried the experiment of recovering the letter？ and had
they failed？
Somebody put my money in my bag； and politely led me out to the
little hired carriage which was waiting for me at the door。 I
remember nothing distinctly until I open ed the letter on my way
home。 The first words told me that the dust…heap had been
examined； and that the fragments of the torn letter had been
found。
CHAPTER XLV。
THE DUST…HEAP DISTURBED。
My head turned giddy。 I was obliged to wait and let my
overpowering agitation subside； before I could read any more。
Looking at the letter again； after an interval； my eyes fell
accidentally on a sentence near the end； which surprised and
startled me。
I stopped the driver of the carriage； at the entrance to the
street in which our lodgings were situated； and told him to take
me to the beautiful park of Paristhe famous Bois de Boulogne。
My object was to gain time enough； in this way； to read the
letter carefully through by myself； and to ascertain whether I
ought or ought not to keep the receipt of it a secret before I
confronted my husband and his mother at home。
This precaution taken； I read the narrative which my good
Benjamin had so wisely and so thoughtfully written for me。
Treating the various incidents methodically； he began with the
Report which had arrived； in due course of mail； from our agent
in America。
Our man had successfully traced the lodgekeeper's daughter and
her husband to a small town in one of the Western States。 Mr。
Playmore's letter of introduction at once secured him a cordial
reception from the married pair； and a patient hearing when he
stated the object of his voyage across the Atlantic。
His first questions led to no very encouraging results。 The woman
was confused and surprised； and was apparently quite unable to
exert her memory to any useful purpose。 Fortunately； her husband
proved to be a very intelligent man。 He took the agent privately
aside； and said to him； 〃I understand my wife； and you don't。
Tell me exactly what it is you want to know； and leave it to me
to discover how much she remembers and how much she forgets。〃
This sensible suggestion was readily accepted。 The agent waited
for events a day and a night。
Early the next morning the husband said to him； 〃Talk to my wife
now； and you'll find she has something to tell you。 Only mind
this。 Don't laugh at her when she speaks of trifles。 She is half
ashamed to speak of trifles； even to me。 Thinks men are above
such matters； you know。 Listen quietly； and let her talkand you
will get at it all in that way。〃
The agent followed his instructions； and 〃got at it〃 as follows：
The woman remembered； perfectly well； being sent to clean the
bedrooms and put them tidy； after the gentlefolks had all left
Gleninch。 Her mother had a bad hip at the time； and could not go
with her and help her。 She did not much fancy being alone in the
great house； after what had happened in it。 On her way to her
work she passed two of the cottagers' children in the
neighborhood at play in the park。 Mr。 Macallan was always kind to
his poor tenants； and never objected to the young ones round
about having a run on the grass。 The two children idly followed
her to the house。 She took them inside； along with hernot
liking the place； as already mentioned； and feeling that they
would be company in the solitary rooms。
She began her work in the Guests' Corridorleaving the room in
the other corridor； in which the death had happened； to the last。
There was very little to do in the two first rooms。 There was not
litter enough； when she had swept the floors and cleaned the
grates； to even half fill the housemaid's bucket which she
carried with her。 The children followed her about； and； all
things considered； were 〃very good company〃 in the lonely place。
The third room （that is to say； the bedchamber which had been
occupied by Miserrimus Dexter was in a much worse state than the
other two； and wanted a great deal of tidying。 She did not much
notice the children here； being
