the legacy of cain-第36节

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brother　set　things　right　between　us。　A　worthy　good　man；　he　died
not　very　long　agoI　forget　the　date。　Not　to　detain　you　any
longer；　the　rector　of　Long　Lanes　baptized　our　daughter。　That　is
how　she　comes　by　her　un…English　name；　and　so　it　happens　that　her
birth　is　registered　in　a　village　which　her　father　has　never
inhabited。　I　hope；　sir；　you　think　a　little　better　of　my　memory
now？〃

I　was　afraid　to　tell　him　what　I　really　did　think。

He　was　not　fifty　years　old　yet；　and　he　had　just　exhibited　one　of
the　sad　symptoms　which　mark　the　broken　memory　of　old　age。　Lead
him　back　to　the　events　of　many　years　ago；　and　（as　he　had　just
proved　to　me）　he　could　remember　well　and　relate　coherently。　But
let　him　attempt　to　recall　circumstances　which　had　only　taken
place　a　short　time　since；　and　forgetfulness　and　confusion
presented　the　lamentable　result；　just　as　I　have　related　it。

The　effort　that　he　had　made；　the　agitation　that　he　had　undergone
in　talking　to　me；　had　confirmed　my　fears　that　he　would　overtask
his　wasted　strength。　He　lay　back　in　his　chair。　〃Let　us　go　on　with
our　conversation；〃　he　murmured。　〃We　haven't　recovered　what　I　had
forgotten；　yet。〃　His　eyes　closed；　and　opened　again　languidly。
〃There　was　something　I　wanted　to　recall〃　he　resumed；　〃and　you
were　helping　me。〃　His　weak　voice　died　away；　his　weary　eyes　closed
again。　After　waiting　until　there　could　be　no　doubt　that　he　was
resting　peacefully　in　sleep；　I　left　the　room。


CHAPTER　XXXIV。

THE　LIVELY　OLD　MAID。

A　PERFECT　stranger　to　the　interior　of　the　house　（seeing　that　my
experience　began　and　ended　with　the　Minister's　bedchamber）；　I
descended　the　stairs；　in　the　character　of　a　guest　in　search　of
domestic　information。

On　my　way　down；　I　heard　the　door　of　a　room　on　the　ground　floor
opened；　and　a　woman'　s　voice　below；　speaking　in　a　hurry：　〃My
dear；　I　have　not　a　moment　to　spare；　my　patients　are　waiting　for
me。〃　This　was　followed　by　a　confidential　communication；　judging
by　the　tone。　〃Mind！　not　a　word　about　me　to　that　old　gentleman！〃
Her　patients　were　waiting　for　herhad　I　discovered　a　female
doctor？　And　there　was　some　old　gentleman　whom　she　was　not　willing
to　trustsurely　I　was　not　that　much…injured　man？

Reaching　the　hall　just　as　the　lady　said　her　last　words；　I　caught
a　glimpse　of　her　face；　and　discovered　the　middle…aged　stranger
who　had　called　on　〃Miss　Jillgall；〃　and　had　promised　to　repeat　her
visit。　A　second　lady　was　at　the　door；　with　her　back　to　me；　taking
leave　of　her　friend。　Having　said　good…by；　she　turned　roundand
we　confronted　each　other。

I　found　her　to　be　a　little　person；　wiry　and　active；　past　the
prime　of　life；　and　ugly　enough　to　encourage　prejudice；　in　persons
who　take　a　superficial　view　of　their　fellow…creatures。　Looking
impartially　at　the　little　sunken　eyes　which　rested　on　me　with　a
comical　expression　of　embarrassment；　I　saw　signs　that　said：　There
is　some　good　here；　under　a　disagreeable　surface；　if　you　can　only
find　it。

She　saluted　me　with　a　carefully…performed　curtsey；　and　threw　open
the　door　of　a　room　on　the　ground　floor。

〃Pray　walk　in；　sir；　and　permit　me　to　introduce　myself。　I　am　Mr。
Gracedieu's　cousinMiss　Jillgall。　Proud　indeed　to　make　the
acquaintance　of　a　gentleman　distinguished　in　the　service　of　his
countryor　perhaps　I　ought　to　say；　in　the　service　of　the　Law。
The　Governor　offers　hospitality　to　prisoners。　And　who　introduces
prisoners　to　board　and　lodging　with　the　Governor？the　Law。
Beautiful　weather　for　the　time　of　year；　is　it　not？　May　I
askhave　you　seen　your　room？〃

The　embarrassment　which　I　had　already　noticed　had　extended　by
this　time　to　her　voice　and　her　manner。　She　was　evidently　trying
to　talk　herself　into　a　state　of　confidence。　It　seemed　but　too
probable　that　I　was　indeed　the　person　mentioned　by　her　prudent
friend　at　the　door。

Having　acknowledged　that　I　had　not　seen　my　room　yet；　my
politeness　attempted　to　add　that　there　was　no　hurry。　The　wiry
little　lady　was　of　the　contrary　opinion；　she　jumped　out　of　her
chair　as　if　she　had　been　shot　out　of　it。　〃Pray　let　me　make　myself
useful。　The　dream　of　my　life　is　to　make　myself　useful　to　others；
and　to　such　a　man　as　youI　consider　myself　honored。　Besides；　I
do　enjoy　running　up　and　down　stairs。　This　way；　dear　sir；　this　way
to　your　room。〃

She　skipped　up　the　stairs；　and　stopped　on　the　first　landing。　〃Do
you　know；　I　am　a　timid　person；　though　I　may　not　look　like　it。
Sometimes；　curiosity　gets　the　better　of　meand　then　I　grow　bold。
Did　you　notice　a　lady　who　was　taking　leave　of　me　just　now　at　the
house　door？〃

I　replied　that　I　had　seen　the　lady　for　a　moment；　but　not　for　the
first　time。　〃Just　as　I　arrived　here　from　the　station；〃　I　said；　〃I
found　her　paying　a　visit　when　you　were　not　at　home。〃

〃Yesand　do　tell　me　one　thing　more。〃　My　readiness　in　answering
seemed　to　have　inspired　Miss　Jillgall　with　confidence。　I　heard　no
more　confessions　of　overpowering　curiosity。　〃Am　I　right；〃　she
proceeded；　〃in　supposing　that　Miss　Helena　accompanied　you；　on
your　way　here　from　the　station？〃

〃Quite　right。〃

〃Did　she　say　anything　particular；　when　she　saw　the　lady　asking
for　me　at　the　door？〃

〃Miss　Helena　thought；〃　I　said；　〃that　the　lady　recognized　me　as　a
person　whom　she　had　seen　before。〃

〃And　what　did　you　think　yourself？〃

〃I　thought　Miss　Helena　was　wrong。〃

〃Very　extraordinary！〃　With　that　remark；　Miss　Jillgall　dropped　the
subject。　The　meaning　of　her　reiterated　inquiries　was　now；　as　it
seemed　to　me；　clear　enough。　She　was　eager　to　discover　how　I　could
have　inspired　the　distrust　of　me；　expressed　in　the　caution
addressed　to　her　by　her　friend。

When　we　reached　the　upper　floor；　she　paused　before　the　Minister's
room。

〃I　believe　many　years　have　passed；〃　she　said；　〃since　you　last　saw
Mr。　Gracedieu。　I　am　afraid　you　have　found　him　a　sadly　changed
man？　You　won't　be　angry　with　me；　I　hope；　for　asking　more
questions？　I　owe　Mr。　Gracedieu　a　debt　of　gratitude　which　no
devotion；　on　my　part；　can　ever　repay。　You　don't　know　what　a　favor
I　shall　consider　it；　if　you　will　tell　me　what　you　think　of　him。
Did　it　seem　to　you　that　he　was　not　quite　himself？　I　don't　mean　in
his　looks；　poor　dearI　mean　in　his　mind。〃

There　was　true　sorrow　and　sympathy　in　her　face。　I　believe　I
should　hardly　have　thought　her　ugly；　if　we　had　first　met　at　that
moment。　Thus　far；　she　had　only　amused　me。　I　began　really　to　like
Miss　Jillgall　now。

〃I　must　not　conceal　from　you；〃　I　replied；　〃that　the　state　of　Mr。
Gracedieu's　mind　surprised　and　distressed　me。　But　I　ought　also　to
tell　you　that　I　saw　him　perhaps　at　his　worst。　The　subject　on
which　he　wished　to　speak　with　me　would　have　agitated　any　man；　in
his　state　of　health。　He　consulted　me　about　his　daughter's
marriage。〃

Miss　Jillgall　suddenly　turned　pale。

〃His　daughter's　marriage？〃　she　repeated。　〃Oh；　you　frighten　me！〃

〃Why　should　I　frighten　you？〃

She　seemed　to　find　some　difficulty　in　expressing　herself。　〃I
hardly　know　how　to　put　it；　sir。　You　will　excuse　me　（won't　you？）
if　I　say　what　I　feel。　You　have　influencenot　the　sort　of
influence　that　finds　places　for　people　who　don't　deserve　them；
and　gets　mentioned　in　the　newspapersI　only　mean　influence　over
Mr。　Gracedieu。　That's　what　frightens　me。　How　do　I　know？　Oh；
dear；　I'm　asking　another　question！　Allow　me；　for　once；　to　be
plain　and　positive。　I'm　afraid；　sir；　you　have　encouraged　the
Minister　to　consent　to　Helena's　marriage。〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　I　answered；　〃you　mean　Eunice's　marriage。〃

〃No；　sir！　Helena。〃

〃No；　madam！　Eunice。〃

〃What　does　he　mean？〃　said　Miss　Jillgall　to　herself。

I　heard　her。　〃This　is　what　I　mean；〃　I　asserted；　in　my　most
positive　manner。　〃The　only　subject　on　which　the　Minister　has
consulted　me　is　Miss　Eunice's　marriage。〃

My　tone　left　her　no　alternative　but　to　believe　me。　She　looked　not
only　bewildered；　but　alarmed。　〃Oh；　poor　man；　has　he　lost　himself
in　such　a　dreadful　way　as　that？〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃I　daren't
believe　it！〃　She　turned　to　me。　〃You　have　been　talking　with　him
for　some　time。　Please　try　to　remember。　While　Mr。　Gracedieu　was
speaking　of　Euneece；　did　he　say　nothing　of　Helena's　infamous
conduct　to　her　sister？〃

Not　the　slightest　hint　of　any　such　thing；　I　assured　her；　had
reached　my　ears。

〃Then；〃　she　cried；　〃I　can　tell　you　what　he　has　forgotten！　We　kept
as　much　of　that　miserable　story　to　ourselves　as　we　could；　in
mercy　to　him。　Besides；　he　was　always　fondest　of　Euneece；　she
would　live　in　his　memory　when　he　had　forgotten　the　otherthe
wretch；　the　traitress；　the　plotter；　the　fiend！〃　Miss　Jillgall's
good　manners　slipped；　as　it　were；　from　under　her；　she　clinched
her　fists　as　a　final　means　of　expressing　her　sentiments。　〃The
wretched　English　language　isn't　half　strong　enough　for　me；〃　she
declared　with　a　look　of　fury。

I　took　a　liberty。　〃May　I　ask　what　Miss　Helena　has　done？〃　I　said。

〃_May_　you　ask？　Oh；　Heavens！　you　must　ask；　you　shall　ask。　Mr。
Governor；　if　your　eyes　are　not　opened　to　Helena's　true　character；
I　can　tell　you　what　she　will　do；　she　will　deceive　you　into　taking
her　part。　Do　you　think　she　went　to　the　station　out　of　regard　for
the　great　man？　Pooh！　she　went　with　an　eye　to　her　own　interests；
and　she　means　to　make　the　great　man　useful。　Thank　God；　I　can　stop
that！〃

She　checked　herself　there；　and　looked　suspiciously　a