the lodger-第13节

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〃Was　it　where　the　others　was　done？〃　she　asked　looking　at　her　husband　fearfully。

〃No；〃　he　said　awkwardly。　　〃No；　it　wasn't；　Ellen。　　It　was　a　good　bit　farther　West　…　in　fact；　not　so　very　far　from　here。　　Near　King's　Cross　　…　that's　how　the　cabman　knew　about　it；　you　see。　　They　seems　to　have　been　done　in　a　passage　which　isn't　used　no　more。〃　　And　then；　as　he　thought　his　wife's　eyes　were　beginning　to　look　rather　funny；　he　added　hastily。　　〃There；　that's　enough　for　the　present！　　We　shall　soon　be　hearing　a　lot　more　about　it　from　Joe　Chandler。　　He's　pretty　sure　to　come　in　some　time　to…day。〃

〃Then　the　five　thousand　constables　weren't　no　use？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　slowly。

She　had　relaxed　her　grip　of　the　table；　and　was　standing　more　upright。

〃No　use　at　all；〃　said　Bunting　briefly。　　〃He　is　artful　and　no　mistake　about　it。　　But　wait　a　minute　…　〃　he　turned　and　took　up　the　paper　which　he　had　laid　aside；　on　a　chair。　　〃Yes　they　says　here　that　they　has　a　clue。〃

〃A　clue；　Bunting？〃　　Mrs。　Bunting　spoke　in　a　soft；　weak；　die…away　voice；　and　again；　stooping　somewhat；　she　grasped　the　edge　of　the　table。

But　her　husband　was　not　noticing　her　now。　　He　was　holding　the　paper　close　up　to　his　eyes；　and　he　read　from　it；　in　a　tone　of　considerable　satisfaction：

〃'It　is　gratifying　to　be　able　to　state　that　the　police　at　last　believe　they　are　in　possession　of　a　clue　which　will　lead　to　the　arrest　of　the　…　'〃　and　then　Bunting　dropped　the　paper　and　rushed　round　the　table。

His　wife；　with　a　curious　sighing　moan；　had　slipped　down　on　to　the　floor；　taking　with　her　the　tablecloth　as　she　went。　　She　lay　there　in　what　appeared　to　be　a　dead　faint。　　And　Bunting；　scared　out　of　his　wits；　opened　the　door　and　screamed　out；　〃Daisy！　　Daisy！　　Come　up；　child。　　Ellen's　took　bad　again。〃

And　Daisy；　hurrying　in；　showed　an　amount　of　sense　and　resource　which　even　at　this　anxious　moment　roused　her　fond　father's　admiration。

〃Get　a　wet　sponge；　Dad　…　quick！〃　she　cried；　〃a　sponge；　…　and；　if　you've　got　such　a　thing；　a　drop　o'　brandy。　　I'll　see　after　her！〃　And　then；　after　he　had　got　the　little　medicine　flask；　〃I　can't　think　what's　wrong　with　Ellen；〃　said　Daisy　wonderingly。　　〃She　seemed　quite　all　right　when　I　first　came　in。　　She　was　listening；　interested…like；　to　what　I　was　telling　her；　and　then；　suddenly　…　well；　you　saw　how　she　was　took；　father？　　'Taint　like　Ellen　this；　is　now？〃

〃No；〃　he　whispered。　　〃No；　'taint。　　But　you　see；　child；　we've　been　going　through　a　pretty　bad　time　…　worse　nor　I　should　ever　have　let　you　know　of；　my　dear。　　Ellen's　just　feeling　it　now　…　that's　what　it　is。　　She　didn't　say　nothing；　for　Ellen's　a　good　plucked　one；　but　it's　told　on　her　…　it's　told　on　her！〃

And　then　Mrs。　Bunting；　sitting　up；　slowly　opened　her　eyes；　and　instinctively　put　her　hand　up　to　her　head　to　see　if　her　hair　was　all　right。

She　hadn't　really　been　quite　〃off。〃　　It　would　have　been　better　for　her　if　she　had。　　She　had　simply　had　an　awful　feeling　that　she　couldn't　stand　　up　…　more；　that　she　must　fall　down。　　Bunting's　words　touched　a　most　unwonted　chord　in　the　poor　woman's　heart；　and　the　eyes　which　she　opened　were　full　of　tears。　　She　had　not　thought　her　husband　knew　how　she　had　suffered　during　those　weeks　of　starving　and　waiting。

But　she　had　a　morbid　dislike　of　any　betrayal　of　sentiment。　　To　her　such　betrayal　betokened　〃foolishness；〃　and　so　all　she　said　was；　〃There's　no　need　to　make　a　fuss！　　I　only　turned　over　a　little　queer。　I　never　was　right　off；　Daisy。〃

Pettishly　she　pushed　away　the　glass　in　which　Bunting　had　hurriedly　poured　a　little　brandy。　　〃I　wouldn't　touch　such　stuff　…　no；　not　if　I　was　dying！〃　she　exclaimed。

Putting　out　a　languid　hand；　she　pulled　herself　up；　with　the　help　of　the　table；　on　to　her　feet。　　〃Go　down　again　to　the　kitchen；　child〃；　but　there　was　a　sob；　a　kind　of　tremor　in　her　voice。

〃You　haven't　been　eating　properly；　Ellen　…　that's　what's　the　matter　with　you；〃　said　Bunting　suddenly。　　〃Now　I　come　to　think　of　it；　you　haven't　eat　half　enough　these　last　two　days。　　I　always　did　say　…　in　old　days　many　a　time　I　telled　you　…　that　a　woman　couldn't　live　on　air。　　But　there；　you　never　believed　me！〃

Daisy　stood　looking　from　one　to　the　other；　a　shadow　over　her　bright；　pretty　face。　　〃I'd　no　idea　you'd　had　such　a　bad　time；　father；〃　she　said　feelingly。　　〃Why　didn't　you　let　me　know　about　it？　　I　might　have　got　something　out　of　Old　Aunt。〃

〃We　didn't　want　anything　of　that　sort；〃　said　her　stepmother　hastily。　〃But　of　course　…　well；　I　expect　I'm　still　feeling　the　worry　now。　　I　don't　seem　able　to　forget　it。　　Those　days　of　waiting；　of　…　of　…　〃　she　restrained　herself；　another　moment　and　the　word　〃starving〃　would　have　left　her　lips。

〃But　everything's　all　right　now；〃　said　Bunting　eagerly；　all　right；　thanks　to　Mr。　Sleuth；　that　is。〃

〃Yes；〃　repeated　his　wife；　in　a　low；　strange　tone　of　voice。　　〃Yes；　we're　all　right　now；　and　as　you　say；　Bunting；　it's　all　along　of　Mr。　Sleuth。〃

She　walked　across　to　a　chair　and　sat　down　on　it。　　〃I'm　just　a　little　tottery　still；〃　she　muttered。

And　Daisy；　looking　at　her；　turned　to　her　father　and　said　in　a　whisper；　but　not　so　low　but　that　Mrs。　Bunting　heard　her；　〃Don't　you　think　Ellen　ought　to　see　a　doctor；　father？　　He　might　give　her　something　that　would　pull　her　round。〃

〃I　won't　see　no　doctor！〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　with　sudden　emphasis。　　〃I　saw　enough　of　doctors　in　my　last　place。　　Thirty…eight　doctors　in　ten　months　did　my　poor　missis　have。　　Just　determined　on　having　'em　she　was！　　Did　they　save　her？　　No！　　She　died　just　the　same！　　Maybe　a　bit　sooner。〃

〃She　was　a　freak；　was　your　last　mistress；　Ellen；〃　began　Bunting　aggressively。

Ellen　had　insisted　on　staying　on　in　that　place　till　her　poor　mistress　died。　　They　might　have　been　married　some　months　before　they　were　married　but　for　that　fact。　　Bunting　had　always　resented　it。

His　wife　smile　wanly。　　〃We　won't　have　no　words　about　that；〃　she　said；　and　again　she　spoke　in　a　softer；　kindlier　tone　than　usual。　　〃Daisy？　If　you　won't　go　down　to　the　kitchen　again；　then　I　must〃　…　she　turned　to　her　stepdaughter；　and　the　girl　flew　out　of　the　room。

〃I　think　the　child　grows　prettier　every　minute；〃　said　Bunting　fondly。

〃Folks　are　too　apt　to　forget　that　beauty　is　but　skin　deep；〃　said　his　wife。　　She　was　beginning　to　feel　better。　　〃But　still；　I　do　agree；　Bunting；　that　Daisy's　well　enough。　　And　she　seems　more　willing；　too。〃

〃I　say；　we　mustn't　forget　the　lodger's　dinner；〃　Bunting　spoke　uneasily。　　〃It's　a　bit　of　fish　to…day；　isn't　it？　　Hadn't　I　better　just　tell　Daisy　to　see　to　it；　and　then　I　can　take　it　up　to　him；　as　you're　not　feeling　quite　the　thing；　Ellen？〃

〃I'm　quite　well　enough　to　take　up　Mr。　Sleuth's　luncheon；〃　she　said　quickly。　　It　irritated　her　to　hear　her　husband　speak　of　the　lodger's　dinner。　　They　had　dinner　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　but　Mr。　Sleuth　had　luncheon。　　However　odd　he　might　be；　Mrs。　Bunting　never　forgot　her　lodger　was　a　gentleman。

〃After　all；　he　likes　me　to　wait　on　him；　doesn't　he？　　I　can　manage　all　right。　　Don't　you　worry；〃　she　added　after　a　long　pause。


CHAPTER　VIII

Perhaps　because　his　luncheon　was　served　to　him　a　good　deal　later　than　usual；　Mr。　Sleuth　ate　his　nice　piece　of　steamed　sole　upstairs　with　far　heartier　an　appetite　than　his　landlady　had　eaten　her　nice　slice　of　roast　pork　downstairs。

〃I　hope　you're　feeling　a　little　better；　sir；〃　Mrs。　Bunting　had　forced　herself　to　say　when　she　first　took　in　his　tray。

And　he　had　answered　plaintively；　querulously；　〃No；　I　can't　say　I　feel　well　to…day；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　I　am　tired　…　very　tired。　　And　as　I　lay　in　bed　I　seemed　to　hear　so　many　sounds　…　so　much　crying　and　shouting。　　I　trust　the　Marylebone　Road　is　not　going　to　become　a　noisy　thoroughfare；　Mrs。　Bunting？〃

〃Oh；　no；　sir；　I　don't　think　that。　　We're　generally　reckoned　very　quiet　indeed；　sir。〃

She　waited　a　moment　…　try　as　she　would；　she　could　not　allude　to　what　those　unwonted　shouts　and　noises　had　betokened。　　〃I　expect　you've　got　a　chill；　sir；〃　she　said　suddenly。　　〃If　I　was　you；　I　shouldn't　go　out　this　afternoon；　I'd　just　stay　quietly　indoors。　　There's　a　lot　of　rough　people　about　…　〃　　Perhaps　there　was　an　undercurrent　of　warning；　of　painful　pleading；　in　her　toneless　voice　which　penetrated　in　some　way　to　the　brain　of　the　lodger；　for　Mr。　Sleuth　looked　up；　and　an　uneasy；　watchful　look　came　into　his　luminous　grey　eyes。

〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　Mrs。　Bunting。　　But　I　think　I'll　take　your　advice。　　That　is；　I　will　stay　quietly　at　home；　I　am　never　at　a　loss　to　know　what　to　do　with　myself　so　long　as　I　can　study　the　Book　of　Books。〃

〃Then　you're　not　afraid　about　your　eyes；　sir？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunting　curiously。　　Somehow　she　was　beginning　to　feel　better。　　It　comforted　her　to　be　up　here；　talking　to　Mr。　Sleuth；　instead　of　thinking　about　him　downstairs。　　It　seemed　to　banish　the　terror　which　filled　her　soul　…　aye；　and　her　body；　too　…　at　other　times。　　When　she　was　with　him　Mr。　Sleuth　was　so　gentle；　so　reasonable；　so　…　so　grateful。

Poor　kindly；　solitary　Mr。　Sleuth！　　This　kind　of　gentleman　surely　wouldn't　hurt　a　fly；　let　alone　a　human　being。　　Eccentric　…　so　much　must　be　admitted。　　But　Mrs。　Bunting　had　seen　a　good　deal　of　eccentric　folk；　eccentric　women　rather　than　eccentric　men；　in　her　long　career　as　useful　maid。

Being　at　ordinary　times　an　exceptionally　sensible；　well…balanced　woman；　she　had　never