the man between(夹在中间的人)-第17节
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〃My dear Fred； why did you not send us word you were ill？〃 asked the
Judge。
〃I had fever； sir； and I feared it might be typhoid。 Nothing of the kind；
however。 I shall be all right in a day or two。〃
The truth was far from typhoid； and Fred knew it。 He had left the
wedding breakfast because he had reached the limit of his endurance。
Words； stinging as whips； burned like hot coals in his mouth； and he felt
that he could not restrain them much longer。 Hastening to his hotel； he
locked himself in his rooms； and passed the night in a frenzy of passion。
The very remembrance of the bridegroom's confident transport put mur…
der in his heartmurder which he could only practice by his wishes；
impotent to compass their desires。
〃I wish the fellow shot！ I wish him hanged！ I would kill him twenty
times in twenty different ways！ And Dora！ Dora！ Dora！ What did she see
in him？ What could she see？ Love her？ He knows nothing of lovesuch
love as tortures me。〃 Backwards and forwards he paced the floor to such
imprecations and ejaculations as welled up from the whirlpool of rage in
his heart； hour following hour； till in the blackness of his misery he could
no longer speak。 His brain had become stupefied by the iteration of
inevitable loss； and so refused any longer to voice a woe beyond remedy。
Then he stood still and called will and reason to council him。 〃This way
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madness lies；〃 he thought。 〃I must be quietI must sleep I must forget。〃
But it was not until the third day that a dismal； sullen stillness
succeeded the storm of rage and grief； and he awoke from a sleep of
exhaustion feeling as if he were withered at his heart。 He knew that life
had to be taken up again； and that in all its farces he must play his part。 At
first the thought of Mostyn Hall presented itself as an asylum。 It stood
amid thick woods； and there were miles of wind…blown wolds and hills
around it。 He was lord and master there； no one could intrude upon his
sorrow； he could nurse it in those lonely rooms to his heart's content。
Every day； however； this gloomy resolution grew fainter； and one morning
he awoke and laughed it to scorn。
〃Frederick's himself again；〃 he quoted； 〃and he must have been very
far off himself when he thought of giving up or of running away。 No； Fred
Mostyn； you will stay here。 'Tis a country where the impossible does not
exist； and the unlikely is sure to happena country where marriage is not
for life or death； and where the roads to divorce are manifold and easy。
There are a score of ways and means。 I will stay and think them over；
'twill be odd if I cannot force Fate to change her mind。〃
A week after Dora's marriage he found himself able to walk up the
avenue to the Rawdon house； but he arrived there weary and wan enough
to instantly win the sympathy of Ruth and Ethel； and he was immensely
strengthened by the sense of home and kindred； and of genuine kindness
to which he felt a sort of right。 He asked Ruth if he might eat dinner with
them。 He said he was hungry； and the hotel fare did not tempt him。 And
when Judge Rawdon returned he welcomed him in the same generous
spirit； and the evening passed delightfully away。 At its close； however； as
Mostyn stood gloved and hatted； and the carriage waited for him； he said a
few words to Judge Rawdon which changed the mental and social
atmosphere。 〃I wish to have a little talk with you； sir； on a business matter
of some importance。 At what hour can I see you to…morrow？〃
〃I am engaged all day until three in the afternoon； Fred。 Suppose I call
on you about four or half…past？〃
〃Very well； sir。〃
But both Ethel and Ruth wondered if it was 〃very well。〃 A shadow；
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fleeting as thought； had passed over Judge Rawdon's face when he heard
the request for a business interview； and after the young man's departure
he lost himself in a reverie which was evidently not a happy one。 But he
said nothing to the girls； and they were not accustomed to question him。
The next morning； instead of going direct to his office； he stopped at
Madam； his moth… er's house in Gramercy Park。 A visit at such an early
hour was unusual； and the old lady looked at him in alarm。
〃We are well； mother；〃 he said as she rose。 〃I called to talk to you
about a little business。〃 Whereupon Madam sat down； and became
suddenly about twenty years younger； for 〃business〃 was a word like a
watch…cry； she called all her senses together when it was uttered in her
presence。
〃Business！〃 she ejaculated sharply。 〃Whose business？〃
〃I think I may say the business of the whole family。〃
〃Nay； I am not in it。 My business is just as I want it； and I am not
going to talk about itone way or the other。〃
〃Is not Rawdon Court of some interest to you？ It has been the home
and seat of the family for many centuries。 A good many。 Mostyn women
have been its mistress。〃
〃I never heard of any Mostyn woman who would not have been far
happier away from Rawdon Court。 It was a Calvary to them all。 There was
little Nannie Mostyn； who died with her first baby because Squire
Anthony struck her in a drunken passion； and the proud Alethia Mostyn；
who suffered twenty years' martyrdom from Squire John； and Sara； who
took thirty thousand pounds to Squire Hubert； to fling away at the green
table； and Harriet； who was made by her husband； Squire Humphrey； to
jump a fence when out hunting with him； and was brought home crippled
and scarred for lifea lovely girl of twenty who went through agonies for
eleven years without aught of love and help； and died alone while he was
following a fox； and there was pretty Barbara Mostyn〃
〃Come； come； mother。 I did not call here this morning to hear the
Rawdons abused； and you forget your own marriage。 It was a happy one； I
am sure。 One Rawdon； at least； must be excepted； and I think I treated my
wife as a good husband ought to treat a wife。〃
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〃Not you！ You treated Mary very badly。〃
〃Mother； not even from you〃
〃I'll say it again。 The little girl was dying for a year or more； and you
were so busy making money you never saw it。 If she said or looked a little
complaint； you moved restless…like and told her ‘she moped too much。' As
the end came I spoke to you； and you pooh…poohed all I said。 She went
suddenly； I know； to most people； but she knew it was her last day； and she
longed so to see you； that I sent a servant to hurry you home； but she died
before you could make up your mind to leave your ‘cases。' She and I were
alone when she whispered her last message for youa loving one； too。〃
〃Mother！ Mother！ Why recall that bitter day？ I did not thinkI swear I
did not think〃
〃Never mind swearing。 I was just reminding you that the Rawdons
have not been the finest specimens of good husbands。 They make
landlords； and judges； and soldiers； and even loom…lords of a very
respectable sort； but husbands！ Lord help their poor wives！ So you see； as
a Mostyn woman； I have no special interest in Rawdon Court。〃
〃You would not like it to go out of the family？〃
〃I should not worry myself if it did。〃
〃I suppose you know Fred Mostyn has a mortgage on it that the
present Squire is unable to lift。〃
〃Aye； Fred told me he had eighty thousand pounds on the old place。 I
told him he was a fool to put his money on it。〃
〃One of the finest manors and manor… houses in England； mother。〃
〃I have seen it。 I was born and brought up near enough to it； I think。〃
〃Eighty thousand pounds is a bagatelle for the place； yet if Fred forces
a sale； it may go for that； or even less。 I can't bear to think of it。〃
〃Why not buy it yourself？〃
〃I would lift the mortgage to…morrow if I ha
