the man between(夹在中间的人)-第39节
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feel a bit shabby； Edward？ 〃And then the look and handclasp between
them turned every word into sweetness and good…will。
And as Ethel regarded her marriage rather as a religious rite than a
social function； she objected to its details becoming in any sense public；
and her desires were to be regarded。 Yet everyone may imagine the white
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loveli… ness of the bride； the joy of the bridegroom； the calm happiness of
the family breakfast； and the leisurely； quiet leave…taking。 The whole
ceremony was the right note struck at the beginning of a new life； and they
might justly expect it would move onward in melodious sequence。
Within three weeks after their marriage they arrived at Rawdon Court。
It was on a day and at an hour when no one was looking for them； and
they stepped into the lovely home waiting for them without outside
observation。 Hiring a carriage at the railway station； they dismissed it at
the little bridge near the Manor House； and sauntered happily through the
intervening space。 The door of the great hall stood open； and the fire；
which had been burning on its big hearth unquenched for more than three
hundred years； was blazing merrily； as if some hand had just replenished it。
On the long table the broad； white beaver hat of the dead Squire was lying；
and his oak walking stick was beside it。 No one had liked to remove them。
They remained just as he had put them down； that last； peaceful morning
of his life。
In a few minutes the whole household was aware of their home…
coming； and before the day was over the whole neighborhood。 Then there
was no way of avoiding the calls； the congratulations； and the
entertainments that followed； and the old Court was once more the center
of a splendid hospitality。 Of course the Tyrrel…Rawdons were first on the
scene； and Ethel was genuinely glad to meet again the good…natured Mrs。
Nicholas。 No one could give her better local advice； and Ethel quickly
discovered that the best general social laws require a local interpretation。
Her hands were full； her heart full； she had so many interests to share； so
many people to receive and to visit； and yet when two weeks passed and
Dora neither came nor wrote she was worried and dissatisfied。
〃Are the Mostyns at the Hall？〃 she asked Mrs。 Nicholas at last。 〃I have
been expecting Mrs。 Mostyn every day； but she neither comes nor writes
to me。〃
〃I dare say not。 Poor little woman！ I'll warrant she has been forbid to
do either。 If Mostyn thought she wanted to see you； he would watch day
and night to prevent her coming。 He's turning out as cruel a man as his
father was； and you need not say a word worse than that。〃
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〃Cruel！ Oh； dear； how dreadful！ Men will drink and cheat and swear；
but a cruel man seems so unnatural； so wicked。〃
〃To be sure； cruelty is the joy of devils。 As I said to John Thomas
when we heard about Mostyn's goings…on； we have got rid of the Wicked
One； but the wicked still remain with us。〃
This conversation having been opened； was naturally prolonged by the
relation of incidents which had come through various sources to Mrs。
Rawdon's ears； all of them indicating an almost incredible system of petty
tyranny and cruel contradiction。 Ethel was amazed； and finally angry at
what she heard。 Dora was her countrywoman and her friend； she instantly
began to express her sympathy and her intention of interfering。
〃You had better neither meddle nor make in the matter；〃 answered Mrs。
Rawdon。 〃Our Lucy went to see her； and gave her some advice about
managing Yorkshiremen。 And as she was talking Mostyn came in； and was
as rude as he dared to be。 Then Lucy asked him ‘if he was sick。' She said；
‘All the men in the neighborhood； gentle and sim… ple； were talking about
him； and that it wasn't a pleasant thing to be talked about in the way they
were doing it。 You must begin to look more like yourself； Mr。 Mostyn； it is
good advice I am giving you；' she added； and Mostyn told her he would
look as he felt； whether it was liked or not liked。 And Lucy laughed； and
said； ‘In that case he would have to go to his looking…glass for company。'
Well； Ethel； there was a time to joy a devil after Lucy left； and some one
of the servants went on their own responsibility for a doctor； and Mostyn
ordered him out of the house； and he would not go until he saw Mrs。
Mostyn； and the little woman was forced to come and say ‘she was quite
well；' though she was sobbing all the time she spoke。 Then the doctor told
Mostyn what he thought； and there is a quarrel between them every time
they meet。〃
But Ethel was not deterred by these statements； on the contrary； they
stimulated her interest in her friend。 Dora needed her； and the old feeling
of protection stirred her to interference。 At any rate； she could call and see
the unhappy woman； and though Tyrrel was opposed to the visit； and
thought it every way unwise； Ethel was resolved to make it。 〃You can
drive me there；〃 she said； 〃then go and see Justice Manningham and call
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for me in half an hour。〃 And this resolution was strengthened by a pitiful
little note received from Dora just after her decision。 〃Mostyn has gone to
Thirsk；〃 it said； 〃for pity's sake come and see me about two o'clock this
afternoon。〃
The request was promptly answered。 As the clock struck two Ethel
crossed the threshold of the home that might have been hers。 She
shuddered at the thought。 The atmosphere of the house was full of fear and
gloom； the furniture dark and shabby； and she fancied the wraiths of old
forgotten crimes and sorrows were gliding about the sad； dim rooms and
stairways。 Dora rose in a passion of tears to welcome her； and because
time was short instantly began her pitiful story。
〃You know how he adored me once；〃 she said； 〃would you believe it；
Ethel； we were not two weeks married when he began to hate me。 He
dragged me through Europe in blazing heat and blinding snows when I
was sick and unfit to move。 He brought me here in the depth of winter； and
when no one called on us he blamed me； and from morning till night； and
sometimes all night long； he taunts and torments me。 After he heard that
you had bought the Manor he lost all control of himself。 He will not let me
sleep。 He walks the floor hour after hour； declaring he could have had you
and the finest manor in England but for a cat…faced woman like me。 And
he blames me for poor Basil's death says we murdered him together； and
that he sees blood on my hands。〃 And she looked with terror at her small；
thin hands； and held them up as if to protest against the charge。 When she
next spoke it was to sob out； 〃Poor Basil！ He would pity me！ He would
help me！ He would forgive me！ He knows now that Mostyn was； and is；
my evil genius。〃
〃Do not cry so bitterly； Dora； it hurts me。 Let us think。 Is there nothing
you can do？〃
〃I want to go to mother。〃 Then she drew Ethel's head close to her and
whispered a few words； and Ethel answered； 〃You poor little one； you
shall go to your mother。 Where is she？〃
〃She will be in London next week； and I must see her。 He will not let
me go； but go I must if I die for it。 Mrs。 John Thomas Rawdon told me
what to do； and I have been following her advice。〃
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Ethel did not ask what it was； but added；
〃If Tyrrel and I can help you； send for us。 We will come。 And； Dora； do
stop weeping； and be brave。 Remember you are an American woman。 Your
father has often told me how you could ride with Indians or cowboys and
shoot with any miner in Colorado。 A bully like Mostyn is always a coward。
Lift up your heart and stand for every one of your rights。 You will find
plenty of friends to stand with you。〃 And with the words she took her by
the hands and raised her to her feet； and looked at her with such
