desperate remedies-第20节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


maiden　at　her　side　afforded　her　a　protection　against　dangers　which
had　menaced　her　for　years；　she　was　soon　sleeping　calmly。

2。　　TWO　TO　FIVE　A。M。

With　Cytherea　it　was　otherwise。　　Unused　to　the　place　and
circumstances；　she　continued　wakeful；　ill　at　ease；　and　mentally
distressed。　　She　withdrew　herself　from　her　companion's　embrace；
turned　to　the　other　side；　and　endeavoured　to　relieve　her　busy　brain
by　looking　at　the　window…blind；　and　noticing　the　light　of　the　rising
moonnow　in　her　last　quartercreep　round　upon　it：　　it　was　the
light　of　an　old　waning　moon　which　had　but　a　few　days　longer　to　live。

The　sight　led　her　to　think　again　of　what　had　happened　under　the　rays
of　the　same　month's　moon；　a　little　before　its　full；　the　ecstatic
evening　scene　with　Edward：　　the　kiss；　and　the　shortness　of　those
happy　momentsmaiden　imagination　bringing　about　the　apotheosis　of　a
status　quo　which　had　had　several　unpleasantnesses　in　its　earthly
reality。

But　sounds　were　in　the　ascendant　that　night。　　Her　ears　became　aware
of　a　strange　and　gloomy　murmur。

She　recognized　it：　　it　was　the　gushing　of　the　waterfall；　faint　and
low；　brought　from　its　source　to　the　unwonted　distance　of　the　House
by　a　faint　breeze　which　made　it　distinct　and　recognizable　by　reason
of　the　utter　absence　of　all　disturbing　sounds。　　The　groom's
melancholy　representation　lent　to　the　sound　a　more　dismal　effect
than　it　would　have　had　of　its　own　nature。　　She　began　to　fancy　what
the　waterfall　must　be　like　at　that　hour；　under　the　trees　in　the
ghostly　moonlight。　　Black　at　the　head；　and　over　the　surface　of　the
deep　cold　hole　into　which　it　fell；　white　and　frothy　at　the　fall；
black　and　white；　like　a　pall　and　its　border；　sad　everywhere。

She　was　in　the　mood　for　sounds　of　every　kind　now；　and　strained　her
ears　to　catch　the　faintest；　in　wayward　enmity　to　her　quiet　of　mind。
Another　soon　came。

The　second　was　quite　different　from　the　firsta　kind　of
intermittent　whistle　it　seemed　primarily：　　no；　a　creak；　a　metallic
creak；　ever　and　anon；　like　a　plough；　or　a　rusty　wheelbarrow；　or　at
least　a　wheel　of　some　kind。　　Yes；　it　was；　a　wheelthe　water…wheel
in　the　shrubbery　by　the　old　manor…house；　which　the　coachman　had　said
would　drive　him　mad。

She　determined　not　to　think　any　more　of　these　gloomy　things；　but　now
that　she　had　once　noticed　the　sound　there　was　no　sealing　her　ears　to
it。　　She　could　not　help　timing　its　creaks；　and　putting　on　a　dread
expectancy　just　before　the　end　of　each　half…minute　that　brought
them。　　To　imagine　the　inside　of　the　engine…house；　whence　these
noises　proceeded；　was　now　a　necessity。　　No　window；　but　crevices　in
the　door；　through　which；　probably；　the　moonbeams　streamed　in　the
most　attenuated　and　skeleton…like　rays；　striking　sharply　upon
portions　of　wet　rusty　cranks　and　chains；　a　glistening　wheel；　turning
incessantly；　labouring　in　the　dark　like　a　captive　starving　in　a
dungeon；　and　instead　of　a　floor　below；　gurgling　water；　which　on
account　of　the　darkness　could　only　be　heard；　water　which　laboured　up
dark　pipes　almost　to　where　she　lay。

She　shivered。　　Now　she　was　determined　to　go　to　sleep；　there　could　be
nothing　else　left　to　be　heard　or　to　imagineit　was　horrid　that　her
imagination　should　be　so　restless。　　Yet　just　for　an　instant　before
going　to　sleep　she　would　think　thissuppose　another　sound　SHOULD
comejust　suppose　it　should！　　Before　the　thought　had　well　passed
through　her　brain；　a　third　sound　came。

The　third　was　a　very　soft　gurgle　or　rattleof　a　strange　and
abnormal　kindyet　a　sound　she　had　heard　before　at　some　past　period
of　her　lifewhen；　she　could　not　recollect。　　To　make　it　the　more
disturbing；　it　seemed　to　be　almost　close　to　hereither　close
outside　the　window；　close　under　the　floor；　or　close　above　the
ceiling。　　The　accidental　fact　of　its　coming　so　immediately　upon　the
heels　of　her　supposition；　told　so　powerfully　upon　her　excited　nerves
that　she　jumped　up　in　the　bed。　　The　same　instant；　a　little　dog　in
some　room　near；　having　probably　heard　the　same　noise；　set　up　a　low
whine。　　The　watch…dog　in　the　yard；　hearing　the　moan　of　his
associate；　began　to　howl　loudly　and　distinctly。　　His　melancholy
notes　were　taken　up　directly　afterwards　by　the　dogs　in　the　kennel　a
long　way　off；　in　every　variety　of　wail。

One　logical　thought　alone　was　able　to　enter　her　flurried　brain。　　The
little　dog　that　began　the　whining　must　have　heard　the　other　two
sounds　even　better　than　herself。　　He　had　taken　no　notice　of　them；
but　he　had　taken　notice　of　the　third。　　The　third；　then；　was　an
unusual　sound。

It　was　not　like　water；　it　was　not　like　wind；　it　was　not　the　night…
jar；　it　was　not　a　clock；　nor　a　rat；　nor　a　person　snoring。

She　crept　under　the　clothes；　and　flung　her　arms　tightly　round　Miss
Aldclyffe；　as　if　for　protection。　　Cytherea　perceived　that　the　lady's
late　peaceful　warmth　had　given　place　to　a　sweat。　　At　the　maiden's
touch；　Miss　Aldclyffe　awoke　with　a　low　scream。

She　remembered　her　position　instantly。　　'O　such　a　terrible　dream！'
she　cried；　in　a　hurried　whisper；　holding　to　Cytherea　in　her　turn；
'and　your　touch　was　the　end　of　it。　　It　was　dreadful。　　Time；　with　his
wings；　hour…glass；　and　scythe；　coming　nearer　and　nearer　to　me
grinning　and　mocking：　　then　he　seized　me；　took　a　piece　of　me　only。　。
。　　But　I　can't　tell　you。　　I　can't　bear　to　think　of　it。　　How　those
dogs　howl！　　People　say　it　means　death。'

The　return　of　Miss　Aldclyffe　to　consciousness　was　sufficient　to
dispel　the　wild　fancies　which　the　loneliness　of　the　night　had　woven
in　Cytherea's　mind。　　She　dismissed　the　third　noise　as　something
which　in　all　likelihood　could　easily　be　explained；　if　trouble　were
taken　to　inquire　into　it：　　large　houses　had　all　kinds　of　strange
sounds　floating　about　them。　　She　was　ashamed　to　tell　Miss　Aldclyffe
her　terrors。

A　silence　of　five　minutes。

'Are　you　asleep？'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe。

'No；'　said　Cytherea；　in　a　long…drawn　whisper。

'How　those　dogs　howl；　don't　they？'

'Yes。　　A　little　dog　in　the　house　began　it。'

'Ah；　yes：　　that　was　Totsy。　　He　sleeps　on　the　mat　outside　my　father's
bedroom　door。　　A　nervous　creature。'

There　was　a　silent　interval　of　nearly　half…an…hour。　　A　clock　on　the
landing　struck　three。

'Are　you　asleep；　Miss　Aldclyffe？'　whispered　Cytherea。

'No；'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　'How　wretched　it　is　not　to　be　able　to
sleep；　isn't　it？'

'Yes；'　replied　Cytherea；　like　a　docile　child。

Another　hour　passed；　and　the　clock　struck　four。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　was
still　awake。

'Cytherea；'　she　said；　very　softly。

Cytherea　made　no　answer。　　She　was　sleeping　soundly。

The　first　glimmer　of　dawn　was　now　visible。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　arose；
put　on　her　dressing…gown；　and　went　softly　downstairs　to　her　own
room。

'I　have　not　told　her　who　I　am　after　all；　or　found　out　the
particulars　of　Ambrose's　history；'　she　murmured。　　'But　her　being　in
love　alters　everything。'

3。　　HALF…PAST　SEVEN　TO　TEN　O'CLOCK　A。M。

Cytherea　awoke；　quiet　in　mind　and　refreshed。　　A　conclusion　to　remain
at　Knapwater　was　already　in　possession　of　her。

Finding　Miss　Aldclyffe　gone；　she　dressed　herself　and　sat　down　at　the
window　to　write　an　answer　to　Edward's　letter；　and　an　account　of　her
arrival　at　Knapwater　to　Owen。　　The　dismal　and　heart…breaking
pictures　that　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　placed　before　her　the　preceding
evening；　the　later　terrors　of　the　night；　were　now　but　as　shadows　of
shadows；　and　she　smiled　in　derision　at　her　own　excitability。

But　writing　Edward's　letter　was　the　great　consoler；　the　effect　of
each　word　upon　him　being　enacted　in　her　own　face　as　she　wrote　it。
She　felt　how　much　she　would　like　to　share　his　troublehow　well　she
could　endure　poverty　with　himand　wondered　what　his　trouble　was。
But　all　would　be　explained　at　last；　she　knew。

At　the　appointed　time　she　went　to　Miss　Aldclyffe's　room；　intending；
with　the　contradictoriness　common　in　people；　to　perform　with
pleasure；　as　a　work　of　supererogation；　what　as　a　duty　was　simply
intolerable。

Miss　Aldclyffe　was　already　out　of　bed。　　The　bright　penetrating　light
of　morning　made　a　vast　difference　in　the　elder　lady's　behaviour　to
her　dependent；　the　day；　which　had　restored　Cytherea's　judgment；　had
effected　the　same　for　Miss　Aldclyffe。　　Though　practical　reasons
forbade　her　regretting　that　she　had　secured　such　a　companionable
creature　to　read；　talk；　or　play　to　her　whenever　her　whim　required；
she　was　inwardly　vexed　at　the　extent　to　which　she　had　indulged　in
the　womanly　luxury　of　making　confidences　and　giving　way　to　emotions。
Few　would　have　supposed　that　the　calm　lady　sitting　aristocratically
at　the　toilet　table；　seeming　scarcely　conscious　of　Cytherea's
presence　in　the　room；　even　when　greeting　her；　was　the　passionate
creature　who　had　asked　for　kisses　a　few　hours　before。

It　is　both　painful　and　satisfactory　to　think　how　often　these
antitheses　are　to　be　observed　in　the　individual　most　open　to　our
observationourselves。　　We　pass　the　evening　with　faces　lit　up　by
some　flaring　illumination　or　other：　　we　get　up　the　next　morningthe
fiery　jets　have　all　gone　out；　and　nothing　confronts　us　but　a　few
crinkled　pipes　and　sooty　wirework；　hardly　even　recalling　the　outline
of　the　blazing　picture　that　arrested　our　eyes　before　bedtime。

Emotions　would　be　half　starved　if　there　were　no　candle…light。
Probabl