desperate remedies-第53节

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She　would　gladly　have　left　her　room　and　gone　to　stay　with　one　of　the
maids；　but　they　were　without　doubt　all　asleep。

The　only　person　in　the　house　likely　to　be　awake；　or　who　would　have
brains　enough　to　comprehend　her　nervousness；　was　Miss　Aldclyffe；　but
Cytherea　never　cared　to　go　to　Miss　Aldclyffe's　room；　though　she　was
always　welcome　there；　and　was　often　almost　compelled　to　go　against
her　will。

The　oft…repeated　noise　of　switches　grew　heavier　upon　the　wall；　and
was　now　intermingled　with　creaks；　and　a　rattling　like　the　rattling
of　dice。　　The　wind　blew　stronger；　there　came　first　a　snapping；　then
a　crash；　and　some　portion　of　the　mystery　was　revealed。　　It　was　the
breaking　off　and　fall　of　a　branch　from　one　of　the　large　trees
outside。　　The　smacking　against　the　wall；　and　the　intermediate
rattling；　ceased　from　that　time。

Well；　it　was　the　tree　which　had　caused　the　noises。　　The　unexplained
matter　was　that　neither　of　the　trees　ever　touched　the　walls　of　the
house　during　the　highest　wind；　and　that　trees　could　not　rattle　like
a　man　playing　castanets　or　shaking　dice。

She　thought；　'Is　it　the　intention　of　Fate　that　something　connected
with　these　noises　shall　influence　my　future　as　in　the　last　case　of
the　kind？'

During　the　dilemma　she　fell　into　a　troubled　sleep；　and　dreamt　that
she　was　being　whipped　with　dry　bones　suspended　on　strings；　which
rattled　at　every　blow　like　those　of　a　malefactor　on　a　gibbet；　that
she　shifted　and　shrank　and　avoided　every　blow；　and　they　fell　then
upon　the　wall　to　which　she　was　tied。　　She　could　not　see　the　face　of
the　executioner　for　his　mask；　but　his　form　was　like　Manston's。

'Thank　Heaven！'　she　said；　when　she　awoke　and　saw　a　faint　light
struggling　through　her　blind。　　'Now　what　were　those　noises？'　　To
settle　that　question　seemed　more　to　her　than　the　event　of　the　day。

She　pulled　the　blind　aside　and　looked　out。　　All　was　plain。　　The
evening　previous　had　closed　in　with　a　grey　drizzle；　borne　upon　a
piercing　air　from　the　north；　and　now　its　effects　were　visible。　　The
hoary　drizzle　still　continued；　but　the　trees　and　shrubs　were　laden
with　icicles　to　an　extent　such　as　she　had　never　before　witnessed。　　A
shoot　of　the　diameter　of　a　pin's　head　was　iced　as　thick　as　her
finger；　all　the　boughs　in　the　park　were　bent　almost　to　the　earth
with　the　immense　weight　of　the　glistening　incumbrance；　the　walks
were　like　a　looking…glass。　　Many　boughs　had　snapped　beneath　their
burden；　and　lay　in　heaps　upon　the　icy　grass。　　Opposite　her　eye；　on
the　nearest　tree；　was　a　fresh　yellow　scar；　showing　where　the　branch
that　had　terrified　her　had　been　splintered　from　the　trunk。

'I　never　could　have　believed　it　possible；'　she　thought；　surveying
the　bowed…down　branches；　'that　trees　would　bend　so　far　out　of　their
true　positions　without　breaking。'　　By　watching　a　twig　she　could　see
a　drop　collect　upon　it　from　the　hoary　fog；　sink　to　the　lowest　point；
and　there　become　coagulated　as　the　others　had　done。

'Or　that　I　could　so　exactly　have　imitated　them；'　she　continued。　　'On
this　morning　I　am　to　be　marriedunless　this　is　a　scheme　of　the
great　Mother　to　hinder　a　union　of　which　she　does　not　approve。　　Is　it
possible　for　my　wedding　to　take　place　in　the　face　of　such　weather　as
this？'

2。　　MORNING

Her　brother　Owen　was　staying　with　Manston　at　the　Old　House。
Contrary　to　the　opinion　of　the　doctors；　the　wound　had　healed　after
the　first　surgical　operation；　and　his　leg　was　gradually　acquiring
strength；　though　he　could　only　as　yet　get　about　on　crutches；　or
ride；　or　be　dragged　in　a　chair。

Miss　Aldclyffe　had　arranged　that　Cytherea　should　be　married　from
Knapwater　House；　and　not　from　her　brother's　lodgings　at　Budmouth；
which　was　Cytherea's　first　idea。　　Owen；　too；　seemed　to　prefer　the
plan。　　The　capricious　old　maid　had　latterly　taken　to　the
contemplation　of　the　wedding　with　even　greater　warmth　than　had　at
first　inspired　her；　and　appeared　determined　to　do　everything　in　her
power；　consistent　with　her　dignity；　to　render　the　adjuncts　of　the
ceremony　pleasing　and　complete。

But　the　weather　seemed　in　flat　contradiction　of　the　whole
proceeding。　　At　eight　o'clock　the　coachman　crept　up　to　the　House
almost　upon　his　hands　and　knees；　entered　the　kitchen；　and　stood　with
his　back　to　the　fire；　panting　from　his　exertions　in　pedestrianism。

The　kitchen　was　by　far　the　pleasantest　apartment　in　Knapwater　House
on　such　a　morning　as　this。　　The　vast　fire　was　the　centre　of　the
whole　system；　like　a　sun；　and　threw　its　warm　rays　upon　the　figures
of　the　domestics；　wheeling　about　it　in　true　planetary　style。　　A
nervously…feeble　imitation　of　its　flicker　was　continually　attempted
by　a　family　of　polished　metallic　utensils　standing　in　rows　and
groups　against　the　walls　opposite；　the　whole　collection　of　shines
nearly　annihilating　the　weak　daylight　from　outside。　　A　step　further
in；　and　the　nostrils　were　greeted　by　the　scent　of　green　herbs　just
gathered；　and　the　eye　by　the　plump　form　of　the　cook；　wholesome；
white…aproned；　and　flourylooking　as　edible　as　the　food　she
manipulatedher　movements　being　supported　and　assisted　by　her
satellites；　the　kitchen　and　scullery　maids。　　Minute　recurrent　sounds
prevailedthe　click　of　the　smoke…jack；　the　flap　of　the　flames；　and
the　light　touches　of　the　women's　slippers　upon　the　stone　floor。

The　coachman　hemmed；　spread　his　feet　more　firmly　upon　the
hearthstone；　and　looked　hard　at　a　small　plate　in　the　extreme　corner
of　the　dresser。

'No　wedden　this　mornenthat's　my　opinion。　　In　fact；　there　can't
be；'　he　said　abruptly；　as　if　the　words　were　the　mere　torso　of　a
many…membered　thought　that　had　existed　complete　in　his　head。

The　kitchen…maid　was　toasting　a　slice　of　bread　at　the　end　of　a　very
long　toasting…fork；　which　she　held　at　arm's　length　towards　the
unapproachable　fire；　travestying　the　Flanconnade　in　fencing。

'Bad　out　of　doors；　isn't　it？'　she　said；　with　a　look　of　commiseration
for　things　in　general。

'Bad？　　Not　even　a　liven　soul；　gentle　or　simple；　can　stand　on　level
ground。　　As　to　getten　up　hill　to　the　church；　'tis　perfect　lunacy。
And　I　speak　of　foot…passengers。　　As　to　horses　and　carriage；　'tis
murder　to　think　of　'em。　　I　am　going　to　send　straight　as　a　line　into
the　breakfast…room；　and　say　'tis　a　closer。　。　。　。　　Hullohere's
Clerk　Crickett　and　John　Day　a…comen！　　Now　just　look　at　'em　and
picture　a　wedden　if　you　can。'

All　eyes　were　turned　to　the　window；　from　which　the　clerk　and
gardener　were　seen　crossing　the　court；　bowed　and　stooping　like　Bel
and　Nebo。

'You'll　have　to　go　if　it　breaks　all　the　horses'　legs　in　the　county；'
said　the　cook；　turning　from　the　spectacle；　knocking　open　the　oven…
door　with　the　tongs；　glancing　critically　in；　and　slamming　it
together　with　a　clang。

'O；　O；　why　shall　I？'　asked　the　coachman；　including　in　his　auditory
by　a　glance　the　clerk　and　gardener　who　had　just　entered。

'Because　Mr。　Manston　is　in　the　business。　　Did　you　ever　know　him　to
give　up　for　weather　of　any　kind；　or　for　any　other　mortal　thing　in
heaven　or　earth？'

'　Mornen　so'ssuch　as　it　is！'　interrupted　Mr。　Crickett
cheerily；　coming　forward　to　the　blaze　and　warming　one　hand　without
looking　at　the　fire。　　'Mr。　Manston　gie　up　for　anything　in　heaven　or
earth；　did　you　say？　　You　might　ha'　cut　it　short　by　sayen　〃to　Miss
Aldclyffe；〃　and　leaven　out　heaven　and　earth　as　trifles。　　But　it
might　be　put　off；　putten　off　a　thing　isn't　getten　rid　of　a　thing；　if
that　thing　is　a　woman。　　O　no；　no！'

The　coachman　and　gardener　now　naturally　subsided　into　secondaries。
The　cook　went　on　rather　sharply；　as　she　dribbled　milk　into　the　exact
centre　of　a　little　crater　of　flour　in　a　platter

'It　might　be　in　this　case；　she's　so　indifferent。'

'Dang　my　old　sides！　and　so　it　might　be。　　I　have　a　bit　of　newsI
thought　there　was　something　upon　my　tongue；　but　'tis　a　secret；　not　a
word；　mind；　not　a　word。　　Why；　Miss　Hinton　took　a　holiday　yesterday。'

'Yes？'　inquired　the　cook；　looking　up　with　perplexed　curiosity。

'D'ye　think　that's　all？'

'Don't　be　so　three…cunningif　it　is　all；　deliver　you　from　the　evil
of　raising　a　woman's　expectations　wrongfully；　I'll　skimmer　your　pate
as　sure　as　you　cry　Amen！'

'Well；　it　isn't　all。　　When　I　got　home　last　night　my　wife　said；　〃Miss
Adelaide　took　a　holiday　this　mornen；〃　says　she　（my　wife；　that　is）；
〃walked　over　to　Nether　Mynton；　met　the　comen　man；　and　got　married！〃
says　she。'

'Got　married！　what；　Lord…a…mercy；　did　Springrove　come？'

'Springrove；　nonoSpringrove's　nothen　to　do　wi'　it'twas　Farmer
Bollens。　　They've　been　playing　bo…peep　for　these　two　or　three　months
seemingly。　　Whilst　Master　Teddy　Springrove　has　been　daddlen；　and
hawken；　and　spetten　about　having　her；　she's　quietly　left　him　all
forsook。　　Serve　him　right。　　I　don't　blame　the　little　woman　a　bit。'

'Farmer　Bollens　is　old　enough　to　be　her　father！'

'Ay；　quite；　and　rich　enough　to　be　ten　fathers。　　They　say　he's　so
rich　that　he　has　business　in　every　bank；　and　measures　his　money　in
half…pint　cups。'

'Lord；　I　wish　it　was　me；　don't　I　wish　'twas　me！'　said　the　scullery…
maid。

'Yes；　'twas　as　neat　a　bit　of　stitching　as　ever　I　heard　of；'
continued　the　clerk；　with　a　fixed　eye；　as　if　he　were　watching　the
process　from　a　distance。　　'Not　a　soul　knew　anything　about　it；　and　my
wife　is　the　only　one　in　our　parish　w