desperate remedies-第78节

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a　bustling　and　somewhat　pampered　life　as　housekeeper　in　a　gay
mansion。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Non　illa　colo　calathisve　Minervae
　　　　　　Foemineas　assueta　manus。'

2。　　AFTERNOON

Mr。　Raunham　and　Edward　Springrove　had　by　this　time　set　in　motion　a
machinery　which　they　hoped　to　find　working　out　important　results。

The　rector　was　restless　and　full　of　meditation　all　the　following
morning。　　It　was　plain；　even　to　the　servants　about　him；　that
Springrove's　communication　wore　a　deeper　complexion　than　any　that
had　been　made　to　the　old　magistrate　for　many　months　or　years　past。
The　fact　was　that；　having　arrived　at　the　stage　of　existence　in　which
the　difficult　intellectual　feat　of　suspending　one's　judgment　becomes
possible；　he　was　now　putting　it　in　practice；　though　not　without　the
penalty　of　watchful　effort。

It　was　not　till　the　afternoon　that　he　determined　to　call　on　his
relative；　Miss　Aldclyffe；　and　cautiously　probe　her　knowledge　of　the
subject　occupying　him　so　thoroughly。　　Cytherea；　he　knew；　was　still
beloved　by　this　solitary　woman。　　Miss　Aldclyffe　had　made　several
private　inquiries　concerning　her　former　companion；　and　there　was
ever　a　sadness　in　her　tone　when　the　young　lady's　name　was　mentioned；
which　showed　that　from　whatever　cause　the　elder　Cytherea's
renunciation　of　her　favourite　and　namesake　proceeded；　it　was　not
from　indifference　to　her　fate。

'Have　you　ever　had　any　reason　for　supposing　your　steward　anything
but　an　upright　man？'　he　said　to　the　lady。

'Never　the　slightest。　　Have　you？'　said　she　reservedly。

'WellI　have。'

'What　is　it？'

'I　can　say　nothing　plainly；　because　nothing　is　proved。　　But　my
suspicions　are　very　strong。'

'Do　you　mean　that　he　was　rather　cool　towards　his　wife　when　they　were
first　married；　and　that　it　was　unfair　in　him　to　leave　her？　　I　know
he　was；　but　I　think　his　recent　conduct　towards　her　has　amply　atoned
for　the　neglect。'

He　looked　Miss　Aldclyffe　full　in　the　face。　　It　was　plain　that　she
spoke　honestly。　　She　had　not　the　slightest　notion　that　the　woman　who
lived　with　the　steward　might　be　other　than　Mrs。　Manstonmuch　less
that　a　greater　matter　might　be　behind。

'That's　not　itI　wish　it　was　no　more。　　My　suspicion　is；　first；　that
the　woman　living　at　the　Old　House　is　not　Mr。　Manston's　wife。'

'NotMr。　Manston's　wife？'

'That　is　it。'

Miss　Aldclyffe　looked　blankly　at　the　rector。　　'Not　Mr。　Manston's
wifewho　else　can　she　be？'　she　said　simply。

'An　improper　woman　of　the　name　of　Anne　Seaway。'

Mr。　Raunham　had；　in　common　with　other　people；　noticed　the
extraordinary　interest　of　Miss　Aldclyffe　in　the　well…being　of　her
steward；　and　had　endeavoured　to　account　for　it　in　various　ways。　　The
extent　to　which　she　was　shaken　by　his　information；　whilst　it　proved
that　the　understanding　between　herself　and　Manston　did　not　make　her
a　sharer　of　his　secrets；　also　showed　that　the　tie　which　bound　her　to
him　was　still　unbroken。　　Mr。　Raunham　had　lately　begun　to　doubt　the
latter　fact；　and　now；　on　finding　himself　mistaken；　regretted　that　he
had　not　kept　his　own　counsel　in　the　matter。　　This　it　was　too　late　to
do；　and　he　pushed　on　with　his　proofs。　　He　gave　Miss　Aldclyffe　in
detail　the　grounds　of　his　belief。

Before　he　had　done；　she　recovered　the　cloak　of　reserve　that　she　had
adopted　on　his　opening　the　subject。

'I　might　possibly　be　convinced　that　you　were　in　the　right；　after
such　an　elaborate　argument；'　she　replied；　'were　it　not　for　one　fact；
which　bears　in　the　contrary　direction　so　pointedly；　that　nothing　but
absolute　proof　can　turn　it。　　It　is　that　there　is　no　conceivable
motive　which　could　induce　any　sane　manleaving　alone　a　man　of　Mr。
Manston's　clear…headedness　and　integrityto　venture　upon　such　an
extraordinary　course　of　conductno　motive　on　earth。'

'That　was　my　own　opinion　till　after　the　visit　of　a　friend　last
nighta　friend　of　mine　and　poor　little　Cytherea's。'

'Ahand　Cytherea；'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe；　catching　at　the　idea　raised
by　the　name。　　'That　he　loved　Cythereayes　and　loves　her　now；　wildly
and　devotedly；　I　am　as　positive　as　that　I　breathe。　　Cytherea　is
years　younger　than　Mrs。　Manstonas　I　shall　call　hertwice　as　sweet
in　disposition；　three　times　as　beautiful。　　Would　he　have　given　her
up　quietly　and　suddenly　for　a　commonMr。　Raunham；　your　story　is
monstrous；　and　I　don't　believe　it！'　　She　glowed　in　her　earnestness。

The　rector　might　now　have　advanced　his　second　propositionthe
possible　motivebut　for　reasons　of　his　own　he　did　not。

'Very　well；　madam。　　I　only　hope　that　facts　will　sustain　you　in　your
belief。　　Ask　him　the　question　to　his　face；　whether　the　woman　is　his
wife　or　no；　and　see　how　he　receives　it。'

'I　will　to…morrow；　most　certainly；'　she　said。　　'I　always　let　these
things　die　of　wholesome　ventilation；　as　every　fungus　does。'

But　no　sooner　had　the　rector　left　her　presence；　than　the　grain　of
mustard…seed　he　had　sown　grew　to　a　tree。　　Her　impatience　to　set　her
mind　at　rest　could　not　brook　a　night's　delay。　　It　was　with　the
utmost　difficulty　that　she　could　wait　till　evening　arrived　to　screen
her　movements。　　Immediately　the　sun　had　dropped　behind　the　horizon；
and　before　it　was　quite　dark；　she　wrapped　her　cloak　around　her；
softly　left　the　house；　and　walked　erect　through　the　gloomy　park　in
the　direction　of　the　old　manor…house。

The　same　minute　saw　two　persons　sit　down　in　the　rectory…house　to
share　the　rector's　usually　solitary　dinner。　　One　was　a　man　of
official　appearance；　commonplace　in　all　except　his　eyes。　　The　other
was　Edward　Springrove。



The　discovery　of　the　carefully…concealed　letters　rankled　in　the　mind
of　Anne　Seaway。　　Her　woman's　nature　insisted　that　Manston　had　no
right　to　keep　all　matters　connected　with　his　lost　wife　a　secret　from
herself。　　Perplexity　had　bred　vexation；　vexation；　resentment；
curiosity　had　been　continuous。　　The　whole　morning　this　resentment
and　curiosity　increased。

The　steward　said　very　little　to　his　companion　during　their　luncheon
at　mid…day。　　He　seemed　reckless　of　appearancesalmost　indifferent
to　whatever　fate　awaited　him。　　All　his　actions　betrayed　that
something　portentous　was　impending；　and　still　he　explained　nothing。
By　carefully　observing　every　trifling　action；　as　only　a　woman　can
observe　them；　the　thought　at　length　dawned　upon　her　that　he　was
going　to　run　away　secretly。　　She　feared　for　herself；　her　knowledge
of　law　and　justice　was　vague；　and　she　fancied　she　might　in　some　way
be　made　responsible　for　him。

In　the　afternoon　he　went　out　of　the　house　again；　and　she　watched　him
drive　away　in　the　direction　of　the　county…town。　　She　felt　a　desire
to　go　there　herself；　and；　after　an　interval　of　half…an…hour；
followed　him　on　foot　notwithstanding　the　distanceostensibly　to　do
some　shopping。

One　among　her　several　trivial　errands　was　to　make　a　small　purchase
at　the　druggist's。　　Near　the　druggist's　stood　the　County　Bank。
Looking　out　of　the　shop　window；　between　the　coloured　bottles；　she
saw　Manston　come　down　the　steps　of　the　bank；　in　the　act　of
withdrawing　his　hand　from　his　pocket；　and　pulling　his　coat　close
over　its　mouth。

It　is　an　almost　universal　habit　with　people；　when　leaving　a　bank；　to
be　carefully　adjusting　their　pockets　if　they　have　been　receiving
money；　if　they　have　been　paying　it　in；　their　hands　swing　laxly。　　The
steward　had　in　all　likelihood　been　taking　moneypossibly　on　Miss
Aldclyffe's　accountthat　was　continual　with　him。　　And　he　might　have
been　removing　his　own；　as　a　man　would　do　who　was　intending　to　leave
the　country。

3。　　FROM　FIVE　TO　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　P。M。

Anne　reached　home　again　in　time　to　preside　over　preparations　for
dinner。　　Manston　came　in　half…an…hour　later。　　The　lamp　was　lighted；
the　shutters　were　closed；　and　they　sat　down　together。　　He　was　pale
and　wornalmost　haggard。

The　meal　passed　off　in　almost　unbroken　silence。　　When　preoccupation
withstands　the　influence　of　a　social　meal　with　one　pleasant
companion；　the　mental　scene　must　be　surpassingly　vivid。　　Just　as　she
was　rising　a　tap　came　to　the　door。

Before　a　maid　could　attend　to　the　knock；　Manston　crossed　the　room
and　answered　it　himself。　　The　visitor　was　Miss　Aldclyffe。

Manston　instantly　came　back　and　spoke　to　Anne　in　an　undertone。　　'I
should　be　glad　if　you　could　retire　to　your　room　for　a　short　time。'

'It　is　a　dry；　starlight　evening；'　she　replied。　　'I　will　go　for　a
little　walk　if　your　object　is　merely　a　private　conversation　with
Miss　Aldclyffe。'

'Very　well；　do；　there's　no　accounting　for　tastes；'　he　said。　　A　few
commonplaces　then　passed　between　her　and　Miss　Aldclyffe；　and　Anne
went　upstairs　to　bonnet　and　cloak　herself。　　She　came　down；　opened
the　front　door；　and　went　out。

She　looked　around　to　realize　the　night。　　It　was　dark；　mournful；　and
quiet。　　Then　she　stood　still。　　From　the　moment　that　Manston　had
requested　her　absence；　a　strong　and　burning　desire　had　prevailed　in
her　to　know　the　subject　of　Miss　Aldclyffe's　conversation　with　him。
Simple　curiosity　was　not　entirely　what　inspired　her。　　Her　suspicions
had　been　thoroughly　aroused　by　the　discovery　of　the　morning。　　A
conviction　that　her　future　depended　on　her　power　to　combat　a　man
who；　in　desperate　circumstances；　would　be　far　from　a　friend　to　her；
prompted　a　strategic　movement　to　acquire　the　important　secret　that
was　in　handling　now。　　The　w