desperate remedies-第84节

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opened　it　in　the　same　way　as　the　former　one　had　been　opened；　before
the　terror…stricken　girl　was　aware　that　he　had　gone　round。　　In　an
instant　he　stood　in　the　pantry；　advanced　to　the　front　room　where　she
was；　flung　back　the　shutters；　and　held　out　his　arms　to　embrace　her。

In　extremely　trying　moments　of　bodily　or　mental　pain；　Cytherea
either　flushed　hot　or　faded　pale；　according　to　the　state　of　her
constitution　at　the　moment。　　Now　she　burned　like　fire　from　head　to
foot；　and　this　preserved　her　consciousness。

Never　before　had　the　poor　child's　natural　agility　served　her　in　such
good　stead　as　now。　　A　heavy　oblong　table　stood　in　the　middle　of　the
room。　　Round　this　table　she　flew；　keeping　it　between　herself　and
Manston；　her　large　eyes　wide　open　with　terror；　their　dilated　pupils
constantly　fixed　upon　Manston's；　to　read　by　his　expression　whether
his　next　intention　was　to　dart　to　the　right　or　the　left。

Even　he；　at　that　heated　moment；　could　not　endure　the　expression　of
unutterable　agony　which　shone　from　that　extraordinary　gaze　of　hers。
It　had　surely　been　given　her　by　God　as　a　means　of　defence。　　Manston
continued　his　pursuit　with　a　lowered　eye。

The　panting　and　maddened　desperadoblind　to　everything　but　the
capture　of　his　wifewent　with　a　rush　under　the　table：　　she　went
over　it　like　a　bird。　　He　went　heavily　over　it：　　she　flew　under　it；
and　was　out　at　the　other　side。

　　　　　'One　on　her　youth　and　pliant　limbs　relies；
　　　　　　One　on　his　sinews　and　his　giant　size。'

But　his　superior　strength　was　sure　to　tire　her　down　in　the　long…run。
She　felt　her　weakness　increasing　with　the　quickness　of　her　breath；
she　uttered　a　wild　scream；　which　in　its　heartrending　intensity
seemed　to　echo　for　miles。

At　the　same　juncture　her　hair　became　unfastened；　and　rolled　down
about　her　shoulders。　　The　least　accident　at　such　critical　periods　is
sufficient　to　confuse　the　overwrought　intelligence。　　She　lost　sight
of　his　intended　direction　for　one　instant；　and　he　immediately
outmanoeuvred　her。

'At　last！　my　Cytherea！'　he　cried；　overturning　the　table；　springing
over　it；　seizing　one　of　the　long　brown　tresses；　pulling　her　towards
him；　and　clasping　her　round。　　She　writhed　downwards　between　his　arms
and　breast；　and　fell　fainting　on　the　floor。　　For　the　first　time　his
action　was　leisurely。　　He　lifted　her　upon　the　sofa；　exclaiming；
'Rest　there　for　a　while；　my　frightened　little　bird！'

And　then　there　was　an　end　of　his　triumph。　　He　felt　himself　clutched
by　the　collar；　and　whizzed　backwards　with　the　force　of　a　battering…
ram　against　the　fireplace。　　Springrove；　wild；　red；　and　breathless；
had　sprung　in　at　the　open　window；　and　stood　once　more　between　man
and　wife。

Manston　was　on　his　legs　again　in　an　instant。　　A　fiery　glance　on　the
one　side；　a　glance　of　pitiless　justice　on　the　other；　passed　between
them。　　It　was　again　the　meeting　in　the　vineyard　of　Naboth　the
Jezreelite：　　'Hast　thou　found　me；　O　mine　enemy？　　And　he　answered；　I
have　found　thee：　　because　thou　hast　sold　thyself　to　work　evil　in　the
sight　of　the　Lord。'

A　desperate　wrestle　now　began　between　the　two　men。　　Manston　was　the
taller；　but　there　was　in　Edward　much　hard　tough　muscle　which　the
delicate　flesh　of　the　steward　lacked。　　They　flew　together　like　the
jaws　of　a　gin。　　In　a　minute　they　were　both　on　the　floor；　rolling
over　and　over；　locked　in　each　other's　grasp　as　tightly　as　if　they
had　been　one　organic　being　at　war　with　itselfEdward　trying　to
secure　Manston's　arms　with　a　small　thong　he　had　drawn　from　his
pocket；　Manston　trying　to　reach　his　knife。

Two　characteristic　noises　pervaded　the　apartment　through　this
momentous　space　of　time。　　One　was　the　sharp　panting　of　the　two
combatants；　so　similar　in　each　as　to　be　undistinguishable；　the　other
was　the　stroke　of　their　heels　and　toes；　as　they　smote　the　floor　at
every　contortion　of　body　or　limbs。

Cytherea　had　not　lost　consciousness　for　more　than　half…a…minute。
She　had　then　leapt　up　without　recognizing　that　Edward　was　her
deliverer；　unfastened　the　door；　and　rushed　out；　screaming　wildly；
'Come！　　Help！　　O；　help！'

Three　men　stood　not　twenty　yards　off；　looking　perplexed。　　They
dashed　forward　at　her　words。　　'Have　you　seen　a　shabby　man　with　a
smock…frock　on　lately？'　they　inquired。　　She　pointed　to　the　door；　and
ran　on　the　same　as　before。

Manston；　who　had　just　loosened　himself　from　Edward's　grasp；　seemed
at　this　moment　to　renounce　his　intention　of　pushing　the　conflict　to
a　desperate　end。　　'I　give　it　all　up　for　lifedear　life！'　he　cried；
with　a　hoarse　laugh。　　'A　reckless　man　has　a　dozen　livessee　how
I'll　baffle　you　all　yet！'

He　rushed　out　of　the　house；　but　no　further。　　The　boast　was　his　last。
In　one　half…minute　more　he　was　helpless　in　the　hands　of　his
pursuers。



Edward　staggered　to　his　feet；　and　paused　to　recover　breath。　　His
thoughts　had　never　forsaken　Cytherea；　and　his　first　act　now　was　to
hasten　up　the　lane　after　her。　　She　had　not　gone　far。　　He　found　her
leaning　upon　a　bank　by　the　roadside；　where　she　had　flung　herself
down　in　sheer　exhaustion。　　He　ran　up　and　lifted　her　in　his　arms；　and
thus　aided　she　was　enabled　to　stand　uprightclinging　to　him。　　What
would　Springrove　have　given　to　imprint　a　kiss　upon　her　lips　then！

They　walked　slowly　towards　the　house。　　The　distressing　sensation　of
whose　wife　she　was　could　not　entirely　quench　the　resuscitated
pleasure　he　felt　at　her　grateful　recognition　of　him；　and　her
confiding　seizure　of　his　arm　for　support。　　He　conveyed　her　carefully
into　the　house。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　whilst　she　was　sitting　in　a　partially
recovered；　half…dozing　state　in　an　arm…chair；　Edward　beside　her
waiting　anxiously　till　Graye　should　arrive；　they　saw　a　spring…cart
pass　the　door。　　Old　and　dry　mud…splashes　from　long…forgotten　rains
disfigured　its　wheels　and　sides；　the　varnish　and　paint　had　been
scratched　and　dimmed；　ornament　had　long　been　forgotten　in　a　restless
contemplation　of　use。　　Three　men　sat　on　the　seat；　the　middle　one
being　Manston。　　His　hands　were　bound　in　front　of　him；　his　eyes　were
set　directly　forward；　his　countenance　pallid；　hard；　and　fixed。

Springrove　had　told　Cytherea　of　Manston's　crime　in　a　few　short
words。　　He　now　said　solemnly；　'He　is　to　die。'

'And　I　cannot　mourn　for　him；'　she　replied　with　a　shudder；　leaning
back　and　covering　her　face　with　her　hands。

In　the　silence　that　followed　the　two　short　remarks；　Springrove
watched　the　cart　round　the　corner；　and　heard　the　rattle　of　its
wheels　gradually　dying　away　as　it　rolled　in　the　direction　of　the
county…town。



XXI。　　THE　EVENTS　OF　EIGHTEEN　HOURS

1。　　MARCH　THE　TWENTY…NINTH。　　NOON

Exactly　seven　days　after　Edward　Springrove　had　seen　the　man　with　the
bundle　of　straw　walking　down　the　streets　of　Casterbridge；　old　Farmer
Springrove　was　standing　on　the　edge　of　the　same　pavement；　talking　to
his　friend；　Farmer　Baker。

There　was　a　pause　in　their　discourse。　　Mr。　Springrove　was　looking
down　the　street　at　some　object　which　had　attracted　his　attention。
'Ah；　'tis　what　we　shall　all　come　to！'　he　murmured。

The　other　looked　in　the　same　direction。　　'True；　neighbour
Springrove；　true。'

Two　men；　advancing　one　behind　the　other　in　the　middle　of　the　road；
were　what　the　farmers　referred　to。　　They　were　carpenters；　and　bore
on　their　shoulders　an　empty　coffin；　covered　by　a　thin　black　cloth。

'I　always　feel　a　satisfaction　at　being　breasted　by　such　a　sight　as
that；'　said　Springrove；　still　regarding　the　men's　sad　burden。　　'I
call　it　a　sort　of　medicine。'

'And　it　is　medicine。　。　。　。　　I　have　not　heard　of　any　body　being　ill
up　this　way　lately？　　D'seem　as　if　the　person　died　suddenly。'

'May　be　so。　　Ah；　Baker；　we　say　sudden　death；　don't　we？　　But　there's
no　difference　in　their　nature　between　sudden　death　and　death　of　any
other　sort。　　There's　no　such　thing　as　a　random　snapping　off　of　what
was　laid　down　to　last　longer。　　We　only　suddenly　light　upon　an　end
thoughtfully　formed　as　any　otherwhich　has　been　existing　at　that
very　same　point　from　the　beginning；　though　unseen　by　us　to　be　so
soon。'

'It　is　just　a　discovery　to　your　own　mind；　and　not　an　alteration　in
the　Lord's。'

'That's　it。　　Unexpected　is　not　as　to　the　thing；　but　as　to　our
sight。'

'Now　you'll　hardly　believe　me；　neighbour；　but　this　little　scene　in
front　of　us　makes　me　feel　less　anxious　about　pushing　on　wi'　that
threshing　and　winnowing　next　week；　that　I　was　speaking　about。　　Why
should　we　not　stand　still；　says　I　to　myself；　and　fling　a　quiet　eye
upon　the　Whys　and　the　Wherefores；　before　the　end　o'　it　all；　and　we
go　down　into　the　mouldering…place；　and　are　forgotten？'

''Tis　a　feeling　that　will　come。　　But　'twont　bear　looking　into。
There's　a　back'ard　current　in　the　world；　and　we　must　do　our　utmost
to　advance　in　order　just　to　bide　where　we　be。　　But；　Baker；　they　are
turning　in　here　with　the　coffin；　look。'

The　two　carpenters　had　borne　their　load　into　a　narrow　way　close　at
hand。　　The　farmers；　in　common　with　others；　turned　and　watched　them
along　the　way。

''Tis　a　man's　coffin；　and　a　tall　man's；　too；'　continued　Farmer
Springrove。　　'His　was　a　fine　frame；　whoever　he　was。'

'A　very　plain　box　for　the　poor　souljust　the　rough　elm；　you　see。'
The　corner　of　the　cloth　had　blown　aside。

'Yes；　for　a　very　poor　man。　　Well；　death's　all　the　le