desperate remedies-第89节

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as　they　brushed　along　through　the　grass。　　'But　what　is　the　truth　of
the　story　about　the　property？'

'Now　look　here；　neighbour；'　said　Clerk　Crickett；　'if　so　be　you'll
tell　me　what　your　line　o'　life　is；　and　your　purpose　in　comen　here
to…day；　I'll　tell　you　the　truth　about　the　wedden　particulars。'

'Very　wellI　will　when　you　have　done；'　said　the　other　man。

''Tis　a　bargain；　and　this　is　the　right　o'　the　story。　　When　Miss
Aldclyffe's　will　was　opened；　it　was　found　to　have　been　drawn　up　on
the　very　day　that　Manston　（her　love…child）　married　Miss　Cytherea
Graye。　　And　this　is　what　that　deep　woman　did。　　Deep？　she　was　as　deep
as　the　North　Star。　　She　bequeathed　all　her　property；　real　and
personal；　to　〃THE　WIFE　OF　AENEAS　MANSTON〃　（with　one　exception）：
failen　her　life　to　her　husband：　　failen　his　life　to　the　heirs　of　his
headbody　I　would　say：　　failen　them　to　her　absolutely　and　her　heirs
for　ever：　　failen　these　to　Pa'son　Raunham；　and　so　on　to　the　end　o'
the　human　race。　　Now　do　you　see　the　depth　of　her　scheme？　　Why；
although　upon　the　surface　it　appeared　her　whole　property　was　for
Miss　Cytherea；　by　the　word　〃wife〃　being　used；　and　not　Cytherea's
name；　whoever　was　the　wife　o'　Manston　would　come　in　for't。　　Wasn't
that　rale　depth？　　It　was　done；　of　course；　that　her　son　AEneas；　under
any　circumstances；　should　be　master　o'　the　property；　without　folk
knowen　it　was　her　son　or　suspecting　anything；　as　they　would　if　it
had　been　left　to　en　straightway。'

'A　clever　arrangement！　　And　what　was　the　exception？'

'The　payment　of　a　legacy　to　her　relative；　Pa'son　Raunham。'

'And　Miss　Cytherea　was　now　Manston's　widow　and　only　relative；　and
inherited　all　absolutely。'

'True；　she　did。　　〃Well；〃　says　she；　〃I　shan't　have　it〃　（she　didn't
like　the　notion　o'　getten　anything　through　Manston；　naturally
enough；　pretty　dear）。　　She　waived　her　right　in　favour　o'　Mr。
Raunham。　　Now；　if　there's　a　man　in　the　world　that　d'care　nothen
about　landI　don't　say　there　is；　but　IF　there　is'tis　our　pa'son。
He's　like　a　snail。　　He's　a…growed　so　to　the　shape　o'　that　there
rectory　that　'a　wouldn'　think　o'　leaven　it　even　in　name。　　〃'Tis
yours；　Miss　Graye；〃　says　he。　　〃No；　'tis　yours；〃　says　she。　　〃'Tis'n'
mine；〃　says　he。　　The　Crown　had　cast　his　eyes　upon　the　case；　thinken
o'　forfeiture　by　felonybut　'twas　no　such　thing；　and　'a　gied　it　up；
too。　　Did　you　ever　hear　such　a　tale？three　people；　a　man　and　a
woman；　and　a　Crownneither　o'　em　in　a　madhouseflingen　an　estate
backwards　and　forwards　like　an　apple　or　nut？　　Well；　it　ended　in　this
way。　　Mr。　Raunham　took　it：　　young　Springrove　was　had　as　agent　and
steward；　and　put　to　live　in　Knapwater　House；　close　here　at　hand
just　as　if　'twas　his　own。　　He　does　just　what　he'd　likeMr。　Raunham
never　interferenand　hither　to…day　he's　brought　his　new　wife；
Cytherea。　　And　a　settlement　ha'　been　drawn　up　this　very　day；　whereby
their　children；　heirs；　and　cetrer；　be　to　inherit　after　Mr。　Raunham's
death。　　Good　fortune　came　at　last。　　Her　brother；　too；　is　doen　well。
He　came　in　first　man　in　some　architectural　competition；　and　is　about
to　move　to　London。　　Here's　the　house；　look。　　Stap　out　from　these
bushes；　and　you'll　get　a　clear　sight　o't。'

They　emerged　from　the　shrubbery；　breaking　off　towards　the　lake；　and
down　the　south　slope。　　When　they　arrived　exactly　opposite　the　centre
of　the　mansion；　they　halted。

It　was　a　magnificent　picture　of　the　English　country…house。　　The
whole　of　the　severe　regular　front；　with　its　columns　and　cornices；
was　built　of　a　white　smoothly…faced　freestone；　which　appeared　in　the
rays　of　the　moon　as　pure　as　Pentelic　marble。　　The　sole　objects　in
the　scene　rivalling　the　fairness　of　the　facade　were　a　dozen　swans
floating　upon　the　lake。

At　this　moment　the　central　door　at　the　top　of　the　steps　was　opened；
and　two　figures　advanced　into　the　light。　　Two　contrasting　figures
were　they。　　A　young　lithe　woman　in　an　airy　fairy　dressCytherea
Springrove：　　a　young　man　in　black　stereotype　raimentEdward；　her
husband。

They　stood　at　the　top　of　the　steps　together；　looking　at　the　moon；
the　water；　and　the　general　loveliness　of　the　prospect。

'That's　the　married　man　and　wifethere；　I've　illustrated　my　story
by　rale　liven　specimens；'　the　clerk　whispered。

'To　be　sure；　how　close　together　they　do　stand！　　You　couldn'　slip　a
penny…piece　between　'emthat　you　couldn'！　　Beautiful　to　see　it；
isn't　itbeautiful！。　。　。　　But　this　is　a　private　path；　and　we　won't
let　'em　see　us；　as　all　the　ringers　be　goen　there　to　a　supper　and
dance　to…morrow　night。'

The　speaker　and　his　companion　softly　moved　on；　passed　through　the
wicket；　and　into　the　coach…road。　　Arrived　at　the　clerk's　house　at
the　further　boundary　of　the　park；　they　paused　to　part。

'Now　for　your　half　o'　the　bargain；'　said　Clerk　Crickett。　　'What's
your　line　o'　life；　and　what　d'ye　come　here　for？'

'I'm　the　reporter　to　the　Casterbridge　Chronicle；　and　I　come　to　pick
up　the　news。　　Good…night。'


Meanwhile　Edward　and　Cytherea；　after　lingering　on　the　steps　for
several　minutes；　slowly　descended　the　slope　to　the　lake。　　The　skiff
was　lying　alongside。

'O；　Edward；'　said　Cytherea；　'you　must　do　something　that　has　just
come　into　my　head！'

'Well；　dearestI　know。'

'Yesgive　me　one　half…minute's　row　on　the　lake　here　now；　just　as
you　did　on　Budmouth　Bay　three　years　ago。'

He　handed　her　into　the　boat；　and　almost　noiselessly　pulled　off　from
shore。　　When　they　were　half…way　between　the　two　margins　of　the　lake；
he　paused　and　looked　at　her。

'Ah；　darling；　I　remember　exactly　how　I　kissed　you　that　first　time；'
said　Springrove。　　'You　were　there　as　you　are　now。　　I　unshipped　the
sculls　in　this　way。　　Then　I　turned　round　and　sat　beside　youin　this
way。　　Then　I　put　my　hand　on　the　other　side　of　your　little　neck'

'I　think　it　was　just　on　my　cheek；　in　this　way。'

'Ah；　so　it　was。　　Then　you　moved　that　soft　red　mouth　round　to　mine'

'But；　dearestyou　pressed　it　round　if　you　remember；　and　of　course　I
couldn't　then　help　letting　it　come　to　your　mouth　without　being
unkind　to　you；　and　I　wouldn't　be　that。'

'And　then　I　put　my　cheek　against　that　cheek；　and　turned　my　two　lips
round　upon　those　two　lips；　and　kissed　themso。'






End