miss or mrs[1].(小姐还是夫人)-第21节
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one of them Sir Joseph reclined； fast asleep； in another； Miss Lavinia sat
knitting； a third chair； apart from the rest； near a round table in one corner
of the room； was occupied by Natalie。 Her head was resting on her hand；
an unread book lay open on her lap。 She looked pale and harassed； anxiety
and suspense had worn her down to the shadow of her former self。 On
entering the room； Turlington purposely closed the door with a bang。
Natalie started。 Miss Lavinia looked up reproachfully。 The object was
achievedSir Joseph was roused from his sleep。
〃If you are going to the vicar's to…night。 Graybrooke；〃 said Turlington；
〃it's time you were off； isn't it？〃
Sir Joseph rubbed his eyes； and looked at the clock on the mantel…
piece。 〃Yes； yes； Richard；〃 he answered； drowsily； 〃I suppose I must go。
Where is my hat？〃
His sister and his daughter both joined in trying to persuade him to
send an excuse instead of groping his way to the vicarage in the dark。 Sir
Joseph hesitated； as usual。 He and the vicar had run up a sudden friendship；
on the strength of their common enthusiasm for the old…fashioned game of
backgammon。 Victorious over his opponent on the previous evening at
Turlington's house； Sir Joseph had promised to pass that evening at the
vicarage； and give the vicar his revenge。 Observing his indecision；
Turlington cunningly irritated him by affecting to believe that he was
really unwilling to venture out in the dark。 〃I'll see you safe across the
churchyard；〃 he said； 〃and the vicar's servant will see you safe back。〃 The
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tone in which he spoke instantly roused Sir Joseph。 〃I am not in my
second childhood yet； Richard；〃 he replied； testily。 〃I can find my way by
myself。〃 He kissed his daughter on the forehead。 〃No fear； Natalie。 I shall
be back in time for the mulled claret。 No； Richard； I won't trouble you。〃
He kissed his hand to his sister and went out into the hall for his hat：
Turlington following him with a rough apology； and asking as a favor to
be permitted to accompany him part of the way only。 The ladies； left
behind in the drawing…room； heard the apology accepted by kind…hearted
Sir Joseph。 The two went out together。
〃Have you noticed Richard since his return？〃 asked Miss Lavinia。 〃I
fancy he must have heard bad news in London。 He looks as if he had
something on his mind。〃
〃I haven't remarked it； aunt。〃
For the time； no more was said。 Miss Lavinia went monotonously on
with her knitting。 Natalie pursued her own anxious thoughts over the
unread pages of the book in her lap。 Suddenly the deep silence out of
doors and in was broken by a shrill whistle； sounding from the direction of
the church…yard。 Natalie started with a faint cry of alarm。 Miss Lavinia
looked up from her knitting。
〃My dear child； your nerves must be sadly out of order。 What is there
to be frightened at？〃
〃I am not very well； aunt。 It is so still here at night； the slightest noises
startle me。〃
There was another interval of silence。 It was past nine o'clock when
they heard the back door opened and closed again。 Turlington came
hurriedly into the drawing…room； as if he had some reason for wishing to
rejoin the ladies as soon as possible。 To the surprise of both of them； he sat
down abruptly in the corner； with his face to the wall； and took up the
newspaper； without casting a look at them or uttering a word。
〃Is Joseph safe at the vicarage？〃 asked Miss Lavinia。
〃All right。〃 He gave the answer in a short； surly tone； still without
looking round。
Miss Lavinia tried him again。 〃Did you hear a whistle while you were
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out？ It quite startled Natalie in the stillness of this place。〃
He turned half…way round。 〃My shepherd； I suppose；〃 he said after a
pause〃whistling for his dog。〃 He turned back again and immersed
himself in his newspaper。
Miss Lavinia beckoned to her niece and pointed significantly to
Turlington。 After one reluctant look at him； Natalie laid her head wearily
on her aunt's shoulder。 〃Sleepy； my dear？〃 whispered the old lady。
〃Uneasy； auntI don't know why；〃 Natalie whispered back。 〃I would give
the world to be in London； and to hear the carriages going by； and the
people talking in the street。〃
Turlington suddenly dropped his newspaper。 〃What's the secret
between you two？〃 he called out roughly。 〃What are you whispering
about？〃
〃We wish not to disturb you over your reading； that is all；〃 said Miss
Lavinia； coldly。 〃Has anything happened to vex you； Richard？〃
〃What the devil makes you think that？〃
The old lady was offended； and showed it by saying nothing more。
Natalie nestled closer to her aunt。 One after another the clock ticked off
the minutes with painful distinctness in the stillness of the room。
Turlington suddenly threw aside the newspaper and left his corner。 〃Let's
be good friends！〃 he burst out； with a clumsy assumption of gayety。 〃This
isn't keeping Christmas…eve。 Let's talk and be sociable。 Dearest Natalie！〃
He threw his arm roughly round Natalie； and drew her by main force away
from her aunt。 She turned deadly pale； and struggled to release herself。 〃I
am sufferingI am illlet me go！〃 He was deaf to her entreaties。 〃What！
your husband that is to be； treated in this way？ Mustn't I have a kiss？I
will！〃 He held her closer with one hand； and； seizing her head with the
other； tried to turn her lips to him。 She resisted with the inbred nervous
strength which the weakest woman living has in reserve when she is
outraged。 Half indignant； half terrified； at Turlington's roughness； Miss
Lavinia rose to interfere。 In a moment more he would have had two
women to overpower instead of one； when a noise outside the window
suddenly suspended the ignoble struggle。
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There was a sound of footsteps on the gravel…walk which ran between
the house wall and the garden lawn。 It was followed by a tapa single
faint tap； no moreon one of the panes of glass。
They all three stood still。 For a moment more nothing was audible。
Then there was a heavy shock； as of something falling outside。 Then a
groan； then another interval of silencea long silence； interrupted no
more。
Turlington's arm dropped from Natalie。 She drew back to her aunt。
Looking at him instinctively； in the natural expectation that he would take
the lead in penetrating the mystery of what had happened outside the
window； the two women were thunderstruck to see that he was； to all
appearance； even more startled and more helpless than they were。
〃Richard；〃 said Miss Lavinia； pointing to the window； 〃there is something
wrong out there。 See what it is。〃 He stood motionless； as if he had not
heard her； his eyes fixed on the window； his face livid with terror。
The silence outside was broken once more； this time by a call for help。
A cry of horror burst from Natalie。 The voice outsiderising wildly；
then suddenly dying away againwas not entirely strange to _her_ ears。
She tore aside the curtain。 With voice and hand she roused her aunt to help
her。 The two lifted the heavy bar from its socket； they opened the shutters
and the window。 The cheerful light of the room flowed out over the body
of a prostrate man； lying on his face。 They turned the man over。 Natalie
lifted his head。
Her father！
His face was bedabbled with blood。 A wound； a frightful wound； was
visib
