the hand of ethelberta-第86节

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The　voice　was　so　different　from　her　brother's　that　she　was
terrified；　her　limbs　quivered。　　In　another　instant　the　speaker　had
struck　a　wax　vesta；　and　holding　it　erect　in　his　fingers　he　looked
her　in　the　face。

'Hee…hee…hee！'　　The　laugher　was　her　husband　the　viscount。

He　laughed　again；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　like　a　couple　of　tarnished
brass　buttons　in　the　light　of　the　wax　match。

Ethelberta　might　have　fallen　dead　with　the　shock；　so　terrible　and
hideous　was　it。　　Yet　she　did　not。　　She　neither　shrieked　nor　fainted；
but　no　poor　January　fieldfare　was　ever　colder；　no　ice…house　more
dank　with　perspiration；　than　she　was　then。

'A　very　pleasant　joke；　my　dearhee…hee！　　And　no　more　than　was　to　be
expected　on　this　merry；　happy　day　of　our　lives。　　Nobody　enjoys　a
good　jest　more　than　I　do：　　I　always　enjoyed　a　jesthee…hee！　　Now　we
are　in　the　dark　again；　and　we　will　alight　and　walk。　　The　path　is　too
narrow　for　the　carriage；　but　it　will　not　be　far　for　you。　　Take　your
husband's　arm。'

While　he　had　been　speaking　a　defiant　pride　had　sprung　up　in　her；
instigating　her　to　conceal　every　weakness。　　He　had　opened　the
carriage　door　and　stepped　out。　　She　followed；　taking　the　offered
arm。

'Take　the　horse　and　carriage　to　the　stables；'　said　the　viscount　to
the　coachman；　who　was　his　own　servant；　the　vehicle　and　horse　being
also　his。　　The　coachman　turned　the　horse's　head　and　vanished　down
the　woodland　track　by　which　they　had　ascended。

The　viscount　moved　on；　uttering　private　chuckles　as　numerous　as　a
woodpecker's　taps；　and　Ethelberta　with　him。　　She　walked　as　by　a
miracle；　but　she　would　walk。　　She　would　have　died　rather　than　not
have　walked　then。

She　perceived　now　that　they　were　somewhere　in　Enckworth　wood。　　As
they　went；　she　noticed　a　faint　shine　upon　the　ground　on　the　other
side　of　the　viscount；　which　showed　her　that　they　were　walking　beside
a　wet　ditch。　　She　remembered　having　seen　it　in　the　morning：　　it　was
a　shallow　ditch　of　mud。　　She　might　push　him　in；　and　run；　and　so
escape　before　he　could　extricate　himself。　　It　would　not　hurt　him。
It　was　her　last　chance。　　She　waited　a　moment　for　the　opportunity。

'We　are　one　to　one；　and　I　am　the　stronger！'　she　at　last　exclaimed
triumphantly；　and　lifted　her　hand　for　a　thrust。

'On　the　contrary；　darling；　we　are　one　to　half…a…dozen；　and　you
considerably　the　weaker；'　he　tenderly　replied；　stepping　back
adroitly；　and　blowing　a　whistle。　　At　once　the　bushes　seemed　to　be
animated　in　four　or　five　places。

'John？'　he　said；　in　the　direction　of　one　of　them。

'Yes；　my　lord；'　replied　a　voice　from　the　bush；　and　a　keeper　came
forward。

'William？'

Another　man　advanced　from　another　bush。

'Quite　right。　　Remain　where　you　are　for　the　present。　　Is　Tomkins
there？'

'Yes；　my　lord；'　said　a　man　from　another　part　of　the　thicket。

'You　go　and　keep　watch　by　the　further　lodge：　　there　are　poachers
about。　　Where　is　Strongway？'

'Just　below；　my　lord。'

'Tell　him　and　his　brother　to　go　to　the　west　gate；　and　walk　up　and
down。　　Let　them　search　round　it；　among　the　trees　inside。　　Anybody
there　who　cannot　give　a　good　account　of　himself　to　be　brought　before
me　to…morrow　morning。　　I　am　living　at　the　cottage　at　present。
That's　all　I　have　to　say　to　you。'　　And；　turning　round　to　Ethelberta：
'Now；　dearest；　we　will　walk　a　little　further　if　you　are　able。　　I
have　provided　that　your　friends　shall　be　taken　care　of。'　　He　tried
to　pull　her　hand　towards　him；　gently；　like　a　cat　opening　a　door。

They　walked　a　little　onward；　and　Lord　Mountclere　spoke　again；　with
imperturbable　good…humour：

'I　will　tell　you　a　story；　to　pass　the　time　away。　　I　have　learnt　the
art　from　youyour　mantle　has　fallen　upon　me；　and　all　your
inspiration　with　it。　　Listen；　dearest。　　I　saw　a　young　man　come　to
the　house　to…day。　　Afterwards　I　saw　him　cross　a　passage　in　your
company。　　You　entered　the　ball…room　with　him。　　That　room　is　a
treacherous　place。　　It　is　panelled　with　wood；　and　between　the　panels
and　the　walls　are　passages　for　the　servants；　opening　from　the　room
by　doors　hidden　in　the　woodwork。　　Lady　Mountclere　knew　of　one　of
these；　and　made　use　of　it　to　let　out　her　conspirator；　Lord
Mountclere　knew　of　another；　and　made　use　of　it　to　let　in　himself。
His　sight　is　not　good；　but　his　ears　are　unimpaired。　　A　meeting　was
arranged　to　take　place　at　the　west　gate　at　half…past　seven；　unless　a
note　handed　from　the　balcony　mentioned　another　time　and　place。　　He
heard　it　allhee…hee！

'When　Lady　Mountclere's　confederate　came　for　the　note；　I　was　in
waiting　above；　and　handed　one　down　a　few　minutes　before　the　hour
struck；　confirming　the　time；　but　changing　the　place。　　When　Lady
Mountclere　handed　down　her　note；　just　as　the　clock　was　striking；　her
confederate　had　gone；　and　I　was　standing　beneath　the　balcony　to
receive　it。　　She　dropped　it　into　her　husband's　handsho…ho…ho…ho！

'Lord　Mountclere　ordered　a　brougham　to　be　at　the　west　lodge；　as
fixed　by　Lady　Mountclere's　note。　　Probably　Lady　Mountclere's　friend
ordered　a　brougham　to　be　at　the　north　gate；　as　fixed　by　my　note；
written　in　imitation　of　Lady　Mountclere's　hand。　　Lady　Mountclere
came　to　the　spot　she　had　mentioned；　and　like　a　good　wife　rushed　into
the　arms　of　her　husbandhoo…hoo…hoo…hoo…hoo！'

As　if　by　an　ungovernable　impulse；　Ethelberta　broke　into　laughter
alsolaughter　which　had　a　wild　unnatural　sound；　it　was　hysterical。
She　sank　down　upon　the　leaves；　and　there　continued　the　fearful　laugh
just　as　before。

Lord　Mountclere　became　greatly　frightened。　　The　spot　they　had
reached　was　a　green　space　within　a　girdle　of　hollies；　and　in　front
of　them　rose　an　ornamental　cottage。　　This　was　the　building　which
Ethelberta　had　visited　earlier　in　the　day：　　it　was　the　Petit　Trianon
of　Enckworth　Court。

The　viscount　left　her　side　and　hurried　forward。　　The　door　of　the
building　was　opened　by　a　woman。

'Have　you　prepared　for　us；　as　I　directed？'

'Yes；　my　lord；　tea　and　coffee　are　both　ready。'

'Never　mind　that　now。　　Lady　Mountclere　is　ill；　come　and　assist　her
indoors。　　Tell　the　other　woman　to　bring　wine　and　water　at　once。'

He　returned　to　Ethelberta。　　She　was　better；　and　was　sitting　calmly
on　the　bank。　　She　rose　without　assistance。

'You　may　retire；'　he　said　to　the　woman　who　had　followed　him；　and　she
turned　round。　　When　Ethelberta　saw　the　building；　she　drew　back
quickly。

'Where　is　the　other　Lady　Mountclere？'　she　inquired。

'Gone！'

'She　shall　never　returnnever？'

'Never。　　It　was　not　intended　that　she　should。'

'That　sounds　well。　　Lord　Mountclere；　we　may　as　well　compromise
matters。'

'I　think　so　too。　　It　becomes　a　lady　to　make　a　virtue　of　a
necessity。'

'It　was　stratagem　against　stratagem。　　Mine　was　ingenious；　yours　was
masterly！　　Accept　my　acknowledgment。　　We　will　enter　upon　an　armed
neutrality。'

'No。　　Let　me　be　your　adorer　and　slave　again；　as　ever。　　Your　beauty；
dearest；　covers　everything！　　You　are　my　mistress　and　queen！　　But
here　we　are　at　the　door。　　Tea　is　prepared　for　us　here。　　I　have　a
liking　for　life　in　this　cottage　mode；　and　live　here　on　occasion。
Women；　attend　to　Lady　Mountclere。'

The　woman　who　had　seen　Ethelberta　in　the　morning　was　alarmed　at
recognizing　her；　having　since　been　informed　officially　of　the
marriage：　　she　murmured　entreaties　for　pardon。　　They　assisted　the
viscountess　to　a　chair；　the　door　was　closed；　and　the　wind　blew　past
as　if　nobody　had　ever　stood　there　to　interrupt　its　flight。



Full　of　misgivings；　Christopher　continued　to　wait　at　the　north　gate。
Half…past　seven　had　long　since　been　past；　and　no　Ethelberta　had
appeared。　　He　did　not　for　the　moment　suppose　the　delay　to　be　hers；
and　this　gave　him　patience；　having　taken　up　the　position；　he　was
induced　by　fidelity　to　abide　by　the　consequences。　　It　would　be　only
a　journey　of　two　hours　to　reach　Anglebury　Station；　he　would　ride
outside　with　the　driver；　put　her　into　the　train；　and　bid　her　adieu
for　ever。　　She　had　cried　for　help；　and　he　had　heard　her　cry。

At　last　through　the　trees　came　the　sound　of　the　Court　clock　striking
eight；　and　then；　for　the　first　time；　a　doubt　arose　in　his　mind
whether　she　could　have　mistaken　the　gate。　　She　had　distinctly　told
Sol　the　west　lodge；　her　note　had　expressed　the　north　lodge。　　Could
she　by　any　accident　have　written　one　thing　while　meaning　another？
He　entered　the　carriage；　and　drove　round　to　the　west　gate。　　All　was
as　silent　there　as　at　the　other；　the　meeting　between　Ethelberta　and
Lord　Mountclere　being　then　long　past；　and　he　drove　back　again。

He　left　the　carriage；　and　entered　the　park　on　foot；　approaching　the
house　slowly。　　All　was　silent；　the　windows　were　dark；　moping　sounds
came　from　the　trees　and　sky；　as　from　Sorrow　whispering　to　Night。　　By
this　time　he　felt　assured　that　the　scheme　had　miscarried。　　While　he
stood　here　a　carriage　without　lights　came　up　the　drive；　it　turned　in
towards　the　stable…yard　without　going　to　the　door。　　The　carriage　had
plainly　been　empty。

Returning　across　the　grass　by　the　way　he　had　come；　he　was　startled
by　the　voices　of　two　men　from　the　road　hard　by。

'Have　ye　zeed　anybody？'

'Not　a　soul。'

'Shall　we　go　across　again？'

'What's　the　good？　let's　home　to　supper。'

'My　lord　must　have　heard　somebody；　or　'a　wouldn't　have　said　it。'

'Perhaps　he's　nervous　now　he's　living　in　the