armadale-第101节

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keep　a　lady　waitingand　I've　got　business　to…night　with　one　of
your　own　sex！〃

CHAPTER　VII。

THE　MARTYRDOM　OF　MISS　GWILT。

THE　outskirts　of　the　little　town　of　Thorpe　Ambrose；　on　the　side
nearest　to　〃the　great　house；〃　have　earned　some　local　celebrity　as
exhibiting　the　prettiest　suburb　of　the　kind　to　be　found　in　East
Norfolk。　Here　the　villas　and　gardens　are　for　the　most　part　built
and　laid　out　in　excellent　taste；　the　trees　are　in　the　prime　of
their　growth；　and　the　healthy　common　beyond　the　houses　rises　and
falls　in　picturesque　and　delightful　variety　of　broken　ground。　The
rank；　fashion；　and　beauty　of　the　town　make　this　place　their
evening　promenade；　and　when　a　stranger　goes　out　for　a　drive；　if
he　leaves　it　to　the　coachman；　the　coachman　starts　by　way　of　the
common　as　a　matter　of　course。

On　the　opposite　side；　that　is　to　say；　on　the　side　furthest　from
〃the　great　house；〃　the　suburbs　（in　the　year　1851）　were
universally　regarded　as　a　sore　subject　by　all　persons　zealous　for
the　reputation　of　the　town。

Here　nature　was　uninviting；　man　was　poor；　and　social　progress；　as
exhibited　under　the　form　of　building；　halted　miserably。　The
streets　dwindled　feebly；　as　they　receded　from　the　center　of　the
town；　into　smaller　and　smaller　houses；　and　died　away　on　the
barren　open　ground　into　an　atrophy　of　skeleton　cottages。　Builders
hereabouts　appeared　to　have　universally　abandoned　their　work　in
the　first　stage　of　its　creation。　Land…holders　set　up　poles　on
lost　patches　of　ground；　and；　plaintively　advertising　that　they
were　to　let　for　building；　raised　sickly　little　crops　meanwhile；
in　despair　of　finding　a　purchaser　to　deal　with　them。　All　the
waste　paper　of　the　town　seemed　to　float　congenially　to　this
neglected　spot；　and　all　the　fretful　children　came　and　cried　here；
in　charge　of　all　the　slatternly　nurses　who　disgraced　the　place。
If　there　was　any　intention　in　Thorpe　Ambrose　of　sending　a
worn…out　horse　to　the　knacker's；　that　horse　was　sure　to　be　found
waiting　his　doom　in　a　field　on　this　side　of　the　town。　No　growth
flourished　in　these　desert　regions　but　the　arid　growth　of
rubbish；　and　no　creatures　rejoiced　but　the　creatures　of　the
nightthe　vermin　here　and　there　in　the　beds；　and　the　cats
everywhere　on　the　tiles。

The　sun　had　set；　and　the　summer　twilight　was　darkening。　The
fretful　children　were　crying　in　their　cradles；　the　horse　destined
for　the　knacker　dozed　forlorn　in　the　field　of　his　imprisonment；
the　cats　waited　stealthily　in　corners　for　the　coming　night。　But
one　living　figure　appeared　in　the　lonely　suburbthe　figure　of
Mr。　Bashwood。　But　one　faint　sound　disturbed　the　dreadful
silencethe　sound　of　Mr。　Bashwood's　softly　stepping　feet。

Moving　slowly　past　the　heaps　of　bricks　rising　at　intervals　along
the　road；　coasting　carefully　round　the　old　iron　and　the　broken
tiles　scattered　here　and　there　in　his　path；　Mr。　Bashwood　advanced
from　the　direction　of　the　country　toward　one　of　the　unfinished
streets　of　the　suburb。　His　personal　appearance　had　been
apparently　made　the　object　of　some　special　attention。　His　false
teeth　were　brilliantly　white；　his　wig　was　carefully　brushed；　his
mourning　garments；　renewed　throughout；　gleamed　with　the　hideous
and　slimy　gloss　of　cheap　black　cloth。　He　moved　with　a　nervous
jauntiness；　and　looked　about　him　with　a　vacant　smile。　Having
reached　the　first　of　the　skeleton　cottages；　his　watery　eyes
settled　steadily　for　the　first　time　on　the　view　of　the　street
before　him。　The　next　instant　he　started；　his　breath　quickened；　he
leaned；　trembling　and　flushing；　against　the　unfinished　wall　at
his　side。　A　lady；　still　at　some　distance；　was　advancing　toward
him　down　the　length　of　the　street。　〃She's　coming！〃　he　whispered；
with　a　strange　mixture　of　rapture　and　fear；　of　alternating　color
and　paleness；　showing　itself　in　his　haggard　face。　〃I　wish　I　was
the　ground　she　treads　on！　I　wish　I　was　the　glove　she's　got　on　her
hand！〃　He　bur　st　ecstatically　into　those　extravagant　words；　with
a　concentrated　intensity　of　delight　in　uttering　them　that
actually　shook　his　feeble　figure　from　head　to　foot。

Smoothly　and　gracefully　the　lady　glided　nearer　and　nearer；　until
she　revealed　to　Mr。　Bashwood's　eyes；　what　Mr。　Bashwood's
instincts　had　recognized　in　the　first　instancethe　face　of　Miss
Gwilt。

She　was　dressed　with　an　exquisitely　expressive　economy　of　outlay。
The　plainest　straw　bonnet　procurable；　trimmed　sparingly　with　the
cheapest　white　ribbon；　was　on　her　head。　Modest　and　tasteful
poverty　expressed　itself　in　the　speckless　cleanliness　and　the
modestly　proportioned　skirts　of　her　light　〃print〃　gown；　and　in
the　scanty　little　mantilla　of　cheap　black　silk　which　she　wore
over　it；　edged　with　a　simple　frilling　of　the　same　material。　The
luster　of　her　terrible　red　hair　showed　itself　unshrinkingly　in　a
plaited　coronet　above　her　forehead；　and　escaped　in　one　vagrant
love…lock；　perfectly　curled；　that　dropped　over　her　left　shoulder。
Her　gloves；　fitting　her　like　a　second　skin；　were　of　the　sober
brown　hue　which　is　slowest　to　show　signs　of　use。　One　hand　lifted
her　dress　daintily　above　the　impurities　of　the　road；　the　other
held　a　little　nosegay　of　the　commonest　garden　flowers。
Noiselessly　and　smoothly　she　came　on；　with　a　gentle　and　regular
undulation　of　the　print　gown；　with　the　love…lock　softly　lifted
from　moment　to　moment　in　the　evening　breeze；　with　her　head　a
little　drooped；　and　her　eyes　on　the　groundin　walk；　and　look；
and　manner；　in　every　casual　movement　that　escaped　her；　expressing
that　subtle　mixture　of　the　voluptuous　and　the　modest　which；　of
the　many　attractive　extremes　that　meet　in　women；　is　in　a　man's
eyes　the　most　irresistible　of　all。

〃Mr。　Bashwood！〃　she　exclaimed；　in　loud；　clear　tones　indicative　of
the　utmost　astonishment；　〃what　a　surprise　to　find　you　here！　I
thought　none　but　the　wretched　inhabitants　ever　ventured　near　this
side　of　the　town。　Hush！〃　she　added　quickly；　in　a　whisper。　〃You
heard　right　when　you　heard　that　Mr。　Armadale　was　going　to　have　me
followed　and　watched。　There's　a　man　behind　one　of　the　houses。　We
must　talk　out　loud　of　indifferent　things；　and　look　as　if　we　had
met　by　accident。　Ask　me　what　I　am　doing。　Out　loud！　Directly！　You
shall　never　see　me　again；　if　you　don't　instantly　leave　off
trembling　and　do　what　I　tell　you！〃

She　spoke　with　a　merciless　tyranny　of　eye　and　voicewith　a
merciless　use　of　her　power　over　the　feeble　creature　whom　she
addressed。　Mr。　Bashwood　obeyed　her　in　tones　that　quavered　with
agitation；　and　with　eyes　that　devoured　her　beauty　in　a　strange
fascination　of　terror　and　delight。

〃I　am　trying　to　earn　a　little　money　by　teaching　music；〃　she　said；
in　the　voice　intended　to　reach　the　spy's　ears。　〃If　you　are　able
to　recommend　me　any　pupils；　Mr。　Bashwood；　your　good　word　will
oblige　me。　Have　you　been　in　the　grounds　to…day？〃　she　went　on；
dropping　her　voice　again　in　a　whisper。　〃Has　Mr。　Armadale　been
near　the　cottage？　Has　Miss　Milroy　been　out　of　the　garden？　No？　Are
you　sure？　Look　out　for　them　to…morrow；　and　next　day；　and　next
day。　They　are　certain　to　meet　and　make　it　up　again；　and　I　must
and　will　know　of　it。　Hush！　Ask　me　my　terms　for　teaching　music。
What　are　you　frightened　about？　It's　me　the　man's　afternot　you。
Louder　than　when　you　asked　me　what　I　was　doing；　just　now；　louder；
or　I　won't　trust　you　any　more；　I'll　go　to　somebody　else！〃

Once　more　Mr。　Bashwood　obeyed。　〃Don't　be　angry　with　me；〃　he
murmured；　faintly；　when　he　had　spoken　the　necessary　words。　〃My
heart　beats　so　you'll　kill　me！〃

〃You　poor　old　dear！〃　she　whispered　back；　with　a　sudden　change　in
her　manner；　with　an　easy　satirical　tenderness。　〃What　business
have　you　with　a　heart　at　your　age？　Be　here　to…morrow　at　the　same
time；　and　tell　me　what　you　have　seen　in　the　grounds。　My　terms　are
only　five　shillings　a　lesson；〃　she　went　on；　in　her　louder　tone。
〃I'm　sure　that's　not　much；　Mr。　Bashwood；　I　give　such　long
lessons；　and　I　get　all　my　pupils'　music　half…price。〃　She　suddenly
dropped　her　voice　again；　and　looked　him　brightly　into　instant
subjection。　〃Don't　let　Mr。　Armadale　out　of　your　sight　to…morrow！
If　that　girl　manages　to　speak　to　him；　and　if　I　don't　hear　of　it；
I'll　frighten　you　to　death。　If　I　_do_　hear　of　it；　I'll　kiss　you！
Hush！　Wish　me　good…night；　and　go　on　to　the　town；　and　leave　me　to
go　the　other　way。　I　don't　want　youI'm　not　afraid　of　the　man
behind　the　houses；　I　can　deal　with　him　by　myself。　Say　goodnight；
and　I'll　let　you　shake　hands。　Say　it　louder；　and　I'll　give　you
one　of　my　flowers；　if　you'll　promise　not　to　fall　in　love　with
it。〃　She　raised　her　voice　again。　〃Goodnight；　Mr。　Bashwood！　Don't
forget　my　terms。　Five　shillings　a　lesson；　and　the　lessons　last　an
hour　at　a　time；　and　I　get　all　my　pupils'　music　half…price；　which
is　an　immense　advantage；　isn't　it？〃　She　slipped　a　flower　into　his
handfrowned　him　into　obedience；　and　smiled　to　reward　him　for
obeying；　at　the　same　momentlifted　her　dress　again　above　the
impurities　of　the　roadand　went　on　her　way　with　a　dainty　and
indolent　deliberation；　as　a　cat　goes　on　her　way　when　she　has
exhausted　the　enjoyment　of　frightening　a　mouse。

Left　alone；　Mr。　Bashwood　turned　to　the　low　cottage　wall　near
which　he　had　been　standing；　and；　resting　himself　on　it　wearily；
looked　at　the　flower　in　his　hand。

His　past　existence　had　disciplined