armadale-第108节

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the　same　side　of　the　house）；　and　left　the　door　ajar；　and　set　the
window　open；　waiting　and　listening　for　anything　that　might
happen。　Dear　madam；　there　was　a　time　when　I　might　have　thought
such　a　position　in　the　house　of　my　employer　not　a　very　becoming
one。　Let　me　hasten　to　assure　you　that　this　is　far　from　being　my
feeling　now。　I　glory　in　any　position　which　makes　me　serviceable
to　you。

〃The　state　of　the　weather　seemed　hopelessly　adverse　to　that
renewal　of　intercourse　between　Mr。　Armadale　and　Miss　Milroy　which
you　so　confidently　anticipate；　and　of　which　you　are　so　anxious　to
be　made　aware。　Strangely　enough；　however；　it　is　actually　in
consequence　of　the　state　of　the　weather　that　I　am　now　in　a
position　to　give　you　the　very　information　you　require。　Mr。
Armadale　and　Miss　Milroy　met　about　an　hour　since。　The
circumstances　were　as　follows：

〃Just　at　the　beginning　of　the　thunder…storm；　I　saw　one　of　the
grooms　run　across　from　the　stables；　and　heard　him　tap　at　his
master's　window。　Mr。　Armadale　opened　the　window　and　asked　what
was　the　matter。　The　groom　said　he　came　with　a　message　from　the
coachman's　wife。　She　had　seen　from　her　room　over　the　stables
（which　looks　on　to　the　park）　Miss　Milroy　quite　alone；　standing
for　shelter　under　one　of　the　trees。　As　that　part　of　the　park　was
at　some　distance　from　the　major's　cottage；　she　had　thought　that
her　master　might　wish　to　send　and　ask　the　young　lady　into　the
houseespecially　as　she　had　placed　herself；　with　a　thunder…storm
coming　on；　in　what　might　turn　out　to　be　a　very　dangerous
position。

〃The　moment　Mr。　Armadale　understood　the　man's　message；　he　called
for　the　water…proof　things　and　the　umbrellas；　and　ran　out
himself；　instead　of　leaving　it　to　the　servants。　In　a　little　time
he　and　the　groom　came　back　with　Miss　Milroy　between　them；　as　well
protected　as　could　be　from　the　rain。

〃I　ascertained　from　one　of　the　women…servants；　who　had　taken　the
young　lady　into　a　bedroom；　and　had　supplied　her　with　such　dry
things　as　she　wanted；　that　Miss　Milroy　had　been　afterward　shown
into　the　drawing…room；　and　that　Mr。　Armadale　was　there　with　her。
The　only　way　of　following　your　instructions；　and　finding　out　what
passed　between　them；　was　to　go　round　the　house　in　the　pelting
rain；　and　get　into　the　conservatory　（which　opens　into　the
drawing…room）　by　the　outer　door。　I　hesitate　at　nothing；　dear
madam；　in　your　service；　I　would　cheerfully　get　wet　every　day；　to
please　you。　Besides；　though　I　may　at　first　sight　be　thought
rather　an　elderly　man；　a　wetting　is　of　no　very　serious
consequence　to　me。　I　assure　you　I　am　not　so　old　as　I　look；　and　I
am　of　a　stronger　constitution　than　appears。

〃It　was　impossible　for　me　to　get　near　enough　in　the　conservatory
to　see　what　went　on　in　the　drawing…room；　without　the　risk　of
being　discovered。　But　most　of　the　conversation　reached　me；　except
when　they　dropped　their　voices。　This　is　the　substance　of　what　I
heard：

〃I　gathered　that　Miss　Milroy　had　been　prevailed　on；　against　her
will；　to　take　refuge　from　the　thunder…storm　in　Mr。　Armadale's
house。　She　said　so；　at　least；　and　she　gave　two　reasons。　The　first
was　that　her　father　had　forbidden　all　intercourse　between　the
cottage　and　the　great　house。　Mr。　Armadale　met　this　objection　by
declaring　that　her　father　had　issued　his　orders　under　a　total
misconception　of　the　truth；　and　by　entreating　her　not　to　treat
him　as　cruelly　as　the　major　had　treated　him。　He　entered；　I
suspect；　into　some　explanations　at　this　point；　but　as　he　dropped
his　voice　I　am　unable　to　say　what　they　were。　His　language；　when　I
did　hear　it；　was　confused　and　ungrammatical。　It　seemed；　however；
to　be　quite　intelligible　enough　to　persuade　Miss　Milroy　that　her
father　had　been　acting　under　a　mistaken　impression　of　the
circumstances。　At　least；　I　infer　this；　for；　when　I　next　heard　the
conversation；　the　young　lady　was　driven　back　to　her　second
objection　to　being　in　the　housewhich　was；　that　Mr。　Armadale　had
behaved　very　badly　to　her；　and　that　he　richly　deserved　that　she
should　never　speak　to　him　again。

〃In　this　latter　case；　Mr。　Armadale　attempted　no　defense　of　any
kind。　He　agreed　with　her　that　he　had　behaved　badly；　he　agreed
with　her　that　he　richly　deserved　she　should　never　speak　to　him
again。　At　the　same　time　he　implored　her　to　remember　that　he　had
suffered　his　punishment　already。　He　was　disgraced　in　the
neighborhood；　and　his　dearest　friend；　his　one　intimate　friend　in
the　world；　had　that　very　morning　turned　against　him　like　the
rest。　Far　or　near；　there　was　not　a　living　creature　whom　he　was
fond　of　to　comfort　him；　or　to　say　a　friendly　word　to　him。　He　was
lonely　and　miserable；　and　his　heart　ached　for　a　little
kindnessand　that　was　his　only　excuse　for　asking　Miss　Milroy　to
forget　and　forgive　the　past。

〃I　must　leave　you；　I　fear；　to　judge　for　yourself　of　the　effect　of
this　on　the　young　lady；　for；　though　I　tried　hard；　I　failed　to
catch　what　she　said。　I　am　almost　certain　I　heard　her　crying；　and
Mr。　Armadale　entreating　her　not　to　break　his　heart。　They
whispered　a　great　deal；　which　aggravated　me。　I　was　afterward
alarmed　by　Mr。　Armadale　coming　out　into　the　conservatory　to　pick
some　flowers。　He　did　not　come　as　far；　fortunately；　as　the　place
where　I　was　hidden；　and　he　went　in　again　into　the　drawing…room；
and　there　was　more　talking　（I　suspect　at　close　quarters）；　which
to　my　great　regret　I　again　failed　to　catch。　Pray　forgive　me　for
having　so　little　to　tell　you。　I　can　only　add　that；　when　the　storm
cleared　off；　Miss　Milroy　went　away　with　the　flowers　in　her　hand；
and　with　Mr。　Armadale　escorting　her　from　the　house。　My　own　humble
opinion　is　that　he　had　a　powerful　friend　at　court；　all　through
the　interview；　in　the　young　lady's　own　liking　for　him。

〃This　is　all　I　can　say　at　present；　with　the　exception　of　one
other　thing　I　heard；　which　I　blush　to　mention。　But　your　word　is
law；　and　you　have　ordered　me　to　have　no　concealments　from　you。

〃Their　talk　turned　once；　dear　madam；　on　yourself。　I　think　I　heard
the　word　'creature'　from　Miss　Milroy；　and　I　am　certain　that　Mr。
Armadale；　while　acknowledging　that　he　had　once　admired　you；　added
that　circumstances　had　since　satisfied　him　of　'his　folly。'　I
quote　his　own　expression；　it　made　me　quite　tremble　with
indignation。　If　I　may　be　permitted　to　say　so；　the　man　who　admires
Miss　Gwilt　lives　in　Paradise。　Respect；　if　nothing　else；　ought　to
have　closed　Mr。　Armadale's　lips。　He　is　my　employer；　I　know；　but
after　his　calling　it　an　act　of　folly　to　admire　you　（though　I　_am_
his　deputy…steward）；　I　utterly　despise　him。

〃Trusting　that　I　may　have　been　so　happy　as　to　give　you
satisfaction　thus　far；　and　earnestly　desirous　to　deserve　the
honor　of　your　continued　confidence　in　me；　I　remain；　dear　madam；

〃Your　grateful　and　devoted　servant；

〃FELIX　BASHWOOD。〃

2。　_From　Mrs。　Oldershaw　to　Miss　Gwilt。_

〃Diana　Street；　Monday；　July　21st。

〃MY　DEAR　LYDIAI　trouble　you　with　a　few　lines。　They　are　written
under　a　sense　of　the　duty　which　I　owe　to　myself；　in　our　present
position　toward　each　other。

〃I　am　not　at　all　satisfied　with　the　tone　of　your　last　two
letters；　and　I　am　still　less　pleased　at　your　leaving　me　this
morning　without　any　letter　at　alland　this　when　we　had　arranged；
in　the　doubtful　state　of　our　prospects；　that　I　was　to　hear　from
you　every　day。　I　can　only　interpret　your　conduct　in　one　way。　I
can　only　infer　that　matters　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；　having　been　all
mismanaged；　are　all　going　wrong。

〃It　is　not　my　present　object　to　reproach　you；　for　why　should　I
waste　time；　language；　and　paper？　I　merely　wish　to　recall　to　your
memory　certain　considerations　which　you　appear　to　be　disposed　to
overlook。　Shall　I　put　them　in　the　plainest　English？　Yes；　for；
with　all　my　faults；　I　am　frankness　personified。

〃In　the　first　place；　then；　I　have　an　interest　in　your　becoming
Mrs。　Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　as　well　as　you。　Secondly；　I　have
provided　you　（to　say　nothing　of　good　advice）　with　all　the　money
needed　to　accomplish　our　object。　Thirdly；　I　hold　your　notes　of
hand；　at　short　dates；　for　every　farthing　so　advanced。　Fourthly
and　lastly；　though　I　am　indulgent　to　a　fault　in　the　capacity　of　a
friendin　the　capacity　of　a　woman　of　business；　my　dear；　I　am　not
to　be　trifled　with。　That　is　all；　Lydia；　at　least　for　the　present。

〃Pray　don't　suppose　I　write　in　anger；　I　am　only　sorry　and
disheartened。　My　state　of　mind　resembles　David's。　If　I　had　the
wings　of　a　dove；　I　would　flee　away　and　be　at　rest。

〃Affectionately　yours；　MARIA　OLDERSHAW。〃

3。　_From　Mr。　Bashwood　to　Miss　Gwilt。_

〃Thorpe　Ambrose；　July　21st。

〃DEAR　MADAMYou　will　probably　receive　these　lines　a　few　hours
after　my　yesterday's　communication　reaches　you。　I　posted　my　first
letter　last　night；　and　I　shall　post　this　before　noon　to…day。

〃My　present　object　in　writing　is　to　give　you　some　more　news　from
this　house。　I　have　the　inexpressible　happiness　of　announcing　that
Mr。　Armadale's　disgraceful　intrusion　on　your　privacy　is　at　an
end。　The　watch　set　on　your　actions　is　to　be　withdrawn　this　day。　I
write；　dear　madam；　with　the　tears　in　my　eyestears　of　joy；
caused　by　feelings　which　I　ventured　to　express　in　my　previous
letter　（see　first　paragraph　toward　the　end）。　Pardon　me　this
personal　reference。　I　can　speak　to　you　（I　don't　know　why）　so　much