armadale-第157节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃It　is　of　the　utmost　importance　to　me　to　know　what　is　doing　at
Thorpe　Ambrose；　and　it　would　be　the　height　of　rashness；　while　I
am　quite　in　the　dark　in　this　matter；　to　venture　there　myself。　The
only　other　alternative　is　to　write　to　somebody　on　the　spot　for
news；　and　the　only　person　I　can　write　to　isBashwood。

〃I　have　just　finished　the　letter。　It　is　headed　'private　and
confidential；'　and　signed　'Lydia　Armadale。'　There　is　nothing　in
it　to　compromise　me；　if　the　old　fool　is　mortally　offended　by　my
treatment　of　him；　and　if　he　spitefully　shows　my　letter　to　other
people。　But　I　don't　believe　he　will　do　this。　A　man　at　his　age
forgives　a　woman　anything；　if　the　woman　only　encourages　him。　I
have　requested　him；　as　a　personal　favor；　to　keep　our
correspondence　for　the　present　strictly　private。　I　have　hinted
that　my　married　life　with　my　deceased　husband　has　not　been　a
happy　one；　and　that　I　feel　the　injudiciousness　of　having　married
a　_young_　man。　In　the　postscript　I　go　further　still；　and　venture
boldly　on　these　comforting　words：　'I　can　explain；　dear　Mr。
Bashwood；　what　may　have　seemed　fake　and　deceitful　in　my　conduct
toward　you　when　you　give　me　a　personal　opportunity。'　If　he　was　on
the　right　side　of　sixty；　I　should　feel　doubtful　of　results。　But
he　is　on　the　wrong　side　of　sixty；　and　I　believe　he　will　give　me
my　personal　opportunity。


〃Ten　o'clock。I　have　been　looking　over　the　copy　of　my　marriage
certificate；　with　which　I　took　care　to　provide　myself　on　the
wedding…day；　and　I　have　discovered；　to　my　inexpressible　dismay；
an　obstacle　to　my　appearance　in　the　character　of　Armadale's　widow
which　I　now　see　for　the　first　time。

〃The　description　of　Midwinter　（under　his　own　name）　which　the
certificate　presents　answers　in　every　important　particular　to
what　would　have　been　the　description　of　Armadale　of　Thorpe
Ambrose；　if　I　had　really　married　him。　'Name　and　Surname'Allan
Armadale。　'Age'twenty…one；　instead　of　twenty…two；　which　might
easily　pass　for　a　mistake。　'Condition'Bachelor。　'Rank　or
profession'Gentleman。　'Residence　at　the　time　of
Marriage'Frant's　Hotel；　Darley　Street。　'Father's　Name　and
Surname'Allan　Armadale。　'Rank　or　Profession　of
Father'Gentleman。　Every　particular　（except　the　year's
difference　in　their　two　ages）　which　answers　for　the　one　answers
for　the　other。　But　suppose；　when　I　produce　my　copy　of　the
certificate；　that　some　meddlesome　lawyer　insists　on　looking　at
the　original　register？　Midwinter's　writing　is　as　different　as
possible　from　the　writing　of　his　dead　friend。　The　hand　in　which
he　has　written　'Allan　Armadale'　in　the　book　has　not　a　chance　of
passing　for　the　hand　in　which　Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　was
accustomed　to　sign　his　name。

〃Can　I　move　safely　in　the　matter；　with　such　a　pitfall　as　I　see
here　open　under　my　feet？　How　can　I　tell？　Where　can　I　find　an
experienced　person　to　inform　me？　I　must　shut　up　my　diary　and
think。


〃Seven　o'clock。My　prospects　have　changed　again　since　I　made　my
last　entry。　I　have　received　a　warning　to　be　careful　in　the　future
which　I　shall　not　neglect；　and　I　have　（I　believe）　succeeded　in
providing　myself　with　the　advice　and　assistance　of　which　I　stand
in　need。

〃After　vainly　trying　to　think　of　some　better　person　to　apply　to
in　the　difficulty　which　embarrassed　me；　I　made　a　virtue　of
necessity；　and　set　forth　to　surprise　Mrs。　Oldershaw　by　a　visit
from　her　darling　Lydia！　It　is　almost　needless　to　add　that　I
determined　to　sound　her　carefully；　and　not　to　let　any　secret　of
importance　out　of　my　own　possession。

〃A　sour　and　solemn　old　maid…servant　admitted　me　into　the　house。
When　I　asked　for　her　mistress；　I　was　reminded　with　the　bitterest
emphasis　that　I　had　committed　the　impropriety　of　calling　on　a
Sunday。　Mrs。　Oldershaw　was　at　home；　solely　in　consequence　of
being　too　unwell　to　go　to　church！　The　servant　thought　it　very
unlikely　that　she　would　see　me。　I　thought　it　highly　probable；　on
the　contrary；　that　she　would　honor　me　with　an　interview　in　her
own　interests；　if　I　sent　in　my　name　as　'Miss　Gwilt'and　the
event　proved　that　I　was　right。　After　being　kept　waiting　some
minutes　I　was　shown　into　the　drawing…room。

〃There　sat　Mother　Jezebel；　with　the　air　of　a　woman　resting　on　the
high…road　to　heaven；　dressed　in　a　slate…colored　gown；　with　gray
mittens　on　her　hands；　a　severely　simple　cap　on　her　head；　and　a
volume　of　sermons　on　her　lap。　She　turned　up　the　whites　of　her
eyes　dev　outly　at　the　sight　of　me；　and　the　first　words　she　said
were'Oh；　Lydia！　Lydia！　why　are　you　not　at　church？'

〃If　I　had　been　less　anxious；　the　sudden　presentation　of　Mrs。
Oldershaw　in　an　entirely　new　character　might　have　amused　me。　But
I　was　in　no　humor　for　laughing；　and　（my　notes　of　hand　being　all
paid）　I　was　under　no　obligation　to　restrain　my　natural　freedom　of
speech。　'Stuff　and　nonsense！'　I　said。　'Put　your　Sunday　face　in
your　pocket。　I　have　got　some　news　for　you；　since　I　last　wrote
from　Thorpe　Ambrose。'

〃The　instant　I　mentioned　'Thorpe　Ambrose；'　the　whites　of　the　old
hypocrite's　eyes　showed　themselves　again；　and　she　flatly　refused
to　hear　a　word　more　from　me　on　the　subject　of　my　proceedings　in
Norfolk。　I　insisted；　but　it　was　quite　useless。　Mother　Oldershaw
only　shook　her　head　and　groaned；　and　informed　me　that　her
connection　with　the　pomps　and　vanities　of　the　world　was　at　an　end
forever。　'I　have　been　born　again；　Lydia；'　said　the　brazen　old
wretch；　wiping　her　eyes。　'Nothing　will　induce　me　to　return　to　the
subject　of　that　wicked　speculation　of　yours　on　the　folly　of　a
rich　young　man。'

〃After　hearing　this；　I　should　have　left　her　on　the　spot；　but　for
one　consideration　which　delayed　me　a　moment　longer。

〃It　was　easy　to　see；　by　this　time；　that　the　circumstances
（whatever　they　might　have　been）　which　had　obliged　Mother
Oldershaw　to　keep　in　hiding；　on　the　occasion　of　my　former　visit
to　London；　had　been　sufficiently　serious　to　force　her　into　giving
up；　or　appearing　to　give　up；　her　old　business。　And　it　was　hardly
less　plain　that　she　had　found　it　to　her　advantageeverybody　in
England　finds　it　to　their　advantage　in　some　way　to　cover　the
outer　side　of　her　character　carefully　with　a　smooth　varnish　of
Cant。　This　was；　however；　no　business　of　mine；　and　I　should　have
made　these　reflections　outside　instead　of　inside　the　house；　if　my
interests　had　not　been　involved　in　putting　the　sincerity　of
Mother　Oldershaw's　reformation　to　the　testso　far　as　it　affected
her　past　connection　with　myself。　At　the　time　when　she　had　fitted
me　out　for　our　enterprise；　I　remembered　signing　a　certain
business　document　which　gave　her　a　handsome　pecuniary　interest　in
my　success；　if　I　became　Mrs。　Armadale　of　Thorpe　Ambrose。　The
chance　of　turning　this　mischievous　morsel　of　paper　to　good
account；　in　the　capacity　of　a　touchstone；　was　too　tempting　to　be
resisted。　I　asked　my　devout　friend's　permission　to　say　one　last
word　before　I　left　the　house。

〃　'As　you　have　no　further　interest　in　my　wicked　speculation　at
Thorpe　Ambrose；'　I　said；　'perhaps　you　will　give　me　back　the
written　paper　that　I　signed；　when　you　were　not　quite　such　an
exemplary　person　as　you　are　now？'

〃The　shameless　old　hypocrite　instantly　shut　her　eyes　and
shuddered。

〃　'Does　that　mean　Yes；　or　No'？'　I　asked。

〃　'On　moral　and　religious　grounds；　Lydia；'　said　Mrs。　Oldershaw；
'it　means　No。'

〃　'On　wicked　and　worldly　grounds；'　I　rejoined；　'I　beg　to　thank
you　for　showing　me　your　hand。'

〃There　could；　indeed；　be　no　doubt　now　about　the　object　she　really
had　in　view。　She　would　run　no　more　risks　and　lend　no　more　money；
she　would　leave　me　to　win　or　lose　single…handed。　If　I　lost；　she
would　not　be　compromised。　If　I　won；　she　would　produce　the　paper　I
had　signed；　and　profit　by　it　without　remorse。　In　my　present
situation；　it　was　mere　waste　of　time　and　words　to　prolong　the
matter　by　any　useless　recrimination　on　my　side。　I　put　the　warning
away　privately　in　my　memory　for　future　use；　and　got　up　to　go。

〃At　the　moment　when　I　left　my　chair　there　was　a　sharp　double
knock　at　the　street　door。　Mrs。　Oldershaw　evidently　recognized　it。
She　rose　in　a　violent　hurry；　and　rang　the　bell。　'I　am　too　unwell
to　see　anybody；'　she　said；　when　the　servant　appeared。　'Wait　a
moment；　if　you　please；'　she　added；　turning　sharply　on　me；　when
the　woman　had　left　us　to　answer　the　door。

〃It　was　small；　very　small；　spitefulness　on　my　part；　I　know；　but
the　satisfaction　of　thwarting　Mother　Jezebel；　even　in　a　trifle；
was　not　to　be　resisted。　'I　can't　wait；'　I　said；　'you　reminded　me
just　now　that　I　ought　to　be　at　church。'　Before　she　could　answer　I
was　out　of　the　room。

〃As　I　put　my　foot　on　the　first　stair　the　street　door　was　opened；
and　a　man's　voice　inquired　whether　Mrs。　Oldershaw　was　at　home。

〃I　instantly　recognized　the　voice。　Doctor　Downward！

〃The　doctor　repeated　the　servant's　message　in　a　tone　which
betrayed　unmistakable　irritation　at　finding　himself　admitted　no
further　than　the　door。

〃　'Your　mistress　is　not　well　enough　to　see　visitors？　Give　her
that　card；'　said　the　doctor；　'and　say　I　expect　her；　the　next　time
I　call；　to　be　well　enough　to　see　_me。_'

〃If　his　voice　had　not　told　me　plainly　that　he　felt　in　no　friendly
mood　toward　Mrs。　Oldershaw；　I　dare　say　I　should　have　let　him　go
without　claiming　his　acquaintance；　but；　as　things　were；　I　felt　a