the mysterious affair at styles(斯代尔斯的怪事)-第3节
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A young girl in V。 A。 D。 uniform ran lightly across the lawn。
〃Why； Cynthia； you are late to…day。 This is Mr。 Hastings Miss
Murdoch。〃
Cynthia Murdoch was a fresh…looking young creature； full of life and
vigour。 She tossed off her little V。 A。 D。 cap； and I admired the
great loose waves of her auburn hair； and the smallness and whiteness of
the hand she held out to claim her tea。 With dark eyes and eyelashes she
would have been a beauty。
She flung herself down on the ground beside John； and as I handed her
a plate of sandwiches she smiled up at me。
〃Sit down here on the grass； do。 It's ever so much nicer。〃
I dropped down obediently。
〃You work at Tadminster； don't you； Miss Murdoch？〃
She nodded。
〃For my sins。〃
〃Do they bully you； then？〃 I asked； smiling。
〃I should like to see them！〃 cried Cynthia with dignity。
〃I have got a cousin who is nursing；〃 I remarked。 〃And she is
terrified of 'Sisters'。〃
〃I don't wonder。 Sisters *ARE； you know； Mr。 Hastings。 They
simp…ly *ARE！ You've no idea！ But I'm not a nurse； thank heaven； I work
in the dispensary。〃
〃How many people do you poison？〃 I asked； smiling。
Cynthia smiled too。
〃Oh； hundreds！〃 she said。
〃Cynthia；〃 called Mrs。 Inglethorp； 〃do you think you could write a few
notes for me？〃
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〃Certainly； Aunt Emily。〃
She jumped up promptly； and something in her manner reminded me
that her position was a dependent one； and that Mrs。 Inglethorp； kind as
she might be in the main； did not allow her to forget it。
My hostess turned to me。
〃John will show you your room。 Supper is at half…past seven。 We
have given up late dinner for some time now。 Lady Tadminster； our
Member's wifeshe was the late Lord Abbotsbury's daughterdoes the
same。 She agrees with me that one must set an example of economy。
We are quite a war household； nothing is wasted hereevery scrap of
waste paper； even； is saved and sent away in sacks。〃
I expressed my appreciation； and John took me into the house and up
the broad staircase； which forked right and left half…way to different wings
of the building。 My room was in the left wing； and looked out over the
park。
John left me； and a few minutes later I saw him from my window
walking slowly across the grass arm in arm with Cynthia Murdoch。 I
heard Mrs。 Inglethorp call 〃Cynthia〃 impatiently； and the girl started and
ran back to the house。 At the same moment； a man stepped out from the
shadow of a tree and walked slowly in the same direction。 He looked
about forty； very dark with a melancholy clean…shaven face。 Some
violent emotion seemed to be mastering him。 He looked up at my
window as he passed； and I recognized him； though he had changed much
in the fifteen years that had elapsed since we last met。 It was John's
younger brother； Lawrence Cavendish。 I wondered what it was that had
brought that singular expression to his face。
Then I dismissed him from my mind； and returned to the
contemplation of my own affairs。
The evening passed pleasantly enough； and I dreamed that night of
that enigmatical woman； Mary Cavendish。
The next morning dawned bright and sunny； and I was full of the
anticipation of a delightful visit。
I did not see Mrs。 Cavendish until lunch…time； when she volunteered to
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take me for a walk； and we spent a charming afternoon roaming in the
woods； returning to the house about five。
As we entered the large hall； John beckoned us both into the smoking…
room。 I saw at once by his face that something disturbing had occurred。
We followed him in； and he shut the door after us。
〃Look here； Mary； there's the deuce of a mess。 Evie's had a row with
Alfred Inglethorp； and she's off。〃
〃Evie？ Off？〃
John nodded gloomily。
〃Yes； you see she went to the mater； andOh； here's Evie herself。〃
Miss Howard entered。 Her lips were set grimly together； and she
carried a small suit…case。 She looked excited and determined； and
slightly on the defensive。
〃At any rate；〃 she burst out； 〃I've spoken my mind！〃
〃My dear Evelyn；〃 cried Mrs。 Cavendish； 〃this can't be true！〃
Miss Howard nodded grimly。
〃True enough！ Afraid I said some things to Emily she won't forget or
forgive in a hurry。 Don't mind if they've only sunk in a bit。 Probably
water off a duck's back； though。 I said right out： 'You're an old woman；
Emily； and there's no fool like an old fool。 The man's twenty years
younger than you； and don't you fool yourself as to what he married you
for。 Money！ Well； don't let him have too much of it。 Farmer Raikes has
got a very pretty young wife。 Just ask your Alfred how much time he
spends over there。' She was very angry。 Natural！ I went on； 'I'm going to
warn you； whether you like it or not。 That man would as soon murder
you in your bed as look at you。 He's a bad lot。 You can say what you
like to me； but remember what I've told you。 He's a bad lot！' 〃
〃What did she say？〃
Miss Howard made an extremely expressive grimace。
〃 'Darling Alfred''dearest Alfred''wicked calumnies' 'wicked lies'
'wicked woman'to accuse her 'dear husband'！ The sooner I left her house
the better。 So I'm off。〃
〃But not now？〃
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〃This minute！〃
For a moment we sat and stared at her。 Finally John Cavendish；
finding his persuasions of no avail； went off to look up the trains。 His
wife followed him； murmuring something about persuading Mrs。
Inglethorp to think better of it。
As she left the room； Miss Howard's face changed。 She leant towards
me eagerly。
〃Mr。 Hastings； you're honest。 I can trust you？〃
I was a little startled。 She laid her hand on my arm； and sank her
voice to a whisper。
〃Look after her； Mr。 Hastings。 My poor Emily。 They're a lot of
sharksall of them。 Oh； I know what I'm talking about。 There isn't one
of them that's not hard up and trying to get money out of her。 I've
protected her as much as I could。 Now I'm out of the way； they'll impose
upon her。〃
〃Of course； Miss Howard；〃 I said； 〃I'll do everything I can； but I'm
sure you're excited and overwrought。〃
She interrupted me by slowly shaking her forefinger。
〃Young man； trust me。 I've lived in the world rather longer than you
have。 All I ask you is to keep your eyes open。 You'll see what I mean。〃
The throb of the motor came through the open window； and Miss
Howard rose and moved to the door。 John's voice sounded outside。
With her hand on the handle； she turned her head over her shoulder； and
beckoned to me。
〃Above all； Mr。 Hastings； watch that devilher husband！〃
There was no time for more。 Miss Howard was swallowed up in an
eager chorus of protests and good…byes。 The Inglethorps did not appear。
As the motor drove away； Mrs。 Cavendish suddenly detached herself
from the group； and moved across the drive to the lawn to meet a tall
bearded man who had been evidently making for the house。 The colour
rose in her cheeks as she held out her hand to him。
〃Who is that？〃 I asked sharply； for instinctively I distrusted the man。
〃That's Dr。 Bauerstein；〃 said John shortly。
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〃And who is Dr。 Bauerstein？〃
〃He
