Ondescending,heatedandangry,tothedrawing—room,shefoundAgathatherealone,lookingoutofwindowasifthelandscapewereespeciallyunsatisfactorythistime。
\"Selfishlittlebeasts！\"exclaimedJane,makingaminiaturewhirlwindwithherskirtsasshecamein。\"Charlieisaperfectlittlefiend。Hespendsallhistimethinkinghowhecanannoyme。Ugh！He\'sjustlikehisfather。\"
\"Thankyou,mydear,\"saidSirCharlesfromthedoorway。
Janelaughed。\"Iknewyouwerethere,\"shesaid。\"Where\'sGertrude？\"
\"Shehasgoneout,\"saidSirCharles。
\"Nonsense！Shehasonlyjustcomeinfromdrivingwithme。\"
\"Idonotknowwhatyoumeanbynonsense,\"saidSirCharles,chafing。\"IsawherwalkingalongtheRiversideRoad。Iwasinthevillageroad,andshedidnotseeme。Sheseemedinahurry。\"
\"Imetheronthestairsandspoketoher,\"saidAgatha,\"butshedidn\'thearme。\"
\"Ihopesheisnotgoingtothrowherselfintotheriver,\"saidJane。Then,turningtoherhusband,sheadded:\"Haveyouheardthenews？\"
\"TheonlynewsIhaveheardisfromthispaper,\"saidSirCharles,takingoutajournalandflingingitonthetable。
\"ThereisaparagraphinitstatingthatIhavejoinedsomeinfernalSocialisticleague,andIamtoldthatthereisanarticleinthe\'Times\'onthespreadofSocialism,inwhichmynameismentioned。ThisisallduetoTrefusis;andIthinkhehasplayedmeamostdishonorabletrick。Iwilltellhimso,too,whennextIseehim。\"
\"YouhadbetterbecarefulwhatyousayofhimbeforeAgatha,\"
saidJane。\"Oh,youneednotbealarmed,Agatha;Iknowallaboutit。Hetoldusinthelibrary。Wewentoutthismorning——GertrudeandI——andwhenwecamebackwefoundMr。TrefusisandAgathatalkingverylovinglytooneanotherontheconservatorysteps,newlyengaged。\"
\"Indeed！\"saidSirCharles,disconcertedanddispleased,buttryingtosmile。\"Imaythencongratulateyou,MissWylie？\"
\"Youneednot,\"saidAgatha,keepinghercountenanceaswellasshecould。\"Itwasonlyajoke。Atleastitcameaboutinajest。
Hehasnorighttosaythatweareengaged。\"
\"Stuffandnonsense,\"saidJane。\"Thatwon\'tdo,Agatha。Hehasgoneofftotelegraphtohissolicitor。Heisquiteinearnest。\"
\"Iamagreatfool,\"saidAgatha,sittingdownandtwistingherhandsperplexedly。\"IbelieveIsaidsomething;butIreallydidnotintendto。HesurprisedmeintospeakingbeforeIknewwhatI
wassaying。AprettymessIhavegotmyselfinto！\"
\"Iamgladyouhavebeenoutwittedatlast,\"saidJane,laughingspitefully。\"YouneverhadanypityformewhenIcouldnotthinkoftheproperthingtosayatamoment\'snotice。\"
Agathaletthetauntpassunheeded。Hergazewanderedanxiously,andatlastsettledappealinglyuponSirCharles。\"WhatshallI
do？\"shesaidtohim。
\"Well,MissWylie,\"hesaidgravely,\"ifyoudidnotmeantomarryhimyoushouldnothavepromised。Idon\'twishtobeunsympathetic,andIknowthatitisveryhardtogetridofTrefusiswhenhemakesuphismindtoactsomethingoutofyou,butstill——\"
\"Nevermindher,\"saidJane,interruptinghim。\"Shewantstomarryhimjustasbadlyashewantstomarryher。Youwouldbepreciouslydisappointedifhecriedoff,Agatha;forallyourinterestingreluctance。\"
\"Thatisnotso,really,\"saidAgathaearnestly。\"IwishIhadtakentimetothinkaboutit。Isupposehehastoldeverybodybythistime。\"
\"Maywethenregarditassettled？\"saidSirCharles。
\"Ofcourseyoumay,\"saidJanecontemptuously。
\"PrayallowMissWylietospeakforherself,Jane。IconfessIdonotunderstandwhyyouarestillindoubt——ifyouhavereallyengagedyourselftohim。\"
\"IsupposeIaminforit,\"saidAgatha。\"Ifeelasifthereweresomefatalobjection,ifIcouldonlyrememberwhatitis。IwishIhadneverseenhim。\"
SirCharleswaspuzzled。\"Idonotunderstandladies\'waysinthesematters,\"hesaid。\"However,asthereseemstobenodoubtthatyouandTrefusisareengaged,Ishallofcoursesaynothingthatwouldmakeitunpleasantforhimtovisithere;butImustsaythathehas——tosaytheleast——beeninconsideratetomepersonally。Isignedapaperathishouseontheimplicitunderstandingthatitwasstrictlyprivate,andnowhehastrumpeteditforthtothewholeworld,andpubliclyassociatedmynamenotonlywithhisown,butwiththoseofpersonsofwhomI
knownothingexceptthatIwouldrathernotbeconnectedwiththeminanyway。\"
\"Whatdoesitmatter？\"saidJane。\"Nobodycarestwopence。\"
\"_I_care,\"saidSirCharlesangrily。\"NosensiblepersoncanaccusemeofexaggeratingmyownimportancebecauseIvaluemyreputationsufficientlytoobjecttomyapprovalbeingpubliclycitedinsupportofacausewithwhichIhavenosympathy。\"
\"PerhapsMr。Trefusishashadnothingtodowithit,\"saidAgatha。\"Thepaperspublishwhatevertheyplease,don\'tthey？\"
\"That\'sright,Agatha,\"saidJanemaliciously。\"Don\'tletanyonespeakillofhim。\"
\"Iamnotspeakingillofhim,\"saidSirCharles,beforeAgathacouldretort。\"Itisamerematteroffeeling,andIshouldnothavementionedithadIknownthealteredrelationsbetweenhimandMissWylie。\"
\"Praydon\'tspeakofthem,\"saidAgatha。\"Ihaveamindtorunawaybythenexttrain。\"
SirCharles,tochangethesubject,suggestedaduet。
MeanwhileErskine,returningthroughthevillagefromhismorningride,hadmetTrefusis,andattemptedtopasshimwithanod。ButTrefusiscalledtohimtostop,andhedismountedreluctantly。
\"JustawordtosaythatIamgoingtobemarried,\"saidTrefusis。
\"To——？\"ErskinecouldnotaddGertrude\'sname。
\"TooneofourfriendsattheBeeches。Guesstowhich。\"
\"ToMissLindsay,Ipresume。\"
\"Whatinthefiend\'snamehasputitintoallyourheadsthatMissLindsayandIareparticularlyattachedtooneanother？\"
exclaimedTrefusis。\"YOUhavealwaysappearedtometobethemanforMissLindsay。IamgoingtomarryMissWylie。\"
\"Really！\"exclaimedErskine,withasensationofsuddenlythawingafterabitterfrost。
\"Ofcourse。Andnow,Erskine,youhavetheadvantageofbeingapoorman。Donotletthatsplendidgirlmarryformoney。Ifyougofurtheryouarelikelytofareworse;andsoisshe。\"Thenhenoddedandwalkedaway,leavingtheotherstaringafterhim。
\"Ifhehasjiltedher,heisascoundrel,\"saidErskine。\"IamsorryIdidn\'ttellhimso。\"
HemountedandrodeslowlyalongtheRiversideRoad,partlysuspectingTrefusisofsomemystification,butincliningtobelieveinhim,and,inanycase,totakehisadviceastoGertrude。Theconversationhehadoverheardintheavenuestillperplexedhim。HecouldnotreconcileitwithTrefusis\'sprofessionofdisinterestednesstowardsher。
Hisbicyclecarriedhimnoiselesslyonitsindia—rubbertirestotheplacebywhichthehemlockgrewandtherehesawGertrudesittingonthelowearthenwallthatseparatedthefieldfromtheroad。Herstrawbag,withherscissorsinit,laybesideher。Herfingerswereinterlaced,andherhandsrested,palmsdownwards,onherknee。Herexpressionwasrathervacant,andsolittlesuggestiveofanyseriousemotionthatErskinelaughedashealightedclosetoher。
\"Areyoutired？\"hesaid。
\"No,\"shereplied,notstartled,andsmilingmechanically——anunusualcondescensiononherpart。
\"Indulginginaday—dream？\"
\"No。\"Shemovedalittletoonesideandconcealedthebasketwithherdress。
Hebegantofearthatsomethingwaswrong。\"Isitpossiblethatyouhaveventuredamongthosepoisonousplantsagain？\"hesaid。
\"Areyouill？\"
\"Notatall,\"shereplied,rousingherselfalittle。\"Yoursolicitudeisquitethrownaway。Iamperfectlywell。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon,\"hesaid,snubbed。\"Ithought——Don\'tyouthinkitdangeroustositonthatdampwall？\"
\"Itisnotdamp。Itiscrumblingintodustwithdryness。\"Anunnaturallaugh,withwhichsheconcluded,intensifiedhisuneasiness。
Hebeganasentence,stopped,andtogaintimetorecoverhimself,placedhisbicycleintheoppositeditch;aproceedingwhichshewitnessedwithimpatience,asitindicatedhisintentiontostayandtalk。She,however,wasthefirsttospeak;
andshedidsowithacallousnessthatshockedhim。
\"Haveyouheardthenews？\"
\"Whatnews？\"
\"AboutMr。TrefusisandAgatha。Theyareengaged。\"
\"SoTrefusistoldme。Imethimjustnowinthevillage。Iwasverygladtohearit。\"
\"Ofcourse。\"
\"ButIhadaspecialreasonforbeingglad。\"
\"Indeed？\"
\"Iwasdesperatelyafraid,beforehetoldmethetruth,thathehadotherviews——viewsthatmighthaveprovedfataltomydearesthopes。\"
Gertrudefrownedathim,andthefrownrousedhimtobraveher。
Helosthisself—command,alreadyshakenbyherstrangebehavior。
\"YouknowthatIloveyou,MissLindsay,\"hesaid。\"Itmaynotbeaperfectlove,but,humanlyspeaking,itisatrueone。Ialmosttoldyousothatdaywhenwewereinthebilliardroomtogether;
andIdidaverydishonorablethingthesameevening。WhenyouwerespeakingtoTrefusisintheavenueIwasclosetoyou,andI
listened。\"
\"Thenyouheardhim,\"criedGertrudevehemently。\"Youheardhimswearthathewasinearnest。\"
\"Yes,\"saidErskine,trembling,\"andIthoughthemeantinearnestinlovingyou。Youcanhardlyblamemeforthat:Iwasinlovemyself;andloveisblindandjealous。IneverhopedagainuntilhetoldmethathewastobemarriedtoMissWylie。MayI
speaktoyou,nowthatIknowIwasmistaken,orthatyouhavechangedyourmind？\"
\"Orthathehaschangedhismind,\"saidGertrudescornfully。
Erskine,withanewanxietyforhersake,checkedhimself。Herdignitywasdeartohim,andhesawthatherdisappointmenthadmadeherrecklessofit。\"Donotsayanythingtomenow,MissLindsay,lest——\"
\"WhathaveIsaid？WhathaveItosay？\"
\"Nothing,exceptonmyownaffairs。Iloveyoudearly。\"
Shemadeanimpatientmovement,asifthatwereaveryinsignificantmatter。
\"Youbelieveme,Ihope,\"hesaid,timidly。
Gertrudemadeanefforttorecoverherhabitualladylikereserve,butherenergyfailedbeforeshehaddonemorethanraiseherhead。Sherelapsedintoherlistlessattitude,andmadeafaintgestureofintolerance。
\"Youcannotbequiteindifferenttobeingloved,\"hesaid,becomingmorenervousandmoreurgent。\"Yourexistenceconstitutesallmyhappiness。Iofferyoumyservicesanddevotion。Idonotaskanyreward。\"（Hewasnowspeakingveryquicklyandalmostinaudibly。）\"Youmayacceptmylovewithoutreturningit。Idonotwant——seektomakeabargain。IfyouneedafriendyoumaybeabletorelyonmemoreconfidentlybecauseyouknowIloveyou。\"
\"Oh,youthinkso,\"saidGertrude,interruptinghim;\"butyouwillgetoverit。Iamnotthesortofpersonthatmenfallinlovewith。Youwillsoonchangeyourmind。\"
\"Notthesort！Oh,howlittleyouknow！\"hesaid,becomingeloquent。\"Ihavehadplentyoftimetochange,butIamasfixedasever。Ifyoudoubt,waitandtryme。Butdonotberoughwithme。Youpainmemorethanyoucanimaginewhenyouarehastyorindifferent。Iaminearnest。\"
\"Ha,ha！Thatiseasilysaid。\"
\"Notbyme。Ichangeinmyjudgmentofotherpeopleaccordingtomyhumor,butIbelievesteadfastlyinyourgoodnessandbeauty——asifyouwereanangel。IaminearnestinmyloveforyouasIaminearnestformyownlife,whichcanonlybeperfectedbyyouraidandinfluence。\"
\"YouaregreatlymistakenifyousupposethatIamanangel。\"
\"Youarewrongtomistrustyourself;butitiswhatIowetoyouandnotwhatIexpectfromyouthatItrytoexpressbyspeakingofyouasanangel。Iknowthatyouarenotanangeltoyourself。
Butyouaretome。\"
Shesatstubbornlysilent。
\"Iwillnotpressyouforananswernow。Iamcontentthatyouknowmymindatlast。Shallwereturntogether？\"
Shelookedroundslowlyatthehemlock,andfromthattotheriver。Thenshetookupherbasket,rose,andpreparedtogo,asifundercompulsion。
\"Doyouwantanymorehemlock？\"hesaid。\"Ifso,Iwillplucksomeforyou。\"
\"Iwishyouwouldletmealone,\"shesaid,withsuddenanger。Sheadded,alittleashamedofherself,\"Ihaveaheadache。\"
\"Iamverysorry,\"hesaid,crestfallen。
\"ItisonlythatIdonotwishtobespokento。Ithurtsmyheadtolisten。\"
HemeeklytookhisbicyclefromtheditchandwheeleditalongbesidehertotheBeecheswithoutanotherword。Theywentinthroughtheconservatory,andpartedinthedining—room。Beforeleavinghimshesaidwithsomeremorse,\"Ididnotmeantoberude,Mr。Erskine。\"
Heflushed,murmuredsomething,andattemptedtokissherhand。
Butshesnatcheditawayandwentoutquickly。Hewasstungbythisrepulse,andstoodmortifyinghimselfbythinkingofituntilhewasdisturbedbytheentranceofamaid—servant。
LearningfromherthatSirCharleswasinthebilliardroom,hejoinedhimthere,andaskedhimcarelesslyifhehadheardthenews。
\"AboutMissWylie？\"saidSirCharles。\"Yes,Ishouldthinkso。I
believethewholecountryknowsit,thoughtheyhavenotbeenengagedthreehours。Haveyouseenthese？\"Andhepushedacoupleofnewspapersacrossthetable。
Erskinehadtomakeseveraleffortsbeforehecouldread。\"Youwereafooltosignthatdocument,\"hesaid。\"Itoldyousoatthetime。\"
\"Ireliedonthefellowbeingagentleman,\"saidSirCharleswarmly。\"IdonotseethatIwasafool。Iseethatheisacad,andbutforthisbusinessofMissWylie\'sIwouldlethimknowmyopinion。Letmetellyou,Chester,thathehasplayedfastandloosewithMissLindsay。Thereisadeuceofarowupstairs。ShehasjusttoldJanethatshemustgohomeatonce;MissWyliedeclaresthatshewillhavenothingtodowithTrefusisifMissLindsayhasapriorclaimtohim,andJaneisannoyedathisadmiringanybodyexceptherself。Itservesmeright;myinstinctwarnedmeagainstthefellowfromthefirst。\"Justthenluncheonwasannounced。Gertrudedidnotcomedown。Agathawassilentandmoody。JanetriedtomakeErskinedescribehiswalkwithGertrude,buthebaffledhercuriositybyomittingfromhisaccounteverythingexceptitscommonplaces。
\"Ithinkherconductverystrange,\"saidJane。\"Sheinsistsongoingtotownbythefouro\'clocktrain。Iconsiderthatit\'snotpolitetome,althoughshealwaysmadeapointofherperfectmanners。Ineverheardofsuchathing！\"
Whentheyhadrisenfromthetable,theywenttogethertothedrawing—room。TheyhadhardlyarrivedtherewhenTrefusiswasannounced,andhewasintheirpresencebeforetheyhadtimetoconcealtheexpressionofconsternationhisnamebroughtintotheirfaces。
\"Ihavecometosaygood—bye,\"hesaid。\"IfindthatImustgototownbythefouro\'clocktraintopushmyarrangementsinperson;
thetelegramsIhavereceivedbreathenothingbutdelay。Haveyouseenthe\'Times\'？\"
\"Ihaveindeed,\"saidSirCharles,emphatically。
\"Youareinsomeotherpapertoo,andwillbeinhalf—a—dozenmoreinthecourseofthenextfortnight。Menwhohavecommittedthemselvestoanopinionarealwaysintroublewiththenewspapers;somebecausetheycannotgetintothem,othersbecausetheycannotkeepout。Ifyouhadputforwardathunderingrevolutionarymanifesto,notadailypaperwouldhavedaredalludetoit:thereisnocowardicelikeFleetStreetcowardice！
Imustrunoff;IhavemuchtodobeforeIstart,anditisgettingonforthree。Good—bye,LadyBrandon,andeverybody。\"
HeshookJane\'shand,dealtnodstotherestrapidly,makingnodistinctioninfavorofAgatha,andhurriedaway。TheystaredafterhimforamomentandthenErskineranoutandwentdownstairstwostepsatatime。Neverthelesshehadtorunasfarastheavenuebeforeheovertookhisman。
\"Trefusis,\"hesaidbreathlessly,\"youmustnotgobythefouro\'clocktrain。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"MissLindsayisgoingtotownbyit。\"
\"Somuchthebetter,mydearboy;somuchthebetter。Youarenotjealousofmenow,areyou？\"
\"Lookhere,Trefusis。Idon\'tknowandIdon\'taskwhattherehasbeenbetweenyouandMissLindsay,butyourengagementhasquiteupsether,andsheisrunningawaytoLondoninconsequence。Ifshehearsthatyouaregoingbythesametrainshewillwaituntilto—morrow,andIbelievethedelaywouldbeverydisagreeable。Willyouinflictthatadditionalpainuponher？\"
Trefusis,evidentlyconcerned,lookingdoubtfullyatErskine,andponderedforamoment。\"Ithinkyouareonawrongscentaboutthis,\"hesaid。\"MyrelationswithMissLindsaywerenotofasentimentalkind。Haveyousaidanythingtoher——onyourownaccount,Imean？\"
\"Ihavespokentoheronbothaccounts,andIknowfromherownlipsthatIamright。\"
Trefusisutteredalowwhistle。
\"ItisnotthefirsttimeIhavehadtheevidenceofmysensesinthematter,\"saidErskinesignificantly。\"Praythinkofitseriously,Trefusis。Forgivemytellingyoufranklythatnothingbutyourownutterwantoffeelingcouldexcuseyouforthewayinwhichyouhaveactedtowardsher。\"
Trefusissmiled。\"Forgivemeinturnformyinquisitiveness,\"hesaid。\"Whatdoesshesaytoyoursuit？\"
Erskinehesitated,showingbyhismannerthathethoughtTrefusishadnorighttoaskthequestion。\"Shesaysnothing,\"heanswered。
\"Hm！\"saidTrefusis。\"Well,youmayrelyonmeastothetrain。
Thereismyhanduponit。\"
\"Thankyou,\"saidErskinefervently。Theyshookhandsandparted,Trefusiswalkingawaywithagrinsuggestiveofanythingbutgoodfaith。
CHAPTERXVII
Gertrude,unawareoftheextenttowhichshehadalreadybetrayedherdisappointment,believedthatanxietyforherfather\'shealth,whichsheallegedasthemotiveofhersuddendeparture,wasanexcuseplausibleenoughtoblindherfriendstoheroverpoweringreluctancetospeaktoAgathaorendureherpresence;toherfierceshrinkingfromthesortofpityusuallyaccordedtoajiltedwoman;and,aboveall,toherdreadofmeetingTrefusis。Shehadforsometimepastthoughtofhimasanuprightandperfectmandeeplyinterestedinher。Yet,comparativelyliberalashereducationhadbeen,shehadnoideaofanyinterestofmaninwomanexistingapartfromadesiretomarry。Hehad,inhisseriousmoments,striventomakehersensibleofthebasenesshesawinherworldliness,flatteringherbyhisapparentconviction——whichsheshared——thatshewascapableofahigherlife。Almostinthesamebreath,astrainofgallantrywhichwasincorrigibleinhim,andtowhichhishumorandhistendernesstowomenwhomhelikedgavevarietyandcharm,wouldsuperveneuponhisseriousnesswitharapiditywhichherfarlessflexibletemperamentcouldnotfollow。Henceshe,thinkinghimstillinearnestwhenhehadswervedintofloridromance,hadbeendangerouslymisled。Hehadnoconscientiousscruplesinhislove—making,becausehewasunaccustomedtoconsiderhimselfaslikelytoinspireloveinwomen;andGertrudedidnotknowthatherbeautygavetoanhourspentalonewithheratransientcharmwhichfewmenofimaginationandaddresscouldresist。She,whohadlivedinthemarriagemarketsinceshehadleftschool,lookeduponlove—makingasthemostseriousbusinessoflife。Tohimitwasonlyapleasantsortoftrifling,enhancedbyadashofsadnessinthereflectionthatitmeantsolittle。
Oftheceremoniesattendingherdeparture,theonethatcosthermostwasthekissshefeltboundtoofferAgatha。Shehadbeenjealousofheratcollege,whereshehadesteemedherselfthebetterbredofthetwo;butthatopinionhadhardlyconsoledherforAgatha\'ssuperiorquicknessofwit,dexterityofhand,audacity,aptnessofresource,capacityforformingorfollowingintricateassociationsofideas,andconsequentpowertodazzleothers。HerjealousyofthesequalitieswasnowbarbedbytheknowledgethattheyweremuchnearerakinthanherowntothoseofTrefusis。ItmatteredlittletoherhowsheappearedtoherselfincomparisonwithAgatha。Butitmatteredthewholeworld（shethought）thatshemustappeartoTrefusissoslow,stiff,cold,andstudied,andthatshehadnomeanstomakehimunderstandthatshewasnotreallyso。Forshewouldnotadmitthejusticeofimpressionsmadebywhatshedidnotintendtodo,howeverhabituallyshedidit。Shehadatheorythatshewasnotherself,butwhatshewouldhavelikedtobe。AstotheonequalityinwhichshehadalwaysfeltsuperiortoAgatha,andwhichshecalled\"goodbreeding,\"Trefusishadsofardestroyedherconceitinthat,thatshewasbeginningtodoubtwhetheritwasnothercardinaldefect。
Shecouldnotbringherselftoutterawordassheembracedherschoolfellow;andAgathawastongue—tiedtoo。Buttherewasmuchremorsefultendernessinthefeelingsthatchokedthem。TheirsilencewouldhavebeenawkwardbutfortheloquacityofJane,whotalkedenoughforallthree。SirCharleswaswithout,inthetrap,waitingtodriveGertrudetothestation。Erskineinterceptedherinthehallasshepassedout,toldherthatheshouldbedesolatewhenshewasgone,andbeggedhertorememberhim,asimplepetitionwhichmovedheralittle,andcausedhertonotethathisdarkeyeshadapleadingeloquencewhichshehadobservedbeforeinthekangaroosattheZoologicalSociety\'sgardens。
OnthewaytothetrainSirCharlesworriedthehorseinordertobeexcusedfromconversationonthesoresubjectofhisguest\'ssuddendeparture。Hehadmadeafewremarksontheskittishnessofyoungponies,andontheweather,andthatwasalluntiltheyreachedthestation,aprettybuildingstandingintheopencountry,withaviewoftheriverfromtheplatform。Thereweretwoflieswaiting,twoporters,abookstall,andarefreshmentroomwithaneglectedbeautypiningbehindthebar。SirCharleswaitedinthebookingofficetopurchaseaticketforGertrude,whowentthroughtotheplatform。ThefirstpersonshesawtherewasTrefusis,closebesideher。
\"Iamgoingtotownbythistrain,Gertrude,\"hesaidquickly。
\"Letmetakechargeofyou。Ihavesomethingtosay,forIhearthatsomemischiefhasbeenmadebetweenuswhichmustbestoppedatonce。You——\"
JustthenSirCharlescameout,andstoodamazedtoseetheminconversation。
\"IthappensthatIamgoingbythistrain,\"saidTrefusis。\"I
willseeafterMissLindsay。\"
\"MissLindsayhashermaidwithher,\"saidSirCharles,almoststammering,andlookingatGertrude,whoseexpressionwasinscrutable。
\"WecangetintothePullmancar,\"saidTrefusis。\"Thereweshallbeasprivateasinacornerofacrowdeddrawing—room。Imaytravelwithyou,mayInot？\"hesaid,seeingSirCharles\'sdisturbedlook,andturningtoherforexpresspermission。
Shefeltthattodenyhimwouldbetothrowawayherlastchanceofhappiness。Neverthelesssheresolvedtodoit,thoughsheshoulddieofgriefonthewaytoLondon。Assheraisedherheadtoforbidhimthemoreemphatically,shemethisgaze,whichwasgraveandexpectant。Foraninstantshelostherpresenceofmind,andinthatinstantsaid,\"Yes。Ishallbeveryglad。\"
\"Well,ifthatisthecase,\"saidSirCharles,inthetoneofonewhosesympathyhadbeenalienatedbyanunpardonableoutrage,\"
therecanbenouseinmywaiting。IleaveyouinthehandsofMr。Trefusis。Good—bye,MissLindsay。\"
Gertrudewinced。Unkindnessfromamanusuallykindprovedhardtobearatparting。ShewasofferinghimherhandinsilencewhenTrefusissaid:
\"Waitandseeusoff。Ifwechancetobekilledonthejourney——whichisalwaysprobableonanEnglishrailway——youwillreproachyourselfafterwardsifyoudonotseethelastofus。
Hereisthetrain;itwillnotdelayyouaminute。TellErskinethatyousawmehere;thatIhavenotforgottenmypromise,andthathemayrelyonme。Getinatthisend,MissLindsay。\"
\"Mymaid,\"saidGertrudehesitating;forshehadnotintendedtotravelsoexpensively。\"She——\"
\"Shecomeswithustotakecareofme;Ihaveticketsforeverybody,\"saidTrefusis,handingthewomanin。
\"But——\"
\"Takeyourseats,please,\"saidtheguard。\"Goingbythetrain,sir？\"
\"Good—bye,SirCharles。GivemylovetoLadyBrandon,andAgatha,andthedearchildren;andthankssomuchforaverypleasant——\"
Herethetrainmovedoff,andSirCharles,melting,smiledandwavedhishatuntilhecaughtsightofTrefusislookingbackathimwithagrinwhichseemed,underthecircumstances,soSatanic,thathestoppedasifpetrifiedinthemidstofhisgesticulations,andstoodwithhisarmoutlikeasemaphore。
Thedrivehomerestoredhimsomewhat,butheweestillfullofhissurprisewhenherejoinedAgatha,hiswife,andErskineinthedrawing—roomattheBeeches。Themomentheentered,hesaidwithoutpreface,\"ShehasgoneoffwithTrefusis。\"
Erskine,whohadbeenreading,startedup,clutchinghisbookasifabouttohurlitatsomeone,andcried,\"Washeatthetrain？\"
\"Yes,andhasgonetotownbyit。\"
\"Then,\"saidErskine,flingingthebookviolentlyonthefloor,\"heisascoundrelandaliar。\"
\"Whatisthematter？\"saidAgatharising,whilstJanestaredopen—mouthedathim。
\"Ibegyourpardon,MissWylie,Iforgotyou。Hepledgedmehishonorthathewouldnotgobythattrain。Iwill。\"Hehurriedfromtheroom。SirCharlesrushedafterhim,andovertookhimatthefootofthestairs。
\"Whereareyougoing？Whatdoyouwanttodo？\"
\"Iwillfollowthetrainandcatchitatthenextstation。Icandoitonmybicycle。\"
\"Nonsense！you\'remad。Theyhavethirty—fiveminutesstart;andthetraintravelsforty—fivemilesanhour。\"
Erskinesatdownonthestairsandgazedblanklyattheoppositewall。
\"Youmusthavemistakenhim,\"saidSirCharles。\"Hetoldmetotellyouthathehadnotforgottenhispromise,andthatyoumayrelyonhim。\"
\"Whatisthematter？\"saidAgatha,comingdown,followedbyLadyBrandon。