第4章
加入书架 A- A+
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  HalfanhourlaterIwasbackatthehouse,andwasinformingMissHalcombeofallthathadhappened。

  Shelistenedtomefrombeginningtoendwithasteady,silentattention,which,inawomanofhertemperamentanddisposition,wasthestrongestproofthatcouldbeofferedoftheseriousmannerinwhichmynarrativeaffectedher。

  `Mymindmisgivesme,’wasallshesaidwhenIhaddone。`Mymindmisgivesmesadlyaboutthefuture。’

  `Thefuturemaydepend,’Isuggested,`ontheusewemakeofthepresent。ItisnotimprobablethatAnneCatherickmayspeakmorereadilyandunreservedlytoawomanthanshehasspokentome。IfMissFairlie。’

  `Nottobethoughtofforamoment,’interposedMissHalcombe,inhermostdecidedmanner。

  `Letmesuggest,then,’Icontinued,`thatyoushouldseeAnneCatherickyourself,anddoallyoucantowinherconfidence。Formyownpart,Ishrinkfromtheideaofalarmingthepoorcreatureasecondtime,asIhavemostunhappilyalarmedheralready。Doyouseeanyobjectiontoaccompanyingmetothefarmhousetomorrow?’

  `Nonewhatever。IwillgoanywhereanddoanythingtoserveLaura’sinterests。Whatdidyousaytheplacewascalled?’

  `Youmustknowitwell。ItiscalledTodd’sCorner。’

  `Certainly。Todd’sCornerisoneofMrFairlie’sfarms。Ourdairymaidhereisthefarmer’sseconddaughter。Shegoesbackwardsandforwardsconstantlybetweenthishouseandherfather’sfarm,andshemayhaveheardorseensomethingwhichitmaybeusefultoustoknow。ShallIascertain,atonce,ifthegirlisdownstairs?’

  Sherangthebell,andsenttheservantwithhismessage。Hereturned,andannouncedthatthedairymaidwasthenatthefarm。Shehadnotbeenthereforthelastthreedays,andthehousekeeperhadgivenherleavetogohomeforanhourortwothatevening。

  `Icanspeaktohertomorrow,’saidMissHalcombe,whentheservanthadlefttheroomagain。`Inthemeantime,letmethoroughlyunderstandtheobjecttobegainedbymyinterviewwithAnneCatherick。IstherenodoubtinyourmindthatthepersonwhoconfinedherintheAsylumwasSirPercivalGlyde?’

  `Thereisnottheshadowofadoubt。Theonlymysterythatremainsisthemysteryofhismotive。Lookingtothegreatdifferencebetweenhisstationinlifeandhers,whichseemstoprecludeallideaofthemostdistantrelationshipbetweenthem,itisofthelastimportance——evenassumingthatshereallyrequiredtobeplacedunderrestraint——toknowwhyheshouldhavebeenthepersontoassumetheseriousresponsibilityofshuttingherup——’

  `InaprivateAsylum,Ithinkyousaid?’

  `Yes,inaprivateAsylum,whereasunofmoney,whichnopoorpersoncouldaffordtogive,musthavebeenpaidforhermaintenanceasapatient。’

  `Iseewherethedoubtlies,MrHartright,andIpromiseyouthatitshallbesetatrest,whetherAnneCatherickassistsustomorrowornot。SirPercivalGlydeshallnotbelonginthishousewithoutsatisfyingMrGilmore,andsatisfyingme。Mysister’sfutureismydearestcareinlife,andIhaveinfluenceenoughoverhertogivemesomepower,wherehermarriageisconcerned,inthedisposalofit。’

  Wepartedforthenight。

  Afterbreakfastthenextmorning,anobstacle,whichtheeventsoftheeveningbeforehadputoutofmymemory,interposedtopreventourproceedingimmediatelytothefarm。ThiswasmylastdayatLimmeridgeHouse,anditwasnecessary,assoonasthepostcamein,tofollowMissHalcombe’sadvice,andtoaskMrFairlie’spermissiontoshortenmyengagementbyamonth,inconsiderationofanunforeseennecessityformyreturntoLondon。

  Fortunatelyfortheprobabilityofthisexcuse,sofarasappearanceswereconcerned,thepostbroughtmetwolettersfromLondonfriendsthatmorning。Itookthemawayatoncetomyownroom,andsenttheservantwithamessagetoMrFairlie,requestingtoknowwhenIcouldseehimonamatterofbusiness。

  Iawaitedtheman’sreturn,freefromtheslightestfeelingofanxietyaboutthemannerinwhichhismastermightreceivemyapplication。WithMrFairlie’sleaveorwithoutit,Imustgo。TheconsciousnessofhavingnowtakenthefirststeponthedrearyjourneywhichwashenceforthtoseparatemylifefromMissFairlie’sseemedtohavebluntedmysensibilitytoeveryconsiderationconnectedwithmyself。Ihaddonewithmypoorman’stouchypride——Ihaddonewithallmylittleartistvanities。NoinsolenceofMrFairlie’s,ifhechosetobeinsolent,couldwoundmenow。

  TheservantreturnedwithamessageforwhichIwasnotunprepared。MrFairlieregrettedthatthestateofhishealth,onthatparticularmorning,wassuchastoprecludeallhopeofhishavingthepleasureofreceivingme。Hebegged,therefore,thatIwouldaccepthisapologies,andkindlycommunicatewhatIhadtosayintheformofaletter。Similarmessagestothishadreachedme,atvariousintervals,duringmythreemonths’residenceinthehouse。ThroughoutthewholeofthatperiodMrFairliehadbeenrejoicedto`possess’me,buthadneverbeenwellenoughtoseemeforasecondtime。TheservanttookeveryfreshbatchofdrawingsthatImountedandrestoredbacktohismasterwithmy`respects,’andreturnedempty-handedwithMrFairlie’s`kindcompliments,’`bestthanks,’and`sincereregrets’thatthestateofhishealthstillobligedhimtoremainasolitaryprisonerinhisownroom。Amoresatisfactoryarrangementtobothsidescouldnotpossiblyhavebeenadopted。Itwouldbehardtosaywhichofus,underthecircumstances,feltthemostgratefulsenseofobligationtoMrFairlie’saccommodatingnerves。

  Isatdownatoncetowritetheletter,expressingmyselfinitascivilly,asclearly,andasbrieflyaspossible。MrFairliedidnothurryhisreply。Nearlyanhourelapsedbeforetheanswerwasplacedinmyhands。Itwaswrittenwithbeautifulregularityandneatnessofcharacter,inviolet-colouredink,onnote-paperassmoothasivoryandalmostasthickascardboard,anditaddressedmeintheseterms——

  `MrFairlie’scomplimentstoMrHartright。MrFairlieismoresurprisedanddisappointedthanhecansayinthepresentstateofhishealthbyMrHartright’sapplication。MrFairlieisnotamanofbusiness,buthehasconsultedhissteward,whois,andthatpersonconfirmsMrFairlie’sopinionthatMrHartright’srequesttobeallowedtobreakhisengagementcannotbejustifiedbyanynecessitywhatever,exceptingperhapsacaseoflifeanddeath。Ifthehighly-appreciativefeelingtowardsArtanditsprofessors,whichitistheconsolationandhappinessofMrFairlie’ssufferingexistencetocultivate,couldbeeasilyshaken,MrHartright’spresentproceedingwouldhaveshakenit。Ithasnotdoneso——exceptintheinstanceofMrHartrighthimself。

  `Havingstatedhisopinion——sofar,thatistosay,asacutenervoussufferingwillallowhimtostateanything——MrFairliehasnothingtoaddbuttheexpressionofhisdecision,inreferencetothehighlyirregularapplicationthathasbeenmadetohim。Perfectreposeofbodyandmindbeingtothelastdegreeimportantinhiscase,MrFairliewillnotsufferMrHartrighttodisturbthatreposebyremaininginthehouseundercircumstancesofanessentiallyirritatingnaturetobothsides。Accordingly,MrFairliewaiveshisrightofrefusal,purelywithaviewtothepreservationofhisowntranquillity——andinformsMrHartrightthathemaygo。’

  Ifoldedtheletterup,andputitawaywithmyotherpapers。ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveresenteditasaninsult——Iaccepteditnowasawrittenreleasefrommyengagement。Itwasoffmymind,itwasalmostoutofmymemory,whenIwentdownstairstothebreakfast-room,andinformedMissHalcombethatIwasreadytowalkwithhertothefarm。

  `HasMrFairliegivenyouasatisfactoryanswer?’sheaskedasweleftthehouse。

  `Hehasallowedmetogo,MissHalcombe。’

  Shelookedupatmequickly,andthen,forthefirsttimesinceIhadknownher,tookmyarmofherownaccord。Nowordscouldhaveexpressedsodelicatelythatsheunderstoodhowthepermissiontoleavemyemploymenthadbeengranted,andthatshegavemehersympathy,notasmysuperior,butasmyfriend。Ihadnotfelttheman’sinsolentletter,butIfeltdeeplythewoman’satoningkindness。

  OnourwaytothefarmwearrangedthatMissHalcombewastoenterthehousealone,andthatIwastowaitoutside,withincall。Weadoptedthismodeofproceedingfromanapprehensionthatmypresence,afterwhathadhappenedinthechurchyardtheeveningbefore,mighthavetheeffectofrenewingAnneCatherick’snervousdead,andofrenderingheradditionallydistrustfuloftheadvancesofaladywhowasastrangertoher。MissHalcombeleftme,withtheintentionofspeaking,inthefirstinstance,tothefarmer’swifeofwhosefriendlyreadinesstohelpherinanywayshewaswellassured,whileIwaitedforherinthenearneighbourhoodofthehouse。

  Ihadfullyexpectedtobeleftaloneforsometime。Tomysurprise,however,littlemorethanfiveminuteshadelapsedbeforeMissHalcombereturned。

  `DoesAnneCatherickrefusetoseeyou?’Iaskedinastonishment。

  `AnneCatherickisgone,’repliedMissHalcombe。

  `Gone?’

  `GonewithMrsClements。Theybothleftthefarmateighto’clockthismorning。’

  Icouldsaynothing——Icouldonlyfeelthatourlastchanceofdiscoveryhadgonewiththem

  `AllthatMrsToddknowsaboutherguests,Iknow,’MissHalcombewenton,`anditleavesme,asitleavesher,inthedark。Theybothcamebacksafelastnight,aftertheyleftyou,andtheypassedthefirstpart-oftheeveningwithMrTodd’sfamilyasusual。rustbeforesupper-time,however,AnneCatherickstartledthemallbybeingsuddenlyseizedwithfaintness。Shehadhadasimilarattack,ofalessalarmingkind,onthedayshearrivedatthefarm;andMrsToddhadconnectedit,onthatoccasion,withsomethingshewasreadingatthetimeinourlocalnewspaper,whichlayonthefarmtable,andwhichshehadtakenuponlyaminuteortwobefore。’

  `DoesMrsToddknowwhatparticularpassageinthenewspaperaffectedherinthatway?’Iinquired。

  `No,’repliedMissHalcombe。`Shehadlookeditover,andhadseennothinginittoagitateanyone。Iaskedleave,however,tolookitoverinmyturn,adattheveryfirstpageIopenedIfoundthattheeditorhadenrichedhissmallstockofnewsbydrawinguponourfamilyaffairs,andhadpublishedmysister’smarriageengagement,amonghisotherannouncements,copiedfromtheLondonpapers,ofMarriagesinHighLife。IconcludedatoncethatthiswastheparagraphwhichhadsostrangelyaffectedAnneCatherick,andIthoughtIsawinit,also,theoriginoftheletterwhichshesenttoourhousethenextday。’

  `Therecanbenodoubtineithercase。Butwhatdidyouhearabouthersecondattackoffaintnessyesterdayevening?’

  `Nothing。Thecauseofitisacompletemystery。Therewasnostrangerintheroom。Theonlyvisitorwasourdairymaid,who,asItoldyou,isoneofMrTodd’sdaughters,andtheonlyconversationwastheusualgossipaboutlocalaffairs。Theyheardhercryout,andsawherturndeadlypale,withouttheslightestapparentreason。MrsToddandMrsClementstookherupstairs,andMrsClementsremainedwithher。Theywereheardtalkingtogetheruntillongaftertheusualbedtime,andearlythismorningMrsClementstookMrsToddaside,andamazedherbeyondallpowerofexpressionbysayingthattheymustgo。TheonlyexplanationMrsToddcouldextractfromherguestwas,thatsomethinghadhappened,whichwasnotthefaultofanyoneatthefarmhouse,butwhichwasseriousenoughtomakeAnneCatherickresolvetoleaveLimmeridgeimmediately。ItwasquiteuselesstopressMrsClementstobemoreexplicit。Sheonlyshookherhead,andsaidthat,forAnne’ssake,shemustbegandpraythatnoonewouldquestionher。Allshecouldrepeat,witheveryappearanceofbeingseriouslyagitatedherself,wasthatAnnemustgo,thatshemustgowithher,andthatthedestinationtowhichtheymightbothbetakethemselvesmustbekeptasecretfromeverybody。IspareyoutherecitalofMrsTodd’shospitableremonstrancesandrefusals。Itendedinherdrivingthembothtotheneareststation,morethanthreehourssince。Shetriedhardonthewaytogetthemtospeakmoreplainly,butwithoutsuccess;andshesetthemdownoutsidethestation-door,sohurtandoffendedbytheunceremoniousabruptnessoftheirdepartureandtheirunfriendlyreluctancetoplacetheleastconfidenceinher,thatshedroveawayinanger,withoutsomuchasstoppingtobidthemgood-bye。Thatisexactlywhathastakenplace。Searchyourownmemory,MrHartright,andtellmeifanythinghappenedintheburial-groundyesterdayeveningwhichcanatallaccountfortheextraordinarydepartureofthosetwowomenthismorning。’

  `Ishouldliketoaccountfirst,MissHalcombe,forthesuddenchangeinAnneCatherickwhichalarmedthematthefarmhouse,hoursaftersheandIhadparted,andwhentimeenoughhadelapsedtoquietanyviolentagitationthatImighthavebeenunfortunateenoughtocause。Didyouinquireparticularlyaboutthegossipwhichwasgoingonintheroomwhensheturnedfaint?’

  `Yes。ButMrsTodd’shouseholdaffairsseemtohavedividedherattentionthateveningwiththetalkinthefarmhouseparlour。Shecouldonlytellmethatitwas``justthenews,’’——meaning,Isuppose,thattheyalltalkedasusualabouteachother。’

  `Thedairymaid’smemorymaybebetterthanhermother’s,’Isaid。`Itmaybeaswellforyoutospeaktothegirl,MissHalcombe,assoonaswegetback。’

  Mysuggestionwasactedonthemomentwereturnedtothehouse。MissHalcombeledmeroundtotheservants’offices,andwefoundthegirlinthedairy,withhersleevestuckeduptohershoulders,cleaningalargemilk-panandsingingblithelyoverherwork。

  `Ihavebroughtthisgentlemantoseeyourdairy,Hannah,’saidMissHalcombe。`Itisoneofthesightsofthehouse,anditalwaysdoesyoucredit。’

  Thegirlblushedandcurtseyed,andsaidshylythatshehopedshealwaysdidherbesttokeepthingsneatandclean。

  `Wehavejustcomefromyourfather’s,’MissHalcombecontinued。`Youwerethereyesterdayevening,Ihear,andyoufoundvisitorsatthehouse?’

  `Yes,miss。’

  `Oneofthemwastakenfaintandill,Iamtold?Isupposenothingwassaidordonetofrightenher?Youwerenottalkingofanythingveryterrible,wereyou?’

  `Ohno,miss!’saidthegirl,laughing。`Wewereonlytalkingofthenews。’

  `YoursisterstoldyouthenewsatTodd’sCorner,Isuppose?’

  Yes,miss。

  `AndyoutoldthemthenewsatLimmeridgeHouse?’

  `Yes,miss。AndI’mquitesurenothingwassaidtofrightenthepoorthing,forIwastalkingwhenshewastakenill。Itgavemequiteaturn,miss,toseeit,neverhavingbeentakenfaintmyself。’

  Beforeanymorequestionscouldbeputtoher,shewascalledawaytoreceiveabasketofeggsatthedairydoor。AssheleftusIwhisperedtoMissHalcombe——

  `Askherifshehappenedtomention,lastnight,thatvisitorswereexpectedatLimmeridgeHouse。’

  MissHalcombeshowedme,byalook,thatsheunderstood,andputthequestionassoonasthedairymaidreturnedtous。

  `Ohyes,miss,Imentionedthat,’saidthegirlsimply。`Thecompanycoming,andtheaccidenttothebrindledcow,wasallthenewsIhadtotaketothefarm。’

  `Didyoumentionnames?DidyoutellthemthatSirPercivalGlydewasexpectedonMonday?’

  `Yes,miss——ItoldthemSirPercivalGlydewascoming。Ihopetherewasnoharminit——IhopeIdidn’tdowrong。’

  `Ohno,noharm。Come,MrHartright,Hannahwillbegintothinkusintheway,ifweinterruptheranylongeroverherwork。’

  Westoppedandlookedatoneanotherthemomentwewerealoneagain。

  `Isthereanydoubtinyourmind,now,MissHalcombe?’

  `SirPercivalGlydeshallremovethatdoubt,MrHartright——orLauraFairlieshallneverbehiswife。’

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