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！
minutes； he fancied he had mistaken the path； which as yet was
scarcely familiar to him。 This was proved directly afterwards by
his coming at right angles upon some obstruction； which careful
feeling with outstretched hands soon told him to be a rail fence。
However； as the wood was not large； he experienced no alarm about
finding the path again； and with some sense of pleasure halted
awhile against the rails； to listen to the intensely melancholy yet
musical wail of the fir…tops； and as the wind passed on； the prompt
moan of an adjacent plantation in reply。 He could just dimly
discern the airy summits of the two or three trees nearest him
waving restlessly backwards and forwards； and stretching out their
boughs like hairy arms into the dull sky。 The scene； from its
striking and emphatic loneliness； began to grow congenial to his
mood； all of human kind seemed at the antipodes。
A sudden rattle on his right hand caused him to start from his
reverie； and turn in that direction。 There； before him； he saw rise
up from among the trees a fountain of sparks and smoke； then a red
glare of light coming forward towards him； then a flashing panorama
of illuminated oblong pictures； then the old darkness； more
impressive than ever。
The surprise； which had owed its origin to his imperfect
acquaintance with the topographical features of that end of the
estate； had been but momentary； the disturbance； a well…known one to
dwellers by a railway； being caused by the 6。50 down…train passing
along a shallow cutting in the midst of the wood immediately below
where he stood； the driver having the fire…door of the engine open
at the minute of going by。 The train had； when passing him； already
considerably slackened speed； and now a whistle was heard；
announcing that Carriford Road Station was not far in its van。
But contrary to the natural order of things； the discovery that it
was only a commonplace train had not caused Manston to stir from his
position of facing the railway。
If the 6。50 down…train had been a flash of forked lightning
transfixing him to the earth； he could scarcely have remained in a
more trance…like state。 He still leant against the railings； his
right hand still continued pressing on his walking…stick； his weight
on one foot； his other heel raised； his eyes wide open towards the
blackness of the cutting。 The only movement in him was a slight
dropping of the lower jaw； separating his previously closed lips a
little way； as when a strange conviction rushes home suddenly upon a
man。 A new surprise； not nearly so trivial as the first； had taken
possession of him。
It was on this account。 At one of the illuminated windows of a
second…class carriage in the series gone by； he had seen a pale
face； reclining upon one hand； the light from the lamp falling full
upon it。 The face was a woman's。
At last Manston moved； gave a whispering kind of whistle； adjusted
his hat； and walked on again； cross…questioning himself in every
direction as to how a piece of knowledge he had carefully concealed
had found its way to another person's intelligence。 'How can my
address have become known？' he said at length； audibly。 'Well； it
is a blessing I have been circumspect and honourable； in relation to
thatyes； I will say it； for once； even if the words choke me； that
darling of mine； Cytherea； never to be my own； never。 I suppose all
will come out now。 All！' The great sadness of his utterance proved
that no mean force had been exercised upon himself to sustain the
circumspection he had just claimed。
He wheeled to the left； pursued the ditch beside the railway fence；
and presently emerged from the wood； stepping into a road which
crossed the railway by a bridge。
As he neared home； the anxiety lately written in his face； merged by
degrees into a grimly humorous smile； which hung long upon his lips；
and he quoted aloud a line from the book of Jeremiah
'A woman shall compass a man。'
3。 NOVEMBER THE NINETEENTH。 DAYBREAK
Before it was light the next morning； two little naked feet pattered
along the passage in Knapwater House； from which Owen Graye's
bedroom opened； and a tap was given upon his door。
'Owen； Owen； are you awake？' said Cytherea in a whisper through the
keyhole。 'You must get up directly； or you'll miss the train。'
When he descended to his sister's little room； he found her there
already waiting with a cup of cocoa and a grilled rasher on the
table for him。 A hasty meal was despatched in the intervals of
putting on his overcoat and finding his hat； and they then went
softly through the long deserted passages； the kitchen…maid who had
prepared their breakfast walking before them with a lamp held high
above her head； which cast long wheeling shadows down corridors
intersecting the one they followed； their remoter ends being lost in
darkness。 The door was unbolted and they stepped out。
Owen had preferred walking to the station to accepting the pony…
carriage which Miss Aldclyffe had placed at his disposal； having a
morbid horror of giving trouble to people richer than himself； and
especially to their men…servants； who looked down upon him as a
hybrid monster in social position。 Cytherea proposed to walk a
little way with him。
'I want to talk to you as long as I can；' she said tenderly。
Brother and sister then emerged by the heavy door into the drive。
The feeling and aspect of the hour were precisely similar to those
under which the steward had left the house the evening previous；
excepting that apparently unearthly reversal of natural sequence；
which is caused by the world getting lighter instead of darker。
'The tearful glimmer of the languid dawn' was just sufficient to
reveal to them the melancholy red leaves； lying thickly in the
channels by the roadside； ever and anon loudly tapped on by heavy
drops of water； which the boughs above had collected from the foggy
air。
They passed the Old House； engaged in a deep conversation； and had
proceeded about twenty yards by a cross route； in the direction of
the turnpike road； when the form of a woman emerged from the porch
of the building。
She was wrapped in a grey waterproof cloak； the hood of which was
drawn over her head and closely round her faceso closely that her
eyes were the sole features uncovered。
With this one exception of her appearance there； the most perfect
stillness and silence pervaded the steward's residence from basement
to chimney。 Not a shutter was open； not a twine of smoke came
forth。
Underneath the ivy…covered gateway she stood still and listened for
two； or possibly three minutes； till she became conscious of others
in the park。 Seeing the pair she stepped back； with the apparent
intention of letting them pass out of sight； and evidently wishing
to avoid observation。 But looking at her watch； and returning it
rapidly to her pocket； as if surprised at the lateness of the hour；
she hurried out again； and across the park by a still more oblique
line than that traced by Owen and his sister。
These in the meantime had got into the road； and were walking along
it as the woman came up on the other side of the boundary hedge；
looking for a gate or stile； by which she； too； might get off the
grass upon the hard ground。
Their conversation； of which every word was clear and distinct； in
the still air of the dawn； to the distance of a quarter of a mile；
reached her ears； and withdrew her attention from all other matters
and sights whatsoever。 Thus arrested she stood for an instant as
precisely in the attitude of Imogen by the cave of Belarius； as if
she had studied the position from the play。 When they had advanced
a few steps； she followed them in some doubt； still screened by the
hedge。
'Do you believe in such odd coincidences？' said Cytherea。
'How do you mean； believe in them？ They occur sometimes。'
'Yes； one will occur often enoughthat is； two disconnected events
will fall strangely together by chance； and people scarcely notice
the fact beyond saying； 〃Oddly enough it happened that so and so
were the same；〃 and so on。 But when three such events coincide
without any apparent reason for the coincidence； it seems as if
there must be invisible means at work。 You see； three things
falling together in that manner are ten times as singular as two
cases of coincidence which are distinct。'
'Well； of course： what a mathematical head you have； Cytherea！ But
I don't see so much to marvel at in our case。 That the man who kept
the public…house in which Miss Aldclyffe fainted； and who found out
her name and position； lives in this neighbourhood； is accounted for
by the fact that she got him the berth to stop his tongue。 That you
came here was simply owing to Springrove。'
'Ah； but look at this。 Miss Aldclyffe is the woman our father first
loved； and I have come to Miss Aldclyffe's； you can't get over
that。'
From these premises； she proceeded to argue like an elderly divine
on the designs of Providence which were apparent in such
conjunctures； and went into a variety of details connected with Miss
Aldclyffe's history。
'Had I better tell Miss Aldclyffe that I know all this？' she
in