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！
the same side of the house）； and left the door ajar； and set the
window open； waiting and listening for anything that might
happen。 Dear madam； there was a time when I might have thought
such a position in the house of my employer not a very becoming
one。 Let me hasten to assure you that this is far from being my
feeling now。 I glory in any position which makes me serviceable
to you。
〃The state of the weather seemed hopelessly adverse to that
renewal of intercourse between Mr。 Armadale and Miss Milroy which
you so confidently anticipate； and of which you are so anxious to
be made aware。 Strangely enough； however； it is actually in
consequence of the state of the weather that I am now in a
position to give you the very information you require。 Mr。
Armadale and Miss Milroy met about an hour since。 The
circumstances were as follows：
〃Just at the beginning of the thunder…storm； I saw one of the
grooms run across from the stables； and heard him tap at his
master's window。 Mr。 Armadale opened the window and asked what
was the matter。 The groom said he came with a message from the
coachman's wife。 She had seen from her room over the stables
（which looks on to the park） Miss Milroy quite alone； standing
for shelter under one of the trees。 As that part of the park was
at some distance from the major's cottage； she had thought that
her master might wish to send and ask the young lady into the
houseespecially as she had placed herself； with a thunder…storm
coming on； in what might turn out to be a very dangerous
position。
〃The moment Mr。 Armadale understood the man's message； he called
for the water…proof things and the umbrellas； and ran out
himself； instead of leaving it to the servants。 In a little time
he and the groom came back with Miss Milroy between them； as well
protected as could be from the rain。
〃I ascertained from one of the women…servants； who had taken the
young lady into a bedroom； and had supplied her with such dry
things as she wanted； that Miss Milroy had been afterward shown
into the drawing…room； and that Mr。 Armadale was there with her。
The only way of following your instructions； and finding out what
passed between them； was to go round the house in the pelting
rain； and get into the conservatory （which opens into the
drawing…room） by the outer door。 I hesitate at nothing； dear
madam； in your service； I would cheerfully get wet every day； to
please you。 Besides； though I may at first sight be thought
rather an elderly man； a wetting is of no very serious
consequence to me。 I assure you I am not so old as I look； and I
am of a stronger constitution than appears。
〃It was impossible for me to get near enough in the conservatory
to see what went on in the drawing…room； without the risk of
being discovered。 But most of the conversation reached me； except
when they dropped their voices。 This is the substance of what I
heard：
〃I gathered that Miss Milroy had been prevailed on； against her
will； to take refuge from the thunder…storm in Mr。 Armadale's
house。 She said so； at least； and she gave two reasons。 The first
was that her father had forbidden all intercourse between the
cottage and the great house。 Mr。 Armadale met this objection by
declaring that her father had issued his orders under a total
misconception of the truth； and by entreating her not to treat
him as cruelly as the major had treated him。 He entered； I
suspect； into some explanations at this point； but as he dropped
his voice I am unable to say what they were。 His language； when I
did hear it； was confused and ungrammatical。 It seemed； however；
to be quite intelligible enough to persuade Miss Milroy that her
father had been acting under a mistaken impression of the
circumstances。 At least； I infer this； for； when I next heard the
conversation； the young lady was driven back to her second
objection to being in the housewhich was； that Mr。 Armadale had
behaved very badly to her； and that he richly deserved that she
should never speak to him again。
〃In this latter case； Mr。 Armadale attempted no defense of any
kind。 He agreed with her that he had behaved badly； he agreed
with her that he richly deserved she should never speak to him
again。 At the same time he implored her to remember that he had
suffered his punishment already。 He was disgraced in the
neighborhood； and his dearest friend； his one intimate friend in
the world； had that very morning turned against him like the
rest。 Far or near； there was not a living creature whom he was
fond of to comfort him； or to say a friendly word to him。 He was
lonely and miserable； and his heart ached for a little
kindnessand that was his only excuse for asking Miss Milroy to
forget and forgive the past。
〃I must leave you； I fear； to judge for yourself of the effect of
this on the young lady； for； though I tried hard； I failed to
catch what she said。 I am almost certain I heard her crying； and
Mr。 Armadale entreating her not to break his heart。 They
whispered a great deal； which aggravated me。 I was afterward
alarmed by Mr。 Armadale coming out into the conservatory to pick
some flowers。 He did not come as far； fortunately； as the place
where I was hidden； and he went in again into the drawing…room；
and there was more talking （I suspect at close quarters）； which
to my great regret I again failed to catch。 Pray forgive me for
having so little to tell you。 I can only add that； when the storm
cleared off； Miss Milroy went away with the flowers in her hand；
and with Mr。 Armadale escorting her from the house。 My own humble
opinion is that he had a powerful friend at court； all through
the interview； in the young lady's own liking for him。
〃This is all I can say at present； with the exception of one
other thing I heard； which I blush to mention。 But your word is
law； and you have ordered me to have no concealments from you。
〃Their talk turned once； dear madam； on yourself。 I think I heard
the word 'creature' from Miss Milroy； and I am certain that Mr。
Armadale； while acknowledging that he had once admired you； added
that circumstances had since satisfied him of 'his folly。' I
quote his own expression； it made me quite tremble with
indignation。 If I may be permitted to say so； the man who admires
Miss Gwilt lives in Paradise。 Respect； if nothing else； ought to
have closed Mr。 Armadale's lips。 He is my employer； I know； but
after his calling it an act of folly to admire you （though I _am_
his deputy…steward）； I utterly despise him。
〃Trusting that I may have been so happy as to give you
satisfaction thus far； and earnestly desirous to deserve the
honor of your continued confidence in me； I remain； dear madam；
〃Your grateful and devoted servant；
〃FELIX BASHWOOD。〃
2。 _From Mrs。 Oldershaw to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Diana Street； Monday； July 21st。
〃MY DEAR LYDIAI trouble you with a few lines。 They are written
under a sense of the duty which I owe to myself； in our present
position toward each other。
〃I am not at all satisfied with the tone of your last two
letters； and I am still less pleased at your leaving me this
morning without any letter at alland this when we had arranged；
in the doubtful state of our prospects； that I was to hear from
you every day。 I can only interpret your conduct in one way。 I
can only infer that matters at Thorpe Ambrose； having been all
mismanaged； are all going wrong。
〃It is not my present object to reproach you； for why should I
waste time； language； and paper？ I merely wish to recall to your
memory certain considerations which you appear to be disposed to
overlook。 Shall I put them in the plainest English？ Yes； for；
with all my faults； I am frankness personified。
〃In the first place； then； I have an interest in your becoming
Mrs。 Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose as well as you。 Secondly； I have
provided you （to say nothing of good advice） with all the money
needed to accomplish our object。 Thirdly； I hold your notes of
hand； at short dates； for every farthing so advanced。 Fourthly
and lastly； though I am indulgent to a fault in the capacity of a
friendin the capacity of a woman of business； my dear； I am not
to be trifled with。 That is all； Lydia； at least for the present。
〃Pray don't suppose I write in anger； I am only sorry and
disheartened。 My state of mind resembles David's。 If I had the
wings of a dove； I would flee away and be at rest。
〃Affectionately yours； MARIA OLDERSHAW。〃
3。 _From Mr。 Bashwood to Miss Gwilt。_
〃Thorpe Ambrose； July 21st。
〃DEAR MADAMYou will probably receive these lines a few hours
after my yesterday's communication reaches you。 I posted my first
letter last night； and I shall post this before noon to…day。
〃My present object in writing is to give you some more news from
this house。 I have the inexpressible happiness of announcing that
Mr。 Armadale's disgraceful intrusion on your privacy is at an
end。 The watch set on your actions is to be withdrawn this day。 I
write； dear madam； with the tears in my eyestears of joy；
caused by feelings which I ventured to express in my previous
letter （see first paragraph toward the end）。 Pardon me this
personal reference。 I can speak to you （I don't know why） so much