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！
forgot my risks and responsibilities in my anxieties to be
charming。 For a minute or two I felt a warm little flutter of
triumph。 And it was a triumpheven with an old man！ In a quarter
of an hour I had him smirking and smiling； hanging on my lightest
words in an ecstasy； and answering all the questions I put to him
like a good little child。
〃Here is his account of affairs at Thorpe Ambrose； as I gently
extracted it from him bit by bit：
〃In the first place； the news of Armadale's death has reached
Miss Milroy。 It has so completely overwhelmed her that her father
has been compelled to remove her from the school。 She is back at
the cottage； and the doctor is in daily attendance。 Do I pity
her？ Yes！ I pity her exactly as much as she once pitied me！
〃In the next place； the state of affairs at the great house；
which I expected to find some difficulty in comprehending； tu rns
out to be quite intelligible； and certainly not discouraging so
far。 Only yesterday； the lawyers on both sides came to an
understanding。 Mr。 Darch （the family solicitor of the Blanchards；
and Armadale's bitter enemy in past times） represents the
interests of Miss Blanchard； who （in the absence of any male
heir） is next heir to the estate； and who has； it appears； been
in London for some time past。 Mr。 Smart； of Norwich （originally
employed to overlook Bashwood）； represents the deceased Armadale。
And this is what the two lawyers have settled between them。
〃Mr。 Darch； acting for Miss Blanchard； has claimed the possession
of the estate； and the right of receiving the rents at the
Christmas audit； in her name。 Mr。 Smart； on his side； has
admitted that there is great weight in the family solicitor's
application。 He cannot see his way； as things are now； to
contesting the question of Armadale's death； and he will consent
to offer no resistance to the application； if Mr。 Darch will
consent； on his side； to assume the responsibility of taking
possession in Miss Blanchard's name。 This Mr。 Darch has already
done； and the estate is now virtually in Miss Blanchard's
possession。
〃One result of this course of proceeding will be （as Bashwood
thinks） to put Mr。 Darch in the position of the person who really
decides on my claim to the widow's place and the widow's money。
The income being charged on the estate； it must come out of Miss
Blanchard's pocket； and the question of paying it would appear；
therefore； to be a question for Miss Blanchard's lawyer。
To…morrow will probably decide whether this view is the right
one； for my letter to Armadale's representatives will have been
delivered at the great house this morning。
〃So much for what old Bashwood had to tell me。 Having recovered
my influence over him； and possessed myself of all his
information so far； the next thing to consider was the right use
to turn him to in the future。 He was entirely at my disposal； for
his place at the steward's office has been already taken by Miss
Blanchard's man of business； and he pleaded hard to be allowed to
stay and serve my interests in London。 There would not have been
the least danger in letting him stay； for I had； as a matter of
course； left him undisturbed in his conviction that I really am
the widow of Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose。 But with the doctor's
resources at my command； I wanted no assistance of any sort in
London； and it occurred to me that I might make Bashwood more
useful by sending him back to Norfolk to watch events there in my
interests。
〃He looked sorely disappointed （having had an eye evidently to
paying his court to me in my widowed condition！） when I told him
of the conclusion at which I had arrived。 But a few words of
persuasion； and a modest hint that he might cherish hopes in the
future if he served me obediently in the present； did wonders in
reconciling him to the necessity of meeting my wishes。 He asked
helplessly for 'instructions' when it was time for him to leave
me and travel back by the evening train。 I could give him none；
for I had no idea as yet of what the legal people might or might
not do。 'But suppose something happens；' he persisted； 'that I
don't understand； what am I to do； so far away from you？' I could
only give him one answer。 'Do nothing；' I said。 'Whatever it is；
hold your tongue about it； and write； or come up to London
immediately to consult me。' With those parting directions； and
with an understanding that we were to correspond regularly； I let
him kiss my hand； and sent him off to the train。
〃Now that I am alone again； and able to think calmly of the
interview between me and my elderly admirer； I find myself
recalling a certain change in old Bashwood's manner which puzzled
me at the time； and which puzzles me still。
〃Even in his first moments of agitation at seeing me； I thought
that his eyes rested on my face with a new kind of interest while
I was speaking to him。 Besides this； he dropped a word or two
afterward； in telling me of his lonely life at Thorpe Ambrose；
which seemed to imply that he had been sustained in his solitude
by a feeling of confidence about his future relations with me
when we next met If he had been a younger and a bolder man （and
if any such discovery had been possible）； I should almost have
suspected him of having found out something about my past life
which had made him privately confident of controlling me； if I
showed any disposition to deceive and desert him again。 But such
an idea as this in connection with old Bashwood is simply absurd。
Perhaps I am overexcited by the suspense and anxiety of my
present position？ Perhaps the merest fancies and suspicions are
leading me astray？ Let this be as it may； I have； at any rate；
more serious subjects than the subject of old Bashwood to occupy
me now。 Tomorrow's post may tell me what Armadale's
representatives think of the claim of Armadale's widow。
〃November 26th。The answer has arrived this morning； in the form
（as Bashwood supposed） of a letter from Mr。 Darch。 The crabbed
old lawyer acknowledges my letter in three lines。 Before he takes
any steps； or expresses any opinion on the subject； he wants
evidence of identity as well as the evidence of the certificate；
and he ventures to suggest that it may be desirable； before we go
any further； to refer him to my legal advisers。
〃Two o'clock。The doctor called shortly after twelve to say that
he had found a lodging for me within twenty minutes' walk of the
Sanitarium。 In return for his news； I showed him Mr。 Darch's
letter。 He took it away at once to his lawyers； and came back
with the necessary information for my guidance。 I have answered
Mr。 Darch by sending him the address of my legal
advisersotherwise； the doctor's lawyerswithout making any
comment on the desire that he has expressed for additional
evidence of the marriage。 This is all that can be done to…day。
To…morrow will bring with it events of greater interest； for
to…morrow the doctor is to make his Declaration before the
magistrate； and to…morrow I am to move to my new lodging in my
widow's weeds。
〃November 27th。Fairweather Vale Villas。The Declaration has
been made； with all the necessary formalities。 And I have taken
possession； in my widow's costume； of my new rooms。
〃I ought to be excited by the opening of this new act in the
drama； and by the venturesome part that I am playing in it
myself。 Strange to say； I am quiet and depressed。 The thought of
Midwinter has followed me to my new abode； and is pressing on me
heavily at this moment。 I have no fear of any accident happening；
in the interval that must still pass before I step publicly into
the place of Armadale's widow。 But when that time comes； and when
Midwinter finds me （as sooner or later find me he must！） figuring
in my false character； and settled in the position that I have
usurped_then；_ I ask myself； What will happen？ The answer still
comes as it first came to me this morning； when I put on my
widow's dress。 Now； as then； the presentiment is fixed in my mind
that he will kill me。 If it was not too late to draw back
Absurd！ I shall shut up my journal。
〃November 28th。The lawyers have heard from Mr。 Darch； and have
sent him the Declaration by return of post。
〃When the doctor brought me this news； I asked him whether his
lawyers were aware of my present address； and； finding that he
had not yet mentioned it to them； I begged that he would continue
to keep it a secret for the future。 The doctor laughed。 'Are you
afraid of Mr。 Darch's stealing a march on us； and coming to
attack you personally？' he asked。 I accepted the imputation； as
the easiest way of making him comply with my request。 'Yes；' I
said； 'I am afraid of Mr。 Darch。'
〃My spirits have risen since the doctor left me。 There is a
pleasant sensation of security in feeling that no strangers are
in possession of my address。 I am easy enough in my mind to…day
to notice how wonderfully well I look in my widow's weeds； and to
make myself agreeable to the people of the house。
〃Midwinter disturbed me a little again last night； but I have got
over the ghastly delusion which possessed me yesterday。
I know better now than to dread violence from him when he
discovers what I have done。 An