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！
when you know the words； but； to tell you the truth； I always
did； and always shall； hate Moore's Melodies！〃
Thus； with merciless dexterity of manipulation； did Miss Milroy
work that sharpest female weapon of offense； the tongue； and thus
she would have used it for some time longer； if Allan had only
shown the necessary jealousy； or if Pedgift had only afforded the
necessary encouragement。 But adverse fortune had decreed that she
should select for her victims two men essentially unassailable
under existing circumstances。 Allan was too innocent of all
knowledge of female subtleties and susceptibilities to understand
anything； except that the charming Neelie was unreasonably out of
temper with him without the slightest cause。 The wary Pedgift； as
became one of the quick…witted youth of the present generation；
submitted to female influence； with his eye fixed immovably all
the time on his own interests。 Many a young man of the past
generation； who was no fool； has sacrificed everything for love。
Not one young man in ten thousand of the present generation；
_except_ the fools； has sacrificed a half…penny。 The daughters of
Eve still inherit their mother's merits and commit their mother's
faults。 But the sons of Adam； in these latter days； are men who
would have handed the famous apple back with a bow； and a
〃Thanks； no； it might get me into a scrape。〃 When
Allansurprised and disappointedmoved away out of Miss
Milroy's reach to the forward part of the boat； Pedgift Junior
rose and followed him。 〃You're a very nice girl；〃 thought this
shrewdly sensible young man； 〃but a client's a client； and I am
sorry to inform you； miss； it won't do。〃 He set himself at once
to rouse Allan's spirits by diverting his attention to a new
subject。 There was to be a regatta that autumn on one of the
Broads； and his client's opinion as a yachtsman might be valuable
to the committee。 〃Something new； I should think； to you； sir； in
a sailing match on fresh water？〃 he said； in his most
ingratiatory manner。 And Allan； instantly interested； answered；
〃Quite new。 Do tell me about it！〃
As for the rest of the party at the other end of the boat； they
were in a fair way to confirm Mrs。 Pentecost's doubts whether the
hilarity of the picnic would last the day out。 Poor Neelie's
natural feeling of irritation under the disappointment which
Allan's awkwardness had inflicted on her was now exasperated into
silent and settled resentment by her own keen sense of
humiliation and defeat。 The major had relapsed into his
habitually dreamy； absent manner； his mind was turning
monotonously with the wheels of his clock。 The curate still
secluded his indigestion from public view in the innermost
recesses of the cabin； and the curate's mother； with a second
dose ready at a moment's notice； sat on guard at the door。 Women
of Mrs。 Pentecost's age and character generally enjoy their own
bad spirits。 〃This；〃 sighed the old lady； wagging her head with a
smile of sour satisfaction 〃is what you call a day's pleasure； is
it？ Ah； what fools we all were to leave our comfortable homes！〃
Meanwhile the boat floated smoothly along the windings of the
watery labyrinth which lay between the two Broads。 The view on
either side was now limited to nothing but interminable rows of
reeds。 Not a sound was heard； far or near； not so much as a
glimpse of cultivated or inhabited land appeared anywhere。 〃A
trifle dreary hereabouts； Mr。 Armadale；〃 said the ever…cheerful
Pedgift。 〃But we are just out of it now。 Look ahead； sir！ Here we
are at Hurle Mere。〃
The reeds opened back on the right hand and the left； and the
boat glided suddenly into the wide circle of a pool。 Round the
nearer half of the circle； the eternal reeds still fringed the
margin of the water。 Round the further half； the land appeared
again； here rolling back from the pool in desolate sand…hills；
there rising above it in a sweep of grassy shore。 At one point
the ground was occupied by a plantation； and at another by the
out…buildings of a lonely old red brick house； with a strip of
by…road near； that skirted the garden wall and ended at the pool。
The sun was sinking in the clear heaven； and the water； where the
sun's reflection failed to tinge it； was beginning to look black
and cold。 The solitude that had been soothing； the silence that
had felt like an enchantment； on the other Broad； in the day's
vigorous prime； was a solitude that saddened herea silence that
struck cold； in the stillness and melancholy of the day's
decline。
The course of the boat was directed across the Mere to a creek in
the grassy shore。 One or two of the little flat…bottomed punts
peculiar to the Broads lay in the creek； and the reed cutters to
whom the punts belonged； surprised at the appearance of
strangers； came out； staring silently； from behind an angle of
the old garden wall。 Not another sign of life was visible
anywhere。 No pony…chaise had been seen by the reed cutters； no
stranger； either man or woman； had approached the shores of Hurle
Mere that day。
Young Pedgift took another look at his watch； and addressed
himself to Miss Milroy。 〃You may； or may not； see the governess
when you get back to Thorpe Ambrose；〃 he said； 〃but； as the time
stands now； you won't see her here。 You know best； Mr。 Armadale；〃
he added； turning to Allan； 〃whether your friend is to be
depended on to keep his appointment？〃
〃I am certain he is to be depended on；〃 replied Allan； looking
about himin unconcealed disappointment at Midwinter's absence。
〃Very good；〃 pursued Pedgift Junior。 〃If we light the fire for
our gypsy tea…making on the open ground there； your friend may
find us out； sir； by the smoke。 That's the Indian dodge for
picking up a lost man on the prairie； Miss Milroy and it's pretty
nearly wild enough （isn't it？） to be a prairie here！〃
There are some tem ptationsprincipally those of the smaller
kindwhich it is not in the defensive capacity of female human
nature to resist。 The temptation to direct the whole force of her
influence； as the one young lady of the party； toward the instant
overthrow of Allan's arrangement for meeting his friend； was too
much for the major's daughter。 She turned on the smiling Pedgift
with a look which ought to have overwhelmed him。 But who ever
overwhelmed a solicitor？
〃I think it's the most lonely； dreary； hideous place I ever saw
in my life！〃 said Miss Neelie。 〃If you insist on making tea here；
Mr。 Pedgift； don't make any for me。 No！ I shall stop in the boat；
and； though I am absolutely dying with thirst； I shall touch
nothing till we get back again to the other Broad！〃
The major opened his lips to remonstrate。 To his daughter's
infinite delight； Mrs。 Pentecost rose from her seat before he
could say a word； and； after surveying the whole landward
prospect； and seeing nothing in the shape of a vehicle anywhere；
asked indignantly whether they were going all the way back again
to the place where they had left the carriages in the middle of
the day。 On ascertaining that this was； in fact； the arrangement
proposed； and that； from the nature of the country； the carriages
could not have been ordered round to Hurle Mere without； in the
first instance； sending them the whole of the way back to Thorpe
Ambrose； Mrs。 Pentecost （speaking in her son's interests）
instantly declared that no earthly power should induce her to be
out on the water after dark。 〃Call me a boat！〃 cried the old
lady； in great agitation。 〃Wherever there's water； there's a
night mist； and wherever there's a night mist； my son Samuel
catches cold。 Don't talk to _me_ about your moonlight and your
tea…makingyou're all mad！ Hi！ you two men there！〃 cried Mrs。
Pentecost； hailing the silent reed cutters on shore。 〃Sixpence
apiece for you； if you'll take me and my son back in your boat！〃
Before young Pedgift could interfere； Allan himself settled the
difficulty this time； with perfect patience and good temper。
〃I can't think； Mrs。 Pentecost； of your going back in any boat
but the boat you have come out in；〃 he said。 〃There is not the
least need （as you and Miss Milroy don't like the place） for
anybody to go on shore here but me。 I _must_ go on shore。 My
friend Midwinter never broke his promise to me yet； and I can't
consent to leave Hurle Mere as long as there is a chance of his
keeping his appointment。 But there's not the least reason in the
world why I should stand in the way on that account。 You have the
major and Mr。 Pedgift to take care of you； and you can get back
to the carriages before dark； if you go at once。 I will wait
here； and give my friend half an hour more； and then I can follow
you in one of the reed…cutters' boats。〃
〃That's the most sensible thing； Mr。 Armadale； you've said
to…day；〃 remarked Mrs。 Pentecost； seating herself again in a
violent hurry
〃Tell them to be quick！ 〃 cried the old lady； shaking her fist at
the boatmen。 〃Tell them to be quick！〃
Allan gave the necessary directions； and stepped on shore。 The
wary Pedgift （sticking fast to his client） tried to follow。
〃We can't leave you here alone； sir；〃 he said； protesting eagerly
in a whisper。 〃Let the major take care of the ladies； and let me
keep you c