the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第32部分

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light　surface　of　the　road　winding　away　like　a　riband　to　the　north
entrance　of　Sylvania　Castle；　thence　round　to　the　village；　the　cliffs；
and　the　Cove　behind。　　Upon　the　road　two　dark　figures　could　just　be
discerned；　one　a　little　way　behind　the　other；　but　overtaking　and
joining　the　foremost　as　Ruth　looked。　　After　all　they　might　be　quarriers
or　lighthouse…keepers　from　the　south　of　the　island；　or　fishermen　just
landed　from　a　night's　work。　　There　being　nothing　to　connect　them　with
the　noises　she　had　heard　indoors　she　dismissed　the　whole　subject；　and
went　to　bed　again。


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Jocelyn　had　promised　to　pay　an　early　visit　to　ascertain　the　state　of
Mrs。　Pierston's　health　after　her　night's　rest；　her　precarious　condition
being　more　obvious　to　him　than　to　Avice；　and　making　him　a　little
anxious。　　Subsequent　events　caused　him　to　remember　that　while　he　was
dressing　he　casually　observed　two　or　three　boatmen　standing　near　the
cliff　beyond　the　village；　and　apparently　watching　with　deep　interest
what　seemed　to　be　a　boat　far　away　towards　the　opposite　shore　of　South
Wessex。　　At　half…past　eight　he　came　from　the　door　of　the　inn　and　went
straight　to　Mrs。　Pierston's。　　On　approaching　he　discovered　that　a
strange　expression　which　seemed　to　hang　about　the　house…front　that
morning　was　more　than　a　fancy；　the　gate；　door；　and　two　windows　being
open；　though　the　blinds　of　other　windows　were　not　drawn　up；　the　whole
lending　a　vacant；　dazed　look　to　the　domicile；　as　of　a　person　gaping　in
sudden　stultification。　　Nobody　answered　his　knock；　and　walking　into　the
dining…room　he　found　that　no　breakfast　had　been　laid。　　His　flashing
thought　was；　'Mrs。　Pierston　is　dead。'

While　standing　in　the　room　somebody　came　downstairs；　and　Jocelyn
encountered　Ruth　Stockwool；　an　open　letter　fluttering　in　her　hand。

'O　Mr。　Pierston；　Mr。　Pierston！　　The　Lord…a…Lord！'

'What？　　Mrs。　Pierston'

'No；　no！　　Miss　Avice！　　She　is　gone！yesgone！　　Read　ye　this；　sir。　　It
was　left　in　her　bedroom；　and　we　be　fairly　gallied　out　of　our　senses！'

He　took　the　letter　and　confusedly　beheld　that　it　was　in　two
handwritings；　the　first　section　being　in　Avice's：

'MY　DEAR　MOTHER；How　ever　will　you　forgive　me　for　what　I　have　done！
So　deceitful　as　it　seems。　　And　yet　till　this　night　I　had　no　idea　of
deceiving　either　you　or　Mr。　Pierston。

'Last　night　at　ten　o'clock　I　went　out；　as　you　may　have　guessed；　to　see
Mr。　Leverre　for　the　last　time；　and　to　give　him　back　his　books；　letters；
and　little　presents　to　me。　　I　went　only　a　few　stepsto　Bow…and…Arrow
Castle；　where　we　met　as　we　had　agreed　to　do；　since　he　could　not　call。
When　I　reached　the　place　I　found　him　there　waiting；　but　quite　ill。　　He
had　been　unwell　at　his　mother's　house　for　some　days；　and　had　been
obliged　to　stay　in　bed；　but　he　had　got　up　on　purpose　to　come　and　bid　me
good…bye。　　The　over…exertion　of　the　journey　upset　him；　and　though　we
stayed　and　stayed　till　twelve　o'clock　he　felt　quite　unable　to　go　back
homeunable；　indeed；　to　move　more　than　a　few　yards。　　I　had　tried　so
hard　not　to　love　him　any　longer；　but　I　loved　him　so　now　that　I　could
not　desert　him　and　leave　him　out　there　to　catch　his　death。　　So　I　helped
himnearly　carrying　himon　and　on　to　our　door；　and　then　round　to　the
back。　　Here　he　got　a　little　better；　and　as　he　could　not　stay　there；　and
everybody　was　now　asleep；　I　helped　him　upstairs　into　the　room　we　had
prepared　for　Mr。　Pierston　if　he　should　have　wanted　one。　　I　got　him　into
bed；　and　then　fetched　some　brandy　and　a　little　of　your　tonic。　　Did　you
see　me　come　into　your　room　for　it；　or　were　you　asleep？

'I　sat　by　him　all　night。　　He　improved　slowly；　and　we　talked　over　what
we　had　better　do。　　I　felt　that；　though　I　had　intended　to　give　him　up；　I
could　not　now　becomingly　marry　any　other　man；　and　that　I　ought　to　marry
him。　　We　decided　to　do　it　at　once；　before　anybody　could　hinder　us。　　So
we　came　down　before　it　was　light；　and　have　gone　away　to　get　the
ceremony　solemnized。

'Tell　Mr。　Pierston　it　was　not　premeditated；　but　the　result　of　an
accident。　　I　am　sincerely　sorry　to　have　treated　him　with　what　he　will
think　unfairness；　but　though　I　did　not　love　him　I　meant　to　obey　you　and
marry　him。　　But　God　sent　this　necessity　of　my　having　to　give　shelter　to
my　Love；　to　prevent；　I　think；　my　doing　what　I　am　now　convinced　would
have　been　wrongEver　your　loving　daughter；
AVICE。'

The　second　was　in　a　man's　hand：

'DEAR　MOTHER　（as　you　will　soon　be　to　me）；Avice　has　clearly　explained
above　how　it　happened　that　I　have　not　been　able　to　give　her　up　to　Mr。
Pierston。　　I　think　I　should　have　died　if　I　had　not　accepted　the
hospitality　of　a　room　in　your　house　this　night；　and　your　daughter's
tender　nursing　through　the　dark　dreary　hours。　　We　love　each　other
beyond　expression；　and　it　is　obvious　that；　if　we　are　human；　we　cannot
resist　marrying　now；　in　spite　of　friends'　wishes。　　Will　you　please　send
the　note　lying　beside　this　to　my　mother。　　It　is　merely　to　explain　what
I　have　doneYours　with　warmest　regard；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HENRI　LEVERRE。'

Jocelyn　turned　away　and　looked　out　of　the　window。

'Mrs。　Pierston　thought　she　heard　some　talking　in　the　night；　but　of
course　she　put　it　down　to　fancy。　　And　she　remembers　Miss　Avice　coming
into　her　room　at　one　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　going　to　the　table
where　the　medicine　was　standing。　　A　sly　girlall　the　time　her　young
man　within　a　yard　or　two；　in　the　very　room；　and　a　using　the　very　clean
sheets　that　you；　sir；　were　to　have　used！　　They　are　our　best　linen　ones；
got　up　beautiful；　and　a　kept　wi'　rosemary。　　Really；　sir；　one　would　say
you　stayed　out　o'　your　chammer　o'　purpose　to　oblige　the　young　man　with
a　bed！'

'Don't　blame　them；　don't　blame　them！'　said　Jocelyn　in　an　even　and
characterless　voice。　　'Don't　blame　her；　particularly。　　She　didn't　make
the　circumstances。　　I　did。　。　。　。　　It　was　how　I　served　her　grandmother。
。　。　。　　Well；　she's　gone！　　You　needn't　make　a　mystery　of　it。　　Tell　it　to
all　the　island：　　say　that　a　man　came　to　marry　a　wife；　and　didn't　find
her　at　home。　　Tell　everybody　that　she's　run　away。　　It　must　be　known
sooner　or　later。'

One　of　the　servants　said；　after　waiting　a　few　moments：　　'We　shan't　do
that；　sir。'

'OhWhy　won't　you？'

'We　liked　her　too　well；　with　all　her　faults。'

'Ahdid　you；'　said　he；　and　he　sighed。　　He　perceived　that　the　younger
maids　were　secretly　on　Avice's　side。

'How　does　her　mother　bear　it？'　Jocelyn　asked。　　'Is　she　awake？'

Mrs。　Pierston　had　hardly　slept；　and；　having　learnt　the　tidings
inadvertently；　became　so　distracted　and　incoherent　as　to　be　like　a
person　in　a　delirium；　till；　a　few　moments　before　he　arrived；　all　her
excitement　ceased；　and　she　lay　in　a　weak；　quiet　silence。

'Let　me　go　up；'　Pierston　said。　　'And　send　for　the　doctor。'

Passing　Avice's　chamber　he　perceived　that　the　little　bed　had　not　been
slept　on。　　At　the　door　of　the　spare　room　he　looked　in。　　In　one　corner
stood　a　walking…stickhis　own。

'Where　did　that　come　from？'

'We　found　it　there；　sir。'

'Ah　yesI　gave　it　to　him。　　'Tis　like　me　to　play　another's　game！'

It　was　the　last　spurt　of　bitterness　that　Jocelyn　let　escape　him。　　He
went　on　towards　Mrs。　Pierston's　room；　preceded　by　the　servant。

'Mr。　Pierston　has　come；　ma'am；'　he　heard　her　say　to　the　invalid。　　But
as　the　latter　took　no　notice　the　woman　rushed　forward　to　the　bed。
'What　has　happened　to　her；　Mr。　Pierston？　　O　what　do　it　mean？'

Avice　the　Second　was　lying　placidly　in　the　position　in　which　the　nurse
had　left　her；　but　no　breath　came　from　her　lips；　and　a　rigidity　of
feature　was　accompanied　by　the　precise　expression　which　had
characterized　her　face　when　Pierston　had　her　as　a　girl　in　his　studio。
He　saw　that　it　was　death；　though　she　appeared　to　have　breathed　her　last
only　a　few　moments　before。

Ruth　Stockwool's　composure　deserted　her。　　''Tis　the　shock　of　finding
Miss　Avice　gone　that　has　done　it！'　she　cried。　　'She　has　killed　her
mother！'

'Don't　say　such　a　terrible　thing！'　exclaimed　Jocelyn。

'But　she　ought　to　have　obeyed　her　mothera　good　mother　as　she　was！
How　she　had　set　her　heart　upon　the　wedding；　poor　soul；　and　we　couldn't
help　her　knowing　what　had　happened！　　O　how　ungrateful　young　folk　be！
That　girl　will　rue　this　morning's　work！'

'We　must　get　the　doctor；'　said　Pierston；　mechanically；　hastening　from
the　room。

When　the　local　practitioner　came　he　merely　confirmed　their　own　verdict；
and　thought　her　death　had　undoubtedly　been　hastened　by　the　shock　of　the
ill　news　upon　a　feeble　heart；　following　a　long　strain　of　anxiety　about
the　wedding。　　He　did　not　consider　that　an　inquest　would　be　necessary。


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The　two　shadowy　figures　seen　through　the　grey　gauzes　of　the　morning　by
Ruth；　five　hours　before　this　time；　had　gone　on　to　the　open　place　by　the
north　entrance　of　Sylvania　Castle；　where　the　lane　to　the　ruins　of　the
old　castle　branched　off。　　A　listener　would　not　have　gathered　that　a
single　word　passed　between　them。　　The　man　walked　with　difficulty；
supported　by　the　woman。　　At　this　spot　they　stopped　and　kissed　each
other　a　long　while。

'We　ought　to　walk　all　the　way　to　Budmouth；　if　we　wish　not　to　be
discovered；'　he　said　sadly。　　'And　I　can't　even　get　across　the　island；
even　by　your　help；　darling。　　It　is　two　miles　to　the　foot　of　the　hill。'

She；　who　was　trembling；　tried　to　speak　consolingly：

'If　you　could　walk　we　should　have　to　go　down　the　Street　of　Wells；　where
perhaps　somebody　would　know　me？　　Now　if　we　get　below　here　to　the　Cove；
can't　we　push　off　one　of　the　little　boats　I　saw　there　last　night；　and
paddle　along　close　to　the　shore　till　we　get　to　the　north　side？　　Then　we
can　walk　across　to　the　station　very　well。　　It　is　quite　calm；　and　as　the
tide　sets　in　that　direction；　it　will　take　us　along　of　itself；　without
much　rowing。　　I've　often　got　round　in　a　boat　that　way。'

This　seemed　to　be　the　only　plan　that　offered；　and　abandoning　the
straight　road　they　wound　down　the　defile　spanned　further　on　by　the　old
castle　arch；　and　forming　the　original　fosse　of　the　fortress。

The　stroke　of　their　own　footsteps；　lightly　as　these　fell；　was　flapped
back　to　them　with　impertinent　gratuitousness　by　the　vertical　faces　of
the　rock；　so　still　was　everything　around。　　A　little　further；　and　they
emerged　up