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！
looked at the flower in his hand。
His past existence had disciplined him to bear disaster and
insult； as few happier men could have borne them； but it had not
prepared him to feel the master…passion of humanity； for the
first time； at the dreary end of his life； in the hopeless decay
of a manhood that had withered under the double blight of
conjugal disappointment and parental sorrow。 〃Oh； if I was only
young again！〃 murmured the poor wretch； resting his arms on the
wall and touching the flower with his dry； fevered lips in a
stealthy rapture of tenderness。 〃She might have liked me when I
was twenty！〃 He suddenly started back into an erect position； and
stared about him in vacant bewilderment and terror。 〃She told me
to go home；〃 he said； with a startled look。 〃Why am I stopping
here？〃 He turned； and hurried on to the townin such dread of
her anger； if she looked round and saw him； that he never so much
as ventured on a backward glance at the road by which she had
retired； and never detected the spy dogging her footsteps； under
cover of the empty houses and the brick…heaps by the roadside。
Smoothly and gracefully； carefully preserving the speckless
integrity of her dress； never hastening her pace； and never
looking aside to the right hand or the left； Miss Gwilt pursued
her way toward the open country。 The suburban road branched off
at its end in two directions。 On the left； the path wound through
a ragged little coppice to the grazing grounds of a neighboring
farm； on the right； it led across a hillock of waste land to the
high…road。 Stopping a moment to consider； but not showing the spy
that she suspected him by glancing behind her while there was a
hiding…place within his reach； Miss Gwilt took the path across
the hillock。 〃I'll catch him there；〃 she said to herself； looking
up quietly at the long straight line of the empty high…road。
Once on the ground that she had chosen for her purpose； she met
the difficulties of the position with perfect tact and
self…possession。 After walking some thirty yards along the road；
she let her nosegay drop； half turned round in stooping to pick
it up； saw the man stopping at the same moment behind her； and
instantly went on again； quickening her pace little by little；
until she was walking at the top of her speed。 The spy fell into
the snare laid for him。 Seeing the night coming； and fearing that
he might lose sight of her in the darkness； he rapidly lessened
the distance between them。 Miss Gwilt went on faster and faster
till she plainly heard his footstep behind her； then stopped；
turned； and met the man face to face the next moment。
〃My compliments to Mr。 Armadale；〃 she said； 〃and tell him I've
caught you watching me。〃
〃I'm not watching you； miss；〃 retorted the spy； thrown off his
guard by the daring plainness of the language in which she had
spoken to him。
Miss Gwilt's eyes measured him contemptuously from head to foot。
He was a weakly； undersized man。 She wa s the taller； and （quite
possibly） the stronger of the two。
〃Take your hat off； you blackguard； when you speak to a lady；〃
she said； and tossed his hat in an instant； across a ditch by
which they were standing； into a pool on the other side。
This time the spy was on his guard。 He knew as well as Miss Gwilt
knew the use which might be made of the precious minutes； if he
turned his back on her and crossed the ditch to recover his hat。
〃It's well for you you're a woman；〃 he said； standing scowling at
her bareheaded in the fast…darkening light。
Miss Gwilt glanced sidelong down the onward vista of the road；
and saw； through the gathering obscurity； the solitary figure of
a man rapidly advancing toward her。 Some women would have noticed
the approach of a stranger at that hour and in that lonely place
with a certain anxiety。 Miss Gwilt was too confident in her own
powers of persuasion not to count on the man's assistance
beforehand； whoever he might be； _because_ he was a man。 She
looked back at the spy with redoubled confidence in herself； and
measured him contemptuously from head to foot for the second
time。
〃I wonder whether I'm strong enough to throw you after your hat？〃
she said。 〃I'll take a turn and consider it。〃
She sauntered on a few steps toward the figure advancing along
the road。 The spy followed her close。 〃Try it；〃 he said；
brutally。 〃You're a fine woman； you're welcome to put your arms
round me if you like。〃 As the words escaped him； he too saw the
stranger for the first time。 He drew back a step and waited。 Miss
Gwilt； on her side； advanced a step and waited； too。
The stranger came on； with the lithe； light step of a practiced
walker； swinging a stick in his hand and carrying a knapsack on
his shoulders。 A few paces nearer； and his face became visible。
He was a dark man； his black hair was powdered with dust； and his
black eyes were looking steadfastly forward along the road before
him。
Miss Gwilt advanced with the first signs of agitation she had
shown yet。 〃Is it possible？〃 she said； softly。 〃Can it really be
you？〃
It was Midwinter； on his way back to Thorpe Ambrose； after his
fortnight among the Yorkshire moors。
He stopped and looked at her； in breathless surprise。 The image
of the woman had been in his thoughts； at the moment when the
woman herself spoke to him。 〃Miss Gwilt！〃 he exclaimed； and
mechanically held out his hand。
She took it； and pressed it gently。 〃I should have been glad to
see you at any time；〃 she said。 〃You don't know how glad I am to
see you now。 May I trouble you to speak to that man？ He has been
following me； and annoying me all the way from the town。〃
Midwinter stepped past her without uttering a word。 Faint as the
light was； the spy saw what was coming in his face； and； turning
instantly； leaped the ditch by the road…side。 Before Midwinter
could follow； Miss Gwilt's hand was on his shoulder。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃you don't know who his employer is。〃
Midwinter stopped and looked at her。
〃Strange things have happened since you left us；〃 she went on。 〃I
have been forced to give up my situation； and I am followed and
watched by a paid spy。 Don't ask who forced me out of my
situation； and who pays the spyat least not just yet。 I can't
make up my mind to tell you till I am a little more composed。 Let
the wretch go。 Do you mind seeing me safe back to my lodging？
It's in your way home。 May Imay I ask for the support of your
arm？ My little stock of courage is quite exhausted。〃 She took his
arm and clung close to it。 The woman who had tyrannized over Mr。
Bashwood was gone； and the woman who had tossed the spy's hat
into the pool was gone。 A timid； shrinking； interesting creature
filled the fair skin and trembled on the symmetrical limbs of
Miss Gwilt。 She put her handkerchief to her eyes。 〃They say
necessity has no law；〃 she murmured； faintly。 〃I am treating you
like an old friend。 God knows I want one！〃
They went on toward the town。 She recovered herself with a
touching fortitude； she put her handkerchief back in her pocket；
and persisted in turning the conversation on Midwinter's walking
tour。 〃It is bad enough to be a burden on you；〃 she said； gently
pressing on his arm as she spoke； 〃I mustn't distress you as
well。 Tell me where you have been； and what you have seen。
Interest me in your journey； help me to escape from myself。〃
They reached the modest little lodging in the miserable little
suburb。 Miss Gwilt sighed； and removed her glove before she took
Midwinter's hand。 〃I have taken refuge here；〃 she said； simply。
〃It is clean and quiet； I am too poor to want or expect more。 We
must say good…by； I suppose； unless〃she hesitated modestly； and
satisfied herself by a quick look round that they were
unobserved〃unless you would like to come in and rest a little？
I feel so gratefully toward you； Mr。 Midwinter！ Is there any
harm； do you think； in my offering you a cup of tea？〃
The magnetic influence of her touch was thrilling through him
while she spoke。 Change and absence； to which he had trusted to
weaken her hold on him； had treacherously strengthened it
instead。 A man exceptionally sensitive； a man exceptionally pure
in his past life； he stood hand in hand； in the tempting secrecy
of the night； with the first woman who had exercised over him the
all…absorbing influence of her sex。 At his age； and in his
position； who could have left her？ The man （with a man's
temperament） doesn't live who could have left her。 Midwinter went
in。
A stupid； sleepy lad opened the house door。 Even he； being a male
creature； brightened under the influence of Miss Gwilt。 〃The urn；
John；〃 she said； kindly； 〃and another cup and saucer。 I'll borrow
your candle to light my candles upstairs； and then I won't
trouble you any more to…night。〃 John was wakeful and active in an
instant。 〃No trouble； miss；〃 he said； with awkward civility。 Miss
Gwilt took his candle with a smile。 〃How good people are to me！〃
she whispered； innocently； to Midwinter； as she led the way
upstairs to the little drawing…room on the first floor。
She lit the candles； and； turning quickly on her guest； stopped
him at the first attempt he made to remove the knapsack from his
shoulders。