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！
〃It is of the utmost importance to me to know what is doing at
Thorpe Ambrose； and it would be the height of rashness； while I
am quite in the dark in this matter； to venture there myself。 The
only other alternative is to write to somebody on the spot for
news； and the only person I can write to isBashwood。
〃I have just finished the letter。 It is headed 'private and
confidential；' and signed 'Lydia Armadale。' There is nothing in
it to compromise me； if the old fool is mortally offended by my
treatment of him； and if he spitefully shows my letter to other
people。 But I don't believe he will do this。 A man at his age
forgives a woman anything； if the woman only encourages him。 I
have requested him； as a personal favor； to keep our
correspondence for the present strictly private。 I have hinted
that my married life with my deceased husband has not been a
happy one； and that I feel the injudiciousness of having married
a _young_ man。 In the postscript I go further still； and venture
boldly on these comforting words： 'I can explain； dear Mr。
Bashwood； what may have seemed fake and deceitful in my conduct
toward you when you give me a personal opportunity。' If he was on
the right side of sixty； I should feel doubtful of results。 But
he is on the wrong side of sixty； and I believe he will give me
my personal opportunity。
〃Ten o'clock。I have been looking over the copy of my marriage
certificate； with which I took care to provide myself on the
wedding…day； and I have discovered； to my inexpressible dismay；
an obstacle to my appearance in the character of Armadale's widow
which I now see for the first time。
〃The description of Midwinter （under his own name） which the
certificate presents answers in every important particular to
what would have been the description of Armadale of Thorpe
Ambrose； if I had really married him。 'Name and Surname'Allan
Armadale。 'Age'twenty…one； instead of twenty…two； which might
easily pass for a mistake。 'Condition'Bachelor。 'Rank or
profession'Gentleman。 'Residence at the time of
Marriage'Frant's Hotel； Darley Street。 'Father's Name and
Surname'Allan Armadale。 'Rank or Profession of
Father'Gentleman。 Every particular （except the year's
difference in their two ages） which answers for the one answers
for the other。 But suppose； when I produce my copy of the
certificate； that some meddlesome lawyer insists on looking at
the original register？ Midwinter's writing is as different as
possible from the writing of his dead friend。 The hand in which
he has written 'Allan Armadale' in the book has not a chance of
passing for the hand in which Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose was
accustomed to sign his name。
〃Can I move safely in the matter； with such a pitfall as I see
here open under my feet？ How can I tell？ Where can I find an
experienced person to inform me？ I must shut up my diary and
think。
〃Seven o'clock。My prospects have changed again since I made my
last entry。 I have received a warning to be careful in the future
which I shall not neglect； and I have （I believe） succeeded in
providing myself with the advice and assistance of which I stand
in need。
〃After vainly trying to think of some better person to apply to
in the difficulty which embarrassed me； I made a virtue of
necessity； and set forth to surprise Mrs。 Oldershaw by a visit
from her darling Lydia！ It is almost needless to add that I
determined to sound her carefully； and not to let any secret of
importance out of my own possession。
〃A sour and solemn old maid…servant admitted me into the house。
When I asked for her mistress； I was reminded with the bitterest
emphasis that I had committed the impropriety of calling on a
Sunday。 Mrs。 Oldershaw was at home； solely in consequence of
being too unwell to go to church！ The servant thought it very
unlikely that she would see me。 I thought it highly probable； on
the contrary； that she would honor me with an interview in her
own interests； if I sent in my name as 'Miss Gwilt'and the
event proved that I was right。 After being kept waiting some
minutes I was shown into the drawing…room。
〃There sat Mother Jezebel； with the air of a woman resting on the
high…road to heaven； dressed in a slate…colored gown； with gray
mittens on her hands； a severely simple cap on her head； and a
volume of sermons on her lap。 She turned up the whites of her
eyes dev outly at the sight of me； and the first words she said
were'Oh； Lydia！ Lydia！ why are you not at church？'
〃If I had been less anxious； the sudden presentation of Mrs。
Oldershaw in an entirely new character might have amused me。 But
I was in no humor for laughing； and （my notes of hand being all
paid） I was under no obligation to restrain my natural freedom of
speech。 'Stuff and nonsense！' I said。 'Put your Sunday face in
your pocket。 I have got some news for you； since I last wrote
from Thorpe Ambrose。'
〃The instant I mentioned 'Thorpe Ambrose；' the whites of the old
hypocrite's eyes showed themselves again； and she flatly refused
to hear a word more from me on the subject of my proceedings in
Norfolk。 I insisted； but it was quite useless。 Mother Oldershaw
only shook her head and groaned； and informed me that her
connection with the pomps and vanities of the world was at an end
forever。 'I have been born again； Lydia；' said the brazen old
wretch； wiping her eyes。 'Nothing will induce me to return to the
subject of that wicked speculation of yours on the folly of a
rich young man。'
〃After hearing this； I should have left her on the spot； but for
one consideration which delayed me a moment longer。
〃It was easy to see； by this time； that the circumstances
（whatever they might have been） which had obliged Mother
Oldershaw to keep in hiding； on the occasion of my former visit
to London； had been sufficiently serious to force her into giving
up； or appearing to give up； her old business。 And it was hardly
less plain that she had found it to her advantageeverybody in
England finds it to their advantage in some way to cover the
outer side of her character carefully with a smooth varnish of
Cant。 This was； however； no business of mine； and I should have
made these reflections outside instead of inside the house； if my
interests had not been involved in putting the sincerity of
Mother Oldershaw's reformation to the testso far as it affected
her past connection with myself。 At the time when she had fitted
me out for our enterprise； I remembered signing a certain
business document which gave her a handsome pecuniary interest in
my success； if I became Mrs。 Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose。 The
chance of turning this mischievous morsel of paper to good
account； in the capacity of a touchstone； was too tempting to be
resisted。 I asked my devout friend's permission to say one last
word before I left the house。
〃 'As you have no further interest in my wicked speculation at
Thorpe Ambrose；' I said； 'perhaps you will give me back the
written paper that I signed； when you were not quite such an
exemplary person as you are now？'
〃The shameless old hypocrite instantly shut her eyes and
shuddered。
〃 'Does that mean Yes； or No'？' I asked。
〃 'On moral and religious grounds； Lydia；' said Mrs。 Oldershaw；
'it means No。'
〃 'On wicked and worldly grounds；' I rejoined； 'I beg to thank
you for showing me your hand。'
〃There could； indeed； be no doubt now about the object she really
had in view。 She would run no more risks and lend no more money；
she would leave me to win or lose single…handed。 If I lost； she
would not be compromised。 If I won； she would produce the paper I
had signed； and profit by it without remorse。 In my present
situation； it was mere waste of time and words to prolong the
matter by any useless recrimination on my side。 I put the warning
away privately in my memory for future use； and got up to go。
〃At the moment when I left my chair there was a sharp double
knock at the street door。 Mrs。 Oldershaw evidently recognized it。
She rose in a violent hurry； and rang the bell。 'I am too unwell
to see anybody；' she said； when the servant appeared。 'Wait a
moment； if you please；' she added； turning sharply on me； when
the woman had left us to answer the door。
〃It was small； very small； spitefulness on my part； I know； but
the satisfaction of thwarting Mother Jezebel； even in a trifle；
was not to be resisted。 'I can't wait；' I said； 'you reminded me
just now that I ought to be at church。' Before she could answer I
was out of the room。
〃As I put my foot on the first stair the street door was opened；
and a man's voice inquired whether Mrs。 Oldershaw was at home。
〃I instantly recognized the voice。 Doctor Downward！
〃The doctor repeated the servant's message in a tone which
betrayed unmistakable irritation at finding himself admitted no
further than the door。
〃 'Your mistress is not well enough to see visitors？ Give her
that card；' said the doctor； 'and say I expect her； the next time
I call； to be well enough to see _me。_'
〃If his voice had not told me plainly that he felt in no friendly
mood toward Mrs。 Oldershaw； I dare say I should have let him go
without claiming his acquaintance； but； as things were； I felt a