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！
the better faith that was in him。 Now once more he felt his heart
holding firmly by the bond of brotherhood between Allan and
himself； now once more he could say with the eager sincerity of
the old time； 〃If the thought of leaving him breaks my heart； the
thought of leaving him is wrong！〃 As that nobler conviction
possessed itself again of his mindquieting the tumult； clearing
the confusion within himthe house at Thorpe Ambrose； with Allan
on the steps； waiting； looking for him； opened on his eyes
through the trees。 A sense of illimitable relief lifted his eager
spirit high above the cares； and doubts； and fears that had
oppressed it so long； and showed him once more the better and
brighter future of his early dreams。 His eyes filled with tears；
and he pressed the rector's letter； in his wild； passionate way；
to his lips； as he looked at Allan through the vista of the
trees。 〃But for this morsel of paper；〃 he thought； 〃my life might
have been one long sorrow to me； and my father's crime might have
parted us forever！〃
Such was the result of the stratagem which had shown the
housemaid's face to Mr。 Brock as the face of Miss Gwilt。 And
soby shaking Midwinter's trust in his own superstition； in the
one case in which that superstition pointed to the truthdid
Mother Oldershaw's cunning triumph over difficulties and dangers
which had never been contemplated by Mother Oldershaw herself。
CHAPTER XI。
MISS GWILT AMONG THE QUICKSANDS。
1。 _From the Rev。 Decimus Brock to Ozias Midwinter。_
〃Thursday。
〃MY DEAR MIDWINTERNo words can tell what a relief it was to me
to get your letter this morning； and what a happiness I honestly
feel in having been thus far proved to be in the wrong。 The
precautions you have taken in case the woman should still confirm
my apprehensions by venturing herself at Thorpe Ambrose seem to
me to be all that can be desired。 You are no doubt sure to hear
of her from one or other of the people in the lawyer's office；
whom you have asked to inform you of the appearance of a stranger
in the town。
〃I am the more pleased at finding how entirely I can trust you in
this matter； for I am likely to be obliged to leave Allan's
interests longer than I supposed solely in your hands。 My visit
to Thorpe Ambrose must； I regret to say； be deferred for two
months。 The only one of my brother…clergymen in London who is
able to take my duty for me cannot make it convenient to remove
with his family to Somersetshire before that time。 I have no
alternative but to finish my business here； and be back at my
rectory on Saturday next。 If anything happens； you will； of
course； instantly communicate with me； and； in that case； be the
inconvenience what it may； I must leave home for Thorpe Ambrose。
If； on the other hand； all goes more smoothly than my own
obstinate apprehensions will allow me to suppose； then Allan （to
whom I have written） must not expect to see me till this day two
months。
〃No result has； up to this time； rewarded our exertions to
recover the trace lost at the railway。 I will keep my letter
open； however； until post time； in case the next few hours bring
any news。
〃Always truly yours；
DECIMUS BROCK。
〃P。 S。I have just heard from the lawyers。 They have found out
the name the woman passed by in London。 If this discovery （not a
very important one； I am afraid） suggests any new course of
proceeding to you； pray act on it at once。 The name isMiss
Gwilt。〃
2。 _From Miss Gwilt to Mrs。 Oldershaw。_
The Cottage； Thorpe Ambrose； Saturday； June 28。
〃IF you will promise not to be alarmed； Mamma Oldershaw； I will
begin this letter in a very odd way； by copying a page of a
letter written by somebody else。 You have an excellent memory；
and you may not have forgotten that I received a note from Major
Milroy's mother （after she had engaged me as governess） on Monday
last。 It was dated and signed； and here it is； as far as the
first page： 'June 23d； 1851。 Dear MadamPray excuse my troubling
you； before you go to Thorpe Ambrose； with a word more about the
habits observed in my son's household。 When I had the pleasure of
seeing you at two o'clock to…day； in Kingsdown Crescent； I had
another appointment in a distant part of London at three； and； in
the hurry of the moment； one or two little matters escaped me
which I think I ought to impress on your attention。' The rest of
the letter is not of the slightest importance； but the lines that
I have just copied are well worthy of all the attention you can
bestow on them。 They have saved me from discovery； my dear；
before I have been a week in Major Milroy's service！
〃It happened no later than yesterday evening； and it began and
ended in this manner：
〃There is a gentleman here； （of whom I shall have more to say
presently） who is an intimate friend of young Armadale's； and who
bears the strange name of Midwinter。 He contrived yesterday to
speak to me alone in the park。 Almost as soon as he opened his
lips； I found that my name had been discovered in London （no
doubt by the Somersetshire clergyman）； and that Mr。 Midwinter had
been chosen （evidently by the same person） to identify the Miss
Gwilt who had vanished from Brompton with the Miss Gwilt who had
appeared at Thorpe Ambrose。 You foresaw this danger； I remember；
but you could scarcely have imagined that the exposure would
threaten me so soon。
〃I spare you the details of our conversation to come to the end。
Mr。 Midwinter put the matter very delicately； declaring； to my
great surprise； that he felt quite certain himself that I was not
the Miss Gwilt of whom his friend was in search； and that he only
acted as he did out of regard to the anxiety of a person whose
wishes he was bound to respect。 Would I assist him in setting
that anxiety completely at rest； as far as I was concerned； by
kindly answering one plain questionwhich he had no other right
to ask me than the right my indulgence might give him？ The lost
'Miss Gwilt' had been missed on Monday last； at two o'clock； in
the crowd on the platform of the North…western Railway； in Euston
Square。 Would I authorize him to say that on that day； and at
that hour； the Miss Gwilt who was Major Milroy's governess had
never been near the place？
〃I need hardly tell you that I seized the fine opportunity he had
given me of disarming all future suspicion。 I took a high tone on
the spot； and met him with the old lady's letter。 He politely
refused to look at it。 I insisted on his looking at it。 'I don't
choose to be mistaken；' I said； 'for a woman who may be a bad
character； because she happens to bear； or to have assumed； the
same name as mine。 I insist on your reading the first part of
this letter for my satisfaction； if not for your own。' He was
obliged to comply； and there was the proof； in the old lady's
handwriting； that； at two o'clock on Monday last； she and I were
together in Kingsdown Crescent； which any directory would tell
him is a 'crescent' in Bayswater！ I leave you to imagine his
apologies； and the perfect sweetness with which I received them。
〃I might； of course； if I had not preserved the letter； have
referred him to you； or to the major's mother； with similar
results。 As it is； the object has been gained without trouble or
delay。 _I have been proved not to be myself；_ and one of the many
dangers that threatened me at Thorpe Ambrose is a danger blown
over from this moment。 Your house…maid's face may not be a very
handsome one； but there is no denying that it has done us
excellent service。
〃So much for the past； now for the future。 You shall hear how I
get on with the people about me； and you shall judge for yourself
what the chances are for and against my becoming mistress of
Thorpe Ambrose。
〃Let me begin with young Armadalebecause it is beginning with
good news。 I have produced the right impression on him already；
and Heaven knows _that_ is nothing to boast of！ Any moderately
good…looking woman who chose to take the trouble could make him
fall in love with her。 He is a rattle…pated young foolone of
those noisy； rosy； light…haired； good…tempered men whom I
particularly detest。 I had a whole hour alone with him in a boat；
the first day I came here； and I have made good use of my time； I
can tell you； from that day to this。 The only difficulty with him
is the difficulty of concealing my own feelings； especially when
he turns my dislike of him into downright hatred by sometimes
reminding me of his mother。 I really never saw a man whom I could
use so ill； if I had the opportunity。 He will give me the
opportunity； I believe； if no accident happens； sooner than we
calculated on。 I have just returned from a party at the great
house； in celebration of the rent…day dinner； and the squire's
attentions to me； and my modest reluctance to receive them； have
already excited general remark。
〃My pupil； Miss Milroy； comes ne xt。 She； too； is rosy and
foolish； and； what is more； awkward and squat and freckled； and
ill…tempered and ill…dressed。 No fear of _her；_ though she hates
me like poison； which is a great comfort； for I get rid of her
out of lesson time and walking time。 It is perfectly easy to see
that she has made the most of her op