the hand of ethelberta-第96章
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！
coachman was apparently imagining the dove about to flit away to be
one of the pretty maid…servants that abounded in Enckworth Court；
such escapades as these were not unfrequent among them； a fair face
having been deemed a sufficient recommendation to service in that
house； without too close an inquiry into character； since the death
of the first viscountess。
'Now then； silence； and listen for a footstep at the gate。'
Such calmness as there was in the musician's voice had been produced
by considerable effort。 For his heart had begun to beat fast and
loud as he strained his attentive ear to catch the footfall of a
woman who could only be his illegally。
The obscurity was as great as a starry sky would permit it to be。
Beneath the trees where the carriage stood the darkness was total。
47。 ENCKWORTH AND ITS PRECINCTS … MELCHESTER
To be wise after the event is often to act foolishly with regard to
it； and to preserve the illusion which has led to the event would
frequently be a course that omniscience itself could not find fault
with。 Reaction with Ethelberta was complete； and the more violent
in that it threatened to be useless。 Sol's bitter chiding had been
the first thing to discompose her fortitude。 It reduced her to a
consciousness that she had allowed herself to be coerced in her
instincts； and yet had not triumphed in her duty。 She might have
pleased her family better by pleasing her tastes； and have entirely
avoided the grim irony of the situation disclosed later in the day。
After the second interview with Sol she was to some extent composed
in mind by being able to nurse a definite intention。 As momentum
causes the narrowest wheel to stand upright； a scheme； fairly
imbibed； will give the weakest some power to maintain a position
stoically。
In the temporary absence of Lord Mountclere； about six o'clock； she
slipped out upon the balcony and handed down a note。 To her relief；
a hand received it instantly。
The hour and a half wanting to half…past seven she passed with great
effort。 The main part of the time was occupied by dinner； during
which she attempted to devise some scheme for leaving him without
suspicion just before the appointed moment。
Happily； and as if by a Providence； there was no necessity for any
such thing。
A little while before the half…hour； when she moved to rise from
dinner； he also arose； tenderly begging her to excuse him for a few
minutes； that he might go and write an important note to his lawyer；
until that moment forgotten； though the postman was nearly due。 She
heard him retire along the corridor and shut himself into his study；
his promised time of return being a quarter of an hour thence。
Five minutes after that memorable parting Ethelberta came from the
little door by the bush of yew； well and thickly wrapped up from
head to heels。 She skimmed across the park and under the boughs
like a shade； mounting then the stone steps for pedestrians which
were fixed beside the park gates here as at all the lodges。 Outside
and below her she saw an oblong shapeit was a brougham； and it had
been drawn forward close to the bottom of the steps that she might
not have an inch further to go on foot than to this barrier。 The
whole precinct was thronged with trees； half their foliage being
overhead； the other half under foot； for the gardeners had not yet
begun to rake and collect the leaves； thus it was that her dress
rustled as she descended the steps。
The carriage door was held open by the driver； and she entered
instantly。 He shut her in； and mounted to his seat。 As they drove
away she became conscious of another person inside。
'O！ Solit is done！' she whispered； believing the man to be her
brother。 Her companion made no reply。
Ethelberta； familiar with Sol's moods of troubled silence； did not
press for an answer。 It was； indeed； certain that Sol's assistance
would have been given under a sullen protest； even if unwilling to
disappoint her； he might well have been taciturn and angry at her
course。
They sat in silence； and in total darkness。 The road ascended an
incline； the horse's tramp being still deadened by the carpet of
leaves。 Then the large trees on either hand became interspersed by
a low brushwood of varied sorts； from which a large bird
occasionally flew； in its fright at their presence beating its wings
recklessly against the hard stems with force enough to cripple the
delicate quills。 It showed how deserted was the spot after
nightfall。
'Sol？' said Ethelberta again。 'Why not talk to me？'
She now noticed that her fellow…traveller kept his head and his
whole person as snugly back in the corner； out of her way； as it was
possible to do。 She was not exactly frightened； but she could not
understand the reason。 The carriage gave a quick turn； and stopped。
'Where are we now？' she said。 'Shall we get to Anglebury by nine？
What is the time； Sol？'
'I will see；' replied her companion。 They were the first words he
had uttered。
The voice was so different from her brother's that she was
terrified； her limbs quivered。 In another instant the speaker had
struck a wax vesta； and holding it erect in his fingers he looked
her in the face。
'Hee…hee…hee！' The laugher was her husband the viscount。
He laughed again； and his eyes gleamed like a couple of tarnished
brass buttons in the light of the wax match。
Ethelberta might have fallen dead with the shock； so terrible and
hideous was it。 Yet she did not。 She neither shrieked nor fainted；
but no poor January fieldfare was ever colder； no ice…house more
dank with perspiration； than she was then。
'A very pleasant joke； my dearhee…hee！ And no more than was to be
expected on this merry； happy day of our lives。 Nobody enjoys a
good jest more than I do： I always enjoyed a jesthee…hee！ Now we
are in the dark again； and we will alight and walk。 The path is too
narrow for the carriage； but it will not be far for you。 Take your
husband's arm。'
While he had been speaking a defiant pride had sprung up in her；
instigating her to conceal every weakness。 He had opened the
carriage door and stepped out。 She followed； taking the offered
arm。
'Take the horse and carriage to the stables；' said the viscount to
the coachman； who was his own servant； the vehicle and horse being
also his。 The coachman turned the horse's head and vanished down
the woodland track by which they had ascended。
The viscount moved on； uttering private chuckles as numerous as a
woodpecker's taps； and Ethelberta with him。 She walked as by a
miracle； but she would walk。 She would have died rather than not
have walked then。
She perceived now that they were somewhere in Enckworth wood。 As
they went； she noticed a faint shine upon the ground on the other
side of the viscount； which showed her that they were walking beside
a wet ditch。 She remembered having seen it in the morning： it was
a shallow ditch of mud。 She might push him in； and run； and so
escape before he could extricate himself。 It would not hurt him。
It was her last chance。 She waited a moment for the opportunity。
'We are one to one； and I am the stronger！' she at last exclaimed
triumphantly； and lifted her hand for a thrust。
'On the contrary； darling； we are one to half…a…dozen； and you
considerably the weaker；' he tenderly replied； stepping back
adroitly； and blowing a whistle。 At once the bushes seemed to be
animated in four or five places。
'John？' he said； in the direction of one of them。
'Yes； my lord；' replied a voice from the bush； and a keeper came
forward。
'William？'
Another man advanced from another bush。
'Quite right。 Remain where you are for the present。 Is Tomkins
there？'
'Yes； my lord；' said a man from another part of the thicket。
'You go and keep watch by the further lodge： there are poachers
about。 Where is Strongway？'
'Just below； my lord。'
'Tell him and his brother to go to the west gate； and walk up and
down。 Let them search round it； among the trees inside。 Anybody
there who cannot give a good account of himself to be brought before
me to…morrow morning。 I am living at the cottage at pr
