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！
Anne came home from church that morning； and told me of the
suspicious way in which a young man had looked at her there。
Nothing could be done beyond waiting the issue of events。 Then the
letter came from Raunham。 For the first time in my life I was half
indifferent as to what fate awaited me。 During the succeeding day I
thought once or twice of running away； but could not quite make up
my mind。 At any rate it would be best to bury the body of my wife；
I thought； for the oven might be opened at any time。 I went to
Casterbridge and made some arrangements。 In the evening Miss
Aldclyffe （who is united to me by a common secret which I have no
right or wish to disclose） came to my house； and alarmed me still
more。 She said that she could tell by Mr。 Raunham's manner that
evening； that he kept back from her a suspicion of more importance
even than the one he spoke of； and that strangers were in his house
even then。
'I guessed what this further suspicion was； and resolved to
enlighten her to a certain extent； and so secure her assistance。 I
said that I killed my wife by an accident on the night of the fire；
dwelling upon the advantage to her of the death of the only woman
who knew her secret。
'Her terror； and fears for my fate； led her to watch the rectory
that evening。 She saw the detective leave it； and followed him to
my residence。 This she told me hurriedly when I perceived her after
digging my wife's grave in the plantation。 She did not suspect what
the sack contained。
'I am now about to enter on my normal condition。 For people are
almost always in their graves。 When we survey the long race of men；
it is strange and still more strange to find that they are mainly
dead men； who have scarcely ever been otherwise。
'AENEAS MANSTON。'
The steward's confession； aided by circumstantial evidence of
various kinds； was the means of freeing both Anne Seaway and Miss
Aldclyffe from all suspicion of complicity with the murderer。
2。 SIX O'CLOCK P。M。
It was eveningjust at sunseton the day of Manston's death。
In the cottage at Tolchurch was gathered a group consisting of
Cytherea； her brother； Edward Springrove； and his father。 They sat
by the window conversing of the strange events which had just taken
place。 In Cytherea's eye there beamed a hopeful ray； though her
face was as white as a lily。
Whilst they talked； looking out at the yellow evening light that
coated the hedges； trees； and church tower； a brougham rolled round
the corner of the lane； and came in full view。 It reflected the
rays of the sun in a flash from its polished panels as it turned the
angle； the spokes of the wheels bristling in the same light like
bayonets。 The vehicle came nearer； and arrived opposite Owen's
door； when the driver pulled the rein and gave a shout； and the
panting and sweating horses stopped。
'Miss Aldclyffe's carriage！' they all exclaimed。
Owen went out。 'Is Miss Graye at home？' said the man。 'A note for
her； and I am to wait for an answer。'
Cytherea read in the handwriting of the Rector of Carriford：
'DEAR MISS GRAYE；Miss Aldclyffe is ill； though not dangerously。
She continually repeats your name； and now wishes very much to see
you。 If you possibly can； come in the carriage。Very sincerely
yours； JOHN RAUNHAM。'
'How comes she ill？' Owen inquired of the coachman。
'She caught a violent cold by standing out of doors in the damp； on
the night the steward ran away。 Ever since； till this morning； she
complained of fulness and heat in the chest。 This morning the maid
ran in and told her suddenly that Manston had killed himself in
gaolshe shriekedbroke a blood…vesseland fell upon the floor。
Severe internal haemorrhage continued for some time and then
stopped。 They say she is sure to get over it； but she herself says
no。 She has suffered from it before。'
Cytherea was ready in a few moments； and entered the carriage。
3。 SEVEN O'CLOCK P。M。
Soft as was Cytherea's motion along the corridors of Knapwater
House； the preternaturally keen intelligence of the suffering woman
caught the maiden's well…known footfall。 She entered the sick…
chamber with suspended breath。
In the room everything was so still； and sensation was as it were so
rarefied by solicitude； that thinking seemed acting； and the lady's
weak act of trying to live a silent wrestling with all the powers of
the universe。 Nobody was present but Mr。 Raunham； the nurse having
left the room on Cytherea's entry； and the physician and surgeon
being engaged in a whispered conversation in a side…chamber。 Their
patient had been pronounced out of danger。
Cytherea went to the bedside； and was instantly recognized。 O； what
a changeMiss Aldclyffe dependent upon pillows！ And yet not a
forbidding change。 With weakness had come softness of aspect： the
haughtiness was extracted from the frail thin countenance； and a
sweeter mild placidity had taken its place。
Miss Aldclyffe signified to Mr。 Raunham that she would like to be
alone with Cytherea。
'Cytherea？' she faintly whispered the instant the door was closed。
Cytherea clasped the lady's weak hand； and sank beside her。
Miss Aldclyffe whispered again。 'They say I am certain to live； but
I know that I am certainly going to die。'
'They know； I think； and hope。'
'I know best； but we'll leave that。 CythereaO Cytherea； can you
forgive me！'
Her companion pressed her hand。
'But you don't know yetyou don't know yet；' the invalid murmured。
'It is forgiveness for that misrepresentation to Edward Springrove
that I implore； and for putting such force upon himthat which
caused all the train of your innumerable ills！'
'I know allall。 And I do forgive you。 Not in a hasty impulse
that is revoked when coolness comes； but deliberately and sincerely：
as I myself hope to be forgiven； I accord you my forgiveness now。'
Tears streamed from Miss Aldclyffe's eyes； and mingled with those of
her young companion； who could not restrain hers for sympathy。
Expressions of strong attachment； interrupted by emotion； burst
again and again from the broken…spirited woman。
'But you don't know my motive。 O； if you only knew it； how you
would pity me then！'
Cytherea did not break the pause which ensued； and the elder woman
appeared now to nerve herself by a superhuman effort。 She spoke on
in a voice weak as a summer breeze； and full of intermission； and
yet there pervaded it a steadiness of intention that seemed to
demand firm tones to bear it out worthily。
'Cytherea；' she said； 'listen to me before I die。
'A long time agomore than thirty years agoa young girl of
seventeen was cruelly betrayed by her cousin； a wild officer of six…
and…twenty。 He went to India； and died。
'One night when that miserable girl had just arrived home with her
parents from Germany； where her baby had been born； she took all the
money she possessed； pinned it on her infant's bosom； together with
a letter； stating； among other things； what she wished the child's
Christian name to be； wrapped up the little thing； and walked with
it to Clapham。 Here； in a retired street； she select