登陆注册
4708300000095

第95章

He called at three several houses in this neighbourhood, with the same result as before. He entered the door of the fourth house whilst the clock of the nearest church was striking eight.

'Have a tall gentleman named Manston, and a young wife arrived here this evening?' he asked again, in words which had grown odd to his ears from very familiarity.

'A new-married couple, did you say?'

'They are, though I didn't say so.'

'They have taken a sitting-room and bedroom, number thirteen.'

'Are they indoors?'

'I don't know. Eliza!'

'Yes, m'm.'

'See if number thirteen is in--that gentleman and his wife.'

'Yes, m'm.'

'Has any telegram come for them?' said Edward, when the maid had gone on her errand.

'No--nothing that I know of.'

'Somebody did come and ask if a Mr. and Mrs. Masters, or some such name, were here this evening,' said another voice from the back of the bar-parlour.

'And did they get the message?'

'Of course they did not--they were not here--they didn't come till half-an-hour after that. The man who made inquiries left no message. I told them when they came that they, or a name something like theirs, had been asked for, but they didn't seem to understand why it should be, and so the matter dropped.'

The chambermaid came back. 'The gentleman is not in, but the lady is. Who shall I say?'

'Nobody,' said Edward. For it now became necessary to reflect upon his method of proceeding. His object in finding their whereabouts--apart from the wish to assist Owen--had been to see Manston, ask him flatly for an explanation, and confirm the request of the message in the presence of Cytherea--so as to prevent the possibility of the steward's palming off a story upon Cytherea, or eluding her brother when he came. But here were two important modifications of the expected condition of affairs. The telegram had not been received, and Cytherea was in the house alone.

He hesitated as to the propriety of intruding upon her in Manston's absence. Besides, the women at the bottom of the stairs would see him--his intrusion would seem odd--and Manston might return at any moment. He certainly might call, and wait for Manston with the accusation upon his tongue, as he had intended. But it was a doubtful course. That idea had been based upon the assumption that Cytherea was not married. If the first wife were really dead after all--and he felt sick at the thought--Cytherea as the steward's wife might in after-years--perhaps, at once--be subjected to indignity and cruelty on account of an old lover's interference now.

Yes, perhaps the announcement would come most properly and safely for her from her brother Owen, the time of whose arrival had almost expired.

But, on turning round, he saw that the staircase and passage were quite deserted. He and his errand had as completely died from the minds of the attendants as if they had never been. There was absolutely nothing between him and Cytherea's presence. Reason was powerless now; he must see her--right or wrong, fair or unfair to Manston--offensive to her brother or no. His lips must be the first to tell the alarming story to her. Who loved her as he! He went back lightly through the hall, up the stairs, two at a time, and followed the corridor till he came to the door numbered thirteen.

He knocked softly: nobody answered.

There was no time to lose if he would speak to Cytherea before Manston came. He turned the handle of the door and looked in. The lamp on the table burned low, and showed writing materials open beside it; the chief light came from the fire, the direct rays of which were obscured by a sweet familiar outline of head and shoulders--still as precious to him as ever.

7. A QUARTER-PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK P.M.

There is an attitude--approximatively called pensive--in which the soul of a human being, and especially of a woman, dominates outwardly and expresses its presence so strongly, that the intangible essence seems more apparent than the body itself. This was Cytherea's expression now. What old days and sunny eves at Budmouth Bay was she picturing? Her reverie had caused her not to notice his knock.

'Cytherea!' he said softly.

She let drop her hand, and turned her head, evidently thinking that her visitor could be no other than Manston, yet puzzled at the voice.

There was no preface on Springrove's tongue; he forgot his position--hers--that he had come to ask quietly if Manston had other proofs of being a widower--everything--and jumped to a conclusion.

'You are not his wife, Cytherea--come away, he has a wife living!' he cried in an agitated whisper. 'Owen will be here directly.'

She started up, recognized the tidings first, the bearer of them afterwards. 'Not his wife? O, what is it--what--who is living?'

She awoke by degrees. 'What must I do? Edward, it is you! Why did you come? Where is Owen?'

'What has Manston shown you in proof of the death of his other wife?

Tell me quick.'

'Nothing--we have never spoken of the subject. Where is my brother Owen? I want him, I want him!'

'He is coming by-and-by. Come to the station to meet him--do,' implored Springrove. 'If Mr. Manston comes, he will keep you from me: I am nobody,' he added bitterly, feeling the reproach her words had faintly shadowed forth.

'Mr. Manston is only gone out to post a letter he has just written,' she said, and without being distinctly cognizant of the action, she wildly looked for her bonnet and cloak, and began putting them on, but in the act of fastening them uttered a spasmodic cry.

'No, I'll not go out with you,' she said, flinging the articles down again. Running to the door she flitted along the passage, and downstairs.

'Give me a private room--quite private,' she said breathlessly to some one below.

'Number twelve is a single room, madam, and unoccupied,' said some tongue in astonishment.

Without waiting for any person to show her into it, Cytherea hurried upstairs again, brushed through the corridor, entered the room specified, and closed the door. Edward heard her sob out--'Nobody but Owen shall speak to me--nobody!'

同类推荐
  • 谷城山馆诗

    谷城山馆诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • CHITA A Memory of Last Island

    CHITA A Memory of Last Island

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 言行龟鉴

    言行龟鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Swiss Twins

    The Swiss Twins

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摄大乘论二译

    摄大乘论二译

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 恐龙王国大冒险(科学大探险)

    恐龙王国大冒险(科学大探险)

    布瓜博士带着乐乐淘和小猴驾驶着时空飞碟想要去高度文明的国度,结果误闯到了恐龙的世界,他们在那里会发生什么事情呢?让我们一起期待!
  • 森林报:夏

    森林报:夏

    这部名著是苏联著名科普作家维·比安基的代表作。著者以其擅长描写动植物生活的艺术才能,用轻快的笔调、采用报刊形式,按春、夏、秋、冬四季12个月,有层次、有类别地报道森林中的新闻,森林中愉快的节日和可悲的事件,森林中的英雄和强盗,将动植物的生活表现得栩栩如生,引人入胜。著者还告诉了孩子们应如何去观察大自然,如何去比较、思考和研究大自然的方法。
  • 大哥,你好吗

    大哥,你好吗

    我绝对没有意思加入流行音乐迷的行列,没心没肺或者虚情假意地哼唱那首被甘萍首唱、现在已经广为人知的俗而又俗的同名歌曲。我是在千里之外,满怀深情,向着我那同父异母的大哥,致以衷心的问候……我从来没有去过老家。我的出生地以及现在居住的都市,都与那个被称之为老家的地方相去甚远。我只知道我的老家在湖北一个名叫天镇的小地方,那里民风剽悍,水网纵横……老家对我的全部意义,就在于生我养我的父亲是从那里走来;老家对我的全部价值,似乎就是回答那些总也填不完的表格上“籍贯”两字下边的空白。现在,头一声令下,于是,我准备出差顺道去一趟老家。
  • 做有气质的优雅女人

    做有气质的优雅女人

    如果世间真的存在时光穿梭机,你愿意在十年、二十年、三十年,甚至更久后遇见一个怎样的自己?韶华易逝,容颜改变。瞧有优雅的气质是女人的魅力所在。优雅的气质不是靠光鲜亮丽的衣着打扮装饰出来的,也不是简单的依样效颦、一蹴而就的,气质来自于内心的修炼,来自于文化的浸淫。没有人能告诉你怎样才能更优雅,能告诉你的,通常都琐碎到令你厌烦,但是,《做有气质的优雅女人》……真的不一样,轻松愉快,引人入胜,最重要的是:所有你想到的没有想到的、不好意思去问的、偷偷查询也没弄明白的,在本书里都有贴心解答。
  • 萌宠医妃哪里逃

    萌宠医妃哪里逃

    她是21世纪中医世家传人,不知怎么竟穿越到备受宠爱的丞相府小姐身上。他是高冷又腹黑的战神王爷,遇上她后,就在暗处,掐灭她的朵朵桃花。女主既腹黑又呆萌,男主宠溺无下限。
  • 南城探案录

    南城探案录

    女主人公霁颜因为一场梦穿越到古代,开始了为期百日的异途之旅,在探寻她真身的过程中,她不但融入了这个家,而且认识了高奕、田子启等一群人。她随高奕破解了一桩又一桩的奇案,经历了许多生死大关,两人渐渐产生情愫,但与此同时,在他们背后,还有一双邪恶的眼睛虎视眈眈……他们的爱情该何去何从?真正的幕后黑手会是谁?霁颜最终的命运又是什么?而这一切和二十多年前威慑朝野的玖龙钗失踪又有何联系?
  • 禅宗经典智慧故事全集

    禅宗经典智慧故事全集

    聆听圣哲教诲,汲取人文涵养,感受生命关怀,获取智慧启迪,当你为人生的种种烦恼所困时,当你为生活种种不平怨恨时,请读一点儿禅的故事吧!凝聚着东方智慧的禅宗以其对个体生命和心灵的关注,对真实人生的追求,空前绝后的惊人妙语和大智慧,让人拍案叫绝,回味无穷。
  • 看不懂的温州资本

    看不懂的温州资本

    本书与时俱进,探讨了民间资本拓展的路径和其所面临的新变化新挑战。作者用全景展现的笔法,让人们看蓟温州模式与资本市场接轨后的潮涨潮落,揭。示了炒房团等资本事件背后的真相,描绘了掌握巨大资本的“煤老板”众生群像,展现了他们沉浮游走于政策边缘的惊心动魄以及弱势草根突破成长瓶颈过程的波澜壮阔。同时,指出基于当前宏观政策下的企业和个人的出路。并大胆预测了未来财富的流向大趋势,告诉读者如何学会在危机中寻找转机过去发生的每一件事情,都成为关于温州投资历史的碎片。碎片是零散的,将这些碎片捡起来,镶嵌在民营经济崛起的图景上。于是我们看到了一个资本狂欢的时代。
  • 心灵与境界

    心灵与境界

    本书包括:“心与心理学:中国文化心理学的意义”、“以心为本:中国文化心理学的境界”、“走近荣格与走进自己,感受中国文化心理学的意义”等9讲。
  • 女皇请你狠一点

    女皇请你狠一点

    宋清瞳,北秦历史上唯一一位女皇,荒淫无耻,死于男人的算计!双眸再睁,她已非她。唇边一抹狡黠的微笑,她是来自现代的超级腹黑女,谈笑间,将一切算计踩在脚下。曾经人人避之如蛇蝎,如今却引来桃花朵朵,他们是真心爱她,还是另有所图?当淫荡背后的真相一点点揭开,她该如何抉择?【片段1】“宫里什么时候请的道士?”宋清瞳见一位道士打扮的人坐在凉亭里。“皇上说的是青峰观的主持吧,三个月前您邀他进宫讲道。”玉儿回答。“他到现在还没走?”“皇上以全观道士的性命威胁,留他在宫里,赐封文贵君,还准他穿道服。”宋清瞳脚底一滑。“不止文贵君,法良人和澄良人也是皇上礼佛时顺道捎回来的。”玉儿唯恐天下不乱补充道,她看见文贵君对面坐的好像是澄良人,还是一次说干净为好。【片段2】“皇后有话不妨直说。”宋清瞳放下茶盏,扯了半天没见他说正题,她的时间很宝贵。“……这些天,皇上一直召华贵君侍寝?”上官潋月犹豫一下,板起面孔问。“皇后有异议?”宋清瞳好整以暇,原来他拐弯抹角就是问这个。“华贵君出身低微,不配令皇上诞下龙子。”宋清瞳扑哧一笑,嘲弄道:“皇后的意思是,你更有资格?”“皇上以为如何?”袍袖一展,将她圈进怀中。