English
Notawordmorewassaid,oneitherside,aswewalkedbacktothehouse.
MissHalcombehastenedimmediatelytohersister’sroom,andIwithdrewtomystudiotosetinorderallofMr.Fairlie’sdrawingsthatIhadnotyetmountedandrestoredbeforeIresignedthemtothecareofotherhands.
ThoughtsthatIhadhithertorestrained,thoughtsthatmademypositionharderthanevertoendure,crowdedonmenowthatIwasalone.
Shewasengagedtobemarried,andherfuturehusbandwasSirPercivalGlyde.AmanoftherankofBaronet,andtheownerofpropertyinHampshire.
TherewerehundredsofbaronetsinEngland,anddozensoflandownersinHampshire.
Judgingbytheordinaryrulesofevidence,Ihadnottheshadowofareason,thusfar,forconnectingSirPercivalGlydewiththesuspiciouswordsofinquirythathadbeenspokentomebythewomaninwhite.Andyet,Ididconnecthimwiththem.
WasitbecausehehadnowbecomeassociatedinmymindwithMissFairlie,MissFairliebeing,inherturn,associatedwithAnneCatherick,sincethenightwhenIhaddiscoveredtheominouslikenessbetweenthem?
HadtheeventsofthemorningsounnervedmealreadythatIwasatthemercyofanydelusionwhichcommonchancesandcommoncoincidencesmightsuggesttomyimagination?Impossibletosay.
IcouldonlyfeelthatwhathadpassedbetweenMissHalcombeandmyself,onourwayfromthesummer-house,hadaffectedmeverystrangely.
Theforebodingofsomeundiscoverabledangerlyinghidfromusallinthedarknessofthefuturewasstrongonme.
ThedoubtwhetherIwasnotlinkedalreadytoachainofeventswhichevenmyapproachingdeparturefromCumberlandwouldbepowerlesstosnapasunder—thedoubtwhetherweanyofussawtheendastheendwouldreallybe—gatheredmoreandmoredarklyovermymind.
Poignantasitwas,thesenseofsufferingcausedbythemiserableendofmybrief,presumptuousloveseemedtobebluntedanddeadenedbythestillstrongersenseofsomethingobscurelyimpending,somethinginvisiblythreatening,thatTimewasholdingoverourheads.
Ihadbeenengagedwiththedrawingslittlemorethanhalfanhour,whentherewasaknockatthedoor.Itopened,onmyanswering;and,tomysurprise,MissHalcombeenteredtheroom.
Hermannerwasangryandagitated.ShecaughtupachairforherselfbeforeIcouldgiveherone,andsatdowninit,closeatmyside.
“Mr.Hartright,”shesaid,“Ihadhopedthatallpainfulsubjectsofconversationwereexhaustedbetweenus,forto-dayatleast.Butitisnottobeso.
Thereissomeunderhandvillainyatworktofrightenmysisteraboutherapproachingmarriage.
Yousawmesendthegardenerontothehouse,withaletteraddressed,inastrangehandwriting,toMissFairlie?”
“Certainly.”
“Theletterisananonymousletter—avileattempttoinjureSirPercivalGlydeinmysister’sestimation.
IthassoagitatedandalarmedherthatIhavehadthegreatestpossibledifficultyincomposingherspiritssufficientlytoallowmetoleaveherroomandcomehere.
IknowthisisafamilymatteronwhichIoughtnottoconsultyou,andinwhichyoucanfeelnoconcernorinterest——”
“Ibegyourpardon,MissHalcombe.IfeelthestrongestpossibleconcernandinterestinanythingthataffectsMissFairlie’shappinessoryours.”
“Iamgladtohearyousayso.Youaretheonlypersoninthehouse,oroutofit,whocanadviseme.
Mr.Fairlie,inhisstateofhealthandwithhishorrorofdifficultiesandmysteriesofallkinds,isnottobethoughtof.
Theclergymanisagood,weakman,whoknowsnothingoutoftheroutineofhisduties;andourneighboursarejustthesortofcomfortable,jog-trotacquaintanceswhomonecannotdisturbintimesoftroubleanddanger.
WhatIwanttoknowisthis:oughtIatoncetotakesuchstepsasIcantodiscoverthewriteroftheletter?
oroughtItowait,andapplytoMr.Fairlie’slegaladviserto-morrow?
Itisaquestion—perhapsaveryimportantone—ofgainingorlosingaday.Tellmewhatyouthink,Mr.Hartright.
Ifnecessityhadnotalreadyobligedmetotakeyouintomyconfidenceunderverydelicatecircumstances,evenmyhelplesssituationwould,perhaps,benoexcuseforme.
ButasthingsareIcannotsurelybewrong,afterallthathaspassedbetweenus,inforgettingthatyouareafriendofonlythreemonths’standing.”
Shegavemetheletter.Itbeganabruptly,withoutanypreliminaryformofaddress,asfollows—
“Doyoubelieveindreams?Ihope,foryourownsake,thatyoudo.
SeewhatScripturesaysaboutdreamsandtheirfulfilment(Genesisxl.8,xli.25;Danieliv.
18-25),andtakethewarningIsendyoubeforeitistoolate.
“LastnightIdreamedaboutyou,MissFairlie.
IdreamedthatIwasstandinginsidethecommunionrailsofachurch—Iononesideofthealtar-table,andtheclergyman,withhissurpliceandhisprayer-book,ontheother.
“Afteratimetherewalkedtowardsus,downtheaisleofthechurch,amanandawoman,comingtobemarried.Youwerethewoman.
Youlookedsoprettyandinnocentinyourbeautifulwhitesilkdress,andyourlongwhitelaceveil,thatmyheartfeltforyou,andthetearscameintomyeyes.
“Theyweretearsofpity,younglady,thatheavenblessesandinsteadoffallingfrommyeyesliketheeverydaytearsthatweallofusshed,theyturnedintotworaysoflightwhichslantednearerandnearertothemanstandingatthealtarwithyou,tilltheytouchedhisbreast.
Thetworayssprangillarchesliketworainbowsbetweenmeandhim.
Ilookedalongthem,andIsawdownintohisinmostheart.
“Theoutsideofthemanyouweremarryingwasfairenoughtosee.
Hewasneithertallnorshort—hewasalittlebelowthemiddlesize.
Alight,active,high-spiritedman—aboutfive-and-fortyyearsold,tolookat.
Hehadapaleface,andwasbaldovertheforehead,buthaddarkhairontherestofhishead.
Hisbeardwasshavenonhischin,butwaslettogrow,ofafinerichbrown,onhischeeksandhisupperlip.
Hiseyeswerebrowntoo,andverybright;hisnosestraightandhandsomeanddelicateenoughtohavedoneforawoman’s.Hishandsthesame.
Hewastroubledfromtimetotimewithadryhackingcough,andwhenheputuphiswhiterighthandtohismouth,heshowedtheredscarofanoldwoundacrossthebackofit.HaveIdreamtoftherightman?
Youknowbest,MissFairlieandyoucansayifIwasdeceivedornot.
Readnext,whatIsawbeneaththeoutside—Ientreatyou,read,andprofit.
“Ilookedalongthetworaysoflight,andIsawdownintohisinmostheart.
Itwasblackasnight,andonitwerewritten,intheredflamingletterswhicharethehandwritingofthefallenangel,‘Withoutpityandwithoutremorse.
Hehasstrewnwithmiserythepathsofothers,andhewilllivetostrewwithmiserythepathofthiswomanbyhisside.’
Ireadthat,andthentheraysoflightshiftedandpointedoverhisshoulder;andthere,behindhim,stoodafiendlaughing.
Andtheraysoflightshiftedoncemore,andpointedoveryourshoulder;andtherebehindyou,stoodanangelweeping.
Andtheraysoflightshiftedforthethirdtime,andpointedstraightbetweenyouandthatman.
Theywidenedandwidened,thrustingyoubothasunder,onefromtheother.
Andtheclergymanlookedforthemarriage-serviceinvain:itwasgoneoutofthebook,andheshutuptheleaves,andputitfromhimindespair.
AndIwokewithmyeyesfulloftearsandmyheartbeating—forIbelieveindreams.
“Believetoo,MissFairlie—Ibegofyou,foryourownsake,believeasIdo.
JosephandDaniel,andothersinScripture,believedindreams.
Inquireintothepastlifeofthatmanwiththescaronhishand,beforeyousaythewordsthatmakeyouhismiserablewife.
Idon’tgiveyouthiswarningonmyaccount,butonyours.
Ihaveaninterestinyourwell-beingthatwillliveaslongasIdrawbreath.
Yourmother’sdaughterhasatenderplaceinmyheart—foryourmotherwasmyfirst,mybest,myonlyfriend.”
Theretheextraordinaryletterended,withoutsignatureofanysort.
Thehandwritingaffordednoprospectofaclue.
Itwastracedonruledlines,inthecramped,conventional,copy-bookcharactertechnicallytermed“smallhand.”
Itwasfeebleandfaint,anddefacedbyblots,buthadotherwisenothingtodistinguishit.
“Thatisnotanilliterateletter,”saidMissHalcombe,“andatthesametime,itissurelytooincoherenttobetheletterofaneducatedpersoninthehigherranksoflife.
Thereferencetothebridaldressandveil,andotherlittleexpressions,seemtopointtoitastheproductionofsomewoman.Whatdoyouthink,Mr.Hartright?”
“Ithinksotoo.Itseemstometobenotonlytheletterofawoman,butofawomanwhosemindmustbe——”
“Deranged?”suggestedMissHalcombe.“Itstruckmeinthatlighttoo.”
Ididnotanswer.WhileIwasspeaking,myeyesrestedonthelastsentenceoftheletter:“Yourmother’sdaughterhasatenderplaceinmyheart—foryourmotherwasmyfirst,mybest,myonlyfriend.”
Thosewordsandthedoubtwhichhadjustescapedmeastothesanityofthewriteroftheletter,actingtogetheronmymind,suggestedanidea,whichIwasliterallyafraidtoexpressopenly,oreventoencouragesecretly.
Ibegantodoubtwhethermyownfacultieswerenotindangeroflosingtheirbalance.
Itseemedalmostlikeamonomaniatobetracingbackeverythingstrangethathappened,everythingunexpectedthatwassaid,alwaystothesamehiddensourceandthesamesinisterinfluence.
Iresolved,thistime,indefenceofmyowncourageandmyownsense,tocometonodecisionthatplainfactdidnotwarrant,andtoturnmybackresolutelyoneverythingthattemptedmeintheshapeofsurmise.
“Ifwehaveanychanceoftracingthepersonwhohaswrittenthis,”Isaid,returningthelettertoMissHalcombe,“therecanbenoharminseizingouropportunitythemomentitoffers.
Ithinkweoughttospeaktothegardeneragainabouttheelderlywomanwhogavehimtheletter,andthentocontinueourinquiriesinthevillage.Butfirstletmeaskaquestion.
YoumentionedjustnowthealternativeofconsultingMr.Fairlie’slegaladviserto-morrow.
Istherenopossibilityofcommunicatingwithhimearlier?Whynotto-day?”
“Icanonlyexplain,”repliedMissHalcombe,“byenteringintocertainparticulars,connectedwithmysister’smarriage-engagement,whichIdidnotthinkitnecessaryordesirabletomentiontoyouthismorning.
OneofSirPercivalGlyde’sobjectsincominghereonMonday,istofixtheperiodofhismarriage,whichhashithertobeenleftquiteunsettled.
Heisanxiousthattheeventshouldtakeplacebeforetheendoftheyear.”
“DoesMissFairlieknowofthatwish?”Iaskedeagerly.
“Shehasnosuspicionofit,andafterwhathashappened,Ishallnottaketheresponsibilityuponmyselfofenlighteningher.
SirPercivalhasonlymentionedhisviewstoMr.Fairlie,whohastoldmehimselfthatheisreadyandanxious,asLaura’sguardian,toforwardthem.
HehaswrittentoLondon,tothefamilysolicitor,Mr.Gilmore.
Mr.GilmorehappenstobeawayinGlasgowonbusiness,andhehasrepliedbyproposingtostopatLimmeridgeHouseonhiswaybacktotown.
Hewillarriveto-morrow,andwillstaywithusafewdays,soastoallowSirPercivaltimetopleadhisowncause.
Ifhesucceeds,Mr.GilmorewillthenreturntoLondon,takingwithhimhisinstructionsformysister’smarriage-settlement.
Youunderstandnow,Mr.Hartright,whyIspeakofwaitingtotakelegaladviceuntilto-morrow?
Mr.GilmoreistheoldandtriedfriendoftwogenerationsofFairlies,andwecantrusthim,aswecouldtrustnooneelse.”
Themarriage-settlement!Themerehearingofthosetwowordsstungmewithajealousdespairthatwaspoisontomyhigherandbetterinstincts.
Ibegantothink—itishardtoconfessthis,butImustsuppressnothingfrombeginningtoendoftheterriblestorythatInowstandcommittedtoreveal—Ibegantothink,withahatefuleagernessofhope,ofthevaguechargesagainstSirPercivalGlydewhichtheanonymouslettercontained.
Whatifthosewildaccusationsrestedonafoundationoftruth?
Whatiftheirtruthcouldbeprovedbeforethefatalwordsofconsentwerespoken,andthemarriage-settlementwasdrawn?
Ihavetriedtothinksince,thatthefeelingwhichthenanimatedmebeganandendedinpuredevotiontoMissFairlie’sinterests,butIhaveneversucceededindeceivingmyselfintobelievingit,andImustnotnowattempttodeceiveothers.
Thefeelingbeganandendedinreckless,vindictive,hopelesshatredofthemanwhowastomarryher.
“Ifwearetofindoutanything,”Isaid,speakingunderthenewinfluencewhichwasnowdirectingme,“wehadbetternotletanotherminuteslipbyusunemployed.
Icanonlysuggest,oncemore,theproprietyofquestioningthegardenerasecondtime,andofinquiringinthevillageimmediatelyafterwards.”
“IthinkImaybeofhelptoyouinbothcases,”saidMissHalcombe,rising.“Letusgo,Mr.Hartright,atonce,anddothebestwecantogether.”
Ihadthedoorinmyhandtoopenitforher—butIstopped,onasudden,toaskanimportantquestionbeforewesetforth.
“Oneoftheparagraphsoftheanonymousletter,”Isaid,“containssomesentencesofminutepersonaldescription.
SirPercivalGlyde’snameisnotmentioned,Iknow—butdoesthatdescriptionatallresemblehim?”
“Accurately—eveninstatinghisagetobeforty-five——”
Forty-five;andshewasnotyettwenty-one!
Menofhisagemarriedwivesofherageeveryday—andexperiencehadshownthosemarriagestobeoftenthehappiestones.
Iknewthat—andyeteventhementionofhisage,whenIcontrasteditwithhers,addedtomyblindhatredanddistrustofhim.
“Accurately,”MissHalcombecontinued,“eventothescaronhisrighthand,whichisthescarofawoundthathereceivedyearssincewhenhewastravellinginItaly.
Therecanbenodoubtthateverypeculiarityofhispersonalappearanceisthoroughlywellknowntothewriteroftheletter.”
“Evenacoughthatheistroubledwithismentioned,ifIrememberright?”
“Yes,andmentionedcorrectly.Hetreatsitlightlyhimself,thoughitsometimesmakeshisfriendsanxiousabouthim.”
“Isupposenowhispershaveeverbeenheardagainsthischaracter?”
“Mr.Hartright!Ihopeyouarenotunjustenoughtoletthatinfamousletterinfluenceyou?”
Ifeltthebloodrushintomycheeks,forIknewthatitHADinfluencedme.
“Ihopenot,”Iansweredconfusedly.“PerhapsIhadnorighttoaskthequestion.”
“Iamnotsorryyouaskedit,”shesaid,“foritenablesmetodojusticetoSirPercival’sreputation.
Notawhisper,Mr.Hartright,haseverreachedme,ormyfamily,againsthim.
Hehasfoughtsuccessfullytwocontestedelections,andhascomeoutoftheordealunscathed.
Amanwhocandothat,inEngland,isamanwhosecharacterisestablished.”
Iopenedthedoorforherinsilence,andfollowedherout.Shehadnotconvincedme.
Iftherecordingangelhadcomedownfromheaventoconfirmher,andhadopenedhisbooktomymortaleyes,therecordingangelwouldnothaveconvincedme.
Wefoundthegardeneratworkasusual.Noamountofquestioningcouldextractasingleanswerofanyimportancefromthelad’simpenetrablestupidity.
Thewomanwhohadgivenhimtheletterwasanelderlywoman;shehadnotspokenawordtohim,andshehadgoneawaytowardsthesouthinagreathurry.
Thatwasallthegardenercouldtellus.
Thevillagelaysouthwardofthehouse.Sotothevillagewewentnext.
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