English
HalfanhourlaterIwasbackatthehouse,andwasinformingMissHalcombeofallthathadhappened.
Shelistenedtomefrombeginningtoendwithasteady,silentattention,which,inawomanofhertemperamentanddisposition,wasthestrongestproofthatcouldbeofferedoftheseriousmannerinwhichmynarrativeaffectedher.
“Mymindmisgivesme,”wasallshesaidwhenIhaddone.“Mymindmisgivesmesadlyaboutthefuture.”
“Thefuturemaydepend,”Isuggested,“ontheusewemakeofthepresent.
ItisnotimprobablethatAnneCatherickmayspeakmorereadilyandunreservedlytoawomanthanshehasspokentome.IfMissFairlie——”
“Nottobethoughtofforamoment,”interposedMissHalcombe,inhermostdecidedmanner.
“Letmesuggest,then,”Icontinued,“thatyoushouldseeAnneCatherickyourself,anddoallyoucantowinherconfidence.
Formyownpart,Ishrinkfromtheideaofalarmingthepoorcreatureasecondtime,asIhavemostunhappilyalarmedheralready.
Doyouseeanyobjectiontoaccompanyingmetothefarmhouseto-morrow?”
“Nonewhatever.IwillgoanywhereanddoanythingtoserveLaura’sinterests.Whatdidyousaytheplacewascalled?”
“Youmustknowitwell.ItiscalledTodd’sCorner.”
“Certainly.Todd’sCornerisoneofMr.Fairlie’sfarms.
Ourdairymaidhereisthefarmer’sseconddaughter.
Shegoesbackwardsandforwardsconstantlybetweenthishouseandherfather’sfarm,andshemayhaveheardorseensomethingwhichitmaybeusefultoustoknow.
ShallIascertain,atonce,ifthegirlisdownstairs?”
Sherangthebell,andsenttheservantwithhismessage.
Hereturned,andannouncedthatthedairymaidwasthenatthefarm.
Shehadnotbeenthereforthelastthreedays,andthehousekeeperhadgivenherleavetogohomeforanhourortwothatevening.
“Icanspeaktoherto-morrow,”saidMissHalcombe,whentheservanthadlefttheroomagain.
“Inthemeantime,letmethoroughlyunderstandtheobjecttobegainedbymyinterviewwithAnneCatherick.
IstherenodoubtinyourmindthatthepersonwhoconfinedherintheAsylumwasSirPercivalGlyde?”
“Thereisnottheshadowofadoubt.TheonlymysterythatremainsisthemysteryofhisMOTIVE.
Lookingtothegreatdifferencebetweenhisstationinlifeandhers,whichseemstoprecludeallideaofthemostdistantrelationshipbetweenthem,itisofthelastimportance—evenassumingthatshereallyrequiredtobeplacedunderrestraint—toknowwhyHEshouldhavebeenthepersontoassumetheseriousresponsibilityofshuttingherup——”
“InaprivateAsylum,Ithinkyousaid?”
“Yes,inaprivateAsylum,whereasumofmoney,whichnopoorpersoncouldaffordtogive,musthavebeenpaidforhermaintenanceasapatient.”
“Iseewherethedoubtlies,Mr.Hartright,andIpromiseyouthatitshallbesetatrest,whetherAnneCatherickassistsusto-morrowornot.
SirPercivalGlydeshallnotbelonginthishousewithoutsatisfyingMr.Gilmore,andsatisfyingme.
Mysister’sfutureismydearestcareinlife,andIhaveinfluenceenoughoverhertogivemesomepower,wherehermarriageisconcerned,inthedisposalofit.”
Wepartedforthenight.
Afterbreakfastthenextmorning,anobstacle,whichtheeventsoftheeveningbeforehadputoutofmymemory,interposedtopreventourproceedingimmediatelytothefarm.
ThiswasmylastdayatLimmeridgeHouse,anditwasnecessary,assoonasthepostcamein,tofollowMissHalcombe’sadvice,andtoaskMr.Fairlie’spermissiontoshortenmyengagementbyamonth,inconsiderationofanunforeseennecessityformyreturntoLondon.
Fortunatelyfortheprobabilityofthisexcuse,sofarasappearanceswereconcerned,thepostbroughtmetwolettersfromLondonfriendsthatmorning.
Itookthemawayatoncetomyownroom,andsenttheservantwithamessagetoMr.Fairlie,requestingtoknowwhenIcouldseehimonamatterofbusiness.
Iawaitedtheman’sreturn,freefromtheslightestfeelingofanxietyaboutthemannerinwhichhismastermightreceivemyapplication.
WithMr.Fairlie’sleaveorwithoutit,Imustgo.
TheconsciousnessofhavingnowtakenthefirststeponthedrearyjourneywhichwashenceforthtoseparatemylifefromMissFairlie’sseemedtohavebluntedmysensibilitytoeveryconsiderationconnectedwithmyself.
Ihaddonewithmypoorman’stouchypride—Ihaddonewithallmylittleartistvanities.
NoinsolenceofMr.Fairlie’s,ifhechosetobeinsolent,couldwoundmenow.
TheservantreturnedwithamessageforwhichIwasnotunprepared.
Mr.Fairlieregrettedthatthestateofhishealth,onthatparticularmorning,wassuchastoprecludeallhopeofhishavingthepleasureofreceivingme.
Hebegged,therefore,thatIwouldaccepthisapologies,andkindlycommunicatewhatIhadtosayintheformofaletter.
Similarmessagestothishadreachedme,atvariousintervals,duringmythreemonths’residenceinthehouse.
ThroughoutthewholeofthatperiodMr.Fairliehadbeenrejoicedto“possess”me,buthadneverbeenwellenoughtoseemeforasecondtime.
TheservanttookeveryfreshbatchofdrawingsthatImountedandrestoredbacktohismasterwithmy“respects,”andreturnedempty-handedwithMr.Fairlie’s“kindcompliments,”“bestthanks,”and“sincereregrets”thatthestateofhishealthstillobligedhimtoremainasolitaryprisonerinhisownroom.
Amoresatisfactoryarrangementtobothsidescouldnotpossiblyhavebeenadopted.
Itwouldbehardtosaywhichofus,underthecircumstances,feltthemostgratefulsenseofobligationtoMr.Fairlie’saccommodatingnerves.
Isatdownatoncetowritetheletter,expressingmyselfinitascivilly,asclearly,andasbrieflyaspossible.Mr.Fairliedidnothurryhisreply.
Nearlyanhourelapsedbeforetheanswerwasplacedinmyhands.
Itwaswrittenwithbeautifulregularityandneatnessofcharacter,inviolet-colouredink,onnote-paperassmoothasivoryandalmostasthickascardboard,anditaddressedmeintheseterms—
“Mr.Fairlie’scomplimentstoMr.Hartright.
Mr.Fairlieismoresurprisedanddisappointedthanhecansay(inthepresentstateofhishealth)byMr.Hartright’sapplication.
Mr.Fairlieisnotamanofbusiness,buthehasconsultedhissteward,whois,andthatpersonconfirmsMr.Fairlie’sopinionthatMr.Hartright’srequesttobeallowedtobreakhisengagementcannotbejustifiedbyanynecessitywhatever,exceptingperhapsacaseoflifeanddeath.
Ifthehighly-appreciativefeelingtowardsArtanditsprofessors,whichitistheconsolationandhappinessofMr.Fairlie’ssufferingexistencetocultivate,couldbeeasilyshaken,Mr.Hartright’spresentproceedingwouldhaveshakenit.
Ithasnotdoneso—exceptintheinstanceofMr.Hartrighthimself.
“Havingstatedhisopinion—sofar,thatistosay,asacutenervoussufferingwillallowhimtostateanything—Mr.Fairliehasnothingtoaddbuttheexpressionofhisdecision,inreferencetothehighlyirregularapplicationthathasbeenmadetohim.
Perfectreposeofbodyandmindbeingtothelastdegreeimportantinhiscase,Mr.FairliewillnotsufferMr.Hartrighttodisturbthatreposebyremaininginthehouseundercircumstancesofanessentiallyirritatingnaturetobothsides.
Accordingly,Mr.Fairliewaiveshisrightofrefusal,purelywithaviewtothepreservationofhisowntranquillity—andinformsMr.Hartrightthathemaygo.”
Ifoldedtheletterup,andputitawaywithmyotherpapers.
ThetimehadbeenwhenIshouldhaveresenteditasaninsult—Iaccepteditnowasawrittenreleasefrommyengagement.
Itwasoffmymind,itwasalmostoutofmymemory,whenIwentdownstairstothebreakfast-room,andinformedMissHalcombethatIwasreadytowalkwithhertothefarm.
“HasMr.Fairliegivenyouasatisfactoryanswer?”sheaskedasweleftthehouse.
“Hehasallowedmetogo,MissHalcombe.”
Shelookedupatmequickly,andthen,forthefirsttimesinceIhadknownher,tookmyarmofherownaccord.
Nowordscouldhaveexpressedsodelicatelythatsheunderstoodhowthepermissiontoleavemyemploymenthadbeengranted,andthatshegavemehersympathy,notasmysuperior,butasmyfriend.
Ihadnotfelttheman’sinsolentletter,butIfeltdeeplythewoman’satoningkindness.
OnourwaytothefarmwearrangedthatMissHalcombewastoenterthehousealone,andthatIwastowaitoutside,withincall.
Weadoptedthismodeofproceedingfromanapprehensionthatmypresence,afterwhathadhappenedinthechurchyardtheeveningbefore,mighthavetheeffectofrenewingAnneCatherick’snervousdread,andofrenderingheradditionallydistrustfuloftheadvancesofaladywhowasastrangertoher.
MissHalcombeleftme,withtheintentionofspeaking,inthefirstinstance,tothefarmer’swife(ofwhosefriendlyreadinesstohelpherinanywayshewaswellassured),whileIwaitedforherinthenearneighbourhoodofthehouse.
Ihadfullyexpectedtobeleftaloneforsometime.Tomysurprise,however,littlemorethanfiveminuteshadelapsedbeforeMissHalcombereturned.
“DoesAnneCatherickrefusetoseeyou?”Iaskedinastonishment.
“AnneCatherickisgone,”repliedMissHalcombe.
“Gone?”
“GonewithMrs.Clements.Theybothleftthefarmateighto’clockthismorning.”
Icouldsaynothing—Icouldonlyfeelthatourlastchanceofdiscoveryhadgonewiththem.
“AllthatMrs.Toddknowsaboutherguests,Iknow,”MissHalcombewenton,“anditleavesme,asitleavesher,inthedark.
Theybothcamebacksafelastnight,aftertheyleftyou,andtheypassedthefirstpartoftheeveningwithMr.Todd’sfamilyasusual.
Justbeforesupper-time,however,AnneCatherickstartledthemallbybeingsuddenlyseizedwithfaintness.
Shehadhadasimilarattack,ofalessalarmingkind,onthedayshearrivedatthefarm;andMrs.Toddhadconnectedit,onthatoccasion,withsomethingshewasreadingatthetimeinourlocalnewspaper,whichlayonthefarmtable,andwhichshehadtakenuponlyaminuteortwobefore.”
“DoesMrs.Toddknowwhatparticularpassageinthenewspaperaffectedherinthatway?”Iinquired.
“No,”repliedMissHalcombe.“Shehadlookeditover,andhadseennothinginittoagitateanyone.
Iaskedleave,however,tolookitoverinmyturn,andattheveryfirstpageIopenedIfoundthattheeditorhadenrichedhissmallstockofnewsbydrawinguponourfamilyaffairs,andhadpublishedmysister’smarriageengagement,amonghisotherannouncements,copiedfromtheLondonpapers,ofMarriagesinHighLife.
IconcludedatoncethatthiswastheparagraphwhichhadsostrangelyaffectedAnneCatherick,andIthoughtIsawinit,also,theoriginoftheletterwhichshesenttoourhousethenextday.”
“Therecanbenodoubtineithercase.Butwhatdidyouhearabouthersecondattackoffaintnessyesterdayevening?”
“Nothing.Thecauseofitisacompletemystery.Therewasnostrangerintheroom.
Theonlyvisitorwasourdairymaid,who,asItoldyou,isoneofMr.Todd’sdaughters,andtheonlyconversationwastheusualgossipaboutlocalaffairs.
Theyheardhercryout,andsawherturndeadlypale,withouttheslightestapparentreason.
Mrs.ToddandMrs.Clementstookherupstairs,andMrs.Clementsremainedwithher.
Theywereheardtalkingtogetheruntillongaftertheusualbedtime,andearlythismorningMrs.ClementstookMrs.Toddaside,andamazedherbeyondallpowerofexpressionbysayingthattheymustgo.
TheonlyexplanationMrs.Toddcouldextractfromherguestwas,thatsomethinghadhappened,whichwasnotthefaultofanyoneatthefarmhouse,butwhichwasseriousenoughtomakeAnneCatherickresolvetoleaveLimmeridgeimmediately.
ItwasquiteuselesstopressMrs.Clementstobemoreexplicit.
Sheonlyshookherhead,andsaidthat,forAnne’ssake,shemustbegandpraythatnoonewouldquestionher.
Allshecouldrepeat,witheveryappearanceofbeingseriouslyagitatedherself,wasthatAnnemustgo,thatshemustgowithher,andthatthedestinationtowhichtheymightbothbetakethemselvesmustbekeptasecretfromeverybody.
IspareyoutherecitalofMrs.Todd’shospitableremonstrancesandrefusals.
Itendedinherdrivingthembothtotheneareststation,morethanthreehourssince.
Shetriedhardonthewaytogetthemtospeakmoreplainly,butwithoutsuccess;andshesetthemdownoutsidethestation-door,sohurtandoffendedbytheunceremoniousabruptnessoftheirdepartureandtheirunfriendlyreluctancetoplacetheleastconfidenceinher,thatshedroveawayinanger,withoutsomuchasstoppingtobidthemgood-bye.Thatisexactlywhathastakenplace.
Searchyourownmemory,Mr.Hartright,andtellmeifanythinghappenedintheburial-groundyesterdayeveningwhichcanatallaccountfortheextraordinarydepartureofthosetwowomenthismorning.”
“Ishouldliketoaccountfirst,MissHalcombe,forthesuddenchangeinAnneCatherickwhichalarmedthematthefarmhouse,hoursaftersheandIhadparted,andwhentimeenoughhadelapsedtoquietanyviolentagitationthatImighthavebeenunfortunateenoughtocause.
Didyouinquireparticularlyaboutthegossipwhichwasgoingonintheroomwhensheturnedfaint?”
“Yes.ButMrs.Todd’shouseholdaffairsseemtohavedividedherattentionthateveningwiththetalkinthefarmhouseparlour.
Shecouldonlytellmethatitwas‘justthenews,’—meaning,Isuppose,thattheyalltalkedasusualabouteachother.”
“Thedairymaid’smemorymaybebetterthanhermother’s,”Isaid.“Itmaybeaswellforyoutospeaktothegirl,MissHalcombe,assoonaswegetback.”
Mysuggestionwasactedonthemomentwereturnedtothehouse.
MissHalcombeledmeroundtotheservants’offices,andwefoundthegirlinthedairy,withhersleevestuckeduptohershoulders,cleaningalargemilk-panandsingingblithelyoverherwork.
“Ihavebroughtthisgentlemantoseeyourdairy,Hannah,”saidMissHalcombe.“Itisoneofthesightsofthehouse,anditalwaysdoesyoucredit.”
Thegirlblushedandcurtseyed,andsaidshylythatshehopedshealwaysdidherbesttokeepthingsneatandclean.
“Wehavejustcomefromyourfather’s,”MissHalcombecontinued.“Youwerethereyesterdayevening,Ihear,andyoufoundvisitorsatthehouse?”
“Yes,miss.”
“Oneofthemwastakenfaintandill,Iamtold.Isupposenothingwassaidordonetofrightenher?Youwerenottalkingofanythingveryterrible,wereyou?”
“Ohno,miss!”saidthegirl,laughing.“Wewereonlytalkingofthenews.”
“YoursisterstoldyouthenewsatTodd’sCorner,Isuppose?”
“Yes,miss.”
“AndyoutoldthemthenewsatLimmeridgeHouse?”
“Yes,miss.AndI’mquitesurenothingwassaidtofrightenthepoorthing,forIwastalkingwhenshewastakenill.Itgavemequiteaturn,miss,toseeit,neverhavingbeentakenfaintmyself.”
Beforeanymorequestionscouldbeputtoher,shewascalledawaytoreceiveabasketofeggsatthedairydoor.AssheleftusIwhisperedtoMissHalcombe—
“Askherifshehappenedtomention,lastnight,thatvisitorswereexpectedatLimmeridgeHouse.”
MissHalcombeshowedme,byalook,thatsheunderstood,andputthequestionassoonasthedairymaidreturnedtous.
“Ohyes,miss,Imentionedthat,”saidthegirlsimply.“Thecompanycoming,andtheaccidenttothebrindledcow,wasallthenewsIhadtotaketothefarm.”
“Didyoumentionnames?DidyoutellthemthatSirPercivalGlydewasexpectedonMonday?”
“Yes,miss—ItoldthemSirPercivalGlydewascoming.Ihopetherewasnoharminit—IhopeIdidn’tdowrong.”
“Ohno,noharm.Come,Mr.Hartright,Hannahwillbegintothinkusintheway,ifweinterruptheranylongeroverherwork.”
Westoppedandlookedatoneanotherthemomentwewerealoneagain.
“Isthereanydoubtinyourmind,NOW,MissHalcombe?”
“SirPercivalGlydeshallremovethatdoubt,Mr.Hartright—orLauraFairlieshallneverbehiswife.”
Share this article to
FINISH