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！
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 present。
That's all I have to say to you。' And； turning round to Ethelberta：
'Now； dearest； we will walk a little further if you are able。 I
have provided that your friends shall be taken care of。' He tried
to pull her hand towards him； gently； like a cat opening a door。
They walked a little onward； and Lord Mountclere spoke again； with
imperturbable good…humour：
'I will tell you a story； to pass the time away。 I have learnt the
art from youyour mantle has fallen upon me； and all your
inspiration with it。 Listen； dearest。 I saw a young man come to
the house to…day。 Afterwards I saw him cross a passage in your
company。 You entered the ball…room with him。 That room is a
treacherous place。 It is panelled with wood； and between the panels
and the walls are passages for the servants； opening from the room
by doors hidden in the woodwork。 Lady Mountclere knew of one of
these； and made use of it to let out her conspirator； Lord
Mountclere knew of another； and made use of it to let in himself。
His sight is not good； but his ears are unimpaired。 A meeting was
arranged to take place at the west gate at half…past seven； unless a
note handed from the balcony mentioned another time and place。 He
heard it allhee…hee！
'When Lady Mountclere's confederate came for the note； I was in
waiting above； and handed one down a few minutes before the hour
struck； confirming the time； but changing the place。 When Lady
Mountclere handed down her note； just as the clock was striking； her
confederate had gone； and I was standing beneath the balcony to
receive it。 She dropped it into her husband's handsho…ho…ho…ho！
'Lord Mountclere ordered a brougham to be at the west lodge； as
fixed by Lady Mountclere's note。 Probably Lady Mountclere's friend
ordered a brougham to be at the north gate； as fixed by my note；
written in imitation of Lady Mountclere's hand。 Lady Mountclere
came to the spot she had mentioned； and like a good wife rushed into
the arms of her husbandhoo…hoo…hoo…hoo…hoo！'
As if by an u