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！
movements。 The other withdrew her eyes； Cytherea went to fetch the
dressing…gown； and wheeled round again to bring it up to Miss
Aldclyffe； who had now partly removed her night…dress to put it on
the proper way； and still sat with her back towards Cytherea。
Her neck was again quite open and uncovered； and though hidden from
the direct line of Cytherea's vision； she saw it reflected in the
glassthe fair white surface； and the inimitable combination of
curves between throat and bosom which artists adore； being brightly
lit up by the light burning on either side。
And the lady's prior proceedings were now explained in the simplest
manner。 In the midst of her breast； like an island in a sea of
pearl； reclined an exquisite little gold locket； embellished with
arabesque work of blue； red； and white enamel。 That was undoubtedly
what Miss Aldclyffe had been contemplating； and； moreover； not
having been put off with her other ornaments； it was to be retained
during the nighta slight departure from the custom of ladies which
Miss Aldclyffe had at first not cared to exhibit to her new
assistant； though now； on further thought； she seemed to have become
indifferent on the matter。
'My dressing…gown；' she said； quietly fastening her night…dress as
she spoke。
Cytherea came forward with it。 Miss Aldclyffe did not turn her
head； but looked inquiringly at her maid in the glass。
'You saw what I wear on my neck； I suppose？' she said to Cytherea's
reflected face。
'Yes； madam； I did；' said Cytherea to Miss Aldclyffe's reflected
face。
Miss Aldclyffe again looked at Cytherea's reflection as if she were
on the point of explaining。 Again she checked her resolve； and said
lightly
'Few of my maids discover that I wear it always。 I generally keep
it a secretnot that it matters much。 But I was careless with you；
and seemed to want to tell you。 You win me to make confidences
that。 。 。'
She ceased； took Cytherea's hand in her own； lifted the locket with
the other； touched the spring and disclosed a miniature。
'It is a handsome face； is it not？' she whispered mournfully； and
even timidly。
'It is。'
But the sight had gone through Cytherea like an electric shock； and
there was an instantaneous awakening of perception in her； so
thrilling in its presence as to be well…nigh insupportable。 The
face in the miniature was the face of her own fatheryounger and
fresher than she had ever known himbut her father！
Was this the woman of his wild and unquenchable early love？ And was
this the woman who had figured in the gate…man's story as answering
the name of Cytherea before her judgment was awake？ Surely it was。
And if so； here was the tangible outcrop of a romantic and hidden
stratum of the past hitherto seen only in her imagination； but as
far as her scope allowed； clearly defined therein by reason of its
strangeness。
Miss Aldclyffe's eyes and thoughts were so intent upon the miniature
that she had not been conscious of Cytherea's start of surprise。
She went on speaking in a low and abstracted tone。
'Yes； I lost him。' She interrupted her words by a short meditation；
and went on again。 'I lost him by excess of honesty as regarded my
past。 But it was best that it should be so。 。 。 。 I was led to
think rather more than usual of the circumstances to…night because
of your name。 It is pronounced the same way； though differently
spelt。'
The only means by which Cytherea's surname could have been spelt to
Miss Aldclyffe must have been by Mrs。 Morris or Farmer Springrove。
She fancied Farmer Springrove would have spelt it properly if Edward
was his informant； which made Miss Aldclyffe's remark obscure。
Women make confidences and then regret them。 The impulsive rush of
feeling which had led Miss Aldclyffe to indulge in this revelation；
trifling as it was； died out immediately her words were beyond
recall； and the turmoil； occasioned in her by dwelling upon that
chapter of her life； found vent in another kind of emotionthe
result of a trivial accident。
Cytherea； after letting down Miss Aldclyffe's hair； adopted some
plan with it to which the lady had not been accustomed。 A rapid
revulsion to irritation ensued。 The maiden's mere touch seemed to
discharge the pent…up regret of the lady as if she had been a jar of
electricity。
'How strangely you treat my hair！' she exclaimed。
A silence。
'I have told you what I never tell my maids as a rule； of course
NOTHING that I say in this room is to be mentioned outside it。' She
spoke crossly no less than emphatically。
'It shall not be； madam；' said Cytherea； agitated and vexed that the
woman of her romantic wonderings should be so disagreeable to her。
'Why on earth did I tell you of my past？' she went on。
Cytherea made no answer。
The lady's vexation with herself； and the accident which had led to
the disclosure swelled little by little till it knew no bounds。 But
what was done could not be undone； and though Cytherea had shown a
most winning responsiveness； quarrel Miss Aldclyffe must。 She
recurred to the subject of Cytherea's want of expertness； like a
bitter reviewer； who finding the sentiments of a poet unimpeachable；
quarrels with his rhymes。
'Never； never before did I serve myself such a trick as this in
engaging a maid！' She waited for an expostulation： none came。
Miss Aldclyffe tried again。
'The idea of my taking a girl without asking her more than three
questions； or having a single reference； all because of her good l
； the shape of her face and body！ It WAS a fool's trick。 There； I
am served right； quite rightby being deceived in such a way。'
'I didn't deceive you；' said Cytherea。 The speech was an
unfortunate one； and was the very 'fuel to maintain its fires' that
the other's petulance desired。
'You did；' she said hotly。
'I told you I couldn't promise to be acquainted with every detail of
routine just at first。'
'Will you contradict me in this way！ You are telling untruths； I
say。'
Cytherea's lip quivered。 'I would answer the remark ifif'
'If what？'
'If it were a lady's！'
'You girl of impudencewhat do you say？ Leave the room this
instant； I tell you。'
'And I tell you that a person who speaks to a lady as you do to me；
is no lady herself！'
'To a lady？ A lady's…maid speaks in this way。 The idea！'
'Don't 〃lady's…maid〃 me： nobody is my mistress I won't have it！'
'Good Heavens！'
'I wouldn't have comenoI wouldn't！ if I had known！'
'What？'
'That you were such an ill…tempered； unjust woman！'
'Possest beyond the Muse's painting；' Miss Aldclyffe exclaimed
'A Woman； am I！ I'll teach you if I am a Woman！' and lifted her
hand as if she would have liked to strike her companion。 This stung
the maiden into absolute defiance。
'I dare you to touch me！' she cried。 'Strike me if you dare； madam！
I am not afraid of youwhat do you mean by such an action as that？'
Miss Aldclyffe was disconcerted at this unexpected show of spirit；
and ashamed of her unladylike impulse now it was put into words。
She sank back in the chair。 'I was not going to strike yougo to
your roomI beg you to go to your room！' she repeated in