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！
seat； and after two or three errors of examination he took up a
prayer…book in which was written 'Eunice Manston。' The book was
nearly new； and the date of the writing about a month earlier。 One
point was at any rate established： that the woman living with
Manston was presented to the world as no other than his lawful wife。
The quiet villagers of Carriford required no pew…opener in their
place of worship： natives and in…dwellers had their own seats； and
strangers sat where they could。 Graye took a seat in the nave； on
the north side； close behind a pillar dividing it from the north
aisle； which was completely allotted to Miss Aldclyffe； her farmers；
and her retainers； Manston's pew being in the midst of them。 Owen's
position on the other side of the passage was a little in advance of
Manston's seat； and so situated that by leaning forward he could
look directly into the face of any person sitting there； though； if
he sat upright； he was wholly hidden from such a one by the
intervening pillar。
Aiming to keep his presence unknown to Manston if possible； Owen
sat； without once turning his head； during the entrance of the
congregation。 A rustling of silk round by the north passage and
into Manston's seat； told him that some woman had entered there； and
as it seemed from the accompaniment of heavier footsteps； Manston
was with her。
Immediately upon rising up； he looked intently in that direction；
and saw a lady standing at the end of the seat nearest himself。
Portions of Manston's figure appeared on the other side of her。 In
two glances Graye read thus many of her characteristics； and in the
following order：
She was a tall woman。
She was broad at the shoulders。
She was full…bosomed。
She was easily recognizable from the photograph but nothing could be
discerned of the colour of her eyes。
With a preoccupied mind he withdrew into his nook； and heard the
service continuedonly conscious of the fact that in opposition to
the suspicion which one odd circumstance had bred in his sister
concerning this woman； all ostensible and ordinary proofs and
probabilities tended to the opposite conclusion。 There sat the
genuine original of the portraitcould he wish for more？ Cytherea
wished for more。 Eunice Manston's eyes were blue； and it was
necessary that this woman's eyes should be blue also。
Unskilled labour wastes in beating against the bars ten times the
energy exerted by the practised hand in the effective direction。
Owen felt this to be the case in his own and Edward's attempts to
follow up the clue afforded them。 Think as he might； he could not
think of a crucial test in the matter absorbing him； which should
possess the indispensable attributea capability of being applied
privately； that in the event of its proving the lady to be the
rightful owner of the name she used； he might recede without obloquy
from an untenable position。
But to see Mrs。 Manston's eyes from where he sat was impossible； and
he could do nothing in the shape of a direct examination at present。
Miss Aldclyffe had possibly recognized him； but Manston had not； and
feeling that it was indispensable to keep the purport of his visit a
secret from the steward； he thought it would be as well； too； to
keep his presence in the village a secret from him； at any rate；
till the day was over。
At the first opening of the doors； Graye left the church and
wandered away into the fields to ponder on another scheme。 He could
not call on Farmer Springrove； as he had intended； until this matter
was set at rest。 Two hours intervened between the morning and
afternoon services。
This time had nearly expired before Owen had struck out any method
of proceeding； or could decide to run the risk of calling at the Old
House and asking to see Mrs。 Manston point…blank。 But he had drawn
near the place； and was standing still in the public path； from
which a partial view of the front of the building could be obtained；
when the bells began chiming for afternoon service。 Whilst Graye
paused； two persons came from the front door of the half…hidden
dwelling whom he presently saw to be Manston and his wife。 Manston
was wearing his old garden…hat； and carried one of the monthly
magazines under his arm。 Immediately they had passed the gateway he
branched off and went over the hill in a direction away from the
church； evidently intending to ramble along； and read as the humour
moved him。 The lady meanwhile turned in the other direction； and
went into the church path。
Owen resolved to make something of this opportunity。 He hurried
along towards the church； doubled round a sharp angle； and came back
upon the other path； by which Mrs。 Manston must arrive。
In about three minutes she appeared in sight without a veil。 He
discovered； as she drew nearer； a difficulty which had not struck
him at firstthat it is not an easy matter to particularize the
colour of a stranger's eyes in a merely casual encounter on a path
out of doors。 That Mrs。 Manston must be brought close to him； and
not only so； but to look closely at him； if his purpose were to be
accomplished。
He shaped a plan。 It might by chance be effectual； if otherwise； it
would not reveal his intention to her。 When Mrs。 Manston was within
speaking distance； he went up to her and said
'Will you kindly tell me which turning will take me to
Casterbridge？'
'The second on the right；' said Mrs。 Manston。
Owen put on a blank look： he held his hand to his earconveying to
the lady the idea that he was deaf。
She came closer and said more distinctly
'The second turning on the right。'
Owen flushed a little。 He fancied he had beheld the revelation he
was in search of。 But had his eyes deceived him？
Once more he used the ruse； still drawing nearer and intimating by a
glance that the trouble he gave her was very distressing to him。
'How very deaf！' she murmured。 She exclaimed loudly
'THE SECOND TURNING TO THE RIGHT。'
She had advanced her face to within a foot of his own； and in
speaking mouthed very emphatically； fixing her eyes intently upon
his。 And now his first suspicion was indubitably confirmed。 Her
eyes were as black as midnight。
All this feigning was most distasteful to Graye。 The riddle having
been solved； he unconsciously assumed his natural look before she
had withdrawn her face。 She found him to be peering at her as if he
would read her very soulexpressing with his eyes the notification
of which； apart from emotion； the eyes are more capable than any
other…inquiry。
Her face changed its expressionthen its colour。 The natural tint
of the lighter portions sank to an ashy gray； the pink of her cheeks
grew purpler。 It was the precise result which would remain after
blood had left the face of one whose skin was dark； and artificially
coated with pearl…powder and carmine。
She turned her head and moved away； murmuring a hasty reply to
Owen's farewell remark of 'Good…day；' and with a kind of nervous
twitch lifting her hand and smoothing her hair； which was of a
light…brown colour。
'She wears false hair；' he thought； 'or has changed its colour
artificially。 Her true hair mat