第27章

wondered。And，aboveall，howhadhecometohaveadaggerreadyinhishand？Adagger，orevenasharpknife，seemedoutofkeepingwiththeageinwhichwelived；andagentlemanlandingfromhisyachtontheshoreofhisownestate，evenalthoughitwasatnightandwithsomemysteriouscircumstances，doesnotusually，asamatteroffact，walkthuspreparedfordeadlyonslaught。ThemoreIreflected，thefurtherIfeltatsea。Irecapitulatedtheelementsofmystery，countingthemonmyfingers:thepavilionsecretlypreparedforguests；theguestslandedattheriskoftheirlivesandtotheimminentperiloftheyacht；theguests，oratleastoneofthem，inundisguisedandseeminglycauselessterror；Northmourwithanakedweapon；Northmourstabbinghismostintimateacquaintanceataword；last，andnotleaststrange，Northmourfleeingfromthemanwhomhehadsoughttomurder，andbarricadinghimself，likeahuntedcreature，behindthedoorofthepavilion。Herewereatleastsixseparatecausesforextremesurprise；eachpartandparcelwiththeothers，andformingalltogetheroneconsistentstory。Ifeltalmostashamedtobelievemyownsenses。 AsIthusstood，transfixedwithwonder，IbegantogrowpainfullyconsciousoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedinthescuffle；skulkedroundamongthesandhills；and，byadeviouspath，regainedtheshelterofthewood。Ontheway，theoldnursepassedagainwithinseveralyardsofme，stillcarryingherlantern，onthereturnjourneytothemansionhouseofGraden。Thismadeaseventhsuspiciousfeatureinthecase。Northmourandhisguests，itappeared，weretocookanddothecleaningforthemselves，whiletheoldwomancontinuedtoinhabitthebigemptybarrackamongthepolicies。Theremustsurelybegreatcauseforsecrecy，whensomanyinconvenienceswereconfrontedtopreserveit。 Sothinking，Imademywaytotheden。Forgreatersecurity，I trodouttheembersofthefire，andlightedmylanterntoexaminethewounduponmyshoulder。Itwasatriflinghurt，althoughitbledsomewhatfreely，andIdresseditaswellasIcould(foritspositionmadeitdifficulttoreach)withsomeragandcoldwaterfromthespring。WhileIwasthusbusied，ImentallydeclaredwaragainstNorthmourandhismystery。Iamnotanangrymanbynature，andIbelievetherewasmorecuriositythanresentmentinmyheart。ButwarIcertainlydeclared；and，bywayofpreparation，Igotoutmyrevolver，and，havingdrawnthecharges，cleanedandreloadeditwithscrupulouscare。NextIbecamepreoccupiedaboutmyhorse。Itmightbreakloose，orfalltoneighing，andsobetraymycampintheSea-Wood。Ideterminedtoridmyselfofitsneighborhood；andlongbeforedawnIwasleadingitoverthelinksinthedirectionofthefishervillage。 FortwodaysIskulkedroundthepavilion，profitingbytheunevensurfaceofthelinks。Ibecameanadeptinthenecessarytactics。 Theselowhillocksandshallowdells，runningoneintoanother，becameakindofcloakofdarknessformyinthralling，butperhapsdishonorable，pursuit。 Yet，inspiteofthisadvantage，IcouldlearnbutlittleofNorthmourorhisguests。 Freshprovisionswerebroughtundercoverofdarknessbytheoldwomanfromthemansionhouse。Northmour，andtheyounglady，sometimestogether，butmoreoftensingly，wouldwalkforanhourortwoatatimeonthebeachbesidethequicksand。Icouldnotbutconcludethatthispromenadewaschosenwithaneyetosecrecy； forthespotwasopenonlytoseaward。Butitsuitedmenotlessexcellently；thehighestandmostaccidentedofthesandhillsimmediatelyadjoined；andfromthese，lyingflatinahollow，I couldoverlookNorthmourortheyoungladyastheywalked。 Thetallmanseemedtohavedisappeared。Notonlydidhenevercrossthethreshold，butheneversomuchasshowedfaceatawindow；or，atleast，notsofarasIcouldsee；forIdarednotcreepforwardbeyondacertaindistanceintheday，sincetheupperfloorscommandedthebottomsofthelinks；andatnight，whenI couldventurefurther，thelowerwindowswerebarricadedasiftostandasiege。SometimesIthoughtthetallmanmustbeconfinedtobed，forIrememberedthefeeblenessofhisgait；andsometimesIthoughthemusthavegoneclearaway，andthatNorthmourandtheyoungladyremainedalonetogetherinthepavilion。Theidea，eventhen，displeasedme。 Whetherornotthispairweremanandwife，Ihadseenabundantreasontodoubtthefriendlinessoftheirrelation。AlthoughI couldhearnothingofwhattheysaid，andrarelysomuchasgleanadecidedexpressiononthefaceofeither，therewasadistance，almostastiffness，intheirbearingwhichshowedthemtobeeitherunfamiliaroratenmity。ThegirlwalkedfasterwhenshewaswithNorthmourthanwhenshewasalone；andIconceivedthatanyinclinationbetweenamanandawomanwouldratherdelaythanacceleratethestep。Moreover，shekeptagoodyardfreeofhim，andtrailedherumbrella，asifitwereabarrier，onthesidebetweenthem。Northmourkeptsidlingcloser；and，asthegirlretiredfromhisadvance，theircourselayatasortofdiagonalacrossthebeach，andwouldhavelandedtheminthesurfhaditbeenlongenoughcontinued。But，whenthiswasimminent，thegirlwouldunostentatiouslychangesidesandputNorthmourbetweenherandthesea。Iwatchedthesemaneuvers，formypart，withhighenjoymentandapproval，andchuckledtomyselfateverymove。 Onthemorningofthethirdday，shewalkedaloneforsometime，andIperceived，tomygreatconcern，thatshewasmorethanonceintears。YouwillseethatmyheartwasalreadyinterestedmorethanIsupposed。Shehadafirmyetairymotionofthebody，andcarriedherheadwithunimaginablegrace；everystepwasathingtolookat，andsheseemedinmyeyestobreathesweetnessanddistinction。 Thedaywassoagreeable，beingcalmandsunshiny，withatranquilsea，andyetwithahealthfulpiquancyandvigorintheair，that，contrarytocustom，shewastemptedforthasecondtimetowalk。 OnthisoccasionshewasaccompaniedbyNorthmour，andtheyhadbeenbutashortwhileonthebeach，whenIsawhimtakeforciblepossessionofherhand。Shestruggled，andutteredacrythatwasalmostascream。Isprungtomyfeet，unmindfulofmystrangeposition；but，ereIhadtakenastep，IsawNorthmourbareheadedandbowingverylow，asiftoapologize；anddroppedagainatonceintomyambush。Afewwordswereinterchanged；andthen，withanotherbow，heleftthebeachtoreturntothepavilion。Hepassednotfarfromme，andIcouldseehim，flushedandlowering，andcuttingsavagelywithhiscaneamongthegrass。ItwasnotwithoutsatisfactionthatIrecognizedmyownhandiworkinagreatcutunderhisrighteye，andaconsiderablediscolorationroundthesocket。 Forsometimethegirlremainedwherehehadlefther，lookingoutpasttheisletandoverthebrightsea。Thenwithastart，asonewhothrowsoffpreoccupationandputsenergyagainuponitsmettle，shebrokeintoarapidanddecisivewalk。Shealsowasmuchincensedbywhathadpassed。Shehadforgottenwhereshewas。AndIbeheldherwalkstraightintothebordersofthequicksandwhereitismostabruptanddangerous。Twoorthreestepsfartherandherlifewouldhavebeeninseriousjeopardy，whenIsliddownthefaceofthesandhill，whichisthereprecipitous，and，runninghalfwayforward，calledtohertostop。 Shedidso，andturnedround。Therewasnotatremoroffearinherbehavior，andshemarcheddirectlyuptomelikeaqueen。I wasbarefoot，andcladlikeacommonsailor，saveforanEgyptianscarfroundmywaist；andsheprobablytookmeatfirstforsomeonefromthefishervillage，strayingafterbait。Asforher，whenIthussawherfacetoface，hereyessetsteadilyandimperiouslyuponmine，Iwasfilledwithadmirationandastonishment，andthoughtherevenmorebeautifulthanIhadlookedtofindher。NorcouldIthinkenoughofonewho，actingwithsomuchboldness，yetpreservedamaidenlyairthatwasbothquaintandengaging；formywifekeptanold-fashionedprecisionofmannerthroughallheradmirablelife——anexcellentthinginwoman，sinceitsetsanothervalueonhersweetfamiliarities。 “Whatdoesthismean？“sheasked。 “Youwerewalking，“Itoldher，“directlyintoGradenFloe。“ “Youdonotbelongtotheseparts，“shesaidagain。“Youspeaklikeaneducatedman。“ “IbelieveIhavearighttothatname，“saidI，“althoughinthisdisguise。“ Butherwoman’seyehadalreadydetectedthesash。 “Oh！“shesaid；“yoursashbetraysyou。“ “YouhavesaidthewordBETRAY，“Iresumed。“MayIaskyounottobetrayme？Iwasobligedtodisclosemyselfinyourinterest；butifNorthmourlearnedmypresenceitmightbeworsethandisagreeableforme。“ “Doyouknow，“sheasked，“towhomyouarespeaking？“ “NottoMr。Northmour’swife？“Iasked，bywayofanswer。 Sheshookherhead。Allthiswhileshewasstudyingmyfacewithanembarrassingintentness。Thenshebrokeout—— “Youhaveanhonestface。Behonestlikeyourface，sir，andtellmewhatyouwantandwhatyouareafraidof。DoyouthinkIcouldhurtyou？Ibelieveyouhavefarmorepowertoinjureme！Andyetyoudonotlookunkind。Whatdoyoumean——you，agentleman——byskulkinglikeaspyaboutthisdesolateplace？Tellme，“shesaid，“whoisityouhate？“ “Ihatenoone，“Ianswered；“andIfearnoonefacetoface。MynameisCassilis——FrankCassilis。Ileadthelifeofavagabondformyowngoodpleasure。IamoneofNorthmour’soldestfriends； andthreenightsago，whenIaddressedhimontheselinks，hestabbedmeintheshoulderwithaknife。“ “Itwasyou！“shesaid。 “Whyhedidso，“Icontinued，disregardingtheinterruption，“ismorethanIcanguess，andmorethanIcaretoknow。Ihavenotmanyfriends，noramIverysusceptibletofriendship；butnomanshalldrivemefromaplacebyterror。IhadcampedintheGradenSea-Wooderehecame；Icampinitstill。IfyouthinkImeanharmtoyouoryours，madame，theremedyisinyourhand。TellhimthatmycampisintheHemlockDen，andtonighthecanstabmeinsafetywhileIsleep。“ WiththisIdoffedmycaptoher，andscrambleduponcemoreamongthesandhills。Idonotknowwhy，butIfeltaprodigioussenseofinjustice，andfeltlikeaheroandamartyr；whileasamatteroffact，Ihadnotawordtosayinmydefense，norsomuchasoneplausiblereasontoofferformyconduct。IhadstayedatGradenoutofacuriositynaturalenough，butundignified；andthoughtherewasanothermotivegrowinginalongwiththefirst，itwasnotonewhich，atthatperiod，Icouldhaveproperlyexplainedtotheladyofmyheart。 Certainly，thatnight，Ithoughtofnooneelse；and，thoughherwholeconductandpositionseemedsuspicious，Icouldnotfinditinmyhearttoentertainadoubtofherintegrity。Icouldhavestakedmylifethatshewasclearofblame，and，thoughallwasdarkatthepresent，thattheexplanationofthemysterywouldshowherpartintheseeventstobebothrightandneedful。Itwastrue，letmecudgelmyimaginationasIpleased，thatIcouldinventnotheoryofherrelationstoNorthmour；butIfeltnonethelesssureofmyconclusionbecauseitwasfoundedoninstinctinplaceofreason，and，asImaysay，wenttosleepthatnightwiththethoughtofherundermypillow。 Nextdayshecameoutaboutthesamehouralone，and，assoonasthesandhillsconcealedherfromthepavilion，drewnearertotheedge，andcalledmebynameinguardedtones。Iwasastonishedtoobservethatshewasdeadlypale，andseeminglyundertheinfluenceofstrongemotion。 “Mr。Cassilis！“shecried；“Mr。Cassilis！“ Iappearedatonce，andleapeddownuponthebeach。Aremarkableairofreliefoverspreadhercountenanceassoonasshesawme。 “Oh！“shecried，withahoarsesound，likeonewhosebosomhadbeenlightenedofaweight。Andthen，“ThankGodyouarestillsafe！“ sheadded；“Iknew，ifyouwere，youwouldbehere。“(Wasnotthisstrange？SoswiftlyandwiselydoesNatureprepareourheartsforthesegreatlifelongintimacies，thatbothmywifeandIhadbeengivenapresentimentonthistheseconddayofouracquaintance。I hadeventhenhopedthatshewouldseekme；shehadfeltsurethatshewouldfindme。)“Donot，“shewentonswiftly，“donotstayinthisplace。Promisemethatyouwillsleepnolongerinthatwood。 YoudonotknowhowIsuffer；alllastnightIcouldnotsleepforthinkingofyourperil。“ “Peril！“Irepeated。“Perilfromwhom？FromNorthmour？“ “Notso，“shesaid。“DidyouthinkIwouldtellhimafterwhatyousaid？“ “NotfromNorthmour？“Irepeated。“Thenhow？Fromwhom？Iseenonetobeafraidof。“ “Youmustnotaskme，“washerreply，“forIamnotfreetotellyou。Onlybelieveme，andgohence——believeme，andgoawayquickly，quickly，foryourlife！“ Anappealtohisalarmisneveragoodplantoridoneselfofaspiritedyoungman。Myobstinacywasbutincreasedbywhatshesaid，andImadeitapointofhonortoremain。Andhersolicitudeformysafetystillmoreconfirmedmeintheresolve。