第33章

Ishouldhavethegreatestdifficultytotellyouwhatfollowednextafterthistragiccircumstance。Itisalltome，asIlookbackuponit，mixed，strenuous，andineffectual，likethestrugglesofasleeperinanightmare。Clara，Iremember，utteredabrokensighandwouldhavefallenforwardtoearth，hadnotNorthmourandIsupportedherinsensiblebody。Idonotthinkwewereattacked: Idonotremembereventohaveseenanassailant；andIbelievewedesertedMr。Huddlestonewithoutaglance。Ionlyrememberrunninglikeamaninapanic，nowcarryingClaraaltogetherinmyownarms，nowsharingherweightwithNorthmour，nowscufflingconfusedlyforthepossessionofthatdearburden。WhyweshouldhavemadeformycampintheHemlockDen，orhowwereachedit，arepointslostforevertomyrecollection。ThefirstmomentatwhichIbecamedefinitelysure，Clarahadbeensufferedtofallagainsttheoutsideofmylittletent，NorthmourandIweretumblingtogetherontheground，andhe，withcontainedferocity，wasstrikingformyheadwiththebuttofhisrevolver。Hehadalreadytwicewoundedmeonthescalp；anditistotheconsequentlossofbloodthatIamtemptedtoattributethesuddenclearnessofmymind。 Icaughthimbythewrist。 “Northmour，“Iremembersaying，“youcankillmeafterwards。LetusfirstattendtoClara。“ Hewasatthatmomentuppermost。Scarcelyhadthewordspassedmylips，whenhehadleapedtohisfeetandrantowardthetent；andthenextmoment，hewasstrainingClaratohisheartandcoveringherunconscioushandsandfacewithhiscaresses。 “Shame！“Icried。“Shametoyou，Northmour！“ And，giddythoughIstillwas，Istruckhimrepeatedlyupontheheadandshoulders。 Herelinquishedhisgrasp，andfacedmeinthebrokenmoonlight。 “Ihadyouunder，andIletyougo，“saidhe；“andnowyoustrikeme！Coward！“ “Youarethecoward，“Iretorted。“Didshewishyourkisseswhileshewasstillsensibleofwhatyouwanted？Notshe！Andnowshemaybedying；andyouwastethisprecioustime，andabuseherhelplessness。Standaside，andletmehelpher。“ Heconfrontedmeforamoment，whiteandmenacing；thensuddenlyhesteppedaside。 “Helpherthen，“saidhe。 Ithrewmyselfonmykneesbesideher，andloosened，aswellasI wasable，herdressandcorset；butwhileIwasthusengaged，agraspdescendedonmyshoulder。 “Keepyourhandsoffher，“saidNorthmour，fiercely。“DoyouthinkIhavenobloodinmyveins？“ “Northmour，“Icried，“ifyouwillneitherhelpheryourself，norletmedoso，doyouknowthatIshallhavetokillyou？“ “Thatisbetter！“hecried。“Letherdiealso，where’stheharm？ Stepasidefromthatgirl！andstanduptofight。“ “Youwillobserve，“saidI，halfrising，“thatIhavenotkissedheryet。“ “Idareyouto，“hecried。 Idonotknowwhatpossessedme；itwasoneofthethingsIammostashamedofinmylife，though，asmywifeusedtosay，Iknewthatmykisseswouldbealwayswelcomewereshedeadorliving；downI fellagainuponmyknees，partedthehairfromherforehead，and，withthedearestrespect，laidmylipsforamomentonthatcoldbrow。Itwassuchacaressasafathermighthavegiven；itwassuchaoneaswasnotunbecomingfromamansoontodietoawomanalreadydead。 “Andnow，“saidI，“Iamatyourservice，Mr。Northmour。“ ButIsaw，tomysurprise，thathehadturnedhisbackuponme。 “Doyouhear？“Iasked。 “Yes，“saidhe，“Ido。Ifyouwishtofight，Iamready。Ifnot，goonandsaveClara。Allisonetome。“ Ididnotwaittobetwicebidden；but，stoopingagainoverClara，continuedmyeffortstoreviveher。Shestilllaywhiteandlifeless；Ibegantofearthathersweetspirithadindeedfledbeyondrecall，andhorrorandasenseofutterdesolationseizeduponmyheart。Icalledherbynamewiththemostendearinginflections；Ichafedandbeatherhands；nowIlaidherheadlow，nowsupporteditagainstmyknee；butallseemedtobeinvain，andthelidsstilllayheavyonhereyes。 “Northmour，“Isaid，“thereismyhat。ForGod’ssakebringsomewaterfromthespring。“ Almostinamomenthewasbymysidewiththewater。 “Ihavebroughtitinmyown，“hesaid。“Youdonotgrudgemetheprivilege？“ “Northmour，“Iwasbeginningtosay，asIlavedherheadandbreast；butheinterruptedmesavagely。 “Oh，youhushup！“hesaid。“Thebestthingyoucandoistosaynothing。“ Ihadcertainlynodesiretotalk，mymindbeingswallowedupinconcernformydearloveandhercondition；soIcontinuedinsilencetodomybesttowardherrecovery，and，whenthehatwasempty，returnedittohim，withoneword——“More。“Hehad，perhaps，goneseveraltimesuponthiserrand，whenClarareopenedhereyes。 “Now，“saidhe，“sincesheisbetter，youcanspareme，canyounot？Iwishyouagoodnight，Mr。Cassilis。“ Andwiththathewasgoneamongthethicket。Imadeafire，forI hadnownofearoftheItalians，whohadevensparedallthelittlepossessionsleftinmyencampment；and，brokenasshewasbytheexcitementandthehideouscatastropheoftheevening，Imanaged，inonewayoranother——bypersuasion，encouragement，warmth，andsuchsimpleremediesasIcouldlaymyhandon——tobringherbacktosomecomposureofmindandstrengthofbody。 Dayhadalreadycome，whenasharp“Hist！“soundedfromthethicket。Istartedfromtheground；butthevoiceofNorthmourwasheardadding，inthemosttranquiltones:“Comehere，Cassilis，andalone；Iwanttoshowyousomething。“ IconsultedClarawithmyeyes，and，receivinghertacitpermission，leftheralone，andclamberedoutoftheden。AtsomedistanceoffIsawNorthmourleaningagainstanelder；and，assoonasheperceivedme，hebeganwalkingseaward。Ihadalmostovertakenhimashereachedtheoutskirtsofthewood。 “Look，“saidhe，pausing。 Acoupleofstepsmorebroughtmeoutofthefoliage。Thelightofthemorninglaycoldandclearoverthatwell-knownscene。Thepavilionwasbutablackenedwreck；theroofhadfallenin，oneofthegableshadfallenout；and，farandnear，thefaceofthelinkswascicatrizedwithlittlepatchesofburnedfurze。Thicksmokestillwentstraightupwardinthewindlessairofthemorning，andagreatpileofardentcindersfilledthebarewallsofthehouse，likecoalsinanopengrate。Closebytheisletaschooneryachtlayto，andawell-mannedboatwaspullingvigorouslyfortheshore。 “The’RedEarl’！“Icried。“The’RedEarl’twelvehourstoolate！“ “Feelinyourpocket，Frank。Areyouarmed？“askedNorthmour。 Iobeyedhim，andIthinkImusthavebecomedeadlypale。Myrevolverhadbeentakenfromme。 “Yousee，Ihaveyouinmypower，“hecontinued。“IdisarmedyoulastnightwhileyouwerenursingClara；butthismorning——here—— takeyourpistol。Nothanks！“hecried，holdinguphishand。“I donotlikethem；thatistheonlywayyoucanannoymenow。“ Hebegantowalkforwardacrossthelinkstomeettheboat，andI followedasteportwobehind。InfrontofthepavilionIpausedtoseewhereMr。Huddlestonehadfallen；buttherewasnosignofhim，norsomuchasatraceofblood。 “GradenFloe，“saidNorthmour。 Hecontinuedtoadvancetillwehadcometotheheadofthebeach。 “Nofarther，please，“saidhe。“WouldyouliketotakehertoGradenHouse？“ “Thankyou，“repliedI；“IshalltrytogethertotheministeratGradenWester。“ Theprowoftheboatheregratedonthebeach，andasailorjumpedashorewithalineinhishand。 “Waitaminute，lads！“criedNorthmour；andthenlowerandtomyprivateear，“Youhadbettersaynothingofallthistoher，“headded。 “Onthecontrary！“Ibrokeout，“sheshallknoweverythingthatI cantell。“ “Youdonotunderstand，“hereturned，withanairofgreatdignity。 “Itwillbenothingtoher；sheexpectsitofme。Good-by！“headded，withanod。 Iofferedhimmyhand。 “Excuseme，“saidhe。“It’ssmall，Iknow；butIcan’tpushthingsquitesofarasthat。Idon’twishanysentimentalbusiness，tositbyyourhearthawhite-hairedwanderer，andallthat。Quitethecontrary:IhopetoGodIshallneveragainclapeyesoneitheroneofyou。“ “Well，Godblessyou，Northmour！“Isaidheartily。 “Oh，yes，“hereturned。 Hewalkeddownthebeach；andthemanwhowasashoregavehimanarmonboard，andthenshovedoffandleapedintothebowshimself。 Northmourtookthetiller；theboatrosetothewaves，andtheoarsbetweenthetholepinssoundedcrispandmeasuredinthemorningair。 Theywerenotyethalfwaytothe“RedEarl，“andIwasstillwatchingtheirprogress，whenthesunroseoutofthesea。 Onewordmore，andmystoryisdone。Yearsafter，NorthmourwaskilledfightingunderthecolorsofGaribaldifortheliberationoftheTyrol。 WilkieCollinsTheDreamWomanAMysteryinFourNarrativesTHEFIRSTNARRATIVE INTRODUCTORYSTATEMENTOFTHEFACTSBYPERCYFAIRBANK “Hullo，there！Hostler！Hullo-o-o！“ “Mydear！whydon’tyoulookforthebell？“ “IHAVElooked——thereisnobell。“ “Andnobodyintheyard。Howveryextraordinary！Callagain，dear。“ “Hostler！Hullo，there！Hostler-r-r！“ Mysecondcallechoesthroughemptyspace，androusesnobody—— produces，inshort，novisibleresult。Iamattheendofmyresources——Idon’tknowwhattosayorwhattodonext。HereI standinthesolitaryinnyardofastrangetown，withtwohorsestohold，andaladytotakecareof。Bywayofaddingtomyresponsibilities，itsohappensthatoneofthehorsesisdeadlame，andthattheladyismywife。 WhoamI？——youwillask。 Thereisplentyoftimetoanswerthequestion。Nothinghappens； andnobodyappearstoreceiveus。Letmeintroducemyselfandmywife。 IamPercyFairbank——Englishgentleman——age(letussay)forty——noprofession——moderatepolitics——middleheight——faircomplexion——easycharacter——plentyofmoney。 MywifeisaFrenchlady。ShewasMademoiselleClotildeDelorge—— whenIwasfirstpresentedtoheratherfather’shouseinFrance。 Ifellinlovewithher——Ireallydon’tknowwhy。ItmighthavebeenbecauseIwasperfectlyidle，andhadnothingelsetodoatthetime。OritmighthavebeenbecauseallmyfriendssaidshewastheverylastwomanwhomIoughttothinkofmarrying。Onthesurface，Imustown，thereisnothingincommonbetweenMrs。 Fairbankandme。Sheistall；sheisdark；sheisnervous，excitable，romantic；inallheropinionssheproceedstoextremes。 Whatcouldsuchawomanseeinme？whatcouldIseeinher？Iknownomorethanyoudo。Insomemysteriousmannerweexactlysuiteachother。Wehavebeenmanandwifefortenyears，andouronlyregretis，thatwehavenochildren。Idon’tknowwhatYOUmaythink；Icallthat——uponthewhole——ahappymarriage。 Somuchforourselves。Thenextquestionis——whathasbroughtusintotheinnyard？andwhyamIobligedtoturngroom，andholdthehorses？ WeliveforthemostpartinFrance——atthecountryhouseinwhichmywifeandIfirstmet。Occasionally，bywayofvariety，wepayvisitstomyfriendsinEngland。Wearepayingoneofthosevisitsnow。Ourhostisanoldcollegefriendofmine，possessedofafineestateinSomersetshire；andwehavearrivedathishouse