第30章

类别:其他 作者:Thomas Hardy字数:10036更新时间:19/01/07 14:37:59
Andnomorewassaid,ThomasinbeinggladenoughofareasonfornotmentioningClym’svisittoherthatevening,andhisstory。 7—TheNightoftheSixthofNovemberHavingresolvedonflightEustaciaattimesseemedanxiousthatsomethingshouldhappentothwartherownintention。TheonlyeventthatcouldreallychangeherpositionwastheappearanceofClym。Theglorywhichhadencircledhimasherloverwasdepartednow; yetsomegoodsimplequalityofhiswouldoccasionallyreturntohermemoryandstiramomentarythrobofhopethathewouldagainpresenthimselfbeforeher。Butcalmlyconsidereditwasnotlikelythatsuchaseveranceasnowexistedwouldevercloseup——shewouldhavetoliveonasapainfulobject,isolated,andoutofplace。 Shehadusedtothinkoftheheathaloneasanuncongenialspottobein;shefeltitnowofthewholeworld。 Towardseveningonthesixthherdeterminationtogoawayagainrevived。Aboutfouro’clockshepackedupanewthefewsmallarticlesshehadbroughtinherflightfromAlderworth,andalsosomebelongingtoherwhichhadbeenlefthere;thewholeformedabundlenottoolargetobecarriedinherhandforadistanceofamileortwo。 Thescenewithoutgrewdarker;mud—colouredcloudsbellieddownwardsfromtheskylikevasthammocksslungacrossit,andwiththeincreaseofnightastormywindarose; butasyettherewasnorain。 Eustaciacouldnotrestindoors,havingnothingmoretodo,andshewanderedtoandfroonthehill,notfarfromthehouseshewassoontoleave。InthesedesultoryramblingsshepassedthecottageofSusanNunsuch,alittlelowerdownthanhergrandfather’s。Thedoorwasajar,andaribandofbrightfirelightfelloverthegroundwithout。 AsEustaciacrossedthefirebeamssheappearedforaninstantasdistinctasafigureinaphantasmagoria——acreatureoflightsurroundedbyanareaofdarkness; themomentpassed,andshewasabsorbedinnightagain。 Awomanwhowassittinginsidethecottagehadseenandrecognizedherinthatmomentaryirradiation。ThiswasSusanherself,occupiedinpreparingapossetforherlittleboy,who,oftenailing,wasnowseriouslyunwell。 Susandroppedthespoon,shookherfistatthevanishedfigure,andthenproceededwithherworkinamusing,absentway。 Ateighto’clock,thehouratwhichEustaciahadpromisedtosignalWildeveifevershesignalledatall,shelookedaroundthepremisestolearnifthecoastwasclear,wenttothefurze—rick,andpulledthencealong—stemmedboughofthatfuel。Thisshecarriedtothecornerofthebank,and,glancingbehindtoseeiftheshutterswereallclosed,shestruckalight,andkindledthefurze。 WhenitwasthoroughlyablazeEustaciatookitbythestemandwaveditintheairaboveherheadtillithadburneditselfout。 Shewasgratified,ifgratificationwerepossibletosuchamood,byseeingasimilarlightinthevicinityofWildeve’sresidenceaminuteortwolater。 Havingagreedtokeepwatchatthishoureverynight,incasesheshouldrequireassistance,thispromptnessprovedhowstrictlyhehadheldtohisword。 Fourhoursafterthepresenttime,thatis,atmidnight,hewastobereadytodrivehertoBudmouth,asprearranged。 Eustaciareturnedtothehouse。Supperhavingbeengotoversheretiredearly,andsatinherbedroomwaitingforthetimetogoby。Thenightbeingdarkandthreatening,CaptainVyehadnotstrolledouttogossipinanycottageortocallattheinn,aswassometimeshiscustomontheselongautumnnights;andhesatsippinggrogalonedownstairs。 Aboutteno’clocktherewasaknockatthedoor。 WhentheservantopenedittheraysofthecandlefellupontheformofFairway。 \"Iwasa—forcedtogotoLowerMistovertonight,\" hesaid,\"andMr。Yeobrightaskedmetoleavethishereonmyway;but,faith,Iputitintheliningofmyhat,andthoughtnomoreaboutittillIgotbackandwashaspingmygatebeforegoingtobed。SoIhaverunbackwithitatonce。\" Hehandedinaletterandwenthisway。Thegirlbroughtittothecaptain,whofoundthatitwasdirectedtoEustacia。Heturneditoverandover,andfanciedthatthewritingwasherhusband’s,thoughhecouldnotbesure。However,hedecidedtoletherhaveitatonceifpossible,andtookitupstairsforthatpurpose; butonreachingthedoorofherroomandlookinginatthekeyholehefoundtherewasnolightwithin,thefactbeingthatEustacia,withoutundressing,hadflungherselfuponthebed,torestandgatheralittlestrengthforhercomingjourney。Hergrandfatherconcludedfromwhathesawthatheoughtnottodisturbher; anddescendingagaintotheparlourheplacedtheletteronthemantelpiecetogiveittoherinthemorning。 Ateleveno’clockhewenttobedhimself,smokedforsometimeinhisbedroom,putouthislightathalf— pasteleven,andthen,aswashisinvariablecustom,pulleduptheblindbeforegettingintobed,thathemightseewhichwaythewindblewonopeninghiseyesinthemorning,hisbedroomwindowcommandingaviewoftheflagstaffandvane。Justashehadlaindownhewassurprisedtoobservethewhitepoleofthestaffflashintoexistencelikeastreakofphosphorusdrawndownwardsacrosstheshadeofnightwithout。Onlyoneexplanationmetthis——alighthadbeensuddenlythrownuponthepolefromthedirectionofthehouse。Aseverybodyhadretiredtoresttheoldmanfeltitnecessarytogetoutofbed,openthewindowsoftly,andlooktotherightandleft。 Eustacia’sbedroomwaslightedup,anditwastheshinefromherwindowwhichhadlightedthepole。Wonderingwhathadarousedher,heremainedundecidedatthewindow,andwasthinkingoffetchingthelettertoslipitunderherdoor,whenheheardaslightbrushingofgarmentsonthepartitiondividinghisroomfromthepassage。 ThecaptainconcludedthatEustacia,feelingwakeful,hadgoneforabook,andwouldhavedismissedthematterasunimportantifhehadnotalsoheardherdistinctlyweepingasshepassed。 \"Sheisthinkingofthathusbandofhers,\"hesaidtohimself。 \"Ah,thesillygoose!shehadnobusinesstomarryhim。 Iwonderifthatletterisreallyhis?\" Hearose,threwhisboat—cloakroundhim,openedthedoor,andsaid,\"Eustacia!\"Therewasnoanswer。\"Eustacia!\"herepeatedlouder,\"thereisaletteronthemantelpieceforyou。\" Butnoresponsewasmadetothisstatementsaveanimaginaryonefromthewind,whichseemedtognawatthecornersofthehouse,andthestrokeofafewdropsofrainuponthewindows。 Hewentontothelanding,andstoodwaitingnearlyfiveminutes。Stillshedidnotreturn。Hewentbackforalight,andpreparedtofollowher;butfirsthelookedintoherbedroom。There,ontheoutsideofthequilt,wastheimpressionofherform,showingthatthebedhadnotbeenopened;and,whatwasmoresignificant,shehadnottakenhercandlestickdownstairs。 Hewasnowthoroughlyalarmed;andhastilyputtingonhisclotheshedescendedtothefrontdoor,whichhehimselfhadboltedandlocked。Itwasnowunfastened。 TherewasnolongeranydoubtthatEustaciahadleftthehouseatthismidnighthour;andwhithercouldshehavegone?Tofollowherwasalmostimpossible。 Hadthedwellingstoodinanordinaryroad,twopersonssettingout,oneineachdirection,mighthavemadesureofovertakingher;butitwasahopelesstasktoseekforanybodyonaheathinthedark,thepracticabledirectionsforflightacrossitfromanypointbeingasnumerousasthemeridiansradiatingfromthepole。 Perplexedwhattodo,helookedintotheparlour,andwasvexedtofindthattheletterstilllaythereuntouched。 Athalf—pasteleven,findingthatthehousewassilent,Eustaciahadlightedhercandle,putonsomewarmouterwrappings,takenherbaginherhand,and,extinguishingthelightagain,descendedthestaircase。 Whenshegotintotheouterairshefoundthatithadbeguntorain,andasshestoodpausingatthedooritincreased,threateningtocomeonheavily。Buthavingcommittedherselftothislineofactiontherewasnoretreatingforbadweather。EventhereceiptofClym’sletterwouldnothavestoppedhernow。Thegloomofthenightwasfunereal;allnatureseemedclothedincrape。 Thespikypointsofthefirtreesbehindthehouseroseintotheskyliketheturretsandpinnaclesofanabbey。 NothingbelowthehorizonwasvisiblesavealightwhichwasstillburninginthecottageofSusanNunsuch。 Eustaciaopenedherumbrellaandwentoutfromtheenclosurebythestepsoverthebank,afterwhichshewasbeyondalldangerofbeingperceived。Skirtingthepool,shefollowedthepathtowardsRainbarrow,occasionallystumblingovertwistedfurzeroots,tuftsofrushes,oroozinglumpsoffleshyfungi,whichatthisseasonlayscatteredabouttheheathliketherottenliverandlungsofsomecolossalanimal。Themoonandstarswereclosedupbycloudandraintothedegreeofextinction。 Itwasanightwhichledthetraveller’sthoughtsinstinctivelytodwellonnocturnalscenesofdisasterinthechroniclesoftheworld,onallthatisterribleanddarkinhistoryandlegend——thelastplagueofEgypt,thedestructionofSennacherib’shost,theagonyinGethsemane。 EustaciaatlengthreachedRainbarrow,andstoodstilltheretothink。Neverwasharmonymoreperfectthanthatbetweenthechaosofhermindandthechaosoftheworldwithout。 Asuddenrecollectionhadflashedonherthismoment——shehadnotmoneyenoughforundertakingalongjourney。 Amidthefluctuatingsentimentsofthedayherunpracticalmindhadnotdweltonthenecessityofbeingwell—provided,andnowthatshethoroughlyrealizedtheconditionsshesighedbitterlyandceasedtostanderect,graduallycrouchingdownundertheumbrellaasifsheweredrawnintotheBarrowbyahandfrombeneath。 Coulditbethatshewastoremainacaptivestill? Money——shehadneverfeltitsvaluebefore。Eventoeffaceherselffromthecountrymeanswererequired。 ToaskWildeveforpecuniaryaidwithoutallowinghimtoaccompanyherwasimpossibletoawomanwithashadowofprideleftinher;toflyashismistress——andsheknewthathelovedher——wasofthenatureofhumiliation。 Anyonewhohadstoodbynowwouldhavepitiedher,notsomuchonaccountofherexposuretoweather,andisolationfromallofhumanityexceptthemoulderedremainsinsidethetumulus;butforthatotherformofmiserywhichwasdenotedbytheslightlyrockingmovementthatherfeelingsimpartedtoherperson。 Extremeunhappinessweighedvisiblyuponher。Betweenthedrippingsoftherainfromherumbrellatohermantle,fromhermantletotheheather,fromtheheathertotheearth,verysimilarsoundscouldbeheardcomingfromherlips; andthetearfulnessoftheouterscenewasrepeateduponherface。Thewingsofhersoulwerebrokenbythecruelobstructivenessofallabouther;andevenhadsheseenherselfinapromisingwayofgettingtoBudmouth,enteringasteamer,andsailingtosomeoppositeport,shewouldhavebeenbutlittlemorebuoyant,sofearfullymalignantwereotherthings。Sheutteredwordsaloud。 Whenawomaninsuchasituation,neitherold,deaf,crazed,norwhimsical,takesuponherselftosobandsoliloquizealoudthereissomethinggrievousthematter。 \"CanIgo,canIgo?\"shemoaned。\"He’snotGREAT enoughformetogivemyselfto——hedoesnotsufficeformydesire!……IfhehadbeenaSauloraBonaparte—— ah!Buttobreakmymarriagevowforhim——itistoopooraluxury!……AndIhavenomoneytogoalone!AndifIcould,whatcomforttome?Imustdragonnextyear,asIhavedraggedonthisyear,andtheyearafterthatasbefore。 HowIhavetriedandtriedtobeasplendidwoman,andhowdestinyhasbeenagainstme!……Idonotdeservemylot!\"shecriedinafrenzyofbitterrevolt。 \"O,thecrueltyofputtingmeintothisill—conceivedworld!Iwascapableofmuch;butIhavebeeninjuredandblightedandcrushedbythingsbeyondmycontrol!O,howharditisofHeaventodevisesuchtorturesforme,whohavedonenoharmtoHeavenatall!\" ThedistantlightwhichEustaciahadcursorilyobservedinleavingthehousecame,asshehaddivined,fromthecottagewindowofSusanNunsuch。WhatEustaciadidnotdivinewastheoccupationofthewomanwithinatthatmoment。 Susan’ssightofherpassingfigureearlierintheevening,notfiveminutesafterthesickboy’sexclamation,\"Mother,Idofeelsobad!\"persuadedthematronthatanevilinfluencewascertainlyexercisedbyEustacia’spropinquity。 OnthisaccountSusandidnotgotobedassoonastheevening’sworkwasover,asshewouldhavedoneatordinarytimes。TocounteractthemalignspellwhichsheimaginedpoorEustaciatobeworking,theboy’smotherbusiedherselfwithaghastlyinventionofsuperstition,calculatedtobringpowerlessness,atrophy,andannihilationonanyhumanbeingagainstwhomitwasdirected。 ItwasapracticewellknownonEgdonatthatdate,andonethatisnotquiteextinctatthepresentday。 Shepassedwithhercandleintoaninnerroom,where,amongotherutensils,weretwolargebrownpans,containingtogetherperhapsahundredweightofliquidhoney,theproduceofthebeesduringtheforegoingsummer。 Onashelfoverthepanswasasmoothandsolidyellowmassofahemisphericalform,consistingofbeeswaxfromthesametakeofhoney。Susantookdownthelump,andcuttingoffseveralthinslices,heapedtheminanironladle,withwhichshereturnedtotheliving—room,andplacedthevesselinthehotashesofthefireplace。 Assoonasthewaxhadsoftenedtotheplasticityofdoughshekneadedthepiecestogether。Andnowherfacebecamemoreintent。Shebeganmouldingthewax; anditwasevidentfromhermannerofmanipulationthatshewasendeavouringtogiveitsomepreconceivedform。 Theformwashuman。 Bywarmingandkneading,cuttingandtwisting,dismemberingandre—joiningtheincipientimageshehadinaboutaquarterofanhourproducedashapewhichtolerablywellresembledawoman,andwasaboutsixincheshigh。 Shelaiditonthetabletogetcoldandhard。Meanwhileshetookthecandleandwentupstairstowherethelittleboywaslying。 \"Didyounotice,mydear,whatMrs。Eustaciaworethisafternoonbesidesthedarkdress?\" \"Aredribbonroundherneck。\" \"Anythingelse?\" \"No——exceptsandal—shoes。\" \"Aredribbonandsandal—shoes,\"shesaidtoherself。 Mrs。Nunsuchwentandsearchedtillshefoundafragmentofthenarrowestredribbon,whichshetookdownstairsandtiedroundtheneckoftheimage。Thenfetchinginkandaquiltfromthericketybureaubythewindow,sheblackenedthefeetoftheimagetotheextentpresumablycoveredbyshoes;andontheinstepofeachfootmarkedcross—linesintheshapetakenbythesandalstringsofthosedays。Finallyshetiedabitofblackthreadroundtheupperpartofthehead,infaintresemblancetoasnoodwornforconfiningthehair。 Susanheldtheobjectatarm’slengthandcontemplateditwithasatisfactioninwhichtherewasnosmile。 ToanybodyacquaintedwiththeinhabitantsofEgdonHeaththeimagewouldhavesuggestedEustaciaYeobright。 Fromherworkbasketinthewindow—seatthewomantookapaperofpins,oftheoldlongandyellowsort,whoseheadsweredisposedtocomeoffattheirfirstusage。 Theseshebegantothrustintotheimageinalldirections,withapparentlyexcruciatingenergy。Probablyasmanyasfiftywerethusinserted,someintotheheadofthewaxmodel,someintotheshoulders,someintothetrunk,someupwardsthroughthesolesofthefeet,tillthefigurewascompletelypermeatedwithpins。 Sheturnedtothefire。Ithadbeenofturf;andthoughthehighheapofasheswhichturffiresproducewassomewhatdarkanddeadontheoutside,uponrakingitabroadwiththeshoveltheinsideofthemassshowedaglowofredheat。Shetookafewpiecesoffreshturffromthechimney—cornerandbuiltthemtogetherovertheglow,uponwhichthefirebrightened。SeizingwiththetongstheimagethatshehadmadeofEustacia,shehelditintheheat,andwatcheditasitbegantowasteslowlyaway。 Andwhileshestoodthusengagedtherecamefrombetweenherlipsamurmurofwords。 Itwasastrangejargon——theLord’sPrayerrepeatedbackwards——theincantationusualinproceedingsforobtainingunhallowedassistanceagainstanenemy。Susanutteredthelugubriousdiscoursethreetimesslowly,andwhenitwascompletedtheimagehadconsiderablydiminished。 Asthewaxdroppedintothefirealongflamearosefromthespot,andcurlingitstongueroundthefigureatestillfurtherintoitssubstance。Apinoccasionallydroppedwiththewax,andtheembersheateditredasitlay。 8—Rain,Darkness,andAnxiousWanderersWhiletheeffigyofEustaciawasmeltingtonothing,andthefairwomanherselfwasstandingonRainbarrow,hersoulinanabyssofdesolationseldomplumbedbyonesoyoung,YeobrightsatlonelyatBlooms—End。HehadfulfilledhiswordtoThomasinbysendingoffFairwaywiththelettertohiswife,andnowwaitedwithincreasedimpatienceforsomesoundorsignalofherreturn。 WereEustaciastillatMistovertheveryleastheexpectedwasthatshewouldsendhimbackareplytonightbythesamehand;though,toleavealltoherinclination,hehadcautionedFairwaynottoaskforananswer。 Ifonewerehandedtohimhewastobringitimmediately; ifnot,hewastogostraighthomewithouttroublingtocomeroundtoBlooms—Endagainthatnight。 ButsecretlyClymhadamorepleasinghope。Eustaciamightpossiblydeclinetouseherpen——itwasratherherwaytoworksilently——andsurprisehimbyappearingathisdoor。 Howfullyhermindwasmadeuptodootherwisehedidnotknow。 ToClym’sregretitbegantorainandblowhardastheeveningadvanced。Thewindraspedandscrapedatthecornersofthehouse,andfillipedtheeavesdroppingslikepeasagainstthepanes。Hewalkedrestlesslyabouttheuntenantedrooms,stoppingstrangenoisesinwindowsanddoorsbyjammingsplintersofwoodintothecasementsandcrevices,andpressingtogethertheleadworkofthequarrieswhereithadbecomeloosenedfromtheglass。 Itwasoneofthosenightswhencracksinthewallsofoldchurcheswiden,whenancientstainsontheceilingsofdecayedmanorhousesarerenewedandenlargedfromthesizeofaman’shandtoanareaofmanyfeet。 Thelittlegateinthepalingsbeforehisdwellingcontinuallyopenedandclickedtogetheragain,butwhenhelookedouteagerlynobodywasthere;itwasasifinvisibleshapesofthedeadwerepassinginontheirwaytovisithim。 Betweentenandeleveno’clock,findingthatneitherFairwaynoranybodyelsecametohim,heretiredtorest,anddespitehisanxietiessoonfellasleep。 Hissleep,however,wasnotverysound,byreasonoftheexpectancyhehadgivenwayto,andhewaseasilyawakenedbyaknockingwhichbeganatthedooraboutanhourafter。Clymaroseandlookedoutofthewindow。 Rainwasstillfallingheavily,thewholeexpanseofheathbeforehimemittingasubduedhissunderthedownpour。 Itwastoodarktoseeanythingatall。 \"Who’sthere?\"hecried。 Lightfootstepsshiftedtheirpositionintheporch,andhecouldjustdistinguishinaplaintivefemalevoicethewords,\"OClym,comedownandletmein!\" Heflushedhotwithagitation。\"SurelyitisEustacia!\" hemurmured。Ifso,shehadindeedcometohimunawares。 Hehastilygotalight,dressedhimself,andwentdown。 Onhisflingingopenthedoortheraysofthecandlefelluponawomancloselywrappedup,whoatoncecameforward。 \"Thomasin!\"heexclaimedinanindescribabletoneofdisappointment。\"ItisThomasin,andonsuchanightasthis!O,whereisEustacia?\" Thomasinitwas,wet,frightened,andpanting。 \"Eustacia?Idon’tknow,Clym;butIcanthink,\"shesaidwithmuchperturbation。\"Letmecomeinandrest——I willexplainthis。Thereisagreattroublebrewing——myhusbandandEustacia!\" \"What,what?\" \"Ithinkmyhusbandisgoingtoleavemeordosomethingdreadful——Idon’tknowwhat——Clym,willyougoandsee? Ihavenobodytohelpmebutyou;Eustaciahasnotyetcomehome?\" \"No。\" Shewentonbreathlessly:\"Thentheyaregoingtorunofftogether!Hecameindoorstonightabouteighto’clockandsaidinanoff—handway,’Tamsie,IhavejustfoundthatI mustgoajourney。’’When?’Isaid。’Tonight,’hesaid。 ’Where?’Iaskedhim。’Icannottellyouatpresent,’ hesaid;’Ishallbebackagaintomorrow。’Hethenwentandbusiedhimselfinlookinguphisthings,andtooknonoticeofmeatall。Iexpectedtoseehimstart,buthedidnot,andthenitcametobeteno’clock,whenhesaid,’Youhadbettergotobed。’Ididn’tknowwhattodo,andIwenttobed。IbelievehethoughtIfellasleep,forhalfanhourafterthathecameupandunlockedtheoakchestwekeepmoneyinwhenwehavemuchinthehouseandtookoutarollofsomethingwhichIbelievewasbanknotes,thoughIwasnotawarethathehad’emthere。Thesehemusthavegotfromthebankwhenhewenttheretheotherday。 Whatdoeshewantbanknotesfor,ifheisonlygoingoffforaday?WhenhehadgonedownIthoughtofEustacia,andhowhehadmetherthenightbefore——Iknowhedidmeether,Clym,forIfollowedhimpartoftheway;butI didnotliketotellyouwhenyoucalled,andsomakeyouthinkillofhim,asIdidnotthinkitwassoserious。 ThenIcouldnotstayinbed;Igotupanddressedmyself,andwhenIheardhimoutinthestableIthoughtIwouldcomeandtellyou。SoIcamedownstairswithoutanynoiseandslippedout。\" \"Thenhewasnotabsolutelygonewhenyouleft?\" \"No。Willyou,dearCousinClym,goandtrytopersuadehimnottogo?HetakesnonoticeofwhatIsay,andputsmeoffwiththestoryofhisgoingonajourney,andwillbehometomorrow,andallthat;butIdon’tbelieveit。 Ithinkyoucouldinfluencehim。\" \"I’llgo,\"saidClym。\"O,Eustacia!\" Thomasincarriedinherarmsalargebundle;andhavingbythistimeseatedherselfshebegantounrollit,whenababyappearedasthekerneltothehusks——dry,warm,andunconsciousoftravelorroughweather。 Thomasinbrieflykissedthebaby,andthenfoundtimetobegincryingasshesaid,\"Ibroughtbaby,forIwasafraidwhatmighthappentoher。Isupposeitwillbeherdeath,butIcouldn’tleaveherwithRachel!\" Clymhastilyputtogetherthelogsonthehearth,rakedabroadtheembers,whichwerescarcelyyetextinct,andblewupaflamewiththebellows。 \"Dryyourself,\"hesaid。\"I’llgoandgetsomemorewood。\" \"No,no——don’tstayforthat。I’llmakeupthefire。 Willyougoatonce——pleasewillyou?\" Yeobrightranupstairstofinishdressinghimself。 Whilehewasgoneanotherrappingcametothedoor。 ThistimetherewasnodelusionthatitmightbeEustacia’s——thefootstepsjustprecedingithadbeenheavyandslow。 YeobrightthinkingitmightpossiblybeFairwaywithanoteinanswer,descendedagainandopenedthedoor。 \"CaptainVye?\"hesaidtoadrippingfigure。 \"Ismygranddaughterhere?\"saidthecaptain。 \"No。\" \"Thenwhereisshe?\"。 \"Idon’tknow。\" \"Butyououghttoknow——youareherhusband。\" \"Onlyinnameapparently,\"saidClymwithrisingexcitement。 \"IbelieveshemeanstoelopetonightwithWildeve。 Iamjustgoingtolooktoit。\" \"Well,shehasleftmyhouse;sheleftabouthalfanhourago。 Who’ssittingthere?\" \"MycousinThomasin。\" Thecaptainbowedinapreoccupiedwaytoher。 \"Ionlyhopeitisnoworsethananelopement,\"hesaid。 \"Worse?What’sworsethantheworstawifecando?\" \"Well,Ihavebeentoldastrangetale。BeforestartinginsearchofherIcalledupCharley,mystablelad。 Imissedmypistolstheotherday。\" \"Pistols?\"