登陆注册
19496500000062

第62章

This was the first trouble I remember for many a long year which wasn't to be blown off by a whiff of tobacco, and which was even beyond the reach of Robinson Crusoe.

Being restless and miserable, and having no particular room to go to, I took a turn on the terrace, and thought it over in peace and quietness by myself.It doesn't much matter what my thoughts were.I felt wretchedly old, and worn out, and unfit for my place -- and began to wonder, for the first time in my life, when it would please God to take me.With all this, I held firm, notwithstanding, to my belief in Miss Rachel.If Sergeant Cuff had been Solomon in all his glory, and had told me that my young lady had mixed herself up in a mean and guilty plot, I should have had but one answer for Solomon, wise as he was, `You don't know her; and I do.'

My meditations were interrupted by Samuel.He brought me a written message from my mistress.

Going into the house to get a light to read it by, Samuel remarked that there seemed a change coming in the weather.My troubled mind had prevented me from noticing it before.But, now my attention was roused, I heard the dogs uneasy, and the wind moaning low.Looking up at the sky, I saw the rack of clouds getting blacker and blacker, and hurrying faster and faster over a watery moon.Wild weather coming -- Samuel was right, wild weather coming.

The message from my lady informed me, that the magistrate at Frizinghall had written to remind her about the three Indians.Early in the coming week, the rogues must needs be released, and left free to follow their own devices.If we had any more questions to ask them, there was no time to lose.Having forgotten to mention this, when she had last seen Sergeant Cuff, my mistress now desired me to supply the omission.The Indians had gone clean out of my head (as they have, no doubt, gone clean out of yours).

I didn't see much use in stirring that subject again.However, I obeyed my orders on the spot, as a matter of course.

I found Sergeant Cuff and the gardener, with a bottle of Scotch whisky between them, head over ears in an argument on the growing of roses.The Sergeant was so deeply interested that he held up his hand, and signed to me not to interrupt the discussion, when I came in.As far as I could understand it, the question between them was, whether the white moss rose did, or did not, require to be budded on the dog-rose to make it grow well.

Mr.Begbie said, Yes; and Sergeant Cuff said, No.They appealed to me, as hotly as a couple of boys.Knowing nothing whatever about the growing of roses, I steered a middle course -- just as her Majesty's judges do, when the scales of justice bother them by hanging even to a hair.`Gentlemen,'

I remarked, `there is much to be said on both sides.' In the temporary lull produced by that impartial sentence, I laid my lady's written message on the table, under the eyes of Sergeant Cuff.

I had got by this time, as nearly as might be, to hate the Sergeant.

But truth compels me to acknowledge that, in respect of readiness of mind, he was a wonderful man.

In half a minute after he had read the message, he had looked back into his memory for Superintendent Seegrave's report; had picked out that part of it in which the Indians were concerned; and was ready with his answer.

A certain great traveller, who understood the Indians and their language, had figured in Mr.Seegrave's report, hadn't he? Very well.Did I know the gentleman's name and address? Very well again.Would I write them on the back of my lady's message? Much obliged to me.Sergeant Cuff would look that gentleman up, when he went to Frizinghall in the morning.

`Do you expect anything to come of it?' I asked.`Superintendent Seegrave found the Indians as innocent as the babe unborn.'

`Superintendent Seegrave has been proved wrong, up to this time, in all his conclusions,' answered the Sergeant.`It may be worth while to find out to-morrow whether Superintendent Seegrave was wrong about the Indians as well.' With that he turned to Mr.Begbie, and took up the argument again exactly at the place where it had left off.`This question between us is a question of soils and seasons, and patience and pains, Mr.Gardener.

Now let me put it to you from another point of view.You take your white moss rose --'

By that time, I had closed the door on them, and was out of hearing of the rest of the dispute.

In the passage, I met Penelope hanging about, and asked what she was waiting for.

She was waiting for her young lady's bell, when her young lady chose to call her back to go on with the packing for the next day's journey.

Further inquiry revealed to me, that Miss Rachel had given it as a reason for wanting to go to her aunt at Frizinghall, that the house was unendurable to her, and that she could bear the odious presence of a policeman under the same roof with herself no longer.On being informed, half an hour since, that her departure would be delayed till two in the afternoon, she had flown into a violent passion.My lady, present at the time, had severely rebuked her, and then (having apparently something to say, which was reserved for her daughter's private ear) had sent Penelope out of the room.My girl was in wretchedly low spirits about the changed state of things in the house.`Nothing goes right, father; nothing is like what it used to be.

I feel as if some dreadful misfortune was hanging over us all.'

That was my feeling too.But I put a good face on it, before my daughter.

Miss Rachel's bell rang while we were talking.Penelope ran up the back stairs to go on with the packing.I went by the other way to the hall, to see what the glass said about the change in the weather.

Just as I approached the swing-door leading into the hall from the servants'

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 万古之尊

    万古之尊

    浩瀚荒土,三千世界,亿万生灵。煌煌大日,天骄耀阳层出不穷,如红尘烟火,若璀璨群星,点亮千般世界,各领风骚。但大浪淘沙,无数天骄英豪扬天怒啸,折戟沉沙。无上帝位?何人承载?苍茫天道?谁人参悟?牧界为九世帝储,秉承帝蕴,距执掌天命不过咫尺之遥。却每每水中望月,空望天道。轮回三生,生生寂寥,活过九世,世世遗憾。而第十世……
  • 每天懂点好玩心理学

    每天懂点好玩心理学

    本书精选了百余个生活小场景,呈现了心理学最基础的面貌,展示了心理学在职场、消费、爱情、生活、影视等领域拥有的神奇魅力。阅读本书,是一场奇妙的心理阅读旅程,你会慢慢发现,心理学并没有你想象的那么高深,而且,那些难解的生活现象本质上也没有那么深奥。
  • 天才女帝,唯我独尊倾天下

    天才女帝,唯我独尊倾天下

    千年的约定,不悔的人,究竟还能否再遇。他一头银发,一双银眸,淡淡的笑容里,藏着昔年对她不变的爱意。“如果给你一个机会,用你的命,去换回她一世平安,你会吗?”黑暗中,究竟是谁问道。答案,自然是肯定的……就算过了千年,就算我不认识你,但我还是会爱上你,没有为什么……
  • 清粥草头咂咂鱼:江南野味的民间话本

    清粥草头咂咂鱼:江南野味的民间话本

    当美食日渐成为一种文化,一种时尚,雅俗共赏成了一种趋势。家厨与食府,会搭起各自不同的景观。味道的厚薄,人情的冷暖,行云流水,自在其间。江南鱼米之乡的丰饶与温润,最能显见于口腹之道。其实,吃什么,喝什么,聊什么,都是次要的,关键在于味觉能透露一种心情。本书展现了一个不一样的江南,有口舌惜繁华的秦淮桥下水,有舌尖下的西湖,有味蕾上的芜湖,有茶意的江南,有风味里的故乡。好吃好看,给江南古意平添了一分魅力。
  • 顺天

    顺天

    一个普通的孩子,有着不平凡的身世,去普通的见证这个风起云涌的朝代,去历经这个风云变幻的大陆。
  • TFBOYS之相爱穿梭千年

    TFBOYS之相爱穿梭千年

    一个女孩原本要嫁给一个富家公子,可是,在一个呼喊声中,女孩无意间穿越到了现代,冥冥之中她认识了许多人也认识了一身中的人。可是,老天总是不可怜她,女孩会怎样和她的幸福在一起?
  • 鬼画符

    鬼画符

    符者,令也;术者,局也……符术的世界,不一样的世界 从幼稚步向成熟,诸多波折,伴随着诸多艰涩和欢笑 轻松、诡异、惊悚、悲壮、多情……
  • 一叶知秋

    一叶知秋

    她离开的那天,路过那家名叫一叶知秋的咖啡屋,里面正放着一首歌:”有生之年狭路相逢,终不能幸免,手心忽然长出纠缠的曲线;懂事之前情动以后,长不过一天,留不住,算不出,流年。“她听着听着忽然落下泪来。她和他的故事就像歌里唱得一样,相逢然后陌路。终是,不能幸免。
  • 负君心

    负君心

    朱小朵和男友同时穿越。三年后,他公然纳妾。她说:“不是说好永不负我吗?”他道:“你要知道男人三妻四妾很是正常。”昔日诺言,终化成穿心利箭。当她终于走出爱恨交织的阴影,同另一个男人紧紧牵手时,他却说:“要么重新做我的女人,要么看着他死。”情节虚构,请勿模仿!
  • 括异志

    括异志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。