little novels- 第62部分

Upon　this；　Mrs。　Bowmore　had　asked　for　an　explanation。

〃There　is　no　time　for　explanation；〃　was　the　only　answer　she　received；　〃I　ask　you　to　leave　me　for　five　minutes　alone　with　the　Captain。　〃

Mrs。　Bowmore　still　hesitated。　Charlotte　snatched　up　her　garden　hat；　and　declared；　wildly；　that　she　would　go　out　to　Captain　Bervie；　if　she　was　not　permitted　to　receive　him　at　home。　In　the　face　of　this　declaration；　Mrs。　Bowmore　yielded；　and　left　the　room。

In　a　minute　more　the　Captain　made　his　appearance。

Although　she　had　given　way；　Mrs。　Bowmore　was　not　disposed　to　trust　her　daughter；　without　supervision；　in　the　society　of　a　man　whom　Charlotte　herself　had　reviled　as　a　slanderer　and　a　false　friend。　She　took　up　her　position　in　the　veranda　outside　the　parlor；　at　a　safe　distance　from　one　of　the　two　windows　of　the　room　which　had　been　left　partially　open　to　admit　the　fresh　air。　Here　she　waited　and　listened。

The　conversation　was　for　some　time　carried　on　in　whispers。

As　they　became　more　and　more　excited；　both　Charlotte　and　Bervie　ended　in　unconsciously　raising　their　voices。

〃I　swear　it　to　you　on　my　faith　as　a　Christian！〃　Mrs。　Bowmore　heard　the　Captain　say。　〃I　declare　before　God　who　hears　me　that　I　am　speaking　the　truth！〃

And　Charlotte　had　answered；　with　a　burst　of　tears：

〃I　can't　believe　you！　I　daren't　believe　you！　Oh；　how　can　you　ask　me　to　do　such　a　thing？　Let　me　go！　let　me　go！〃

Alarmed　at　those　words；　Mrs。　Bowmore　advanced　to　the　window　and　looked　in。

Bervie　had　put　her　da　ughter's　arm　on　his　arm；　and　was　trying　to　induce　her　to　leave　the　parlor　with　him。　She　resisted；　and　implored　him　to　release　her。　He　dropped　her　arm；　and　whispered　in　her　ear。　She　looked　at　himand　instantly　made　up　her　mind。

〃Let　me　tell　my　mother　where　I　am　going；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　will　consent。〃

〃Be　it　so！〃　he　answered。　〃And　remember　one　thing：　every　minute　is　precious；　the　fewest　words　are　the　best。〃

Mrs。　Bowmore　re…entered　the　cottage　by　the　adjoining　room；　and　met　them　in　the　passage。　In　few　words；　Charlotte　spoke。

〃I　must　go　at　once　to　Justice　Bervie's　house。　Don't　be　afraid；　mamma！　I　know　what　I　am　about；　and　I　know　I　am　right。〃

〃Going　to　Justice　Bervie's！〃　cried　Mrs。　Bowmore；　in　the　utmost　extremity　of　astonishment。　〃What　will　your　father　say；　what　will　Percy　think；　when　they　come　back　from　the　Club？〃

〃My　sister's　carriage　is　waiting　for　me　close　by；〃　Bervie　answered。　〃It　is　entirely　at　Miss　Bowmore's　disposal。　She　can　easily　get　back；　if　she　wishes　to　keep　her　visit　a　secret；　before　Mr。　Bowmore　and　Mr。　Linwood　return。〃

He　led　her　to　the　door　as　he　spoke。　She　ran　back　and　kissed　her　mother　tenderly。　Mrs。　Bowmore　called　to　them　to　wait。

〃I　daren't　let　you　go；〃　she　said　to　her　daughter；　〃without　your　father's　leave！〃

Charlotte　seemed　not　to　hear；　the　Captain　seemed　not　to　hear。　They　ran　across　the　front　garden；　and　through　the　gateand　were　out　of　sight　in　less　than　a　minute。

More　than　two　hours　passed；　the　sun　sank　below　the　horizon；　and　still　there　were　no　signs　of　Charlotte's　return。

Feeling　seriously　uneasy；　Mrs。　Bowmore　crossed　the　room　to　ring　the　bell；　and　send　the　man…servant　to　Justice　Bervie's　house　to　hasten　her　daughter's　return。

As　she　approached　the　fireplace；　she　was　startled　by　a　sound　of　stealthy　footsteps　in　the　hall；　followed　by　a　loud　noise　as　of　some　heavy　object　that　had　dropped　on　the　floor。　She　rang　the　bell　violently；　and　opened　the　door　of　the　parlor。　At　the　same　moment；　the　spy…footman　passed　her；　running　out；　apparently　in　pursuit　of　somebody；　at　the　top　of　his　speed。　She　followed　him；　as　rapidly　as　she　could；　across　the　little　front　garden；　to　the　gate。　Arrived　in　the　road；　she　was　in　time　to　see　him　vault　upon　the　luggage…board　at　the　back　of　a　post…chaise　before　the　cottage；　just　as　the　postilion　started　the　horses　on　their　way　to　London。　The　spy　saw　Mrs。　Bowmore　looking　at　him；　and　pointed；　with　an　insolent　nod　of　his　head；　first　to　the　inside　of　the　vehicle；　and　then　over　it　to　the　high…road；　signing　to　her　that　he　designed　to　accompany　the　person　in　the　post…chaise　to　the　end　of　the　journey。

Turning　to　go　back；　Mrs。　Bowmore　saw　her　own　bewilderment　reflected　in　the　faces　of　the　two　female　servants；　who　had　followed　her　out。

〃Who　can　the　footman　be　after；　ma'am？〃　asked　the　cook。　〃Do　you　think　it's　a　thief？〃

The　housemaid　pointed　to　the　post…chaise；　barely　visible　in　the　distance。

〃Simpleton！〃　she　said。　〃Do　thieves　travel　in　that　way？　I　wish　my　master　had　come　back；〃　she　proceeded；　speaking　to　herself：　〃I'm　afraid　there's　something　wrong。〃

Mrs。　Bowmore；　returning　through　the　garden…gate；　instantly　stopped　and　looked　at　the　woman。

〃What　makes　you　mention　your　master's　name；　Amelia；　when　you　fear　that　something　is　wrong？〃　she　asked。

Amelia　changed　color；　and　looked　confused。

〃I　am　loth　to　alarm　you；　ma'am；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　can't　rightly　see　what　it　is　my　duty　to　do。〃

Mrs。　Bowmore's　heart　sank　within　her　under　the　cruelest　of　all　terrors；　the　terror　of　something　unknown。　〃Don't　keep　me　in　suspense；〃　she　said　faintly。　〃Whatever　it　is；　let　me　know　it。〃

She　led　the　way　back　to　the　parlor。　The　housemaid　followed　her。　The　cook　（declining　to　be　left　alone）　followed　the　housemaid。

〃It　was　something　I　heard　early　this　afternoon；　ma'am；〃　Amelia　began。　〃Cook　happened　to　be　busy〃

The　cook　interposed：　she　had　not　forgiven　the　housemaid　for　calling　her　a　simpleton。　〃No；　Amelia；　if　you　_must_　bring　me　into　itnot　busy。　Uneasy　in　my　mind　on　the　subject　of　the　soup。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　your　mind　makes　much　difference；〃　Amelia　resumed。　〃What　it　comes　to　is　thisit　was　I；　and　not　you；　who　went　into　the　kitchen…garden　for　the　vegetables。〃

〃Not　by　_my_　wish；　Heaven　knows！〃　persisted　the　cook。

〃Leave　the　room！〃　said　Mrs。　Bowmore。　Even　her　patience　had　given　way　at　last。

The　cook　looked　as　if　she　declined　to　believe　her　own　ears。　Mrs。　Bowmore　pointed　to　the　door。　The　cook　said　〃Oh？〃accenting　it　as　a　question。　Mrs。　Bowmore's　finger　still　pointed。　The　cook；　in　solemn　silence；　yielded　to　circumstances；　and　banged　the　door。

〃I　was　getting　the　vegetables；　ma'am；〃　Amelia　proceeded；　〃when　I　heard　voices　on　the　other　side　of　the　paling。　The　wood　is　so　old　that　one　can　see　through　the　cracks　easy　enough。　I　saw　my　master；　and　Mr。　Linwood；　and　Captain　Bervie。　The　Captain　seemed　to　have　stopped　the　other　two　on　the　pathway　that　leads　to　the　field；　he　stood；　as　it　might　be；　between　them　and　the　back　way　to　the　houseand　he　spoke　severely；　that　he　did！〃

〃What　did　Captain　Bervie　say？〃

〃He　said　these　words；　ma'am：　'For　the　last　time；　Mr。　Bowmore；'　says　he；　'will　you　understand　that　you　are　in　danger；　and　that　Mr。　Linwood　is　in　danger；　unless　you　both　leave　this　neighborhood　to…night？'　My　master　made　light　of　it。　'For　the　last　time；'　says　he；　'will　you　refer　us　to　a　proof　of　what　you　say；　and　allow　us　to　judge　for　ourselves？'　'I　have　told　you　already；'　says　the　Captain；　'I　am　bound　by　my　duty　toward　another　person　to　keep　what　I　know　a　secret。'　'Very　well；'　says　my　master；　'_I_　am　bound　by　my　duty　to　my　country。　And　I　tell　you　this；'　says　he；　in　his　high　and　mighty　way；　'neither　Government；　nor　the　spies　of　Government；　dare　touch　a　hair　of　my　head：　they　know　it；　sir；　for　the　head　of　the　people's　friend！'　〃

〃That's　quite　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Bowmore；　still　believing　in　her　husband　as　firmly　as　ever。

Amelia　went　on：

〃Captain　Bervie　didn't　seem　to　think　so；〃　she　said。　〃He　lost　his　temper。　'What　stuff！'　says　he；　'there's　a　Government　spy　in　your　house　at　this　moment；　disguised　as　your　footman。'　My　master　looked　at　Mr。　Linwood；　and　burst　out　laughing。　'You　won't　beat　that；　Captain；'　says　he；　'if　you　talk　till　doomsday。'　He　turned　about　without　a　word　more；　and　went　home。　The　Captain　caught　Mr。　Linwood　by　the　arm；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone。　'For　God's　sake；'　says　he；　'don't　follow　that　madman's　example！'　〃

Mrs。　Bowmore　was　shocked。　〃Did　he　really　call　my　husband　a　madman？〃　she　asked。

〃He　did；　indeed；　ma'amand　he　was　in　earnest　about　it；　too。　'If　you　value　your　liberty；'　he　says　to　Mr。　Linwood；　'if　you　hope　to　become　Charlotte's　husband；　consult　your　own　safety。　I　can　give　you　a　passport。　Escape　to　France　and　wait　till　this　trouble　is　over。'　Mr。　Linwood　was　not　in　the　best　of　tempersMr。　Linwood　shook　him　off。　'Charlotte's　father　will　soon　be　my　father；'　says　he；　'do　you　think　I　will　desert　him？　My　friends　at　the　Club　have　taken　up　my　claim；　do　you　think　I　will　forsake　them　at　the　meeting　to…morrow？　You　ask　me　to　be　unworthy　of　Charlotte；　and　unworthy　of　my　friendsyou　insult　me；　if　you　say　more。'　He　whipped　round　on　his　heel；　and　followed　my　master。〃

〃And　what　did　the　Captain　do？〃

〃Lifted　up　his　hands；　ma'am；　to　the　heavens；　and　lookedI　declare　it　turned　my　blood　to　see　him。　If　there's　truth　in　mortal　man；　it's　my　firm　belief〃

What　the　housemaid's　belief　was；　remained　unexpressed。　Before　she　could　get　to　her　next　word；　a　shriek　of　horror　from　the　hall　announced　that　the　cook's　powers　of　interruption　were　not　exhausted　yet。

Mistress　and　servant　both　hurried　out　in　terror　of　they　knew　not　what。　There　stood　the　cook；　alone　in　the　hall；　confronting　the　stand　on　which　the　overcoats　and　hats　of　the　men　of　the　family　were　placed。

〃Where's　the　master's　traveling　coat？〃　cried　the　cook；　staring　wildly　at　an　unoccupied　peg。　〃And　where's　his　cap　to　match！　Oh　Lord；　he's　off　in　the　post…chaise！　and　the　footman's　after　him！〃

Simpleton　as　she　was；　the　woman　had　blundered　on　a　very　serious　discovery。

Coat　and　capboth　made　after　a　foreign　pattern；　and　both　strikingly　remarkable　in　form　and　color　to　English　eyeshad　unquestionably　disappeared。　It　　was　equally　certain　that　they　were　well　known　to　the　foot　man；　whom　the　Captain　had　declared　to　be　a　spy；　as　the　coat　and　cap　which　his　master　used　in　traveling。　Had　Mr。　Bowmore　discovered　（since　the　afternoon）　that　he　was　really　in　danger？　Had　the　necessities　of　instant　flight　only　allowed　him　time　enough　to　snatch　his　coat　and　cap　out　of　the　hall？　And　had　the　treacherous　manservant　seen　him　as　he　was　making　his　escape　to　the　post…chaise？　The　cook's　conclusions　answered　all　these　questions　in　the　affirmativeand；　if　Captain　Bervie's　words　of　warning　had　been　correctly　reported；　the　cook's　conclusion　for　once　was　not　to　be　despis