Now, however, as she knocked and rattled7 at the handle and implored8 admittance, there was a double pressure of anxiety upon her; the demands of unexpected events without, and a new, deathlike stillness within.
"Oh, dear," cried Baby, "what shall I do, what shall I do!"
She thought of summoning Major Bethune to her aid; but shrank, with the repugnance9 of some unformed womanly reticence10.
"I must get in," she said to herself, desperately11; and flung all her young vigour12 against the door. To her joy, the socket13 of the bolt yielded with unexpected ease. She fell almost headlong into the room, and then stood aghast. There lay Lady Gerardine, prone14 on the floor, among the strewn papers, the flickering15 candle by her side.
For a second the girl's heart stopped beating. The next moment she could have cried aloud with joy. Rosamond had not even fainted; but, as she raised herself and Baby saw the face that was turned to her, the girl realised that here was hardly an occasion for thanksgiving; and her own lips, trembling upon a tremendous announcement, were struck silent.
"Oh, my poor darling!" cried she, catching16 the stricken woman in her arms, "what is it?"
With a moan, as of physical pain, Rosamond's head dropped on her niece's shoulder.
"You're cold, you're worn out," said the girl. "Those dreadful letters, and this place like an ice-house! Aunt Rosamond, darling——" She chafed17 the cold hands vigorously as she spoke18. "You must be starved, too. Oh, and I don't know how to tell you! Let me bring you down to your own room—there's tea waiting for you, and such a fire! Aunt Rosamond, you must rouse yourself. Here, I'll put these papers by."
The one thing that could stir Rosamond from her torpor19 of misery20 was this.
"Don't touch them," she said. Her toneless voice seemed to come from depths far distant. She laid her wasted hands over the scattered21 sheets, drawing them together to her bosom22; and then, on her knees, fell again into the former state of oblivion of all but her absorbing pain.
Frenzied23 with impatience24 and the urgency for action, Baby now blurted25 out the news which the sight of Lady Gerardine's drawn6 countenance26 caused her to withhold27:
"Runkle's come!"
The woman kneeling half turned her head. A change passed over her rigid28 countenance.
"Yes; Runkle's here," went on Baby, ruthlessly, raising her voice as if speaking to the deaf. "Uncle Arthur is here; he has come over in a motor—a party of them. Aunt Rosamond, your husband is here."
A long shudder29 shook the kneeling figure. It was as if life returned to its work; and, returning, trembled in nausea30 from the task before it. A deep sullen31 colour began to creep into Lady Gerardine's white cheek. She bent32 over the gaping33 box and dropped into it her armful of papers. Then she looked over her shoulder at Aspasia, and drew down the lid.
"My husband! ... My husband is dead," she said.
The girl's blood ran cold. Had the hidden terror taken shape at last? The words were mad enough; yet it was the fierce light in Rosamond's eyes that seemed most to signal danger.
But Aspasia was not timid, and she was not imaginative. And Lady Gerardine's next action, the cry which escaped her lips, at once pierced to every tender helpful instinct of the girl's heart, and banished34 the paralysing fear.
"Oh, Baby," cried she, springing to her feet and stretching out her arms in hopeless appeal, "what have I done? What is to become of me?"
Once more Baby's arms were about her. Baby, great in the emergency, was pouring forth35 consolation36, expostulation, counsel.
"Look here, Aunt Rosamond; it's really only for a little while; you'll have to show, you know, but they can't stay. Their blessed motor broke down, or something, and they ought to have been here hours ago. Now they can only stop for a cup of tea, if they are to get back to-night. You must just pull yourself together for half an hour—just half an hour, Aunt Rosamond! Leave me to manage. All you've got to do is to smile a bit, and let Runkle do the talking. They want us all to go to Melbury Towers to-morrow, Major Bethune and everybody. That's what they've come over for."
Lady Gerardine put the girl from her roughly.
"I'm not going there," she said.
"Of course not," said wise Baby, soothing37. "But we must put him off somehow. To-morrow you can be ill or something. Do, Aunt Rosamond, darling, be sensible. Don't make things harder. For Heaven's sake don't let us have a row—that would be worse than anything! I know you're not well enough to stand poor old Runkle just now; it's your dear nerves. But just for half an hour—for the sake of being free of him. Oh, Aunt, you used to be so patient! Come, they'll be in upon us in one minute. Luckily they've all been busy over that machine, pulling its inside to pieces. Come to your room, now, and have your tea and tidy a bit. And I'll keep them at bay, till you are ready."
She half dragged, half led Lady Gerardine to the warm shelter of her own room. She stood over her till the prescribed tea had been taken; then, hearing the Old Ancient House echo to the footsteps of its unexpected visitors, she announced her intention of running to look after them.
"I've told Runkle already that you've a beastly headache," she cried, with her cheerful mendacity. "I won't let him up here, never fear; but I'll come and fetch you down, when I've started them on Mary's scones38. If you just do your hair a bit—Lord, there goes six o'clock, they can't stay long, that's one blessing39!"
Left to herself, with the stimulating40 comfort of the tea doing its work upon her weary frame, Lady Gerardine viewed her position with some return to calmness. This odious41 burden that she had laid upon herself, she must lift it awhile once more; and it should be for the last time. She who for years had played the hypocrite placidly42 would play it now again though the tempest raged within her. For the future she must have time. Before she could act, she must think. For this present sordid43 moment—the child was right—there must be no scandal; above all not here, in this sacred house of his, where even she, unworthy, had recognised the presence of the dead.
She sat down before the mirror and shook her long hair loose.
The sound of voices, of laughter, rose confusedly from the drawing-room below. She set her teeth as the well-known note of Sir Arthur's insistent44 bass45 distinguished46 itself from the others. How had she endured it for five years?
Doors were slammed, and then, the light thud of Baby's footsteps scurrying47 hither and thither48 like a rabbit; her calls in the passage brought a vague smile to Lady Gerardine's lips.
Up to a certain point only is the human organisation49 capable of pain. After that comes the respite50 of numbness51. Rosamond was numbed52 now. Mind and heart alike refused to face the point of agony; only the most trivial thoughts could occupy her brain. Idly she pulled the comb through the warm gold of her hair; idly she weighed which would be the least effort to her weary limbs, that of twisting up those tresses herself or rising to ring the bell for Jani.
Presently her eyes wandered to the portrait that hung just over her dressing-table. She shifted both candlesticks to one side to throw their light full upon it.
Baby came in as upon the wings of a gust53 of wind.
"The most dreadful thing," she panted, in a flurried whisper; arrested herself in her canter across the room, and plunged54 back to shut the open door; "my poor, poor darling: they're going to stay the night!"
Lady Gerardine flung apart the girl's arms as if the embrace strangled her. Their eyes met in the mirror. Then the woman shot a glauce round the room, a glance so desperate that the other, child as she was, could not but understand.
"Oh, you're safe—safe for the moment anyhow," she blurted out; "I've been lying like Old Nick. I said you'd just taken a phenacetin, and that if you were disturbed now you wouldn't be fit to lift your head all the evening. But you'll have to come down to dinner; you can get bad again afterwards, can't you? Runkle's quite injured already. He's been having such a jolly time lately; he thinks it harder than ever on him that you should still be ill. And Lady Aspasia——"
"Lady Aspasia," repeated the other, mechanically.
"Yes, that abominable55 woman with the ridiculous name, she's there! And Dr. Chatelard; you remember, the pudgy Frenchman? We've got to house them all somewhere, and to feed them. It's desperate——"
Aspasia checked her speech; for Lady Gerardine had risen from her chair with an abrupt56 movement and stood staring blankly into the mirror.
Poor Aspasia had had sufficient experience already of her aunt's moods, but this singular attitude affected57 the girl in so unpleasant a fashion that she felt as if she ought to shake the staring woman, pinch her, shout at her, do anything to call her out of this deadly torpor!
"Aunt Rosamond," she cried, raising her voice sharply in the hope of catching the wandering attention, "I've told Sarah about the rooms, and ordered fires to be lit; and I've seen Mary about the dinner. The poor Old Ancient House, Runkle's crabbing58 it already like anything! But we'll show them it can be hospitable59, won't we?"
"Yes," said Rosamond, "yes." The hectic60 colour deepened on her cheek. The widened unseeing pupil contracted with a flash of answering light. "Baby, you're a good child. It shall give the right hospitality—his house."
Aspasia drew a deep sigh of relief.
"Mary thinks she can have dinner in an hour," she said. "Oh Lord, what a piece of business! And—and you'll come down, won't you?"
She rubbed her coaxing cheek against her aunt's shoulder.
"Yes. I'll come down."
"I'll dress you," said Baby, her light heart rising buoyantly under what seemed such clearing skies. She nodded. "Oh, dear, I've such a desperate lot of things to do! There's the wine." She slapped her forehead. "I'd forgotten the wine." And the door closed violently behind her tempestuous61 petticoat. As a companion to a neurasthenic patient Miss Cuningham no doubt had her weak points.
* * * * *
Rosamond sank slowly back in her chair; her hand fell inertly62 before her.
When the girl returned after an hour's exceeding activity the elder woman's attitude had not altered by a fraction. But the exigency63 of time and social requirements left Aspasia no leisure now to linger over doubts and fears. Her own cheeks were pink from rapid ablutions; her crisp hair stood out more vigorously than ever after determined64 manipulation. She pealed65 a bell for Jani, and fell herself upon the golden mass covering Lady Gerardine's shoulders, her chattering66 tongue in full swing:
"Of course, the poor wretches67 are in their motor garments. (You never saw anything like Runkle in a pony68 skin and goggles69. He's more motist than the chauffeur70.) So I've only just stuck on a blouse, you see. But I've determined you shall be beautiful in a tea-gown. Lord, I'd no idea Lady Aspasia was so tremendous! I want you simply to be beautiful!"
Deft71 hands twisted and coiled.
"It was Runkle, you know, who broke the motor: he insisted on driving and jammed them sideways in a gate. He's awfully72 pleased with himself. It's Lady Aspasia's motor. She calls Runkle, Arty: what do you think of that? Ah, here's Jani. Which shall it be—the white and gold? I love the white and gold, Aunt Rosamond."
"Black—black," said Rosamond.
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1
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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2
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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13
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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14
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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16
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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17
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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21
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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23
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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25
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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27
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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30
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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31
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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32
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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33
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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34
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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38
scones
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| n.烤饼，烤小圆面包( scone的名词复数 ) | |
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39
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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40
stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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41
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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42
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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43
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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45
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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46
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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47
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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48
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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49
organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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50
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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51
numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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52
numbed
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| v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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54
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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55
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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56
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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57
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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58
crabbing
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| v.捕蟹( crab的现在分词 ) | |
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59
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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60
hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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61
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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62
inertly
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| adv.不活泼地，无生气地 | |
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exigency
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| n.紧急；迫切需要 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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65
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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67
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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68
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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69
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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70
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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71
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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