Several witnesses who had testified on the previous day were re-examined. And some new ones were found who swore to having met Mr. Errington going along the road from his own house towards Whitford in great agitation10, and asking everyone he met if they had seen his wife. The hour was such that to the best of their belief it was impossible he should have had such an interview as Powell described, with the deceased, between the time at which the cook swore he left his own house and their meeting him in the road. On this point, however, the evidence was somewhat conflicting. But the Whitford clocks were well known to be conflicting also; St. Mary's being always foremost with its jangling bell, the Town Hall clock coming next—except occasionally, when it hastened to be first with apparently11 quite capricious zeal—and the mellow12 chimes of St. Chad's, that were heard far over town and meadow, closing the chorus with their sweet cadence13.
There certainly appeared to be no cause, no conceivable motive14 for Algernon Errington to have committed the crime. Many witnesses combined to show with what sweetness and good-humour he bore his wife's jealous tempers. And, besides, it was notorious that he had hoped through her influence to obtain assistance and promotion16 from her uncle, Lord Seely. Whereas, on the other hand, there did seem to be several motives17 at work to induce the unfortunate lady to put an end to her own existence. There could be little doubt that she had committed the post-office robberies, and the fear of detection had weighed on her mind. Moreover, that she had for some time past been made unhappy by jealousy18 and discontent, and had contemplated19 making away with herself, was proved by several scraps20 of writing besides that which her husband had found and produced at the inquest the first day. In brief, no one was surprised when the foreman of the coroner's jury delivered a verdict to the effect that the deceased lady had committed suicide while under the influence of temporary insanity; and added a few words stating the opinion of the jury that Mr. Algernon Errington's character was quite unstained by the accusation21 of a maniac22, who had been proved to have been subject to insane delusions23 for some time past. It was just the sort of verdict that every one had expected, and the general sympathy with Algernon still ran high.
As for him, he got away from the "Blue Bell" as quickly as possible after the inquest was over, slipping away by a back door where a closed fly was waiting for him. When he reached his home he locked himself into the dining-room, and sat down on the sofa with closed eyes and his body leaning listlessly against the cushions, as if all vital force were gone from him. The prevailing—and, for a time, the only sensation he felt was one of utter weariness. He was so completely exhausted24 that the restful attitude, the silence, and the solitude25 seemed positive luxuries. He was scarcely conscious of his escape. He felt merely that the strain was over, and that voice, face, and limbs might sink back from the terrible tension he had held them in to a natural lassitude.
But by-and-by he began to realise the danger he had passed, and to exult26 in his new sense of freedom. Castalia being removed, it seemed as if all troubles must be removed with her!
The funeral of Mrs. Algernon Errington was to take place on the following day, and it was known that Lord Seely would be present at it if it were possible for him to make the journey from London. It was said that he had been very ill, but was now better, and would use his utmost endeavours to pay that mark of respect to his niece's memory. Mrs. Errington, indeed, talked of my lord's coming as a proof of his sympathy with her boy. But the world knew better than that. It knew, by some mysterious means, that Lord Seely had quarrelled with Algernon. And when his lordship did appear in Whitford, and took up his quarters at the "Blue Bell," rumours27 went about to the effect that he had refused to see young Errington, and had remained shut up in his own room, attended by his physician. This, however, was not true. Lord Seely had seen Algernon and spoken with him. But he had not touched his proffered28 hand; he had said no word to him of sympathy; he had barely looked at him. The poor old man was overpowered by grief for Castalia, and it was in vain for Algernon to put on a show of grief. About a matter of fact Lord Seely would even now have found it difficult to think that Algernon was telling him a point-blank lie; but on a matter of feeling it was different. Algernon's words and voice rang false and hollow, and the old man shrank from him.
Lord Seely had come down to Whitford on getting the news of Castalia's terrible death, without knowing any particulars about it. Those were not the days when the telegraph brought a budget of intelligence from the most distant parts of the earth every morning. A few hurried and confused lines were all that Lord Seely had received, but they were sufficient to make him insist on performing the journey to Whitford at once. Lady Seely had tried to impress on him the necessity of shaking off young Errington now that Castalia was gone. "Wash your hands of him, Valentine," my lady had said. "If poor Cassy has done this desperate deed, it's he that drove her to it—smooth-faced young villain29!" To all this Lord Seely had made no reply. But in his own mind he had almost resolved to help Algernon to a place abroad. It was what his poor niece would have desired.
But, then, after his arrival in Whitford all the painful details of the coroner's inquest were made known to him. He made inquiries30 in all directions, and learned a great deal about his niece's life in the little town. The prominent feelings in his mind were pity and remorse31. Pity for Castalia's unhappy fate, and acute remorse for having been so weak as to let her marriage take place without any attempt to interfere32, despite his own secret conviction that it was an ill-assorted and ill-omened one. "You couldn't have helped it, my lord," said the friendly physician, to whom he poured out some of the feelings that oppressed his heart. "Perhaps not; perhaps not. But I ought to have tried. My poor, dear, unhappy girl!"
On the day of the funeral Lord Seely stood side by side with Algernon at Castalia's grave, in Duckwell churchyard. But, when it was over, they parted, and drove back to Whitford in separate carriages. Lord Seely was to return to London early the next morning, but before he went away he determined33 to pay a visit to the county lunatic asylum and see David Powell.
On the day of the funeral Algernon had spoken a few words to Lord Seely about his wish to get away from the painful associations which must henceforward haunt him in Whitford; and had reminded his lordship of the promise made in London. But Lord Seely had made no definite answer, and, moreover, he had said that, by his doctor's advice, he must decline a visit which Algernon offered to make him that evening. Was the "pompous34 little ass15" going to throw him over after all?
In the course of that afternoon he heard that old Maxfield intended to come down on him pitilessly for the full amount of the bills he held. A reaction had set in in public sentiment. Tradesmen, who could not get paid, and whose hopes of eventual35 payment were greatly damped by the coolness of Lord Seely's behaviour to his nephew-in-law, began to feel their indignation once more override36 their compassion37. The two servants at Ivy38 Lodge9 asked for their wages, and declared that they did not wish to remain there another week. Algernon's position at the post-office was forfeited39. He knew that he could not keep it even if he would.
It began to appear that the removal of Castalia had not, after all, removed all troubles from her husband's path!
But the heaviest blow of all was to come.
Lord Seely left Whitford without seeing him again, and sent back unopened a note, which Algernon had written, begging for an interview, with these words written outside the cover in a trembling hand: "Dare not to write to me or importune40 me more."
Algernon received this late at night; and before noon the next day the fact was known all over Whitford. People began to say that Lord Seely had obtained access to David Powell, had spoken with him, and had gone away convinced of the substantial truth of his testimony; that his lordship had left orders that Powell should lack no comfort or attention which his unhappy state permitted of his enjoying; and that he had strongly expressed his grateful sense of the poor preacher's efforts to save his niece.
From London Lord Seely—who had heard that Miss Bodkin had visited Duckwell Farm while his niece lay dead there, and had placed flowers on her unconscious breast—sent a mourning-ring and a letter, the contents of which Minnie communicated to no one but her parents. Nevertheless, its contents were discussed pretty widely, and were said to be of a nature very damnatory to Algernon Errington's character. However, the painful things that were said in Whitford could not hurt him, for he had gone—disappeared in the night like a thief, as his creditors41 said—and no one could say whither.
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1
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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10
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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delusions
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| n.欺骗( delusion的名词复数 )；谬见；错觉；妄想 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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exult
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| v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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28
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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32
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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33
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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34
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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eventual
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| adj.最后的，结局的，最终的 | |
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override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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37
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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38
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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39
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
importune
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| v.强求；不断请求 | |
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41
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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