第136章

’Notawordtoanyonebutme，Cavalletto。’

’Al-tro!’criedCavalletto。Andwasgonewithgreatspeed。

CHAPTER23

MistressAfferymakesaConditionalPromise，respectingherDreamsLeftalone，withtheexpressivelooksandgesturesofMrBaptist，otherwiseGiovanniBaptistaCavalletto，vividlybeforehim，Clennamenteredonawearyday。Itwasinvainthathetriedtocontrolhisattentionbydirectingittoanybusinessoccupationortrainofthought；itrodeatanchorbythehauntingtopic，andwouldholdtonootheridea。Asthoughacriminalshouldbechainedinastationaryboatonadeepclearriver，condemned，whatevercountlessleaguesofwaterflowedpasthim，alwaystoseethebodyofthefellow-creaturehehaddrownedlyingatthebottom，immovable，andunchangeable，exceptastheeddiesmadeitbroadorlong，nowexpanding，nowcontractingitsterriblelineaments；soArthur，belowtheshiftingcurrentoftransparentthoughtsandfancieswhichweregoneandsucceededbyothersassoonascome，saw，steadyanddark，andnottobestirredfromitsplace，theonesubjectthatheendeavouredwithallhismighttoridhimselfof，andthathecouldnotflyfrom。Theassurancehenowhad，thatBlandois，whateverhisrightname，wasoneoftheworstofcharacters，greatlyaugmentedtheburdenofhisanxieties。Thoughthedisappearanceshouldbeaccountedforto-morrow，thefactthathismotherhadbeenincommunicationwithsuchaman，wouldremainunalterable。Thatthecommunicationhadbeenofasecretkind，andthatshehadbeensubmissivetohimandafraidofhim，hehopedmightbeknowntonoonebeyondhimself；yet，knowingit，howcouldheseparateitfromhisoldvaguefears，andhowbelievethattherewasnothingevilinsuchrelations？

Herresolutionnottoenteronthequestionwithhim，andhisknowledgeofherindomitablecharacter，enhancedhissenseofhelplessness。Itwasliketheoppressionofadreamtobelievethatshameandexposurewereimpendingoverherandhisfather’smemory，andtobeshutout，asbyabrazenwall，fromthepossibilityofcomingtotheiraid。Thepurposehehadbroughthometohisnativecountry，andhadeversincekeptinview，was，withhergreatestdetermination，defeatedbyhismotherherself，atthetimeofallotherswhenhefearedthatitpressedmost。Hisadvice，energy，activity，money，credit，allhisresourceswhatsoever，wereallmadeuseless。Ifshehadbeenpossessedoftheoldfabledinfluence，andhadturnedthosewholookeduponherintostone，shecouldnothaverenderedhimmorecompletelypowerless(soitseemedtohiminhisdistressofmind)thanshedid，whensheturnedherunyieldingfacetohisinhergloomyroom。

Butthelightofthatday’sdiscovery，shiningontheseconsiderations，rousedhimtotakeamoredecidedcourseofaction。

Confidentintherectitudeofhispurpose，andimpelledbyasenseofoverhangingdangerclosinginaround，heresolved，ifhismotherwouldstilladmitofnoapproach，tomakeadesperateappealtoAffery。Ifshecouldbebroughttobecomecommunicative，andtodowhatlayinhertobreakthespellofsecrecythatenshroudedthehouse，hemightshakeofftheparalysisofwhicheveryhourthatpassedoverhisheadmadehimmoreacutelysensible。Thiswastheresultofhisday’sanxiety，andthiswasthedecisionheputinpracticewhenthedayclosedin。

Hisfirstdisappointment，onarrivingatthehouse，wastofindthedooropen，andMrFlintwinchsmokingapipeonthesteps。Ifcircumstanceshadbeencommonlyfavourable，MistressAfferywouldhaveopenedthedoortohisknock。Circumstancesbeinguncommonlyunfavourable，thedoorstoodopen，andMrFlintwinchwassmokinghispipeonthesteps。

’Goodevening，’saidArthur。

’Goode