6．An appointment by the lake

After dinner that evening, Laura and I went for a walk down to the lake. The atmosphere was gloomy and depressing, but at least we were alone.

I want to have no secrets from you, Marian,' Laura said, 'but I'm sure you have already guessed what my married life is like. Sir Percival said such cruel things to me in Italy that I turned for comfort to my memories of those happy days with Walter Hartright. And I have to tell you, Marian, Sir Percival now knows that Walter is the man I loved.'

I stared at her, and what little hope I had left began to die.

It was at a party in Rome. Some people from London said I should have drawing lessons and recommended a Mr Hartright. I could not control myself when I heard his name and my husband noticed. "So it was him, was it?" he said, with a horrible smile. "Well, we will see about Mr Hartright. You will be sorry, and so will he, to the end of your lives." And Marian, he uses this knowledge like a whip to punish me, day in, day out.'

Oh, Laura!' I said, putting my arms around her. This was my fault — yes, my fault! I remembered the white despair of Walter's face as I told him to leave, as I tore these two young hearts apart. And I had done this for Sir Percival Glyde.

For Sir Percival Glyde.

*　　*　　*

It was growing dark when we set out for home, and as we left Laura seized my arm. 'Marian, look!'

By the lake was a dark figure, half hidden by the evening mist rising off the water. We began to walk quickly.

I'm sure it's following us,' whispered Laura. 'Is it a man or a woman?' She was shaking with fear.

It's hard to tell in this light,' I said, then called out, 'Who's there?' There was no answer.

We hurried back through the wood, and when we reached home, I sent Laura upstairs and went to find out where everyone was. The Count and his wife, the servants, the housekeeper — all were inside. The figure by the lake was no one from the house. So who could it have been?

The next day Laura discovered she had lost her bracelet and thought she must have dropped it near the lake. She went off to look for it while I waited for the messenger from Mr Kyrle.

One o'clock came. By now I was so suspicious of everyone in the house that I decided to slip out and meet the messenger myself. Taking great care not to be seen, I went down to the main gate and a little way along the road. Soon a cab appeared. I stopped it and said, 'Are you going to Blackwater Park?'

A man put his head out and said, 'Yes, with a letter for Miss Halcombe.'

You may give the letter to me,' I said. 'I am Miss Halcombe.'

I read the letter quickly.

Dear Miss Halcombe — Your letter has caused me great anxiety. It seems very likely that Lady Glyde's signature is needed so that a Loan of all or part of her ￡20,000 can be made to Sir Percival. This is almost certainly illegal, and Lady Glyde should not sign any document until I have examined it first.

Sincerely, William Kyrle.

I read this very thankfully and told the messenger to say that I understood the letter. As I spoke these words, Count Fosco came round the corner and suddenly appeared in front of me. Completely taken by surprise, I stared at him speechlessly. The messenger drove away in his cab, and the Count took my arm to walk home with me.

He talked pleasantly of this and that, and asked no questions about letters or messengers, so I assumed he had found out everything. He must have read my letter, returned it to the post-bag, and now knew that I had received an answer. There was no point in trying to deceive him so I said nothing, and just tried to seem quite cool and calm.

Back at the house we found that Sir Percival had returned, in an even worse mood than before, it seemed. When I told him Laura was out looking for her bracelet, he growled,

Bracelet or no bracelet, I shall expect to see her in the library in half an hour.'

I turned to go into the house, but behind me heard the Count saying to Sir Percival, 'May I have five minutes' talk with you, here on the grass?'

They walked off together and I went inside to the sitting room, to think over all that had happened. Before long, however, the door opened softly and the Count looked in.

Good news, Miss Halcombe,' he said. 'The business of the signature is put off for the moment. I'm sure you are relieved.'

He went out before I had recovered from my amazement. There could be no doubt that this change was due to his influence. His discovery of my writing to London and receiving an answer had caused him to interfere. Now there was even more to think about but, exhausted by worry and the heat of the day, my eyes closed and I fell into a little sleep.

I woke to find Laura's hand on my shoulder.

Marian! The figure at the lake. I've just spoken to her! It's Anne Catherick. Look, she found my bracelet.'

Still half asleep, I stared at her stupidly. 'Anne Catherick?'

Yes! I was searching in the boat-house,' Laura went on, 'when a woman in a white dress came in and said quietly, "Miss Fairlie. I have your bracelet. Your mother would not want you to lose it. "I jumped up, but her voice was so kind that I wasn't afraid. I asked her how she knew my mother. She said her name was Anne Catherick and asked me if I remembered as a little girl walking with her and my mother to the school in Limmeridge one day. I did remember. Suddenly I saw that we were like each other, but her face was pale and thin and tired. It was how my face might look after a long illness. "Why do you call me Miss Fairlie?" I asked, and she answered, "Because I love the name of Fairlie and hate the name of Glyde."'

Did she say anything about your husband?' I asked.

She said that after she wrote the letter, she did not have the courage to stay in Limmeridge to try to prevent my marriage to him. She was afraid he would find her and shut her up in the asylum again. But she was not afraid any more because she was so ill she thought she was dying. Then, Marian, she said that she and her mother knew a secret that my husband was afraid of.'

Yes? Go on!' I said eagerly. 'What secret?'

She was just going to tell me, when she thought she heard a noise outside. "We are not alone," she said, "someone is watching. Come here tomorrow at this time and I will tell you." Then she pushed me to one side and disappeared.'

Oh, Laura, Laura, another chance lost! But you must keep the appointment tomorrow. It seems so important. I will follow you at a safe distance. She must not escape this time.'

We were silent for a time. Then Laura said anxiously, 'Why hasn't Sir Percival called us to the library to sign the document?'

Oh yes! I forgot to tell you,' I said. 'Thanks to Count Fosco, the business of the signature has been postponed.'

But why?' Laura said, amazed. 'If Sir Percival urgently needs money, how can it be postponed?'

I heard Sir Percival's lawyer mention a second plan — to give a document promising payment in three months.'

Oh, Marian!' she said. 'That would be such a relief.'

Yes, it would. Let's hope that it's true.'

That evening Sir Percival was polite, even pleasant, especially to Laura. This must have been due to the Count's influence, and it worried me. What lay behind it? I was sure that Sir Percival's sudden journey yesterday had been to Welmingham, to question Mrs Catherick. What had he learnt? What were his plans? As the evening passed, I grew more and more uneasy, and I went to bed feeling very anxious about what the next day would bring.

*　　*　　*

I was not wrong to be anxious. The next day Laura and I arranged that after lunch she would go alone to the boat-house, and that I would follow a little later, taking great care that Anne Catherick did not see me, in case she was frightened by the appearance of another stranger.

Sir Percival had gone out earlier in the morning and did not appear even for lunch, so it was quite easy to put our plan into action. However, when I came quietly up to the back of the boat-house, I heard no voices, no sounds of movement, nothing. Soon I was searching inside the boat-house, and softly calling Laura's name. But no one answered and no one appeared. Outside, I searched the ground for signs, and found the footprints of two people in the sand — big footprints like a man's and small footprints, which I was sure were Laura's. There was also a little hole in the sand by the wall of the boat-house.

Desperate with worry, I hurried back to the house. The first person I met was Mrs Michelson, the housekeeper.

Do you know,' I asked, 'whether Lady Glyde has come in?'

Yes, she has, Miss Halcombe. And I am afraid something unfortunate has happened. Lady Glyde ran upstairs in tears and Sir Percival has told me to dismiss her servant, Fanny.'

My heart sank. Fanny was Laura's personal servant from Limmeridge, and the only person in the house we both trusted.

I ran upstairs to Laura's room. Her door was shut, and there was one of Sir Percival's house servants standing in front of it.

Move away,' I said. 'Don't you see that I want to go in?'

But you mustn't go in,' she answered. 'I have my orders.'

Wild with anger, I turned and went downstairs to find Sir Percival. He was in the library with the Count and Countess.

Am I to understand that your wife's room is a prison?' I asked, staring him full in the face.

Yes, that is what you are to understand,' he answered.

Take care how you treat your wife!' I shouted furiously. 'There are laws to protect women, and I will use those laws.'

Instead of answering me, he turned to the Count. The Count looked at me with his calm, cold, grey eyes. But it was the Countess who spoke.

Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Percival,' she said suddenly. 'But I cannot remain in a house where ladies are treated as your wife and Miss Halcombe have been treated today!'

Sir Percival stared at her in shocked silence, knowing, as I did, she would not have said this without the Count's permission.

I agree with my wife,' the Count said quietly.

Sir Percival swore, then whispered angrily, 'All right, have your own way.' With these words he left the room.

We have made the worst-tempered man in England see reason,' said the Count. 'Thanks to your courage, Miss Halcombe, this insulting situation is now ended.'

I tried to speak normally, but could not. The Count left the library, then returned a few minutes later to say that Lady Glyde had the freedom of her own house again. Immediately I rushed upstairs to Laura's room. She was alone inside and I was in such a hurry that I did not close the door properly behind me.

Marian!' she said thankfully. 'How did you get here?'

It was the Count's influence, of course,' I said.

That horrible man!' she cried. 'He's a miserable spy!'

Just then we heard a knock on the door. It was the Countess, bringing me a handkerchief I had dropped. Her face was white, and I saw in her eyes that she had been listening at the door.

Oh, Laura,' I said when she had gone, 'you shouldn't have called the Count a spy. We shall both regret it.'

But he is a spy, Marian! There was someone watching me at the lake yesterday, and it was him. He told Sir Percival, who watched and waited all morning for me and Anne Catherick. But she didn't come — I found a note from her hidden in a hole in the sand. She said she'd been followed yesterday by a fat old man. He hadn't caught her, but she was afraid to come back this afternoon. She hid this note very early in the morning, and said she would see me again soon to tell me Sir Percival's secret.'

What happened to the note?' I said. 'Have you got it?'

No. While I was reading it, Sir Percival appeared. He took it from me and demanded to hear everything Anne Catherick had said. He held my arm so tightly! — look, see how he's bruised it. What could I do, Marian? I was helpless! I told him everything.'

I looked at the bruises on Laura's arm, and felt such furious hatred for Sir Percival that I dared not speak.

But he didn't believe me,' Laura went on. 'He said he knew she had told me more and that he would lock me up until I had confessed the truth. Then he took me back to the house, gave orders for Fanny to leave, and locked me in my room. Oh, Marian, he was like a madman! What are we to do?'

He is mad — mad with fear. He thinks you know his secret,' I said. 'I must act now to protect you — who knows how long I will be allowed to stay here?' I thought hard for a few minutes. 'I will write two letters and give them to Fanny to take with her. I can't trust the post-bag here any more. One for Mr Kyrle, telling him of your bruises and Sir Percival's violent behaviour.'

And who is the other letter for?' asked Laura anxiously.

For Mr Fairlie,' I said. 'Your lazy, selfish uncle. I'll make him invite you for a visit to Limmeridge, without your husband.'

I left her then and went to my room to write the letters. Fanny had already gone and was staying the night in the little hotel in the village, before beginning the long journey to Cumberland the next day. I decided I had time before dinner to walk to the village and back, so I slipped quietly out of the house and set off.

From time to time I looked behind me. Was I being followed? Or was my imagination playing tricks on me? By now I was suspicious of everything — every tiny sound, every shadow on the road, every breath of wind. Earlier, while writing the letters, I thought I had heard the rustle of a silk dress outside my door. I had even wondered if someone had been in my room, looking through the things in my desk. I hurried on, trying to put these thoughts out of my mind.

When I got to the little hotel, I saw Fanny in her room. She was very upset at leaving Laura, and started crying, but stopped when I told her that Lady Glyde and I needed her help.

Here are two letters,' I said. 'Post the one addressed to Mr Kyrle in London tomorrow, and deliver the other to Mr Fairlie yourself when you get home to Limmeridge. Keep them safe!'

Fanny put the letters down the front of her dress. 'They'll stay there, miss,' she said, 'till I've done what you tell me.'

* * *

day in, day out one day after another 一天又一天地

seize v. take hold of forcibly or suddenly 紧紧抓住

illegal adj. contrary to law 不合法的

assume v. take or accept as being true, without proof 推想

growl v. murmur angrily 咕哝

put off postpone 推迟

exhaust v. use up the strength or resources of a person 筋疲力尽

postpone v. put off 推迟

footprint n. the impression left by a foot or shoe 脚印；鞋印

dismiss v. discharge from employment 辞退

hospitality n. the friendly and generous reception or entertainment of guests or strangers 热情款待

insulting adj. offending one self-respect or modesty 侮辱性的

bruise v. inflict a bruise on 使受淤伤

selfish adj. deficient in consideration for others 自私的

breath n. slight movement of air 轻风

6．湖畔之约

那天晚饭后，劳拉和我散步来到湖边。周围的环境昏暗而压抑，但至少我们可以单独在一起。

“我不愿对你有任何秘密，玛丽安，”劳拉开口说，“但是，我相信你已经猜到我婚后的生活是什么样子。在意大利，珀西瓦尔爵士跟我说了很多恶毒的话，我只能借助回忆同沃尔特·哈特里特在一起的幸福时光来寻求安慰。我得告诉你，玛丽安，珀西瓦尔爵士现在已经知道沃尔特是我所爱的人了。”

我的眼睛紧盯着她，心中仅存的一线希望也开始泯灭了。

“那是在罗马的一次聚会上，几个从伦敦来的朋友说我应该学学绘画，并向我推荐哈特里特先生。听到他的名字，我无法控制自己的感情，这些被我丈夫看到了。‘就是他，对吗？’他狞笑着问我，‘哈特里特先生的事我们走着瞧。你和他都会后悔一辈子的。’玛丽安，他抓住这件事一天又一天地折磨我。”

“噢，劳拉！”我搂住她。这都是我的错——是的，是我的错！我还记得我告诉沃尔特必须离开的时候，他脸上那惨淡绝望的表情。是我把两颗相爱的心拆开了。我这样做却成全了珀西瓦尔爵士。

成全了珀西瓦尔爵士。

*　　*　　*

天黑了下来，我们开始往回走。劳拉突然抓住我的胳膊，“玛丽安，你看！”

湖边有一个黑影，傍晚水面上升起的雾气遮住了我们的视线。我们开始加快脚步。

“我敢肯定有人跟踪我们，”劳拉低声说，“是男的还是女的？”她害怕得浑身发抖。

“在这样的光线里看不清，”我回答，然后大声喊道，“谁在那儿？”没有反应。

我们很快地穿过树林，回到家里。我把劳拉送上楼，然后就去查看家里的其他人都在哪儿。伯爵夫妇，仆人，管家——所有的人都在。湖边那个人影不是家里的人，那会是谁呢？

第二天，劳拉发现手镯丢了，她认为一定是丢在湖边了。她出去找手镯，我留在家里等克尔先生的信使。

1点到了。现在，我对家里的每个人都有怀疑，所以决定溜出去自己迎接信使。我尽量不让别人看见，独自来到大门口，又朝前走了一段。不一会儿，一辆马车过来了。我拦住车，问：“是去布莱克沃特庄园吗？”

一个男人探出头说：“是的，给哈尔库姆小姐送信。”

“把信给我吧，”我说，“我就是哈尔库姆小姐。”

我迫不及待地读了来信。

亲爱的哈尔库姆小姐，你的来信令我深感不安。情况很可能是只要有格莱德夫人的签字，珀西瓦尔爵士就可以借走她的20,000英镑或其中一部分，几乎可以肯定这是不合法的。任何我没有仔细看过的文件，格莱德夫人都不要签字。

此致，威廉·克尔

我满怀感激地读完信，告诉信使我明白了信的意思。正说着，福斯科伯爵突然从拐角那边走了出来，出现在我的面前。我没有任何思想准备，两眼盯着他，一句话也说不出来。信使赶车离开了，伯爵挽着我的手臂往回走。

路上，他兴致勃勃地说这说那，没有问任何关于信和信使的事，我想他已经什么都知道了。他肯定偷看了我的信，然后又放回到邮袋里，现在也知道我收到了回信。没有必要再瞒他什么，所以我什么话也不说，尽量表现得镇定。

回到庄园，我们发现珀西瓦尔爵士已经回来了，看上去情绪更加糟糕。我告诉他劳拉出去找手镯了，他生气地咕哝道：

“什么手镯不手镯的，我半小时后必须在书房见她。”

我转身朝屋里走，但听见身后伯爵对珀西瓦尔说：“我可以跟你在草坪上谈5分钟吗？”

他们俩一起走开了，我走进客厅，思考着刚发生的一切。不一会儿，门轻轻地开了，福斯科伯爵出现在门口。

“好消息，哈尔库姆小姐，”他说，“签字的事推迟了，我想你一定放心了吧。”

我还没来得及从惊讶中回过神来，他就出去了。毫无疑问，是他施加了影响才有现在的变化。他发现我给伦敦写信并且收到了回信，于是他开始干预。还有很多事需要考虑，但我实在累极了，再加上天热，我睁不开眼睛，就这么睡着了。

醒来后，我发现劳拉的一只手搭在我的肩上。

“玛丽安！湖边那个人影。我刚跟她谈过了！她是安妮·凯瑟里克。瞧，她找到了我的手镯。”

我还在半梦半醒之间，迷迷糊糊地看着她问：“安妮·凯瑟里克？”

“是的！我正在船屋里找手镯，”劳拉接着说，“一个穿白衣服的女人进来，轻声说：‘费尔利小姐，你的手镯在我这儿。你的母亲一定不希望你把它弄丢了。’我一下子跳了起来，但她的声音非常友善，我很快就不害怕了。我问她怎么认识我母亲。她告诉我她叫安妮·凯瑟里克，问我记不记得小时候有一天同她还有母亲一道去利默里奇的学校。我确实记得。我突然发现我们俩长得很相像，只是她的脸看上去苍白、消瘦、疲惫。我久病之后可能就是那个样子。‘你为什么叫我费尔利小姐？’我问她。她回答说：‘因为我喜欢费尔利这个姓，憎恨格莱德这个姓。’”

“她提到你丈夫了吗？”我问。

“她说她写完那封信以后，没有勇气再呆在利默里奇阻止我和他结婚。她害怕他找到她，再把她关进精神病院。但是现在她不怕了，因为她现在病得很厉害，就要死了。然后，玛丽安，她说她和她母亲知道一个令我丈夫非常害怕的秘密。”

“什么秘密？快说啊！”我急切地问，“什么秘密？”

“她刚要告诉我，就听见外面有响动。‘有人，’她说，‘有人在盯着我们。明天这个时间到这儿来，我再告诉你。’说完，她就推开我走了。”

“噢，劳拉，劳拉，又一个机会跑掉了！你明天一定要去，那个秘密一定非常重要。我跟你去，躲在远处不让她看见。这次可不能叫她再跑了。”

我们沉默了一会儿。然后，劳拉不安地问：“珀西瓦尔爵士怎么还没来叫我们去书房签字呢？”

“对了，我刚才忘了告诉你，”我说，“多亏了福斯科伯爵，签字的事推迟了。”

“为什么？”劳拉惊疑地问，“珀西瓦尔爵士那么急需钱，怎么会推迟呢？”

“我听珀西瓦尔爵士的律师提过另一个计划，要做一份保证三个月后还钱的文件。”

“噢，玛丽安！”她说，“那可太好了。”

“是很好，但愿这是真的。”

那天晚上，珀西瓦尔爵士对大家，尤其对劳拉，非常有礼貌，甚至可以说是非常好。这一定是伯爵的功劳，我对此很担心。这背后到底隐藏着什么？我想珀西瓦尔爵士昨天突然离开，肯定是去韦明翰找凯瑟里克太太了。他得到什么消息没有？他下一步想干什么？一个晚上，我越来越放心不下。睡觉时我对明天将要发生的事情异常担心。

*　　*　　*

我的担心没有错。第二天，劳拉和我商量好，午饭后她先一个人到船屋去，过一会儿我再去，尽量不让安妮·凯瑟里克看见我，以免她被我这个陌生人吓跑。

上午，珀西瓦尔爵士比往常出去得更早，连午饭也没来吃，因此我们实施计划也更容易一些。然而，我蹑手蹑脚来到船屋后面的时候，却听不到一点儿动静。我进去寻找，轻声叫着劳拉的名字。可是没有人回答，也没有人影。我来到屋外，仔细察看地面，发现沙地上有两个人的脚印——大一些的像是男人的，小一些的我敢肯定是劳拉的。船屋墙边的沙地上还有一个小坑。

我担心极了，赶忙回到庄园。我见到的第一个人是管家米切尔森太太。

“你知道格莱德夫人回来了吗？”我问。

“是的，她回来了，哈尔库姆小姐。可能出了什么不幸的事。格莱德夫人哭着跑上了楼，珀西瓦尔爵士叫我把她的仆人范妮辞退了。”

我的心一下子沉了下来。范妮是劳拉从利默里奇带来的贴身仆人，也是我们两人在这里唯一信任的人。

我跑上楼，来到劳拉的房门口。房门紧闭，珀西瓦尔的一个仆人站在门口。

“让开，”我大声说，“你没看见我要进去吗？”

“你不能进去，”仆人说，“我得听主人的吩咐。”

我肺都要气炸了，转身下楼去找珀西瓦尔爵士。他和伯爵夫妇正在书房。

“你妻子的房间是监狱吗？”我眼睛直盯着他问道。

“是的，你是应该明白这点。”他回答。

“请注意你是如何对待你妻子的！”我愤怒地嚷着。“妇女受法律的保护，我会告你的。”

珀西瓦尔爵士没有接我的话，而是转向了伯爵。伯爵用他那平静、冷漠的灰眼睛看着我。但开口的是伯爵夫人。

“谢谢你的热情款待，珀西瓦尔爵士，”她突然说道。“但是，今天你的妻子和哈尔库姆小姐在这里受到如此的对待，我是不能再呆下去了！”

珀西瓦尔爵士目瞪口呆地盯着伯爵夫人，他跟我一样心里明白，没有伯爵的准许，她是不会说这番话的。

“我同意我妻子的话。”伯爵不紧不慢地说。

珀西瓦尔骂了一句，然后气哼哼地低声说：“好吧，你们要怎样就怎样吧。”说完，他走了出去。

“我们让英国脾气最坏的人明白道理了，”伯爵说，“多亏你的勇气，哈尔库姆小姐，这个令人难堪的局面终于结束了。”

我试图以正常的方式讲话，可是却做不到。伯爵走出了书房，几分钟后回来说，格莱德夫人在她自己的家里重获自由了。我立刻冲上楼来到劳拉的房间。她一个人在里面，我进去得太急了，没有关好门。

“玛丽安！”劳拉感激地说，“你是怎么进来的？”

“当然是伯爵帮的忙。”我回答。

“那个可怕的人！”她大声说，“他是个可恶的奸细！”

就在这时，我听到有人敲门。来的是伯爵夫人，她给我送刚才落在楼下的手绢。她脸色苍白，看了她的眼神，我就明白她一直在门口偷听。

“哦，劳拉，”伯爵夫人走了以后，我对劳拉说，“你不应该管伯爵叫奸细，我们都会后悔的。”

“他真的是奸细，玛丽安！昨天在湖边有人跟踪我，那人就是他。是他告诉珀西瓦尔的，珀西瓦尔整个上午都在等我和安妮·凯瑟里克。凯瑟里克没来，我在沙地小坑里找到一张纸条，上面说一个胖老头昨天跟踪她。那人没有抓住她，但是她今天下午不敢来了。她一大早就来藏了纸条，还说她会很快再来见我，告诉我珀西瓦尔爵士的秘密。”

“那张纸条呢？”我问，“在你手里吗？”

“没有。我正在看的时候，珀西瓦尔爵士出现在我面前。他把纸条夺过去，要我告诉他安妮·凯瑟里克说了什么。他那么用力地抓我的手臂！——看，都青了。我能怎么办，玛丽安？我一点儿办法也没有，只好都告诉他了。”

我看着劳拉手臂上的伤，心里恨透了珀西瓦尔爵士却敢怒不敢言。

“可他还不相信我，”劳拉继续说道，“他说他知道凯瑟里克还告诉了我很多事，我不说实话，他就把我锁起来。然后他把我带回庄园，下令辞退范妮，还把我锁在房间里。噢，玛丽安，他简直像个疯子！我们该怎么办呢？”

“他是疯了——因为他害怕。他认为你知道了他的秘密，”我说，“我必须采取行动保护你——谁知道我还可以在这儿呆多久呢？”我冥思苦想了几分钟，“我要写两封信让范妮带走。我再也不能相信那个邮袋了。一封给克尔先生，告诉他你的伤和珀西瓦尔爵士的粗暴行为。”

“那另外一封呢？”劳拉迫不及待地问。

“给费尔利先生，”我回答，“你那懒惰、自私的叔叔。我要让他请你回一次利默里奇，不带你丈夫。”

离开劳拉，我回到自己的房间，开始写信。范妮已经离开了庄园，今晚住在村里的旅店，明天动身长途旅行去坎伯兰郡。我想我晚饭前有时间到旅店，然后再回来。所以，我悄悄地溜出庄园，朝村子走去。

我不时回头张望，看是否有人跟踪。或许是我的想象在作怪？现在，我开始怀疑一切——任何小的声响，路上的影子，一切风吹草动。刚才写信的时候，我觉得门外有丝绸衣服的响动。我甚至怀疑是否有人来我房间偷看过我桌子里的东西。我加快了脚步，尽量不去想这些。

来到小旅店，我在范妮的房间见到了她。离开劳拉让她难过得哭了起来。但是，当我告诉她格莱德夫人和我需要她的帮助时，她不哭了。

“这儿有两封信，”我说，“一封你明天到伦敦后寄给克尔先生，另一封你到利默里奇后亲手交给费尔利先生。一定把信收好。”

范妮把信塞到衣服里。“我把信放在这儿，小姐，”她说，“我会照你的吩咐去做。”