I know, this act shows terrible and grim.
OTHELLO.
I had never considered myself a courageous1 person. I was therefore surprised at my own temerity2 when, with the morning light, came an impulse to revisit the old mill, and by an examination of its flooring, satisfy myself to whether it held in hiding any such articles as had been alluded3 to by Rhoda Colwell in the remarkable4 interview just cited. Not that I intended to put any such question to Dwight Pollard as she had suggested, or, indeed, had any intentions at all beyond the present. The outlook was too vague, my own mind too troubled, for me to concoct5 plans or to make any elaborate determinations. I could only perform the duty of the moment, and this visit seemed to me to be a duty, though not one of the pleasantest or even of the most promising6 character.
I had therefore risen and was preparing myself in an abstracted way for breakfast, when I was violently interrupted by a resounding7 knock at the door. Alarmed, I scarcely knew why, I hastened to open it, and fell back in very visible astonishment8 when I beheld9 standing10 before me no less a person than Anice, the late Mrs. Pollard’s maid.
“I wanted to see you, miss,” she said, coming in without an invitation, and carefully closing the door behind her. “So, as I had leave to attend early mass this morning, I just slipped over here, which, if it is a liberty, I hope you will pardon, seeing it is for your own good.”
Not much encouraged by this preamble11, I motioned her to take a seat, and then, turning my back to her, went on arranging my hair.
“I cannot imagine what errand you have with me, Anice,” said I; “but if it is any thing important, let me hear it at once, as I have an engagement this morning, and am in haste.”
A smile, which I could plainly see in the mirror before which I stood, passed slyly over her face. She took up her parasol from her lap, then laid it down again, and altogether showed considerable embarrassment12. But it did not last long, and in another moment she was saying, in quite a bold way:
“You took my place beside the mistress I loved, but I don’t bear you no grudge13, miss. On the contrary, I would do you a good turn; for what are we here for, miss, if it’s not to help one another?”
As I had no answer for this worthy14 sentiment, she lapsed15 again into her former embarrassed state and as speedily recovered from it. Simpering in a manner that unconsciously put me on my guard, she remarked:
“You left us very suddenly yesterday, miss. Of course that is your own business, and I have nothing to say against it. But I thought if you knew what might be gained by staying —” She paused and gave me a look that was almost like an appeal.
But I would not help her out.
“Why,” she went on desperately16, with a backward toss of her head, “you might think as how we was not such very bad folks after all. I am sure you would make a very nice mistress to work for, Miss Sterling,” she simpered; “and if you would just let me help you with your hair as I did old Mrs. Pollard —”
Angry, mortified17, and ashamed of myself that I had listened to her so far, I turned on her with a look that seemed to make some impression even upon her.
“How dare you —” I began, then paused, shocked at my own imprudence in thus betraying the depth of the feelings she had aroused. “I beg your pardon,” I immediately added, recovering my composure by a determined18 effort; “you doubtless did not consider that you are not in a position to speak such words to me. Even if your insinuations meant any thing serious, which I will not believe, our acquaintance”— I am afraid I threw some sarcasm19 into that word —“has scarcely been long enough to warrant you in approaching me on any subject of a personal nature, least of all one that involves the names of those you live with and have served so long. If you have nothing better to say —”
She rose with a jerk that seemed to my eyes as much an expression of disappointment as anger, and took a reluctant step or two towards the door.
“I am sure I meant no offence, miss,” she stammered20, and took another step still more reluctantly than before.
I trembled. Outrageous22 as it may seem, I wished at this moment that honor and dignity would allow me to call her back and question her as to the motive23 and meaning of her extraordinary conduct. For the thought had suddenly struck me that she might be a messenger — a most unworthy and humiliating one it is true — and yet in some sort of a way a messenger, and my curiosity rose just in proportion as my pride rebelled.
Anice, who was not lacking in wit, evidently felt, if she could not see, the struggle she had awakened24 in my mind, for she turned and gave me a look I no longer had the courage to resent.
“It is only something I overheard Mr. Guy say to his brother,” she faltered25, opening and shutting her parasol with a nervous hand; then, as I let my hair suddenly fall from my grasp, in the rush of relief I felt, blurted26 out: “You have beautiful hair, miss; I don’t wonder Mr. Guy should say, ‘One of us two must marry that girl,’” and was gone like a flash from the room, leaving me in a state that bordered on stupefaction.
This incident, so suggestive, and, alas27! so degrading to my self~esteem, produced a deep and painful effect on my mind. For hours I could not rid my ears of that final sentence: “One of us two must marry that girl.” Nor could the events that speedily followed quite remove from my mind and heart the sting which this knowledge of the Pollards’ base calculation and diplomacy28 had implanted. It had one favorable consequence, however. It nerved me to carry out the expedition I had planned, and gave to my somewhat failing purpose a heart of steel.
The old mill to which I have twice carried you, and to which I must carry you again, was, as I have already said, a dilapidated and much-dismantled structure. Though its walls were intact, many of its staircases were rotten, while its flooring was, as I knew, heavily broken away in spots, making it a dangerous task to walk about its passage-ways, or even to enter the large and solitary29 rooms which once shook to the whirr and hum of machinery30.
But it was not from such dangers as these I recoiled31. If Heaven would but protect me from discovery and the possible intrusion of unwelcome visitants, I would willingly face the peril32 of a fall even in a place so lonesome and remote. Indeed, my one source of gratitude33 as I sped through the streets that morning lay in the fact, I was so little known in S— — I could pass and re-pass without awakening34 too much comment, especially when I wore a close veil, as I did on this occasion.
Rhoda Colwell’s house lay in my way. I took especial pains not to go by it, great as the relief would have been to know she was at home and not wandering the streets in the garb35 and character of the idiot boy. Though I felt I could not be deceived as to her identity, the mere21 thought of meeting her, with that mock smile of imbecility upon her lip, filled me with a dismay that made my walk any thing but agreeable. It was consequently a positive relief when the entrance to the mill broke upon my view, and I found myself at my journey’s end unwatched and unfollowed; nor could the unpromising nature of my task quite dash the spirit with which I began my search.
My first efforts were in a room which had undoubtedly36 been used as an office. But upon inspecting the floor I found it firm, and, convinced I should have to go farther for what I was seeking, I hastily passed into the next room. This was of much larger dimensions, and here I paused longer, for more than one board tilted37 as I passed over it, and not a few of them were loose and could be shifted aside by a little extra exertion38 of strength. But, though I investigated every board that rocked under my step, I discovered nothing beneath them but the dust and debris39 of years, and so was forced to leave this room as I had the other, without gaining any thing beyond a sense of hopelessness and the prospect40 of a weary back. And so on and on I went for an hour, and was beginning to realize the giant nature of my undertaking41, when a sudden low sound of running water broke upon my ears, and going to one of the many windows that opened before me, I looked out and found I was at the very back of the mill, and in full sight of the dark and sullen42 stream that in times of yore used to feed the great wheel and run the machinery. Consequently I was in the last room upon the ground~floor, and, what struck me still more forcibly, near, if not directly over, that huge vat43 in the cellar which had served so fatal a purpose only a few short days before.
The sight of a flight of stairs descending44 at my right into the hollow darkness beneath intensified45 my emotion. I seemed to be in direct communication with that scene of death; and the thought struck me that here, if anywhere in the whole building, must be found the mysterious hiding-place for which I was in search.
It was therefore with extra care that I directed my glances along the uneven46 flooring, and I was scarcely surprised when, after a short examination of the various loose boards that rattled47 beneath me, I discovered one that could be shifted without difficulty. But scarcely had I stooped to raise it when an emotion of fear seized me, and I started back alert and listening, though I was unconscious of having heard any thing more than the ordinary swash of the water beneath the windows and the beating of my own overtaxed heart. An instant’s hearkening gave me the reassurance48 I needed, and convinced that I had alarmed myself unnecessarily, I bent49 again over the board, and this time succeeded in moving it aside. A long, black garment, smoothly50 spread out to its full extent, instantly met my eye. The words of Rhoda Colwell were true; the mill did contain certain articles of clothing concealed51 within it.
I do not know what I expected when, a few minutes later, I pulled the garment out of the hole in which it lay buried, and spread it out before me. Not what I discovered, I am sure; for when I had given it a glance, and found it was nothing more nor less than a domino, such as is worn by masqueraders, I experienced a shock that the mask, which fell out of its folds, scarcely served to allay52. It was like the introduction of farce53 into a terrible tragedy; and as I stood in a maze54 and surveyed the garment before me till its black outline swam before my eyes, I remember thinking of the effect which had been produced, at a certain trial I had heard of, by the prisoner suddenly bursting into a laugh when the sentence of death was pronounced. But presently this feeling of incongruity55 gave way to one of hideous56 dread57. If Dwight Pollard could explain the presence of a domino and mask in this spot, then what sort of a man was Dwight Pollard, and what sort of a crime could it have been that needed for its perpetration such adjuncts as these? The highwaymen of olden time, with their “Stand and deliver!” seemed out of place in this quiet New England town; nor was the character of any of the parties involved, of a nature to make the association of this masquerade gear with the tragedy gone by seem either possible or even probable. And yet, there they lay; and not all my wonder, nor all the speculations58 which their presence evoked59, would serve to blot60 them from the floor or explain the mystery of which they were the sign and seal.
So impressed was I at last by this thought that I broke the spell which bound me, and began to restore the articles to their place. I was just engaged in throwing the mask into the hole, when the low but unmistakable sound of an approaching foot-fall broke upon my ears, startling me more than a thunder-clap would have done, and filling me with a fear that almost paralyzed my movements. I controlled myself, however, and hastily pulled the board back to its place, after which I frantically61 looked about me for some means of concealment62 or escape. I found but one. The staircase which ran down to the cellar was but a few feet off, and if I could summon courage to make use of it, would lead to a place of comparative safety. But the darkness of that spot seemed worse than the light of this, and I stood hesitating on the brink63 of the staircase till the footsteps drew so near I dared not linger longer, and plunged64 below with such desperate haste, I wonder I did not trip and fall headlong to the cellar-floor. I did not, however, nor do I seem to have made any special noise, for the footsteps above did not hasten. I had, therefore, the satisfaction of feeling myself saved from what might have been a very special danger, and was moving slowly away, when the fascination65 which all horrible objects exert upon the human soul seized me with a power I could not resist, and I turned slowly but irresistibly66 towards the corner where I knew the fatal vat to be.
One glimpse and I would have fled; but just at the instant I turned I heard a sound overhead that sent the current of my thoughts in a fresh direction, and lent to my failing courage a renewed strength which made flight at that moment seem nothing more nor less than an impulse of cowardice67. This was nothing more nor less than a faint creaking, such as had followed my own lifting of the board which hid the domino and mask; a noise that was speedily followed by one yet more distinct and of a nature to convince me beyond a doubt that my own action was being repeated by some unknown hand. Whose? Curiosity, love, honor, every impulse of my being impelled68 me to find out. I moved like a spirit towards the stairs. I placed my foot on one step, and then on another, mounting in silence and without a fear, so intent was I upon the discovery which now absorbed me. But just as I reached the top, just when another movement would lift my head above the level of the floor, I paused, realizing as in a flash what the consequences might be if the intruder should prove to be another than Rhoda Colwell, and should have not his back but his face turned towards the place where I stood. The sounds I heard, feeble as they were, did not seem to indicate the presence of a woman, and in another instant a low exclamation69, smothered70 in the throat almost before it was uttered, assured me that it was a man who stood not six feet from me, handling the objects which I had been told were in some way connected with a murder which I was by every instinct of honor bound to discover, if not avenge71.
A man! and ah, he was so quiet, so careful! I could not even guess what he was doing, much less determine his identity, by listening. I had a conviction that he was taking the articles out of their place of concealment, but I could not be sure; and in a matter like this, certainty was indispensable. I resolved to risk all, and took another step, clinging dizzily to the first support that offered. It was well I had the presence of mind to do this, or I might have had a serious fall. For no sooner had I raised my head above the level of the floor than my eyes fell upon the well-known form of him I desired least of all men to see in this place — my lover, if you may call him so — Dwight Pollard.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
courageous
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
temerity
|
|
| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
alluded
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
concoct
|
|
| v.调合，制造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
resounding
|
|
| adj. 响亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
preamble
|
|
| n.前言；序文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
grudge
|
|
| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
lapsed
|
|
| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mortified
|
|
| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sarcasm
|
|
| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
outrageous
|
|
| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
blurted
|
|
| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
diplomacy
|
|
| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
awakening
|
|
| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
debris
|
|
| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
vat
|
|
| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
intensified
|
|
| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
uneven
|
|
| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
rattled
|
|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
reassurance
|
|
| n.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
allay
|
|
| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
farce
|
|
| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
maze
|
|
| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
incongruity
|
|
| n.不协调，不一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
evoked
|
|
| [医]诱发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
blot
|
|
| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
fascination
|
|
| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
irresistibly
|
|
| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
cowardice
|
|
| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
smothered
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
avenge
|
|
| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |