There was another consideration. Aaron wished his son Joseph to grow up amid his co-religionists, to mix with them, to become familiar with their ways, so that he might be fixed18 firmly in the faith of his forefathers19. There was no Jewish school in the village in which the lad could be educated. He looked forward to the future. Joseph would become a man, and in this village there were limitations and restrictions20 which were not favourable21 to the formation of strong character. Here was a young mind to be trained; the more comprehensive the surroundings the better the chance of worldly advancement22. He discussed these matters with Rachel.
"Yes," she said, "let us go. But I shall never forget the happy years we have passed here."
"Nor I," said Aaron. "Honour and good fortune have attended us. May a blessing23 rest upon the village and all the dwellers24 therein!"
Then Rachel spoke25 of her poor and of her regret at leaving them.
"We will bear them in remembrance," said Aaron, "and before we bid them, farewell something can be done to place them in permanent comfort."
Much was done by Rachel and himself. For some time past he had bestowed26 a great part of his benefactions in such a manner that those whom he befriended were ignorant of the source from which the good flowed. In order that this should be carried out as he wished he had to seek an agent; looking around he made his selection, and asked the curé of the village to be his almoner, explaining that he did not wish it to be known that the money came from him. The curé, much surprised, accepted the office; Aaron was grievously disturbing his opinion of the heretic. After the meeting with Rachel, which has been described in the previous chapter, he had visited her home with the laudable desire of converting the family to the true faith, and had found himself confronted with peculiar27 difficulties. He strove to draw them into argument, but in a theological sense they slipped through his fingers. Aaron's course in this respect was premeditated, Rachel's was unconsciously pursued. She listened to all he said, and smilingly acquiesced28 in his declaration that there was only one road open to heaven's gates.
"It is the road of right-doing, father," she said, "the road of kindness, of doing unto others as you would they should do unto you, of dispensing29 out of your store, whether it be abundant or not, what you can spare to relieve the unfortunate. You are right, father; there is only one road."
By her sweetness and charity, by her practical sympathy with the suffering, she cut the ground from under his feet. He spoke of the saints, and she said they were good men and women, and were receiving their reward. In a word, she took the strength and subtlety30 out of him, and he yielded with sighs of regret and admiration31. With Aaron he was more trenchant32, and quite as unsuccessful. Many of Aaron's humorous observations made the good priest laugh in spite of himself, and the pearls of wisdom which fell from the Jew's lips crumbled33 his arguments to dust. There was no scoffing34 or irreverence35 on Aaron's part; he simply parried the thrusts with a wisdom and humanity deeper and truer than those of which his antagonist36 could boast.
"My son," said the curé, "would you not make me a Jew if it were in your power?"
"No," replied Aaron, "we do not proselytise, and even if we did you are too good a Christian37 for me to wish to make you a Jew."
This was one of the puzzling remarks which caused the curé to ponder, and which dwelt long in his mind; sometimes he thought that Aaron was a man of deep subtlety, sometimes that he was a man of great simplicity38, but whether subtle or simple he felt it impossible to withhold39 a full measure of respect from one whose eternal lot he sighed to think was perdition and everlasting40 torment41. That sincerity42 was the true test of faith, as Aaron declared, he would not admit; there could be no sincerity in a faith that was false, there could be no sincerity if you did not believe as he believed. Nevertheless, he had an uncomfortable impression that he was being continually worsted in the peaceful war of words in which they invariably engaged when they came together.
As Aaron was not to be turned from his resolution to leave the country, the villagers took steps to show their respect for him. Public meetings were held, which were attended by many persons from surrounding districts, and there was a banquet, of which Aaron did not partake, the food not being cooked according to the Jewish formula. He contented43 himself with fruit and bread, and made a good and sufficient meal. Speeches were made in his honour, and he was held up as an example to old and young. His response was in admirable taste. He said that the years he had spent among them were the happiest in his life, and that it was with true regret he found himself compelled to leave the village. He spoke of his first coming among them with a beloved wife in a delicate state of health, who had grown well and strong in the beautiful spot. It was not alone the sweet air, he said, which had brought the blessing of health to her; the bond of sympathy which had been established between her and her neighbours had been as a spiritual medicine to her, which had given life a value of which it would otherwise have been deprived. It was not so much the material reward of our labours that conferred happiness upon us as the feeling that we were passing our days among friends who always had a smile and a pleasant greeting for us. Riches were perishable44, kindly45 remembrances immortal46. The lessons of life were to be learned from the performance of simple acts of duty; for he regarded it as a duty to so conduct ourselves as to make our presence welcome, and agreeable to those with whom we were in daily association. As to the kind things that had been said of him, he felt that he was scarcely worthy47 of them. "There is," he said, "a leaven48 of human selfishness in all that we do; and the little I have, with the blessing of God, been enabled to do has conferred upon me a much greater pleasure than it could possibly have conferred upon others. To you and to my residence among you I owe all my good fortune, to you and to my residence among you I owe my dear wife's restoration to health; and it would be ingratitude49 indeed did I not endeavour to make some return for the good you have showered upon me. I shall never forget you, nor will my wife forget you; in our native land we shall constantly recall the happy years we spent in this pleasant village, and we shall constantly pray that peace and prosperity may never desert you." The earnestness and feeling with which these sentiments were uttered were unmistakable and convincing, and when Aaron resumed his seat the eyes of all who had assembled to do him honour were turned upon him approvingly and sympathisingly. "Ah," groaned51 the good curé, "were he not a Jew he would be a perfect man!" The flowers which graced the banqueting table were sent by special messenger to Rachel, and the following day she pressed a few and kept them ever afterwards among her precious relics52. Aaron did not come home till late in the night, and he found Rachel waiting up for him. He delighted her by describing the incidents and speeches of the memorable53 evening. Aaron was a great smoker54, and while they talked he smoked the silver-mounted pipe for which he had so great an affection.
There are in the possession of many men dumb memorials of insignificant55 value which they would not part with for untold56 gold, and this silver-mounted pipe of Aaron's was one of these. Before Rachel was blind she had been in the habit of filling it for him, and when she was deprived of sight he sorely missed the affectionate service. Tears started to his eyes one night when, with a loving smile, she handed it to him, filled; and now she did it for him regularly. Rachel had indulged in a piece of extravagance. She had a special case made for the pipe, adorned57 with the letters A. and R. outlined in brilliants, and Aaron handled his treasure almost with the care and affection he bestowed upon his children.
"Your health was proposed," said Aaron, "and the health of our little ones. What was said about you, my life, gave me much more pleasure than what was said about myself. It abashes58 one to have to sit and listen to extravagant59 praises far beyond one's merits, but it is the habit of men to run into extravagance."
"They could say nothing, dear husband, that you do not deserve."
"You too!" exclaimed Aaron, gaily60. "It is well for me that you were not there, for you might have been called upon to give your testimony61."
"I should not have had the courage." She fondly pressed his hand. "I am glad they spoke of me kindly."
"They spoke of you truly, and my heart leaped up within me at what the good curé said of you, for it was he who proposed the toast. I appreciated it more from him than I should have done from any one else, and he was quite sincere for the moment in all the sentiments he expressed, whatever he may have thought of himself afterwards for asking his flock to drink the health of a Jewess. Well, well, it takes all sorts to make a world."
"How much we have to be grateful for!" said Rachel, with a happy sigh.
"Indeed, indeed, for boundless62 gratitude50. Think of what we passed through in Gosport"--he paused suddenly; the one experience which weighed upon his conscience brought a dark and troubled shadow into his face.
"Why do you pause, dear? Has not my blindness proved a blessing to us? Do I miss my sight? Nay63, I think it has made life sweeter. But for that we should not have come to this place, but for that we should not have had the means to do something towards the relief of a few suffering and deserving people. Nothing but good has sprung from it. Our Lord God be praised."
Aaron recovered himself. "There was Mr. Whimpole's visit to us before I commenced business, there were those stupid boys who distressed64 you so with their revilings, which I managed to turn against themselves. It was this pipe of yours, my life, that gave me the inspiration how to disarm65 them. It sharpens my faculties66, it brings out my best points; it is really to me a friend and counsellor. And now I have smoked enough, and it is time to go to bed. I will join you presently."
In solitude67 the one troubled memory of the past forced itself painfully upon him. Did he deserve what had been said in his honour on this night? He valued men's good opinion, and of all the men he knew he valued most the good opinion of the curé. What would this single-minded, conscientious68 priest think of him if he were acquainted with the sin of which he had been guilty, the sin of bringing up an alien child in a religion in which she had not been born? He would look upon him with horror. And it was a bitter punishment that he was compelled to keep this secret locked in his own breast, that he dared not reveal it to a single human creature, that he dared not say openly, "I have sinned, I have sinned. Have mercy upon me!" To his own beloved wife, dearer to him than life itself, he had behaved treacherously69; even in her he dared not confide70. It was not with Rachel as it was with him; there was no difference in the love she bore her children; they were both equally precious to her. To fall upon his knees before her and make confession71 would be like striking a dagger72 into her heart; it almost drove him mad to think of the shock such a revelation would be to her. No, he must guard his secret and his sin jealously to the last hour of his life. So far as human discovery went he believed himself to be safe; the betrayal, if it ever came, lay with himself. True, he had in his possession testimony which might damn him were it to fall into other hands, the little iron safe which Mr. Moss73 had received from Dr. Spenlove, and at the mother's request had conveyed to him. In his reflections upon the matter lately the question had intruded74 itself, What did this little box contain? It was impossible for him to say, but he felt instinctively75 that there was evidence in it which would bring his sin home to him. He allowed his thoughts now to dwell upon the mother. From the day on which he received the five hundred pounds from Mr. Gordon's lawyers he had heard nothing from them, nothing from Mr. Moss or from anybody relating to the matter. Between himself and Mr. Moss there had been a regular though not very frequent correspondence, but his friend had never written one word concerning it, and Aaron, of course, had not referred to it. Thus far, therefore, it was buried in a deep grave.
But would this grave never be opened? If other hands were not responsible for the act would it not be his duty to cause the light of truth to shine upon it? The mother had stipulated76 that, in the event of her husband's death, she should be free to seek her child, should be free to claim the box. Upon this contingency77 seemed to hang his fate; but there were arguments in his favour. Mr. Gordon might live, and the mother could do nothing. Arguing that the man died, it was more than probable that his wife had borne other children who had a claim upon her love which she acknowledged. To seek then her child of shame would be the means of bringing disgrace upon these children of her marriage. Would she deliberately78 do this? He answered the question immediately, No. In the consideration of these phases of the matter he bore in mind that, although the false news of the child's death must of necessity have been communicated to Mr. Gordon by his lawyers, it was likely that it had been kept from the knowledge of the mother. Aaron had been made to understand that Mr. Gordon was a man of inflexible79 resolution, and that he had pledged himself never under any circumstances to make mention of the child to the woman he had married. Even setting this aside, even going to the length of arguing that, hearing of the child's death, Mr. Gordon departed from the strict letter of his resolution, and said to his wife, "Your child is dead," was it not likely that she would reply, "I do not believe it; you tell me so only to deceive me"? In that case, her husband dead and herself childless, would she not search the world over for her offspring?
Setting this all aside, however, the onus80 still devolved upon him to open the grave. One of the stipulations attached to his receipt of the box was that when Ruth was twenty-one years of age it should be handed over to her. Would he dare to violate this condition? Would he so far tamper81 with his conscience as to neglect an obligation which might be deemed sacred? The question tortured him; he could not answer it.
He heard Rachel moving in the room above, and with a troubled heart he went up to her. Thus this night, the events of which were intended to shed honour and glory upon him, ended in sadness, and thus was it proved that the burden of a new deceit may be as a feather-weight to the solemn and heavy consequences which follow in its train.
Everything was ready for the departure of the Cohens, which was to take place at the end of the week. Before the day arrived they received other tokens in proof of the appreciation82 in which they were held. A deputation of working men waited on Aaron, and presented him with an address. The employers of labour themselves--secretly glad, perhaps, that he was going from among them--paid him a special honour. Rachel's heart throbbed83 with gratitude and with pride in her husband. But her greatest pleasure, in which were mingled84 touches of deep sorrow, was derived85 from the affecting testimony of the poor she had befriended. Old men and women witnessed their departure, and bidding farewell to Rachel, prayed God's blessing upon her. Children gave her flowers, and their childish voices were full of affection. The tears ran from her eyes; she could hardly tear herself away. At length it was over; they were gone; but it was long before her sweet face faded from their memory.
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1
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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administrator
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| n.经营管理者，行政官员 | |
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perennially
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| adv.经常出现地；长期地；持久地；永久地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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restrictions
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| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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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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26
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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trenchant
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| adj.尖刻的，清晰的 | |
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crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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scoffing
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| n. 嘲笑, 笑柄, 愚弄 v. 嘲笑, 嘲弄, 愚弄, 狼吞虎咽 | |
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irreverence
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| n.不尊敬 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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41
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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42
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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43
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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44
perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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45
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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47
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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48
leaven
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| v.使发酵；n.酵母；影响 | |
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49
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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50
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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51
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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52
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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53
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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smoker
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| n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室 | |
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55
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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56
untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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abashes
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| v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的第三人称单数 ) | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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61
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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62
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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64
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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65
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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66
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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67
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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68
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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69
treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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70
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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71
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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72
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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73
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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74
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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75
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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76
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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78
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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79
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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80
onus
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| n.负担；责任 | |
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81
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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82
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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83
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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84
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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85
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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