As it was she struck her palfrey sharply with her whip, and went galloping7 through the wood, with her cousin close after. On her wrist was her favorite falcon8, his bell tinkling9 as she rode. The west wind fanned her cheeks, hot with the flush which had sprung in them at the soft words Von Rittenberg had been whispering into her ears as they came through the pine wood below the castle steep. She heard the hoof-beats of his horse behind her like an echo, which repeated the things he had been saying, and although she knew beyond peradventure that she should lose in his esteem10 by not showing him that she was angry, yet withal so little had she been in sooth displeased11, that she could but illy feign12 displeasure.
As they rode, the mind of the countess was busy with an endeavor to understand her own feelings, as a fly which hath been ensnared by the spider struggles to regain14 the freedom of his wings. She was herself entangled15 in a web of circumstance and of passion, and she glowed with a warmth which was at once shame and desire. She was not without some proper indignation against Count Stephen, and yet she desired with a curiosity which was not all unwilling16, to learn what more he would dare to whisper in her ear before they came again to the castle from this hunt upon which she had ridden against the wish of her husband. Her blood seemed on fire. She repeated to herself the words in which she had for the first time set at naught17 the wishes of Albrecht, and with strange inconsistency she was angry that he had not forced her to remain at the castle. She said to herself that when she had declared her defiance18 of his will that she go not with the count to fly the falcon, her husband should have constrained19 her to obedience20. She could not divine why it was that Albrecht seemed to look upon her as a being higher than himself, and to yield to her will as if it were that of one who had the right to command. He seemed less strong and noble than she had believed him when he failed to bend her pride to his wish.
Erna was a woman, and she did not ask herself what would have been her feelings had she at this moment been a prisoner at home, instead of careering thus across the forest with the soft west wind blowing in her face and a tingling21 sense of the hoof-beats of Count Stephen's steed just behind her. Though it be not when they are most kindly22 entreated23 that women be most just, yet are they not to be constrained into doing justice to those who love them.
Very lovely was the countess to-day, as she rode through the greenwood. She was clad in a robe of green cloth, the color of the new tips of the pine branches in the springtime. Her cap was embroidered24 with gold, and its tuft of heron's plume25 was held in its place by a clasp of jewels. Her hawk26 was a jerfalcon as white as the snow new-fallen, upon which the sun shines ere yet it hath been smirched or sullied; and his hood27 and jesses were of crimson28, of the same hue29 as her gloves, which were richly enwrought with golden thread in quaint30 devices. The spotless plumage of the bird against the red of the glove was wondrously31 fair to see, and wondrously fair was the lady as she carried the falcon against her breast.
Little did it please the temper of Erna that Herr von Zimmern should have taken it upon himself to suppose that she rode to-day because he had been to the trouble of riding in the early morning to the meadow by the lake and bringing word again that the ducks, now on their way southward, were there. She was well assured in her own mind that she had been minded to please no one but herself when she had insisted in setting out despite the wish of Albrecht that she go not. Certainly she had no longing32 to show friendliness33 to Herr von Zimmern for his service, since to say sooth the prejudice which she had from his first coming held against the cripple had in no wise softened34 with time, albeit35 he had seemed to be devoted36 to Albrecht and to her; neither had it been her wish, she assured herself, to pleasure Count Stephen, however his earnestness in the matter might seem to give color to such a supposition. She was only of the mind to come, and to show her husband, who each day became more and more wearisomely given to devout37 matters, that she was not to be ruled by his unreasonable38 whims39 and to shut herself up as if she were a nun40 in a cloister41 instead of being lady of Rittenberg, the fairest holding in all the country round.
She was not without a secret anger that Albrecht gave no sign of seeing how his guest was striving to steal away the heart of his wife. She set her teeth with vexation that no token indicated that the baron42 was even aware of the peril43 in which his happiness stood. She said to herself that there could be little love where one saw only such indifference44. Her clear cheek flushed hotly as the thought came that it might after all be indifference rather than blindness which made her husband so calm. She recalled that while he wooed her he had found the kisses of Elsa to his liking45, and the doubt whether he were not one of the men whose affection goes as lightly as it comes, pierced her heart. The very suspicion made her hot with rage.
Yet surely Albrecht had declared that the caress46 of no other woman could evermore be sweet to him; it was only that he was sunk into this mire47 of religious musing48 in which Father Christopher encouraged him. She half hated the old priest at the thought. She wondered how far it would be possible for Count Stephen to carry his wooing before the wrath49 of Albrecht would break out. The question affected50 her almost as if she already felt the caress of the lover. She became suddenly so keenly conscious of the presence of the count behind her that she glanced back as if in fear. Then she reined51 in her palfrey so that her damsel Fastrade, who rode discreetly52 in the rear, might overtake her.
For a time she paced forward demurely53, feeling the sidelong glances of the count upon her like a hand, and with difficulty restraining the impulse to look up and meet his burning eyes. She knew well that he watched her as a fowler might watch a bird that is fluttering ever nearer the snare13; and every moment it became harder for her to maintain her calm. Suddenly the impulse seized her to dash wildly forward along the woodland way.
"Come, Fastrade!" she called imperatively54.
She struck her palfrey sharply, and onward55 she flew, her damsel following as well as she might. She felt as if she were escaping from danger; the wood seemed full of beings in league with Count Stephen; she even seemed to hear wicked whispers in her ears, so clear that she could have sworn that they were pronounced by unseen lips; some presence tried to hold her back, and only the need of escape made her forget for the moment to be afraid; for a brief time a wild exhilaration thrilled her blood, as if in leaving Count Stephen behind in the beech56 wood she were overcoming the unseen powers of evil and freeing herself from temptation.
"Ride, Fastrade!" she called backward over her shoulder, conscious in the brief glance behind that the plume of the count was still to be seen as he galloped57 easily after them. "Ride! faster, faster!"
The falcon fluttered against her breast, almost thrown from her wrist by the swiftness of her pace; her heart fluttered beneath, half in fear and half in a dangerously delicious confusion. The very air, soft and perfumed, languorous58 and enervating59, seemed to melt her resolution and to help to overcome her. She held up her arm, and shook her falcon until he reeled again, tossing his hooded60 head so that his bell rang right merrily. She broke into wild laughter, and along the green arches of the wood she heard the soft voices of the unseen ones laugh with her; but she no longer felt as if she were combating the powers about her; she did but jest with them and they with her. She trembled without fearing and yet without knowing why.
"On, Fastrade!" she cried still. "Faster, faster!"
Suddenly, as she looked through the beech-tree boles, which here began to grow more sparsely61, as the riders approached the meadow where they were to throw off the falcons62, Erna saw two figures. Her first thought was that they were creatures of the wood, but in a moment more she saw that it was her husband riding with Herr von Zimmern. The sight sobered her instantly. She reined in her palfrey so abruptly63 that Fastrade, who had much ado to keep up with her mistress, hardly now escaped dashing against her. Erna could not divine why Albrecht should be here when she supposed him to be at home. Her first fearful thought, which the guiltiness of her mind conjured64 up, was that he had come to play the spy upon her and the count; but the openness with which he allowed himself to be seen, and the grave courtesy with which he saluted65 her as she rode by, showed her that this was not the object of his ride. Albrecht did not attempt to join her, but rode into the wood so quickly that neither of Erna's companions saw him, albeit had Fastrade been less occupied with her palfrey, thrown into confusion by the suddenness with which he had been checked, she might have perceived the baron.
Although Erna could not in the least determine why Albrecht was there, the sight of him had instantly subdued66 her wild mood. She became quiet and thoughtful, and for all the afternoon while they flew their hawks67, she watched almost in silence; so that the count jested upon her soberness.
"Didst thou, then, see a ghost in the wood?" he demanded; "or was it that thou hast ridden across the track of the Wild Huntsman? Certain it is that something has come to thee since thou fleddest from me to ride on with thy damsel. Thou art too beautiful to be trusted in the forest without a knight68 beside thee; sooner or later is a kobold sure to capture thee if thou ridest thus recklessly."
Something in his tone angered the Lady of Rittenberg. Since the hour when she had thoughtlessly put into his hand the scroll69 of Ovid with its pictures of such wickedness that a modest dame70 might by no means give them unto the gaze of another, and which she blushed to see when she examined the parchment more closely afterward71, it had seemed to Erna that Count Stephen accosted72 her with a freedom which he had not carried of old. She turned from him now, and bent73 her regard upon the jess of her falcon, as if she were making sure that it were secure, as the bird rested upon her wrist after having struck down a brace74 of ducks.
"Nay75," the count continued, laughing and speaking in a tone which was of itself like a caress, "and thou takest to being angry with me, Mistress Cousin, I am indeed undone76. It is but that the light of thy beauty hath so dazzled thy slave that I know not what I say, and so in sooth may unwitting offend thee."
"Now thou art minded to jest and to mock me," Erna returned, instantly relenting. "I am not angry. Why should I be? Only that it is perhaps not customary for the guest to praise the beauty of his hostess as thou hast of late fallen into the fashion of doing."
"No," the count answered gravely, and with a look into her eyes that she could not meet unabashed; "but then it is not often that the guest so truly and so heartily77 loveth his hostess."
"It hath a savor78 as if thou wouldst flout79 at my poor face," she continued, making her countenance80 as if she heard not his bold words; "and surely it is not seemly that one should mock his hostess."
"Of a truth, fair cousin," Count Stephen began eagerly, "I—
"Hush81!" she cried softly, her manner changing. Then aloud she said, moving nearer to the spot where stood Fastrade: "Have we not a brave quarry82 to-day? I have never seen the hawks do better."
The day was well worn when the train started to return to the castle, and in the beech wood the shadows were gathering83 so that one could see but dimly there; and it might be that when Erna turned her head as she rode through a leafy covert84 and spoke85 as if to Fastrade, she in truth believed her damsel to be behind her, albeit the ambling86 of the maiden's palfrey was little enough like to the trampling87 of the stallion upon which Count Stephen rode, so near that the nose of his steed was all but touching88 the haunches of Erna's. And yet before she turned the countess hesitated and flushed there in the shadow, and her voice as she spoke the name of her damsel had in it a tremor89 which could hardly have been there had she in all verity90 spoken for the ears of Fastrade.
Count Stephen pressed his horse forward so that their steeds were abreast91 in the narrow way.
"Nay, it is I," he said, so close that as he leaned toward her in the dusk she felt his breath hot upon her cheek.
She reined her palfrey away from him, but it seemed to her as if something unseen thrust itself in her way so that she could not escape. It came upon her that the wood-folk were in league with her cousin, and her terror made her turn again toward Count Stephen, although she shook the reins92 of her palfrey to urge him forward. But the path was too narrow for two horses to run together in it, and Count Stephen kept his steed close beside her own. Her falcon she had given to Rupert, who rode far behind, and it occurred to her now that had she but kept it with her she might have let it escape and so produced an excitement by means of which to be freed from her entanglement93.
"Dearest!" breathed the count at her ear; and the passion of his voice stirred her pulses with fiery94 dread.
She felt as if she were suffocating95; she longed to flee, and yet she longed also to stay. Some resistless fascination96 seemed to overpower her, and without speaking she rode by her lover's side for the space of a falcon's plunge97 at his quarry. Then Count Stephen half threw himself from his horse to hers, cast his strong arm about her, and kissed her.
The touch of his lips broke the spell which passion and opportunity had been weaving about her. She tore herself out of his embrace with a vehemence98 which nearly threw him from his saddle, and struck her palfrey with all her force. Before he recovered his seat she was fleeing down the forest path with all her speed, panting and weeping, and urging her palfrey with voice and with whip toward the castle.
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1
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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2
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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3
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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8
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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10
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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11
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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12
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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14
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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15
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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17
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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18
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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19
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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21
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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22
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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23
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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26
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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27
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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28
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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30
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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31
wondrously
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| adv.惊奇地，非常，极其 | |
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32
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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33
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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34
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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35
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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36
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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37
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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38
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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39
WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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40
nun
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| n.修女，尼姑 | |
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41
cloister
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| n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝 | |
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42
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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43
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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44
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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45
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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46
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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47
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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48
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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49
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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50
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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51
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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52
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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53
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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54
imperatively
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| adv.命令式地 | |
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55
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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56
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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57
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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58
languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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59
enervating
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| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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60
hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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61
sparsely
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| adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地 | |
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62
falcons
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| n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 ) | |
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63
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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64
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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65
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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66
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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67
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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68
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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69
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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70
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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71
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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72
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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73
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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74
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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75
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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76
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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78
savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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flout
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| v./n.嘲弄，愚弄，轻视 | |
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80
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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81
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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82
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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83
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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84
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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85
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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86
ambling
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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87
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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88
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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89
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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90
verity
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| n.真实性 | |
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91
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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94
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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95
suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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96
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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97
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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