It was clear that Helen would never climb her mountain. In the old days, although she was three years older than her cousin, Rhoda[20] had found out that nothing would ever lift her above the dead level of life. Always beautiful, always common-place, always a little sly—such were her childish characteristics, and they were unaltered by time. Her beauty was of that kind which inevitably5 gives a false impression. Every smile was a poem; every glance seemed to tell of thoughts too deep for words. She was the very impersonation of the German Elle-maid—as hollow a piece of loveliness as ever sat by the roadside in the old Schwarzwald, and lured6 unwary travellers to accept the fatal goblet7 or kiss.
When she said, tearfully, that Robert Clarris had fallen in love at their first interview, and would not rest till he had married her, Rhoda knew that she spoke8 the simple truth. No one who looked into the eloquent9 brown eyes, and watched the play of the sweet lips, could marvel10 at Robert’s impetuosity. One could understand how that fair face had drawn11 out the old Samson cry, [21]“Get her for me, for she pleaseth me well.”
“I might have done far better, Rhoda,” she said, plaintively12; “but I had a hard situation, and I wanted to get out of it. You don’t know the misery of being nursery governess. One is just like the bat in the fable14, neither a bird nor a beast—neither a lady nor a servant. The position is bad enough for an ugly girl; but it is ten times worse for a pretty one.”
No one could blame Helen for speaking of her beauty as an established fact.
“When I was married to Robert,” she continued, “I soon began to be disappointed in him. There was an end to all the nice little attentions. I was almost his goddess until I became his wife.”
“Oh, that’s a very old story,” responded Rhoda. “Lovers are just like our old apple trees; one would think to see the quantity of blossom that there would be a deal of fruit; but there never is. Great promise and small fulfilment—that’s always the case with men.”
“He was dreadfully stingy,” went on Helen. [22]“He worried me sadly about my expenses. I was not allowed enough money to keep myself decently dressed. I think he liked to see me shabby.”
“You are wearing a very good dress at this moment,” remarked Rhoda.
“Yes, this is well enough,” answered her cousin, colouring slightly. “I was obliged to get things without his leave sometimes, or I should have looked like a scarecrow. Robert would never believe that I wanted any clothes.”
“What did he do with the money that he stole?” Rhoda asked abruptly16.
“How should I know?” sighed Helen. “He never gave a shilling of it to me. One day he came home and told me, quite suddenly, that his sin must be discovered. I thought that he was crazed, and when I found that he was in his right mind, I nearly lost my senses. Never get married, Rhoda; take my advice, and be a single woman. It’s the only way to keep out of misery.”
“I’m not thinking of marrying, Helen,” replied Rhoda, rather sharply; [23]“but every marriage is not such a mistake as yours has been. God knew what He was about, I suppose, when He brought Adam and Eve together. There’s little sense in abusing a good road just because you couldn’t walk upright on it.”
“You would not have found it easy to walk with Robert,” said Helen, mournfully. “And now he has gone off, and has left me sticking in the mire17! It’s worse than being a widow.”
Rhoda melted at once at the thought of Helen’s desolate18 condition.
“Perhaps he may really get on in Australia,” she rejoined, trying to speak hopefully; “and then he may send for you and the child.”
“Oh, I hope not!” returned Helen, with a little start. “If he gets on, he will send home money for us; but I do not want to live with him again.”
There can be no separation so utter and hopeless as that which parts two who have been made one. The closer the union, the more complete is the disunion. Even at that moment, when Rhoda’s wrath19 was hot against[24] Robert Clarris, she was struck with Helen’s entire lack of wifely feeling. She could almost have pitied the man who had so thoroughly20 alienated21 the mother of his child. And then she reflected that this dread15 of reunion on Helen’s part told fearfully against him. Helen was weak, but was she not also gentle and affectionate? Better, indeed, was it for them to keep asunder22 until another life should present each to the other under a new aspect.
She did not pursue the subject further. With a sudden desire to be away from Helen and her troubles, she wrapped herself in a thick shawl, and went up the fields that rose behind the cottage. On the highest land the farmer was mending a fence. She could hear the strokes of his mallet23 as he drove the stakes into the ground.
As Rhoda drew near, she stood still and looked at him—a hale, handsome man, whose face, fringed by an iron-grey beard, was like a rosy24 russet apple set in grey lichen25. His smock-frock showed white against the dark[25] background of brown trees. The air was so quiet that one could listen to his breathing as his strong arms dealt the sturdy blows.
She was proud of him as she stood there in the wide field watching him unseen. He would leave her nothing save the legacy27 of an unstained name, but the worth thereof was far above rubies28. No one would sneer29 at her as the daughter of a disgraced man. No one would whisper, “She comes of a bad stock; take heed30 how you trust her.” Many a rogue31 has wriggled32 out of well-earned punishment with the aid of his sire’s good name. Many an honest Christian33 has gone groaning34 through life under the burden of a parent’s evil reputation.
With this pride in him Rhoda was unconsciously blending a pride in herself. “Some eyes,” she thought, “are too blind to see their blessings35; I am quick of sight. The Author and Giver of all good things finds in me a grateful receiver.”
Thus she loudly echoed the Pharisee’s cry[26] “Lord, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.” And never, perhaps, is the Divine patience so severely36 tried as when that self-complacent voice is heard. How sweet in Christ’s ears must be those other voices—stealing up to Him through the egotist’s loveless Te Deum—breathing the publican’s old prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”
It was a day of sober brightness. A white mist had risen above the western slopes, and the setting sun shone through it. Brown furrows37 had begun to take a rich auburn tinge38; tree-shadows crept farther and farther across the green sod; crows flew heavily homewards. From the wet thickets39 came the old fresh ferny scents40, sweetening the calm air. The mallet blows ceased; the farmer had ended his task, and turned towards his daughter.
“You are not sorry to get back to our fields, Rhoda?” he said. [27]“You’ll see the primroses41 showing their pretty faces by-and-by. Ah, it seems but yesterday that you and Helen were filling your pinafores with them!”
“Helen’s winter has come before its time, father,” answered Miss Farren, gravely. “Her wicked husband has made her life desolate.”
“And his own too,” added the farmer, in a pitying tone.
“That is as it should be,” returned Rhoda, quickly. “He has escaped the punishment he merited; but there’s satisfaction in knowing that God’s justice will surely reach him.”
“Ay,” murmured the farmer softly, “God’s mercy will surely reach him.”
“God’s favour is for those who walk uprightly,” said Rhoda.
“Ah, Rhoda, the mercy is granted before they learn to walk uprightly,” replied her father. [28]“It comes to those who have fallen and are ready to perish. There are few of us who can see ourselves in every criminal, as old Baxter did. And there are fewer still who can believe that a man may come out of the Slough42 of Despond cleaner than he went in.”
They turned towards the house, walking silently down the green slopes. Rhoda was angry and perplexed43; what was the use of living a respectable life if sinners were to be highly esteemed44? When she spoke again it was in a harsh tone.
“Robert Clarris has found defenders46, it seems! A man who has committed such a crime as his should scarcely be so lightly forgiven!”
“There is one thing I’d have you remember, Rhoda,” said the farmer, patiently, “and that is, the difference between falling into sin and living in sin. It’s just the difference between the man who loves and hugs his disease and he who writhes47 under it, and longs to be cured.”
“Even supposing that this is Robert’s first fault,” continued Miss Farren, “there must have been a long course of unsteady walking before such a fall could be brought about.”
“Maybe not,” her father responded. [29]“Some men lose their characters, Rhoda, as others lose their lives, by being off their guard for one moment. And when you talk of God’s justice, recollect48 that it means something very different from man’s judgment49. The Lord hates the sin worse than we do, but He knows what we can never know—the strength of the temptation.”
By that time the pair had descended50 the last slope, and were drawing near the cottage. The back-door stood open. Rhoda could see the red glow of the kitchen fire, and the outline of her mother’s figure as she moved to and fro. It was a pleasant glimpse of household warmth and light, and it charmed her ill temper away. But she did not remember that there might be wanderers in the world at that moment—driven out into life’s wilderness51 by sin—whose hearts would well-nigh break at this little glimpse of a home. She did not think of that awful sense of loss which crime must leave behind it. Perhaps that open house-door had suggested thoughts like these to the farmer, for he paused before they entered.
[30]
“Rhoda,” he said, solemnly, “never fall into the mistake of thinking that sinners aren’t punished enough. It’s a very common blunder. Many a man might have hanged himself, as Judas did, if Christ hadn’t stepped in and shown him what the atonement is. It is to the Davids and Peters and Sauls that He says, ‘Where sin abounded53, grace did much more abound52.’”
November came to an end. December set in with biting winds and gloomy skies, and then followed a sharp, wintry Christmas.
It was a hard time for the birds. Rhoda would sit at the window and watch them congregating54 on the brier-bush in the corner of the garden. Now it was a plump thrush, puffing55 out its speckled breast, and feasting on the scarlet57 hips58; now it was a blackbird, with dusky plumage and yellow bill. Then a score of finches and sparrows would alight on the frozen snow, and quarrel over the crumbs59 that she had scattered60 there. All day the sky was grey and clear; but sometimes[31] at sunset, a flush would rest upon the white fields, tinting61 them with the delicate pink of half-opened apple-blossoms.
On Christmas Eve, Rhoda Farren sat watching the hungry birds no longer. A little human life was drawing very near to immortality62. The baby—Helen’s wee, fragile baby—was hovering63 between two worlds.
And then, for the first time, all Rhoda’s sleeping instincts started up, awake and strong. Anger and selfishness were alike forgotten. Let the solemn feet of death be heard upon the threshold of the house, and all the petty wranglings of its inmates64 are stilled. He was coming—“the angel with the amaranthine wreath”—but Rhoda held the little one in her arms, and prayed the Father to shut the door against him.
We know not what we ask when we pray for a child’s life. We are pleading with the Good Shepherd that He will leave a little lamb in the wilderness instead of taking it into the fold. We are asking that it may[32] tread the long, toilsome way home, instead of the short, smooth path that leads straight to rest. Surely our Lord never loves us better than when He says nay65 to such prayers as these. When we become even as they—the little children—and enter into the kingdom, we shall understand the infinite compassion66 of His denial.
Christmas night closed in; and outside the cottage, the mummers, gay in patchwork67 and ribbons, clashed their tin swords, and sang their foolish rhymes. John went out and entreated68 them to go away. A glance through the open door showed Rhoda the clear, broad moonlight, shining over the snow-waste, and she heard the subdued69 voices of the men as they went off to some happier house. Then the door closed again, and she saw nothing but the little child’s wan13 face.
“If it were taken,” she thought, “they should all feel something as the shepherds did when ‘the angels were gone away from them into heaven.’” Even she had begun to realize that[33] a babe is indeed God’s angel in a household. Often, like those Christmas angels, it stays just long enough to be the messenger of peace and good-will, and then returns to Him who sent it. Like them, it leaves us without an earth-stain on its vesture; without a regret for the world from which it is so soon withdrawn70.
But Helen’s little one was to remain. The household rejoiced, and Rhoda learnt to recognise herself in a new character. She became the baby’s head-nurse and most devoted71 slave.
“Was there ever such a child?” she asked, as it gained strength and beauty. “It will be as pretty as Helen by-and-by.”
“It has a look of Robert,” said the farmer, thoughtfully.
Rhoda’s smiles fled. She wanted to forget the relationship between that man and her darling. Nor was she without a fear that it might have inherited some touch of his evil nature. Her heart never softened72 towards him because he was the father of the child. And[34] yet how much richer her life had grown since she had taken the baby into it!
The snow lay long upon the ground. It was so lengthened73 a winter, that spring seemed to come suddenly. There was a burst of primroses on the borders of the fields. They lit up shady places with their pale yellow stars, and spread themselves out in sheets. Every puff56 of wind was sweet with the breath of violets; birds sang their old carols—now two or three clear notes—now a shake—then a long whistle. All God’s works praised Him in the freshness of their new life. Old dry stumps74, that Rhoda had thought dead and useless, began to put forth green shoots. The earth teemed45 with surprises; all around there was a continual assertion of vitality75. And so hard is it to distinguish the barrenness of winter from the barrenness of death, that every spring has its seeming miracles. The tree that our impatient hands had well-nigh hewn down may be our sweetest shelter in the heat of summer noontide.
[35]
Not until the high winds had sent the blossoms drifting over the orchards76 like a second snowfall, did there come news of Helen’s husband.
The tidings came through Mr. Elton. Clarris had written to him, enclosing a letter for his wife. He had also sent notes to the amount of forty pounds to his former employer. From time to time he promised money should be forwarded until the whole sum that he had taken was restored.
“I believe,” wrote Mr. Elton to the farmer, “that he will keep his word. He does not, he declares, hope to wipe out his sin by this restitution77. ‘I am not one whit26 better than any other criminal,’ he writes, ‘but I have been more leniently78 dealt with than most of my brethren. God’s mercy, acting79 through you, has done much for me.’”
Helen did not show Rhoda the letter that had been received. She was paler and sadder after reading it, but she said nothing about its contents. Rhoda took the child in her arms,[36] leaving its mother sitting in silence, and went out into the garden.
The wild winds had sunk to rest. A light shower had fallen in the early morning, beating out the sweetness of the new-born roses, and the long, soft grass. The old walks glittered and twinkled in the sunshine. The sky was radiantly blue, and the clouds were fair.
“After all,” thought Rhoda, looking upward with a sudden lifting of the spirit, “heaven is full of forgiven sinners!”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
grovelling
|
|
| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
grovel
|
|
| vi.卑躬屈膝，奴颜婢膝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
inevitably
|
|
| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lured
|
|
| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
goblet
|
|
| n.高脚酒杯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
marvel
|
|
| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
plaintively
|
|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
wan
|
|
| (wide area network)广域网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
fable
|
|
| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mire
|
|
| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
alienated
|
|
| adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
asunder
|
|
| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
mallet
|
|
| n.槌棒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lichen
|
|
| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
whit
|
|
| n.一点，丝毫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
legacy
|
|
| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
rubies
|
|
| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
sneer
|
|
| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rogue
|
|
| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
wriggled
|
|
| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
groaning
|
|
| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
blessings
|
|
| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
furrows
|
|
| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
thickets
|
|
| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
scents
|
|
| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
primroses
|
|
| n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 )；淡黄色；追求享乐（招至恶果） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
slough
|
|
| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
esteemed
|
|
| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
teemed
|
|
| v.充满( teem的过去式和过去分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
defenders
|
|
| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
writhes
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
abound
|
|
| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
abounded
|
|
| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
congregating
|
|
| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
hips
|
|
| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
crumbs
|
|
| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
tinting
|
|
| 着色，染色（的阶段或过程） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
immortality
|
|
| n.不死，不朽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
inmates
|
|
| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
patchwork
|
|
| n.混杂物；拼缝物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
entreated
|
|
| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
lengthened
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
stumps
|
|
| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
orchards
|
|
| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
restitution
|
|
| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
leniently
|
|
| 温和地，仁慈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |