A full moon hung above them, but its silvery radiance was paled by other lights. Warm gleams shone out from the store windows upon the hard-trodden snow; a train of lighted cars stood at the station, and the intense white glare of the head-lamp mingled2 with the beam flung far across the prairie by a freight locomotive on a side-track. Groups of people strolled up and down the low platform, waiting to see the train go out, and their voices rang merrily on the frosty air. From one of the great shadowy elevators there came a whirr of wheels.
When the train rolled away into the wilderness4, Muriel Hurst entered the hotel and went upstairs to the parlor5 where Colston and her sister were sitting. The room was furnished in defective6 taste, but it was warm and brightly lighted, and the girl had got accustomed to the smell of warm iron diffused7 by the stove and the odor of burning kerosene8. Colston occupied an easy-chair, and when Muriel took off her furs he looked up with a smile, 207 noticing the fine color the nipping air had brought into her face. She looked braced9 and vigorous, but it struck him that she wore a thoughtful expression.
“Did you buy all you wanted?” he asked.
“I got what I came for.” Muriel sat down and handed her sister a parcel. “I think that ought to match. Has Harry10 been lounging there since supper? Isn’t he the picture of comfortable laziness?”
Colston laughed. He was still very neatly11 dressed, but he looked harder than he had when he first reached the prairie and his face was brown.
“I’m content, and that’s a great thing,” he rejoined. “Indeed, I’ll confess that I could enjoy our stay here, except for the damping effect of our friends’ trouble. It’s astonishing how little one misses the comforts we insist on in England, and I’m coming to take an interest in the visits we pay among the ranches12 and our weekly trip to Sebastian. Then nobody could maintain that your sister looks any the worse for her experience. I’m beginning to think she might pass for a wheat-grower’s wife.”
“I heard Mrs. Johnson ask when you were going to take a farm,” Muriel retorted. “It would be difficult to imagine you tramping down a furrow14 behind a plow15 or driving one of those smelly gasoline tractors; but you’ll be able to pose before your constituents17 as an authority on colonial questions when you go home.”
“I’m afraid they’ll throw me over unless they see me soon; but there’s nothing else to take me back, and I’d feel we were deserting our friends in their distress18.”
“We can’t leave them yet,” Mrs. Colston broke in. “The suspense19 is preying20 upon Jernyngham. He’s getting dangerously moody21; I know Gertrude feels anxious about him.” 208
A curious expression crept into Muriel’s eyes.
“Believing what he does, it’s natural that he should clamor for justice, but he’s becoming possessed22 by a feverish23 cruelty. It’s mastering him, destroying his judgment24.”
“You’re alluding25 to his suspicions of Prescott?”
Muriel’s eyes sparkled as she took up the challenge.
“You know as well as I do that they’re altogether wrong! It’s impossible that he should be guilty!”
“One would like to think so,” her sister responded with dry reserve. “But it’s a pity he ran away.”
Muriel could not deny this. She had retained her faith in Prescott, but his silence about the motive3 for an absence that must tell against him troubled her. It was strange that he had given her no hint, and she felt hurt.
“He may have gone because he could not bear to be distrusted,” she said. “You are both sorry for Jernyngham, but don’t you think the man he unjustly suspects deserves some pity?”
“Well,” said Colston, “I’ve tried to keep an open mind. Prejudice, of course, should not be pandered27 to; but one is as likely to be led astray by too strong a partiality for the suspected person.” He paused before he added: “However, I envy you your confidence; I liked the man.”
“The worst of it is that the matter may go dragging on until it wears Gertrude and her father out,” Mrs. Colston remarked. “It would be a relief in some ways to learn the truth, however bad it is.”
“Mr. Prescott has no reason to dread28 the truth’s coming out,” said Muriel staunchly.
Then a maid came in to announce that their team was ready, and, putting on her furs, Muriel went down in advance 209 of the others to see that her purchases had been placed together. After she had gone, Mrs. Colston looked at her husband.
“I think it would be advisable to mention Prescott as seldom as possible.”
“So do I,” Colston agreed. “I wonder whether you have noticed anything unusual in the relations between Muriel and Gertrude of late? They used to be good friends in England.”
“I have remarked some signs of strain. But it is not a matter you could be expected to take an interest in.”
“Of course,” Colston rejoined deprecatingly, and went down with his wife.
Leslie’s team and a smart sleigh, which Jernyngham had had sent out from Toronto, stood at the door, and after he had helped his wife and Muriel in, Colston took the reins29. When they had jolted30 across the track, the snow was beaten smooth along the trail; the team was fresh after resting, and it was a brilliant night. They set off at an exhilarating speed, and though their faces tingled31 they kept warm beneath their furs and driving-robes. Far in front of them spread the prairie, gleaming white beneath the moon; no cloud stained the vault32 of soft deep blue, and the drumming of the hoofs33 rang out in merry rhythm. The crisp cold, which was less marked than usual, stirred the blood.
They passed a buggy, drawn34 by a good horse, and later a light wagon35, for the snow does not, as a rule, lie deep on the western prairie and the farmers largely continue the use of wheels. After that for some time they were alone on the waste, until as they approached a tract16 of broken country a wagon appeared on the crest36 of a rise, with the double span of horses in front of it cutting sharply black 210 against the snow. It came on slowly, heavily loaded with bags of grain, and then the dark shape of a man who walked beside the team grew visible. As they came closer, Colston turned his horses out of the trail to let the wagon pass, and then started as the moonlight fell on the teamster’s face. It was Prescott.
For a moment he hesitated, and then pulled up, acknowledging the man’s greeting with a lifted hand. Mrs. Colston, however, said nothing, and Prescott stood quietly by his horses’ heads, until Muriel called him forward and gave him her hand.
“When did you get back?” she asked.
“Late last night. We broke the wheat bin37 this morning, and I’m taking the first load in.”
“But where were you?”
“In Alberta and British Columbia most of the time.”
He volunteered no further information and there was an awkward pause, for Prescott had noticed that Colston had been undecided whether to drive on or not. Mrs. Colston sat farthest from him, so that he could not see her, but she had not addressed him yet. It was clear that his appearance had affected39 them unpleasantly.
“When we next meet, you must tell us about your trip,” said Muriel.
“We should be interested to hear about it,” Colston added lamely40, and Prescott forced a smile. Muriel was the only one who had treated him on the old friendly footing; and he could hardly visit the Leslie homestead, even if he were invited, while Jernyngham was there.
“I may see you some time, and I mustn’t keep you now,” he responded.
He started his team, and Colston turned to his companions. 211
“I’ll confess that I’ve had a great surprise.”
“Of course, you imagined that Mr. Prescott had gone for good!” said Muriel with scorn.
“I’m afraid I had some idea of that nature. He would hardly have come back if he were guilty.”
“Oh,” said Muriel mockingly, “you really can’t tell what an unscrupulous, bold man might do.”
“Spare me,” Colston begged with a laugh. “After all, it looks as if you have been right.” He turned to his wife. “What do you think?”
“Mr. Prescott’s guilt26 or innocence41 is a question I can’t decide; but in making us believe he was Cyril Jernyngham he did a very wrong and foolish thing. That Cyril may have urged him to do so is no excuse.”
“Leaving Mr. Prescott out, I think Cyril’s idea was a very generous one,” Muriel declared.
“How can you believe that?”
“He must have wished to save his father and sister pain, and he knew the trick would cost him a good deal. For one thing, it would prevent his going home to be reinstated, because of course if he had done so, we would have seen he was not the man we had met in Canada. He meant to stay here, refusing to benefit by the change in his affairs, out of consideration for his relatives.”
“And you approve his passing off this western farmer for a Jernyngham?” Mrs. Colston asked.
“Oh, that!” Muriel’s laugh was scornful. “You were satisfied with the man until you knew his name was Prescott. How was it that you didn’t miss the inherent superiority of the Jernynghams? Besides, I can’t think Cyril suffered by getting his friend to represent him. Though people won’t talk very freely, I’ve picked up 212 some information since I’ve been here, enough to show what kind of man Cyril was. He hadn’t much to boast of, and one must do him the justice to admit that he seems to have recognized it. You probably know, though you hid it from me, that on the evening he should have met us he was lying in the hotel after getting badly hurt in a drunken brawl42 among some riotous43 Orangemen.”
“I can’t have any reflections cast upon Orangemen,” Colston objected. “There are a large number in my constituency; most worthy44 people, for whom I’ve a strong respect.”
“You have a respect for their votes, you mean,” Muriel rejoined. “You know you’re really ritualistic High Church. If your constituents knew as much about St. Cuthbert’s as I do, they would turn you out.”
“I have never hid my convictions,” Colston declared. “Anyway, I have ascertained45 that the greater proportion of the Orangemen were sober.”
“Then,” retorted Muriel, “I’m sorry that Cyril was not. But there are more important points to consider.”
“That is very true,” said Mrs. Colston. “Will you tell Jernyngham that we have seen Prescott, Harry?”
Colston hesitated.
“No; I don’t think so. I’m afraid of the effect it may have on him; and he won’t be up when we get in. All the same, he’s bound to hear the news from somebody else very soon.”
Neither of the others answered, and they drove on in silence until the lights of the Leslie homestead blinked across the snow. The cheerfulness which had marked the party when they set out had gone; they felt a sense of constraint46, and Muriel wondered uneasily whether she had spoken with too much freedom. 213
The next morning they were sitting with Jernyngham and Gertrude when a neighboring rancher came in.
“I thought Leslie might be here,” he explained. “Don’t mean to intrude48.”
Colston knew the man and he asked him to sit down. Jernyngham glanced up from the Winnipeg paper he was reading. His face was worn and had set into a fixed49, harsh expression, but his manner conveyed a hint of eagerness; of late it had suggested that he was continually expecting something.
“I drove over to give Leslie a message,” the newcomer continued. “I guess you have heard that Prescott’s back.”
Jernyngham started and dropped the paper.
“Prescott back? You must be mistaken!”
“No, sir! Spoke47 to him on the trail last night. He was hauling in a load to the settlement, and I was driving home half an hour after Mr. Colston.”
“There’s only one trail,” said Jernyngham, looking hard at Colston. “You must have met the fellow. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Colston showed confusion.
“To tell the truth, I was afraid the news might distress and excite you. You couldn’t do anything until Monday, and I thought it better to let you spend to-day in peace.”
“In peace!” Jernyngham laughed in a jarring manner. “Tormented as I am by suspense that grows beyond endurance!” His eyes glittered and the lines on his face deepened. “And I’m to be kept in ignorance while the villain50 who robbed and killed my son goes about his work undisturbed!”
There was an awkward silence for a few moments. 214 Mrs. Colston looked distressed51, and Gertrude regarded Muriel with a long searching glance. The girl felt that she was being suspected of abetting52 her brother-in-law for some ulterior purpose. She was of sanguine53 temperament54 and wayward temper, and her blood ran warm; but she held in check the anger that she burned to give expression to. Then their visitor, whom they had forgotten, broke in:
“Now, sir, you’re getting ahead too fast. There’s nothing proved against Prescott, and I and others know he never did the thing!” He paused and Muriel, regardless of her companions, flung him a grateful glance as he went on: “Even Curtis can’t bring it home to him!”
“Curtis,” said Jernyngham contemptuously, “is a cautious fool! I’ll communicate with his chiefs at Regina.” He got up with a decided38 air. “I’ll start for Sebastian at once. Where’s Leslie? I must see him about a team.”
“You stay where you are,” said the farmer, with rude sympathy. “I heard that one of the police bosses will be at the settlement to-morrow and you can see him then; Curtis took a room for him at the hotel. I’m telling you because the sooner all this muss is cleared up the better, and it won’t hurt Prescott.”
He went out and Jernyngham, without speaking to the others, picked up his paper. Muriel took a book from a shelf, but although she determinedly55 tried to fix her attention on it, she could make no sense of what she read. It was a dreary56 morning; Colston was soon driven out, and the others were oppressed by a feeling of constraint and tension. They were glad when Jernyngham and Gertrude started for Sebastian in the afternoon. After they had gone, Colston looked at his wife and sister-in-law dolefully. 215
“This kind of thing will tell upon your nerves; I’m beginning to feel it,” he said. “We must have a long drive to-morrow to get rid of the depression. Those people on the ranch13 by the bluff57 pressed us to come back again.”
“There are many excuses for our friends; you couldn’t expect them to be cheerful,” Mrs. Colston replied.
“That’s very true; one must try to remember it. It seems our duty to remain and comfort them as much as possible; but I can’t say that they’re always very grateful. Indeed, I have felt hurt by Gertrude’s reserve, though, considering how trying all this must be for her, one can’t take exception to it.”
“Gertrude knows her brother is alive!” said Muriel coldly.
Her sister cast a keen glance at her, while Colston, made a sign of expostulation.
“I scarcely think you have any right to say that; but I’ll confess that I’m wavering in my opinions—Prescott’s return has had its effect on me. In fact, the mystery’s getting deeper and more fascinating; I feel impelled58 to wait and see it unraveled.”
“That is hardly the way to regard it,” his wife rebuked59 him. “I would rather remember that the Jernynghams have a strong claim on our sympathy.”
“It’s the main consideration, of course. But we’ll decide on the drive to-morrow. It has been a depressing day.”
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1
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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2
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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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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4
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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kerosene
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| n.(kerosine)煤油，火油 | |
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9
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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10
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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12
ranches
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| 大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 ) | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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14
furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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15
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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16
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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constituents
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| n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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19
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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20
preying
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| v.掠食( prey的现在分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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21
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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24
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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25
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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26
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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27
pandered
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| v.迎合（他人的低级趣味或淫欲）( pander的过去式和过去分词 )；纵容某人；迁就某事物 | |
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28
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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29
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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jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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35
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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36
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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37
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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38
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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40
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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41
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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42
brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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43
riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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44
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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45
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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47
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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48
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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49
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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50
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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51
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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52
abetting
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| v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的现在分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持 | |
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53
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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54
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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55
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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56
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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57
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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58
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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