“Dear Max,—I will take him into the waiting-room, where there is a good view of the platform. I can keep him there, I think. But you must be quick. Recollect1, a momentary2 glance will do. Run by, if you can, at the very last minute. But pray, pray be careful. It is victory or ruin; for he would never forgive either. Laura.
“P.S. Burn this, and every note I send.”
Mrs Brandon’s face wore a troubled puzzled expression as she glanced at Ella, whose lips moved.
“I found that in my reticule since I have lain here,” she whispered. “Read on, and you will understand.”
Mrs Brandon took out from the envelope another paper, and read, in a round legal hand:
“Cliff-terrace, Penzance,—18—
“Sir,—I am requested by my patient, Mr Charles Vining, to enclose the note here contained, one which, at his wish, I have addressed as you see. He tells me that he is doubtful of its reaching the lady if sent by post, and desires me to implore3 you to be its bearer, delivering it yourself, and adding your persuasions4 if she should decline compliance5. He would have written more, but the note enclosed was penned in my brief absence, and I sternly forbade farther exertion6. By way of explanation, I may tell you that my patient came in here, with two more gentlemen, in a yacht, driven to the bay by stress of weather. The next night there was a fearful wreck7 close in shore, and Mr Vining and one of his friends volunteered, and were out in the lifeboat. I regret to say that their gallant8 attempt only added to the long list of those gone to their account. Two of the lifeboat’s crew were drowned, while your friend was cast upon the rocks fearfully injured.
“Let me assure you that he has had the best advice the town affords.—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
“Henry Penellyn, M.R.C.S.
“To Maximilian Bray9, Esq.
“P.S. Mr Vining bids me tell you that the above is his last request.
“I do not read to him the following: Not a moment is to be lost, for internal haemorrhage has set in.”
Mrs Brandon’s breath came thick and fast, as dashing down this letter, she took up the next.
“My only love,—Pray come to me. I am half-killed.—Ever yours,
“Charles Vining.”
“But that is—stop a minute,” exclaimed Mrs Brandon, who was terribly agitated10, and she rang the bell. “Bring my desk quickly,” she said to the maid who answered. “Yes,” she exclaimed, as she unlocked the desk and drew out a letter, and compared it carefully. “It is the same hand. It is his writing!”
“Yes,” whispered Ella sadly.
“What does it all mean, then?” exclaimed Mrs Brandon confusedly.
“I cannot tell—I cannot understand,” whispered Ella. “I was deceived and led away, and he must have seen me; but he would not have betrayed me thus.”
“But how to explain it all!” cried Mrs Brandon excitedly. “He is to be married to Laura Bray—”
“Ah, me! What have I done, what have I said?” cried Mrs Brandon. “My poor child, I must have been mad to have let my foolish lips utter those words!” And she gently raised the fainting girl in her arms; for at those bitter words, Ella had uttered that faint sigh, her face had been contracted as by a violent spasm11, and her eyes had closed.
“It is nothing,” sighed Ella, reviving. “If he is only happy!”
“Happy!” cried Mrs Brandon, her breast heaving with passion. “It is some cruel conspiracy12. But tell me—if you can bear to speak—tell me all.”
It was a long recital13; for it was told in a faint whisper, and spread over some time, Ella’s strength seeming often to fail her. Twice over Mrs Brandon would have arrested her, but she begged to be allowed to proceed.
“It will make me happier,” she whispered. And Mrs Brandon could only bend her head.
Three o’clock had struck by the pendule, whose slow beat seemed to be numbering off Ella’s last minutes, when Mrs Brandon left her in the charge of the nurse she had summoned, sleeping now calmly, and as if relieved by confiding14 her sad little last month’s history to another breast.
It was late; but Mrs Brandon had another duty to perform, one which she did, with her mind now confused, now seeming to see plainly the whole of the plot. But there was that letter—those lines in Charley Vining’s hand. But for them, all would have been plain.
At times she was moved by a burning indignation; at others she weakly wept; but before returning to Ella’s bedside, she took a large sheet of paper, secured to it the three missives she had brought from the bedside, and then wrote under them:
“Charles Vining,—The victim of a cruel plot—Ella Bedford—was enticed15 from the home I had found for her by Maximilian Bray, from whom she escaped, to crawl, dying, to my house, where she now lies, to breathe her last in peace. As an English gentleman, I ask you, Have you had any hand in this? If not, explain how a letter should be sent to her in your handwriting. I can see part; but the rest remains16 for you to clear. Emily Brandon.”
This letter Mrs Brandon carefully sealed, with its contents, and then returned to watch by Ella’s bedside.
Soon after eight that morning she dispatched the note by a trusty messenger, to be delivered into no other hands than Charley Vining’s—little wotting the events to take place that day—and into Charley Vining’s hands that letter was placed, as we have seen.
Sir Philip Vining’s coachman was the first to recover himself and to go to his master’s assistance, just as, half stunned17 and confused, Sir Philip was struggling to his feet.
“Not much hurt, I think!” said Sir Philip. “But where is Mr Bray?”
“There he lies, Sir Philip,” said the coachman.
And together they went to raise the unfortunate companion of their ride, insensible now, and bleeding from a cut on the temple.
“Beg pardon, Sir Philip,” said the coachman appealingly. “I’ve been with you fifteen years now; I hope you won’t turn me off for this job. I was driving as carefully as I could.”
“My good fellow, no; of course not. I was to blame. Thank Heaven there are some men coming!—Bray, my dear friend, how is it with you?”
Mr Bray looked up on being addressed, and, with a little assistance, rose to his feet; but he was weak and helpless, seating himself directly after.
In spite of the serious aspect of affairs, a little examination proved that, though cut about, and some of the harness injured, the horses were very little the worse; while, with the exception of the loss of some paint and a smashed panel, the carriage, on being placed in its normal position, was found to be quite capable of continuing its journey. Plenty of help had arrived, and the labourers had worked with a will; but upon Mr Bray being assisted to his seat, he seemed so ill and shaken, that Sir Philip gave orders for the carriage to make the best of its way home.
“But you will come too?” said Mr Bray feebly.
“No,” said Sir Philip, frowning angrily; “I shall go forward.”
And then, without another word, he strode off in the direction of Laneton.
Mr Bray was for following him; but the coachman shook his head.
“Master’s as good and true-hearted a gentleman as ever breathed, sir. Here’s fifty—ah, with the way them horses are marked, a hundred and fifty-pounds’ worth of damage done in a moment. And does he do what ninety masters out of a hundred would have done—tell me to leave to-morrow? Not he, sir. He just claps me on the shoulder, and says it was his own fault—which it really was, sir, though lots wouldn’t have owned to it. But no, sir; Sir Philip’s orders was to take you home, and disobeying his orders means throwing away a good place.”
So, as Sir Philip disappeared down the lane, the carriage was once more put in motion, and dragged heavily through the muddy rutty by-way back towards Lexville.
It was a long and dreary18 ride, performed in a slow and spiritless way, Mr Bray shrinking back in his seat as they reached and drove through the town; for, in addition to bodily pain, there was the mental suffering—the blow at his pride; for it seemed, though he could not penetrate19 the mystery, that there was something radically20 wrong, and that all prospect21 of the wedding taking place was at an end.
In spite of his shrinking back, he could not avoid seeing the curiosity-moved faces at door and window; and, in his heart, he fancied he could make out what was said respecting pride and its fall, for his family was not very popular at Lexville; while the state of horses, carriage, and coachman all tended to make people hurry out to gaze upon this sequel to the broken-off wedding, the theme now of every gossip in the place.
“It never rains but it pours,” says the old saw; and so it seemed to be here; for upon Mr Bray alighting at the Elms, stiff and bruised22 and giddy, it was to find Laura—now that she was hidden from the public gaze, where she had held up so bravely, even to taking her place calmly in the waiting carriage—falling from one violent hysterical23 fit into another, shrieking24 and raving25 against Max, and crying out that what had befallen her was a judgment26.
Mother, sister, friends, all listened in weeping amazement27 as they tried to soothe28 and minister to her, but in vain; and it was not until the coming of the family medical man, and a soothing29 draught30 had been administered, that Laura sank back, silent and overcome.
The doctor was still busy, when Sir Philip Vining’s carriage drove up with a fresh patient, one who sadly needed his services; while, as Mr Bray was lying bandaged, and at length somewhat more at ease, a servant brought up a telegram.
“News, then, at last, from Charley Vining!” exclaimed Mrs Bray excitedly, breaking the official envelope.
But Mrs Bray was wrong. The telegram contained news, startling news—such as made the father forget his own sufferings, and rise again to prepare for a journey; and upon its being inadvertently conveyed to Laura some time after, she threw up her hands, shrieked31 aloud, and then seemed to shrink, trembling within herself, as if expecting momentarily that some great blow would fall crushingly upon her.
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1
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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2
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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3
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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persuasions
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| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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7
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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12
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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14
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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15
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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radically
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| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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22
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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30
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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31
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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