“Myra! My own darling!” sobbed1 Edie.
“Hush! No, I must talk. If I think in silence I shall go mad.”
“O Myra, Myra, are you never to be really married after all?”
The bride made a hurried motion with her hands, then pressed them to her temples and thrust back her hair.
“It makes me think of two years ago, dear,” whispered Edie, “and all the horrors of that day.”
“Yes; is it fate?” said Myra hoarsely2 as she sat gazing at vacancy3.
“But I’ll never believe that Malcolm Stratton could do wrong,” whispered Edie, caressing4 and trying to soothe5 the sufferer as she clung to her side. “It couldn’t have been that this time, or else Percy would not be such friends.”
Myra bent6 forward with her eyes dilated7 as if she were gazing at something across the room.
“Your poor hands are so cold and damp, and your forehead burning hot. O Myra, Myra! I did not think that two such terrible days could come in one poor girl’s life.”
“Edie,” said Myra in a husky whisper, “you saw Malcolm last night?”
“Yes, dear, of course.”
“You did not see anything strange in his manner?”
“No; only that he was half-mad with joy, and when he kissed me and said good-night—you remember?”
“Yes, yes.”
“He said he was the happiest man alive.”
“Yes; I remember the exact words.”
“And he hoped that soon—”
Edie stopped with a faint flush in her cheeks.
Myra nodded quickly, but without ceasing to gaze straight away into vacancy.
“But there was nothing strange—he was quite well—he said nothing else to you?”
“No, dear; nothing that I can recall.”
“Are you sure he dropped no hint? Nothing that could make you think he did not wish to marry me?”
“No, no, no, dear. He was longing8 to call you his very own. He said so—to me. But don’t look like that, darling; you frighten me. What are you thinking?”
Myra was silent, and her aspect was so strange that Edie shook her excitedly.
“Myra, darling—don’t!” she cried.
“I was thinking was it possible that, after all, he could repent,” said Myra in low, measured tones. “Whether, knowing all, he shrank from me at the moment when a few words would have made it irrevocable.”
“But why—why, darling?” cried Edie in alarm.
“You cannot grasp it as he would. I—married, and under such circumstances. Love is blind, Edie, and he, poor fellow, may have been blinded in his love—his old love for me. But what if the veil dropped away from his eyes at last, and he could not, he dared not face it—the sacrifice for him! Edie, it was that, and I forgive him, for I loved him with all my heart.”
Startled by her cousin’s looks and words, Edie now caught her hands and stood over her, speaking impetuously, almost angrily.
“For shame!” she cried. “Malcolm Stratton would never have acted like that. O Myra; how could you think it of him? So manly9 and open and frank in everything. Oh, no, no, no; it could not be that.”
Myra turned to her quickly and clung to the hands which grasped hers, as if sinking in her despair, and clutching at one more chance for life.
“Say—say that again,” she whispered huskily.
“I’ll say it a hundred times, but there is no need. Malcolm could not treat you like this of his own freewill. He must be—he is ill, and that is all.”
“If I could only think so,” said Myra as if to herself. “If I could only believe it was that; but no, no,” she wailed10 now, breaking down utterly11, and snatching away her hands to cover her convulsed face; “the truth has been too strong at last, and he has gone.”
“Myra!” cried Edie. “Hush! You shall not give way like this. How can you be so weak? It is madness. If he had treated you so shamefully12, and turned away, you could not—you should not, take it to heart. Where is your woman’s pride? To give way, believing such an infamy13, is dreadful. But I tell you it isn’t—it can’t be true. There, there, be calm, my darling. Be patient till they come back. He has studied too hard lately—that’s it. I’ve noticed how pale and worried he looked at times, and with this excitement—you heard what Percy said—he has broken down. There, that’s the truth. He’s ill, and will soon be better, and all will come right, Myra! my darling coz. Don’t turn like that. Oh—help! help! help!”
She thrust her cousin back so that her head rested on the lounge, for a deathly look had come over the beautiful face, the eyes were half-closed, sending a chill of horror through the startled girl, who now tore frantically15 at the bell.
“A doctor—they must fetch a doctor. No; Percy must come back to tell her the simple truth, for I am right: Malcolm Stratton could not treat her as she thinks.”
And Percy Guest was on the way to put it to the test.
For some little distance not a word was spoken in the carriage, each of its occupants being full of his or her own thoughts.
Miss Jerrold was the first to break the silence. For, as she sat there stern and uncompromising, thinking of the duty she had voluntarily undertaken in answer to the appeal in her niece’s eyes, which plainly asked that she would stand between father and lover in any encounter which might take place, she noted17 that she was still holding the bouquet18 of exotics she had borne to the church.
A look of annoyance19 and disgust crossed her face.
“Here, Mr Guest,” she said sharply; “let down the window and throw these stupid flowers away.”
Guest started, and hesitated about taking the bouquet, but it was pressed into his hand, and he was about to lower the window when the lady interposed.
“No; it would be waste,” she cried. “Wait till we see some poor flower girl, and give it to her.”
The window on her right was let down sharply; then the flowers were snatched from her hand, and thrown out into the road by Sir Mark, who dragged the window up again with an angry frown.
“As you please, Mark,” said the lady quietly; “but the flowers might have been worth shillings to some poor soul.”
Silence reigned20 once more as the wheels spun21 round. Oxford22 Street was reached and crossed, the coachman turning down into and across Grosvenor Square, and then in and out, avoiding the main streets, till the last, when the busy thoroughfare was reached near its eastern end, and the carriage was drawn23 up at the narrow, court-like entrance to the quiet, secluded24 inn.
Heads were turned directly, among those whose attention was taken being a barrister in wig25 and gown, just on his way to the court, where Mr Justice Blank was giving his attention to a divorce case.
Miss Jerrold saw the legal gentleman’s smile, and guessed its meaning.
“How stupid!” she muttered. Then, as the footman came to the door: “Edward,” she whispered hurriedly, “take that stupid satin bow from your breast. Tell Johnson, too.”
The favour disappeared as the door was thrown open, and Sir Mark sprang out to go straight on toward the inn; then, recollecting26 himself, he turned to help his sister alight.
But he was too late. Percy Guest had performed that duty, and the lady took his arm and followed the admiral on into the calm silence of the old inn, past the porter’s lodge27, unnoticed by its occupant; then on across the square, under its shady plane trees, toward the fine old red brick mansion28 in the corner, with its iron lamp support and curious old link extinguishers on either side.
The place was utterly deserted29, and so still that the creaking of the admiral’s new boots sounded loud and strange, while as they mounted the worn steps and entered the gloomy hall of the old place it struck chilly30 and damp, while the great stone staircase had a look that seemed forbidding and strange.
“You have brought us here,” said Sir Mark, stopping short at the foot of the stairs. “Go first.”
He gave place to Guest, who led Miss Jerrold on and up the two flights to the broad landing, upon which the doors of Brettison’s and Stratton’s chambers31 opened.
“One moment while I get my breath,” panted Miss Jerrold; “I’m not so young as I used to be, Mr Guest.”
The admiral frowned, and stood scowling32 at the legend on the door, but it seemed cold and blank now, for there was no ray of sunshine to make the letters stand out clear. All looked murky33 and grim, and the utter silence of the place was impressive as that of a tomb.
As they stood there on the landing Guest hesitated for a moment or two, an undefinable feeling of dread14 having attacked him; there was a curious ringing in the ears, and his heart beat with a heavy throb34.
He was brought back to his duty by the cold, stern voice of the admiral.
“Well, Mr Guest,” he said again with a cold formality of tone, “you have brought us here,”—and he waved his hand toward the door.
Guest sprang forward, knocked sharply, and stood back to wait, while Miss Jerrold drew a long, hissing35 breath, perfectly36 audible in the silence.
There was no response, and the chirping37 of the inn sparrows came painfully loud through an open window somewhere above.
“What a dismal38 place for a man to choose,” muttered Miss Jerrold. “Had you not better knock again?”
Guest repeated the summons, and the admiral leaned forward, listening attentively39.
Still there was no reply; and, growing agitated40 now, Guest once more knocked loudly, with the repetition of the knocker, telling plainly of the trembling hand of him who raised it and let it fall.
He drew back, to stand listening intently till Miss Jerrold spoke16.
“He must be out,” said the lady quietly. “Knock again, Mr Guest.”
The knocker once more raised the echoes of the weird-looking old staircase, and then died out above with a peculiar41 whisper, while Guest’s heart sank within his breast as a dozen fancies now took possession of him, and horror prevailed.
“We cannot stay here,” said Miss Jerrold. “Mr Guest, will you see me to my carriage again? Mr Stratton must be out. Gone to Bourne Square, and we have passed him on the way.”
“No!” thundered the admiral; “he is within there, hiding, like the cur he is, and afraid to face me!”
Guest turned upon him angrily.
“Come away, sister,” growled42 the old man; “I am right.”
“No, sir; I swear you are wrong,” cried Guest.
“What? Why, I saw the change in your face, man, when I heard a rustling44 noise in there. You heard it too. Deny it if you can.”
Guest was silent for a moment, and he stood with his eyes fixed45 upon the letter-box, as if expecting to see the cover of the slit46 move.
“I am not going to deny it, sir; I did hear a sound,” he said. “If he is here he shall come out and face you, and tell the truth and reason of his absence. It is illness, I am sure.”
As he spoke he once more seized the knocker and beat out a heavy roulade.
But still there was no reply, and, taking his sister’s hand, the admiral drew it through his arm.
“Illness?” he said in a low growl43. “Yes, the shivering fit of a coward or a cur.”
“It is not true!” cried Guest excitedly as a thought flashed across his brain. “I remember now: he had a heavy sum of money on the table when I was here, and—Great Heavens! is it that?”
His manner was contagious47, and his face conveyed his terrible thoughts to his companions.
Miss Jerrold clung to her brother, and turned ghastly pale, while a look of horror contracted the old man’s face.
“You—you don’t think—” he stammered48.
“I think the worst, or my poor friend would have been with us.”
“Man—for God’s sake don’t say that,” gasped49 the admiral, as Guest stepped back to the full extent of the landing.
“There is some mystery here.”
“Stop! What are you going to do?” cried Sir Mark, catching50 at his arm.
“Stand aside, sir; I am going to burst open that door.”
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收听单词发音
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1
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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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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6
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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7
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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9
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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10
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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12
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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13
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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14
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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15
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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16
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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17
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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18
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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19
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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20
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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21
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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23
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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24
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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25
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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26
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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27
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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28
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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29
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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30
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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31
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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32
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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33
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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34
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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35
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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36
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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37
chirping
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的现在分词 ) | |
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38
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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39
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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40
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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41
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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42
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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43
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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44
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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45
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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46
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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47
contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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48
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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50
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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