"'Tis a blackguard beast of a world," she told Leaman Cloberry. "One law for rich an' one for poor; but if there's any justice left stirring in the land, us may live to see him dancing in the air outside of Exeter Gaol9 yet."
Now, after a period of most miserable10 seclusion11 in a shepherd's ruined cot near the secret sources of Dart12, John Lee was to find himself again thrust into the affairs of Grace Malherb, and to thank God that he had been spared to do her further service.
It was not until Peter Norcot had returned from London, after a visit of three weeks' duration, that Lovey Lee opened the new project to her grandson, and then, indeed, she approached it in a fashion so remarkable13 that one might have been stirred to admiration14.
She returned late one night to their haunt, and plunged15 into a startling narrative16 which quickly roused John Lee from sleep.
"The wickedness of this world! Oh, Jack17, if ever you go out among men again, an' get safe off to America, as you hope, try an' keep straight."
He turned over in his bed of dry heath and stared while his grandmother ate her supper. Only a streak18 of moonlight through the roof lighted their forlorn hiding-place.
"That's strange advice from your lips," he said.
"I know I've been a bad old devil—nobody knows it better. But whose fault? The world's, not mine. An' I'm white to black compared to some of us."
"That's very comforting for you, I'll wager19. But he must be a night-black colour that makes you look fair. Yet since you can mourn, 'tis well. Give back the Malherb amphora and I'll say you're the best woman in England."
"All in good time. Have you thought what that bit of glass has cost me? I can't change my god in a minute. For my god it be. But I'm minded to alter my way of living—I swear it—after what I've heard this night."
"Have you met the Devil himself then?"
"No—his right hand, Peter Norcot. I was just sitting by the wayside, full of wonder how I could get out of this evil an' clear the country, an' turn my fag end of life to good, when past he rode 'pon his great horse. ''Tis Lovey Lee!' he cries out, for his lynx eyes remembered my face, even in moonlight. And the black spleen of him! His first thought was you! He's hopeful to see you hanged yet. 'Give him up an' I'll give 'e five hunderd pound,' he said. But I ban't sunk so low as that, though by your starting you seem to think so. I said I knowed nought20 about 'e. 'Leave that then,' says he. 'You can help me in another job, and richly I'll reward you.'
"Then he fell to telling 'bout21 Malherb an' his darter. He'm set there still—the black patience of him! An' now his plan be to kindiddle her away altogether. He's plotting to get her under his own roof; and once there—oh Lord! even I—stone-hearted as I've been till now—felt my inwards curdle22 to hear him an' see the moonlight in his steel eyes! But I was so cunning as a viper23 an' promised to help him if he'd help me."
"What do you want of him?"
"He'm going to change all my gold money into paper, an' he'm going to buy my watches an' snuff-boxes an' teaspoons24, as I can't take with me. Then, that done, I've promised to help with the maiden25. She'm to meet him 'pon Saturday week, an' if she do, home she'll never go no more till her name be Grace Norcot."
"And you promised to help in that?"
"I didn't dare refuse; but I'm going to play him false. I've done with wickedness. These latter days have drove the fear of God into me. I wouldn't help that tiger, not for another amphora; an' I be going to prove it by taking the side of right."
"She must be warned."
"I know it; an' that's your work. Us can't go to Fox Tor Farm; but you've got to see her by hook or by crook26, else 'tis all over with her."
"I might write."
"You must write. 'Tis the only way. An' since she taught 'e to write, she'll know your penmanship an' trust it. My only fear was you'd had about enough of the girl an' wouldn't care to do no more for her. But so it lies: if she's to be saved, you must do it. I'm too old and weak to do anything. Besides, I'm feared of Norcot."
"I must see her."
"You can't—not at Fox Tor Farm. He've got his spies set as though he'd made war upon the house. His plot be deeper than the sea. Go near an' you'm a dead man, for there's money on your head. Us can only trust Leaman Cloberry to take a letter for a reward; an' since he'll be sure to read what you say, 'twill be well in the letter to do no more than ax the maid to come an' see you."
"See me!"
"Why not? She's free; you ban't. You can slip down to Cloberry's cot at Dartmeet by night, an' she can come next day an' see you there an' get her warning."
Lee nodded.
"A written word will bring her, an' Cloberry would get it to her for money. That I'll pay. He's as fond of gold as I was afore I began to get sense. I'll give Leaman ten pounds if he does what you want."
John Lee's simple heart was too concerned with Grace to reflect upon his grandmother's attitude toward this business. Full of the perils27 that lay in wait for her, and aware she was ignorant of them, he thanked heaven that he was still alive and possessed28 power to do her vital service. He did not weigh Lovey's words, but her startling news; he did not question the probable veracity29 of her present sentiments; but considered little more than her proposals to assist him in a righteous cause. That he must now see Grace was clear; and if, as had been declared, the plot against her only wanted a week for its fulfilment, the event cried for instant action. Since to approach Fox Tor Farm and pierce the cordon30 said to be set around was doubtless impossible, John determined31 to follow his grandmother's advice and write and bid Grace meet him at Leaman Cloberry's cottage. To walk or ride thither32 was easy for her and could rouse no suspicion. Then what he had to say might be quickly said, though it could not safely be written.
"I'll go after nightfall to-morrow," he declared.
"And bid her come to see you on Friday, be it wet or fine," answered Lovey; "for after that date she'll be free no more. Her father's hardened his heart like Pharaoh. He'll see that she don't trick him again."
"Her father!"
"So Norcot told me—grinning like a rain-shoot. They'm both against her. 'Tis two to one; and 'twould be three to one if I'd done what they wanted. But I couldn't. I'm weary of wickedness."
"After nightfall to-morrow, then," said the man.
Lovey spoke33 no more, and they retired34 into their respective corners of the hut; but when, two hours later, John Lee's steady breathing told his grandmother that he was unconscious, she rose, left him asleep, and crept away into the Moor35. Southward she went, and then, near the tor called Hartland, heard a voice out of the night—a cracked and ancient voice, that sang of the owner's business and repeated its refrain with the monotony of a bird.
"A ha'penny for a rook;
A penny for a jay;
A noble for a fox;
An' twelvepence for a gray!"
Soon Lovey found Leaman Cloberry, where he waited by appointment in a cleft36 of the rocks, snugly37 clad as usual in the raiment of dead beasts.
"'Tis all so easy as cursing," she said. "He'll come to you to-morrow—poor sheep—an' write the letter. You'll get it to her through Tom Putt, who won't know what he's doing; an' she'll go to him Friday. Then he'll pour his nonsense into her ears; and as she passes home, along by Whispering Wood, you an' me will be waiting for her. She'll jump for joy and fear no evil when she sees me alive; for it means that her father's guiltless of blood."
"An' this here Mr. Norcot?" asked Cloberry. "A good friend to me an' very generous in the past; but the money ought to be big."
"So it will be. We take the maiden by night up to where the springs of Dart break out; an' then he comes along by chance and rescues her from us. 'Tis all planned. He'll seem in a grand rage, an' may even fetch you a blow or two; but they'm light at fifty pounds. Then off he goes with her to Chagford, and not a living soul that cares for her will know where she be hidden till it pleases him to tell."
"An' John Lee?" inquired the vermin-catcher.
"Well—what of him? Who troubles about the cheese when the mouse is catched? He'll know nought till he hears she has been caught. And she'll always think that 'twas his treachery laid the trap for her!"
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1
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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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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6
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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7
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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8
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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13
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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15
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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16
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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18
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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19
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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curdle
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| v.使凝结，变稠 | |
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viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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teaspoons
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| n.茶匙( teaspoon的名词复数 )；一茶匙的量 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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28
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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29
veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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33
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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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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35
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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36
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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