Child that she was, her life had been lonely enough, and she had treasured the soul-picture of the strong face that had come to her through the summer silence. The man had spoken words to her, both of pain and delight—pain that they should be parted, delight that it was difficult to part. She thought of him always, yet knew no shame in the thought. As she would have recalled a golden meadow, or a glistening7 dawn, or an evening deep with amethystine8 silence, so she would remember the man’s voice and the eyes that had looked at her with a mute despair. She treasured the memory as a betrothed9 girl treasures the amulet10 that dangles11 over her heart. Pure, spontaneous, golden of soul, she had an earthly heaven in this love of hers. It was clean and spiritual, the virgin12 ecstasy13 of a woman, rich and fragrant14 as the meads of paradise.
She had taken Judith for Gabriel’s wife on the day she had passed them on the winter hill-side. The meeting had been a shock to Joan, and she had turned home with her whole soul shuddering15. She felt miserable16, humiliated17, yet full of an exultant18 loneliness. Her love was inevitable19 to her, a book of dreams, sad yet splendid. Seeing that it filled her with transcendent instincts towards beauty, it had no sinister20 meaning for her heart. The problem surprised her in measure. Reality appeared to contradict truth. She had a species of conviction that by natural law Gabriel was hers and she Gabriel’s.
The last meeting had been oracular also in its effect upon the man. The look, half timid and pained, in the girl’s eyes remained with him vividly21 to the troubling of his spirit. The memory of it had been stamped upon his brain as with iron at white heat. This was but the fourth time that he had seen Joan Gildersedge, and each scene was a brilliant fresco22, azure23 and green and gold. The winter landscape and the lonely eyes of the woman had touched all the slumbering24 idealism in his mind. His soul was like a deserted25 palace entered by its lord again. The jewelled casements26 glimmered27 in the sun; music and song moved mysterious through its gorgeous chambers28; colors burned upon the walls; the odor of flowers breathed through its regenerate29 life.
Through manifold gradations Gabriel had come to a keen conception of a higher morality. He had flung away the yard-measure of superstition30, and his possibilities were more magnificent and universal. From the rotting roofs of sectarianism his conception of love had risen to the spiritual azure of heaven. Animalism had ceased from his soul. It vexed31 him no longer; the tiger and the dog in him were inert32 and caged. It is only when man has purged33 himself of his baser instincts that he comprehends the wonderful significance of life.
Through the wilderness34 of speculation35 and desire Gabriel had come by a conviction that illumined his whole being. The inevitable laws of life were as plain to him as though written upon tablets of stone. He had erred36 and failed. Yet revelation had descended37 to him as he struggled towards the light. So long as animalism existed in his being, so long as fleshly things warred within his body, he was a bond-slave shackled38 from the supreme39 region of the ideal. Joan Gildersedge had ever been a white cloud to him, a golden vapor40, beautifully pure. As the satyr squirming in the mire41 of an unlovely marriage he had dared not approach unto her soul. As the spirit man, the Christian42, this high love was lawful43 and good unto his being. He was justified44 by the spirit. Though he were the bond-slave of an earthly houri nothing could prevent him aspiring45 to a divine love. Such a marriage was but a serf’s collar with the medallion of the beast thereon. A spiritual love could in no way make him false to a compact that had nothing of the divine in its consummation. He was the husband of one wife in the flesh. He could be the husband of one wife in the spirit.
It was such a conclusion as this that sent him errant like a young Sir Percival, the man of a new age, eager to live life under the benediction46 of a new philosophy. That day the wind was warm and vigorous. Rain had fallen early, but the sun had rent the clouds and flung torrents47 of gold dust down upon the world. All the earth glittered, the sea, the woods, the streams. The sky was like a garland of orange blooms about the brows of the day.
Gabriel Strong was in one of those transcendental moods when the mind is convinced of the existence of God. The law in his own heart led him instinctively48 to feel the presence of the Unseen, to realize the superb dignity of the divine will. He trod the hills as Christ trod the waves—serene, calmly exultant, conscious of heaven and his own soul. He beheld49 all things through the glittering idealism of love. Nothing was prosaic50, nothing unintelligible51.
Burnt House, with its red wall, its rusty52 gates, its sepulchral53 trees, rose before him like a romance. He passed up the tangled54, grass-grown drive as one who fulfils the prophetic visions of the past. The cypresses56 bent57 to him in salutation. The laurels58 glistened59, smiled in the sun. Even the iron bell rang joyous60, pealing61 loudly through the solitary62 house.
A tall, angular woman in a white cap opened the oak door to Gabriel. There were hard lines about her mouth, her jaw63 was square, her colorless eyes critical. Her black dress fitted close about her austere64 figure, and she wore a heavy silver brooch at her throat. She had the air of a woman bred in whitewashed65 chapels66 amid the bleating67 of harmoniums and the singing of hymns68. Her face was like a stone wall painted with a lying epitaph; her mouth like an oak money-trap inscribed69 with an insinuating70 text.
Gabriel asked for Joan Gildersedge.
The woman looked him over, pursed her lips, and frowned. Her eyes travelled from his forehead to his boots and remained fixed71 upon his collar.
“Miss Joan’s out.”
“Will she be back soon?”
“Can’t say.”
“Is it any use my waiting?”
The tart72 person was considering the situation and the nature of her visitor. She knew his face and yet could not fix a name to it for the moment.
“Better leave a card,” she said. “You might possibly find Miss Joan in the meadow. She’s vagarious, and I ain’t a prophet.”
“Which way?”
“Down the drive, sir, and by the path on the left.”
“Thanks.”
“What name, sir?”
“You need not trouble.”
Betwixt the laurels and the yews73 Gabriel met Joan Gildersedge as he was returning towards the gate. They came upon each other quite suddenly, the girl emerging from the narrow path that plunged74 into the wall of green. There was neither the time nor the desire perhaps for prevarication75 on either part. The color had deepened on Joan Gildersedge’s face. All psychological reflections were swallowed up in the action of the moment.
“You—here!”
She stood looking in his face, still blushing slightly and holding herself a little aloof76. Her eyes had grown suddenly dark yet luminous77, like a deep pool half lit by moonlight. Their expression was ineffably78 mysterious and alluring79.
“I have come to you again,” said the man.
“Why?”
The sunlight quivered in Gabriel’s eyes. His head was uncovered, his hair touched with light. He answered her slowly like a man who ponders his thoughts and pays out his words like gold pieces out of a treasury80.
“I will tell you presently.”
“The truth?”
“To you—the truth—always.”
She gave a short sigh and turned back into the wilderness of the drive. Infinite happiness shone on her face, a warm, spiritual radiance glowing through her delicate skin. Her lips were parted in a smile, a smile that seemed to flood down from her eyes, even to ripple81 from her glimmering82 hair.
“Come, let us go out together, watch the sea and talk. There are snowdrops in the meadow—my March children.”
The perfume of the rain-drenched cypresses breathed about them as they wound through the shrubbery. The wind shook spray from the thousand glittering fringes. Its voice was as the half-heard moan of violins. Together they came out into the meadow beyond the wavering, sun-streaked shadows of the trees. To the south the sea lifted up a band of silver towards the sky.
They stood under the shadow of the wall, where the wind tossed the cypress55 boughs83 upward into sudden gestures of despair. New life seemed to breathe in the breeze. Sun and shadow played over the world. The man and the girl looked in each other’s eyes a moment and were happy.
“You will tell me why you have come to me again,” Joan said.
Gabriel stood as though to take the salt sea-wind into his bosom84. He smiled as he spoke6 to her.
“Because I have come by deeper truth.”
“You are married?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
He frowned slightly and a shadow as of pain passed over his face. The girl was watching him with the calm content of one who trusts.
“You shall judge,” he said, “whether I desire to do you wrong or no. I thought once that I had no right to be near you, to hear you speak to me. It is the common verdict of the world that a man may not hold another woman to be nearer to his soul than is his wife. You understand me?”
“Yes,” she said, slowly, still looking in his face.
“Do you remember how the stars make one feel at night?”
“Well enough.”
“A yearning85 towards all that is noble, pure, and divine. Is there any evil in such a feeling?”
“How can there be?”
“And there are people in the world who seem to hang like stars over one’s soul. Is there sin in desiring to be near them, to be inspired towards truth by their beauty?”
“I cannot think it.”
“Nor I.”
“And so—?”
“I desire to be near you often. You speak to me of all my heart desires to be. That is all.”
“I understand,” she said, very slowly, with a strange light in her eyes—“I understand. Let it be so. Say no more.”
As when the moon rises, revealing splendors86 dusky and magnificent in some silent plain, so this sympathy, this dual87 comprehension, called into sudden radiance all that was fairest in the hearts of the man and the girl. A great calm seemed to steal upon both, gradual and infinite. For them the Eternal Spirit lifted up its blessed flame. For them the roses rushed into ruddy joy. For them the sea echoed the parables88 of the stars.
The girl had drawn89 closer to Gabriel; her hand brushed against his.
“I have been very lonely,” she said, “and it is not good to be alone.”
“No,” he said, in a voice that was half a whisper.
“There would be no loneliness—”
“If men were not fools and if women had not received the poison of the serpent.”
They were both silent for a season. Joan stooped down and gathered snowdrops as they grew against the wall. The man watched her. The flowers seemed emblems90 of what their love might be.
“I may see you again, then,” she said, presently, with a deep tone of content.
He stood back from her and looked towards the horizon. There was a radiance upon his face as though light fell on him out of heaven.
“Yes, if—”
“Well?”
“We vow91 here together.”
She waited.
“That I never touch you, never so much as touch your hand. That our flesh is severed92 absolutely; that only our spirits meet.”
“I will swear that,” she said, slowly.
So, under the sunlit sky and in the breath of the breeze, they swore both of them together a solemn oath, an oath to heaven.
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1
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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3
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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6
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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7
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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8
amethystine
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| adj.紫水晶质的，紫色的；紫晶 | |
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9
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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amulet
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| n.护身符 | |
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dangles
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| 悬吊着( dangle的第三人称单数 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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12
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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14
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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15
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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16
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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17
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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18
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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19
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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20
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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21
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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22
fresco
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| n.壁画；vt.作壁画于 | |
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23
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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24
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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25
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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26
casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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27
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
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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29
regenerate
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| vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的 | |
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30
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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31
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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32
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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33
purged
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| 清除（政敌等）( purge的过去式和过去分词 )； 涤除（罪恶等）； 净化（心灵、风气等）； 消除（错事等）的不良影响 | |
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34
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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35
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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36
erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
shackled
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| 给（某人）带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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40
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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41
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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42
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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43
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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44
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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45
aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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46
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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47
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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48
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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49
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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50
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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51
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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52
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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53
sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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54
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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55
cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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56
cypresses
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| n.柏属植物，柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
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57
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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58
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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59
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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61
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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62
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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63
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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64
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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65
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
chapels
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| n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式 | |
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67
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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68
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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69
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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70
insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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71
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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72
tart
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| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
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73
yews
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| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
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74
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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75
prevarication
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| n.支吾；搪塞；说谎；有枝有叶 | |
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76
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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77
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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78
ineffably
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| adv.难以言喻地，因神圣而不容称呼地 | |
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79
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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80
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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81
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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82
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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83
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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84
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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85
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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86
splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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87
dual
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| adj.双的；二重的，二元的 | |
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88
parables
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| n.（圣经中的）寓言故事( parable的名词复数 ) | |
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89
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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90
emblems
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| n.象征，标记( emblem的名词复数 ) | |
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91
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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92
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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