From Mr. Bradbury’s first admission to me, on our journey up to London, that he had no liking2 for Charles Craike, and that his purpose was to prevent his inheriting his father’s fortune, he had stressed repeatedly my uncle’s certain chagrin3 at p. 54my appearance in Craike House and his inevitable4 hostility5 to me. Already, indeed, I hated my Uncle Charles, and was ardent6 to avenge7 on him my parents’ sufferings at his hands; else, I had only a natural curiosity in these kinsfolk of mine, and a lively interest in the prospect8 of adventure. “Rogues’ Haven”—so the country folk named Craike House; Mr. Bradbury would tell me only that the name resulted from rustic9 curiosity and from the eccentricities10 of my grandfather’s servants; the gentleman’s very reticence11 concerning my kinsmen12, the stock from which they were sprung, and the sources of their wealth, intrigued13 me the more.
Mr. Bradbury had treated me handsomely at his fine house in London; a country lad, I had enjoyed the wonders and diversions of the Town. He had put me into the hands of his tailor; so that now I was dressed, if not as fastidiously, at least with a fashion equal to his own. I had not ceased to admire my blue cloth coat, silver-buttoned and braided, or my white breeches, or to appreciate the ease of silken stockings on my legs and fine linen14 on my body. Now wrapped warmly in greatcoat and shawls I sat with Mr. Bradbury in his coach, driven through the night towards Craike House. We should have arrived at our destination on the second afternoon p. 55of our journey, but delayed by a cast shoe, here were we now seated still in the coach, stiff and weary; I felt my stomach sinking from the lack of a meal; and the dark was come. Ay, the night was come with a rough gale15 from the sea; the mud from the wet roads obscured the glass; this mattered nothing, for the night was inky black with clouds wind-driven. We were out, Mr. Bradbury told me, on a wild and lonely stretch of road, and not more than nine miles from our destination. But when the lash16 of rain washed clear the carriage-glass, and the light of the lamps flashed on his face, I saw him anxious and his eyes alert; I understood his concern, which I had remarked throughout our journey, over a little oaken box by his side. I had assumed that it contained documents; now that it was open on his knees, I saw that it held a pair of pistols; he was looking at the priming of them as the light allowed him. I cried out, to be heard above the roll of the wind and the rumble17 of the wheels, “What d’ye fear, sir? Highwaymen?”
He cried back, “A mere18 precaution, Mr. Craike. I’m always cautious on these roads,—lonely and dark, and no one within hail.”
“Pray let me handle one,” I called; but he answered, smiling, “Nay, my dear sir, I’ll not trust you with ’em, if you’ll allow me. For you p. 56might easily be pistoling one of your own folk, not knowing.”
“Have no fear, sir, I’ve had the handling of a pistol ere this,” I assured him. But, smiling that odd smile of his, he answered nothing.
Now it seemed that Mr. Bradbury’s coachboy knew the road well—the gentleman having travelled over it often before; for, without direction from his master he drove on as steadily19 through the dark as the roughness of the way and the weariness of the horses would allow. Ay, and the wildness of the night—the great wind from the sea; we were travelling near to the coast; once when Mr. Bradbury let down the glass to peer out, the salt tang and the reek20 of mud flats was borne in on the chill air. I realised that Mr. Bradbury’s apprehension21 grew with the darkness and the storm. When he drew up the glass and sat down, he did not lie back on his cushions or muffle22 his shawl about his ears; he leaned towards the window, staring forth23 into the dark, seeming, too, by his impatient wave of his hand when I would have spoken, to be listening intently. I strained my ears to hear, but for the time heard nothing save the rumble of wheels, and the rushing of the wind; afar a thunderous sound as the beating of the sea, no more, until the wind was cut from us in a dip of the road, as if we p. 57drove among great trees, or between high hedgerows; then it seemed I heard the pounding of hoofs24 upon the road, as if the riders were at no great distance in the rear. The sound was indistinguishable, when presently we swept out into the open country; and the wind had its way with us once more. As we drove on apace, Mr. Bradbury remained intent by the window; committing myself to Providence25 and Mr. Bradbury, I lay back on my cushions. Indeed, I attached little import to the sounds; I was dull with weariness and hunger; I had been travelling for nigh two days. I had spent the worst of bad nights through the suffocation26 of a deep feather bed at the inn in which we had lodged27 for the night. I tell you the desire for sleep prevailed over uneasiness at the loneliness of our way and sounds of riders through the night; or my excitement at the thought of presentation to my kinsfolk. I lay back; pulled my greatcoat about me, and slept. From time to time, the jolting28 of the coach, as the wheels dipped in the ruts or struck on stones, would rouse me; always I saw dully that Mr. Bradbury sat stiffly by the window, and that his left hand strayed towards the case of pistols open on the seat beside him.
I was awakened29 by the crash and splintering of glass. As I started up, I was flung backwards30 by p. 58the shock of plunging31 horses and reeling coach; half-dazed, I believed that I heard hoarse32 voices above the roaring wind. I believed that the door of the coach was dragged open; that Mr. Bradbury sought to hold it; failing, swung round and gripped his pistols; but at that instant the coach reeled, and he was flung out into the road; I saw the flashes of his discharging pistols as he fell.
The coach came to a standstill. I remember crying out, and leaping to my feet, to spring down into the road to Mr. Bradbury. I remember then only a flash of light—no more.
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1
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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2
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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3
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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4
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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5
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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6
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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7
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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8
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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9
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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10
eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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11
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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12
kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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13
intrigued
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| adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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14
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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15
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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16
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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17
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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18
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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19
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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20
reek
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| v.发出臭气；n.恶臭 | |
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21
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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22
muffle
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| v.围裹；抑制；发低沉的声音 | |
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23
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
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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25
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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26
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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27
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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28
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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29
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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30
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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31
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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32
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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