Many tears did Io shed over the letter; and yet both to her and to Oscar there came a mournful consolation2 in the thought that the gentle lady had been saved from knowledge of the cause of the frightful3 death of her nephew Walter, her sister’s orphan4 child, whom she had brought up with her own. The dark shadow over Io’s home would throw no blackness over her mother’s grave.
Thud’s grief for the loss of his parent was shown in more violent form than Io’s. He flung himself on the sofa, and cried and howled like a passionate5 child. There was no small admixture of selfishness in the sorrow of the poor lad. He had lost a home as well as a parent, and had now no resource to fall back upon when he needed money or help. Thud realized at last that he must swim by his own exertions6, unless he intended to sink. There was in Thud at least a temporary improvement; for a while he built up no fanciful theories, obtruded7 on others no foolish opinions, and quietly went to his work. Io earnestly hoped that the vain lad would grow up at last into the useful, sensible man.
There was a change also in Oscar, apparent in manner and mien8, and shown in his countenance9, which was grave but no longer gloomy. A deep peace had followed confession10. No cloud hid the brightness of the Saviour’s face from the penitent11 sinner. Oscar had committed a crime, and was prepared to bear its penalty; but it would be in this world and not in the next. Coldstream was at last in the position of the thief on the cross: the criminal saw the blood flowing for his salvation12, and heard in his heart the voice speaking in mercy and love, “Thou, even thou, shalt be in paradise with Me.”
Especially did Oscar realize the blessing13 on him whose transgression14 is pardoned when he attended divine service on Christmas day. Io had given orders that every bud and blossom should be stripped from her garden to adorn15 the church. She had not had heart to join in the work herself; but when the Coldstreams entered the building, the soft fragrance16 around reminded them of the ointment17 poured forth18 on the Saviour’s feet from the broken box of alabaster19. Husband and wife each brought a broken and contrite20 heart; both knew that it was for such that the Lord of glory had come to earth.
At a later hour in the day, Oscar, when taking a solitary21 walk, was joined by the chaplain. Mark Lawrence had noticed with deep interest and hope the change in the expression of the face of his friend. He had observed something like hesitation22 in the manner of Coldstream before he turned away to quit the church in which his wife stayed to Communion. The heart of the young clergyman yearned23 with a brother’s love over his friend. With some hope that Oscar might at length speak freely, Lawrence came on that Christmas afternoon to his side. To the chaplain’s satisfaction, Coldstream was the first to break silence on the subject uppermost in the minds of both.
“I did not turn my back to-day on the holy table because I thought that my Lord would forbid my approach,” said Coldstream in a quiet tone. “I believe that the feast is spread for the prodigal24 son, and that even I would be welcomed now to the Father’s table. I kept back on account of others, because, when that is known which must soon be known, communicants might be scandalized and shocked to think that they had shared the cup of blessing with a criminal such as I am.”
Lawrence was silent. He was of too delicate a mind by a single word to hasten on a confession. Coldstream passed on to a somewhat different subject.
“In another world how think you that a Paul would meet with a Stephen, a Manasseh with Isaiah, David with the man whom he had foully25 wronged, deceived, and slain26?”
“I think that all the redeemed27 will meet as brethren in the Father’s home,” replied Lawrence; “there the most deeply injured will forgive.”
Oscar gave a sigh, but it was as much a sigh of relief as of sorrow.
“And do you believe,” said he, “that amongst those whose robes are washed white the bitterness of remorse28 for crimes committed on earth will not remain to taint29 even the bliss30 of heaven?”
“I believe, my dear friend, that God having blotted32 out all sin as a cloud is blotted from the sky, leaving no stain behind, no grief will remain, but only more fervent33 gratitude34 from those who have had the heaviest debt. Those whom Christ saves are justified35, those who are justified are glorified36 too; no blot31 can rest on the beams of those who shine like the sun.”
“Thanks,” said Coldstream earnestly; “and may I hope that even when you know what a sinner you have called your ‘dear friend,’ you will still retain some kindly37, indulgent feeling towards him?”
“I will never feel anything but warm friendship towards you whatever you may have done,” cried Mark Lawrence.
With these words, and a warm press of the hand, the two men separated, for their paths lay in different directions. The brief conversation with Oscar often recurred38 to the mind of Lawrence, even when he sat at a festal Christmas board, with lively talk going on around.
“If my conjecture39 be correct,” reflected the chaplain, “Coldstream has killed some man in a duel40, and has bitterly repented41 of the deed.”
点击收听单词发音
1 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 obtruded | |
v.强行向前,强行,强迫( obtrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 penitent | |
adj.后悔的;n.后悔者;忏悔者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 salvation | |
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 transgression | |
n.违背;犯规;罪过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 adorn | |
vt.使美化,装饰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 fragrance | |
n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 ointment | |
n.药膏,油膏,软膏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 alabaster | |
adj.雪白的;n.雪花石膏;条纹大理石 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 contrite | |
adj.悔悟了的,后悔的,痛悔的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 yearned | |
渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 prodigal | |
adj.浪费的,挥霍的,放荡的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 foully | |
ad.卑鄙地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 redeemed | |
adj. 可赎回的,可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 taint | |
n.污点;感染;腐坏;v.使感染;污染 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 bliss | |
n.狂喜,福佑,天赐的福 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 blot | |
vt.弄脏(用吸墨纸)吸干;n.污点,污渍 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 blotted | |
涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 ); (用吸墨纸)吸干 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 fervent | |
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 glorified | |
美其名的,变荣耀的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 recurred | |
再发生,复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 ); 治愈 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 duel | |
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 repented | |
对(自己的所为)感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |