Low lay the head, and still the form of the man of whom flatterers had often spoken as the uncrowned King—an Oliver the Second, the Cromwell of the Twentieth Century. His, indeed, had been the power symbolised by the ancient Crown, the Sceptre, and the Orb1. The vanished majesty2 of great dynasties—the Normans, the Plantaganets, the Tudors, the Stuarts, and the House of Hanover—had but paved the way for the practical rule of this man of the people. Even yet, it is true, the jealousy3 of political parties had preserved—none knew for how long—the title of King for a descendant of Queen Victoria. But a grudging4 socialistic democracy had left the legitimate5 monarch6 little more than the dignity of an august pensioner7. The King was shorn of regal authority, deprived of all real prerogative8 of royalty9, and neither expected nor allowed to take any real part in the government of his shrunken empire.
And now that the lifeless hand of the President had dropped the real sceptre, whose hand was to take it up? Was the reign10 of woman to be inaugurated on new and bolder lines; or would man, in the nick of time, re-assert himself? The women had their leader in Catherine Kellick, a daring, unscrupulous and energetic champion. But where was the leader of men? Everywhere the lament11 was uttered: "If[Pg 95] only Renshaw were back at Westminster!" And everywhere the question was asked: "Where is he? Is it true he is still alive?"
Zenobia's telegram was delivered late at night, and in the absence of Wilton it was impossible to start immediately. Before daybreak on the following morning Linton was knocking at the door of his cottage, and in half-an-hour the little engineer had got the Bladud into working order.
It was very early, on a calm autumn morning, when Linton, at a sign from Wilton, stepped on board. The Bladud, rose rapidly into the air, but at first there was nothing to be seen. The atmosphere being charged with the vapour of the night, the air was warm, and the sky veiled with a misty13 curtain of cloud. In eight minutes they had risen a thousand feet, and the earth below was hidden from them by a woolly carpet of mist. Rising and rising still, at a height of 5,000 feet, the Bladud emerged from the clouds, and away in the east was seen a long, long line, bright as silver. The day was breaking, and the shadows fled away. Every moment the great silver bar lengthened14 and broadened, a moving miracle of the empyrean, at which the young Canadian gazed in fascination15 and in awe16.
But the marvel17 of marvels18 was to come; and it came swiftly, in that deep silence of the spheres, which is as the silence of Him by whom all things were made. Yes, all created things, thought Linton, filled with wonder—the earth beneath them, still partly hidden from sight, the limitless realms of the air through which they moved, and this great orb of day that was rising as if from the depths of some immeasurable crater19. Presently the sun, as it climbed above the cloud rim20, began to flood with pure and glorious light the rolling tracts21 of vapour[Pg 96] that surrounded them, like an illimitable molten sea, whose billows glowed and gleamed beneath the darting22 beams.
Higher and higher rose the Bladud, a tiny speck23 in the midst of the immeasurable clouds, which ever broke and crumbled24 into new shapes and shreds25 in full light of the broadening sunshine. Already the morning mists below were in some measure dispelled26, and through the breaking vapour glimpses of the earth became more plainly visible.
At a height of 9,000 feet, the surrounding oceans and mountains of vapour assumed a hue27 of roseate violet that far transcended28 the beauty of anything upon which Linton's eyes had ever looked before; while from the east a thousand golden rays—pathways of light and glory—were darted29 forth30 above the sleeping world. When they had reached a height of 13,000 feet, the air was almost clear, and far down below London became visible—London so mighty31, yet now so insignificant32! Linton could see a railway train creeping out of Paddington like some little caterpillar33 on a garden path. The steam from the engine was but a thin serpentine34 mist, like smoke from a man's pipe. Everything below was flat and dwarfed35 to one mean artificial-looking plane. Away East, the dome36 of St. Paul's seemed scarcely more important than a thimble. The Docks were merely an elaborate toy in sections; the rolling Thames a winding37 ditch; the ships like little playthings for young children. Yet the range of view had become enormous, and as the morning cleared Wilton pointed38 out hills and church steeples that were a hundred miles away.
In that solemn and wonderful hour Linton Herrick felt within himself, as Goethe did, the germs of undeveloped faculties—faculties that men must not expect[Pg 97] to see developed in life as it is, so far, known to us. Yet there was the aspiration39 in his heart and soul. How glorious for the astral body to plunge40 into the aerial space; to look unmoved on some unfathomable abyss; to glide41 above the roaring seas; to mount with eagle's strength to heights unthinkable!
Looking upon the supernal42 grandeur43 of the sunrise, he realised that he was in the presence of God's daily miracle. It steeped his soul in faith and thankfulness.
Linton, guessing that the President was in extremis, nevertheless had hoped to be in time to bid a last farewell to the taciturn man who had shown him much friendly feeling, and of whom, as Zenobia's father, he was anxious to think the best. But when the Bladud descended44 on the spacious45 lawn of the house on Bathwick Hill, the blinds were down. The whole place wore that sad and subtle air which impresses itself upon a scene of death. There was no need to ask questions. Linton understood.
A faint, half-hearted yelp46 from Peter was the first sound that greeted him. Presently, inside the darkened house, he awaited the coming of Peter's mistress.
The door opened very quietly, and Zenobia entered; a slim, sad figure, the blackness of whose dress in that dim light heightened the pallor of her face. Her hand was in his own. He looked into her eyes; the gaze of the lover softened47 and chastened to that of the tender and compassionate48 friend.
"You understand how much I feel for you," he said.
[Pg 98]
"Yes," she answered gratefully, "It was good of you to come. But, in a sense, it is too late."
He waited quietly for what she chose to say.
"I mean," she added "that I hoped you could come before ... before the end. But at the last it was sudden, so sudden."
"You have something to tell me. There is something I can do for you in your trouble?"
Zenobia paused for a moment. Then, with some effort and a faint tinge50 of colour coming to her cheeks, continued:
"If you had come while my father lived, I could have told him...." She looked down, and drew a long deep sigh of distress51. "I could have told him," she then went on with greater firmness, "that you, if you were willing, could help us, though so late, to do an act of justice to another. Mr. Herrick, it grieves me to tell you...."
She turned away and rested her elbows on the marble mantelpiece, unable for the moment to proceed.
"Perhaps I know more than you suppose," he said very gently, "and, perhaps, I can guess the rest."
"No," turning towards him, "I won't ask you to guess. Why should you help me, unless I tell you all, everything—everything, fully49 and frankly52? Will you read this?"
He look the paper the girl placed in his hands, but did not immediately unfold it.
"I am willing to do anything you can wish, asking no questions," he said.
She looked at him with eyes that seemed to shine with grateful tears.
"You are good to me. I have no other friends."
[Pg 99]
"I am your friend," said Herrick, not without a tremor53 in his voice, "yours to command, always and in everything."
For the moment she could not speak, but held out her hand to him impulsively54. Holding the slim fingers tenderly, he bent55 and kissed them.
"That paper," she said, "is my father's will. Will you read it, please!"
Then she sat down and turned away her face.
"I knew something of this," he said quietly. "Now I understand all. You need tell me no more."
"Is Mr. Renshaw still living—is it really true that he is still alive?" she said looking up anxiously.
"Quite true."
"Thank God. Oh! God be thanked for that!"
"It is not too late."
"Only too late for him to know and seek forgiveness."
"You mean your father?"
The girl bowed her head. Then she burst out vehemently57: "It must not be softened down. I know, I feel, the horror, the wickedness of what was done. I must accept the shame, the punishment. The sins of the fathers must be visited on the children. It is the law of nature and the law of God! I want to make atonement; yet nothing can undo58 the past, the cruelty and wickedness of all those years of suffering and imprisonment59."
"Renshaw will not harbour revengeful or vindictive60 feelings, I am sure of that," Linton answered soothingly61. "He is a man of noble character, and a Christian62 gentleman."
[Pg 100]
"And it was he, a man like that, whom my father...." she paused, biting her trembling lips. "Oh it is horrible, horrible!"
"Yes, it is written there, a public confession64, the dying declaration of his sorrow and his shame. There shall be no concealment65. He did not wish it at the last. The truth must be made known to all the world."
"If Renshaw wishes it. But I do not think he will."
"Where is he now—is he ill, is he safe?"
"He is recovering, getting back his strength, in a monastery66 in Herm, one of the smaller Channel Islands. Arrangements are being made for his return to England at the right moment."
She stood up, interested and excited.
"Yes, yes?"
"A society has been formed—the members call themselves the Friends of the Ph?nix. My uncle and General Hartwell are at the head of it. The aim is to restore Renshaw to power. He is the only man who can save the country in the present crisis."
"And you are helping—you are one of them?"
He nodded. "I am to bring him back to England in the Bladud if I have your permission."
"Don't lose an hour," she cried, "don't lose an hour!"
"Not a moment, when the time is ripe. I am waiting orders. They will reach me here."
"If only my father could have known of this before he died."
She sighed and looked at him wistfully, then said appealingly: "You will come upstairs?"
[Pg 101]
Linton bowed his head and followed her. Upstairs in the room from which the President had looked out on the lights of Bath for the last time the sheeted figure lay upon the bed. They paused for a moment side by side. Then Linton gazed for the last time on the cold and rigid67 face of Nicholas Jardine.
Three days later, the sun, shining through the windows of the ancient Abbey church, fell upon sculptured saint and heavenward-pointing angel, revealed the lettering on many a mural tablet dedicated68 to long-departed men and women, illumined the sombre crowd of black-clothed worshippers, and gleamed on the silver coffin69 plate of the dead President.
Deep organ notes rolled beneath the fretted70 arches as choir71 and congregation, with heads bowed low, raised in mournful cadence72 the wail73 of the Dies ir?.
Apart from the girl, by whose side Linton Herrick knelt, perhaps there were few present who really mourned for Nicholas Jardine. But, as people do at such a time, they mourned for themselves, they mourned for humanity; and recent local events—the strange convulsions of nature, with the apprehension74 of more terrible possibilities to come, served to accentuate75 the feelings of the worshippers. For the moment, at any rate, they believed in the life of the world to come. They recognised in the burial of the dead that dread76 passing through the gate of judgment77 to which man, frail78 man, has ever been predestined. The air was full of lamentations:
See fulfill'd the prophets' warning!
Heav'n and earth in ashes burning!
[Pg 102]
When from heav'n the Judge descendeth,
On Whose sentence all dependeth!
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth,
All before the Throne it bringeth!"
Verse after verse the solemn litany continued:
"Ah! that day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him."
The funeral march pealed83 forth as the body was borne from the Church. Slowly the congregation dispersed84, until at last only one figure remained, the solitary85 kneeling form of Zenobia.
Within an hour after Linton had left the cemetery86, he received a telegram in cipher87 from Sir Robert Herrick. He gave immediate12 instructions to Wilton, and sent a message to Zenobia. She came to him at once.
Linton looked at her with troubled eyes. There was something infinitely88 pathetic in the aspect of this slim, fair girl with the sunny hair, on whose face suffering and distress of spirit suddenly had set so sad a stamp.
"Good-bye," she answered, "God grant that you may both come safely back. When Mr. Renshaw is in England, I must see him, I must tell him all."
With a final pressure of her hand, he turned away. However much his heart might be wrung89 at leaving her, however hard to keep back the words of love and tenderness that rose to his lips, he must be silent for the moment. There was a task to be per[Pg 103]formed. It was the hour for action. Great issues were involved. A national crisis was at hand.
That much Linton knew. But as yet he did not know that the crisis was to assume a double and appalling90 complexity91. A thunderbolt had been hurled92 against England from an unexpected quarter. A swift and staggering blow, well timed in the hour of Jardine's death, had been levelled against the remaining pillars of her once proud Empire.
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1
orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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pensioner
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| n.领养老金的人 | |
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prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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transcended
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| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的过去式和过去分词 )； 优于或胜过… | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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caterpillar
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| n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫 | |
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serpentine
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| adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的 | |
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dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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supernal
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| adj.天堂的，天上的；崇高的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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44
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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45
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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46
yelp
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| vi.狗吠 | |
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47
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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48
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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49
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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50
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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51
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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53
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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54
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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56
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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58
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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59
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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60
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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66
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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70
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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71
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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72
cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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accentuate
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| v.着重，强调 | |
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76
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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77
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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78
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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79
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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80
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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81
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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82
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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83
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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85
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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86
cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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87
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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88
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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89
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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90
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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91
complexity
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| n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物 | |
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92
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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