By due afflictions check presumptuous1 pride,
With hope and love turn fell despair aside,
And make my chief delight Thy holy law!”
Robert Tudor Tucker.
The great red sun, like a huge globe of fire, was sinking in the west,—I would have said the horizon, but that word gives the idea of a point nearly level with the eye, while the orb2 appeared far beneath them to the travellers in the Eaglet. The red light tinted3 with a fiery4 glow the lower hemisphere of the balloon, which was all that met the eye of the earl, for he had cautiously abstained5 for many hours from glancing downwards6 towards the earth.
Dashleigh was now perfectly7 calm, though silent and thoughtful. That one fearful day had effected upon the young nobleman the work of years. Deeply solemn were his reflections. With a conscience neither dead nor unenlightened, the earl had needed no prophet to decipher for him the fiery “letters on the wall” of affliction. Heavily and yet more heavily had descended8 on him the Almighty’s chastening[209] hand, and every blow had evidently been aimed at his pride! Had he not been humiliated9 in the presence of his friend,—satirized by his wife, ridiculed10 by the world, and had he not now by an unconquerable weakness, which a girl would have blushed to betray, been the actual cause of the fearful position in which he and his companions appeared! Bitter, bitter was the humiliation11 of the proud man! Had he been destitute12 of the faith which supports, and the hope which cheers, Dashleigh would have been utterly13 crushed by the successive strokes laid upon him. But in him there was much of the gold, which beneath the hammer “does not break, but extend.” Dashleigh resembled less the son of Kish whom trial drove into fierce despair, than the haughty14 Assyrian king who, having endured that most humbling15 degradation16 which was the appointed punishment for pride, “lifted up” his “eyes unto heaven,” and “blessed the most High,” with a spirit subdued17.
Strangely had passed the day; as light as the feather down, the balloon floated in the ocean of air. The party in the car had partaken of the slight refreshment18 which had been provided, in little expectation that even that would be required during a two hours’ expedition. Beverage19 there was none, for the wine had exploded both the bottles from the cause mentioned in a preceding chapter. The lips of each of the sufferers was parched20 and dry, and a painful sensation of thirst was added to the trials of the hour.
[210]
Augustine and Mabel had exhausted21 all their inventive powers in contriving23 means to cut an opening in the ball of the balloon. Several attempts had been made, but all had ended in disappointment. The knife, flung upwards24 with a steady hand, had glanced back from the varnished25 silk, and fallen through depths which the mind shuddered26 to calculate. Every effort but strengthened the conviction that all effort was unavailing.
There had been silence for a long time in the car,—silence of which dwellers27 upon earth can scarcely form a conception. There was here no rustling28 leaf, no buzz of an insect’s wing to break the awful stillness! Motion itself was impalpable, being unaccompanied by the slightest sound!
“Augustine,” said the earl, raising himself on his elbow, for he still in a reclining posture29 occupied the lower part of the car, “do you believe that you can hide from me the fact that you have no power over the balloon; that our condition is hopeless?”
“Nay,” replied his friend, “let us never despair. The gas may yet find some vent22. There was never yet balloon made so air-tight that it would not leak in the course of time.”
Mabel thought that she had never seen the pale, delicate features of the earl invested with such true dignity, as when with low, but distinct utterance30 he made his reply: “I would rather look the danger in the face. My brain is not dizzy now,—none are[211] dizzy who look above rather than below them. I have a presentiment31 that we shall never reach the ground alive.”
Not a word was uttered in contradiction or reply, and the earl continued in the same calm, deliberate tone: “Death is a great preacher, Augustine; he tells us startling truths! He tarnishes32 with a touch the gilding33 on objects that once appeared to us bright! He levels the prince and the peasant. He has been preaching to me a soul-searching sermon, and from a very solemn text.”
“The loftiness of man shall be bowed down and the haughtiness35 of man shall be laid low, and the Lord alone shall be exalted36 in that day.”
Again there was solemn, deathlike silence! Perhaps, as Mabel and her uncle sat watching the last edge of the sun’s disc disappear, and the sky gradually darken into night, the self-reliant genius, the high-spirited girl, were secretly applying to themselves the sublime37 words of the prophet of Judah.
While twilight38 still lingered, a thought struck Mabel. She remembered that she had brought with her an envelope ready directed to her sister, with a sheet of blank paper enclosed, for her fancy had been pleased with the idea of dating a letter from “the clouds.” Making a table of her seat in the car, Mabel knelt down, and with a pencil wrote a sad[212] and touching39 farewell to the parent and sister so tenderly loved. Many names were kindly40 remembered in that note, for the proud spirit of Mabel was softened41 and subdued by the pressure of trial, and no one was then recalled to her mind but with a feeling of kindness. To her step-mother Mabel sent a long message. She confessed her fault with frank regret, and asked the pardon of Mrs. Aumerle, not only for the last act of open disobedience which was now so fearfully punished, but for a long course of petty provocations42, for sullen43 looks, and proud retorts, and bitter words spoken against her; Mabel entreated44 forgiveness for all. Her tears dropped fast upon the sheet—the first tears which she had shed on that day, but she dashed them hastily from her eyes. Mabel then folded the note and kissed it, as if believing that the paper might bear to her home the impress of that last token of love; then she dropped her letter over the side of the car, watching it as it descended, and picturing to herself the grief and tenderness with which it would be received, and read, and treasured up as a mournful memorial of her of whose fate it might be the only record.
Dashleigh had watched the action of his young companion, and now drew from his vest a small but very elegant pocket-book, which bore on one side an embossed gold shield, on which his name was engraved45, surmounted46 by his coronet. This was the first gift of affection which the young nobleman had[213] received from his affianced bride. It had been his constant companion since the hour when he had received it from her hand. Dashleigh opened the book, and gazed for some moments on the inscription47 written on the fly-leaf, though the thickening darkness would have rendered it difficult to decipher, had he not known every syllable48 by heart. The earl then, rather by feeling than sight, traced two words on one of the blank pages, reclasped the book, and gave it to Mabel with an expressive49 movement of the hand. Sadly and silently she dropped into the dark abyss the love token of the unhappy Annabella.
More than an hour elapsed before the silence again was broken. The thin air of these upper regions had become intensely cold, and Mabel shivered in her spring attire50. The balloon was drifting steadily51 on before the night breeze, as was marked by its dark globe appearing to blot52 out one constellation53 after another from the sky as it swept on, the sole object that broke the immense expanse of the star-lit heavens.
“I think,” observed Mabel with a heavy sigh, “that all in my father’s house must now be met together for evening prayers.” She paused, as fancy brought before her eye the warm lighted room, the curtains drawn54, the lamp-light falling on so many dear familiar faces! Mabel thought how her father’s voice would tremble as he uttered his fervent55 supplications[214] for those in such awful peril57, and how Ida would try to smother58 her bursting sobs59, that she might not unnerve him by the sound of her distress60. “They will be praying for us,” continued Mabel; “should we not pray together—even here?”
“God is with us—even in this awful, awful height where no human being can approach us,” faltered62 Mabel.
“Augustine Aumerle,” said Lord Dashleigh, “do you lead our evening devotion.”
And there was truth in these strange words. To the gifted scholar, the eloquent64 orator65, the language of prayer was not familiar, the spirit of prayer had long, alas66! been unknown! Augustine had indeed, during his visit to his brother, usually joined in the family devotions, but he had done so from courtesy to man, not from reverence67 for God. Unconvinced of the weakness or sinfulness of his own nature, he had sought neither pardon nor aid; he had felt no need of a divine sustaining power, for he had contentedly68 rested on his own. Augustine had made an idol69 of Intellect, with Pride for its priest, under the much abused name of Reason. What marvel70 that with all his knowledge Augustine knew not how to pray!
[215]
The earl felt the difficulty almost as strongly as his friend, though from a different cause. He had never been disturbed by a doubt on the subject of religion, and had from his earliest youth regarded revealed truth with reverence, and acts of worship with respect; but he had carried even into his devotion the cold formality which naturally followed an overweening sense of personal dignity. Dashleigh had been a regular attendant at church; but with the shy reserve of his nature, it would have seemed to him, till that night, impossible to have poured forth71 in the hearing of man an extempore prayer to his God. But where Pride is humbled72, the spirit of supplication56 may rest. Never had the peer so felt before the littleness of personal distinctions; never, therefore, before had his heart been so attuned73 to simple prayer. As Augustine shrank from leading the devotions, which each one present felt would be at once the source of comfort and the fulfilment of duty, the nobleman, with folded hands, repeated aloud the first petitions in the Litany which instinct rather than memory suggested to his mind. Augustine and his young niece in low and earnest tones echoed the cry for mercy upon miserable74 sinners; and when it was followed by the comprehensive prayer, “in all time of our tribulation75, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment—Lord, deliver us!” arose in solemn unison76 from three voices and three hearts. Never[216] had the supplication been more earnestly, more fervently77 breathed.
The Lord’s Prayer concluded the brief service, which for the time made that little car appear as a floating temple. The chill cloudy solitude78 seemed less terrible when the name of the Giver of all good, the Fount of all blessings79, had sounded within it. Those who had prayed together, felt their souls more knit together, and more prepared to meet with firmness whatever the dark, drear night might bring. Philosophy had brought no comfort, earthly rank no relief, but the sense of the presence of a heavenly Father was as balm to the suffering sinking soul.
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1
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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5
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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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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7
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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8
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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9
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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10
ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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13
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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14
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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15
humbling
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| adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气 | |
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16
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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17
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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19
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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20
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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21
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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23
contriving
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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24
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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25
varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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26
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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27
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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28
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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29
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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30
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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31
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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32
tarnishes
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| 污点，瑕疵，无光泽( tarnish的名词复数 ) | |
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33
gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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34
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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35
haughtiness
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| n.傲慢；傲气 | |
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36
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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37
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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38
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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39
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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40
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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41
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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42
provocations
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| n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因 | |
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43
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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44
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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46
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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47
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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48
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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49
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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50
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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51
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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52
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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53
constellation
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| n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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54
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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55
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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56
supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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57
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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58
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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59
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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60
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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61
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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62
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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63
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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64
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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65
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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66
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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67
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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68
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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69
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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70
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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71
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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72
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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73
attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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74
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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75
tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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76
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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77
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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78
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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79
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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