How little that room was altered! The fire blazing brightly as ever, the familiar tomes ranged in their accustomed places, the morning’s Times laid on the table, the book beside the desk with half its leaves yet uncut, and the paper-knife marking the place where Mr. Effingham had lately been reading! Clemence tried by an effort of imagination to blot7 out all remembrance of the last few days, to look upon what had passed as a dream, and to listen for that well-known step which would never be heard on that threshold again! She would not occupy the arm-chair which she had seen so often filled by her husband. One thing was changed—but one; the clock on the mantel-piece, which Mr. Effingham had suffered no one to touch but himself, which had belonged to his father before him, that clock which he had regularly wound on each Saturday night, stood silent, with motionless pendulum,—an emblem8 of the fortunes of the house.
Vincent followed his step-mother to the study. The boy was restless and sought companionship, but Louisa was too melancholy9, and Arabella too irritable10 to make their society congenial to their brother. Clemence would at that time have greatly preferred being left alone with her own sad musings, but she would not, even by a hint to that effect, drive from her side the only being who clung to her in her sorrow. Vincent was therefore allowed to sit beside her, endeavouring to glean11 amusement from the Times, while she slowly and sadly pursued her occupation of collecting scattered12 papers. One struck her eye—its appearance seemed familiar to her; upon examination it proved to be the bill of Madame La Voye—that bill which had cost her such painful self-reproach. It had surely been paid long ago;—no! unreceipted, it lay amongst others! Clemence bit her lip, but at the moment was startled by a vehement13 exclamation14 from Vincent.
“What a shame! how dare they write so of papa!”
Clemence caught the paper from his hand. Vincent pointed15 to one of the leading paragraphs; it commenced thus:—
“We have again to record a great crash in the commercial world, attended with circumstances which force upon our attention the fact that the laws of bankruptcy16, as at present constituted, are inadequate17 to protect the property of the subject.”
Clemence read on, every sentence falling like a drop of glowing metal on her heart; she saw the name most dear to her coupled with duplicity, craft, dishonour18!
“We hear on undoubted authority,” said the Times, “that Mr. Effingham has settled a large fortune upon his wife, with whom the bankrupt doubtless looks forward to enjoying in luxurious19 retirement20 the spoils of the widow and the orphan21. These evasions22 of law and equity23 have been of late of such frequent occurrence, that we have learned complacently24 to behold25 the giant offender26 rolling in his carriage, while the meaner felon27 is consigned28 to a jail.”
The paper dropped from the hand of the miserable29 wife. Vincent sprang to her side. “It is not true!” he exclaimed passionately30; “it is all nonsense and lies!—it is!—oh, say that it is!”
“Leave me, Vincent! leave me!” gasped31 Clemence; with an imploring32 gesture she motioned to the door, and, as soon as her command had been obeyed, threw herself down upon the floor and writhed33, as if in convulsions of bodily pain! What physical torture could have equalled the agony of that hour! The anguish34 caused to a loving and conscientious35 spirit by the errors of the being most beloved, resembles in nature, and is scarcely exceeded in intensity36 by that of remorse37! To Clemence, her husband’s disgrace was her disgrace; his transgressions38 seemed even as her own. So closely was she joined to him in heart, that the consciousness of personal blamelessness brought her no comfort—the shadow which had fallen on him enveloped39 her also in its blackness!
“What am I called upon to endure!” was a thought ere long superseded40 by another: “What am I called upon to do?” A gulf41 of misery42 was yawning before the bankrupt’s wife—could no personal sacrifice close it? Clemence started to her feet, took the writing materials which lay on the table, and hastily penned to Mr. Mark a scarcely legible note, praying him to come to her as soon as was possible, as she needed his assistance and advice. This done, and the letter despatched, Clemence could breathe a little more freely. She declined seeing any one until after his arrival, and as that was delayed for several hours, the unhappy wife had time to become more calm, and to revolve43 in her mind what course of duty lay before her. Yet the sound of the long waited-for knock at the door which announced the man of business, was to her much as that of the hammer-stroke on a scaffold might be to one doomed44 to suffer thereon.
Mr. Mark entered with apologies for delay, of which Clemence understood not one word. With tremulous hand she pointed to the Times, and could scarcely articulate, “You have seen it?”
Mr. Mark gravely inclined his head.
“And is there any—” Clemence stopped short—she could not endure to put the question in such a form. “Is it not all cruel calumny45?” she faltered46.
Mr. Mark hesitated. “The language is harsh and strong,” was his guarded reply: it was too well comprehended by the miserable Clemence.
“When that—that money was settled,” she stammered47 forth48, without daring to look at her listener, “the house was safe, secure—there was no prospect49 of the ruin that followed?”
“I believed so when I followed Mr. Effingham’s directions. I, for one, had not the slightest doubt at that time of the solvency50 of the firm.”
“And he—”
There was a long, painful silence; Clemence heard nothing but the throbbing51 of her own heart. When the lady spoke52 again her tone was strangely altered; there was in it no more of tremulous earnestness, but the calm resolution of despair.
“It is so by the terms of the settlement.”
“Then I request you, acting54 in my name, to place the whole of it in the hands of the creditors55.”
“My dear madam—”
“My resolution is quite fixed,” said Clemence, compressing her bloodless lips.
“But consider your position, that of the family—”
“I have resources of my own,” replied Clemence firmly; “and my step-daughters are already provided for.”
“You have resources?” repeated the lawyer doubtfully; “and the boy?”
“Shares whatever I have,” answered Clemence.
“Perhaps a partial sacrifice,” began Mr. Mark, but the lady interrupted him.
“All—all—I will give up all!”
“Not without reflection, dear madam, not on the impulse of the moment, not without consulting your friends.”
“Just, perhaps, but—” and he paused.
“I have also consulted another friend, one who has been to me as a father—the Reverend Mr. Gray of Stoneby.”
“And he advises this step?”
“I have not yet had time to receive his reply.”
“Wait for it then,” said the lawyer; “do nothing without beforehand weighing the consequences, or it is possible that you may regret even the noble and generous act, the thought of which does you honour.”
After some further conversation, it was settled that Clemence should delay her decision until Mr. Gray’s letter should be received, and then convey her final decision in writing to the man of business. Mr. Mark left her with a mingled57 sentiment of compassion58 and respect, which softened59 his usually abrupt60 manner to that of almost paternal61 tenderness.
“She has much to suffer, but she will suffer bravely,” thought he, as he stepped into his brougham.
Clemence heaved a deep sigh when she found herself left alone. The spirit which had supported her through that painful interview now seemed to fail her. Very repugnant was it to her feelings to consult any one before her husband, on a point which concerned his honour so nearly. Could she not learn his will ere making so momentous62 a decision? To do so was the instinct of her heart, but not the judgment of her reason. No; even had she the means of communicating with Mr. Effingham, how could she seek guidance from him on the very path from which he had wandered? how ask him if it were her duty to counteract63 his own schemes, and clear, as far as possible, his character from a stain which he had deliberately64 contracted? It was, perhaps, better that a cloud of doubt should rest on what Mr. Effingham’s ultimate wishes might be, and that Clemence should not behold in actual opposition65 her obedience66 to her husband and her duty to her God.
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1
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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6
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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7
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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8
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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10
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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11
glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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12
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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13
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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14
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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15
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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17
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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18
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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19
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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20
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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22
evasions
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| 逃避( evasion的名词复数 )； 回避； 遁辞； 借口 | |
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equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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25
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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27
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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28
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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29
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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30
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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31
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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32
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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35
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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36
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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38
transgressions
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| n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 ) | |
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39
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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41
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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42
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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43
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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44
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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45
calumny
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| n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤 | |
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46
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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47
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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49
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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50
solvency
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| n.偿付能力，溶解力 | |
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51
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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52
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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53
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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55
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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56
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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57
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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58
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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59
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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60
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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61
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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62
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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63
counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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64
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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65
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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66
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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