Dividing the distance into two days’ journey, in order that his charge might sustain the less exhaustion1 and fatigue2 from travelling so far, Nicholas, at the end of the second day from their leaving home, found himself within a very few miles of the spot where the happiest years of his life had been passed, and which, while it filled his mind with pleasant and peaceful thoughts, brought back many painful and vivid recollections of the circumstances in which he and his had wandered forth3 from their old home, cast upon the rough world and the mercy of strangers.
It needed no such reflections as those which the memory of old days, and wanderings among scenes where our childhood has been passed, usually awaken4 in the most insensible minds, to soften5 the heart of Nicholas, and render him more than usually mindful of his drooping6 friend. By night and day, at all times and seasons: always watchful7, attentive8, and solicitous9, and never varying in the discharge of his self-imposed duty to one so friendless and helpless as he whose sands of life were now fast running out and dwindling10 rapidly away: he was ever at his side. He never left him. To encourage and animate11 him, administer to his wants, support and cheer him to the utmost of his power, was now his constant and unceasing occupation.
They procured12 a humble13 lodging14 in a small farmhouse15, surrounded by meadows where Nicholas had often revelled16 when a child with a troop of merry schoolfellows; and here they took up their rest.
At first, Smike was strong enough to walk about, for short distances at a time, with no other support or aid than that which Nicholas could afford him. At this time, nothing appeared to interest him so much as visiting those places which had been most familiar to his friend in bygone days. Yielding to this fancy, and pleased to find that its indulgence beguiled17 the sick boy of many tedious hours, and never failed to afford him matter for thought and conversation afterwards, Nicholas made such spots the scenes of their daily rambles18: driving him from place to place in a little pony-chair, and supporting him on his arm while they walked slowly among these old haunts, or lingered in the sunlight to take long parting looks of those which were most quiet and beautiful.
It was on such occasions as these, that Nicholas, yielding almost unconsciously to the interest of old associations, would point out some tree that he had climbed, a hundred times, to peep at the young birds in their nest; and the branch from which he used to shout to little Kate, who stood below terrified at the height he had gained, and yet urging him higher still by the intensity19 of her admiration20. There was the old house too, which they would pass every day, looking up at the tiny window through which the sun used to stream in and wake him on the summer mornings—they were all summer mornings then—and climbing up the garden-wall and looking over, Nicholas could see the very rose-bush which had come, a present to Kate, from some little lover, and she had planted with her own hands. There were the hedgerows where the brother and sister had so often gathered wild flowers together, and the green fields and shady paths where they had so often strayed. There was not a lane, or brook21, or copse, or cottage near, with which some childish event was not entwined, and back it came upon the mind—as events of childhood do—nothing in itself: perhaps a word, a laugh, a look, some slight distress22, a passing thought or fear: and yet more strongly and distinctly marked, and better remembered, than the hardest trials or severest sorrows of a year ago.
One of these expeditions led them through the churchyard where was his father’s grave. ‘Even here,’ said Nicholas softly, ‘we used to loiter before we knew what death was, and when we little thought whose ashes would rest beneath; and, wondering at the silence, sit down to rest and speak below our breath. Once, Kate was lost, and after an hour of fruitless search, they found her, fast asleep, under that tree which shades my father’s grave. He was very fond of her, and said when he took her up in his arms, still sleeping, that whenever he died he would wish to be buried where his dear little child had laid her head. You see his wish was not forgotten.’
Nothing more passed at the time, but that night, as Nicholas sat beside his bed, Smike started from what had seemed to be a slumber23, and laying his hand in his, prayed, as the tears coursed down his face, that he would make him one solemn promise.
‘I am sure you will,’ was the reply. ‘Promise me that when I die, I shall be buried near—as near as they can make my grave—to the tree we saw today.’
Nicholas gave the promise; he had few words to give it in, but they were solemn and earnest. His poor friend kept his hand in his, and turned as if to sleep. But there were stifled26 sobs27; and the hand was pressed more than once, or twice, or thrice, before he sank to rest, and slowly loosed his hold.
In a fortnight’s time, he became too ill to move about. Once or twice, Nicholas drove him out, propped28 up with pillows; but the motion of the chaise was painful to him, and brought on fits of fainting, which, in his weakened state, were dangerous. There was an old couch in the house, which was his favourite resting-place by day; and when the sun shone, and the weather was warm, Nicholas had this wheeled into a little orchard29 which was close at hand, and his charge being well wrapped up and carried out to it, they used to sit there sometimes for hours together.
It was on one of these occasions that a circumstance took place, which Nicholas, at the time, thoroughly30 believed to be the mere31 delusion32 of an imagination affected33 by disease; but which he had, afterwards, too good reason to know was of real and actual occurrence.
He had brought Smike out in his arms—poor fellow! a child might have carried him then—to see the sunset, and, having arranged his couch, had taken his seat beside it. He had been watching the whole of the night before, and being greatly fatigued34 both in mind and body, gradually fell asleep.
He could not have closed his eyes five minutes, when he was awakened35 by a scream, and starting up in that kind of terror which affects a person suddenly roused, saw, to his great astonishment36, that his charge had struggled into a sitting posture37, and with eyes almost starting from their sockets38, cold dew standing39 on his forehead, and in a fit of trembling which quite convulsed his frame, was calling to him for help.
‘Good Heaven, what is this?’ said Nicholas, bending over him. ‘Be calm; you have been dreaming.’
‘No, no, no!’ cried Smike, clinging to him. ‘Hold me tight. Don’t let me go. There, there. Behind the tree!’
Nicholas followed his eyes, which were directed to some distance behind the chair from which he himself had just risen. But, there was nothing there.
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‘This is nothing but your fancy,’ he said, as he strove to compose him; ‘nothing else, indeed.’
‘I know better. I saw as plain as I see now,’ was the answer. ‘Oh! say you’ll keep me with you. Swear you won’t leave me for an instant!’
‘Do I ever leave you?’ returned Nicholas. ‘Lie down again—there! You see I’m here. Now, tell me; what was it?’
‘Do you remember,’ said Smike, in a low voice, and glancing fearfully round, ‘do you remember my telling you of the man who first took me to the school?’
‘Yes, surely.’
‘I raised my eyes, just now, towards that tree—that one with the thick trunk—and there, with his eyes fixed40 on me, he stood!’
‘Only reflect for one moment,’ said Nicholas; ‘granting, for an instant, that it’s likely he is alive and wandering about a lonely place like this, so far removed from the public road, do you think that at this distance of time you could possibly know that man again?’
‘Anywhere—in any dress,’ returned Smike; ‘but, just now, he stood leaning upon his stick and looking at me, exactly as I told you I remembered him. He was dusty with walking, and poorly dressed—I think his clothes were ragged—but directly I saw him, the wet night, his face when he left me, the parlour I was left in, and the people that were there, all seemed to come back together. When he knew I saw him, he looked frightened; for he started, and shrunk away. I have thought of him by day, and dreamt of him by night. He looked in my sleep, when I was quite a little child, and has looked in my sleep ever since, as he did just now.’
Nicholas endeavoured, by every persuasion41 and argument he could think of, to convince the terrified creature that his imagination had deceived him, and that this close resemblance between the creation of his dreams and the man he supposed he had seen was but a proof of it; but all in vain. When he could persuade him to remain, for a few moments, in the care of the people to whom the house belonged, he instituted a strict inquiry42 whether any stranger had been seen, and searched himself behind the tree, and through the orchard, and upon the land immediately adjoining, and in every place near, where it was possible for a man to lie concealed43; but all in vain. Satisfied that he was right in his original conjecture44, he applied45 himself to calming the fears of Smike, which, after some time, he partially46 succeeded in doing, though not in removing the impression upon his mind; for he still declared, again and again, in the most solemn and fervid47 manner, that he had positively48 seen what he had described, and that nothing could ever remove his conviction of its reality.
And now, Nicholas began to see that hope was gone, and that, upon the partner of his poverty, and the sharer of his better fortune, the world was closing fast. There was little pain, little uneasiness, but there was no rallying, no effort, no struggle for life. He was worn and wasted to the last degree; his voice had sunk so low, that he could scarce be heard to speak. Nature was thoroughly exhausted49, and he had lain him down to die.
On a fine, mild autumn day, when all was tranquil50 and at peace: when the soft sweet air crept in at the open window of the quiet room, and not a sound was heard but the gentle rustling51 of the leaves: Nicholas sat in his old place by the bedside, and knew that the time was nearly come. So very still it was, that, every now and then, he bent52 down his ear to listen for the breathing of him who lay asleep, as if to assure himself that life was still there, and that he had not fallen into that deep slumber from which on earth there is no waking.
While he was thus employed, the closed eyes opened, and on the pale face there came a placid53 smile.
‘That’s well!’ said Nicholas. ‘The sleep has done you good.’
‘I have had such pleasant dreams,’ was the answer. ‘Such pleasant, happy dreams!’
‘Of what?’ said Nicholas.
The dying boy turned towards him, and, putting his arm about his neck, made answer, ‘I shall soon be there!’
‘I am not afraid to die,’ he said. ‘I am quite contented55. I almost think that if I could rise from this bed quite well I would not wish to do so, now. You have so often told me we shall meet again—so very often lately, and now I feel the truth of that so strongly—that I can even bear to part from you.’
The trembling voice and tearful eye, and the closer grasp of the arm which accompanied these latter words, showed how they filled the speaker’s heart; nor were there wanting indications of how deeply they had touched the heart of him to whom they were addressed.
‘You say well,’ returned Nicholas at length, ‘and comfort me very much, dear fellow. Let me hear you say you are happy, if you can.’
‘I must tell you something, first. I should not have a secret from you. You would not blame me, at a time like this, I know.’
‘I blame you!’ exclaimed Nicholas.
‘I am sure you would not. You asked me why I was so changed, and—and sat so much alone. Shall I tell you why?’
‘Not if it pains you,’ said Nicholas. ‘I only asked that I might make you happier, if I could.’
‘I know. I felt that, at the time.’ He drew his friend closer to him. ‘You will forgive me; I could not help it, but though I would have died to make her happy, it broke my heart to see—I know he loves her dearly—Oh! who could find that out so soon as I?’
The words which followed were feebly and faintly uttered, and broken by long pauses; but, from them, Nicholas learnt, for the first time, that the dying boy, with all the ardour of a nature concentrated on one absorbing, hopeless, secret passion, loved his sister Kate.
He had procured a lock of her hair, which hung at his breast, folded in one or two slight ribbons she had worn. He prayed that, when he was dead, Nicholas would take it off, so that no eyes but his might see it, and that when he was laid in his coffin56 and about to be placed in the earth, he would hang it round his neck again, that it might rest with him in the grave.
Upon his knees Nicholas gave him this pledge, and promised again that he should rest in the spot he had pointed57 out. They embraced, and kissed each other on the cheek.
‘Now,’ he murmured, ‘I am happy.’
He fell into a light slumber, and waking smiled as before; then, spoke of beautiful gardens, which he said stretched out before him, and were filled with figures of men, women, and many children, all with light upon their faces; then, whispered that it was Eden—and so died.
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1
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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2
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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3
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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4
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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5
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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6
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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7
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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8
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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9
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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10
dwindling
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| adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
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11
animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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12
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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13
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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14
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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15
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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16
revelled
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| v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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17
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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18
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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19
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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20
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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21
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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22
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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23
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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24
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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25
redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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26
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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27
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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28
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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30
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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31
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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32
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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33
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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34
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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35
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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36
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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37
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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38
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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39
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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40
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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41
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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42
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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43
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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44
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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45
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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46
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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47
fervid
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| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
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48
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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49
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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50
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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51
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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52
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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53
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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54
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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55
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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56
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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57
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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