Our place of refuge was a farm some twenty miles or so from Johannesburg—right out on the veld. I was dropping with fatigue1. All the excitement and anxiety of the last two days had left me little better than a limp rag.
I kept repeating to myself, without being able to believe it, that our troubles were really over. Harry2 and I were together and we should never be separated again. Yet all through I was conscious of some barrier between us—a constraint3 on his part, the reason of which I could not fathom4.
Sir Eustace had been driven off in an opposite direction accompanied by a strong guard. He waved his hand airily to us on departing.
I came out on to the stoep early on the following morning and looked across the veld in the direction of Johannesburg. I could see the great dumps glistening5 in the pale morning sunshine, and I could hear the low rumbling6 mutter of the guns. The Revolution was not over yet.
The farmer’s wife came out and called me in to breakfast. She was a kind, motherly soul, and I was already very fond of her. Harry had gone out at dawn and had not yet returned, so she informed me. Again I felt a stir of uneasiness pass over me. What was this shadow of which I was so conscious between us?
After breakfast I sat out on the stoep, a book in my hand which I did not read. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I never saw Colonel Race ride up and dismount from his horse. It was not until he said “Good morning, Anne,” that I became aware of his presence.
“Oh,” I said, with a flush, “it’s you.”
“Yes. May I sit down?”
He drew a chair up beside me. It was the first time we had been alone together since that day at the Matoppos. As always, I felt that curious mixture of fascination7 and fear that he never failed to inspire in me.
“What is the news?” I asked.
“Smuts will be in Johannesburg to-morrow. I give this outbreak three days more before it collapses8 utterly9. In the meantime the fighting goes on.”
“I wish,” I said, “that one could be sure that the right people were the ones to get killed. I mean the ones who wanted to fight—not just all the poor people who happen to live in the parts where the fighting is going on.”
He nodded.
“I know what you mean, Anne. That’s the unfairness of war. But I’ve other news for you.”
“Yes?”
“What?”
“Yes. No one knows how he managed it. He was securely locked up for the night—in an upper-story room of one of the farms roundabouts which the Military have taken over, but this morning the room was empty and the bird had flown.”
Secretly I was rather pleased. Never, to this day, have I been able to rid myself of a sneaking12 fondness for Sir Eustace. I dare say it’s reprehensible13, but there it is. I admired him. He was a thorough-going villain14, I dare say—but he was a pleasant one. I’ve never met any one half so amusing since.
I concealed15 my feelings, of course. Naturally Colonel Race would feel quite differently about it. He wanted Sir Eustace brought to justice. There was nothing very surprising in his escape when one came to think of it. All round Jo’burg he must have innumerable spies and agents. And, whatever Colonel Race might think, I was exceedingly doubtful that they would ever catch him. He probably had a well-planned line of retreat. Indeed, he had said as much to us.
I expressed myself suitably, though in a rather lukewarm manner, and the conversation languished16. Then Colonel Race asked suddenly for Harry. I told him that he had gone off at dawn and that I hadn’t seen him this morning.
“You understand, don’t you, Anne, that apart from formalities, he is completely cleared? There are technicalities, of course, but Sir Eustace’s guilt17 is well assured. There is nothing now to keep you apart.”
He said this without looking at me, in a slow, jerky voice.
“I understand,” I said gratefully.
“And there is no reason why he should not at once resume his real name.”
“No, of course not.”
“You know his real name?”
The question surprised me.
“Of course I do. Harry Lucas.”
“Anne, do you remember that, as we drove home from the Matoppos that day, I told you that I knew what I had to do?”
“Of course I remember.”
“I think that I may fairly say I have done it. The man you love is cleared of suspicion.”
“Was that what you meant?”
“Of course.”
I hung my head, ashamed of the baseless suspicion I had entertained. He spoke19 again in a thoughtful voice:
“When I was a mere20 youngster, I was in love with a girl who jilted me. After that I thought only of my work. My career meant everything to me. Then I met you, Anne—and all that seemed worth nothing. But youth’s call to youth. . . . I’ve still got my work.”
I was silent. I suppose one can’t really love two men at once—but you can feel like it. The magnetism21 of this man was very great. I looked up at him suddenly.
“I think that you’ll go very far,” I said dreamily. “I think that you’ve got a great career ahead of you. You’ll be one of the world’s big men.”
I felt as though I was uttering a prophecy.
“I shall be alone, though.”
“All the people who do really big things are.”
“You think so?”
“I’m sure of it.”
He took my hand and said in a low voice:
“I’d rather have had—the other.”
Then Harry came striding round the corner of the house. Colonel Race rose.
“Good morning—Lucas,” he said.
For some reason Harry flushed up to the roots of his hair.
But Harry was still staring at Colonel Race.
“So you know, sir,” he said at last.
“I never forget a face. I saw you once as a boy.”
“What’s all this about?” I asked, puzzled, looking from one to the other.
It seemed a conflict of wills between them. Race won. Harry turned slightly away.
“I suppose you’re right, sir. Tell her my real name.”
“Anne, this isn’t Harry Lucas. Harry Lucas was killed in the War. This is John Harold Eardsley.”
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1
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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2
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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3
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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4
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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5
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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6
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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7
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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8
collapses
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| 折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下 | |
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9
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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10
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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11
incompetency
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| n.无能力，不适当 | |
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12
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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13
reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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14
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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15
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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16
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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17
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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18
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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19
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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20
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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21
magnetism
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| n.磁性，吸引力，磁学 | |
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22
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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