‘Na, Captain, she’s no here.’
‘My good woman,’ said the Colonel, breathless, too, ‘don’t be unkind, but tell us where my daughter is. We’ve come from London. I never denied your interest in her—never opposed her love for you. Bellendean will tell you. Let me see Joyce, for God’s sake!
{404}
’
‘Colonel,’ said Janet, with a little tremble, ‘you should see her if she was in my keeping without such a grand plea. But she’s no here. I thought till this moment she was with—her ain folk.’
‘Don’t try to deceive us,’ cried Captain Bellendean, ‘we have traced her here.’ He was very much agitated9 to have forgotten his ‘mainners’ in this wonderful way.
‘Track or no track,’ said Janet, ‘you’ll get no lies frae me. Yes, she’s been here. There’s the chair she sat upon only yestreen and late at nicht wi’ Peter and me.’
The Colonel came in and looked at the chair with the instinct of a simple mind. It seemed to throw a certain light upon Joyce’s disappearance10. ‘Then where is she now?’ he said, with a sigh of impatience11 and disappointment. ‘Let me sit down, if you please, for all my strength seems to have gone out of me. Where is she now?’
‘That’s mair than I can tell,’ said Janet with the fervour of undeniable truth.
‘We are in great trouble,’ said Captain Bellendean. ‘She has gone away—in a mistake. Janet, you’re very fond of her, I know. She has been troubled about Halliday the schoolmaster, and—some one else. She has thought the best thing was to go away—and it’s the worst thing. It’s misery12 to everybody. I know you’re fond of her.’
‘Fond of her!’ said Janet. She said to herself that it was a bonnie question to be asked of her that would give her last drop of blood for Joyce. ‘Ay, ye may say I’m fond of her,’ she replied grimly.
‘And it is all a mistake. She’s taken up a mistaken idea. Halliday had no such claim upon her—nor had—any other. It was altogether a false fear. I would never—for pity’s sake, if you can tell us anything. You know me! She would never be forced to anything. She might have been sure of that,’ the Captain added hurriedly, with a flush of forlorn pride.
‘Eh, Captain,’ said Janet, ‘I would be far, far happier if I kent where she was. She just said, “I’m goin’ on a voyage, and that she had come to see us.” And it was my belief that the Cornel and his lady were just waiting upon her at Leith.’
‘At Leith!’ they both exclaimed. Then Colonel Hayward turned to the Captain with an air of relief. ‘It’s but a little port, isn’t it? We’ll soon be on the track now.’
‘At least,’ said Janet, ‘I’m thinking it was Leith, for where else would she gang to join a ship? but I thought naething but that the Cornel and his lady were waiting upon her—for ane o
{405}
’ your toors, or whatever you ca’ them,’ she added, with a certain tone of disdain13.
‘And she said she was going—where?’
‘She said it would be a long voyage. Ye needna think to trap me, Captain—it’s no like you—as if I was speaking a falsehood with your “Where?” Na; she said not a word to me, but just a long voyage. I would gie my little finger to ken,’ cried Janet, with tears; ‘but she said not a word to me.’
‘Are there boats for America at Leith? God bless my soul! poor little trading things—not even a mail-boat where she could have been comfortable,’ cried the Colonel. And then he added, ‘You must think we’ve been cruel to her to drive her away; but it’s not so—it’s not so. Bellendean will tell you.’
Janet remained grimly silent, offering no contradiction.
As for the Captain, he turned his back upon them both before he gave the called-for testimony14. ‘She is flying from love,’ he said, in a choked voice. ‘And to sacrifice herself for—us: and to make us all miserable15!’ If he was angry as well as unhappy, there was perhaps little wonder.
‘That’s a’ I can tell ye,’ said Janet. ‘We saw her off from the station, Peter and me. I had nae thought but that her father—her father that she belonged to, that took her from me—would be waitin’ for her at the other end. I never said a word to keep her from her duty to her ain folk; but if I had kent she was her lane, going forth16 upon the wide world and the sea, on a wild night—Lord! I would have followed her to the ends o’ the earth,’ cried Janet, with hot fervour and tears.
But she said nothing of how far she had followed. How did she know that it might not be prejudicial to Joyce? If Joyce had left them it could not be without reason. No doubt she had kept secret about her destination lest it should be found out by her pursuers. ‘She might have kent me better, that I would have stood for her against all the land and never let on I kent,’ the old woman said to herself. But it was no doubt better that within the strict boundaries of truth she could thus baffle the pursuit and confuse all researches. But what had the Captain to do with it? and what did they mean by flying from love? This gave Janet a cold thrill for many a day.
The search was long, and extended over many seas. Though there was no mail-boat for America, there were, as the Colonel divined, ‘trading things,’ but no trace in any of them of Joyce; and there were ships for the Mediterranean18 and many other places. Half a dozen times at least they thought they were on her track,
{406}
but failed and failed again. She had but little money for a long voyage. All indeed was darkness from the time when they traced her to the station at Bellendean. A young lady in company with an old woman had been seen at Leith; but Janet, who alone could have thrown any light on this, remained silent. Indeed, she had no confession19 to make, for she had only been with Joyce as a watcher is with the object of his stealthy pursuit. And Janet was all the more safe a guardian20 that she knew absolutely nothing. There never departed from her old eyes the vision of the lamp upon the mast, tossing with the movement of the waves, disappearing into the blackness of the night, a forlorn spark in the immeasurable vacancy21 of invisible sky and sea. Where had that symbol of humanity gone? what fathomless22 gloom had it penetrated23 with its faint-coloured gleam of living? All her superiority over the others lay in the image of that tossing light, and the faint spars it illuminated24 for a moment in the black gulf25 of the unknown.
So Joyce disappeared and was seen no more.
Miss Marsham never forgot nor could think, without a sinking of the heart, of that unfortunate night when the oracle26 had spoken by her mouth, all unaware27 of the nature of the being addressed, or the tragical28 matters involved. For the consequences of that self-sacrifice were disastrous29 all round. The Haywards’ pleasant house was shut up, while they travelled the world, looking for the lost girl. Mrs. Hayward was the most energetic in the pursuit—for the Colonel, though he missed her more, and was more ‘fond’ of Joyce, had neither any sense of wrong to move him, nor any prick30 of the intolerable such as wrings31 the heart of an impatient woman, half thinking herself to blame. Canon Jenkinson, though so much less concerned, would probably not have gone to America at all on that famous expedition of his, about which his well-known book was written, had it not been for a hope that in some American school or lecture-hall he would find her, though everybody else failed. Norman Bellendean was affected32 most of all. He had a dreadful scene with his step-mother, from which that poor lady did not recover for a long time; and instead of going home, and finally allowing himself to be drawn33 into the natural circle of county politics and relationships, with Greta for his pretty and happy wife, as had been desired and hoped—he went back, sullen34 and wretched, a misanthrope35 and woman-hater, to his regiment36 in India, leaving his estate in the hands of an agent, the house shut up and uninhabited. Greta married after a while, and was just as comfortable as if she had attained37 the man of her
{407}
first choice, whose loss it was believed would break her heart. She was the only one quite unaffected by all that had taken place, although her comfort was the one prevailing38 cause of all this trouble. Mrs. Bellendean was severed39 once for all from Bellendean and everything near. And yet she could say to herself truly that she meant no harm, that she had never expected serious harm to follow. All she meant was to avert40 an unsuitable marriage, which it is every woman’s duty to do, by encouraging a girl, who was already engaged, and had no right to accept another man’s attentions, to keep to her plighted41 word. Perhaps it was hard upon her to suffer so much for so little—and almost harder, seeing that Greta, in whose interests she acted, did not suffer at all.
Andrew Halliday, who also was, so far as he was aware, perfectly42 innocent, and who never knew what harm he had done by betraying Joyce’s story to the very respectable lady, the minister’s wife, who had been so kind to him—came through the trial as a man of native worth and respectability was likely to do. He waited for some time hoping to hear from Joyce, who, he felt sure, even if circumstances separated her from her family, would communicate with him. He thought the step she had taken ill-judged and excessive, even though it was in consequence of their opposition43 to the wishes of her heart in respect to himself. ‘These hasty steps are always to be regretted,’ Andrew said, ‘especially as no doubt the Cornel would have been brought to see what was best for her interest if she had but given him a little time.’ But when months came and brought no sign, Andrew’s dignified44 disapproval45 changed into a judicial17 anger. ‘Poor thing,’ he said, ‘she never had any real perception of her own best interests.’ And in course of time he married a very respectable lady with a little money, and was much happier than he could have been with Joyce.
And silence closed over Joyce and all her ways: she sank out of sight as if she had never been. Her name and image lingered in some faithful recollections, then in mystery and silence disappeared, and was seen and heard no more.
It was curious, however, that within a year Janet and Peter Matheson disappeared also from their cottage. They sold their few goods, ‘no able to bide46 the place after what had happened,’ Janet said. But Peter, instead of echoing this judgment47, shook with a long low subterranean48 laugh, such as used to mark his enjoyment49 of Joyce’s remarks and pleasant ways. They disappeared and nobody ever knew where they had gone. ‘To their friends in the North,’ the
{408}
village people said, but nobody before had ever heard of these friends.
It was not till years after that there came a curious rumour50 to the mainland far away at the most distant point of Scotland, of a great transformation51 that had been going on in one of the most remote and inaccessible52 of the isles53. Whether it was St. Kilda or the Fair Isle54, or some other scrap55 of rock and mountain in the middle of the wild northern seas, this chronicler has no information. But the legend ran that suddenly, upon a wild wintry afternoon, a lady had landed on that island. Whether her wealth was boundless56 and her power miraculous57, as some said, could not be proved save by rare visitors to the islands. But at all events, there seemed no reason to doubt that she had acquired a wonderful ascendancy58, and made many extraordinary changes among the primitive59 people. She taught them many things, among others what domestic comfort and cleanliness and beneficent learning meant, and knew everything, according to the story. The few sportsmen who touched upon these wild shores were not, however, ever gratified with a sight of this Princess of the Isle. They heard of the lady, but never saw her, and from their wondering accounts and conjectures60, it appeared that she was young, and considered by her subjects beautiful. But no stranger nor Englishman, nor any wandering visitor, has ever found out more than this respecting the Lady of the Isle.
THE END
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1
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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5
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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12
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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13
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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14
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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20
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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30
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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31
wrings
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| 绞( wring的第三人称单数 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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32
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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35
misanthrope
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| n.恨人类的人；厌世者 | |
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36
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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37
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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38
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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39
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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40
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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41
plighted
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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43
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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44
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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45
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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46
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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47
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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48
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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49
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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50
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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51
transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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52
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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53
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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54
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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55
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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56
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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57
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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58
ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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59
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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