Their journey, however, was a delightful4 one, as far as externals were concerned. A frosty morning, sharp and crisp, gave omen5, as the merchant thought, of propitious6 experiences, and was regarded as a special boon7. It braced8 up nature marvellously, turning dangerous sloughs9 into solid roadways; and even if the jolting10 was thereby11 augmented12, the anxieties of sunken wheels and floundering cattle were escaped. Instead of a host of forebodings in anticipation13 of untold14 depths of soaked clay and sludgy mire15, there was the prospect16 of keeping to the earth's surface, and of doing better than the Devonshire traveller of a certain century, who is reported to have 'rode fourteen miles in fifteen days.'
The sun shone out most brightly and cheerily on the scene as the travellers wended their way from Northam to Bideford, and enabled them, after they had climbed the old Torrington road, to gaze on a landscape which, though familiar, would have been anew enchanting17, had the nature of their errand permitted them to enjoy it. It seemed as if the contagion18 of ocean's society had greatly affected19 those highlands, for not more wavy20 was the Atlantic itself, and up and down they went, until at length they dived into a true Devonian lane, with its towering hedges of furze, hazel, and tangled21 weed, its sharp descent, its labyrinthine22 windings23, its rough and rocky pavement, and emerged in a shady dell in which a rustic24 village nestled, surrounded by woody hills and rock-capped heights, on which the grey mists of morning continued to hover25.
These sylvan26 and picturesque27 districts were succeeded by bleak28 moors29, or 'commons,' as they are called, where Mary was glad of additional wrappings, and the merchant made frequent appeals to a bottle with which he had considerately furnished himself. These wild, exposed regions stretch away for miles, affording a scanty30 pasturage for cattle, and supplying the villagers in the neighbourhood with peat and furze. They are for the most part covered with rough grass, ferns, and rushes, and here and there a morass31 may be met with, as well as a sprinkling of granite32 boulders33, whilst loftier specimens34 of this primitive35 rock occasionally spring up in fantastic forms, the hiding-place of highwaymen in days of yore, who drove a good business on these desolate36 wastes.
And so the face of the country alternated between the romantic and the sterile37 until they reached the neighbourhood of Exeter, where the former has it all its own way. But the evening was too far advanced, and our travellers were too wearied to do homage38 to beauties of scenery, and gladly did they exchange the biting air for the inviting39 comforts of the London Inn.
As soon as Mr. Phillipson had breakfasted the next morning, he made his way to the jail. Unfeeling and selfish as he was, strong qualms40 of conscience troubled him as he strode along, despite his infidel theories; nor was he able, with all his efforts, to command in full the powers of his scheming, reckless mind. For two days he had been travelling with a woman of a sorrowful spirit, whose meek41 sadness and high-toned Christian42 principle had embarrassed and cowed him. Her sensitiveness had put to shame his stolidity43; her simple-hearted confidence in her husband had roused into spasmodic action the dying pity of his heart. If ever regret had place within him it was now; but, ashamed of these softer emotions, he took a little time to shake them off before visiting the prisoner, and walked for an hour in the streets, recalling more congenial feelings, which might enable him to act his part becomingly. Having obtained permission to see the captain, he was admitted through a heavy-looking gateway44, strongly secured, into a yard which disclosed on all sides grim-visaged doors frowning implacably, and small rusty45 gratings which looked like devouring46 eyes—the outward and visible signs of dark and saddening scenes within. There may now, perhaps, be the extreme of pitying benevolence47 in prison accommodation and usage; but at that time there was the extreme of unpitying neglect.
Through one of these surly-faced doors the merchant passed with his conductor into a low dark passage, where his ears were assailed48 by the chilling music of clinking manacles resounding49 from cells on either side; and the application of a massive key introduced him to his victim. The captain was stretched on his hard bed, as the most satisfactory position he could discover; but he rose when the merchant entered, and, recognising his visitor, made room for him on his pallet of straw.
'I have brought,' said Mr. Phillipson, scarcely knowing in what shape to open the conversation,—'I have brought your wife to see you, Stauncy. I thought it would be a satisfaction to her, poor woman, and to you also. Why, cap'n, I can't believe my own senses. I wouldn't have had this happen for all the world.'
'Our wisdom comes too late sometimes,' replied Stauncy, 'and that's my case. If I could only undo50 one thing, I could be happy even in a prison. The darkness within is the worst darkness now to me. The iron in my soul is a thousand times more humiliating and painful than these bars and doors, believe me. I could have wished, for her own sake, that my wife had not had an opportunity of witnessing my degradation51; but her wisdom and love will comfort me.'
'As for myself,' the merchant remarked, 'I came to Exeter mainly for the purpose of securing the best counsel the city will afford; and it's impossible that those Ortops can make head against the searching, withering52 cleverness of Mr. Whitehead.'
'No cleverness will be of any avail, Mr. Phillipson,' said the captain mournfully. 'I thought the Sarah Ann was mute for ever, but she has been made to speak. Did you notice that lumbering53 vessel54 in the Pool? There are those on board of her who could hang both of us.'
The merchant's cheeks blanched55 at this intelligence. With the rapidity of lightning the true state of the case flashed upon his perception, and in an instant exposure and punishment confronted him. The light which struggled for existence in the cell was too dim, however, to reveal his ashy features, and, contriving56 to maintain an air of composure, he said,—
'Were the remarks made before Squire57 Hart confined to the scuttling58 of the brig?'
'I believe so; at least, when I was present.'
'No one, then, was implicated60 but yourself?'
'No one, as far as I know. Not a word escaped my lips that would implicate59 any one. I simply denied that I was guilty; for acts are to be judged of by circumstances—at least, you have taught me so. If you had done it, it would have been a different thing. I did as I was ordered, and therefore draw a line between duty and crime.'
'A distinction,' responded the merchant, momentarily startled at his own doctrine61 when presented in such a practical form, and wishing to rid himself of all responsibility arising from the lessons he had inculcated, 'which the law would scarcely acknowledge as a difference. That kind of casuistry, Stauncy, often satisfies a fellow's conscience, and is something to keep the spirits up; but there its utility ends.'
'Then you have doubly deceived me,' replied the captain scornfully; 'and there's a strong temptation to turn king's evidence.'
'It wouldn't help you, cap'n. Everybody knows that the biggest rogues62 always do that, and judges them accordingly; and as I am at the top of the ladder, and you are at the bottom, it would be all the worse for you. A little palm-grease and a little hard swearing would upset you, depend upon it.'
'I don't know,' said the captain. 'It would go hard with you, Mr. Phillipson, if all I know were to come out; and far better would it be for you to devise a plan for my protection, if money and station can do it, than to let an implied threat tread on the heels of a snakish bribe63.'
The merchant was silent, because he was mortified64. His mind oscillated between his two theories of bluster65 and blarney. Should he defy or conciliate, threaten or cajole? His prudence66, however, got the better of his vexation, and he answered, after a short pause, 'I admit all you say, Stauncy; but suppose the worst comes to the worst, it's no use for both of us to put our heads into one noose67; and though life is as precious to you as to me, yet consider for a moment the merits of the case. You did the deed; so that, if I were put up as a breastwork before you, you would be sent to Botany Bay for life,—as good as dead to your wife and family,—whilst I should be placed beyond the possibility of acting68 as a husband and a father to them. And then there's your oath, Stauncy. How can you get over that? whilst, by letting me down helm, that I may pay off, you would leave some one behind who could provide for the widow and the orphan69; and I give you my oath here, against yours.'
'You would, Mr. Phillipson? Do you say that sincerely? The widow and the orphan have not had much of your sympathy and care hitherto; and the book which I have so little heeded70 says, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard71 his spots?"'
'If I give you my oath, Stauncy, what can I do more? That's not a thing to wriggle72 out of. You might put my life in the scale against it.'
The bolt grated harshly in the lock as the merchant uttered these words, and the turnkey apprised73 them that the interview must terminate. Bidding the prisoner farewell, Mr. Phillipson hastily retreated from a place where all the while he seemed to hear accusing voices—endeavouring to feel self-satisfied, but in reality self-condemned; and as the door closed once more on the captain, the prisoner stretched himself again on the hard mattress74, to weigh the chances that favoured him and the worth of the merchant's promise.
点击收听单词发音
1 forefathers | |
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 locomotion | |
n.运动,移动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 omen | |
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 propitious | |
adj.吉利的;顺利的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 boon | |
n.恩赐,恩物,恩惠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 braced | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 sloughs | |
n.沼泽( slough的名词复数 );苦难的深渊;难以改变的不良心情;斯劳(Slough)v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的第三人称单数 );舍弃;除掉;摒弃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 jolting | |
adj.令人震惊的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 anticipation | |
n.预期,预料,期望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 untold | |
adj.数不清的,无数的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 mire | |
n.泥沼,泥泞;v.使...陷于泥泞,使...陷入困境 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 contagion | |
n.(通过接触的疾病)传染;蔓延 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 wavy | |
adj.有波浪的,多浪的,波浪状的,波动的,不稳定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 labyrinthine | |
adj.如迷宫的;复杂的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 windings | |
(道路、河流等)蜿蜒的,弯曲的( winding的名词复数 ); 缠绕( wind的现在分词 ); 卷绕; 转动(把手) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 rustic | |
adj.乡村的,有乡村特色的;n.乡下人,乡巴佬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 hover | |
vi.翱翔,盘旋;徘徊;彷徨,犹豫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 sylvan | |
adj.森林的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 moors | |
v.停泊,系泊(船只)( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 morass | |
n.沼泽,困境 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 boulders | |
n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 );巨砾;(受水或天气侵蚀而成的)巨石;漂砾 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 specimens | |
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 primitive | |
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 sterile | |
adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 inviting | |
adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 qualms | |
n.不安;内疚 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 stolidity | |
n.迟钝,感觉麻木 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 gateway | |
n.大门口,出入口,途径,方法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 rusty | |
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 resounding | |
adj. 响亮的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 undo | |
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 withering | |
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 lumbering | |
n.采伐林木 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 blanched | |
v.使变白( blanch的过去式 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 contriving | |
(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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 scuttling | |
n.船底穿孔,打开通海阀(沉船用)v.使船沉没( scuttle的现在分词 );快跑,急走 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 implicate | |
vt.使牵连其中,涉嫌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 implicated | |
adj.密切关联的;牵涉其中的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 rogues | |
n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 );无赖;调皮捣蛋的人;离群的野兽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 bribe | |
n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 mortified | |
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 bluster | |
v.猛刮;怒冲冲的说;n.吓唬,怒号;狂风声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 noose | |
n.绳套,绞索(刑);v.用套索捉;使落入圈套;处以绞刑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 heeded | |
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 leopard | |
n.豹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 wriggle | |
v./n.蠕动,扭动;蜿蜒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 apprised | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 );评价 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 mattress | |
n.床垫,床褥 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |