What had caused so great a change—for at one time Parker's Dew, or Castle De la Mark, as it was called, was noted4 for its courtly splendour and unbounded hospitality—no one knew. Some attributed it to the early death of Lady De la Mark; others to the influence of Bloodworth. Squire5 Brimble, who seldom allowed himself to speak of his brother, when he did give an opinion said, 'It's the love of money—that's enough to account for anything.'
The growing infirmities of Sir Valary had kept him long a prisoner in his chamber6, at the door of which now, as described by Mrs. Gillies, sat his daughter Marjory. There was nothing heroine-like in her appearance. Low in stature7 and plain in feature, she owed all her attraction to the force of her character and the peculiarity8 of her early training. Indomitable courage shone in her dark eyes, and patience, the result of a deeply-exercised spirit, gave a sweet calm to her face. Her dress was, from necessity, somewhat singular. For a long period she had been limited to her mother's wardrobe, and, careless of the fashion in which the garments were made, she wore them without change, as her mother had left them.
'He sleeps so long!' said Marjory, her pale face resting against the chamber door.
'I've known him sleep longer, miss,' said Mrs. Gillies, peering up the spiral staircase. 'If you'd just please to taste these fresh cakes that Shady has brought in, and the chocolate, that's drying up from standing9 these hours, I should be thankful;' and she displayed the cakes, the choice of which had exercised greatly Shady's discriminating10 powers. Marjory, prevailed on, left her to watch. 'You know, miss,' said the faithful creature, 'if you take ill, we have no power to keep off that man when he comes; and one way we're all alike, for the highest can't do without eating and drinking, no more than the lowest.' Marjory did not at all, at that moment, feel exalted11 above the conditions of humanity. Bloodworth's behaviour had convinced her that he possessed12 some secret militating against her father's honour, and that this was the source of the power he exercised over him.
The loneliness in which she had been reared had made her very self-reliant. She had borne much personal inconvenience in silence; and if it had been only for herself that she had now to suffer or to do, she would not have been slow in her plan of acting13; but it seemed necessary that some one, more equal than she was to cope with the steward14, should step in between him and her father, for whose very life she trembled, if such excitement as he had that day suffered should be renewed. Yet, if her suspicions were correct, how could she, without treading on dangerous ground, take any one into her counsels? and, indeed, who was there to whom she could refer? To her uncle, her natural protector after her father, she had been a stranger for many years; and she had grown from childhood to womanhood with no other companion than her father. One there was, indeed, and to him she inclined to open her heart, and that one was Dr. Cruden, the high-minded and skilful15 physician, who was the sole visitor of gentle blood at Parker's Dew.
Filled with painful conflict, she resumed her seat at the chamber-door. A slight noise was gratefully heard by her, and, entering, she found the long sleep had produced its usual effect of refreshing17 calm. Sir Valary smiled gently on her, and, as if forgetful of the distressing18 occurrences of the morning, received with pleased readiness all her tender endeavours to restore and amuse him; and thus passed the evening peacefully away.
Several days followed in the same calm. Sir Valary and his daughter seemed with equal care to avoid the name of Bloodworth, and both were secretly thankful when the evening closed, without his presence having embittered19 the day.
One morning, Marjory, receiving Shady's promise not to go beyond earshot of her father, prepared for one of those long rambles20 in the surrounding woods which never failed to procure21 for her rest and relaxation22 of mind. Her book-learning was small. In the great book of nature, that lay before her, she was an ardent23 student. Shady, who fondly considered himself, in some sort, her preceptor, had endeavoured to inspire her with a love of heraldry, and was never tired of expatiating24 on the endless genealogies25 connected with the tree of De la Mark. But though she loved to wander among the portraits of her ancient house, dimly lighted up by the few sunbeams that could struggle through a loosened shutter26 here and there, her thoughts were wholly given to those people of the past that looked grimly from the wall, while he was trying to explore and expound27 their heraldic bearings. She knew most of the faces by heart; but her head was little encumbered28 with the technicalities of which he was so proud. Shady had plodded29 through the elements of botany, that he might usher30 her also into it. She soon learned with avidity all he could teach her, and, unaided by other help than her own affection for the pursuit, became well accomplished31 in it. But we must follow her in her walk.
Her mind had been too much exercised of late to allow her to give thought to anything but one reigning32 subject. Her case for wild flowers remained unused, as she passed musingly33 through the tangled34 wood. When at a little distance from the house, she was arrested once or twice by sounds of rustling35 amongst the branches. The once carefully-arranged paths were now so ill kept that they were in some parts difficult to penetrate36. No stranger ever intruded37 there. She supposed it to be some woodman gathering38 brushwood, and passed carelessly on; but, coming suddenly on a cleared space, from which, through an opening in the trees, appeared a fine and extensive view of the country around, she saw whence the sounds had proceeded.
The reader does not need a second description—it was the strange lodger39 from Stoney Gates. He was apparently40 surveying the scene with artistic41 purpose, his implements42 lying on the turf, and he was arranging a piece of broken timber to form a seat of convenient height and situation.
The meeting was one of mutual43 and equal surprise. Each surveyed the other steadily44, and in silence; but the stranger, soon recovering himself, lifted his cap with courtly propriety45, for he needed nothing to tell him he was in company with gentle blood. Marjory returned the salutation, and was passing onward46; but a sense of inhospitality detained her; she lingered, and said hesitatingly, 'You are a draughtsman?' He bowed. 'You are going to put down some of our scenery?' Again he assented47. 'Would you not like to have the Castle De la Mark in your foreground, with this fine country behind?'
'I have been trying to get that,' he replied; 'but the house is so surrounded I can find no favourable49 standing-ground.'
'I will lead you to one,' she said; and, making her way with easy rapidity through the thicket50, she emerged on a spot favourable in every way to the accomplishment51 of the design. The graceful52 dexterity53 with which she overcame all the obstacles of the labyrinth54 struck him with admiration55. 'She is worthy56 of an American forest,' he thought.
When they stood face to face upon the spot sought for, a slight exclamation57 of surprise burst from the stranger, which was answered with a smile of satisfaction from Marjory. There was pride in her heart and triumph in her eye, as she turned exultingly58 to the scene before them, upon which they both gazed silently. Suddenly she asked, 'Who could put this down?' and looked at him for an answer; but his eyes were fixed59, not on the landscape—they were busily and intently studying her face. He withdrew them in some little confusion, and the blood of De la Mark crimsoning60 her cheek warned him that to win patronage61 he must woo it discreetly62. He thanked her, in most deferential63 terms, for having given him the opportunity of trying, but agreed that the subject was one to mock art. His voice and bearing were so remote from intrusion or unbecoming forwardness, that Marjory was willing to believe the look that had offended her was one of natural and excusable curiosity. She allowed him, therefore, to make one or two remarks on various points around before she left him.
As she was turning away, the stranger, still uncovered, said, 'I have had the honour of speaking to Miss De la Mark?' She looked assent48, and they parted, he to pursue his task, and she to wonder who, among the few persons whose faces were familiar to her, continually floated in her memory while she was in company with the stranger.
In this short interview, in which so little had been said, a great advance had been made by each in the favour of the other. The fire of her eye and the freedom of her step, her genuine dignity and self-respect, untinged by affectation, all betokened64 a character which had great charms for the stranger, while his sympathy with her, so evident in those slight indications of look and bearing which are to be felt but not described, had won upon her strangely; so that in truth they were both far more intimate from this few minutes in the wilderness65 than months of drawing-room proprieties66 would ever have made them. What a sudden check he had given to the current of her thoughts! All that had so deeply interested her fell aside, and, by some inexplicable67 attraction, he took its place.
Again the crashing of the distant boughs68 as she wandered homeward struck her ear, and it was with somewhat of disappointment that, after a minute or two of watching and waiting, she saw the faithful Shady struggling through the thicket to reach her.
If his young lady would only condescend69 to walk in the paths where the trees did not meet right over, trusting she would pardon him for saying so, it would be far less perilous70 for limbs and their coverings to pursue her. Indeed he made a rueful figure; for although he had guarded his dress, by turning it up or turning it down, as circumstances recommended the precaution, he had met with sundry71 tears and scratches, as though he had been at war with all the under-wood he had encountered. Marjory smiled at his expostulations and his appearance, but, suddenly remembering his promise, inquired why he had left her father.
Shady assured her that Dr. Cruden was with Sir Valary, and would remain till his return, for he wished to see Miss De la Mark, and had sent him in pursuit of her.
'Then,' said Marjory, 'Mr. Higgs, there is a stranger in the wood; he is drawing on my favourite seat—drawing the place, you see; and I wish—I should like you—to—just to say—if he would wish to draw any of the interior you can lead him through it.'
Shady stared. 'I invite a stranger to the Dew, madam!' he said slowly.
'No, no,' said Marjory emphatically; 'of course ha will not be intruded on my father nor on me; he greatly admires the place, and it seems unkind not to allow him to enjoy the pleasure fully16. It is little we do in hospitality, Mr. Higgs; we may at least show this poor favour to strangers; and this is no ordinary person, but a man of birth and high taste, as you will see, I am sure.' An appeal on the score of hospitality could not be made to a more ready ear than that of Shadrach Higgs. How had he mourned in time past over the silent halls and untrodden doorways72 of Parker's Dew, when his large heart would have welcomed the whole world! But time and use had reconciled him to all; and now to introduce a visitor seemed as strange a work to him as it had once been to exclude one.
While he was gathering up his thoughts to make a suitable, respectful protest against the imprudence of doing what, if Sir Valary heard of it, might give him umbrage73, Marjory had vanished. Shady looked after her disconsolately74. Not having been able to resign his commission, he felt it imperative75 on him to fulfil it, and with troublous cogitations on the matter, and earnest hopes that the stranger would not fall in with the invitation, he scrambled76 on towards the place. While he was engaged in his contest with the bushes, he thought only of how best to escape them; but when he stood in the presence of the stranger, whom he immediately recognised, a feeling of vexation that he should appear in a style so inconsistent with the dignity of De la Mark mingled77 with it.
On seeing him, the stranger, who seemed to have been of Marjory's mind, and had thrown aside his sketch78 as unsuccessful, accosted79 him as an old friend. 'What! the librarian! I am fortunate indeed! Are you seeking your lady? She was here, but left a little ago.'
Shady, in as collected and proper a form as he could get up for the occasion, told him that he had met his young lady, and delivered her invitation.
The stranger started up at once. 'We will lose no time, Mr. Higgs; nothing would give me greater delight;' and immediately he began, in a manner which Shady well remembered, a series of questions as to every part of the dwelling80, the order in which it was kept, and so on. While he endeavoured to answer these becomingly, an under-current of thought occupied Shady. Various schemes he devised and rejected for keeping the stranger out of sight and hearing of any of the household, without allowing him to discover that he was there by stealth. Under other circumstances he could have discoursed81 with delight on the wonders and glories of Parker's Dew—to him an untiring subject. Then again, the incongruities82 of ancient grandeur83 and present meanness forced themselves upon him, and an uneasy consciousness arose, of the effect they would have in diminishing the stranger's reverence84 for the noble house in whose honour his heart was bound up.
'Why, it is in ruins!' exclaimed the stranger, coming abruptly85 on one side of the quadrangle.
'That portion is,' said Shady; 'the exact reason I cannot tell, but there is a tradition'—
'It has been in decay for many years,' said the stranger, not waiting for the tradition; 'this, I presume, is the chapel86?'
'It is;' and now did Shady, with all the formality of a grave court official, introduce him respectively to the armoury, the picture gallery, and the library; that is to say, he pointed87 to their positions.
The stranger surveyed all with the deepest interest. 'Did I understand,' said he, 'that I was to be allowed to see the interior of these places?'
'The library,' said Shady, 'being my particular department, I carry the key of the side entrance; the other keys are in Sir Valary's room, but I can readily obtain them. There is no worthier88 part of the building, in my humble89 estimation, than this,' he said, placing the small key in the lock of a low door, to enter which they were obliged to stoop.
'Where are we?—in a tomb?' said the stranger.
'No,' said Shady, 'though indeed we are among the dead; wait, if you please, till I kindle90 the lantern.'
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1
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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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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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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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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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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embittered
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| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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expatiating
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| v.详述，细说( expatiate的现在分词 ) | |
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genealogies
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| n.系谱，家系，宗谱( genealogy的名词复数 ) | |
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shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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expound
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| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
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encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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30
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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lodger
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| n.寄宿人，房客 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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51
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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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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crimsoning
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| 变为深红色（crimson的现在分词形式） | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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umbrage
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| n.不快；树荫 | |
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disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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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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76
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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77
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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78
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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79
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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80
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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81
discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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82
incongruities
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| n.不协调( incongruity的名词复数 )；不一致；不适合；不协调的东西 | |
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83
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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84
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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85
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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86
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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87
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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88
worthier
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| 应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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89
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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90
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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