Nothing seemed changed at Grinselhof: its roads, its paths, were still deserted8, and sad was the silence that reigned9 in its shadows. Yet immediately around the house there was more life and movement than formerly10. At the coach-house two grooms11 were busy washing and polishing a new and fashionable coach; while the neigh of horses resounded12 from the stable. A trim waiting-maid stood on the door-sill laughing and joking with the lackeys13, and a respectable old butler looked knowingly on the group.
Suddenly the clear silvery ring of a bell was heard from the parlor14, and the waiting-maid ran in, exclaiming, "Good Heavens! there's Monsieur ringing for his breakfast, and it is not ready yet!"
A few moments afterward15 she was seen mounting the staircase with a rich silver salver covered with breakfast-things; and, entering the parlor, she placed them silently on a table before a young gentleman who seemed entirely16 absorbed by his own thoughts, and then instantly left the room without a word.
The young man began his meal with a careless, indifferent air, as if he either had no appetite or did not know what he was about. The furniture of the apartment in which he sat presented odd and striking contrasts to an observer. While some of the articles were remarkable17 for the richness and elegance18 of their modern style, there were chairs, tables, and cabinets whose sombre hue19 and elaborate carving20 denoted an antiquity21 of several centuries. On the walls were numerous pictures, dimmed by smoke and time, encased in frames that had lost half their ornaments22 and gilding23. These were portraits of warriors24, statesmen, priests, and prelates. In the dim corners of the canvas armorial bearings of the house of De Vlierbeck might be seen, and many of the articles of furniture were embellished25 with the same blazonry.
We were told a while ago that a public sale at Grinselhof had dispersed26 among a crowd of competitors every thing that belonged to Monsieur De Vlierbeck. How has it come to pass that these portraits have returned to their old nails on walls which they seemed to have abandoned forever?
The listless youth rose from the table, walked slowly about the room, stopped, looked mournfully at the portraits, recommenced his walk, and approached an antique casket placed on a bracket in the corner. He opened it with apparent indifference27 and took out some simple jewelry,—a pair of ear-rings and a coral necklace. He gazed long at these objects as he held them in his hand; a few tears fell on them, a deep sigh escaped from his bosom28, and he then replaced the jewels in their casket.
Quitting the room, he descended29 to the court. Waiters and servant-maids saluted30 as he passed: he acknowledged their civility by a silent nod and went forth31 to the most secluded32 parts of the garden. Stopping at the foot of a wild chestnut-tree, he threw himself on the ground, where he sat long in moody33 reverie until aroused by the ringing voice of Bess, who approached him with a book in her hand:—
"Here, sir, is a book which Mademoiselle Lenora used to read. My goodman went yesterday to market, where he found the farmer who bought it at the sale. After market was over John accompanied the peasant home, and would not leave him till he had bought the book back again. I suppose it is an excellent book, as Mademoiselle used to love it so; and neither gold nor silver could ever get it from me if it wasn't for you, sir. Husband says it is called LUCIFER'!"
While she was running on, Gustave seized the book eagerly and ran over its pages without paying attention to what she said. "Thank you, thank you for your kind attention, mother Bess!" said he. "You can't think how happy I am whenever I find any thing that belonged to your mistress. Be assured that I will never forget your goodness." After offering this expression of his thanks to the farmer's wife he opened the book again and began to read without heeding34 her further. But the good woman did not go away, and soon interrupted him with a question:—
"May I ask, sir, if you have any news yet of our young lady?"
"That is unlucky, sir. God knows where she may be and what she is suffering. She told me before she went away that she meant to work for her father; but one must have learned to work very early in life to earn a living by one's hands. My heart almost breaks when I think of it. Perhaps that good, sweet young lady is reduced to work for other people and labors36 like a slave to get a mouthful of bread! I have been a servant, sir, and I know what it is to work from morning until night for others. And she,—she who is so beautiful, so clever, so kind! Oh, sir, it is terrible! I can't help crying like a child, thinking of her miserable37 life!"
"And then to think," continued Bess, "she might now be so happy! that she might again become mistress of Grinselhof, where she was born and grew up! that her father might pass his old days in quietness, and that they are now wandering about the world poor, sick, abandoned outcasts! Oh, sir, it is sad to know that our benefactors39 are unhappy, and to be able to do nothing for them but pray to God and hope for his mercy!"
The simple-minded woman, without meaning it, had touched some tender strings40 in Gustave's heart; and, as she saw the silent tears coursing their way down his cheeks, she said, entreatingly,—
"Oh, pardon me, sir, for having grieved you so by my talk! but my heart is full, and my feelings force their way without knowing it. If I have done wrong, I am sure you are too kind to be angry with me for loving our young lady so much and bemoaning41 her misfortune. Have you no orders for me to-day, sir?"
She was about to go, as Gustave raised his downcast eyes and, restraining his tears, exclaimed,—
"I—angry with you, mother Bess?—and angry, too, because you show affection for our poor Lenora? Oh, no, no! On the contrary, I bless you for it with all my heart! The tears you betrayed from my heart have done me good; for I am very unhappy. Life is a burden; and if God, in his mercy, would take me away from earth, I would gladly die. All hope of seeing her again in this world is gone. Perhaps she is awaiting me in the next!"
"Oh, sir! sir! how you talk!" cried the peasant-woman, in alarm. "No! no! that cannot be!"
"You grieve, my good woman, and shed tears for her," continued Gustave, without heeding the interruption; "but don't you see how my soul must be consumed with despair? Alas42! for months and months I have implored43 God for the happiness of seeing her once more! I overcame all obstacles to our marriage, and I became almost mad with joy and impatience44 as I flew like lightning to the home where I left her; and then my only recompense, my only consolation45, was to find her gone and the house of her fathers a wilderness46!—to know, alas! that she is poor, and, perhaps, languishing47 in want!—to know that my noble-hearted and beloved Lenora sinks under the weight of misfortune, and yet to be able to do nothing to relieve her!—to be condemned48 to count in powerless despair her days of affliction, and not even to be sure that suffering has not killed her!"
A profound silence followed this complaining outburst, and the peasant-woman, with her head bent49 to the earth, sympathized with him truly, till, after a few moments, she attempted to console the sufferer in her simple way:—
"Oh, sir, I understand only too well how much you endure! And yet why despair? Who knows but we may receive some news of our dear young lady when we least expect it? God is good; he will hear our prayers; and our joy for her return will make us forget all our grief!"
"Oh that your prophecy might be realized, my good woman! But seven months have already gone since they departed. During three of them a hundred persons have been employed in seeking the wanderers. They have been sought for in every direction, and not the slightest intelligence has been obtained; not a trace, not the least sign that they are even alive! My reason tells me not to despair; but my heart magnifies my ills and cries aloud that I have lost her!—lost her forever!"
He was about quitting the garden, when a noise attracted his attention as he pointed50 toward the road leading to the château.
"Listen! Don't you hear something?" cried he.
"It is the gallop51 of a horse," answered Bess, without comprehending why the noise so much startled her master.
"Poor fool!" said the young man to himself; "why am I so startled by the passing of a horseman?"
"But see! see! he is coming into the avenue!" cried Bess, with increasing interest. "Oh, God! I am sure it is a messenger with news! Heaven grant it may be good!"
As she said this the rider passed through the gate at full gallop, and, drawing rein52 at the door they had just reached, took a letter from his pocket and handed it to the master of Grinselhof:—
"I come," said he, "from your notary53, who ordered me to deliver you this letter without a moment's delay."
Gustave broke the seal with a trembling hand, while Bess, smiling with hope, followed all her master's movements with staring eyes.
As he read the first lines the anxious youth grew pale; but as he went on a tremor54 ran through all his limbs, till with a hysterical55 laugh and clasped hands he exclaimed,—
"Thanks! thanks! Oh, God! she is restored to me!"
"Oh, sir, sir," cried Bess, "is it good news?"
"Yes! yes! rejoice with me! Lenora lives! I know where she is!" answered Gustave, half mad with delight, running into the house and calling all the servants. "Quick! quick! Have out the travelling-carriage and the English horses! My trunk! my cloak! Quick! fly!"
He carried forth with his own hands a number of things that were necessary for the journey. His fleetest horses were attached to the vehicle; and, although they strained their bits and pawed the ground as if impatient for the road, the postillion lashed56 them fiercely as they dashed through the gateway57.
In a moment, and almost as if by magic, the coach was on the road to Antwerp and hidden from the staring crowd by a cloud of dust.
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1
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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8
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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9
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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10
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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11
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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12
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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13
lackeys
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| n.听差( lackey的名词复数 )；男仆（通常穿制服）；卑躬屈膝的人；被待为奴仆的人 | |
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14
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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19
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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22
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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25
embellished
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| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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26
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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28
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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29
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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30
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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31
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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32
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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33
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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34
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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35
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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37
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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38
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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39
benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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40
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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41
bemoaning
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| v.为（某人或某事）抱怨( bemoan的现在分词 )；悲悼；为…恸哭；哀叹 | |
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42
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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43
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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45
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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46
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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47
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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48
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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49
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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52
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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53
notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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54
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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55
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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56
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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57
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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