“Come, dearest sister; you have eaten not a morsel24 to-day,” she said. “Arise, I pray you, and let us ask a blessing25 on that which is provided for us.”
Her sister-in-law was of a lively and irritable26 temperament27, and the first pangs29 of her sorrow had been expressed by shrieks30 and passionate31 lamentation32. She now shrunk from Mary’s words, like a wounded sufferer from a hand that revives the throb33.
“There is no blessing left for me, neither will I ask it!” cried Margaret, with a fresh burst of tears. “Would it were His will that I might never taste food more!”
Yet she trembled at these rebellious34 expressions, almost as soon as they were uttered, and, by degrees, Mary succeeded in bringing her sister’s mind nearer to the situation of her own. Time went on, and their usual hour of repose35 arrived. The brothers and their brides, entering the married state with no more than the slender means which then sanctioned such a step, had confederated themselves in one household, with equal rights to the parlor, and claiming exclusive privileges in two sleeping-rooms contiguous to it. Thither36 the widowed ones retired37, after heaping ashes upon the dying embers of their fire, and placing a lighted lamp upon the hearth38. The doors of both chambers40 were left open, so that a part of the interior of each, and the beds with their unclosed curtains, were reciprocally visible. Sleep did not steal upon the sisters at one and the same time. Mary experienced the effect often consequent upon grief quietly borne, and soon sunk into temporary forgetfulness, while Margaret became more disturbed and feverish41, in proportion as the night advanced with its deepest and stillest hours. She lay listening to the drops of rain, that came down in monotonous42 succession, unswayed by a breath of wind; and a nervous impulse continually caused her to lift her head from the pillow, and gaze into Mary’s chamber39 and the intermediate apartment. The cold light of the lamp threw the shadows of the furniture up against the wall, stamping them immovably there, except when they were shaken by a sudden flicker43 of the flame. Two vacant arm-chairs were in their old positions on opposite sides of the hearth, where the brothers had been wont44 to sit in young and laughing dignity, as heads of families; two humbler seats were near them, the true thrones of that little empire, where Mary and herself had exercised in love a power that love had won. The cheerful radiance of the fire had shone upon the happy circle, and the dead glimmer45 of the lamp might have befitted their reunion now. While Margaret groaned46 in bitterness, she heard a knock at the street door.
“How would my heart have leapt at that sound but yesterday!” thought she, remembering the anxiety with which she had long awaited tidings from her husband.
“I care not for it now; let them begone, for I will not arise.”
But even while a sort of childish fretfulness made her thus resolve, she was breathing hurriedly, and straining her ears to catch a repetition of the summons. It is difficult to be convinced of the death of one whom we have deemed another self. The knocking was now renewed in slow and regular strokes, apparently47 given with the soft end of a doubled fist, and was accompanied by words, faintly heard through several thicknesses of wall. Margaret looked to her sister’s chamber, and beheld48 her still lying in the depths of sleep. She arose, placed her foot upon the floor, and slightly arrayed herself, trembling between fear and eagerness as she did so.
“Heaven help me!” sighed she. “I have nothing left to fear, and methinks I am ten times more a coward than ever.”
Seizing the lamp from the hearth, she hastened to the window that overlooked the street-door. It was a lattice, turning upon hinges; and having thrown it back, she stretched her head a little way into the moist atmosphere. A lantern was reddening the front of the house, and melting its light in the neighboring puddles49, while a deluge50 of darkness overwhelmed every other object. As the window grated on its hinges, a man in a broad-brimmed hat and blanket-coat stepped from under the shelter of the projecting story, and looked upward to discover whom his application had aroused. Margaret knew him as a friendly innkeeper of the town.
“What would you have, Goodman Parker?” cried the widow.
“Lackaday, is it you, Mistress Margaret?” replied the innkeeper. “I was afraid it might be your sister Mary; for I hate to see a young woman in trouble, when I have n’t a word of comfort to whisper her.”
“For Heaven’s sake, what news do you bring?” screamed Margaret.
“Why, there has been an express through the town within this half-hour,” said Goodman Parker, “travelling from the eastern jurisdiction51 with letters from the governor and council. He tarried at my house to refresh himself with a drop and a morsel, and I asked him what tidings on the frontiers. He tells me we had the better in the skirmish you wot of, and that thirteen men reported slain52 are well and sound, and your husband among them. Besides, he is appointed of the escort to bring the captivated Frenchers and Indians home to the province jail. I judged you would n’t mind being broke of your rest, and so I stepped over to tell you. Good night.”
So saying, the honest man departed; and his lantern gleamed along the street, bringing to view indistinct shapes of things, and the fragments of a world, like order glimmering53 through chaos54, or memory roaming over the past. But Margaret stayed not to watch these picturesque55 effects. Joy flashed into her heart, and lighted it up at once; and breathless, and with winged steps, she flew to the bedside of her sister. She paused, however, at the door of the chamber, while a thought of pain broke in upon her.
“Poor Mary!” said she to herself. “Shall I waken her, to feel her sorrow sharpened by my happiness? No; I will keep it within my own bosom till the morrow.”
She approached the bed, to discover if Mary’s sleep were peaceful. Her face was turned partly inward to the pillow, and had been hidden there to weep; but a look of motionless contentment was now visible upon it, as if her heart, like a deep lake, had grown calm because its dead had sunk down so far within. Happy is it, and strange, that the lighter56 sorrows are those from which dreams are chiefly fabricated. Margaret shrunk from disturbing her sister-in-law, and felt as if her own better fortune had rendered her involuntarily unfaithful, and as if altered and diminished affection must be the consequence of the disclosure she had to make. With a sudden step she turned away. But joy could not long be repressed, even by circumstances that would have excited heavy grief at another moment. Her mind was thronged57 with delightful58 thoughts, till sleep stole on, and transformed them to visions, more delightful and more wild, like the breath of winter (but what a cold comparison!) working fantastic tracery upon a window.
When the night was far advanced, Mary awoke with a sudden start. A vivid dream had latterly involved her in its unreal life, of which, however, she could only remember that it had been broken in upon at the most interesting point. For a little time, slumber59 hung about her like a morning mist, hindering her from perceiving the distinct outline of her situation. She listened with imperfect consciousness to two or three volleys of a rapid and eager knocking; and first she deemed the noise a matter of course, like the breath she drew; next, it appeared a thing in which she had no concern; and lastly, she became aware that it was a summons necessary to be obeyed. At the same moment, the pang28 of recollection darted60 into her mind; the pall61 of sleep was thrown back from the face of grief; the dim light of the chamber, and the objects therein revealed, had retained all her suspended ideas, and restored them as soon as she unclosed her eyes. Again there was a quick peal62 upon the street-door. Fearing that her sister would also be disturbed, Mary wrapped herself in a cloak and hood63, took the lamp from the hearth, and hastened to the window. By some accident, it had been left unhasped, and yielded easily to her hand.
The storm was over, and the moon was up; it shone upon broken clouds above, and below upon houses black with moisture, and upon little lakes of the fallen rain, curling into silver beneath the quick enchantment65 of a breeze. A young man in a sailor’s dress, wet as if he had come out of the depths of the sea, stood alone under the window. Mary recognized him as one whose livelihood66 was gained by short voyages along the coast; nor did she forget that, previous to her marriage, he had been an unsuccessful wooer of her own.
“What do you seek here, Stephen?” said she.
“Cheer up, Mary, for I seek to comfort you,” answered the rejected lover. “You must know I got home not ten minutes ago, and the first thing my good mother told me was the news about your husband. So, without saying a word to the old woman, I clapped on my hat, and ran out of the house. I could n’t have slept a wink67 before speaking to you, Mary, for the sake of old times.”
“Stephen, I thought better of you!” exclaimed the widow, with gushing68 tears and preparing to close the lattice; for she was no whit69 inclined to imitate the first wife of Zadig.
“But stop, and hear my story out,” cried the young sailor. “I tell you we spoke70 a brig yesterday afternoon, bound in from Old England. And who do you think I saw standing71 on deck, well and hearty72, only a bit thinner than he was five months ago?”
Mary leaned from the window, but could not speak. “Why, it was your husband himself,” continued the generous seaman73. “He and three others saved themselves on a spar, when the Blessing turned bottom upwards74. The brig will beat into the bay by daylight, with this wind, and you’ll see him here to-morrow. There’s the comfort I bring you, Mary, and so good night.”
He hurried away, while Mary watched him with a doubt of waking reality, that seemed stronger or weaker as he alternately entered the shade of the houses, or emerged into the broad streaks75 of moonlight. Gradually, however, a blessed flood of conviction swelled76 into her heart, in strength enough to overwhelm her, had its increase been more abrupt77. Her first impulse was to rouse her sister-in-law, and communicate the new-born gladness. She opened the chamber-door, which had been closed in the course of the night, though not latched78, advanced to the bedside, and was about to lay her hand upon the slumberer79’s shoulder. But then she remembered that Margaret would awake to thoughts of death and woe80, rendered not the less bitter by their contrast with her own felicity. She suffered the rays of the lamp to fall upon the unconscious form of the bereaved81 one. Margaret lay in unquiet sleep, and the drapery was displaced around her; her young cheek was rosy-tinted, and her lips half opened in a vivid smile; an expression of joy, debarred its passage by her sealed eyelids82, struggled forth like incense83 from the whole countenance84.
“My poor sister! you will waken too soon from that happy dream,” thought Mary.
Before retiring, she set down the lamp, and endeavored to arrange the bedclothes so that the chill air might not do harm to the feverish slumberer. But her hand trembled against Margaret’s neck, a tear also fell upon her cheek, and she suddenly awoke.
《Old News》《Sketches from Memory》
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1
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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condoling
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| v.表示同情，吊唁( condole的现在分词 ) | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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precepts
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| n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 ) | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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39
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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41
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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42
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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43
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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44
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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45
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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46
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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47
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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48
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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49
puddles
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| n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 ) | |
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50
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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51
jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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52
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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54
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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55
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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56
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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57
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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61
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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62
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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63
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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64
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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68
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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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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71
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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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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76
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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77
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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78
latched
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| v.理解( latch的过去式和过去分词 )；纠缠；用碰锁锁上（门等）；附着（在某物上） | |
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slumberer
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| 睡眠者，微睡者 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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81
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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82
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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83
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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84
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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