The few fishers of Otter were exposed to the swell14 rolling from New England and Labrador to Galloway and Argyle; many a lamp stood day and night in cottage windows, many an anxious woman forsook15 her brood, and under her sheltering plaid ran here and there, dizzy and desperate, to beg for counsel, and for tidings of the husband and father whose boat was due, and who was still exposed to the pitiless fury of the tempest.
Hector Garret was early summoned to marshal his men in order to succour those who were within his reach; to [Page 260]think, plan, and act to the last for those who were amissing, but might yet be rescued. He had been upon the beach all day; he had been handling rope and line; he had been ready at any moment to launch his own boat among the breakers.
Leslie, too, had been abroad. She had been in several houses, especially in those whose young children were of the same age as Leslie. In all she met the same abandonment; whether the heads of the families chanced to be young or old, worthy16 or unworthy, mattered not; they were now the sole thought, the object of racking anxiety, lamented17 over beforehand with sore lamentation18. If they were safe, all was well; if they were lost, these wives and mothers were bereaved19 indeed. The Sabine women did not cling to their rough masters with more touching20 fidelity21. The men were in trouble—their imprudence, their intemperance22, their violence were blotted23 out.
Leslie went home in disturbance24 and pain. She, too, placed a light in her window; she, too, left her infant untended, and strained her eyes to pierce the storm. Hector Garret must have descried25 her figure as he approached the house, for he came straight to her room, and stood a moment with his dripping clothes and a glow on his face.
"Don't go, Leslie; I'll be back presently."
She put a restraint upon herself, and became busied with the refreshments26 laid out for him. He came in immediately, and advanced towards her with the same eager phrase, "Don't go, Leslie," and he grasped her gown lightly. She sat down while he ate and drank.
"I'll have a cup of tea, Leslie; pour me out my tea as [Page 261]you used to do." She had always poured out tea for him, but not always with him close by, and his detaining hand upon her dress.
"This is like old times. They were very foolish—those old times, but they have their sweetness to look back upon them."
She interrupted him—"They are all safe, are they not?"
"Every man of them, thank God."
He was spent with his exertions27; he was fevered and incoherent; she let him speak on, detailing the minutest particulars. She even said with animation28, and the tears in her eyes—
"Their protector and deliverer! God will bless you for this, Hector Garret."
He bent29 his head, but he held out his arms: "Will you bless me, Leslie?"
His voice was thick and hoarse30; it petrified31 her, so still was she—so dumb; and at that moment the knocker sounded, and importunate32 voices were demanding the Laird of Otter.
He obeyed the summons, spoke33 with his servants a little time, and returned to find Leslie in the same arrested posture34, with the same blanched35 face. He had resumed his seaman's coat, and carried his cap in his hand. He was calm now, and smiling, but with a face wan36 and shadowed with an inexpressible cloud.
"It may not be, Leslie," he said, soft and low; "Nigel Boswell's boat is in sight, struggling to make Earlscraig; he was always rash and unskilled, though seaward born [Page 262]and bred. If he is not forestalled37, his boat will be bottom upmost, or crushed like glass within the hour. I trust I will save him; but if there be peril38 and death in my path, then listen to what I say, and remember it. Whatever has gone before, at this moment I am yours; you may doubt it, deny it—I swear it, Leslie. Despise me, reject me if you will; I cannot perish misinterpreted and misjudged. I loved Alice Boswell. My love is ashes with its object. I did not love you once; I love you now. I love a living woman truer, higher, holier than the dead; and for my love's sake, not for my vows39—the first for love, if it be the last."
He had her in his arms; his lingering kisses were on her eyes, her hair, her hands. He was gone, and still she remained rooted to the ground. Was it amazement40, anger, terror?—or was it a wild throb41 of exultation42 for that, the real moment of their union? or because she had won him, and was his who had slighted her, sinned against her—but who was still Hector Garret, manly43, wise, and noble—the hero of her girlhood.
She was roused reluctantly by the entrance of Bridget Kennedy, shaking in every limb.
"Madam, why did you let Master Hector go?—he has had the look of a doomed44 man this many a day. It is thus that men are called, as plain as when the Banshee cries. Madam, say your prayers for Master Hector while he is still in life."
"I must go to him, Bridget; I must follow him. Don't try to keep me. He is my husband, too. The poor women were crowding on the beach this morning. Let me go!"
[Page 263]She understood that he was exposing himself for another—that his life hung on the turning of a straw. She ran upstairs, but she did not seek her child, and when she descended46, Bridget had still to fetch her mantle47 and bonnet48. The old woman did not seek to detain her, but ejaculated through her chattering49 teeth, as she peered out after her and wrung50 her hands, "She will bring the Master back, if anything can; nought51 will harm her. I, poor miserable52 wretch53, would but clog54 her swiftness. Ay, he will hearken to her voice; he has been waiting for the sound weeks and months. Who would have said that Master Hector, like Samson, would twice be given a prey55 to a woman! He will hear her above the winds and waves; body or soul, he will obey her, as he did Alice Boswell twenty years ago in fire and ruin."
Leslie hurried on in the darkness, her little feet tripping, her slight form borne back by the blast. Not thus had she wandered on those sunny, summer days when she first knew Otter; but there was that within, in the midst of her distress56, that she would not have resigned for that light life twice over.
She reached the beach; the roar of the surf and the shriek57 of the wind were in her ears, but no human presence was visible. There flashed back upon her the vision of her hopelessness and helplessness on such another blustering58, raging night—but the recollection brought no comfort. She paused in dismay, with nothing but the mist and the driving rain before her. Stay! obscurely, and at intervals59, she caught sight of a light, now borne on the crest60 of these giant waves, now sunk and lost. Hark! a [Page 264]pistol-shot! that must be Boswell's appeal for aid; and yonder lay Earlscraig—yonder also was Hector toiling61 to rescue his ancient friend and persistent62 foe63. She should be there too. At Earlscraig their destiny would be wrought64 out.
Leslie sped along in the tumult65 of earth and sky; the road was more than a mile, and at such a season and in such weather very toilsome and dangerous—but what deeds have not tender women achieved, strung by love, or hate!
When Leslie gained the promontory66, she found the old house deserted—the few servants were on the shore, aiding or watching Hector Garret and his men in their efforts to save the last of his line, cast away within the shadow of his own rocks and towers.
Leslie shrank from descending67 among the spectators; she remained spent and breathless, but resolute68 still, where she could spy the first wayfarer69, hear the first shout of triumph, and steal away in the darkness, fleeing home unmarked and undetained.
It was the first occasion on which she had been close to Earlscraig. The situation, at all times exposed, was now utterly70 forlorn. The spray was rising over the land, the waves were sapping its old foundation, the weird71 winds were tearing at the coping of the shattered house; and on the side where Alice Boswell's turret72 had stood, stones were rumbling73, and wild weeds streaming. The scene was very dismal74 and eerie75, but Leslie did not shudder76 or faint; her senses were bent on one aim, she was impervious77 to all else. She sank down in a kneeling position, staring with unwinking eyes, praying with her whole heart in an agony. [Page 265]The light which had beguiled78 her, passed beyond her sight after tossing for some time to and fro. She could not regain79 it, she could only continue ready to seize the first signal of bliss80, or woe81.
It did not come. The storm raged more madly; the desolation grew more appalling82; Leslie's brain began to whirl; the solitude83 was rife84 with shapes and voices.
Above all stood fair Alice Boswell, wreathed in white flames—from the wavering cloudy mass of forms the gallant85 exile plunged86 anew into the flood, now seething87 and rushing to meet its prey.
"Oh woman—Alice Boswell—I did not steal your lover! you kept him from me long after God and man had given him to me. There are no vows and caresses88 in the grave. We have had but one meeting and parting; but one! Oh, stranger, he is spending his life for her brother, as you were ready to fling down yours for her. Will none of you be appeased89? Then take us both; in mercy leave not the other! In death let us not be divided!"
The pang90 was over; Leslie passed into insensibility. When she recovered herself, the spectres of that horrible dream still flitted around her, for did she not distinguish through the surge and the blast Hector Garret's foot speeding to receive his doom45?
But "Leslie," not "Alice," was his cry. Beneath the very arches of Earlscraig, where fair Alice Boswell, her rich hair decked for one, her bright eyes sparkling for another, her sandal buckled91 for a third, had stood, and waved to him her hand—"Leslie! Leslie!" was his cry, [Page 266]uttered with such aching longing92, such utter despair. It was the wail93 of no mocking ghost, but the human cry of a breaking heart.
Leslie's tongue clove94 to the roof of her mouth; but there was no need of speech to indicate to him his weak, fluttering treasure. Found once more! Found for ever! raised and borne away swiftly and securely. No word of explanation, no reproach for folly95 and desperation, no recital96 of his labours, no information regarding others, but—strange from Hector Garret's stern lips, and sweet as strange—murmurs of fondness and devotion: "Sweet Leslie! mine only—mine always!" Scoutings at weariness, cheery reckonings of their way, his heart beating against hers, her cheek to his; and it was only when Bridget Kennedy opened the door, and he asked her whether she had yet a chamber97 for this truant98, that Leslie was aware how well Hector Garret had performed his part, and how many guests the hospitable99 walls of Otter sheltered that eventful night.
Bridget was solemnly praising heaven, whose arm had been about them, and restored them both in the flower of their days, to Otter, and to their bairn.
"We have come back for more than Otter and the bairn, Leslie. Bridget and all the men of Ayr could not have held her here, my faithful wife that needs must be my love, she has proved herself so true!"
He was throwing off her drenched100 cloak, and chafing101 her cold hands. One of them was clenched102 on its contents. He opened the stiffened103 finger, and found a lock of hair.
[Page 267]"It was all belonging to you that I had, Hector," she whispered; "I took it long ago, with your knowledge but without your consent. I would not look at it, or touch it; I kept it for little Leslie. But you said that you were mine, and it was something of yours to hold; you were mine, and it was part of you."
"Better for Scotland that weans greet than bearded men," averred104 the Lord of Glammis; but he did not say, better for the men, or better for those who plight105 hand and heart with them, that the keen, clear eye melt not, either with ruth or tenderness. Nay106, the plants of household faith and love, scathed107 by some lightning flash, pinched by some poverty of soil, will lift their heads and thrive apace when once they have been watered with this heavenly rain—and like the tree of the Psalmist growing by the river, will flourish pleasantly, and bear much goodly fruit thenceforth, and fade not at all, but instead, be transplanted into "the land that is far away."
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收听单词发音
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1
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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3
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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11
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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12
myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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13
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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14
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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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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17
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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19
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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20
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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intemperance
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| n.放纵 | |
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23
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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24
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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25
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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26
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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27
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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28
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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29
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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30
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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31
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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32
importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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33
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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34
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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35
blanched
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| 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 | |
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36
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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39
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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40
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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41
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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42
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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43
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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44
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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45
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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46
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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47
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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48
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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49
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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50
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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51
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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52
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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53
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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54
clog
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| vt.塞满，阻塞；n.[常pl.]木屐 | |
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55
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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56
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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57
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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58
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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59
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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60
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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61
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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62
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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63
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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64
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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65
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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66
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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67
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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68
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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69
wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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70
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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71
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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72
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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73
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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74
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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75
eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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77
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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78
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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79
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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80
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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81
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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82
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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83
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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84
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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85
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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86
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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87
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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88
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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89
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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90
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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91
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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94
clove
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| n.丁香味 | |
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95
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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97
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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98
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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99
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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100
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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101
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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102
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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104
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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105
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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106
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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107
scathed
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| v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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