On the following day at noon, the spot on which the late combat had taken place became the theatre of a stirring and animated1 scene. Fort Garry, and the space between it and the river, swarmed2 with voyageurs, dressed in their cleanest, newest, and most brilliant costume. The large boats for the north, six in number, lay moored3 to the river’s bank, laden4 with bales of furs, and ready to start on their long voyage. Young men, who had never been on the road before, stood with animated looks watching the operations of the guides as they passed critical examination upon their boats, overhauled5 the oars7 to see that they were in good condition, or with crooked8 knives (a species of instrument in the use of which voyageurs and natives are very expert) polished off the top of a mast, the blade of an oar6, or the handle of a tiller. Old men, who had passed their lives in similar occupations, looked on in silence—some standing9 with their heads bent10 on their bosoms11, and an expression of sadness about their faces, as if the scene recalled some mournful event of their early life, or possibly reminded them of wild, joyous13 scenes of other days, when the blood coursed warmly in their young veins14, and the strong muscles sprang lightly to obey their will; when the work they had to do was hard, and the sleep that followed it was sound—scenes and days that were now gone by for ever. Others reclined against the wooden fence, their arms crossed, their thin white hair waving gently in the breeze, and a kind smile playing on their sunburned faces, as they observed the swagger and coxcombry15 of the younger men, or watched the gambols16 of several dark-eyed little children—embryo buffalo-hunters and voyageurs—whose mothers had brought them to the fort to get a last kiss from papa, and witness the departure of the boats.
Several tender scenes were going on in out-of-the-way places—in angles of the walls and bastions, or behind the gates—between youthful couples about to be separated for a season. Interesting scenes these of pathos17 and pleasantry—a combination of soft glances and affectionate, fervent18 assurances; alternate embraces (that were apparently19 received with reluctance20, but actually with delight), and proffers21 of pieces of calico and beads22 and other trinkets (received both apparently and actually with extreme satisfaction) as souvenirs of happy days that were past, and pledges of unalterable constancy and bright hopes in days that were yet to come.
A little apart from the others, a youth and a girl might be seen sauntering slowly towards the copse beyond the stable. These were Charley Kennedy and his sister Kate, who had retired23 from the bustling24 scene to take a last short walk together, ere they separated, it might be for years, perhaps for ever! Charley held Kate’s hand, while her sweet little head rested on his shoulder.
“O Charley, Charley, my own dear, darling Charley, I’m quite miserable25, and you ought not to go away; it’s very wrong, and I don’t mind a bit what you say, I shall die if you leave me!” And Kate pressed him tightly to her heart, and sobbed26 in the depth of her woe27.
“Now, Kate, my darling, don’t go on so! You know I can’t help it—”
“I don’t know,” cried Kate, interrupting him, and speaking vehemently—“I don’t know, and I don’t believe, and I don’t care for anything at all; it’s very hard-hearted of you, and wrong, and not right, and I’m just quite wretched!”
Poor Kate was undoubtedly28 speaking the absolute truth; for a more disconsolate29 and wretched look of woe-begone misery30 was never seen on so sweet and tender and lovable a little face before. Her blue eyes swam in two lakes of pure crystal, that overflowed31 continually; her mouth, which was usually round, had become an elongated32 oval; and her nut-brown hair fell in dishevelled masses over her soft cheeks.
“O Charley,” she continued, “why won’t you stay?”
“Listen to me, dearest Kate,” said Charley, in a very husky voice. “It’s too late to draw back now, even if I wished to do so; and you don’t consider, darling, that I’ll be back again soon. Besides, I’m a man now, Kate, and I must make my own bread. Who ever heard of a man being supported by his old father?”
“Well, but you can do that here.”
“Now, don’t interrupt me, Kate,” said Charley, kissing her forehead; “I’m quite satisfied with two short legs, and have no desire whatever to make my bread on the top of three long ones. Besides, you know I can write to you—”
“But you won’t; you’ll forget.”
“No, indeed, I will not. I’ll write you long letters about all that I see and do; and you shall write long letters to me about—”
“Stop, Charley,” cried Kate; “I won’t listen to you. I hate to think of it.”
And her tears burst forth33 again with fresh violence. This time Charley’s heart sank too. The lump in his throat all but choked him; so he was fain to lay his head upon Kate’s heaving bosom12, and weep along with her.
For a few minutes they remained silent, when a slight rustling34 in the bushes was heard. In another moment a tall, broad-shouldered, gentlemanly man, dressed in black, stood before them. Charley and Kate, on seeing this personage, arose, and wiping the tears from their eyes, gave a sad smile as they shook hands with their clergyman.
“My poor children,” said Mr Addison, affectionately, “I know well why your hearts are sad. May God bless and comfort you! I saw you enter the wood, and came to bid you farewell, Charley, my dear boy, as I shall not have another opportunity of doing so.”
“O dear Mr Addison,” cried Kate, grasping his hand in both of hers, and gazing imploringly35 up at him through a perfect wilderness36 of ringlets and tears, “do prevail upon Charley to stay at home; please do!”
Mr Addison could scarcely help smiling at the poor girl’s extreme earnestness.
“I fear, my sweet child, that it is too late now to attempt to dissuade37 Charley. Besides, he goes with the consent of his father; and I am inclined to think that a change of life for a short time may do him good. Come, Kate, cheer up! Charley will return to us again ere long, improved, I trust, both physically38 and mentally.”
Kate did not cheer up, but she dried her eyes, and endeavoured to look more composed; while Mr Addison took Charley by the hand, and, as they walked slowly through the wood, gave him much earnest advice and counsel.
The clergyman’s manner was peculiar39. With a large, warm, generous heart, he possessed40 an enthusiastic nature, a quick, brusque manner, and a loud voice, which, when his spirit was influenced by the strong emotions of pity or anxiety for the souls of his flock, sank into a deep, soft bass41 of the most thrilling earnestness. He belonged to the Church of England, but conducted service very much in the Presbyterian form, as being more suited to his mixed congregation. After a long conversation with Charley, he concluded by saying:—
“I do not care to say much to you about being kind and obliging to all whom you may meet with during your travels, nor about the dangers to which you will be exposed by being thrown into the company of wild and reckless, perhaps very wicked, men. There is but one incentive42 to every good, and one safeguard against all evil, my boy, and that is the love of God. You may perhaps forget much that I have said to you; but remember this, Charley, if you would be happy in this world, and have a good hope for the next, centre your heart’s affection on our blessed Lord Jesus Christ; for believe me, boy, His heart’s affection is centred upon you.”
As Mr Addison spoke43, a loud hollo from Mr Kennedy apprised44 them that their time was exhausted45, and that the boats were ready to start. Charley sprang towards Kate, locked her in a long, passionate46 embrace, and then, forgetting Mr Addison altogether in his haste, ran out of the wood, and hastened towards the scene of departure.
“Good-bye, Charley!” cried Harry47 Somerville, running up to his friend and giving him a warm grasp of the hand. “Don’t forget me, Charley. I wish I were going with you, with all my heart; but I’m an unlucky dog. Good-bye.” The senior clerk and Peter Mactavish had also a kindly48 word and a cheerful farewell for him as he hurried past.
“Good-bye, Charley, my lad!” said old Mr Kennedy, in an excessively loud voice, as if by such means he intended to crush back some unusual but very powerful feelings that had a peculiar influence on a certain lump in his throat. “Goodbye, my lad; don’t forget to write to your old— Hang it!” said the old man, brushing his coat-sleeve somewhat violently across his eyes, and turning abruptly49 round as Charley left him and sprang into the boat.—“I say, Grant, I—I—What are you staring at, eh?” The latter part of his speech was addressed, in an angry tone, to an innocent voyageur, who happened accidentally to confront him at the moment.
“Come along, Kennedy,” said Mr Grant, interposing, and grasping his excited friend by the arm—“come with me.”
“Ah, to be sure!—yes,” said he, looking over his shoulder and waving a last adieu to Charley. “Good-bye, God bless you, my dear boy!—I say, Grant, come along; quick, man, and let’s have a pipe—yes, let’s have a pipe.” Mr Kennedy, essaying once more to crush back his rebellious50 feelings, strode rapidly up the bank, and entering the house, sought to overwhelm his sorrow in smoke: in which attempt he failed.
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1
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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2
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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3
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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6
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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7
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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8
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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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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10
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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11
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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12
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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13
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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14
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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15
coxcombry
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| n.（男子的）虚浮，浮夸，爱打扮 | |
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gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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18
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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19
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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proffers
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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23
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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25
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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26
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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27
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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28
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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29
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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30
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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31
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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32
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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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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35
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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36
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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37
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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38
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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39
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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40
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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41
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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42
incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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43
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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44
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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45
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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46
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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47
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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48
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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49
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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50
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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