Yeoman. And of what nature, to what use?
Latroc. Imagine.
The Tragedy of Rollo.
Quickly. He’s in Arthur’s bosom1, if ever man went to Arthur’s bosom.
Henry V.
The stream of our narrative2 now conducts us back to William Brandon. The law-promotions previously3 intended were completed; and to the surprise of the public, the envied barrister, undergoing the degradation4 of knighthood, had, at the time we return to him, just changed his toilsome occupations for the serene5 dignity of the bench. Whatever regret this wily and aspiring6 schemer might otherwise have felt at an elevation7 considerably8 less distinguished9 than he might reasonably have expected, was entirely10 removed by the hopes afforded to him of a speedy translation to a more brilliant office: it was whispered among those not unlikely to foresee such events, that the interest of the government required his talents in the house of peers. Just at this moment, too, the fell disease, whose ravages11 Brandon endeavoured, as jealously as possible, to hide from the public, had appeared suddenly to yield to the skill of a new physician; and by the administration of medicines which a man less stern or resolute12 might have trembled to adopt (so powerful and for the most part deadly was their nature), he passed from a state of almost insufferable torture to an elysium of tranquillity13 and ease. Perhaps, however, the medicines which altered also decayed his constitution; and it was observable that in two cases where the physician had attained14 a like success by the same means, the patients had died suddenly, exactly at the time when their cure seemed to be finally completed. However, Sir William Brandon appeared very little anticipative of danger. His manner became more cheerful and even than it had ever been before; there was a certain lightness in his gait, a certain exhilaration in his voice and eye, which seemed the tokens of one from whom a heavy burden had been suddenly raised, and who was no longer prevented from the eagerness of hope by the engrossing15 claims of a bodily pain. He had always been bland16 in society, but now his courtesy breathed less of artifice17 — it took a more hearty18 tone. Another alteration19 was discernible in him, and that was precisely20 the reverse of what might have been expected. He became more thrifty22, more attentive23 to the expenses of life than he had been. Though a despiser of show and ostentation24, and far too hard to be luxurious25, he was too scientific an architect of the weaknesses of others not to have maintained during his public career an opulent appearance and a hospitable26 table. The profession he had adopted requires, perhaps, less of externals to aid it than any other; still Brandon had affected27 to preserve parliamentary as well as legal importance; and though his house was situated28 in a quarter entirely professional, he had been accustomed to assemble around his hospitable board all who were eminent29, in his political party, for rank or for talent. Now, however, when hospitality and a certain largeness of expenses better became his station, he grew closer and more exact in his economy. Brandon never could have degenerated30 into a miser31; money, to one so habitually32 wise as he was, could never have passed from means into an object; but he had evidently, for some cause or another, formed the resolution to save. Some said it was the result of returning health, and the hope of a prolonged life, to which many objects for which wealth is desirable might occur. But when it was accidentally ascertained33 that Brandon had been making several inquiries34 respecting a large estate in the neighbourhood of Warlock, formerly35 in the possession of his family, the gossips (for Brandon was a man to be gossiped about) were no longer in want of a motive36, false or real, for the judge’s thrift21.
It was shortly after his elevation to the bench, and ere these signs of change had become noticeable, that the same strange ragamuffin whom we have mentioned before, as introduced by Mr. Swoppem to a private conference with Brandon, was admitted to the judge’s presence.
“Well,” said Brandon, impatiently, the moment the door was closed, “your news?”
“Vy, your ‘onor,” said the man, bashfully, twirling a thing that stood proxy37 for a hat, “I thinks as ‘ow I shall be hable to satisfy your vorship’s ‘onor.’!” Then, approaching the judge and assuming an important air, he whispered, “‘T is as ‘ow I thought!”
“My God!” cried Brandon, with vehemence38. “And he is alive — and where?”
“I believes,” answered the seemly confidant of Sir William Brandon, “that he be’s alive; and if he be’s alive, may I flash my ivories in a glass case, if I does not ferret him out; but as to saying vhere he be at this nick o’ the moment, smash me if I can!”
“Is he in this country,” said Brandon; “or do you believe that he has gone abroad?”
“Vy, much of one and not a little of the other!” said the euphonious39 confidant.
“How! speak plain, man; what do you mean?”
“Vy, I means, your ‘oner, that I can’t say vhere he is.”
“And this,” said Brandon, with a muttered oath — “this is your boasted news, is it? Dog! damned, damned dog! if you trifle with me or play me false, I will hang you — by the living God, I will!”
The man shrank back involuntarily from Brandon’s vindictive40 forehead and kindled41 eyes; but with the cunning peculiar42 to low vice43, answered, though in a humbler tone —
“And vet45 good vill that do your ‘oner? If so be as how you scrags I, will that put your vorship in the vay of finding he?”
Never was there an obstacle in grammar through which a sturdy truth could not break; and Brandon, after a moody46 pause, said in a milder voice —
“I did not mean to frighten you! Never mind what I said; but you can surely guess whereabouts he is, or what means of life he pursues. Perhaps,”— and a momentary47 paleness crossed Brandon’s swarthy visage — “perhaps he may have been driven into dishonesty in order to maintain himself!”
The informant replied with great naivete that such a thing was not impossible! And Brandon then entered into a series of seemingly careless but artful cross-questionings, which either the ignorance or the craft of the man enabled him to baffle. After some time Brandon, disappointed and dissatisfied, gave up his professional task; and bestowing48 on the man many sagacious and minute instructions as well as a very liberal donation, he was forced to dismiss his mysterious visitor, and to content himself with an assured assertion that if the object of his inquiries should not already be gone to the devil, the strange gentleman employed to discover him would certainly, sooner or later, bring him to the judge.
This assertion, and the interview preceding it, certainly inspired Sir William Brandon with a feeling like complacency, although it was mingled49 with a considerable alloy50.
“I do not,” thought he, concluding his meditations51 when he was left alone — “I do not see what else I can do! Since it appears that the boy had not even a name when he set out alone from his wretched abode52, I fear that an advertisement would have but little chance of even designating, much less of finding him, after so long an absence. Besides, it might make me the prey53 to impostors; and in all probability he has either left the country, or adopted some mode of living which would prevent his daring to disclose himself!” This thought plunged54 the soliloquist into a gloomy abstraction, which lasted several minutes, and from which he started, muttering aloud —
“Yes, yes! I dare to believe, to hope it. Now for the minister and the peerage!” And from that time the root of Sir William Brandon’s ambition spread with a firmer and more extended grasp over his mind.
We grieve very much that the course of our story should now oblige us to record an event which we would willingly have spared ourselves the pain of narrating55. The good old Squire56 of Warlock Manor-house had scarcely reached his home on his return from Bath, before William Brandon received the following letter from his brother’s gray-headed butler:—
HONNURED SUR— I send this with all speede, thof with a hevy bart, to axquainte you with the sudden (and it is feered by his loving friends and well-wishers, which latter, to be sur, is all as knows him) dangeros ilness of the Squire. He was seezed, poor deer gentleman (for God never made a better, no offence to your Honnur), the moment he set footing in his Own Hall, and what has hung rond me like a millston ever sin, is that instead of his saying, “How do you do, Sampson?” as was his wont57, whenever he returned from forren parts, sich as Bath, Lunnun, and the like, he said, “God bless you, Sampson!” which makes me think sumhow that it will be his last wurds; for he has never spoke58 sin, for all Miss Lucy be by his bedside continual. She, poor deer, don’t take on at all, in regard of crying and such woman’s wurk, but looks nevertheless, for all the wurld, just like a copse. I sends Tom the postilion with this hexpress, nowing he is a good hand at a gallop59, having, not sixteen years ago, beat some o’ the best on ’un at a raceng. Hoping as yer Honnur will lose no time in coming to this “house of mourning,” I remane, with all respect, Your Honnur’s humble44 servant to command, JOHN SAMPSON.
[The reader, who has doubtless noticed how invariably servants of long standing60 acquire a certain tone from that of their master, may observe that honest John Sampson had caught from the squire the habit of parenthetical composition.]
Sir William Brandon did not give himself time to re-read this letter, in order to make it more intelligible61, before he wrote to one of his professional compeers, requesting him to fill his place during his unavoidable absence, on the melancholy62 occasion of his brother’s expected death; and having so done, he immediately set off for Warlock. Inexplicable63 even to himself was that feeling, so nearly approaching to real sorrow, which the worldly lawyer felt at the prospect64 of losing his guileless and unspeculating brother. Whether it be that turbulent and ambitious minds, in choosing for their wavering affections the very opposites of themselves, feel (on losing the fellowship of those calm, fair characters that have never crossed their rugged65 path) as if they lost, in losing them, a kind of haven66 for their own restless thoughts and tempest-worn designs! — be this as it may, certain it is that when William Brandon arrived at his brother’s door, and was informed by the old butler, who for the first time was slow to greet him, that the squire had just breathed his last, his austere67 nature forsook68 him at once, and he felt the shock with a severity perhaps still keener than that which a more genial69 and affectionate heart would have experienced.
As soon as he had recovered his self-possession, Sir William made question of his niece; and finding that after an unrelaxing watch during the whole of the squire’s brief illness, nature had failed her at his death, and she had been borne senseless from his chamber70 to her own, Brandon walked with a step far different from his usual stately gait to the room where his brother lay. It was one of the oldest apartments in the house, and much of the ancient splendour that belonged to the mansion71 ere its size had been reduced, with the fortunes of its successive owners, still distinguished the chamber. The huge mantelpiece ascending72 to the carved ceiling in grotesque73 pilasters, and scroll-work of the blackest oak, with the quartered arms of Brandon and Saville escutcheoned in the centre; the panelled walls of the same dark wainscot; the armorie of ebony; the high-backed chairs, with their tapestried74 seats; the lofty bed, with its hearse-like plumes75 and draperies of a crimson76 damask that seemed, so massy was the substance and so prominent the flowers, as if it were rather a carving77 than a silk — all conspired78 with the size of the room to give it a feudal79 solemnity, not perhaps suited to the rest of the house, but well calculated to strike a gloomy awe80 into the breast of the worldly and proud man who now entered the death-chamber of his brother.
Silently William Brandon motioned away the attendants, and silently he seated himself by the bed, and looked long and wistfully upon the calm and placid81 face of the deceased. It is difficult to guess at what passed within him during the space of time in which he remained alone in that room. The apartment itself he could not at another period have tenanted without secret emotion. It was that in which, as a boy, he had himself been accustomed to sleep; and, even then a schemer and an aspirant82, the very sight of the room sufficed to call back all the hopes and visions, the restless projects and the feverish83 desires, which had now brought him to the envied state of an acknowledged celebrity84 and a shattered frame. There must have been something awful in the combination of those active remembrances with the cause which had led him to that apartment; and there was a homily in the serene countenance85 of the dead, which preached more effectually to the heart of the living than William Brandon would ever have cared to own. He had been more than an hour in the room, and the evening had already begun to cast deep shadows through the small panes86 of the half-closed window, when Brandon was startled by a slight noise. He looked up, and beheld87 Lucy opposite to him. She did not see him; but throwing herself upon the bed, she took the cold hand of the deceased, and after a long silence burst into a passion of tears.
“My father!” she sobbed88 — “my kind, good father! who will love me now?”
“I!” said Brandon, deeply affected; and passing round the bed, he took his niece in his arms: “I will be your father, Lucy, and you — the last of our race — shall be to me as a daughter!”
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1
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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6
aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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7
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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8
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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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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ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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14
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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16
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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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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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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thrift
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| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
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thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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proxy
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| n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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euphonious
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| adj.好听的，悦耳的，和谐的 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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41
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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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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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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44
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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45
vet
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| n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查 | |
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46
moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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48
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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49
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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50
alloy
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| n.合金，(金属的)成色 | |
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51
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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52
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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53
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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54
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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55
narrating
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| v.故事( narrate的现在分词 ) | |
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56
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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57
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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58
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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59
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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60
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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61
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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62
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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64
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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65
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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67
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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68
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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69
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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70
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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71
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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72
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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74
tapestried
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| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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76
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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77
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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78
conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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79
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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80
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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81
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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82
aspirant
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| n.热望者；adj.渴望的 | |
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83
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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84
celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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85
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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86
panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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87
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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88
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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