It was very good of Cousin Monica to stay with me so long. It must have been unspeakably tiresome14. And now she began to talk of business at home, and plainly to prepare for immediate15 flight, and my heart sank.
I know that I could not then have defined my feelings and agitations16. I am not sure that I even now could. Any misgiving17 about Uncle Silas was, in my mind, a questioning the foundations of my faith, and in itself an impiety18. And yet I am not sure that some such misgiving, faint, perhaps, and intermittent19, may not have been at the bottom of my tribulation20.
I was not very well. Lady Knollys had gone out for a walk. She was not easily tired, and sometimes made a long excursion. The sun was setting now, when Mary Quince brought me a letter which had just arrived by the post. My heart throbbed21 violently. I was afraid to break the broad black seal. It was from Uncle Silas. I ran over in my mind all the unpleasant mandates22 which it might contain, to try and prepare myself for a shock. At last I opened the letter. It directed me to hold myself in readiness for the journey to Bartram–Haugh. It stated that I might bring two maids with me if I wished so many, and that his next letter would give me the details of my route, and the day of my departure for Derbyshire; and he said that I ought to make arrangements about Knowl during my absence, but that he was hardly the person properly to be consulted on that matter. Then came a prayer that he might be enabled to acquit23 himself of his trust to the full satisfaction of his conscience, and that I might enter upon my new relations in a spirit of prayer.
I looked round my room, so long familiar, and now so endeared by the idea of parting and change. The old house — dear, dear Knowl, how could I leave you and all your affectionate associations, and kind looks and voices, for a strange land!
With a great sigh I took Uncle Silas’s letter, and went down-stairs to the drawing-room. From the lobby window, where I loitered for a few moments, I looked out upon the well-known forest-trees. The sun was down. It was already twilight24, and the white vapours of coming night were already filming their thinned and yellow foliage25. Everything looked melancholy26. How little did those who envied the young inheritrex of a princely fortune suspect the load that lay at her heart, or, bating the fear of death, how gladly at that moment she would have parted with her life!
Lady Knollys had not yet returned, and it was darkening rapidly; a mass of black clouds stood piled in the west, though the chasms27 of which was still reflected a pale metallic28 lustre29.
The drawing-room was already very dark; but some streaks30 of this cold light fell upon a black figure, which would otherwise have been unseen, leaning beside the curtains against the window frame.
It advanced abruptly31, with creaking shoes; it was Doctor Bryerly.
I was startled and surprised, not knowing how he had got there. I stood staring at him in the dusk rather awkwardly, I am afraid.
“How do you do, Miss Ruthyn?” said he, extending his hand, long, hard, and brown as a mummy’s, and stooping a little so as to approach more nearly, for it was not easy to see in the imperfect light. “You’re surprised, I dare say, to see me here so soon again?”
“I did not know you had arrived. I am glad to see you, Doctor Bryerly. Nothing unpleasant, I hope, has happened?”
“No, nothing unpleasant, Miss. The will has been lodged33, and we shall have probate in due course; but there has been something on my mind, and I’m come to ask you two or three questions which you had better answer very considerately. Is Miss Knollys still here?”
“Yes, but she has not returned from her walk.”
“I am glad she is here. I think she takes a sound view, and women understand one another better. As for me, it is plainly my duty to put it before you as it strikes me, and to offer all I can do in accomplishing, should you wish it, a different arrangement. You don’t know your uncle, you said the other day?”
“No, I’ve never seen him.”
“You understand your late father’s intention in making you his ward32?”
“I suppose he wished to show his high opinion of my uncle’s fitness for such a trust.”
“That’s quite true; but the nature of the trust in this instance is extraordinary.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Why, if you die before you come to the age of twenty-one, the entire of the property will go to him — do you see? — and he has the custody34 of your person in the meantime; you are to live in his house, under his care and authority. You see now, I think, how it is; and I did not like it when your father read the will to me, and said so. Do you?”
I hesitated to speak, not sure that I quite comprehended him.
“And the more I think of it, the less I like it, Miss,” said Doctor Bryerly, in a calm, stern tone.
“Merciful Heaven! Doctor Bryerly, you can’t suppose that I should not be as safe in my uncle’s house as in the Lord Chancellor’s?” I ejaculated, looking full in his face.
“But don’t you see, Miss, it is not a fair position to put your uncle in,” replied he, after a little hesitation35.
“But suppose he does not think so. You know, if he does, he may decline it.”
“Well that’s true — but he won’t. Here is his letter”— and he produced it —“announcing officially that he means to accept the office; but I think he ought to be told it is not delicate, under all circumstances. You know, Miss, that your uncle, Mr. Silas Ruthyn, was talked about unpleasantly once.”
“You mean “— I began.
“I mean about the death of Mr. Clarke, at Bartram–Haugh.”
“Yes, I have heard that,” I said; he was speaking with a shocking aplomb36.
“We assume, of course, unjustly; but there are many who think quite differently.”
“And possibly, Doctor Bryerly, it was for that very reason that my dear papa made him my guardian37.”
“There can be no doubt of that, Miss; it was to purge38 him of that scandal.”
“And when he has acquitted39 himself honourably40 of that trust, don’t you think such a proof of confidence so honourably fulfilled must go far to silence his traducers?”
“Why, if all goes well, it may do a little; but a great deal less than you fancy. But take it that you happen to die, Miss, during your minority. We are all mortal, and there are three years and some months to go; how will it be then? Don’t you see? Just fancy how people will talk.”
“I think you know that my uncle is a religious man?” said I.
“Well, Miss, what of that?” he asked again.
“He is — he has suffered intensely,” I continued. “He has long retired41 from the world; he is very religious. Ask our curate, Mr. Fairfield, if you doubt it.”
“But I am not disputing it, Miss; I’m only supposing what may happen — an accident, we’ll call it small-pox, diphtheria, that’s going very much. Three years and three months, you know, is a long time. You proceed to Bartram–Haugh, thinking you have much goods laid up for many years; but your Creator, you know, may say, ‘Thou fool, this day is thy soul required of thee.’ You go — and what pray is thought of your uncle, Mr. Silas Ruthyn, who walks in for the entire inheritance, and who has long been abused like a pickpocket42, or worse, in his own county, I’m told?”
“You are a religious man, Doctor Bryerly, according to your lights?” I said.
The Swedenborgian smiled.
“Well, knowing that he is so too, and having yourself experienced the power of religion, do not you think him deserving of every confidence? Don’t you think it well that he should have this opportunity of exhibiting both his own character and the reliance which my dear papa reposed43 on it, and that we should leave all consequences and contingencies44 in the hands of Heaven?”
“It appears to have been the will of Heaven hitherto,” said Doctor Bryerly — I could not see with what expression of face, but he was looking down, and drawing little diagrams with his stick on the dark carpet, and spoke45 in a very low tone —“that your uncle should suffer under this ill report. In countervailing the appointment of Providence46, we must employ our reason, with conscientious47 diligence, as to the means, and if we find that they are as likely to do mischief48 as good, we have no right to expect a special interposition to turn our experiment into an ordeal49. I think you ought to weight it well — I am sure there are reasons against it. If you make up your mind that you would rather be placed under the care, say of Lady Knollys, I will endeavour all I can to effect it.”
“That could not be done without his consent, could it?” said I.
“No, but I don’t despair of getting that — on terms, of course,” remarked he.
“I don’t quite understand,” I said.
“I mean, for instance, if he were allowed to keep the allowance for your maintenance — eh?”
“I mistake my uncle Silas very much,” I said, “if that allowance is any object whatever to him compared with the moral value of the position. If he were deprived of that, I am sure he would decline the other.”
“We might try him at all events,” said Doctor Bryerly, on whose dark sinewy50 features, even in this imperfect light, I thought I detected a smile.
“Perhaps,” said I, “I appear very foolish in supposing him actuated by any but sordid51 motives52; but he is my near relation, and I can’t help it, sir.”
“That is a very serious thing, Miss Ruthyn,” he replied. “You are very young, and cannot see it at present, as you will hereafter. He is very religious, you say, and all that, but his house is not a proper place for you. It is a solitude53 — its master an outcast, and it has been the repeated scene of all sorts of scandals, and of one great crime; and Lady Knollys thinks your having been domesticated54 there will be an injury to you all the days of your life.”
“So I do, Maud,” said Lady Knollys, who had just entered the room unperceived. —“How do you do, Doctor Bryerly? — a serious injury. You have no idea how entirely55 that house is condemned56 and avoided, and the very name of its inmates57 tabooed.”
“How monstrous58 — how cruel!” I exclaimed.
“Very unpleasant, my dear, but perfectly59 natural. You are to recollect60 that quite independently of the story of Mr. Clarke, the house was talked about, and the county people had cut your uncle Silas long before that adventure was dreamed of; and as to the circumstance of your being placed in his charge by his brother, who took, from strong family feeling, a totally one-sided view of the affair from the first, having the slightest effect in restoring his position in the county, you must quite give that up. Except me, if he will allow me, and the clergyman, not a soul in the country will visit at Bartram–Haugh. They may pity you, and think the whole thing the climax61 of folly62 and cruelty; but they won’t visit at Bartram, or know Silas, or have anything to do with his household.”
“They will see, at all events, what my dear papa’s opinion was.”
“They know that already,” answered she, “and it has not, and ought not to have, the slightest weight with them. There are people there who think themselves just as great as the Ruthyns, or greater; and your poor father’s idea of carrying it by a demonstration63 was simply the dream of a man who had forgotten the world, and learned to exaggerate himself in his long seclusion64. I know he was beginning himself to hesitate; and I think if he had been spared another year that provision of his will would have been struck out.”
Doctor Bryerly nodded, and he said —
“And if he had the power to dictate65 now, would he insist on that direction? It is a mistake every way, injurious to you, his child; and should you happen to die during your sojourn66 under your uncle’s care, it would woefully defeat the testator’s object, and raise such a storm of surmise67 and inquiry68 as would awaken69 all England, and sent he old scandal on the wing through the world again.”
“Doctor Bryerly will, I have no doubt, arrange it all. In fact, I do not think it would be very difficult to bring Silas to terms; and if you do not consent to his trying, Maud, mark my words, you will live to repent70 it.”
Here were two persons viewing the question from totally different points; both perfectly disinterested71; both in their different ways, I believe, shrewd and even wise; and both honourable72, urging me against it, and in a way that undefinably alarmed my imagination, as well as moved my reason. I looked form one to the other — there was a silence. By this time the candles had come, and we could see one another.
“I only wait your decision, Miss Ruthyn,” said the trustee, “to see your uncle. If his advantage was the chief object contemplated73 in this arrangement, he will be the best judge whether his interest is really best consulted by it or no; and I think he will clearly see that it is not so, and will answer accordingly.”
“I cannot answer now — you must allow me to think it over — I will do my best. I am very much obliged, my dear Cousin Monica, you are so very good, and you too, Doctor Bryerly.”
Doctor Bryerly by this time was looking into his pocket-book, and did not acknowledge my thanks even by a nod.
“I must be in London the day after to-morrow. Bartram–Haugh is nearly sixty miles from here, and only twenty of that by rail, I find. Forty miles of posting over those Derbyshire mountains is slow work; but if you say try, I’ll see him to-morrow morning.”
“You must say try — you must, my dear Maud.”
“But how can I decide in a moment? Oh, dear Cousin Monica, I am so distracted!”
“But you need not decide at all; the decision rests with him. Come; he is more competent than you. You must say yes.”
Again I looked from her to Doctor Bryerly, and from him to her again. I threw my arms about her neck, and hugging her closely to me, I cried —
“Oh, Cousin Monica, dear Cousin Monica, advise me. I am a wretched creature. You must advise me.”
I did not know till now how irresolute74 a character was mine.
I knew somehow by the tone of her voice that she was smiling as she answered —
“Why, dear, I have advised you; I do advise you;” and then she added, impetuously, “I entreat75 and implore76, if you really think I love you, that you will follow my advice. It is your duty to leave your uncle Silas, whom you believe to be more competent than you are, to decide, after full conference with Doctor Bryerly, who knows more of your poor father’s views and intentions in making that appointment than either you or I.”
“Shall I say, yes?” I cried, drawing her close, and kissing her helplessly. “Oh, tell me — rtell me to say, yes.”
“Yes, of course, yes. She agrees, Doctor Bryerly, to your kind proposal.”
“I am to understand so?” he asked.
“Very well — yes, Doctor Bryerly,” I replied.
“You have resolved wisely and well,” said he, briskly, like a man who has got a care off his mind.
“I forgot to say, Doctor Bryerly — it was very rude — that you must stay here to-night.”
“He can’t, my dear,” interposed Lady Knollys; “it is a long way.”
“He will dine. Won’t you, Doctor Bryerly?”
“No; he can’t. You know you can’t, sir,” said my cousin, peremptorily77. “You must not worry him, my dear, with civilities he can’t accept. He’ll bid us good-bye this moment. Good-bye, Doctor Bryerly. You’ll write immediately; don’t wait till you reach town. Bid him good-bye, Maud. I’ll say a word to you in the hall.”
And thus she literally78 hurried him out of the room, leaving me in a state of amazement79 and confusion, not able to review my decision — unsatisfied, but still unable to recall it.
I stood where they had left me, looking after them, I suppose, like a fool.
Lady Knollys returned in a few minutes. If I had been a little cooler I was shrewd enough to perceive that she had sent poor Doctor Bryerly away upon his travels, to find board and lodging80 half-way to Bartram, to remove him forthwith from my presence, and thus to make my decision — if mine it was — irrevocable.
“I applaud you, my dear,” said Cousin Knollys, in her turn embracing me heartily81. “You are a sensible little darling, and have done exactly what you ought to have done.”
“I hope I have,” I faltered82.
“Hope? fiddle83! stuff! the thing’s as plain as a pikestaff.”
And in came Branstone to say that dinner was served.
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1
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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trumpeted
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| 大声说出或宣告（trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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choirs
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| n.教堂的唱诗班( choir的名词复数 )；唱诗队；公开表演的合唱团；（教堂）唱经楼 | |
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anthems
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| n.赞美诗( anthem的名词复数 )；圣歌；赞歌；颂歌 | |
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cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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desolately
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| 荒凉地，寂寞地 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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intermittent
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| adj.间歇的，断断续续的 | |
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tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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mandates
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| 托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式） | |
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acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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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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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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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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chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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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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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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aplomb
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| n.沉着，镇静 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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purge
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| n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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pickpocket
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| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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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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46
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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49
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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51
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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52
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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53
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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56
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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80
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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82
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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83
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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