Rachel beheld1 the things which were coming to pass like an awful dream. She had begun to think, and not without evidence, that Dorcas, for some cause or caprice, had ceased to think of Stanley as she once did. And the announcement, without preparation or apparent courtship, that her brother had actually won this great and beautiful heiress, and that, just emerged from the shades of death, he, a half-ruined scapegrace, was about to take his place among the magnates of the county, and, no doubt, to enter himself for the bold and splendid game of ambition, the stakes of which were now in his hand, towered before her like an incredible and disastrous2 illusion of magic.
Stanley’s uneasiness lest Rachel’s conduct should compromise them increased. He grew more nervous about the relations between him and Mark Wylder, in proportion as the world grew more splendid and prosperous for him.
Where is the woman who will patiently acquiesce3 in the reserve of her husband who shares his confidence with another? How often had Stanley Lake sworn to her there was no secret; that he knew nothing of Mark Wylder beyond the charge of his money, and making a small payment to an old Mrs. Dutton, in London, by his direction, and that beyond this, he was as absolutely in the dark as she or Chelford.
What, then, did Rachel mean by all that escaped her, when he was in danger?
‘How the — could he tell? He really believed she was a little — ever so little — crazed. He supposed she, like Dorcas, fancied he knew everything about Wylder. She was constantly hinting something of the kind; and begging of him to make a disclosure — disclosure of what? It was enough to drive one mad, and would make a capital farce4. Rachel has a ridiculous way of talking like an oracle5, and treating as settled fact every absurdity6 she fancies. She is very charming and clever, of course, so long as she speaks of the kind of thing she understands. But when she tries to talk of serious business — poor Radie! she certainly does talk such nonsense! She can’t reason; she runs away with things. It is the most tiresome7 thing you can conceive.’
‘But you have not said, Stanley, that she does not suspect the truth.’
‘Of course, I say it; I have said it. I swear it, if you like. I’ve said plainly, and I’m ready to swear it. Upon my honour and soul I know no more of his movements, plans, or motives8, than you do. If you reflect you must see it. We were never good friends, Mark and I. It was no fault of mine, but I never liked him; and he, consequently, I suppose, never liked me. There was no intimacy9 or confidence between us. I was the last man on earth he would have consulted with. Even Larkin, his own lawyer, is in the dark. Rachel knows all this. I have told her fifty times over, and she seems to give way at the moment. Indeed the thing is too plain to be resisted. But as I said, poor Radie, she can’t reason; and by the time I see her next, her old fancy possesses her. I can’t help it; because with more reluctance10 than I can tell, I at length consent, at Larkin’s entreaty11, I may say, to bank and fund his money.’
But Dorcas’s mind retained its first impression. Sometimes his plausibilities, his vehemence12, and his vows13 disturbed it for a time; but there it remained like the picture of a camera obscura, into which a momentary14 light has been admitted, unseen for a second, but the images return with the darkness, and group themselves in their old colours and places again. Whatever it was Rachel probably knew it. There was a painful confidence between them; and there was growing in Dorcas’s mind a feeling towards Rachel which her pride forbade her to define.
She did not like Stanley’s stealthy visits to Redman’s Farm; she did not like his moods or looks after those visits, of which he thought she knew nothing. She did not know whether to be pleased or sorry that Rachel had refused to reside at Brandon; neither did she like the stern gloom that overcast15 Rachel’s countenance16 when Stanley was in the room, nor those occasional walks together, up and down the short yew17 walk, in which Lake looked so cold and angry, and Rachel so earnest. What was this secret? How dared her husband mask from her what he confided18 to another? How dared Rachel confer with him — influence him, perhaps, under her very eye, walking before the windows of Brandon — that Brandon which was hers, and to which she had taken Stanley, passing her gate a poor and tired wayfarer19 of the world, and made him — what? Oh, mad caprice! Oh, fit retribution!
A wild voice was talking this way, to-and-fro, and up and down, in the chambers20 of memory. But she would not let it speak from her proud lips. She smiled, and to outward seeming, was the same; but Rachel felt that the fashion of her countenance towards her was changed.
Since her marriage she had not hinted to Rachel the subject of their old conversations: burning beneath her feeling about it was now a deep-rooted anger and jealousy21. Still she was Stanley’s sister, and to be treated accordingly. The whole household greeted her with proper respect, and Dorcas met her graciously, and with all the externals of kindness. The change was so little, that I do not think any but she and Rachel saw it; and yet it was immense.
There was a dark room, a sort of ante-room, to the library, with only two tall and narrow windows, and hung with old Dutch tapestries22, representing the battles and sieges of men in periwigs, pikemen, dragoons in buff coats, and musketeers with matchlocks — all the grim faces of soldiers, generals, drummers, and the rest, grown pale and dusky by time, like armies of ghosts.
Rachel had come one morning to see Dorcas, and, awaiting her appearance, sat down in this room. The door of the library opened, and she was a little surprised to see Stanley enter.
‘Why, Stanley, they told me you were gone to Naunton.’
‘Oh! did they? Well, you see, I’m here, Radie.’
Somehow he was not very well pleased to see her.
‘I think you’ll find Dorcas in the drawing-room, or else in the conservatory,’ he added.
‘I am glad, Stanley, I happened to meet you. Something must be done in the matter I spoke23 of immediately. Have you considered it?’
‘Most carefully,’ said Stanley, quietly.
‘But you have done nothing.’
‘It is not a thing to be done in a moment.’
‘You can, if you please, do a great deal in a moment’
‘Certainly; but I may repent24 it afterwards.’
‘Stanley, you may regret postponing25 it, much more.’
‘You have no idea, Rachel, how very tiresome you’ve grown.’
‘Yes, Stanley, I can quite understand it. It would have been better for you, perhaps for myself, I had died long ago.’
‘Well, that is another thing; but in the meantime, I assure you, Rachel, you are disposed to be very impertinent.’
‘Very impertinent; yes, indeed, Stanley, and so I shall continue to be until ——’
‘Pray how does it concern you? I say it is no business on earth of yours.’
Stanley Lake was growing angry.
‘Yes, Stanley, it does concern me.’
‘That is false.’
‘True, true, Sir. Oh, Stanley, it is a load upon my conscience — a mountain — a mountain between me and my hopes. I can’t endure the misery26 to which you would consign27 me; you shall do it — immediately, too’ (she stamped wildly as she said it), ‘and if you hesitate, Stanley, I shall be compelled to speak, though the thought of it makes me almost mad with terror.’
‘What is he to do, Rachel?’ said Dorcas, standing28 near the door.
It was a very awkward pause. The splendid young bride was the only person on the stage who looked very much as usual. Stanley turned his pale glare of fury from Rachel to Dorcas, and Dorcas said again,
‘What is it, Rachel, darling?’
Rachel, with a bright blush on her cheeks, stepped quickly up to her, put her arms about her neck and kissed her, and over her shoulder she cried to her brother —
‘Tell her, Stanley.’
And so she quickly left the room and was gone.
‘Well, Dorkie, love, what’s the matter?’ said Stanley sharply, at last breaking the silence.
‘I really don’t know — you, perhaps, can tell,’ answered she coldly.
‘You have frightened Rachel out of the room, for one thing,’ answered he with a sneer29.
‘I simply asked her what she urged you to do — I think I have a claim to know. It is strange so reasonable a question from a wife should scare your sister from the room.’
‘I don’t quite see that — for my part, I don’t think anything strange in a woman. Rachel has been talking the rankest nonsense, in the most unreasonable30 temper conceivable; and because she can’t persuade me to accept her views of what is Christian31 and sensible, she threatens to go mad — I think that is her phrase.’
‘I don’t think Rachel is a fool,’ said Dorcas, quietly, her eye still upon Stanley.
‘Neither do I— when she pleases to exert her good sense — but she can, when she pleases, both talk and act like a fool.’
‘And pray, what does she want you to do, Stanley?’
‘The merest nonsense.’
‘But what is it?’
‘I really can hardly undertake to say I very well understand it myself, and I have half-a-dozen letters to write; and really if I were to stay here and try to explain, I very much doubt whether I could. Why don’t you ask her? If she has any clear ideas on the subject I don’t see why she should not tell you. For my part, I doubt if she understands herself — I certainly don’t.’
Dorcas smiled bitterly.
‘Mystery already — mystery from the first. I am to know nothing of your secrets. You confer and consult in my house — you debate and decide upon matters most nearly concerning, for aught I know, my interests and my happiness — certainly deeply affecting you, and therefore which I have a right to know; and my entering the room is the signal for silence — a guilty silence — for departure and for equivocation32. Stanley, you are isolating33 me. Beware — I may entrench34 myself in that isolation35. You are choosing your confidant, and excluding me; rest assured you shall have no confidence of mine while you do so.’
Stanley Lake looked at her with a gaze at once peevish36 and inquisitive37.
‘You take a wonderfully serious view of Rachel’s nonsense.’
‘I do.’
‘Certainly, you women have a marvellous talent for making mountains of molehills — you and Radie are adepts38 in the art. Never was a poor devil so lectured about nothing as I between you. Come now, Dorkie, be a good girl — you must not look so vexed39.’
‘I’m not vexed.’
‘What then?’
‘I’m only thinking.’
She said this with the same bitter smile. Stanley Lake looked for a moment disposed to break into one of his furies, but instead he only laughed his unpleasant laugh.
‘Well, I’m thinking too, and I find it quite possible to be vexed at the same time. I assure you, Dorcas, I really am busy; and it is too bad to have one’s time wasted in solemn lectures about stuff and nonsense. Do make Rachel explain herself, if she can — I have no objection, I assure you; but I must be permitted to decline undertaking40 to interpret that oracle.’ And so saying, Stanley Lake glided41 into the library and shut the door with an angry clap.
Dorcas did not deign42 to look after him. She had heard his farewell address, looking from the window at the towering and sombre clumps43 of her ancestral trees — pale, proud, with perhaps a peculiar44 gleam of resentment45 — or malignity46 — in her exquisite47 features.
So she stood, looking forth48 on her noble possessions — on terraces —‘long rows of urns’— noble timber — all seen in slanting49 sunlight and long shadows — and seeing nothing but the great word FOOL! in letters of flame in the air before her.
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1
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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2
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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3
acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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4
farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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5
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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6
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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7
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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8
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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9
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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10
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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11
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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12
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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13
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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14
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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15
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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16
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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17
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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18
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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19
wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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20
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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21
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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22
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23
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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24
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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25
postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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26
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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27
consign
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| vt.寄售（货品），托运，交托，委托 | |
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28
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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29
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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30
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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31
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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32
equivocation
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| n.模棱两可的话，含糊话 | |
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33
isolating
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| adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析 | |
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34
entrench
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| v.使根深蒂固；n.壕沟；防御设施 | |
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35
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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36
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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37
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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38
adepts
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| n.专家，能手( adept的名词复数 ) | |
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39
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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40
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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41
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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42
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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43
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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44
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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45
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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46
malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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47
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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48
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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49
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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