"Are you quite alone?" asked Madame Lambert.
"Yes," replied Emilia. "My husband died poor, and left me very little. My intention is to seek a situation as governess."
"In England?"
"No, here in Switzerland. I shall be happier here. I have no friends in England, and my knowledge of the English language will perhaps enable me to obtain a situation more easily here than there."
"You will soon," said Madame Lambert, in a tone of kindly5 significance, "be compelled to rest a while. For a little time at least you will not be able to fill a situation as governess."
Emilia blushed and sighed. "I have thought of that," she said, "with fear and trembling."
"Because you are poor?" questioned Madame Lambert, speaking still with the utmost kindness.
"Yes," said Emilia, softly. Frankness was best under the circumstances.
"My dear," said Madame Lambert, "I am sure you are a lady."
"My father was a gentleman," said Emilia. "He fell into misfortune, and when he died I was penniless."
"And you married a penniless gentleman. Ah, how imprudent is youth! But I have been young myself, and have loved and lost. My dear, neither am I rich, but I have a life income which is sufficient. It dies with me, I regret to say. I have a reason for telling you this. Like yourself, I am alone in the world. I was born in Geneva, and when a course of travel, which my doctor recommended for my health, is over, shall return there to live. Will you travel with me as my friend and companion? I can offer you very little in the shape of salary, but it will be enough to provide you with clothes, and perhaps a little more. Then you will have a lady with you when your baby is born. What do you say?"
"What can I say," replied Emilia, in a voice of gratitude6 that completed the conquest she had began, "but thank you from my inmost heart for your kind offer? I can scarcely believe it real."
"It is real, my dear. Heaven is very good, and sends us friends when we least expect them. I am sure we shall get along very well together. You accept, then?"
"I accept with gratitude." She raised the hand of the kind lady to her lips, and her tears bedewed it. "Yes, God is very good to me. I will prove worthy7 of your kindness. You shall never repent8 it."
"If thought otherwise I should not press it upon you, my dear. You will really be rendering9 me a greater service than it is in my power to render to you. It is miserable10 to travel alone, without a kindred soul to talk to and confide11 in. So it is settled. We shall be true friends."
From that day Madame Lambert and Emilia travelled together, not as mistress and companion, but as friends, until the time arrived when Madame Lambert saw that it was imperative12 that Emilia should remain for a few weeks quiet and free from the fatigues13 of a wandering life. Thus faith and goodness were rewarded.
In a picturesque14 and retired15 village Emilia's baby, a girl, was born, and baptized in the name of Constance, Madame Lambert's christian16 name. Sweet and profound was the happiness with which the young mother's heart was filled when she held her baby to her breast. A sacred joy was hers, in which she found a holy consolation17 for the troubles through which she had passed. Madame Lambert was delighted, and drew from the mother and child a newborn pleasure. She never tired of showing them kindness; had they been of her own blood she could scarcely have been more considerate and thoughtful. She called Constance "our child," and was as nervous over the little one's trials as Emilia herself. In such sympathetic companionship, and with such a sweet treasure as she now possessed18, Emilia could only be happy. She never dwelt with sorrow upon the past. With rare wisdom she destroyed the bridge behind her, and buried the memories which had threatened to utterly19 wreck20 and ruin her life. Constance was a child of love, not of shame. Emilia's pure soul exonerated21 her from self-reproach, and shame could never be her portion now that there was no link, except the loving link of a baby's hands, between the past and the future. Wherever she turned she met looks of kindness; no longer was she avoided and repulsed22. The world once more was sweet, and bright, and beautiful, and when she prayed to our Father in Heaven it was in the happy consciousness that He knew her to be a pure and innocent woman.
"Baby, baby, baby!" she whispered to the child in her "You have restored me to life, to joy, to happiness. Oh, my baby, my baby! Can I ever be sufficiently23 grateful to you? Dear Lord in Heaven, give me strength and wisdom to guide her aright, to keep her from pitfalls24, to see her grow in purity and innocence25 to a happy womanhood! Do not take her from me. Let her remain with me as a shield and protector. Through her I see goodness and light. Oh, my angel, my angel!"
She wiped her happy tears away, and sang and crooned and worshipped as only a good mother can. Ah, the little fingers, the childish prattle26, the pattering of little feet, what would the world be without them? Religion would be dead, and faith a mockery not to be indulged in without a sneering27 devil creeping close to lay its icy hands upon hearts in which sweet thoughts are harbored. Flowers of the human garden, let us be humbly28 grateful for the light they shed upon the dark spaces which at one time or other every mortal has to tread. In the midst of the gloom which surrounds us shines a star illumining a fair face and a head with flowing curls. In the midst of the stillness by which we are encompassed29 steals a musical voice, with its divine melody of childish laughter. What is that light in the distance? A bright cloud shining on a little bed, by the side of which kneels a small form clad in white. The pretty hands are clasped, and from the lovely lips issue the words, "Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name!"
It was impossible that Emilia could forget Gerald, but her thoughts of him were ever gentle and kind and forgiving. "You see our child, dear Gerald"--thus ran her thoughts--"watch over her. I forgive you for the wrong you committed. Do not trouble and sorrow over it. It is done and gone, and only sweetness remains30. You have given me a flower which makes my heart a garden of love. God bless you, dear Gerald!" So from the bitterest woe31 in which a human being could be plunged32 uprose a heavenly light.
"We must not spoil our child," said Madame Lambert.
"We cannot spoil her," said Emilia. "Is she not beautiful?"
"The loveliest baby that ever drew breath, my dear. You happy woman! If I were as young as you are I should be jealous of you."
The good lady was amazed at the new beauty which now dwelt in Emilia's face. The young mother was transfigured. A holy radiance shed its light upon her. Madame Lambert found herself presently worshipping the mother almost as much as she worshipped the child.
"If you were my own daughter, my dear," she said, "I could not love you more."
"You are the best woman in the world," responded Emilia. "Heaven guided my feet when it led me to you."
"Now it is time," said Madame Lambert, "to think of returning to Geneva. There is our baby's education to be attended to."
"Yes," said Emilia, gravely. "She must be taught everything that is good."
And baby was only four months old! But mothers let their thoughts run ahead.
They did not, however, return at once to Madame Lambert's home. They lingered for two or three months in the valleys and mountains, and gathered garlands and posies for their child, which they pressed and preserved as though they were jewels of inestimable value. And, indeed, there are no jewels to compare with memories so sweet and pure. At length the happy rambles33 were over, and they were in Geneva.
"Welcome home," said Madame Lambert.
Her apartments, in a good position in the city, consisted of five rooms and a kitchen. Two of these rooms Madame Lambert gave to Emilia, one a sitting-room34, the other a bedroom for her and the baby. During Madame Lambert's absence the apartments had been taken care of by an old servant, who acted as cook and general domestic, to whom Madame Lambert had sent certain written instructions. When Madame Lambert said to Emilia, "Welcome, home," she conducted Emilia to the rooms set apart for her, and the young mother's eyes overflowed35 as they fell upon the flowers which welcomed her and at the other evidences of a loving friendship which the thoughtfulness of Madame Lambert had provided.
"How good you are to me!" she murmured.
"We are going to be very happy here," said Madame Lambert.
"I should be undeserving, indeed," said Emilia, kissing her kind friend and putting the baby into her arms, "if I were not happy with you."
Madame Lambert was well known in Geneva, and had many friends there, to all of whom she introduced Emilia. It was through these introductions that Emilia was enabled to obtain employment as a governess, which occupied her four or five hours a day, and her sweetness and gentleness soon made her loved by all who knew her. In this way passed five happy years, and then a calamity36 occurred. Madame Lambert fell ill, and the doctors said that she could not recover. When this verdict was imparted to Madame Lambert, she received it with resignation.
"I have only one regret, my dear," she said to Emilia, "that I must say farewell to you and our child. But my spirit will be with you always."
"Dear friend, dear friend!" murmured Emilia.
"It's a great comfort to me to know," said the dying woman, "that you are well established here, and can get a living. You are so much loved that I have no fears of your future. I am truly sorry that I cannot leave you and our Constance a fortune. There is a little money, very little, but it will be useful; and in my will I have left the furniture of our home to you. Then I have been clever enough to pay the rent in advance for the next three years, so that you will be able to put by a little more. God bless you, my dear; you have brightened the last years of an old woman's life."
In a voice choked with emotion Emilia thanked and blessed the good lady, who smiled and fondled her hand. She saw little Constance frequently, but she would not allow the child to be saddened by keeping her too long in the room of a dying woman.
"Childhood should be bright," she said. "I want our child to remember me in my cheerful moods."
"She will remember and pray for you all her life," sobbed37 Emilia, "as I shall, dearest and best of friends."
The end came a little after midnight.
"Do you think," she whispered, with a pause between each word, "that you could let me kiss our dear child without awaking her?"
"I will bring her," said Emilia.
"Kiss me first, dear," said the dying lady.
Emilia kissed her, and lay a few moments with her face nestling to that of her friend. Then she went and brought the child in her arms. Constance was asleep. Emilia had lifted her very lightly from her bed, and now she laid her by Madame Lambert's side, and covered her with a warm shawl. The child's fragrant38 breath flowed upon the dying lady's face.
"Our little angel is the sweetest flower the world contains," murmured Madame Lambert. "Good-by, sweet one. Heaven guard and protect you!"
She closed her eyes, and did not open them again. And so the good soul passed away, with the child's breath fanning her face.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sketched
|
|
| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
confide
|
|
| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
imperative
|
|
| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
fatigues
|
|
| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
exonerated
|
|
| v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
repulsed
|
|
| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pitfalls
|
|
| （捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
prattle
|
|
| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
sneering
|
|
| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
encompassed
|
|
| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rambles
|
|
| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sitting-room
|
|
| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
overflowed
|
|
| 溢出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
calamity
|
|
| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |