Each time he passed the low open window of the inn parlour, in which sat Mr. Stafford by the dim yellow light of two long-tongued tallow candles, the baronet would pause a moment to exchange from without a few dismal3 words with his friend. The latter, puffing4 at a long clay pipe, endeavoured in the intervals5 to while away the heavy minutes in the perusal6 of some tome out of mine host's library—a unique collection and celebrated7 on the Bath Road.
"Tom Stafford," said Sir Jasper, for the twentieth time, "how goes the hour?"
"Damned slowly, friend," said Stafford, consulting with a yawn the most exact of three watches at his fob. "To be precise, 'tis two minutes and one third since I told you that it wanted a quarter of midnight."
Sir Jasper fell once more to his ursine8 perambulation, and Stafford, yawning again, flicked9 over a page. He had not reached the bottom of it, however, before Sir Jasper's form returned between him and the moonlight.
"What," said the injured husband, "what if they should have taken another road?"
"Then," cried Stafford, closing his book with a snap between both his palms, tossing it on to the table and stretching himself desperately10, "I shall only have to fight you myself for this most insufferably dull evening that you have made me spend, when I was due at more than one rendezvous11, and had promised pretty Bellairs the first minuet."
"It shall be pistols," said Sir Jasper, following his own thoughts with a sort of gloomy lust12, "pistols, Tom. For either he or I shall breathe our last to-night."
"Pistols with all my heart," said Stafford, stopping his pipe with his little finger. "Only do, like a good fellow, make up your mind—just for the sake of variety. I think the last time we considered the matter, we had decided13 for this"—describing a neat thrust at Sir Jasper's waistcoat through the window with the long stem of his churchwarden. "There's more blood about it, Jasper," he suggested critically.
"True," murmured the other, again all indecision. "But pistols at five paces——."
"Well—yes, there's a charm about five paces, I admit," returned the second with some weariness, dropping back again into his chair. "And we can reload, you know."
"If I fall," said Sir Jasper, with the emotion which generally overtakes a man who contemplates14 a tragic15 contingency16 to himself, "be gentle with her. She has sinned, but she was very dear to me."
"She'll make a deuced elegant widow," said Stafford, musingly17, after a little pause, during which he had conjured18 up Lady Standish's especial points with the judgment19 of a true connoisseur20.
"You must conduct her back to her home," gulped21 Sir Jasper, a minute later, slowly thrusting in his head again. "Alack, would that I had never fetched her thence.... Had you but seen her, when I wooed and won her, Tom! A country flower, all innocence22, a wild rose.... And now, deceitful, double-faced!"
"'Tis the way of the wild rose," said Stafford, philosophically23. "Let you but transplant it from the native hedgerow, and before next season it grows double."
Here the speaker, who was always ready with a generous appreciation24 of his own conceits25, threw his head back and laughed consumedly, while Sir Jasper uttered some sounds between a growl26 and a groan27.
The volatile28 second in waiting wiped his eyes.
"Go to, man," cried he, turning with sudden irascibility upon his friend, "for pity's sake take that lugubrious29 countenance30 of thine out of my sight. What the devil I ever saw in thee, Jasper, to make a friend of, passes my comprehension: for, of all things, I love a fellow with a spark of wit. And thou, lad, lackest the saving grace of humour so wofully, that, in truth, I fear—well—thou art in a parlous31 state: I fear damnation waits thee, for 'tis incurable32. What! in God's name cannot a man lose a throw in the game of happiness and yet laugh? Cannot a husbandman detect a poacher on his land and yet laugh as he sets the gin? Why," cried Mr. Stafford, warming to his thesis, and clambering lightly out of the window to seat himself on the outer sill, "strike me ugly! shall not a gentleman be ever ready to meet his fate with a smile? I vow33 I've never yet seen Death's head grin at me, but I've given him the grin back—split me!"
"Hark—hark!" cried Sir Jasper, pricking34 his strained ear, "d'ye hear?"
"Pooh!" said Mr. Stafford, "only the wind in the tree."
"Nay," cried Sir Jasper; "hush35 man, listen!"
An unmistakable rumbling36 grew upon the still night air—a confused medley37 of sounds which gradually unravelled38 themselves upon their listening ears. It was the rhythmical39 striking of many hoofs40, the roll of wheels, the crack of a merciless whip.
"Faith and faith," cried Stafford, pleasantly exhilarated, "I believe you're right, Jasper; here they come!"
The moonlight swam blood-red before Sir Jasper's flaming eye. "Pistols or swords?" questioned he again of himself, and grasped his hilt as the nearest relief, pending41 the decisive moment.
Out slouched a couple of sleepy ostlers, as Master Lawrence, mine host, rang the stable bell.
Betty, the maid, threw a couple of logs on the fire, while the dame42 in the bar, waking from her snooze, demanded the kettle, selected some lemons, and ordered candlesticks and dips with reckless prodigality43.
*****
Mistress Kitty, peering out of the carriage window, her shoulder still turned upon the unhappy and unforgiven swain, hailed the twinkling lights of the Bear Inn with lively eyes.
While the chaise described an irreproachable44 curve round the yard, her quick glance had embraced every element of the scene. Sir Jasper's bulky figure, with folded arms, was leaning against the post of the inn door, awaiting her approach—retribution personified—capriciously illumined by the orange rays of the landlord's lantern. Out in the moonlight, shining in his pearl gray satin and powdered head, all silver from crest45 to shoe-buckle, like the prince of fairy lore46, sat Stafford on his window-ledge, as gallant47 a picture to a woman's eye, the widow had time to think, as one could wish to see on such a night.
"Oh," she thought, "how we are going to enjoy ourselves at last!"
And being too true an artist to consider her mere48 personal convenience upon a question of effect, she resolved to defer49 the crisis until the ripe moment, no matter at what cost. Accordingly, even as O'Hara cried out, in tones of surprise and disgust: "Thunder and turf! my darling, if there isn't now that blethering ox, Sir Jasper!" Mistress Kitty instantly covered her face with her lace and swooned away on the Irishman's breast.
Sir Jasper charged the coach door. "Blethering ox!" he bellowed50. "I'll teach you, sir, what I am! I'll teach that woman—I'll, I'll——"
Here Stafford sprang lightly to the rescue.
"For Heaven's sake," said he, "think of our names as gentlemen; let it be swords or pistols, Jasper, or swords and pistols, if you like, but not fistycuffs and collaring. Be quiet, Jasper! And you, sir," said he to O'Hara, as sternly as he could for the tripping of his laughter, "having done your best to add that to a gentleman's head which shall make his hats sit awry51 for the remainder of his days, do you think it generous to give his condition so precise a name?"
"O hush," cried O'Hara, in too deep distress52 to pay attention either to abuse or banter53, "give me room, gentlemen, for God's sake. Don't you see the lady has fainted?"
With infinite precaution and tenderness he emerged from the chay with his burden, elbowing from his path on one side the curious and officious landlord, on the other the struggling husband.
"Oh, what have I done at all!" cried the distracted lover, as the inertness54 of the weight in his arms began to fill him with apprehension55 for his dear. "Sure, alanna, there's nothing to be afraid of! Sure, am I not here? Och, me darling, if——"
But here Sir Jasper escaped from his friend's control. "I'll not stand it," cried he. "'Tis more than flesh and blood can endure. Give her up to me, sir. How dare you hold her?" He fell upon O'Hara in the rear and seized him, throttling56, round the neck.
"I'll dare you in a minute, ye mad divil!" yelled O'Hara, in a fury no whit1 less violent than that of his assailant. Thus cried he, then choked.
In the scuffle they had reached the parlour.
"Oh, Jasper, Jasper, in the name of decency57!" protested Stafford, vainly endeavouring to pluck the baronet from the Irishman's back. "And you, Denis lad, I entreat58 of you, cease to provoke him. Zooks, my boy, remember he has some prior claim—what shall I say? some little vested interest——"
"I'll stuff him with his own red hair!" asseverated59 Sir Jasper, foaming60 at the mouth as, under a savage61 push from O'Hara's elbow he fell back, staggering, into Stafford's power.
"Prior claims—vested interest is it! Some of you will have to swallow those words before I'll be got to swallow anything here," swore Denis O'Hara, almost gaily62, in the exaltation of his Celtic rage. "Sure, 'tis mad, I know ye are, lepping mad, Sir Jasper, but ought you not to be ashamed of yourself before the lady? She's quivering with the fright.... Lie here, my angel," said he, vibrating from the loudest note of defiance63 to the tenderest cooing. "Lie here; there's not a ha'porth to frighten ye, were there fifty such twopenny old crazy weathercocks crowing at you!"
So saying, he deposited his burthen tenderly in the leather-winged arm-chair by the fire-place, and turned with a buoyant step towards Sir Jasper.
"Come out," said he, "come out, sir. Sure, leave him alone, Tom, 'tis the only way to quiet him at all. Sure, after our little game the other night, wasn't he that dove-like, poor fellow, a child might have milked him?"
The quivering form in the chair here emitted a scale of hysterical64 little notes that seemed wrung65 from her by the most irrepressible emotion. And:
"Oh, oh," exclaimed Mr. Stafford, unable, in the midst of his laughter, to retain any further grip upon his friend.
"My darling," once more began the solicitous66 O'Hara, turning his head round towards the arm-chair, but:
"Judas!" hissed67 Sir Jasper, and furiously interposed his bulk between the Irishman and his intention.
"Faith," cried Stafford, "can't you cover that head of yours, somehow, O'Hara? I vow the very sight of it is still the red rag to the bull.... The bull, aha!"
"Ha! ha! ha!" broke in, this time uncontrolled, the merriment from the chair.
The three men were struck into silence and immobility.
Then, on tip toe, Mr. Stafford approached and peeped round the wing of the arm-chair. He looked, and seemed blasted with astonishment68; looked again and made the rafters ring with his sonorous69 laugh, till the apprehensive70 landlord in the passage and the trembling dame in the bar were comforted and reassured71 by the genial72 sound.
The high feminine trill of Mistress Kitty's musical mirth rang in sweetly with his.
"Oh, Kitty Bellairs, Kitty Bellairs!" gasped73 Mr. Stafford, shook his finger at her, felt blindly for a support, and rolled up against Sir Jasper.
The baronet straightway fell into an opportunely74 adjacent chair and there remained—his legs extended with compass stiffness, his eyes starting with truly bovine75 bewilderment—staring at the rosy76 visage, the plump little figure, that now emerged from the inglenook.
"Oh dear, oh dear!" faintly murmured Stafford. And with a fresh breath he was off again. "Aha ha ha! for an ox, my Jasper, thou hast started on a lovely wild goose chase—as friend O'Hara might say." While:
"Mercy on us!" rippled77 the lady. "I protest, 'tis the drollest scene. Oh, Sir Jasper, Sir Jasper, see what jealousy78 may bring a man to!"
"Musha, it's neither head nor tail I can make of the game," said O'Hara, "but sure it's like an angel choir79 to hear you laugh again, me darling."
The guileless gentleman approached his mistress as he spoke80, and prepared to encircle her waist. But with a sudden sharpness she whisked herself from his touch.
"Pray, sir," she said, "remember how we stand to each other! If I laugh 'tis with relief to know myself safe."
"Safe?" he echoed with sudden awful misgiving81.
"Aye," said she, and spoke more tartly82 for the remorseful83 smiting84 of her own heart, as she marked the change in his face. "You would seem to forget, sir, that you have carried me off by violence—treacherously seized me with your hired ruffians." Her voice grew ever shriller, as certain rumours85, which her expectant ears had already caught approaching, now grew quite unmistakable without, and hasty steps resounded86 in the passage. "Oh, Mr. O'Hara, you have cruelly used me!" cried the lady. "Oh, Sir Jasper, oh, Mr. Stafford, from what a fate has your most unexpected presence here to-night thus opportunely saved me!"
At this point she looked up and gave a scream of most intense astonishment: for there, in the doorway87, stood my Lord Verney; and, over his shoulder, peered the white face of Captain Spicer, all puckered88 up with curiosity.
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1
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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ursine
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| adj.似熊的，熊的 | |
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flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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contemplates
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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conceits
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| 高傲( conceit的名词复数 )； 自以为； 巧妙的词语； 别出心裁的比喻 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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parlous
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| adj.危险的，不确定的，难对付的 | |
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incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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medley
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| n.混合 | |
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unravelled
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| 解开，拆散，散开( unravel的过去式和过去分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚 | |
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rhythmical
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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lore
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| n.传说；学问，经验，知识 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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inertness
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| n.不活泼，没有生气；惰性；惯量 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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throttling
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| v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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asseverated
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| v.郑重声明，断言( asseverate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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72
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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73
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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74
opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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75
bovine
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| adj.牛的；n.牛 | |
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76
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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77
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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79
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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80
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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81
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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82
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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83
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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84
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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85
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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86
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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87
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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88
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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