In regard to the signing of the fraudulent will, he had shown himself a little more scrupulous10; his habit of intoxication11 had not yet accomplished12 its evil work of obliterating13 all sense of right, and every consideration of honor. At the first broaching14 of the subject, he had indignantly refused to listen to it for a moment. Later on—having apparently15 gotten some new lights on the question in the meantime—he had quietly suffered his objections to give way, one after another, to the doctor's arguments and bribes16; to the great satisfaction of the latter, who found his task, on the whole, easier than he had expected.
Yet he might have felt some misgivings17, if he had followed Dick out of the house, immediately after the signing of the will, and heard the low, satisfied chuckle19 with which he tumbled into his superannuated20 chaise, and started his horse on a jog-trot toward Berganton. The potent21 draught22 just swallowed had as yet taken effect only in quickening his sense of the humorous, and putting him on excellent terms with his own self-conceit. His eyes twinkled with amusement, too intense to be denied the occasional vent23 of a loud burst of laughter, or an appropriate string of proverbs.
"Wer dem Spide zusicht, kann's am besten, my dear Doctor Remy," he muttered; "or, in other words, the looker-on sees more of the game than the player. What would you give to know what I know, I wonder! Just wait till the right time comes; then you'll find out that 'He is worst cheated, who cheats himself.'"
A mile further on, his potations beginning to make themselves felt, he suddenly broke out, with a tipsy laugh and leer;—"'Man kan ei drage haardt med brudet Reb,' mine excellent doctor,—you cannot haul hard with a broken rope! Ha! ha!"
And, although his shamefaced flight from Bergan's presence, on the second day, may seem to indicate that he was not quite certain of the uprightness of all his acts and motives24, no sooner was he fairly on the road to Berganton than he began to chuckle again.
Bergan, meanwhile, was questioning within himself whether he ought not to make known Unwick's story to Major Bergan. He hesitated only because he foresaw that the information might possibly be set down to his self-interest, rather than his desire to serve his uncle. Nevertheless, it did not take him long to decide that he must do what he knew to be the right thing, regardless of consequences. Nor was it certain that his uncle would misconstrue his motives:—not long since, he had received an intimation from Rue25 that he was sure to meet with a cordial reception whenever he could make it convenient to visit Berganton; the Major's anger having so completely wasted away under the double attrition of time and favorable report,—not to mention her own steady influence in his behalf,—that he had lately expressed a wish to see him. There was really no good reason, therefore, why he should hesitate to present himself at the Hall, except that the whole neighborhood was certain to bristle26 with unpleasant recollections. However, he must face them some time, and as well now as ever.
Still, as nightfall was at hand, and he knew of no reason for hurry, he thought it expedient27 to postpone28 the visit till the morrow. He would ride over to the Hall, he thought, betimes in the morning. Having made his arrangements accordingly, and committed his office to Hubert's care, he retired29 early, and soon forgot the fatigues30 and excitements of the day in a profound sleep.
He had not slept long, however, before he woke from a dream—wherein Doctor Remy figured as an iconoclast31, overthrowing32 and demolishing33 the ancient gods of Bergan Hall—to the consciousness that some one was knocking loudly at his door.
"Who is there?" he called.
"It's me, Massa Harry34," responded a voice, with the unmistakable negro intonation35; but, nevertheless, a voice too much disconnected with the present to meet with immediate18 recognition from his but half-awakened faculties36.
"Who is 'me'?" he demanded again.
"You's own boy Brick, Massa Harry," was the reply.
With an instant intuition of evil, Bergan sprang out of bed, and opened the door. "What is the matter?" he asked.
"Oh, Massa Harry! ole massa's dyin'," replied Brick; "an' gramma Rue, she sent me for you to come right off'; she say,—'Tell him to ride fast, dere's not a minit to lose.' An' I'se brought Vic 'long for you; an' while you's a-dressin', I'll jes' go an' give her a drink, an' rub her down a lilly bit, so she'll be right smart and fresh when you's ready to start."
It was one o'clock in the morning when Bergan saw the great dusky pile of the Hall, and the dark masses of the live oaks, rise before him, in the pale light of the waning37 moon. He knew that its master lay within. Brick had narrated38 how Rue had ordered and superintended his removal thither39, in one of his moments of comparative quiet and exhaustion;—the old woman being of the opinion that it was not fitting for him to die otherwhere than under the ancestral roof, in the same room where one after another of his forefathers40 had likewise laid down the burden of the flesh, and begun the new life of the spirit. To this room, Bergan was easily guided by his groans41 and cries.
Never before had he seen a man in the terrible grasp of delirium42 tremens; and now, after a brief look, he was glad to turn away his eyes.
Major Bergan was on the bed, but he was only held there by the main strength of two stout43 negroes. A frightful44 spasm45 contorted his face and twisted his limbs. Great drops of perspiration46 stood on his brow; and from his mouth flowed a mingled47 stream of oaths, curses, shrieks48 of horror, threats of defiance49, and groans of agony. His bodily anguish50 was only less than his mental torture. His eyes started from his head at the phantom-creations of his delirious51 imagination. The furniture was alive, watching him with fiery52 eyes, and threatening him with envenomed teeth and claws; the shadows took mocking shapes and gibed53 and jeered54 at him; and the pictures were demons55 setting them all on. The very hairs of his head turned to slimy snakes, and the bed-clothes were now damp winding-sheets, and now devouring56 flames.
"Have you had a doctor?" asked Bergan of Rue, who had met him at the door.
"Yes; Doctor Remy has been here twice; he left not much more than half an hour ago. He said he had a critical case on hand, that must be seen to; and there was nothing to be done here, except what we could do as well as he."
"What are you doing?"
"Giving him soup to keep up his strength, and opium57 to quiet him. A few minutes ago, too, in a lucid58 moment, he called for some powders that he has been in the habit of taking, which, he said, always did him more good than anything else. There were only two left; we gave him one, as he was so bent59 on having it; I thought if it did no good, it couldn't do any harm."
"Did Doctor Remy say that he would call again?"
"He did, but, Master Bergan, a blind woman's ears are quick at catching60 meanings as well as words, and he did not mean to come very soon,—not, I reckon, till all is over."
Bergan meditated61. Though he had long known that his uncle's habits would be likely to bring him, sooner or later, to a drunkard's most miserable62 end, he could not but think it somewhat suspicious that the seizure63 should have followed so closely upon the completion of the fraudulent will.
"When was my uncle taken?" he asked.
"Early this evening. He had been drinking a good deal for two or three days past; he said he did not feel well, and he would keep at the brandy bottle, in spite of all that I could say to him. About ten o'clock this morning, Doctor Remy came in to see him, and I suspect, told him something that made him angry,—for I heard him swearing furiously to himself, after the doctor had gone. And then, probably, he fell to drinking worse than ever; but it was not until about four o'clock that I heard him groaning64 and crying out, and he has kept it up a good part of the time ever since. But now, I think, he seems to be getting a little easier."
Bergan turned to the bed. The spasm was over, and the Major lay exhausted65, with his eyes closed. Opening them, they immediately brightened with a look of recognition.
"Is that you, Harry?" he asked, feebly.
"Yes, uncle," replied Bergan, taking his hand; "Rue sent for me, and I came at once. I am sorry to see you so ill."
"I think you are, my boy, I think you are," responded Major Bergan; "you look like it, and besides, a Bergan never lies. And I'm sorry, too,—all the more, because I suspect that it's my own fault. If ever you learn to drink—and I don't feel quite so sure that it's necessary as I did once—don't drink too hard, Harry, don't drink too hard! If ever I get over this bout9, I swear I'll think twice, hereafter, before I drink once. And if I don't, I'm glad you're here, Harry, boy; it's well for the new master to be on before the old one is off."
"I hope that you will live to carry your good resolutions into effect," said Bergan earnestly.
"Do you? Well, so do I."
He lay quiet for a moment, busy with his own thoughts. All at once he started up, exclaiming;—
"Fire and fury! what's that?"
The negroes caught hold of him, expecting a fresh convulsion of the same nature as the preceding ones; but, though his face was frightfully distorted, and his form writhed66 with pain, there was no accompaniment of phantasmal horrors.
"Brandy!" he finally gasped67, through his set teeth.
Rue motioned to one of the women in waiting to bring some. Bergan put his hand on her arm. "Surely you will not give it to him now," said he, impressively.
"The doctor said he must have a little, now and then," she answered.
But before the glass could be put to his lips, he groaned68, shuddered69 from head to foot, and fell back on the pillow, with his eyes rolled up in his head, his hands clenched70, and a dark froth issuing from, between his shut teeth. He was dead.
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1
transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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2
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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3
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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6
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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8
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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10
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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11
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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12
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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13
obliterating
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| v.除去( obliterate的现在分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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14
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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15
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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bribes
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| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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17
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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18
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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20
superannuated
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| adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学 | |
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21
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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22
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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23
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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24
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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25
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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26
bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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27
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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28
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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30
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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31
iconoclast
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| n.反对崇拜偶像者 | |
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32
overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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33
demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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34
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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35
intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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36
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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37
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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38
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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40
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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41
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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42
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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44
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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45
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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46
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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47
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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48
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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50
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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51
delirious
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| adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的 | |
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52
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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53
gibed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄( gibe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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56
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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57
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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58
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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59
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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60
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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61
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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62
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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63
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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64
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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65
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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66
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
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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68
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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69
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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70
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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