Josephine wrestled1 long and terribly with nature in that old oak-tree. But who can so struggle forever? Anguish2, remorse3, horror,despair, and love wrenched4 her to and fro; and O mysterious humanheart! gleams of a mad fitful joy shot through her, coming quick aslightning, going as quickly, and leaving the despair darker. Andthen the fierce struggle of the soul to make itself heard! Morethan once she had to close her mouth with her hand: more than onceshe seized her throat not to cry out. But as the struggle endured,she got weaker and weaker, and nature mightier5 and mightier. Andwhen the wounded hero fell on his knees so close to her; when he whohad resisted death so bravely for her, prepared to give up lifecalmly for her, her bosom6 rose beyond all control: it seemed to fillto choking, then to split wide open and give the struggling soulpassage in one gasping7 sob8 and heart-stricken cry. Could she havepent this in she must have died.
It betrayed her. She felt it had: so then came the woman'sinstinct--flight: the coward's impulse--flight: the chaste9 wife'sinspiration--flight. She rushed from her hiding-place and madewildly for the house.
But, unluckily, Camille was at that moment darting10 round the tree:
she ran right into the danger she meant to flee. He caught her inhis arms. He held her irresistibly11. "I have got her; I have gother," he shouted in wild triumph. "No! I will not let you go. Nonebut God shall ever take you from me, and he has spared you to me.
You are not dead: you have kept faith as I have: you have lived.
See! look at me. I am alive, I am well, I am happy. I told Rosethat I suffered. If I had suffered I should remember it. It is allgone at sight of you, my love! my love! Oh, my Josephine! my love!"His arm was firm round her waist. His glowing eyes poured love uponher. She felt his beating heart.
All that passed in her then, what mortal can say? She seemed twowomen: that part of her which could not get away from his strong armlost all strength to resist, it yielded and thrilled under hisembrace, her bosom heaving madly: all that was free writhed12 awayfrom him; her face was averted13 with a glare of terror, and both herhands put up between his eyes and it.
"You turn away your head. Rose, she turns away. Speak for me.
Scold her; for I don't know how to scold her. No answer fromeither; oh, what has turned your hearts against me so?""Camille," cried Rose--the tears streaming down her cheeks--"my poorCamille! leave Beaurepaire. Oh, leave it at once."Returned towards her with a look of inquiry14.
At that Josephine, like some feeble but nimble wild creature on whoma grasp has relaxed, writhed away from him and got free: "Farewell!
Farewell!" she cried, in despair's own voice, and made swiftly forthe house.
Camille stood aghast, and did not follow her.
Now ere she had gone many steps who should meet her right in frontbut Jacintha.
"Madame Raynal, the baroness's carriage is just in sight. I thoughtyou'd like to know." Then she bawled15 proudly to Rose, "I was thefirst to call her madame;" and off went Jacintha convinced she haddone something very clever.
This blow turned those three to stone.
Josephine had no longer the power or the wish to fly. "Better so,"she thought, and she stood cowering16.
The great passions that had spoken so loud were struck dumb, and adeep silence fell upon the place. Madame Raynal's quivering eyeturned slowly and askant towards Camille, but stopped in terror ereit could see him. For she knew by this fearful stillness that thetruth was creeping on Camille. And so did Rose.
At last Camille spoke17 one word in a low whisper.
"Madame?"Dead silence.
"White? both in white?"Rose came between him and Josephine, and sobbed18 out, "Camille, itwas our doing. We drove her to it. O sir, look how afraid of youshe is. Do not reproach her, if you are a man."He waved her out of his way as if she had been some idle feather,and almost staggered up to Josephine.
"It is for you to speak, my betrothed19: are you married?"The poor creature, true to her nature, was thinking more of him thanherself. Even in her despair it flashed across her, "If he knewall, he too would be wretched for life. If I let him think ill ofme he may be happy one day." She cowered20 the picture of sorrow andtongue-tied guilt21.
"Are you a wife?""Yes."He winced22 and quivered as if a bullet had pierced him.
"This is how I came to be suspected; she I loved was false.""Yes, Camille.""No, no!" cried Rose; "don't believe HER: she never suspected you.
We have brought her to this, we alone.""Be silent, Rose! oh, be silent!" gasped23 Josephine.
"I lived for you: I would have died for you; you could not even waitfor me."A low moan, but not a word of excuse.
"What can I do for you now?""Forget me, Camille," said she despairingly, doggedly24.
"Forget you? never, never! there is but one thing I can do to showyou how I loved you: I will forgive you, and begone. Whither shallI go? whither shall I go now?""Camile, your words stab her.""Let none speak but I," said Camille; "none but I have the right tospeak. Poor weak angel that loved yet could not wait: I forgiveyou. Be happy, if you can; I bid you be hap-py."The quiet, despairing tones died away, and with them life seemed toend to her, and hope to go out. He turned his back quickly on her.
He cried hoarsely25, "To the army! Back to the army, and a soldier'sgrave!" Then with a prodigious26 effort he drew himself haughtily27 upin marching attitude. He took three strides, erect28 and fiery29 andbold.
At the next something seemed to snap asunder30 in the great heart, andthe worn body that heart had held up so long, rolled like a dead logupon the ground with a tremendous fall.
收听单词发音 |
1
wrestled
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| v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤 | |
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2
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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3
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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4
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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7
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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8
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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11
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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12
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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13
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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14
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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15
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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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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18
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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21
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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22
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
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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24
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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25
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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26
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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27
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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28
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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29
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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30
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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