ANOTHER SHADE OF THE PICTURE
WHILE the earth of Potter's Field is closing over all that remains1 of Anna Bonard, Maria McArthur may be seen, snatching a moment of rest, as it were, seated under the shade of a tree on the Battery, musing2, as is her wont3. The ships sail by cheerily, there is a touching4 beauty about the landscape before her, all nature seems glad. Even the heavens smile serenely5; and a genial6 warmth breathes through the soft air. "Truly the Allwise," she says within herself, "will be my protector, and is chastising7 me while consecrating8 something to my good. Mr. Keepum has made my father's release the condition of my ruin. But he is but flesh and blood, and I--no, I am not yet a slave! The virtue9 of the poor, truly, doth hang by tender threads; but I am resolved to die struggling to preserve it." And a light, as of some future joy, rises up in her fancy, and gives her new strength.
The German family have removed from the house in which she occupies a room, and in its place are come two women of doubtful character. Still, necessity compels her to remain in it; for though it is a means resorted to by Keepum to effect his purpose, she cannot remove without being followed, and harassed10 by him. Strong in the consciousness of her own purity, and doubly incensed11 at the proof of what extremes the designer will condescend12 to, she nerves herself for the struggle she sees before her. True, she was under the same roof with them; she was subjected to many inconveniencies by their presence; but not all their flattering inducements could change her resolution. Nevertheless, the resolution of a helpless female does not protect her from the insults of heartless men. She returns home to find that Mother Rumor14, with her thousand tongues, is circulating all kinds of evil reports about her. It is even asserted that she has become an abandoned woman, and is the occupant of a house of doubtful repute. And this, instead of enlisting15 the sympathies of some kind heart, rather increases the prejudice and coldness of those upon whom she has depended for work. It is seldom the story of suffering innocence16 finds listeners. The sufferer is too frequently required to qualify in crime, before she becomes an object of sympathy.
She returns, one day, some work just finished for one of our high old families, the lady of which makes it a boast that she is always engaged in "laudable pursuits of a humane17 kind." The lady sends her servant to the door with the pittance18 due, and begs to say she is sorry to hear of the life Miss McArthur is leading, and requests she will not show herself at the house again. Mortified19 in her feelings, Maria begs an interview; but the servant soon returns an answer that her Missus cannot descend13 to anything of the kind. Our high old families despise working people, and wall themselves up against the poor, whose virtue they regard as an exceedingly cheap commodity. Our high old families choose rather to charge guilt20, and deny the right to prove innocence.
With the four shillings, Maria, weeping, turns from the door, procures21 some bread and coffee, and wends her way to the old prison. But the chords of her resolution are shaken, the cold repulse22 has gone like poison to her heart. The ray of joy that was lighting23 up her future, seems passing away; whilst fainter and fainter comes the hope of once more greeting her lover. She sees vice24 pampered25 by the rich, and poor virtue begging at their doors. She sees a price set upon her own ruin; she sees men in high places waiting with eager passion the moment when the thread of her resolution will give out. The cloud of her night does, indeed, seem darkening again.
But she gains the prison, and falters26 as she enters the cell where the old Antiquary, his brow furrowed27 deep of age, sleeps calmly upon his cot. Near his hand, which he has raised over his head, lays a letter, with the envelope broken. Maria's quick eye flashes over the superscription, and recognizes in it the hand of Tom Swiggs. A transport of joy fills her bosom28 with emotions she has no power to constrain29. She trembles from head to foot; fancies mingled30 with joys and fears crowd rapidly upon her thoughts. She grasps it with feelings frantic31 of joy, and holds it in her shaking hand; the shock has nigh overcome her. The hope in which she has so long found comfort and strength-that has so long buoyed32 her up, and carried her safely through trials, has truly been her beacon33 light. "Truly," she says within herself, "the dawn of my morning is brightening now." She opens the envelope, and finds a letter enclosed to her. "Oh! yes, yes, yes! it is him-it is from him!" she stammers34, in the exuberance35 of her wild joy. And now the words, "You are richer than me," flash through her thoughts with revealed significance.
Maria grasps the old man's hand. He starts and wakes, as if unconscious of his situation, then fixes his eyes upon her with a steady, vacant gaze. Then, with childlike fervor36, he presses her hand to his lips, and kisses it. "It was a pleasant dream--ah! yes, I was dreaming all things went so well!" Again a change comes over his countenance37, and he glances round the room, with a wild and confused look. "Am I yet in prison?-well, it was only a dream. If death were like dreaming, I would crave38 it to take me to its peace, that my mind might no longer be harassed with the troubles of this life. Ah! there, there!"--(the old man starts suddenly, as if a thought has flashed upon him)--" there is the letter, and from poor Tom, too! I only broke the envelope. I have not opened it."
"It is safe, father; I have it," resumes Maria, holding it before him, unopened, as the words tremble upon her lips. One moment she fears it may convey bad news, and in the next she is overjoyed with the hope that it brings tidings of the safety and return of him for whose welfare she breathed many a prayer. Pale and agitated39, she hesitates a moment, then proceeds to open it.
"Father, father! heaven has shielded me-heaven has shielded me! Ha! ha! ha! yes, yes, yes! He is safe! he is safe!" And she breaks out into one wild exclamation40 of joy, presses the letter to her lips, and kisses it, and moistens it with her tears. "It was all a plot-a dark plot set for my ruin!" she mutters, and sinks back, overcome with her emotions. The old man fondles her to his bosom, his white beard flowing over her suffused41 cheeks, and his tears mingling42 with hers. And here she remains, until the anguish43 of her joy runs out, and her mind resumes its wonted calm.
Having broken the spell, she reads the letter to the enraptured44 old man. Tom has arrived in New York; explains the cause of his long absence; speaks of several letters he has transmitted by post, (which she never received;) and his readiness to proceed to Charleston, by steamer, in a few days. His letter is warm with love and constancy; he recurs45 to old associations; he recounts his remembrance of the many kindnesses he received at the hands of her father, when homeless; of the care, to which he owes his reform, bestowed46 upon him by herself, and his burning anxiety to clasp her to his bosom.
A second thought flashes upon her fevered brain. Am I not the subject of slander47! Am I not contaminated by associations? Has not society sought to clothe me with shame? Truth bends before falsehood, and virtue withers48 under the rust49 of slandering50 tongues. Again a storm rises up before her, and she feels the poisoned arrow piercing deep into her heart. Am I not living under the very roof that will confirm the slanders51 of mine enemies? she asks herself. And the answer rings back in confirmation52 upon her too sensitive ears, and fastens itself in her feelings like a reptile53 with deadly fangs54. No; she is not yet free from her enemies. They have the power of falsifying her to her lover. The thought fills her bosom with sad emotions. Strong in the consciousness of her virtue, she feels how weak she is in the walks of the worldly. Her persecutors are guilty, but being all-powerful may seek in still further damaging her character, a means of shielding themselves from merited retribution. It is the natural expedient55 of bad men in power to fasten crime upon the weak they have injured.
Only a few days have to elapse, then, and Maria will be face to face with him in whom her fondest hopes have found refuge; but even in those few days it will be our duty to show how much injury may be inflicted56 upon the weak by the powerful.
The old Antiquary observes the change that has come so suddenly over Maria's feelings, but his entreaties57 fail to elicit58 the cause. Shall she return to the house made doubtful by its frail59 occupants; or shall she crave the jailer's permission to let her remain and share her father's cell? Ah! solicitude60 for her father settles the question. The alternative may increase his apprehensions61, and with them his sufferings. Night comes on; she kisses him, bids him a fond adieu, and with an aching heart returns to the house that has brought so much scandal upon her.
On reaching the door she finds the house turned into a bivouac of revelry; her own chamber62 is invaded, and young men and women are making night jubilant over Champagne63 and cigars. Mr. Keepum and the Hon. Mr. Snivel are prominent among the carousers; and both are hectic64 of dissipation. Shall she flee back to the prison? Shall she go cast herself at the mercy of the keeper? As she is about following the thought with the act, she is seized rudely by the arms, dragged into the scene of carousal65, and made the object of coarse jokes. One insists that she must come forward and drink; another holds an effervescing66 glass to her lips; a third says he regards her modesty67 out of place, and demands that she drown it with mellowing68 drinks. The almost helpless girl shrieks69, and struggles to free herself from the grasp of her enemies. Mr. Snivel, thinking it highly improper70 that such cries go free, catches her in his arms, and places his hand over her mouth. "Caught among queer birds at last," he says, throwing an insidious71 wink72 at Keepum. "Will flock together, eh?"
As if suddenly invested with herculean strength, Maria hurls73 the ruffian from her, and lays him prostrate74 on the floor. In his fall the table is overset, and bottles, decanters and sundry75 cut glass accompaniments, are spread in a confused mass on the floor. Suddenly Mr. Keepum extinguishes the lights. This is the signal for a scene of uproar76 and confusion we leave the reader to picture in his imagination. The cry of "murder" is followed quickly by the cry of "watch, watch!" and when the guardmen appear, which they are not long in doing, it is seen that the very chivalric77 gentlemen have taken themselves off-left, as a prey78 for the guard, only Maria and three frail females.
Cries, entreaties, and explanations, are all useless with such men as our guard is composed of. Her clothes are torn, and she is found rioting in disreputable company. The sergeant79 of the guard says, "Being thus disagreeably caught, she must abide80 the penalty. It may teach you how to model your morals," he adds; and straightway, at midnight, she is dragged to the guard-house, and in spite of her entreaties, locked up in a cell with the outcast women. "Will you not hear me? will you not allow an innocent woman to speak in her own behalf? Do, I beg, I beseech81, I implore82 you-listen but for a minute-render me justice, and save me from this last step of shame and disgrace," she appeals to the sergeant, as the cell door closes upon her.
Mr. Sergeant Stubble, for such is his name, shakes his head in doubt. "Always just so," he says, with a shrug83 of the shoulders: "every one's innocent what comes here 'specially84 women of your sort. The worst rioters 'come the greatest sentimentalists, and repents85 most when they gets locked up-does! You'll find it a righteous place for reflection, in there." Mr. Sergeant Stubble shuts the door, and smothers86 her cries.
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1
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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chastising
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| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的现在分词 ) | |
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consecrating
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| v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的现在分词 )；奉献 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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15
enlisting
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| v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的现在分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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16
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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18
pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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procures
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的第三人称单数 )；拉皮条 | |
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22
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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23
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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24
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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falters
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的第三人称单数 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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27
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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constrain
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| vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制 | |
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30
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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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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32
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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stammers
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| n.口吃，结巴( stammer的名词复数 )v.结巴地说出( stammer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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37
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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38
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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39
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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40
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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41
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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43
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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44
enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
recurs
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| 再发生，复发( recur的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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48
withers
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| 马肩隆 | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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50
slandering
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| [法]口头诽谤行为 | |
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51
slanders
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| 诽谤，诋毁( slander的名词复数 ) | |
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52
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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53
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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54
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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55
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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56
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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58
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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59
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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60
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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61
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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63
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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64
hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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65
carousal
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| n.喧闹的酒会 | |
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66
effervescing
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| v.冒气泡，起泡沫( effervesce的现在分词 ) | |
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67
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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mellowing
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| 软化，醇化 | |
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69
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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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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71
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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72
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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73
hurls
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的第三人称单数 )；大声叫骂 | |
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74
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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76
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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77
chivalric
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| 有武士气概的，有武士风范的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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79
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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80
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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81
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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82
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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83
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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84
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
参考例句： |
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85
repents
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
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86
smothers
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的第三人称单数 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
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