Bittra Campion sat in the large drawing-room, with the high, broad windows, that looked over a dun, brown moorland, to where the sea-line threw its clear curve athwart the sky. She was working quietly at some little garment for a poor peasant girl or half-clad boy in the mountains; but over her gentle and usually placid24 face stole a look of apprehension25, as if a shadow of coming evil was thrown forward by the undefined future. Yet why should she fear, who hated no one, but poured her love abroad upon all? Ah, why? is it not upon the gentle and the kind that the hailstones of destiny beat oftenest, as if they felt that here, and not upon the rugged26 and the stern, their pitiless strength should succeed? From time to time, Bittra looked to the door, or paused in her work, to listen for a footstep. At last it came,—her father's heavy step, as he strode across the corridor, and the doors slammed behind him.
"Agreed, father," she said eagerly, "I want a pound rather badly just now."
"Some new idiot discovered in the hills," he said, "or some disreputable tramp with a good imagination. You shall have it, Bittra," he said, coming over, and gently stroking her hair. He looked down fondly upon her, and said, suddenly changing his voice:—
She rose to meet his wishes, and as her tall, beautiful figure passed from the room, he said to himself:—
"God, how like her mother!"
A long, low island, with the plumes29 of palms crowning the hill; and beneath, the white waves creeping up the coral crests30 to mingle31 with the lazy waters of the lagoon32. A cottage, shaded with palms, close down by the beach, with magnolias clustering round the windows, and orchids33 far back in the moist shades, and creeping vines tangled34 in and out amongst the palms, and a strong sun, going down in an orange and crimson35 sky, and a cool, welcome breeze from the sea, that just lifts up the fans of the palms, and a stray curl on the forehead of a girl—for she was hardly more than a girl—who sat out on the tiny lawn, and at her feet the young naval36 officer, who had carried off his bride at the last season at the Castle and brought her here under southern skies, and believed that this was the world—and heaven. His ship lay at anchor on the eastern side; and here they were stationed for weeks, it may be for months, away from civilization and all its nuisances, and alone with Nature and the children of Nature, who came by degrees to love at least the gentle lady who was so kind to them and their brown babies. Alas37 for human happiness! One short year, and he was a widower38, with the charge of a little babe.
"It was a bitter fate," he said to himself, "and I called her 'Bittra' in my rage. I must change that name."
He started, for the door opened and Bittra came in, immediately followed by the servant with tea.
"We've got a new neighbor, mignonne," he said, as he broke up his toast, "and must call immediately. Can you guess?"
"Neither can I," he said, laughing. "But I have got mysterious hints that indicate a neighbor."
Then, after a long pause, she said, as if communing with herself:—
"I don't like new acquaintances. They are pretty certain to be troublesome. Can't we live for one another, father?"
"Gladly, my child," he said, darkly, "but what can you do? Life is warp42 and woof. It must be held together somehow. And the woof is what we call society."
"Father," she said timidly, "there will be a station at the glen in the morning. Might I ask the priests to breakfast here?"
"By all means," he replied, "it will be better than a dejeuner in a room with two beds, and a squalling baby, with the bread taken from the blankets, and the butter from the top of the dresser."
"Ah, no, pap, 't is never so bad as that. They do their best, poor things—"
"All right," he cried. "Bring up their reverences43. There are two or three sole brought up from the yacht."
It was rather a remarkable45 station, that at Glencarn, although we did not accept Miss Campion's invitation. I was rather apprehensive46 of the effect these country stations would have on my fastidious curate; and I narrowly watched him, as we left our car on the hills, and strode through soft yellow mud and dripping heather to some mountain cabin. And I think there was a little kindly47 malice48 in my thoughts when I allowed him enter first, and plunge49 into the night of smoke that generally filled these huts. Then the saying of Mass on a deal table, with a horse collar overhead, and a huge collie dog beneath, and hens making frantic50 attempts to get on the altar-cloth,—I smiled to myself, and was quite impatient to know what effect all these primitive51 surroundings would have on such refinement52 and daintiness. "He'll never stand it," I thought, "he'll pitch up the whole thing, and go back to England." As usual, I was quite wrong. Where I anticipated disgust, there were almost tears of delight and sympathy; where I expected indignation, I found enthusiasm.
"There's nothing like it in the world," he used say (this was a favorite expression of his); "such faith, such reverence44, such kindly courtesy! Why, no empress could do the honors of the table like that poor woman! Did you notice her solicitude53, her eagerness, her sensitiveness lest she should be intruding54 on our society. But those men in that smoky kitchen,—it took me a long time to discern their faces in the gloom of the smoke. And then I'd have given half that I have ever learned to be able to paint them,—strong, brave mountaineers, their faces ruddy from sun and wind; and such a reverential attitude! And then the idea of their coming over to me, a young lad like themselves, and kneeling down on the cobblestones, and whispering their little story,—there in the presence of their comrades; and the little maidens55 with their sweet, pure faces hidden under the hoods57 of their shawls, and the eyes of wondering children, and the old men, bending over the fire,—why you ought to be the happiest man on the face of the earth,—they are a people to die for!"
Well, this morning at Glencarn we had a scene; and, as an easy, good-tempered old man, I hate scenes, and keep away from them. The morning was sullenly58 wet,—not in fierce, autumnal gusts59, but there was a steady persistent60 downpour of soft, sweet rain, that bathed your face like a sponge, and trickled61 under your coat collar, and soaked your frieze62 and waterproof63, and made you feel flabby and warm and uncomfortable. We did not see the cabin until we were quite close to it; and when we entered, the first person we saw, kneeling on the mud floor, but the kindness of the people had placed a bag under her knees, was Bittra Campion. She was wrapped round about with a waterproof cloak, the hood56 of which, lined with blue, covered her head, and only left her face visible. There she knelt among the simple people; and if the saint of the day appeared in bodily form, I am not sure that he would have received more reverence than was poured around that gentle figure from the full hearts that beat silently near her. I was not much surprised, for I had seen Miss Campion at stations before; but Father Letheby started back in astonishment64, and looked inquiringly at me. I took no notice, but passed into the little bedroom, and commenced hearing confessions65.
The tinkling66 of the little bell was the only indication I had of the progress of the Holy Sacrifice; and when I knew it was ended, and was studying some faded photographs of American friends over the rude mantelpiece, I heard, amid the profound silence, Father Letheby's voice suddenly raised in anger.
"Kneel down at once! Have you no respect for Him whom you have just received, and who is before you on the altar?"
The people had arisen the moment the last prayer was said. It grated on the feelings of the young priest, who, as I afterwards found, had the most intense reverence and devotion towards the Most Holy Sacrament. I waited for some minutes; then came out, and read the Station List, and returned to the little bedroom off the kitchen. Miss Campion came in, and proffered the hospitality of her home. We gladly declined. It would have pained our humble67 hosts to have turned our backs upon them; and I confess I was infinitely68 more at my ease there in that little bedroom with its mud floor and painted chairs, than in Captain Campion's dining-room. It is quite true, that James Casey cut the bread very thick, and drank his tea with a good deal of expression from his saucer. But these were slight drawbacks. The eggs were fresh and milky69, the cream delicious, the tea strong, the bread crispy, the butter sweet and golden; and the daughters of the house and the mother waited on us with a thoroughness and courtesy, that would have done credit to a court; and we talked on all subjects,—the weather, the harvest, the neighbors; and chaffed old Dan Downey—who was a great Biblical scholar—about the "Jeroakims," and asked him where a hare might be found on the mountains; but this was professional, so he stuffed his mouth with bread, and insured his statutory silence. Then the little children crept in shyly for bits of sugar; and the neighbors waited patiently till the clergy70 were served; and we left the house with our blessing71, and such gratitude72 as only an Irish priest can feel for his flock.
The same steady, persistent downpour of rain continued as we passed over the boulders73 of the torrent74, and made our way through slushy mud and dripping heather to where our horse was waiting. Father Letheby was slightly moody75.
At last, taking off his hat, and shaking down streams of water, he said:—
"That was a shocking thing this morning. You heard me speak angrily. Imagine those people standing76 up coolly, immediately after having received Holy Communion; and I have spoken to them so repeatedly about reverence."
"Did you notice where they were kneeling?" I said, not unkindly.
"No," I said, "but rough cobblestones, rather pointed78, like some allusions79 in our sermons. Do you know how long they were kneeling there?"
"During Mass," he said.
"No," I replied, "they knelt there during the confessions, and during Mass. I am not excusing them, but did you ever hear of the ancient penance80 of wearing peas in pilgrims' shoes? Some, I believe, and I think Erasmus is the authority, had the wisdom to boil those peas. But you cannot boil cobblestones. I never realized this part of our people's sufferings till a poor fellow one morning, whilst I sat comfortably by the fire, interrupted his confession to say:—
"For the love of God, your reverence, would you lave me put my cap under my knees?"
My curate laughed good-naturedly. We got out on the highroad at last; and as we jogged home in the soft, warm rain, I took the opportunity of giving a little advice. It is a little luxury I am rather fond of, like the kindred stimulant81 of a pinch of snuff; and as I have had but few luxuries in my life, no one ought grudge82 me this.
"My dear Father Letheby," I said, as we sat comfortably together, "the great principle of Irish life is quieta non movere. Because, when you lay a finger on the most harmless and impotent things, they spring at once into hissing83 and spitting things, like the Lernæan hydra84; and then, like that famous monster, you must cauterize85 the wound to heal, or prevent new hideous86 developments. You have, as yet, no idea of how many ways, all different and mutually antagonistic87, there are, of looking at things in Ireland. To your mind there seems but one,—one judgment88, and therefore one course of action. There are a hundred mirrors concentrated on the same object, and each catches its own shape and color from passion and interest. And each is quite honest in its own portraiture89, and each is prepared to fight for its own view to the bitter end."
"I beg your pardon, sir," my curate said, deferentially90, "I am following you with great attention. Do I understand you to say that each mirror is prepared to fight for its own view to the bitter end? I have seen something like that in a comic picture—"
"Of course," he said, "my stupidity. But I am a little bit of a purist in language."
Now, isn't this annoying? Poor Father Tom never interrupted me. He always used say: "Yes! yes! to be sure! to be sure!" or, "Ki bono? ki bono?" which grated horribly on my ears. I see I must be more careful; and I shall defer91 this lecture.
"Might I ask you to proceed, sir?" he said. "It is very interesting, indeed. You were talking about the pugnacity93 of mirrors."
"Never mind," I said, "you have a great deal to learn yet—with wrinkles and gray hairs. But if you want to keep these raven95 locks, now wet and dripping, intact, remember, quieta non movere! And if you want to keep your face, now smooth and ruddy, but, I regret to say, glistening96 with rain, free from wrinkles, remember, quieta non movere. Take now your frequent altar denunciations of local superstitions,—the eggs found in the garden, and the consequent sterility97 of the milk, the evil eye and the cattle dying, etc., etc.,—it will take more than altar denunciations, believe me,—it will take years of vigorous education to relegate98 these ideas into the limbo99 of exploded fantasies. And the people won't be comfortable without them. You take away the poetry, which is an essential element in the Gaelic character, and you make the people prosaic100 and critical, which is the worst thing possible for them. Thiggin-thu? But I beg your pardon. You are beyond all that."
"It sounds plausible," he said, getting down from the gig; "but it sounds also, pardon the expression, cowardly. However, we'll see!"
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1
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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imbibe
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| v.喝，饮；吸入，吸收 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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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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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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12
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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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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17
evicted
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| v.（依法从房屋里或土地上）驱逐，赶出( evict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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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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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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orchids
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| n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 ) | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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43
reverences
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| n.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的名词复数 )；敬礼 | |
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44
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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45
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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46
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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47
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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48
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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49
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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50
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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51
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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52
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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53
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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54
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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55
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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56
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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57
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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59
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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60
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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61
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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62
frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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63
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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64
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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65
confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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66
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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67
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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68
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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70
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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71
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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72
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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80
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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81
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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82
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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83
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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hydra
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| n.水螅；难于根除的祸患 | |
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85
cauterize
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| v.烧灼；腐蚀 | |
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86
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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88
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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portraiture
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| n.肖像画法 | |
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90
deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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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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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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pugnacity
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| n.好斗，好战 | |
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acidity
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| n.酸度，酸性 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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sterility
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| n.不生育，不结果，贫瘠，消毒，无菌 | |
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relegate
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| v.使降级，流放，移交，委任 | |
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limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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