Fortune may heap her favours on their heads.
But in their triumph of prosperity,
So Mrs. Belswin was delivered from her great peril9, and was taken home by Kaituna and her lover with great rejoicing. Maxwell, indeed, after hearing the story of this woman, had hesitated for a moment as to whether he ought to let her be with her daughter, seeing that she had forfeited10 her maternal11 rights by her own act, but when he hinted this to Kaituna she rebuked12 him with one sentence--
"She is my mother."
So Maxwell held his peace, and after Mrs. Belswin had been released from her position of ignominy and shame, he had escorted both mother and daughter to their lodgings13. There he left them, and at Mrs. Belswin's request, went to seek for Belk, and bring him there to receive the thanks of the woman he had saved. Having departed on his errand, Kaituna sat down beside her mother, in order to hear from her own lips the story of her sad life.
With many sobs14, Mrs. Belswin told the whole pitiful story of her sin, which had brought her to such a bitter repentance15, and, when she had ended, fell weeping at the feet of the daughter she feared now would despise her. Ah! she little knew the tenderness which the girl had cherished for her mother, and which she cherished for her even now, when the dead saint had changed into the living sinner. Pitifully--tenderly she raised her mother from her abject16 position of sorrow, and kissed away the bitter tears of shame and agony that fell down the hollow cheeks.
"Mother!" she said, clasping her arms round the poor woman's breast, "if you have sinned, you have also suffered. The one false step you made has brought its own punishment; but why did you not tell me all this before, and so have saved yourself this bitter agony?"
"Tell you before?" said her mother, sadly. "Child! child! what good would such a confession17 have done? You could not have helped me."
"No, dearest; but I could have loved you. I could have made your life less hard. Oh, mother! poor mother, how you must have suffered when I treated you as a stranger."
"I did suffer," replied Mrs. Belswin, in a low tone, "but not so much as you think, for even then you treated me more like a mother than as a companion."
"Yes, dear."
"Oh, blind! blind! how could I have been so blind as not to guess your secret. You betrayed yourself in a hundred ways, my poor mother, but I never saw it. But now--now that I know the truth, I see how blind I have been."
"Ah, Kaituna, if I had only known you would have received me like this, but I feared to tell you of my shame lest you should turn from me in scorn."
"Mother!"
"Oh, my sin! my sin!" wailed21 Mrs. Belswin, rocking herself to and fro, "how it has cursed my life--how it has turned the earth into a hell of repentance."
"Do not say another word, mother," cried Kaituna, wiping the tears from her mother's eyes; "the past is dead, we will speak of it no more; but the future----"
"Ah, my child, the future for you is bright; you will marry your lover, and have him by your side during the rest of your life, but I--Child, I must leave you."
"Leave me?"
"Yes! you know what I am! You know my sin, my folly22, my shame! I cannot look into your clear eyes, my child, for I have lost the right to be your mother. No, Kaituna, while you did not know me, and believed your mother to be a pure good woman, I stayed beside you, to love you and hear you talk of me as I once was; but now--now--ah, no! no! I dare not remain in your presence, I dare not kiss you, for my kisses would pollute your lips. I will go away--far away, and expiate23 my sin!"
"But, mother, you will not leave me?"
"It is for your good, child--it is for your good!"
"You shall not leave me!" said Kaituna, winding24 her arms round the elder woman's neck. "You have suffered enough for your sin, and for the rest of your days I will help you to forget the past. Archie thinks the same as I do. Come, mother, you will not leave me; promise to stay beside me for ever."
"I cannot promise," cried Mrs. Belswin, breaking away from the tender bonds that held her; "oh! what a paradox25 I am. When you did not know me I wished to stay. Now you know I am your wretched, guilty mother, I wish to fly. I must go! I must! Seek not to detain me, child. As ye sow so shall ye reap! The Bible, Kaituna! the Bible--let me go to my harvest."
Mrs. Belswin, with her savage26 nature maddened by the mental agonies she had undergone, had worked herself up into one of those uncontrollable fits of passion which made her so dangerous. She had found her child, and now she was going to leave her of her own free-will, because she could not bear to live with her own daughter, who knew how vile27 she was. With a cry of agony, unable to bear any more implorings from Kaituna, she flew to the door in order to escape; but her daughter, who was determined28 not to let the poor distraught creature go, perhaps to her death, sprang after her, and wrenching29 her away, flung herself back against the door with outstretched arms.
"No! no!" she cried, panting with excitement, "that way lies death. Oh, mother! mother! I know what you would do; but do not leave me. If you have any pity in your heart for the child you bore let me keep you ever at my side. Where would you go out into the darkness of London?--to the terrible stormy streets--to the river--ah! the river! is that what you think? No! no! mother! my own dear mother, you must not let me mourn your death twice."
The evening sun was shining through the windows, touching30 the furniture, the draperies, the mirrors, with soft gleams of light; and Kaituna, with her head thrown back, and her arms outstretched, stood against the door, while Mrs. Belswin, with a sudden cessation of her mad anguish31, stared vacantly at her daughter, and round the room.
Ah! what was that gleaming in the sunlight from behind a heavy purple curtain--steel--the barrel of a pistol; and it was pointed32 full at Kaituna, With a shriek33 of rage Mrs. Belswin, guessing the truth, sprang in front of her daughter to shield her from harm, and in another moment had fallen in a heap at the feet of the child she loved. There was no sound of a report, and Kaituna in a state of horrified34 amazement35, fell on her knees beside her mother. As she did so a man ran from behind the curtain, and wrenching open the door flung down a pistol and spoke rapidly--
"I wanted to kill you!" he said, with a snarl36, "to punish her; but she came between you and the pistol, so let her die as she deserves to, with my curses on her."
With a shriek Kaituna recognised him. It was Dombrain, and she sprang to her feet to seize him; but eluding37 her grasp he ran out of the door and down the stairs into the street. Kaituna could not follow him, as her limbs tottered38 under her; but she managed to drag herself back to her mother--the mother, alas39, who was dying.
The red blood was welling slowly from a wound in her breast, and a thick sluggish40 stream was stealing heavily along the polished floor. Lifting the dying woman's head on her lap the girl cried aloud for help upon which the servant came rushing in. She shrieked41 when she saw Mrs. Belswin lying unconscious in her blood, and ran out to call in aid--ran right into the arms of Maxwell, Belk and Ferrari, who were just entering.
"Help! help!" cried the servant, rushing past them, "a doctor--a doctor! She is dying."
"Kaituna!" exclaimed Archie with a sudden fear in his breast; and without a moment's pause the three men rushed into the room, where the girl was sitting with a look of agony on her pale face as she bent42 over the unconscious woman.
"Kaituna!--Mrs. Belswin!"
"It is my mother--my poor mother," cried Kaituna, in an agony of sorrow. "Have you caught him? Have you caught him?"
"Who?" shouted Maxwell and Belk, while Ferrari, in a paroxysm of grief, threw himself beside the body of the woman he loved.
"Dombrain!"
"Dombrain?"
"Yes! yes! he was here! he shot my mother with that pistol. He has just left the house."
"God!" cried Belk, starting, "he was the man we saw running down the street." And he was out of the room in pursuit without saying another word.
"A doctor! a doctor!" said Kaituna, imploringly43, "Oh, Archie! she will die, she will die!"
"Stella adora!" moaned the Italian, covering the cold white hand with kisses.
"A doctor will be here in a few minutes," said Maxwell, approaching the unconscious form of Mrs. Belswin; "the servant has gone for one. Ferrari, help me to place her on the sofa!"
But Ferrari could do nothing but tear his hair, and cry endearing words in Italian to the woman he loved; so Kaituna, pale as marble, but wonderfully brave, helped Archie to place Mrs. Belswin on the sofa. She was breathing heavily, and Maxwell, tearing open her dress, strove to staunch the blood with his handkerchief, while Ferrari remained on his knees, and Kaituna stood beside him with clasped hands.
"Good heavens, she will bleed to death!"
Just as Maxwell spoke, the doctor entered with the scared servant, and at once proceeded to examine the wound. Having done so he looked very grave, and Kaituna caught him by the arm with a cry of terror as he arose from his knees.
"She will live! she will live! Say she will live!"
"I'm afraid not, my dear young lady," said the doctor, gravely; "the bullet has gone right through the lungs."
"Do you think she will die, doctor?" asked Maxwell, in a tone of horror.
"Yes! I am sure of it!"
"Die!" cried the Italian, wildly, "no! no! Lucrezia--my beautiful Lucrezia--you must not die."
"Take that man away," said the doctor, sharply, "and get me some brandy."
Kaituna was the first to obey. The nerve of this girl was wonderful, and notwithstanding all the agonies she had come through, she gave no sign of fainting; and the terrible strain on her mind could only be told by the pallor of her face.
"My brave girl," said Archie, as he assisted her to get what the doctor required.
How slowly the hours passed in that room, where this poor woman was dying. Yes, dying; for although the doctor did all in his power to save her life, there was no hope that she would live through the night. She was still lying on the sofa, from which she was unable to be removed; and when she recovered consciousness, after the shock she had sustained, she opened her eyes to see Kaituna kneeling fondly by her side, and Maxwell, Belk, Ferrari, and the doctor, in the background. Belk had not been able to find the assassin, who was lost among the crowds that thronged45 the streets, so had returned in an agony of grief to see the woman he loved die before his eyes without being able to save her.
So strange the scene was in this little drawing-room, with the couch upon which rested the dying woman standing44 near the piano, the glitter of mirrors and ornaments46 in the dim candle-light, and the silent group standing round the one who was passing away. Outside the sunlight had died out of the sky, the purple twilight47 deepened to night, and the melancholy48 light of the moon streamed in through the windows, the blinds of which no one had troubled to pull down. In the passage crouched49 the servant, sobbing50 as if her heart would break; but Kaituna could not cry, she could only kneel there with tearless eyes, and a look of anguish on her white face watching her mother die.
"Kaituna," said Mrs. Belswin, faintly.
"I am here, dear mother!"
"You are not hurt?"
"No! No!"
"Thank God," said her mother, with a tone of joy in her weak voice. "I have paid the debt."
"With your life--with your life," moaned the girl, wringing51 her hands in despair. "Doctor, can you do nothing?"
"Nothing."
"I know I am dying," went on Mrs. Belswin in a stronger voice, having swallowed some restorative; "it is better so! Hush! hush! my poor child! God knows what is best. If I sinned against you in the past, He has permitted me to expiate that sin by saving you from death. Archie! take her, take my darling, and make her a good husband."
"As there is a God above, I will," said Maxwell, solemnly, taking the now weeping girl in his arms.
"My poor Stephano, is it you?"
"Ah, cara mia--cara mia," cried Ferrari, throwing himself on his knees beside the sofa. "Do not leave me--do not!"
"Alas, Stephano, it is not in my power! Weep! weep, poor heart! Your tears show me how much love I have lost--love that I did not deserve."
"And I?" said Belk, coming forward.
"You are a good man," said the dying woman, faintly, stretching out her hand. "You will find some one to love you better than I would have done."
"Never! Ah, never!"
"Believe me, what I say is true. Ah!" she cried, with a terrified look on her face. "Kaituna, my dearest!"
In a moment Kaituna was on her knees again, bending over her mother, with the hot tears falling from her eyes.
"Mother! mother! would you like to see a clergyman?"
"No, my darling no! I have sinned--I have sinned bitterly, but perhaps God in His mercy will accept the expiation52. Archie, be good to my little child. Oh, my little girl, whom I lost for so many weary, weary years, put your arms, your dear arms, round me, and let the outcast die on the bosom53 of her child!"
The murmuring noise from the street penetrated54 into the room; the dim light of the candles flickered55 and flared56 in the faint breath of the wind, and there was silence among all kneeling there, save for the sobs of Kaituna and the broken mutterings of the dying woman repeating a prayer.
"Our Father, which art in Heaven----Oh, my child, my child, will he forgive me--will He forgive me?"
"I'm sure He will, mother!"
"Half a savage, half civilised! Ah, if I had only been guided, I might have been a good woman; but we were both wrong, Rupert and---- Kaituna, my little child, I--I am leaving you! Oh, my baby--kiss me, my dearest--my little----"
Her head fell inertly57 on the encircling arm of the girl, and Kaituna knew by the terribly calm look on the placid58 face that not all her love--not all her money--not all her prayers, had availed to save from death this mother whom she had lost and found--this mother who had sinned and repented--this mother who had given her life to save that of her child.
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1
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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2
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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gapes
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的第三人称单数 )；张开，张大 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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10
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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12
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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14
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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15
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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18
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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19
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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20
spurn
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| v.拒绝，摈弃；n.轻视的拒绝；踢开 | |
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21
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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23
expiate
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| v.抵补，赎罪 | |
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24
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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paradox
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| n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物) | |
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26
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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27
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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30
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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36
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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eluding
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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38
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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39
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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40
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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41
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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44
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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45
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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47
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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48
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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49
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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51
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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52
expiation
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| n.赎罪，补偿 | |
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53
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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55
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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57
inertly
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| adv.不活泼地，无生气地 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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