All night under blossom and star;
The wild swan is dying without it,
And the eagle crieth afar;
The sun, he doth mount but to find it
Searching the green earth o'er;
But more doth a man's heart mind it—
O more, more, more!
—G.E. Woodberry.
Shirley Claiborne was dressed for a ride, and while waiting for her horse she re-read her brother's letter; and the postscript1, which follows, she read twice:
"I shall never live down my acquaintance with the delectable2 Armitage. My brother officers insist on rubbing it in. I even hear, ma chérie, that you have gone into retreat by reason of the exposure. I'll admit, for your consolation3, that he really took me in; and, further, I really wonder who the devil he is,—or was! Our last interview at the Club, after Chauvenet told his story, lingers with me disagreeably. I was naturally pretty hot to find him playing the darkly mysterious, which never did go with me,—after eating my bird and drinking my bottle. As a precaution I have looked up Chauvenet to the best of my ability. At the Austro-Hungarian Embassy they speak well of him. He's over here to collect the price of a few cruisers or some such rubbish from one of our sister republics below the Gulf5. But bad luck to all foreigners! Me for America every time!"
* * * * *
"Dear old Dick!" and she dropped the letter into a drawer and went out into the sunshine, mounted her horse and turned toward the hills.
She had spent the intermediate seasons of the year at Storm Springs ever since she could remember, and had climbed the surrounding hills and dipped into the valleys with a boy's zest6 and freedom. The Virginia mountains were linked in her mind to the dreams of her youth, to her earliest hopes and aspirations7, and to the books she had read, and she galloped9 happily out of the valley to the tune10 of an old ballad11. She rode as a woman should, astride her horse and not madly clinging to it in the preposterous12 ancient fashion. She had known horses from early years, in which she had tumbled from her pony's back in the stable-yard, and she knew how to train a horse to a gait and how to master a beast's fear; and even some of the tricks of the troopers in the Fort Myer drill she had surreptitiously practised in the meadow back of the Claiborne stable.
It was on Tuesday that John Armitage had appeared before her in the pergola. It was now Thursday afternoon, and Chauvenet had been to see her twice since, and she had met him the night before at a dance at one of the cottages.
Judge Claiborne was distinguished13 for his acute and sinewy14 mind; but he had, too, a strong feeling for art in all its expressions, and it was his gift of imagination,—the ability to forecast the enemy's strategy and then strike his weakest point,—that had made him a great lawyer and diplomat15. Shirley had played chess with her father until she had learned to see around corners as he did, and she liked a problem, a test of wit, a contest of powers. She knew how to wait and ponder in silence, and therein lay the joy of the saddle, when she could ride alone with no groom17 to bother her, and watch enchantments18 unfold on the hilltops.
Once free of the settlement she rode far and fast, until she was quite beyond the usual routes of the Springs excursionists; then in mountain byways she enjoyed the luxury of leisure and dismounted now and then to delight in the green of the laurel and question the rhododendrons.
Jules Chauvenet had scoured19 the hills all day and explored many mountain paths and inquired cautiously of the natives. The telegraph operator at the Storm Springs inn was a woman, and the despatch20 and receipt by Jules Chauvenet of long messages, many of them in cipher21, piqued22 her curiosity. No member of the Washington diplomatic circle who came to the Springs,—not even the shrewd and secretive Russian Ambassador,—received longer or more cryptic23 cables. With the social diversions of the Springs and the necessity for making a show of having some legitimate24 business in America, Jules Chauvenet was pretty well occupied; and now the presence of John Armitage in Virginia added to his burdens.
He was tired and perplexed25, and it was with unaffected pleasure that he rode out of an obscure hill-path into a bit of open wood overhanging a curious defile26 and came upon Shirley Claiborne.
The soil was soft and his horse carried him quite near before she heard him. A broad sheet of water flashed down the farther side of the narrow pass, sending up a pretty spurt27 of spray wherever it struck the jutting28 rock. As Shirley turned toward him he urged his horse over the springy turf.
"A pity to disturb the picture, Miss Claiborne! A thousand pardons! But I really wished to see whether the figure could come out of the canvas. Now that I have dared to make the test, pray do not send me away."
Her horse turned restlessly and brought her face to face with Chauvenet.
"Steady, Fanny! Don't come near her, please—" this last to Chauvenet, who had leaped down and put out his hand to her horse's bridle29. She had the true horsewoman's pride in caring for herself and her eyes flashed angrily for a moment at Chauvenet's proffered30 aid. A man might open a door for her or pick up her handkerchief, but to touch her horse was an altogether different business. The pretty, graceful31 mare32 was calm in a moment and arched her neck contentedly33 under the stroke of Shirley's hand.
"Beautiful! The picture is even more perfect, Mademoiselle!"
"Fanny is best in action, and splendid when she runs away. She hasn't run away to-day, but I think she is likely to before I get home."
She was thinking of the long ride which she had no intention of taking in
Chauvenet's company. He stood uncovered beside her, holding his horse.
"But the danger, Mademoiselle! You should not hazard your life with a runaway34 horse on these roads. It is not fair to your friends."
"You are a conservative, Monsieur. I should be ashamed to have a runaway in a city park, but what does one come to the country for?"
"What, indeed, but for excitement? You are not of those tame young women across the sea who come out into the world from a convent, frightened at all they see and whisper 'Yes, Sister,' 'No, Sister,' to everything they hear."
"Yes; we Americans are deficient35 in shyness and humility36. I have often heard it remarked, Monsieur Chauvenet."
"No! No! You misunderstand! Those deficiencies, as you term them, are delightful37; they are what give the charm to the American woman. I hope you would not believe me capable of speaking in disparagement38, Mademoiselle,—you must know—"
The water tumbled down the rock into the vale; the soft air was sweet with the scent39 of pines. An eagle cruised high against the blue overhead. Shirley's hand tightened40 on the rein16, and Fanny lifted her head expectantly.
Chauvenet went on rapidly in French:
"You must know why I am here—why I have crossed the sea to seek you in your own home. I have loved you, Mademoiselle, from the moment I first saw you in Florence. Here, with only the mountains, the sky, the wood, I must speak. You must hear—you must believe, that I love you! I offer you my life, my poor attainments—"
"Monsieur, you do me a great honor, but I can not listen. What you ask is impossible, quite impossible. But, Monsieur—"
Her eyes had fallen upon a thicket41 behind him where something had stirred. She thought at first that it was an animal of some sort; but she saw now quite distinctly a man's shabby felt hat that rose slowly until the bearded face of its wearer was disclosed.
"Monsieur!" cried Shirley in a low tone; "look behind you and be careful what you say or do. Leave the man to me."
Chauvenet turned and faced a scowling42 mountaineer who held a rifle and drew it to his shoulder as Chauvenet threw out his arms, dropped them to his thighs43 and laughed carelessly.
"What is it, my dear fellow—my watch—my purse—my horse?" he said in
English.
"He wants none of those things," said Shirley, urging her horse a few steps toward the man. "The mountain people are not robbers. What can we do for you?" she asked pleasantly.
"You cain't do nothin' for me," drawled the man. "Go on away, Miss. I want to see this little fella'. I got a little business with him."
"He is a foreigner—he knows little of our language. You will do best to let me stay," said Shirley.
She had not the remotest idea of what the man wanted, but she had known the mountain folk from childhood and well understood that familiarity with their ways and tact45 were necessary in dealing46 with them.
"Miss, I have seen you befo', and I reckon we ain't got no cause for trouble with you; but this little fella' ain't no business up hy'eh. Them hotel people has their own places to ride and drive, and it's all right for you, Miss; but what's yo' frien' ridin' the hills for at night? He's lookin' for some un', and I reckon as how that some un' air me!"
He spoke47 drawlingly with a lazy good humor in his tones, and Shirley's wits took advantage of his deliberation to consider the situation from several points of view. Chauvenet stood looking from Shirley to the man and back again. He was by no means a coward, and he did not in the least relish48 the thought of owing his safety to a woman. But the confidence with which Shirley addressed the man, and her apparent familiarity with the peculiarities49 of the mountaineers impressed him. He spoke to her rapidly in French.
"Assure the man that I never heard of him before in my life—that the idea of seeking him never occurred to me."
The rifle—a repeater of the newest type—went to the man's shoulder in a flash and the blue barrel pointed50 at Chauvenet's head.
"None o' that! I reckon the American language air good enough for these 'ere negotiations51."
"The gentleman was merely explaining that you are mistaken; that he does not know you and never heard of you before, and that he has not been looking for you in the mountains or anywhere else."
As Shirley spoke these words very slowly and distinctly she questioned for the first time Chauvenet's position. Perhaps, after all, the mountaineer had a real cause of grievance55. It seemed wholly unlikely, but while she listened to the man's reply she weighed the matter judicially56. They were in an unfrequented part of the mountains, which cottagers and hotel guests rarely explored. The mountaineer was saying:
"Mountain folks air slow, and we don't know much, but a stranger don't ride through these hills more than once for the scenery; the second time he's got to tell why; and the third time—well, Miss, you kin4 tell the little fella' that there ain't no third time."
Chauvenet flushed and he ejaculated hotly:
"I have never been here before in my life."
The man dropped the rifle into his arm without taking his eyes from
Chauvenet. He said succinctly57, but still with his drawl:
Chauvenet took a step forward, looked again into the rifle barrel, and stopped short. Fanny, bored by the prolonged interview, bent58 her neck and nibbled59 at a weed.
"This gentleman has been in America only a few weeks; you are certainly mistaken, friend," said Shirley boldly. Then the color flashed into her face, as an explanation of the mountaineer's interest in a stranger riding the hills occurred to her.
"My friend," she said, "I am Miss Claiborne. You may know my father's house down in the valley. We have been coming here as far back as I can remember."
The mountaineer listened to her gravely, and at her last words he unconsciously nodded his head. Shirley, seeing that he was interested, seized her advantage.
"I have no reason for misleading you. This gentleman is not a revenue man. He probably never heard of a—still, do you call it?—in his life—" and she smiled upon him sweetly. "But if you will let him go I promise to satisfy you entirely60 in the matter."
Chauvenet started to speak, but Shirley arrested him with a gesture, and spoke again to the mountaineer in her most engaging tone:
"We are both mountaineers, you and I, and we don't want any of our people to be carried off to jail. Isn't that so? Now let this gentleman ride away, and I shall stay here until I have quite assured you that you are mistaken about him."
She signaled Chauvenet to mount, holding the mystified and reluctant mountaineer with her eyes. Her heart was thumping61 fast and her hand shook a little as she tightened her grasp on the rein. She addressed Chauvenet in English as a mark of good faith to their captor.
"Ride on, Monsieur; do not wait for me."
"But it is growing dark—I can not leave you alone, Mademoiselle. You have rendered me a great service, when it is I who should have extricated62 you—"
"Pray do not mention it! It is a mere54 chance that I am able to help. I shall be perfectly63 safe with this gentleman."
The mountaineer took off his hat.
"Thank ye, Miss," he said; and then to Chauvenet: "Get out!"
"Don't trouble about me in the least, Monsieur Chauvenet," and Shirley affirmed the last word with a nod as Chauvenet jumped into his saddle and rode off. When the swift gallop8 of his horse had carried him out of sight and sound down the road, Shirley faced the mountaineer.
"What is your name?"
"Tom Selfridge."
"Whom did you take that man to be, Mr. Selfridge?" asked Shirley, and in her eagerness she bent down above the mountaineer's bared tangle64 of tow.
"The name you called him ain't it. It's a queer name I never heerd tell on befo'—it's—it's like the a'my—"
"Is it Armitage?" asked Shirley quickly.
"That's it, Miss! The postmaster over at Lamar told me to look out fer 'im. He's moved up hy'eh, and it ain't fer no good. The word's out that a city man's lookin' for some_thing_ or some_body_ in these hills. And the man's stayin'—"
"Where?"
"At the huntin' club where folks don't go no more. I ain't seen him, but th' word's passed. He's a city man and a stranger, and got a little fella' that's been a soldier into th' army stayin' with 'im. I thought yo' furriner was him, Miss, honest to God I did."
The incident amused Shirley and she laughed aloud. She had undoubtedly65 gained information that Chauvenet had gone forth66 to seek; she had—and the thing was funny—served Chauvenet well in explaining away his presence in the mountains and getting him out of the clutches of the mountaineer, while at the same time she was learning for herself the fact of Armitage's whereabouts and keeping it from Chauvenet. It was a curious adventure, and she gave her hand smilingly to the mystified and still doubting mountaineer.
"I give you my word of honor that neither man is a government officer and neither one has the slightest interest in you—will you believe me?"
"I reckon I got to, Miss."
"Good; and now, Mr. Selfridge, it is growing dark and I want you to walk down this trail with me until we come to the Storm Springs road."
"I'll do it gladly, Miss."
"Thank you; now let us be off."
She made him turn back when they reached a point from which they could look upon the electric lights of the Springs colony, and where the big hotel and its piazzas67 shone like a steamship68 at night. A moment later Chauvenet, who had waited impatiently, joined her, and they rode down together. She referred at once to the affair with the mountaineer in her most frivolous69 key.
"They are an odd and suspicious people, but they're as loyal as the stars. And please let us never mention the matter again—not to any one, if you please, Monsieur!"
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收听单词发音
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1
postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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2
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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4
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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9
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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10
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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11
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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12
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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13
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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14
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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15
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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16
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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17
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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18
enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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19
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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20
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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21
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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22
piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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23
cryptic
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| adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的 | |
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24
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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25
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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26
defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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27
spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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28
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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29
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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30
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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31
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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32
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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33
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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34
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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35
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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36
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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37
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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38
disparagement
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| n.轻视，轻蔑 | |
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39
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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40
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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41
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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42
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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43
thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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44
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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45
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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46
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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47
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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48
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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52
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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53
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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54
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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55
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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56
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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58
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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59
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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60
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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61
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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62
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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64
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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65
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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66
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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67
piazzas
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| n.广场，市场( piazza的名词复数 ) | |
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68
steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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69
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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