Mother Angelique’s anxious call rang out over the water, once, twice, many times. But, though she shaded her brows with her hands and strained her keen ears to listen, there was no one visible and no response came back to her. So she climbed the hill again and, reëntering the cabin, began to stir with almost vicious energy the contents of a pot swinging in the wide fireplace. As she toiled1 she muttered and wagged her gray head with sage2 misgivings3.
“For my soul! There is the ver’ bad hoorican’ a-comin’, and the child so heedless. But the signs, the omens4! This same [Pg 6]day I did fall asleep at the knitting and waked a-smother. True, ’twas Meroude, the cat, crouched5 on my breast; yet what sent her save for a warning?”
Though even in her scolding the woman smiled, recalling how Margot had jeered6 at her superstition7; and that when she had dropped her bit of looking-glass the girl had merrily congratulated her on the fact; since by so doing she had secured “two mirrors in which to behold8 such loveliness!”
“No, no, not so. Death lurks9 in a broken glass; or, at the best, must follow seven full years of bad luck and sorrow.”
“Silly Angelique! When there is no such thing as luck but all is of the will of God.”
The old nurse had frowned. The maid was too wise for her years. She talked too much with the master. It was not good for womenkind to listen to grave speech or plague their heads with graver books. Books, indeed, were for priests and doctors; [Pg 7]and, maybe, now and then, for men who could not live without them, like Master Hugh. She, Angelique, had never read a book in all her life. She never meant to do so. She had not even learned a single letter printed in their foolish pages. Not she. Yet was not she a most excellent cook and seamstress? Was there any cabin in all that northland as tidy as that she ruled? Would matters have been the better had she bothered her poor brain with books? She knew her duty and she did it. What more could mortal?
This argument had been early in the day. A day on which the master had gone away to the mainland and the house-mistress had improved by giving the house an extra cleaning. To escape the soapsuds and the loneliness, Margot had, also, gone, alone and unquestioned; taking with her a luncheon11 of brown bread and cold fowl12, her book and microscope. Angelique had watched the little canoe push off from shore, without regret, [Pg 8]since now she could work unhindered at clearing the room of the “rubbishy specimen” which the others had brought in to mess the place.
Now, at supper time, perfect order reigned13, and perfect quiet, as well; save for the purring of Meroude upon the hearth14 and the simmering of the kettle. Angelique wiped her face with her apron15.
“The great heat! and May but young yet. It means trouble. I wish——”
Suddenly, the cat waked from her sleep and with a sharp meouw leaped to her mistress’ shoulder; who screamed, dropped the ladle, splashed the stew16, and boxed the animal’s ears—all within a few seconds. Her nerves were already tingling17 from the electricity in the air, and her anxiety returned with such force that, again swinging the crane around away from the fire, she hurried to the beach.
To one so weatherwise the unusual heat, the leaden sky, and the intense hush18 were ominous19. There was not a breath of wind stirring, apparently20, yet the surface of the lake was already dotted by tiny white-caps, racing21 and chasing shoreward, like live creatures at play. Not many times, even in her long life in that solitude22, had Angelique Ricord seen just that curious coloring of cloud and water, and she recalled these with a shudder23. The child she loved was strong and skilful24, but what would that avail? Her thin face darkened, its features sharpened, and making a trumpet25 of her hands, she put all her force into a long, terrified halloo.
“Ah-ho-a-ah! Margot—Mar-g-o-t—Margot!”
Something clutched her shoulder and with another frightened scream the woman turned to confront her master.
“Is the child away?”
“Yes, yes. I know not where.”
“Since when?”
“It seems but an hour, maybe two, three, and she was here, laughing, singing, all as [Pg 10]ever. Though it was before the midday, and she went in her canoe, still singing.”
“Which way?”
She pointed26 due east, but now into a gloom that was impenetrable. On the instant, the lapping wavelets became breakers, the wind rose to a deafening27 shriek28, throwing Angelique to the ground and causing even the strong man to reel before it. As soon as he could right himself he lifted her in his arms and staggered up the slope. Rather, he was almost blown up it and through the open door into the cabin, about which its furnishings were flying wildly. Here the woman recovered herself and lent her aid in closing the door against the tempest, a task that, for a time, seemed impossible. Her next thought was for her dinner-pot, now swaying in the fireplace, up which the draught29 was roaring furiously. Once the precious stew was in a sheltered corner, her courage failed again and she sank down beside it, moaning and wringing30 her hands.
“It is the end of the world!”
“Angelique!”
Her wails31 ceased. That was a tone of voice she had never disobeyed in all her fifteen years of service.
“Yes, Master Hugh.”
“Spread some blankets. Brew32 some herb tea. Get out a change of dry clothing. Make everything ready against I bring Margot in.”
She watched him hurrying about securing all the windows, piling wood on the coals, straightening the disordered furniture, fastening a bundle of kindlings to his own shoulders, putting matches in the pocket of his closely buttoned coat, and caught something of his spirit. After all, it was a relief to be doing something, even though the roar of the tempest and the incessant33 flashes of lightning turned her sick with fear. But it was all too short a task; and when, at last, her master climbed outward through a sheltered rear window, closing it behind him, her temporary courage sank again and finally.
“The broken glass! the broken glass! Yet who would dream it is my darling’s bright young life must pay for that and not mine, the old and careworn34? Ouch! the blast! That bolt struck—and near! Ah! me! Ah! me!”
Meroude rubbed pleadingly against her arm and, glad of any living companionship, she put out her hand to touch him; but drew it back in dread35, for his surcharged fur sparkled and set her flesh a-tingle, while the whole room grew luminous36 with an uncanny radiance. Feeling that her own last hour had come, poor Angelique crouched still lower in her corner and began to say her prayers with so much earnestness that she became almost oblivious37 to the tornado38 without.
Meanwhile, by stooping and clinging to whatever support offered, Hugh Dutton made his slow way beachward. But the bushes uprooted39 in his clasp and the bowlders slipped by him on this new torrent40 rushing to the lake. Then he flung himself face downward and cautiously crawled toward the point of rocks whereon he meant to make his beacon41 fire.
“She will see it and steer42 by it,” he reflected; for he would not acknowledge how hopeless would be any human steering43 under such a stress.
Alas44! the beacon would not light. The wind had turned icy cold and the rain changed to hail which hurled45 itself upon the tiny blaze and stifled46 its first breath. A sort of desperate patience fell on the man and he began again, with utmost care, to build and shelter his little stock of fire-wood. Match after match he struck and with unvarying failure, till all were gone; and realizing at last how chilled and rigid47 he was growing he struggled to his feet and set them into motion.
“Margot! Little Margot! Margot!”
Another gust50 swept over lake and island. [Pg 14]He could hear the great trees falling in the forest, the bang, bang, bang, of the deafening thunder, as, blinded by lightning and overcome by exhaustion51, he sank down behind the pile of rocks and knew no more.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
toiled
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sage
|
|
| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
misgivings
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
omens
|
|
| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
jeered
|
|
| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
superstition
|
|
| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lurks
|
|
| n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
reproof
|
|
| n.斥责，责备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
reigned
|
|
| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hearth
|
|
| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
stew
|
|
| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
tingling
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
trumpet
|
|
| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
wringing
|
|
| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
wails
|
|
| 痛哭，哭声( wail的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
brew
|
|
| v.酿造，调制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
incessant
|
|
| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
careworn
|
|
| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
luminous
|
|
| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
tornado
|
|
| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
uprooted
|
|
| v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
beacon
|
|
| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
steer
|
|
| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
steering
|
|
| n.操舵装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
lull
|
|
| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gust
|
|
| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |