Lady Arabella, who alone could have guessed, was now so absorbed in her matrimonial pursuit of Edgar Caswall, that she had neither time nor inclination5 for thought extraneous6 to this. She had not yet moved from the house, though she had formally handed over the estate.
Adam put up a rough corrugated-iron shed behind the Grove, in which he stored his explosives. All being ready for his great attempt whenever the time should come, he was now content to wait, and, in order to pass the time, interested himself in other things—even in Caswall’s great kite, which still flew from the high tower of Castra Regis.
The mound7 of fine sand grew to proportions so vast as to puzzle the bailiffs and farmers round the Brow. The hour of the intended cataclysm8 was approaching apace. Adam wished—but in vain—for an opportunity, which would appear to be natural, of visiting Caswall in the turret9 of Castra Regis. At last, one morning, he met Lady Arabella moving towards the Castle, so he took his courage à deux mains and asked to be allowed to accompany her. She was glad, for her own purposes, to comply with his wishes. So together they entered, and found their way to the turret-room. Caswall was much surprised to see Adam come to his house, but lent himself to the task of seeming to be pleased. He played the host so well as to deceive even Adam. They all went out on the turret roof, where he explained to his guests the mechanism10 for raising and lowering the kite, taking also the opportunity of testing the movements of the multitudes of birds, how they answered almost instantaneously to the lowering or raising of the kite.
As Lady Arabella walked home with Adam from Castra Regis, she asked him if she might make a request. Permission having been accorded, she explained that before she finally left Diana’s Grove, where she had lived so long, she had a desire to know the depth of the well-hole. Adam was really happy to meet her wishes, not from any sentiment, but because he wished to give some valid11 and ostensible12 reason for examining the passage of the Worm, which would obviate13 any suspicion resulting from his being on the premises14. He brought from London a Kelvin sounding apparatus15, with a sufficient length of piano-wire for testing any probable depth. The wire passed easily over the running wheel, and when this was once fixed16 over the hole, he was satisfied to wait till the most advantageous17 time for his final experiment.
* * * * *
In the meantime, affairs had been going quietly at Mercy Farm. Lilla, of course, felt lonely in the absence of her cousin, but the even tenor18 of life went on for her as for others. After the first shock of parting was over, things went back to their accustomed routine. In one respect, however, there was a marked difference. So long as home conditions had remained unchanged, Lilla was content to put ambition far from her, and to settle down to the life which had been hers as long as she could remember. But Mimi’s marriage set her thinking; naturally, she came to the conclusion that she too might have a mate. There was not for her much choice—there was little movement in the matrimonial direction at the farmhouse19. She did not approve of the personality of Edgar Caswall, and his struggle with Mimi had frightened her; but he was unmistakably an excellent parti, much better than she could have any right to expect. This weighs much with a woman, and more particularly one of her class. So, on the whole, she was content to let things take their course, and to abide20 by the issue.
As time went on, she had reason to believe that things did not point to happiness. She could not shut her eyes to certain disturbing facts, amongst which were the existence of Lady Arabella and her growing intimacy21 with Edgar Caswall; as well as his own cold and haughty22 nature, so little in accord with the ardour which is the foundation of a young maid’s dreams of happiness. How things would, of necessity, alter if she were to marry, she was afraid to think. All told, the prospect23 was not happy for her, and she had a secret longing24 that something might occur to upset the order of things as at present arranged.
When Lilla received a note from Edgar Caswall asking if he might come to tea on the following afternoon, her heart sank within her. If it was only for her father’s sake, she must not refuse him or show any disinclination which he might construe25 into incivility. She missed Mimi more than she could say or even dared to think. Hitherto, she had always looked to her cousin for sympathy, for understanding, for loyal support. Now she and all these things, and a thousand others—gentle, assuring, supporting—were gone. And instead there was a horrible aching void.
For the whole afternoon and evening, and for the following forenoon, poor Lilla’s loneliness grew to be a positive agony. For the first time she began to realise the sense of her loss, as though all the previous suffering had been merely a preparation. Everything she looked at, everything she remembered or thought of, became laden26 with poignant27 memory. Then on the top of all was a new sense of dread28. The reaction from the sense of security, which had surrounded her all her life, to a never-quieted apprehension29, was at times almost more than she could bear. It so filled her with fear that she had a haunting feeling that she would as soon die as live. However, whatever might be her own feelings, duty had to be done, and as she had been brought up to consider duty first, she braced30 herself to go through, to the very best of her ability, what was before her.
Still, the severe and prolonged struggle for self-control told upon Lilla. She looked, as she felt, ill and weak. She was really in a nerveless and prostrate32 condition, with black circles round her eyes, pale even to her lips, and with an instinctive33 trembling which she was quite unable to repress. It was for her a sad mischance that Mimi was away, for her love would have seen through all obscuring causes, and have brought to light the girl’s unhappy condition of health. Lilla was utterly34 unable to do anything to escape from the ordeal35 before her; but her cousin, with the experience of her former struggles with Mr. Caswall and of the condition in which these left her, would have taken steps—even peremptory36 ones, if necessary—to prevent a repetition.
Edgar arrived punctually to the time appointed by herself. When Lilla, through the great window, saw him approaching the house, her condition of nervous upset was pitiable. She braced herself up, however, and managed to get through the interview in its preliminary stages without any perceptible change in her normal appearance and bearing. It had been to her an added terror that the black shadow of Oolanga, whom she dreaded37, would follow hard on his master. A load was lifted from her mind when he did not make his usual stealthy approach. She had also feared, though in lesser38 degree, lest Lady Arabella should be present to make trouble for her as before.
With a woman’s natural forethought in a difficult position, she had provided the furnishing of the tea-table as a subtle indication of the social difference between her and her guest. She had chosen the implements39 of service, as well as all the provender40 set forth41, of the humblest kind. Instead of arranging the silver teapot and china cups, she had set out an earthen teapot, such as was in common use in the farm kitchen. The same idea was carried out in the cups and saucers of thick homely42 delft, and in the cream-jug of similar kind. The bread was of simple whole-meal, home-baked. The butter was good, since she had made it herself, while the preserves and honey came from her own garden. Her face beamed with satisfaction when the guest eyed the appointments with a supercilious43 glance. It was a shock to the poor girl herself, for she enjoyed offering to a guest the little hospitalities possible to her; but that had to be sacrificed with other pleasures.
Caswall’s face was more set and iron-clad than ever—his piercing eyes seemed from the very beginning to look her through and through. Her heart quailed44 when she thought of what would follow—of what would be the end, when this was only the beginning. As some protection, though it could be only of a sentimental45 kind, she brought from her own room the photographs of Mimi, of her grandfather, and of Adam Salton, whom by now she had grown to look on with reliance, as a brother whom she could trust. She kept the pictures near her heart, to which her hand naturally strayed when her feelings of constraint46, distrust, or fear became so poignant as to interfere47 with the calm which she felt was necessary to help her through her ordeal.
At first Edgar Caswall was courteous48 and polite, even thoughtful; but after a little while, when he found her resistance to his domination grow, he abandoned all forms of self-control and appeared in the same dominance as he had previously49 shown. She was prepared, however, for this, both by her former experience and the natural fighting instinct within her. By this means, as the minutes went on, both developed the power and preserved the equality in which they had begun.
Without warning, the psychic50 battle between the two individualities began afresh. This time both the positive and negative causes were all in favour of the man. The woman was alone and in bad spirits, unsupported; nothing at all was in her favour except the memory of the two victorious51 contests; whereas the man, though unaided, as before, by either Lady Arabella or Oolanga, was in full strength, well rested, and in flourishing circumstances. It was not, therefore, to be wondered at that his native dominance of character had full opportunity of asserting itself. He began his preliminary stare with a conscious sense of power, and, as it appeared to have immediate52 effect on the girl, he felt an ever-growing conviction of ultimate victory.
After a little Lilla’s resolution began to flag. She felt that the contest was unequal—that she was unable to put forth her best efforts. As she was an unselfish person, she could not fight so well in her own battle as in that of someone whom she loved and to whom she was devoted53. Edgar saw the relaxing of the muscles of face and brow, and the almost collapse54 of the heavy eyelids55 which seemed tumbling downward in sleep. Lilla made gallant56 efforts to brace31 her dwindling57 powers, but for a time unsuccessfully. At length there came an interruption, which seemed like a powerful stimulant58. Through the wide window she saw Lady Arabella enter the plain gateway59 of the farm, and advance towards the hall door. She was clad as usual in tight-fitting white, which accentuated60 her thin, sinuous61 figure.
The sight did for Lilla what no voluntary effort could have done. Her eyes flashed, and in an instant she felt as though a new life had suddenly developed within her. Lady Arabella’s entry, in her usual unconcerned, haughty, supercilious way, heightened the effect, so that when the two stood close to each other battle was joined. Mr. Caswall, too, took new courage from her coming, and all his masterfulness and power came back to him. His looks, intensified62, had more obvious effect than had been noticeable that day. Lilla seemed at last overcome by his dominance. Her face became red and pale—violently red and ghastly pale—by rapid turns. Her strength seemed gone. Her knees collapsed63, and she was actually sinking on the floor, when to her surprise and joy Mimi came into the room, running hurriedly and breathing heavily.
Lilla rushed to her, and the two clasped hands. With that, a new sense of power, greater than Lilla had ever seen in her, seemed to quicken her cousin. Her hand swept the air in front of Edgar Caswall, seeming to drive him backward more and more by each movement, till at last he seemed to be actually hurled64 through the door which Mimi’s entrance had left open, and fell at full length on the gravel65 path without.
Then came the final and complete collapse of Lilla, who, without a sound, sank down on the floor.
该作者的其它作品
《Dracula》
该作者的其它作品
《Dracula》
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1
solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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2
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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3
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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4
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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5
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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extraneous
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| adj.体外的；外来的；外部的 | |
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7
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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cataclysm
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| n.洪水，剧变，大灾难 | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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10
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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11
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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12
ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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13
obviate
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| v.除去，排除，避免，预防 | |
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14
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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15
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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16
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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17
advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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18
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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19
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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20
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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21
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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22
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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23
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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24
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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construe
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| v.翻译，解释 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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30
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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31
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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32
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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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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39
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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40
provender
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| n.刍草；秣料 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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43
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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44
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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46
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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47
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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48
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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49
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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50
psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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51
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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52
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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53
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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54
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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55
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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56
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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57
dwindling
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| adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 ) | |
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58
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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59
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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60
accentuated
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| v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
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61
sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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62
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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64
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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