And the slower he went the chillier2 grew his heart, till it lay half ice, half load, in his bosom3.
Never to see those heavenly eyes again nor hear that silvery voice! Never again to watch that peerless form walk the minuet; nor see it lift the grey horse over a fence with the grace and spirit that seemed inseparable from it!
Desolation streamed over him at the thought. And next his forlorn mind began to cling even to the inanimate objects that were dotted about the place which held her. He passed a little farmhouse5 into which Kate and he had once been driven by a storm, and had sat together by the kitchen fire; and the farmer's wife had smiled on them for sweethearts, and made them drink rum and milk, and stay till the sun was fairly out. "Ah! good-bye, little farm," he sighed, "when shall I ever see you again?"
He passed a brook6 where they had often stopped together and given their panting horses just a mouthful after a run with the harriers. "Good-bye, little brook!" said he: "you will ripple7 on as before, and warble as you go; but I shall never drink at your water more, nor hear your pleasant murmur8 with her I love."
He sighed and crept away, still making for the sea.
In the icy depression of his heart, his body and his senses were half paralysed, and none would have known the accomplished9 huntsman in this broken man, who hung anyhow over his mare10's neck, and went to and fro in the saddle.
When he had gone about five miles, he came to the crest11 of a hill; he remembered that, once past that brow, he could see Peyton Hall no more. He turned slowly and cast a sorrowful look at it.
It was winter, but the afternoon sun had come out bright. The horizontal beams struck full upon the house, and all the western panes12 shone like burnished13 gold; her very abode14, how glorious it looked! And he was to see it no more.
He gazed, and gazed at the bright house till love and sorrow dimmed his eyes, and he could see the beloved place no more. Then his dogged will prevailed, and carried him away towards the sea, but crying like a woman now, and hanging all dislocated over his horse's mane.
Now about a mile farther on, as he crept along on a vile15 and narrow road, all woe-begone and broken, he heard a mighty16 scurry17 of horse's feet in the field to his left; he looked languidly up; and the first thing he saw was a great piebald horse's head and neck in the act of rising in the air, and doubling his fore-legs under him, to leap the low hedge a yard or two in front of him.
He did leap, and landed just in front of Griffith; his rider curbed18 him so keenly that he went back almost on his haunches, and then stood motionless all across the road, with quivering tail. A lady in a scarlet19 riding-habit and purple cap, sat him as if he had been a throne instead of a horse, and, without moving her body, turned her head swift as a snake, and fixed20 her great grey eyes full and searching on Griffith Gaunt.
He uttered a little shout of joy and amazement21, his mare reared and plunged22, and then was quiet. And thus Kate Peyton and he met—at right angles—and so close that it looked as if she had meant to ride him down.
How he stared at her! how more than mortal fair she shone, returning to those bereaved23 eyes of his, as if she had really dropped from Heaven.
His clasped hands, his haggard face channelled by tears, showed the keen girl she was strong where she had thought herself weak, and she comported24 herself accordingly, and in one moment took a much higher tone than she had intended as she came along.
"I am afraid," said she, very coldly, "you will have to postpone25 your journey a day or two. I am grieved to tell you that poor Mr. Charlton is dead."
Griffith uttered an exclamation26.
"He asked for you: and messengers are out after you on every side. You must go to Bolton at once."
"Well a day!" said Griffith, "has he left me too? good kind old man, on any other day I had found tears for thee. But now methinks happy are the dead. Alas27! sweet mistress, I hoped you came to tell me you had—I might—what signifies what I hoped—when I saw you had deigned28 to ride after me. Why should I go to Bolton after all?"
"Because you will be an ungrateful wretch29 else. What, leave others to carry your kinsman30 and your benefactor31 to his grave; while you turn your back on him—and inherit his estate?—For shame, sir! for shame!"
Griffith expostulated humbly32. "How hardly you judge me. What are Bolton Hall and Park to me now? They were to have been yours, you know. And yours they shall be. I came between and robbed you. To be sure the old man knew my mind: he said to himself, 'Griffith or Kate, what matters it who has the land? they will live together on it. But all that is changed now; you will never share it with me; and so I do feel I have no right to the place. Kate, my own Kate, I have heard them sneer33 at you for being poor, and it made my heart ache. I'll stop that anyway. Go you in my place to the funeral: he that is dead will forgive me; his spirit knows now what I endure: and I'll send you a writing, all sealed and signed, shall make Bolton Hall and Park yours: and, when you are happy with some one you can love, as well as I love you, think sometimes of poor jealous Griffith, that loved you dear and grudged34 you nothing; but," grinding his teeth and turning white, "I can't live in Cumberland, and see you in another man's arms."
Then Catherine trembled, and could not speak awhile: but at last she faltered35 out, "You will make me hate you."
"God forbid!" said simple Griffith.
"Well then don't thwart36 me, and provoke me so, but just turn your horse's head and go quietly home to Bolton Hall, and do your duty to the dead and the living. You can't go this way for me and my horse:" then, seeing him waver, this virago37 faltered out, "and I have been so tried to-day first by one, then by another, surely you might have some pity on me. Oh! oh! oh! oh!"
"Nay38, nay," cried Griffith, all in a flutter: "I'll go without more words: as I am a gentleman I will sleep at Bolton this night, and will do my duty to the dead and the living. Don't you cry, sweetest: I give in. I find I have no will but yours."
The next moment they were cantering side by side, and never drew rein till they reached the cross roads.
"Now tell me one thing," stammered39 Griffith, with a most ghastly attempt at cheerful indifference40. "How—do you—happen to be—on George Neville's horse?"
Kate had been expecting this question for some time: yet she colored high when it did come. However, she had her answer pat. The horse was in the stable-yard, and fresh: her own was tired. "What was I to do, Griffith? And now," added she, hastily, "the sun will soon set, and the roads are bad: be careful. I wish I could ask you to sleep at our house: but—there are reasons—" she hesitated; she could not well tell him George Neville was to dine and sleep there.
Griffith assured here there was no danger; his mare knew every foot of the way.
They parted; Griffith rode to Bolton; and Kate rode home.
It was past dinner-time. She ran upstairs, and hurried on her best gown and her diamond comb. For she began to quake now at the prank41 she had played with her guest's horse: and Nature taught her that the best way to soften42 censure43 is—to be beautiful.
And certainly she was passing fair; and queenly with her diamond comb.
She came down-stairs, and was received by her father; he grumbled46 at being kept waiting for dinner.
"Oh, he is gone long ago: remembered, all of a sudden, he had promised to dine with a neighbor."
Kate shook her head skeptically, but said nothing. But a good minute after, she inquired, "How did he go? on foot?"
The Squire did not know.
After dinner old Joe sought an interview, and was admitted into the dining-room:
"Be it all right about the grey horse, Master?"
"What of him?" asked Kate.
"He be gone to Neville Court, Mistress. But I suppose (with a horrid49 leer) it is all right. Master Neville told me all about it. He said, says he, 'Some do break a kine or the likes on those here joyful50 occasions; other some do exchange gold rings. Your young Mistress and me, toe exchange nags51. She takes my pieball; I take her grey;' says he. 'Saddle him for me, Joe,' says he, 'and wish me joy.' So I clapped Master Neville's saddle on the grey, and a gave me a golden guinea a did, and I was so struck of a heap I let un go without wishing on him joy; but I hollered it arter un, as hard as I could. How you looks! It be all right, baint it?"
Squire Peyton laughed heartily52, and said he concluded it was all right: "The piebald," said he, "is rising five, and I've had the grey ten years. We have got the sunny side of that bargain, Joe." He gave Joe a glass of wine and sent him off, inflated53 with having done a good stroke in horseflesh.
As for Kate she was red as fire, and kept her lips close as wax; not a word could be got out of her. The less she said the more she thought. She was thoroughly54 vexed55, and sore perplexed56 how to get her grey horse back from such a man as George Neville; and yet she could not help laughing at the trick, and secretly admiring this chevalier, who had kept his mortification57 to himself, and parried an affront58 so gallantly59.
"The good-humored wretch!" said she to herself. "If Griffith ever goes away again, he will have me, whether I like or no. No lady could resist the monster long, without some other man at hand to help her."
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1
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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chillier
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| adj.寒冷的，冷得难受的( chilly的比较级 ) | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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8
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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13
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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14
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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scurry
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| vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马 | |
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18
curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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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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21
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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22
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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23
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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24
comported
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| v.表现( comport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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27
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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28
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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30
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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31
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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32
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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33
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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34
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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35
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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36
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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37
virago
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| n.悍妇 | |
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38
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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39
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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41
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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42
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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43
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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44
tout
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| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
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45
belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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46
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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47
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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48
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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49
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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50
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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51
nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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52
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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53
inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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54
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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55
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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56
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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57
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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58
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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59
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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