This precaution was feeble, but not wholly inadequate—in the middle ages; for we know by good evidence that the priest was often interrupted and the banns forbidden.
But in modern days the banns are never forbidden: in other words, the precautionary measure that has come down to us from the thirteenth century is out of date and useless. It rests, indeed, on an estimate of publicity5, that has become childish. If persons about to marry were compelled to inscribe6 their names and descriptions in a Matrimonial Weekly Gazette, and a copy of this were placed on a desk in ten thousand churches, perhaps we might stop one lady per annum from marrying her husband's brother, and one gentleman from wedding his neighbour's wife. But the crying of banns in a single parish church is a waste of the people's time and the parson's breath.
And so it proved in Griffith Gaunt's case. The Rev7. William Wentworth published, in the usual recitative, the banns of marriage between Thomas Leicester, of the parish of Marylebone in London, and Mercy Vint, spinster, of this parish: and creation, present ex hypothesi mediævale, but absent in fact, assented8, by silence, to the union.
It would be well if those who stifle10 their consciences, and commit crimes, would set up a sort of medico-moral diary, and record their symptoms minutely day by day. Such records might help to clear away some vague, conventional notions.
To tell the truth, our hero, and now malefactor11 (the combination is of high antiquity), enjoyed, for several months, the peace of mind that belongs of right to innocence12; and his days passed in a state of smooth complacency. Mercy was a good, wise, and tender wife; she naturally looked up to him after marriage more than she did before: she studied his happiness, as she had never studied her own: she mastered his character, admired his good qualities, discerned his weaknesses, but did not view them as defects; only as little traits to be watched, lest she should give pain to "her master," as she called him.
Affection, in her, took a more obsequious14 form than it could ever assume in Kate Peyton. And yet she had great influence, and softly governed "her master" for his good. She would come into the room and take away the bottle, if he was committing excess; but she had a way of doing it, so like a good but resolute15 mother, and so unlike a termagant, that he never resisted. Upon the whole, she nursed his mind as, in earlier days, she had nursed his body.
And then she made him so comfortable; she observed him minutely to that end. As is the eye of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so Mercy Leicester's dove-like eye was ever watching "her master's" face, to learn the minutest features of his mind.
One evening he came in tired, and there was a black fire in the parlour. His countenance16 fell the sixteenth of an inch. You and I, sir, should never have noticed it. But Mercy did, and, ever after, there was a clear fire when he came in.
She noted17, too, that he loved to play the viol da gambo; but disliked the trouble of tuning18 it. So then she tuned19 it for him.
When he came home at night, early or late, he was sure to find a dry pair of shoes on the rug, his six-stringed viol tuned to a hair, a bright fire, and a brighter wife smiling and radiant at his coming, and always neat: for, said she, "Shall I don my bravery for strangers, and not for my Thomas, that is the best of company?"
They used to go to church, and come back together, hand in hand like lovers: for the arm was rarely given in those days. And Griffith said to himself every Sunday, "What a comfort to have a Protestant wife."
But one day he was off his guard, and called her "Kate, my dear."
"Who is Kate?" said she, softly; but with a degree of trouble and intelligence that made him tremble.
"No matter," said he, all in a flutter: then, solemnly, "Whoever she was, she is dead; dead."
"Ah!" said Mercy, very tenderly and solemnly, and under her breath. "You loved her; yet she must die." She paused; then, in a tone so exquisite20 I can only call it an angel's whisper, "Poor Kate!"
Griffith groaned21 aloud. "For God's sake never mention that name to me again. Let me forget she ever lived. She was not the true friend to me that you have been."
Mercy replied, softly, "Say not so, Thomas. You loved her well. Her death had all but cost me thine. Ah, well! we cannot all be the first. I am not very jealous, for my part; and I thank God for't. Thou art a dear good husband to me, and that is enow."
Paul Carrick, unable to break off his habits, came to the "Packhorse" now and then; but Mercy protected her husband's heart from pain. She was kind, and even pitiful; but so discreet22 and resolute, and contrived23 to draw the line so clearly between her husband and her old sweetheart, that Griffith's foible could not burn him, for want of fuel.
And so passed several months, and the man's heart was at peace. He could not love Mercy passionately24 as he had loved Kate; but he was full of real regard and esteem25 for her: it was one of those gentle, clinging attachments26 that outlast27 grand passions, and survive till death; a tender, pure affection; though built upon a crime.
They had been married, and lived in sweet content, about three quarters of a year—when trouble came; but in a vulgar form. A murrain carried off several of Harry28 Vint's cattle; and it then came out that he had purchased six of them on credit, and had been induced to set his hands to bills of exchange for them. His rent was also behind, and, in fact, his affairs were in a desperate condition.
He hid it as long as he could from them all; but, at last, being served with a process for debt, and threatened with a distress29, and an execution, he called a family council and exposed the real state of things.
Mrs. Vint rated him soundly for keeping all this secret so long.
He whom they called Thomas Leicester remonstrated30 with him. "Had you told me in time," said he, "I had not paid forfeit31 for 'The Vine,' but settled there, and given you a home."
Mercy said never a word but "Poor father!"
As the peril32 drew nearer, the conversation became more animated33 and agitated34, and soon the old people took to complaining of Thomas Leicester to his wife.
"Thou hast married a gentleman; and he hath not the heart to lift a hand to save thy folk from ruin."
"Say not so," pleaded Mercy: "to be sure he hath the heart, but not the means. 'Twas but yestreen he bade me sell his jewels for you. But, mother, I think they belonged to some one he loved; and she died. So, poor thing, how could I? Then, if you love me, blame me, and not him."
"Jewels, quotha! will they stop such a gap as ours?" was the contemptuous reply.
From complaining of him behind his back, the old people soon came to launching innuendoes35 obliquely36 at him. Here is one specimen37 out of a dozen.
"Wife, if our Mercy had wedded one of her own sort, mayhap he'd have helped us a bit."
"Ay, poor soul; and she so near her time: if the bailiffs come down on us next month 'tis my belief we shall lose her as well as house and home."
The false Thomas Leicester let them run on, in dogged silence; but every word was a stab.
And, one day, when he had been baited sore with hints, he turned round on them fiercely, and said, "Did I get you into this mess? It's all your own doing. Learn to see your own faults, and not be so hard on one that has been the best servant you ever had, gentleman or not."
Men can resist the remonstrances38 that wound them, and so irritate them, better than they can those gentle appeals that rouse no anger, but soften39 the whole heart. The old people stung him; but Mercy, without design, took a surer way. She never said a word; but sometimes, when the discussions were at their height, she turned her dove-like eyes on him, with a look so loving, so humbly40 inquiring, so timidly imploring41, that his heart melted within him.
Ah, that is a true touch of nature, and genuine observation of the sexes, in the old song—
My feyther urged me sair;
My mither didna speak;
But she looked me in the face,
Till my hairt was like to break.
These silent, womanly, imploring looks of patient Mercy, were mightier42 than argument, or invective43.
The man knew all along where to get money, and how to get it. He had only to go to Hernshaw Castle. But his very soul shuddered45 at the idea. However, for Mercy's sake, he took the first step: he compelled himself to look the thing in the face, and discuss it with himself. A few months ago he could not have done this, he loved his lawful46 wife too much; hated her too much. But now, Mercy, and Time, had blunted both those passions; and he could ask himself whether he could not encounter Kate and her priest without any very violent emotion.
When they first set up house together, he had spent his whole fortune, a sum of two thousand pounds, on repairing and embellishing47 Hernshaw Castle and grounds. Since she had driven him out of the house, he had a clear right to have back the money; and now he resolved he would have it; only what he wanted was to get it without going to the place in person.
And now Mercy's figure, as well as her imploring looks, moved him greatly. She was in that condition which appeals to a man's humanity, and masculine pity, as well as to his affection. To use the homely48 words of Scripture49, she was great with child: and, in that condition, moved slowly about him, filling his pipe, and laying his slippers50, and ministering to all his little comforts; she would make no difference: and when he saw the poor dove move about him so heavily, and rather languidly, yet so zealously51 and tenderly, the man's very bowels52 yearned53 over her, and he felt as if he could die to do her a service.
So, one day, when she was standing54 by him, bending over his little round table, and filling his pipe with her neat hand, he took her by the other hand and drew her gently on his knee, her burden and all.
"I know that," said she, softly; "can I no read thy face by this time?" and so laid her cheek to his. "But, Thomas, for my sake, get it honestly; or not at all," said she, still filling his pipe, with her cheek to his, "I'll but take back my own," said he; "fear nought56."
But, after thus positively57 pledging himself to Mercy, he became thoughtful and rather fretful; for he was still most averse58 to go to Hernshaw, and yet could hit upon no other way; since to employ an agent would be to let out that he had committed bigamy; and so risk his own neck, and break Mercy's heart.
After all his scale was turned by his foible.
Mrs. Vint had been weak enough to confide59 her trouble to a friend: it was all over the parish in three days.
Well, one day, in the kitchen of the inn, Paul Carrick having drunk two pints60 of good ale, said to Vint, "Landlord, you ought to have married her to me. I've got two hundred pounds laid by. I'd have pulled you out of the mire13, and welcome."
"Would you, though, Paul?" said Harry Vint; "then, by G——, I wish I had."
"I take your inn, your farm, and your debts, on me," said he; "not one without t'other."
Griffith turned on Carrick: "This house is mine. Get out on't, ye jealous, mischief-making cur." And he took him by the collar and dragged him furiously out of the place, and sent him whirling into the middle of the road; then ran back for his hat and flung it out after him.
This done, he sat down boiling, and his eyes roved fiercely round the room in search of some other antagonist64. But his strength was so great, and his face so altered with this sudden spasm65 of reviving jealousy66, that nobody cared to provoke him farther.
After a while, however, Harry Vint muttered, drily, "There goes one good customer."
Griffith took him up sternly: "If your debts are to be mine, your trade shall be mine too, that you had not the head to conduct."
"So be it, son-in-law," said the old man; "only you go so fast: you do take possession afore you pays the fee."
Griffith winced67. "That shall be the last of your taunts68, old man." He turned to the ostler, "Bill, give Black Dick his oats at sunrise: and in ten days at farthest I'll pay every shilling this house and farm do owe. Now, Master White, you'll put in hand a new sign-board for this inn; a fresh 'Packhorse,' and paint him jet black, with one white hoof69 (instead of chocolate), in honour of my nag70 Dick; and in place of Harry Vint you'll put in Thomas Leicester. See that is done against I come back, or come you here no more." Soon after this scene he retired71 to tell Mercy: and on his departure, the suppressed tongues went like mill-clacks.
Dick came round saddled at peep of day; but Mercy had been up more than an hour, and prepared her man's breakfast. She clung to him at parting, and cried a little; and whispered something in his ear, for nobody else to hear: it was an entreaty72 that he would not be long gone, lest he should be far from her in the hour of her peril.
Thereupon he promised her, and kissed her tenderly, and bade her be of good heart; and so rode away northwards with dogged resolution.
As soon as he was gone, Mercy's tears flowed without restraint.
Her father set himself to console her. "Thy good man," he said, "is but gone back to the high road for a night or two, to follow his trade of 'stand and deliver.' Fear nought, child; his pistols are well primed; I saw to that myself; and his horse is the fleetest in the county; you'll have him back in three days, and money in both pockets. I warrant you his is a better trade than mine; and he is a fool to change it."
Griffith was two days upon the road, and all that time he was turning over and discussing in his mind how he should conduct the disagreeable but necessary business he had undertaken.
He determined73, at last, to make the visit one of business only: no heat; no reproaches. That lovely, hateful woman might continue to dishonour74 his name, for he had himself abandoned it. He would not deign75 to receive any money that was hers; but his own two thousand pounds he would have: and two or three hundred on the spot by way of instalment. And, with these hard views, he drew near to Hernshaw; but the nearer he got, the slower he went; for, what at a distance had seemed tolerably easy, began to get more and more difficult, and repulsive76. Moreover, his heart, which he thought he had steeled, began now to flutter a little, and somehow to shudder44 at the approaching interview.
该作者其它作品
《The Cloister and the Hearth回廊与壁炉》
该作者其它作品
《The Cloister and the Hearth回廊与壁炉》
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1
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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3
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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allege
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| vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言 | |
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5
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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inscribe
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| v.刻；雕；题写；牢记 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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8
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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11
malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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tuning
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| n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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19
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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20
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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21
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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22
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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attachments
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| n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物 | |
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outlast
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| v.较…耐久 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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innuendoes
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| n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 )；讽刺的话；含沙射影；暗讽 | |
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36
obliquely
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| adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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38
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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invective
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| n.痛骂，恶意抨击 | |
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44
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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45
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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46
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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47
embellishing
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| v.美化( embellish的现在分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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49
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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50
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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51
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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52
bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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53
yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
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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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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56
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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57
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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58
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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59
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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61
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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62
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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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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67
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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69
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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70
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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71
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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72
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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73
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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74
dishonour
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| n./vt.拒付（支票、汇票、票据等）；vt.凌辱，使丢脸；n.不名誉，耻辱，不光彩 | |
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75
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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76
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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