This beauty, with her back to creation, was Edith Raby, Guy's sister.
During their father's lifetime she was petted and allowed her own way. Hillsborough, odious6 to her brother, was, naturally, very attractive to her, and she often rode into the town to shop and chat with her friends, and often stayed a day or two in it, especially with a Mrs. Manton, wife of a wealthy manufacturer.
Guy merely sneered7 at her, her friends, and her tastes, till he suddenly discovered that she had formed an attachment8 to one of the obnoxious9 class, Mr. James Little, a great contract builder. He was too shocked at first to vent10 his anger. He turned pale, and could hardly speak; and the poor girl's bosom11 began to quake.
But Guy's opposition12 went no further than cold aversion to the intimacy—until his father died. Then, though but a year older than Edith, he assumed authority and, as head of the house, forbade the connection. At the same time he told her he should not object, under the circumstances, to her marrying Dr. Amboyne, a rising physician, and a man of good family, who loved her sincerely, and had shown his love plainly before ever Mr. Little was heard of.
Edith tried to soften13 her brother; but he was resolute14, and said Raby Hall should never be an appendage15 to a workshop. Sooner than that, he would settle it on his cousin Richard, a gentleman he abhorred16, and never called, either to his face or behind his back, by any other name than “Dissolute Dick.”
Then Edith became very unhappy, and temporized17 more or less, till her lover, who had shown considerable forbearance, lost patience at last, and said she must either have no spirit, or no true affection for him.
Then came a month or two of misery18, the tender clinging nature of the girl being averse19 to detach itself from either of these two persons. She loved them both with an affection she could have so easily reconciled, if they would only have allowed her.
And it all ended according to Nature. She came of age, plucked up a spirit, and married Mr. James Little.
Her brother declined to be present at the wedding; but, as soon as she returned from her tour, and settled in Hillsborough, he sent his groom20 with a cold, civil note, reminding her that their father had settled nineteen hundred pounds on her, for her separate use, with remainder to her children, if any; that he and Mr. Graham were the trustees of this small fund; that they had invested it, according to the provisions of the settlement, in a first mortgage on land; and informing her that half a year's interest at 4 12 per cent was due, which it was his duty to pay into her own hand and no other person's; she would therefore oblige him by receiving the inclosed check, and signing the inclosed receipt.
The receipt came back signed, and with it a few gentle lines, “hoping that, in time, he would forgive her, and bestow21 on her what she needed and valued more than money; her own brother's, her only brother's affection.”
On receiving this, his eyes were suddenly moist, and he actually groaned22. “A lady, every inch!” he said; “yet she has gone and married a bricklayer.”
Well, blood is thicker than water, and in a few years they were pretty good friends again, though they saw but little of one another, meeting only in Hillsborough, which Guy hated, and never drove into now without what he called his antidotes23: a Bible and a bottle of lavender-water. It was his humor to read the one, and sprinkle the other, as soon as ever he got within the circle of the smoky trades.
When Edith's little boy was nine years old, and much admired for his quickness and love of learning, and of making walking-stick heads and ladies' work-boxes, Mr. Little's prosperity received a severe check, and through his own fault. He speculated largely in building villas24, overdid25 the market, and got crippled. He had contracts uncompleted, and was liable to penalties; and at last saw himself the nominal26 possessor of a brick wilderness27, but on the verge28 of ruin for want of cash.
He tried every other resource first; but at last he came to his wife, to borrow her L1900. The security he offered was a mortgage on twelve carcasses, or houses the bare walls and roofs of which were built.
Mrs. Little wrote at once to Mr. Raby for her money.
Instead of lending the trust-money hastily, Raby submitted the proposal to his solicitor29, and that gentleman soon discovered the vaunted security was a second mortgage, with interest overdue30 on the first; and so he told Guy, who then merely remarked, “I expected as much. When had a tradesman any sense of honor in money matters? This one would cheat his very wife and child.”
He declined the proposal, in two words, “Rotten security!”
Then Mr. James Little found another security that looked very plausible31, and primed his wife with arguments, and she implored32 Guy to call and talk it over with them both.
He came that very afternoon, and brought his father's will.
Then Edith offered the security, and tried to convey to the trustee her full belief that it was undeniable.
Guy picked terrible holes in it, and read their father's will, confining the funds to consols, or a first mortgage on land. “You take the money on these conditions: it is almost as improper33 of you to wish to evade34 them, as it would be of me to assist you. And then there is your child; I am hound in honor not to risk his little fortune. See, here's my signature to that.”
“My child!” cried Edith. “When he comes of age, I'll go on my knees to him and say, 'My darling, I borrowed your money to save your father's credit.' And my darling will throw his arms round me, and forgive me.”
“Simpleton!” said Guy. “And how about your daughters and their husbands? And their husbands' solicitors35? Will they throw their arms round your neck, and break forth36 into twaddle? No! I have made inquiries37. Your husband's affairs are desperate. I won't throw your money into his well; and you will both live to thank me for seeing clearer than you do, and saving this L1900 for you and yours.”
“Edith, you shall demean yourself no more. He always hated me: and now let him have his will, and seal my dishonor and my ruin. Oblige me by leaving my house, Mr. Raby.”
“Oh, no, James!” cried Edith, trembling, and shocked at this affront39. But Guy rose like a tower. “I've noticed this trait in all tradespeople,” said he grimly. “They are obsequious40 to a gentleman so long as they hope to get the better of him; but, the moment they find it is impossible to overreach him, they insult him.” And with this he stalked out of the house.
“Oh, my poor James, how could you?” said Edith.
“Forgive me,” said he, quietly. “It is all over. That was our last chance.”
Guy Raby walked down the street, stung to the quick. He went straight to his solicitor and arranged to borrow L1900 on his own property. “For,” said he, “I'll show them both how little a snob41 can understand a gentleman. I won't tamper42 with her son's money, but I'll give her my own to throw into his well. Confound him! why did she ever marry him?”
When the business was virtually settled, he came back to the house in great haste.
Meantime Mr. James Little went up to his dressing-room, as usual, to dress for dinner; but he remained there so long that, at last, Mrs. Little sent her maid to tell him dinner was ready.
The girl had hardly reached the top of the stairs, when she gave a terrible scream that rang through the whole house.
Mrs. Little rushed upstairs, and found her clinging to the balusters, and pointing at the floor, with eyes protruding43 and full of horror. Her candle-stick had fallen from her benumbed hand; but the hall-lamp revealed what her finger was quivering and pointing at: a dark fluid trickling44 slowly out into the lobby from beneath the bedroom door.
It was blood.
The room was burst into, and the wretched, tottering45 wife, hanging upon her sobbing47 servants, found her lover, her husband, her child's father, lying on the floor, dead by his own hand; stone dead. A terrible sight for strangers to see; but for her, what words can even shadow the horror of it!
I drop the veil on her wild bursts of agony, and piteous appeals to him who could not hear her cries.
The gaping48 wound that let out that precious life, her eye never ceased to see it, nor her own heart to bleed with it, while she lived.
She was gently dragged away, and supported down to another room. Doctor Amboyne came and did what he could for her; and that was—nothing.
At this time she seemed stupefied. But when Guy came beaming into the room to tell her he had got her the money, a terrible scene occurred. The bereaved49 wife uttered a miserable50 scream at sight of him, and swooned away directly.
The maids gathered round her, laid her down, and cut her stays, and told Guy the terrible tidings, in broken whispers, over her insensible body.
He rose to his feet horrified51. He began to gasp52 and sob46. And he yearned53 to say something to comfort her. At that moment his house, his heart, and all he had, were hers.
But, as soon as she came to herself, and caught sight of him, she screamed out, “Oh, the sight of him! the sight of him!” and swooned away again.
He shut himself up in Raby Hall, and felt very sad and remorseful55. He directed his solicitor to render Mrs. Little every assistance, and supply her with funds. But these good offices were respectfully declined by Mr. Joseph Little, the brother of the deceased, who had come from Birmingham to conduct the funeral and settle other matters.
Mr. Joseph Little was known to be a small master-cutler, who had risen from a workman, and even now put blades and handles together with his own hands, at odd times, though he had long ceased to forge or grind.
It soon transpired57 that Mr. James Little had died hopelessly insolvent58, and the L1900 would really have been ingulfed.
Raby waited for this fact to sink into his sister's mind; and then one day nature tugged59 so at his heart-strings, that he dashed off a warm letter beginning—“My poor Edith, let bygones be bygones,” and inviting60 her and her boy to live with him at Raby Hall.
The heart-broken widow sent back a reply, in a handwriting scarcely recognizable as hers. Instead of her usual precise and delicate hand, the letters were large, tremulous, and straggling, and the lines slanted61 downward.
“Write to me, speak to me, no more. For pity's sake let me forget there is a man in the world who is my brother and his murderer.
“EDITH.”
Guy opened this letter with a hopeful face, and turned pale as ashes at the contents.
But his conscience was clear, and his spirit high. “Unjust idiot!” he muttered, and locked her letter up in his desk.
Next morning he received a letter from Joseph Little, in a clear, stiff, perpendicular62 writing:
“SIR,—I find my sister-in-law wrote you, yesterday, a harsh letter, which I do not approve; and have told her as much. Deceased's affairs were irretrievable, and I blame no other man for his rash act, which may God forgive! As to your kind and generous invitation, it deserves her gratitude63; but Mrs. Little and myself have mingled64 our tears together over my poor brother's grave, and now we do not care to part. Before your esteemed65 favor came to hand, it had been settled she should leave this sad neighborhood and keep my house at Birmingham, where she will meet with due respect. I am only a small tradesman; but I can pay my debts, and keep the pot boiling. Will teach the boy some good trade, and make him a useful member of society, if I am spared.
“I am, sir, yours respectfully,
“JOSEPH LITTLE.”
“Sir,—I beg to acknowledge, with thanks, your respectable letter.
“As all direct communication between Mrs. James Little and myself is at an end, oblige me with your address in Birmingham, that I may remit66 to you, half-yearly, as her agent, the small sum that has escaped bricks and mortar67.
“When her son comes of age, she will probably forgive me for declining to defraud68 him of his patrimony69.
“But it will be too late; for I shall never forgive her, alive or dead.
“I am, sir, your obedient servant,
“GUY RABY.”
When he had posted this letter he turned Edith's picture to the wall, and wrote on the canvas—
“GONE INTO TRADE.”
He sent for his attorney, made a new will, and bequeathed his land, houses, goods, and chattels70, to Dissolute Dick and his heirs forever.
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1
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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laudatory
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| adj.赞扬的 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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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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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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13
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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15
appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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17
temporized
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| v.敷衍( temporize的过去式和过去分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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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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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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20
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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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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23
antidotes
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| 解药( antidote的名词复数 )； 解毒剂； 对抗手段； 除害物 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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25
overdid
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去式 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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26
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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29
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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30
overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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31
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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32
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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34
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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35
solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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38
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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40
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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41
snob
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| n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人 | |
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42
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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43
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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44
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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45
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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46
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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47
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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48
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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49
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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50
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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51
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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52
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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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
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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55
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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56
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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57
transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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58
insolvent
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| adj.破产的，无偿还能力的 | |
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59
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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61
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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62
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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63
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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64
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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65
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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66
remit
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| v.汇款，汇寄；豁免（债务），免除（处罚等） | |
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67
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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68
defraud
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| vt.欺骗，欺诈 | |
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69
patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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