The rush of feet among the leaves grew every moment closer and closer upon them, and now they heard the breathing of their pursuer—the sounds came near—nearer—they approached—they reached them.
"Oh, God! they are up with us—they are upon us," said Mary, stumbling blindly onward2, and at the same moment she felt something laid heavily upon her shoulder—she tottered—her strength forsook3 her, and she fell helplessly among the branching roots of the old trees.
"My lady—oh, my lady—thank God, it's only the dog," cried Flora4 Guy, clapping her hands in grateful ecstasies5; and at the same time, Mary felt a cold nose thrust under her neck and her chin and cheeks licked by her old favourite, poor Rover. More dead than alive, she raised herself again to her feet, and before her sat the great old dog, his tail sweeping6 the rustling7 leaves in wide circles, and his good-humoured tongue lolling from among his ivory fangs8. With many a frisk and bound the fine dog greeted his long-lost mistress, and seemed resolved to make himself one of the party.
The old dog looked wonderingly in the face of his mistress.
"Home, Rover—home," repeated she, and the noble dog did credit to his good training by turning dejectedly, and proceeding10 at a slow, broken trot11 homeward, after stopping, however, and peeping round his shoulder, as though in the hope of some signal relentingly inviting12 his return.
Thus relieved of their immediate13 fears, the two fugitives14, weak, exhausted15, and breathless, reached the great gate, and found themselves at length upon the high road. Here they ventured to check their speed, and pursue their way at a pace which enabled them to recover breath and strength, but still fearfully listening for any sound indicative of pursuit.
The moon was high in the heavens, but the dark, drifting scud16 was sailing across her misty17 disc, and giving to her light the character of ceaseless and ever varying uncertainty18. The road on which they walked was that which led to Dublin city, and from each side was embowered by tall old trees, and rudely fenced by unequal grassy19 banks. They had proceeded nearly half-a-mile without encountering any living being, when they heard, suddenly, a little way before them, the sharp clang of horses' hoofs21 upon the road, and shortly after, the moon shining forth22 for a moment, revealed distinctly the forms of two horsemen approaching at a slow trot.
"As sure as light, my lady, it's they," said Flora Guy, "I know Sir Henry's grey horse—don't stop, my lady—don't try to hide—just draw the hood23 over your head, and walk on steady with me, and they'll never mind us, but pass on."
With a throbbing24 heart, Mary obeyed her companion, and they walked side by side by the edge of the grassy bank and under the tall trees—the distance between them and the two mounted figures momentarily diminishing.
"I say he's as lame25 as a hop-jack," cried the well-known voice of Nicholas Blarden, as they approached—"hav'n't you an eye in your head, you mouth, you—look there—another false step, by Jove."
Just at this moment the girls, looking neither to the right nor left, and almost sinking with fear, were passing them by.
"Stop you, one of you, will you?" said Blarden, addressing them, and at the same time reining26 in his horse.
Flora Guy stopped, and making a slight curtsey, awaited his further pleasure, while Mary Ashwoode, with faltering27 steps and almost dead with terror, walked slowly on.
"Yes, sir," faltered28 the girl, with another curtsey, and not venturing to raise her voice, for fear of detection.
"Well, look into them all in turn, will you?" continued Blarden, "while I walk the beast a bit. Do you see anything? is there a stone there?—is there?"
"No, sir," said she again, with a curtsey.
"No, sir," echoed he—"but I say 'yes, sir,' and I'll take my oath of it. D——n it, it can't be a strain. Get down, Ashwoode, I say, and look to it yourself; these blasted women are fit for nothing but darning old stockings—get down, I say, Ashwoode."
Without awaiting for any more formal dismissal, Flora Guy walked quickly on, and speedily overtook her companion, and side by side they continued to go at the same moderate pace, until a sudden turn in the road interposing trees and bushes between them and the two horsemen, they renewed their flight at the swiftest pace which their exhausted strength could sustain; and need had they to exert their utmost speed, for greater dangers than they had yet escaped were still to follow.
Meanwhile Nicholas Blarden and Sir Henry Ashwoode mended their pace, and proceeded at a brisk trot toward the manor29 of Morley Court. Both rode on more than commonly silent, and whenever Blarden spoke30, it was with something more than his usual savage31 moroseness32. No doubt their rapid approach to the scene where their hellish cruelty and oppression were to be completed, did not serve either to exhilarate their spirits or to soothe33 the asperities34 of Blarden's ruffian temper. Now and then, indeed, he did indulge in a few flashes of savage exulting35 glee at his anticipated triumph over the hereditary36 pride of Sir Henry, against whom, with all a coward's rancour, he still cherished a "lodged37 hate," and in mortifying38 and insulting whom his kestrel heart delighted and rioted with joy. As they approached the ancient avenue, as if by mutual39 consent, they both drew bridle40 and reduced their pace to a walk.
"There's no need for that—surely there is none?" said Ashwoode.
"Need or no need, it's my humour," replied Blarden.
"I've suffered enough already in this matter," replied Sir Henry, bitterly; "there's no use in heaping gratuitous42 annoyances43 and degradation44 upon me."
"Ho, ho, running rusty45," exclaimed Blarden, with the harsh laugh of coarse insult—"running rusty, eh? I thought you were broken in by this time—paces learned and mouth made, eh?—take care, take care."
"I say," repeated Ashwoode, impetuously, "you can have no object in compelling my presence, except to torment46 me."
"Well, suppose I allow that—what then, eh?—ho, ho!" retorted Blarden.
Sir Henry did not reply, but a strange fancy crossed his mind.
"I say," resumed Blarden, "I'll have no argument about it; I choose it, and what I choose must be done—that's enough."
The road was silent and deserted47; no sound, save the ringing of their own horses' hoofs upon the stones, disturbed the stillness of the air; dark, ragged48 clouds obscured the waning49 moon, and the shadows were deepened further by the stooping branches of the tall trees which guarded the road on either side. Ashwoode's hand rested upon the pommel of his holster pistol, and by his side moved the wretch50 whose cunning and ferocity had dogged and destroyed him—with startling vividness the suggestion came. His eyes rested upon the dusky form of his companion, all calculations of consequences faded away from his remembrance, and yielding to the dark, dreadful influence which was upon him, he clutched the weapon with a deadly gripe.
"What are you staring at me for?—am I a stone wall, eh?" exclaimed Blarden, who instinctively51 perceived something odd in Ashwoode's air and attitude, spite of the obscurity in which they rode.
The spell was broken. Ashwoode felt as if awaking from a dream, and looked fearfully round, almost expecting to behold52 the visible presence of the principle of mischief53 by his side, so powerful and vivid had been the satanic impulse of the moment before.
They turned into the great avenue through which so lately the fugitives had fearfully sped.
"We're at home now," cried Blarden; "come, be brisk, will you?" And so saying, he struck Ashwoode's horse a heavy blow with his whip. The spirited animal reared and bolted, and finally started at a gallop54 down the broad avenue towards the mansion55, and at the same pace Nicholas Blarden also thundered to the hall door.
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1
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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5
ecstasies
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| 狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药 | |
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6
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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9
rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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10
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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12
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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13
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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14
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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scud
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| n.疾行；v.疾行 | |
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17
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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18
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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19
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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24
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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26
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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27
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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28
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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29
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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30
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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31
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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32
moroseness
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33
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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34
asperities
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| n.粗暴( asperity的名词复数 )；（表面的）粗糙；（环境的）艰苦；严寒的天气 | |
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35
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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36
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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37
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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38
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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39
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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40
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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41
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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42
gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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43
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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44
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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45
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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46
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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47
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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48
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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49
waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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50
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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51
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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52
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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53
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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54
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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55
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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