Larry Toole was true to his word. Without turning from the direct course, or pausing on his way for one moment, he accomplished1 the service which he had volunteered, and in an incredibly short time returned to the little inn, bringing Mr. Audley with him in a coach.
With an air of importance and mystery, suitable to the occasion, the little gentleman, followed by his attendant, proceeded to the chamber2 where Miss Ashwoode and her maid were awaiting his arrival. Mary arose as he entered the room, and Larry, from behind, ejaculated, in a tone of pompous3 exultation4, "Here he is, Miss Mary—Mr. Audley himself, an' no mistake."
"Tut, tut, Larry," exclaimed the little gentleman, turning impatiently toward that personage, whose obstreperous6 announcement had disarranged his plans of approach; "hold your tongue, Larry, I say—ahem!"
"Mr. Audley," said Mary, "I hope you will pardon——"
"Not one word of the kind—excuse the interruption—not a word," exclaimed the little gentleman, gallantly7 waving his hand—"only too much honour—too proud, Miss Ashwoode, I have long known something of your family, and, strange as it may appear, have felt a peculiar8 interest in you—although I had not the honour of your acquaintance—for the sake of—of other parties. I have ever entertained a warm regard for your welfare, and although circumstances are much, very much changed, I cannot forget relations that once subsisted—ahem!" This was said diplomatically, and he blew his nose with a short decisive twang. "I understand, my poor young lady," he continued, relapsing into the cordial manner that was natural to him, "that you are at this moment in circumstances of difficulty, perhaps of danger, and that you have been disappointed in this emergency by the absence of your relative, Major O'Leary, with whose acquaintance, by-the-bye, I am honoured, and a more worthy9, warm-hearted—but no matter—in his absence, then, I venture to tender my poor services—pray, if it be not too bold a request, tell me fully10 and fairly, the nature of your embarrassment11; and if zeal12, activity, and the friendliest dispositions13 can avail to extricate14 you, you may command them all—pray, then, let me know what I can do to serve you." So saying, the old gentleman took the pale and lovely lady's hand, with a mixture of tenderness and respect which encouraged and assured her.
Larry having withdrawn15, she told the little gentleman all that she could communicate, without disclosing her brother's implication in the conspiracy16. Even this reserve, the old gentleman's warm and kindly17 manner, and the good-natured simplicity18, apparent in all he said and did, effectually removed, and the whole case, in all its bearings, and with all its circumstances, was plainly put before him. During the narrative19, the little gentleman was repeatedly so transported with ire as to slap his thigh20, sniff21 violently, and mutter incoherent ejaculations between his teeth; and when it was ended, was so far overcome by his feelings, that he did not trust himself to address the young lady, until he had a little vented22 his indignation by marching and countermarching, at quick time, up and down the room, blowing his nose with desperate abandonment, and muttering sundry23 startling interjections. At length he grew composed, and addressing Mary Ashwoode, observed,—
"You are quite right, my dear young lady—quite right, indeed, in resolving against putting yourself into the hands of anybody under Sir Henry's influence—perfectly right and wise. Have you no relatives in this country, none capable of protecting you, and willing to do so?"
"I have, indeed, one relative," rejoined she, but——"
"Who is it?" interrupted Audley.
"An uncle," replied Mary.
"His name, my dear—his name?" inquired the old gentleman, impatiently.
"His name is French—Oliver French," replied she, "but——"
"Never mind," interrupted Audley again, "where does he live?"
"He lives in an old place called Ardgillagh," rejoined she, "on the borders of the county of Limerick."
"Is it easily found out?—near the high road from Dublin?—near any town?—easily got at?" inquired he, with extra-ordinary volubility.
"I've heard my brother say," rejoined she, "that it is not far from the high road from Dublin; he was there himself. I believe the place is well known by the peasantry for many miles round; but——"
"Very good, very good, my dear," interposed Mr. Audley again. "Has he a family—a wife?"
"No," rejoined Mary; "he is unmarried, and an old man."
"Pooh, pooh! why the devil hasn't he a wife? but no matter, you'll be all the welcomer. That's our ground—all the safer that it's a little out of the way," exclaimed the old man. "We'll steal a march—they'll never suspect us; we'll start at once."
"But I fear," said Mary, dejectedly, "that he will not receive me. There has long been an estrangement24 between our family and him; with my father he had a deadly quarrel while I was yet an infant. He vowed25 that neither my father nor any child of his should ever cross his threshold. I've been told he bitterly resented what he believed to have been my father's harsh treatment of my mother. I was too young, however, to know on which side the right of the quarrel was; but I fear there is little hope of his doing as you expect, for some six or seven years since my brother was sent down, in the hope of a reconciliation26, and in vain. He returned, reporting that my uncle Oliver had met all his advances with scorn. No, no, I fear—I greatly fear he will not receive me."
"Never believe it—never think so," rejoined old Audley, warmly; "if he were man enough to resent your mother's wrongs, think you his heart will have no room for yours? Think you his nature's changed, that he cannot pity the distressed27, and hate tyranny any longer? Never believe me, if he won't hug you to his heart the minute he sees you. I like the old chap; he was right to be angry—it was his duty to be in a confounded passion; he ought to have been kicked if he hadn't done just as he did—I'd swear he was right. Never trust me, if he'll not take your part with his whole heart, and make you his pet for as long as you please to stay with him. Deuce take him, I like the old fellow."
"You would advise me, then, to apply to him for protection?" asked Mary Ashwoode, "and I suppose to go down there immediately."
"Most unquestionably so," replied Mr. Audley, with a short nod of decision—"most unquestionably—start to-night; we shall go as far as the town of Naas; I will accompany you. I consider you my ward5 until your natural protectors take you under their affectionate charge, and guard you from grief and danger as they ought. My good girl," he continued, addressing Flora28 Guy, "you must come along with your mistress; I've a coach at the door. We shall go directly into town, and my landlady29 shall take you both under her care until I have procured30 two chaises, the one for myself, and the other for your mistress and you. You will find Mrs. Pickley, my landlady, a very kind, excellent person, and ready to assist you in making your preparations for the journey."
The old gentleman then led his young and beautiful charge, with a mixture of gallantry and pity, by the hand down the little inn stairs, and in a very brief time Mary Ashwoode and her faithful attendant found themselves under the hospitable31 protection of Mrs. Pickley's roof-tree.
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1
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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8
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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9
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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10
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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11
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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12
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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13
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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14
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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15
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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16
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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17
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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18
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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19
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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20
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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21
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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22
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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estrangement
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| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
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25
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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28
flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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29
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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30
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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31
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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