It is a keen experience of wayfarers1 that a north-easterly, unlike a south-easterly wind, seldom drops at evenfall; and therefore should it be a leading principle in the ethics2 of all wise innkeepers to leave a blind or two up when the rasping demon3 is abroad at sundown. For what an acute accent on numbness4 is that flash from a ruddy window! What an invitation in it and a suggestion of the purple bead5 on a glass of mulled wine! A moment before, life had blown chill and astringent—a hateful, brassy, and unprofitable affair, whose every vile6 sensation seemed concentrated in the tips of the ears. Now its interests have gleefully enlarged. There grows and blooms an image of a richly-bought experience of a sanded tap-room; of schools of sleek7 glasses on shelves, their glossy8 depths, in the red stillness of the fire-glow, slumberous9 with ruby11, as if a memory of the good warm stuff they had known yet coloured all their dreams; of sturdy kegs, each with an amber12 drop tremulous on the nozzle of its tap, and its sides pregnant with jollity; of bowls of sugar; of pimpled13 lemons; of the comfortable purr of a kettle on the hob; of the essence of all of these rising in a fragrant14 steam that shall moisten the very drought of the heart and send it singing on its way.
Betty Pollack, the daughter and granddaughter of innkeepers, had the right comfortable instinct in this respect; and when the cry of the wind came under the door-sill like a wolf’s howl, she knew the demon flew from the north-east, and would order her plans accordingly.
Then, at fall of dark, from the unblinded tap-window of the “First Inn,” the zealous15 lamp-glow would flood the road and wash the trunks of the trees on the opposite side; till any one passing into that lighthouse radiance—wherein the whipped leaves were whirled like flakes16 of umber foam—would be as morally certain to gravitate towards the tavern-door as if he were come within the charmed circle about a witch’s lair17.
And a very alluring18 witch was Betty—wholesome as white bread, and tempered with fragrance19 like the warm stroking bouquet20 of delectable21 claret. In winter she was still like the garden scabious, which of all flowers smells most of honey, and whose blossoms are little beds of love for troubadour bees.
It was ten o’clock of a wintry night, and Betty sang in her bar. She lifted up her sweet voice because she was alone; for the icy wind wailed22 without, and Hodge had filled up betimes and stumped23 off to his trundle-bed, and custom was scant24. Grandfather was snoring in his blankets this half-hour; Jim hard by nodded against his lanthorn in the kitchen, and Betty thought of shutting up and seeking slumber10 of her own warm pillow.
She moved to and fro, putting little sprigs of Christmas in glasses, bottles, and up in odd places of the bar. For Yule was but a week to come, and Betty was staunch to tradition.
She sang as she moved (adapting them to an air of her own contriving) some words by a Mr. Wordsworth, who was then nothing popular in men’s mouths. But a travelling tinker (perhaps Peter Bell) had left the book with her as a tribute to her prettiness, and Betty knowing nothing of schools appreciated the gift.
“Sometimes he’ll hide in the cave of a rock,
she warbled of the wind; and a blade of it flashed in cuttingly on the note, for just then somebody pushed open the tap-door and entered.
Her song died in her throat. It went up like the requiem26 of the phœnix, in a flame of fire that reddened her cheeks, and then left them white as the ashes of rose leaves.
“Mr. Tuke,” she whispered.
He came in with a dark look on his face, that seemed stiff, moreover, with the onset27 of furious blasts; but the teeth showed in a smile as he walked up to the counter and held out his hand to the girl.
“Are you alone, Betty?”
“Yes,” she murmured, almost inaudibly.
He clasped the soft palm in his, and would not let it go.
“Won’t your honour come and toast at the parlour-fire?” she said timidly. “’Tis raw and cold where you stand.”
“I know it, my dear. The wind was a file in my teeth as I walked from ‘Delsrop.’”
“Walked! Your honour has walked?”
“And why not, Betty? That is a rare febrifuge—a night-tramp in a north-easter.”
She looked up at him strangely, as she undid31 the hasp of the half-door of the bar and held the panel open. He paused on the threshold.
“You are alone, you say?”
“All but for Jim, who nods in the kitchen. I was moving to lock up when your honour came.”
“Do so now, and send the lad to bed. I want you to myself, Betty.”
He did not wait for an answer; but walked past the girl and into the little warm room beyond her. And here he stood looking down upon the red glow of the fire.
He was conscious of a considerable pause, and then of an uncertain step moving away from the counter. A fierce and reckless devil was riding him, and all his senses were acute to answer to the bit.
Presently he heard a shutter32 going gently into place, and then the step again, and a soft voice—almost with an entreating33 anguish34 in it, as if it would fain have its order discarded.
“Jim, you can go to bed.”
He waited once more—interminably it seemed.
At length he made up his mind and strode out into the tap.
The girl was leaning silently against the counter, her breath coming fast, her cheeks the colour of ladysmocks.
Without a word he led her into the little room and swung to the door. He put her before him and, taking her face between his hands, looked into her frightened eyes.
“Do I terrify you, you little brown starling? I am overcome myself, half-silly with anger and contempt, and most of all, I think, with injured vanity.”
She gazed up at him from the depths of entreating eyes, and he saw the slow tears gathering in them.
“Betty, Betty!” he murmured.
“You are a gentleman, and I am alone,” was all she answered.
“Why, I should be angered if any one called me otherwise,” he said. “And that, maybe, would end in a bullet; and so to prove my claim to the title before the court of final appeal up there. And what could I say?—that Betty trusted me, and that I abused her trust.”
“You will not—no, never.”
“But I am in a very cruel and selfish mood, sweetheart; and I know that you love me—I know it, Betty.”
She forced his hands apart, and stepped back.
“Yes,” she said bravely, “I do; I can’t help it. I would follow you across the world if you called me. But you will not.”
“Not across the world; but this room. Come!”
She went up to him at once; allowed herself to be taken into his arms—to have her lips passionately38 kissed. Then she drew back once more with bowed head.
“Now,” she said low, “I am yours; and I love you purely39, and I am sweet and good. Yes, I am; for how else could I school the love in my heart, and it near breaking? And you love me because I am. But what should I be afterwards—oh, what, what?”
“Betty, I am unhappy.”
She threw herself into grandfather’s old elbow-chair, and buried her face in her hands.
“No, no!” she cried piteously. “You won’t be so cruel!”
He went and seated himself by her on the arm of the chair.
“Shall I tell you what hath driven me to you, Betty?”
“No, my dear. I am not justified41 in assuming the right to quarrel. She hath given me none. But she maddens me with her whimsies42 till the man in me rises up and refuses to be any longer the slave of her caprices.”
“What is she doing?”
“She trifles with my suit. ’Twas an honourable43 one that would seek to found a union on esteem44 and confidence. What can she know of these when she plays off my own servant against me in the regard of both?”
“That is not like you, Betty.”
“A decent, low-born fellow. I hold him nothing to blame. He walks like a cat on the ice till ’tis comical to see him.”
He laughed slightly. The little warmth of merriment awoke new tenderness in him. He put his arm about the girl’s shoulders as she lay huddled47 close by.
“I take you into my confidence, dear; and you will not abuse me that I speak slightingly, out of my soreness, of a rival. Yet she is little that. She is a beautiful and refined lady, of whom I desired a favour that ’twere presumption48 for such as I to ask. So I withdraw my plan to wed28 delicately and live highly, and bow my admiration49 and retire. And then my heart gives a free leap, and I fly for love to the nest of my pretty brown bird.”
The girl sat up, and put the hair from her wet eyes.
“The bird would die on the morrow,” she said. “Oh! you must go back and try once more.”
“What! you would bid me to another’s arms?”
“I would bid you do the part of the brave and honourable gentleman my silly fancy went out to.”
“And, if I succeeded?”
“And would you die a maid for my sake?”
She clasped her hands and put them up so against his breast. The tears were running down her cheeks.
“Yes,” she murmured, half-choking, “I will promise that—my love—my love that is so far above and beyond me.”
He jumped to his feet.
“Get you gone!” he cried, almost roughly. “Go! while my heart is running over with pity. I will sit out the night by the fire here, and fight down my devil alone! Not another word, or kiss, or look! and—and, Betty, turn the key as you go and lock me in.”
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1
wayfarers
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| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
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2
ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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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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sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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slumberous
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| a.昏昏欲睡的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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pimpled
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| adj.有丘疹的，多粉刺的 | |
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14
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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15
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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16
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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17
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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18
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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19
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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21
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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22
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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24
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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25
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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26
requiem
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| n.安魂曲，安灵曲 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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28
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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29
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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30
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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31
Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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32
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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33
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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34
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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35
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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36
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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37
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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38
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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39
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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40
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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41
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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42
whimsies
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| n.怪念头( whimsy的名词复数 )；异想天开；怪脾气；与众不同的幽默感 | |
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43
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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44
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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45
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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46
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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47
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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49
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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50
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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51
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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