During a period of supreme1 trial Sir David showed himself a man of courage and resource. The appalling2 thunder of the explosion, the vision of the fiery4 upheaval5 of the floor were still in his ears and eyes, when he leapt to the immediate6 necessity of action and of his taking the situation by the throat. Tuke was disabled—his servant half-insane with hysteria. Somebody must rally the household, and quickly; for, though the dense7 pall3 of smoke that choked the room, fitful fires were winking8 and blossoming; and it was evident that the place was alight in more than one quarter. It was no time to marvel9 or speculate over the nature of the wild catastrophe10 that had occurred. His interest at the outset was to secure the escape of every inmate11 of the house; and he plunged12 into the hall with a shrieking13 summons to man and maid to make for the passage. Into this, heavy clouds of gaseous14 vapour were rolling from its further end; their direction seeming to point to the locality of the explosion. He ran to the front-door, tore open the fastenings, and flung a way into the freezing cold of the outer night. Then he rushed back and, repeating his summons, made for the stair-foot. Here he met them coming down pell-mell—choking, sobbing15, feeling their way in mad terror—men, women, and the one boy.
What was it? What had happened?
His sister flung herself into his arms, imploring16 to be saved; Dunlone, quaking and white as a turnip17, shook out curses of impotent frenzy18; the maids cried and gabbled volubly, and even the boy was moved to some shrill19 expression of inquiry20 as to the cause of so stupendous a bang.
The little baronet silenced and marshalled them all. He led them—preceded by one loving soul—shivering and shrieking down the passage—into the open air; and there against a snow-drift he left them, and fled back to his duty.
Not an individual, thank God!—save those already accounted for—was injured. He came upon the master, faint and stumbling, in the hall. On one side the faithful groom21 supported him; on the other a poor girl received his weight. She, this pathetic maid, looked dumbly at the rescuer, wistful as a shorn lamb.
“What can you do to this?” her eyes said. They might have yearned22 as those of her, the mother of the cripple that was brought to Jesus.
“Help him outside,” he said, with compassion23 in his voice. He did not know that here his quarrel with his friend was pitifully resolved.
Through the now ruddy fog he went down into the room of death. Brander, lying in his agony at the step-foot, cried to him to save him from a horrible fate.
“The worthy24 first,” he said sternly, and could have found it in his heart to pity the poor wretch25 for the despairing moan he vented27. But it was Whimple he hunted for and shrieked28 to; and whose prostrate29 form he at length stumbled upon.
“You madman! You struck for your life and revenged your master!”
“My God! Is he dead?”
The man got to his feet in the terror of the thought.
“No—but he’s hurt—he’s hurt. And there’s another to pull from the fire—Luvaine, that my mind misgives33 me lies at the source of this trouble. You’ll come, man, and help me with him, if he’s alive?”
“Yes, yes—life! Oh! show me where I can do something to save it!”
He stumbled blindly after the other, and he gave out a heavy groan34 as he passed by the inanimate bundle on the floor. Bloody35 Jack36 Fern showed his right title to the adjective; but it was obvious he was gone beyond considerations of rescue.
The draught37 drawn38 into the burning house had for the moment a little thinned the smoke in the passage. They took advantage of the respite39, and plunged for the rearward chamber40, where they assumed the victim must lie. The misty41 lightnings flashed from the blazing room were their only lamps of guidance; for the crash had extinguished or overturned every taper42 in the lower part of the building, and a reeling darkness added to the horror of the situation.
Fortunately Dennis was familiar with every stone of the old grange; and he led Sir David, who clung to his coat-skirt, with an unerring instinct. But at the very entrance of the vault43 they stumbled over some débris, and recovering themselves and moving forward again, down they clumped44 upon a flap of shattered wood-work, and near rolled into a black yawning mouth that breathed a sick vapour at them.
Blythewood raised himself cautiously on his hands.
“Luvaine!” he yelled. “Where are you, man? Luvaine! Luvaine!”
No sound of answer came back to them; but, listening intently, they were in a moment aware of a little breathing moan against the wall in their neighbourhood.
“He’s there, by the Lord!” said Sir David, in a suppressed voice.
When, come again with difficulty to their feet, they followed the whispered clue to the poor broken creature and tried to shift him, he pattered out such a delirium45 of torment46 that they must refrain from the effort to bear him out in their arms. But they made a sling47 of Whimple’s coat, and getting him into this as best they could, they took it between them, and treading with infinite care, accomplished48 their escape from that veritable trap of death. Returning to the passage, they found this to be filled anew with driving volumes of vapour, and a great increase of roaring and flaming sounds to proceed from the dining-hall; but they passed the danger at a scamper49, looking thereinto as they fled by at a rising sea of fire that leapt up the walls in pointing waves, and fell and spread abroad and leapt again. And from the threshold step, over which in his terror he had managed to struggle his half-paralyzed arms, Brander screamed to them and prayed to their mercy with knotted hands.
And at the last they saved the scoundrel, when the heat smote50 upon their faces like scourges51 of nettle52 and the smoke plugged their throats; and they laid him down in the snow a little apart from the rest, and paused at length and wiped their sooty brows and breathed in the frost as if it were perfumed sunlight.
Now were all accounted for; but the bitter night must take much that the fire had spared unless they could win to some cover. They stood there, under a fat drift piled against a tree on the lawn—to the shelter of which men and women had forced and beaten a passage—they stood, a poor, homeless group, with their wounded laid on coats amongst them, and watched the processes of a new enemy they were powerless to control. And, as the fury of flame leapt from window to window, crossed by luminous53 shadows, as though fiends were ransacking54 the building for the little household treasures that are dear to sentiment, cries and exclamations55 of pity rose involuntarily from the lips of all, and some of the women wept and called upon the men for the love of God to return and rescue—what they did not know; but in truth it was the children of their imagination.
But suddenly a more real questioning terror was passing amongst them. The girl—Darda—where was she?
“In the stable,” murmured Tuke from the ground. His head was pillowed upon Betty’s shoulder. But for very shame the girl would have stripped off her skirt to wrap it about his frozen feet. They were risen above the petty conventions of behaviour, these two. In the shadow of pain, of death, they had failed of touch with the particular proprieties56, and they clung together like sworn lovers and defied the world. And, at least for the moment, their attachment57 was respected of all, for the most paltry58 natures find life in its tragedies a little unadaptive to their rules of social conduct.
Now, at the word of horror, Dennis started forward with a cry of agony. His sister—his poor mindless charge! That he should have been so lapped in his own selfish misery59 as to forget her! He had thought, in his stunned60 mind, that she had been amongst the women. How could she be, when he had himself witnessed her removal to the stables?
He struggled off across the snow, followed by the tireless William. Angela, placed and supported between her brother and Dunlone, shrieked faintly after him. The girl must be held in durance—somewhere, in a place of safety. She should die were she brought again into her neighbourhood! Blythewood soothed61 her distress62. She should be well protected, he swore. The lord, coming somewhat to himself, and perhaps relieved to be escaped under whatever conditions from that abode63 of brigands64, cursed the lady under his breath for a little pretty whimpering,—and was half moved to slide his arm about her waist. He withheld65 that condescension66, however, for the present.
The two men were seen to reach the stables—to force, after some strenuous67 effort, the door of the coach-house. From the gap made by them the terrified deer broke forth68 and scattered69 in all directions. Some sprang into drifts and were lost; some huddled70 against the wall, afraid to venture further; one or two came stumbling and leaping in the foot-tracks, and ran up, bleating71 very humanly for protection to those superior animals who could not find it for themselves.
And now ensued a period of intense anxiety and emotion; for minutes passed and the rescuers did not reappear. And, with incredible speed, rushing like a blood-wanton dog amongst a flock of sheep, the fire seized room after room and worried it, and raced on roaring until the whole building was involved. And young shoots of flame sprouted72 from the roof and grew and flourished in a moment like burning aloes, and the heat waxed intense.
From the first, indeed, no least hope of checking the conflagration73 had suggested itself. The old dry interior of the building caught as if all its solidity were so much illusion of lath and canvas; and the water-supply was frozen to a minimum.
Quite suddenly the little group made one mouth of a low moan of horror. Upon the north parapet of the roof a figure had come out—that of the missing girl. She stood beside a chimney-stack, whither the flames had not yet reached, and in the shaking glare she was as visible to all as though it were sunlight. She carried, it seemed, a bag of some sort in her hand, and she made no gesture of fear; but, in an instant, as a fountain of fire rose behind her, scattering74 sprays of sparks, she was dancing and kissing her hand to her own shadow on the chimney-stack.
Then they saw that the two men were come out of the stable and were standing75 beneath, calling frantically76 up to the mad creature; and she bent77 and looked down upon them, while sobs78 and cries broke from the watching women and the men breathed hard.
Her brother, it was evident, was beseeching79 her to throw herself, as her one chance, into a thick drift that lay beneath; and she could be seen to nod to him and to point exultantly80 to the bag on her arm. But in the act it slipped from her grasp and fell, and at once she fled after it, plunging81 from the parapet like a swimmer. Into the snow she went, as if it were foam82, and flakes83 of the frozen crust of the drift span up and were flung against the wall. And the pent burden of the spectators found its shrill vent26 once more, and was lowered to sighs of pity as the two were seen coming across the snow with a limp shape looped between them.
She had dived, and over the brink84 of Cocytus. She had gone to the shades that were ever her kinsfolk. When they looked at her they saw a smile on her mouth; but her hair hung slack, as if the flame of her soul was withdrawn85 from it. She was reasonable at last; and to make her so just this had been needed—to snap her slender neck like a lily-stalk.
When, by midnight, the great fire was died down to a cinderous glow, gasping86 and winking amongst walls of slag87, the sad onlookers88 were moved pathetically to see the purple vault above them all embroidered89 with stars; the clerestory of the trees hung with them; the white pavement ghostly in their radiance. The candles of the vast cathedral, whose tapering90 walls are the cone91 of the earth’s own shadow, were lit, and the voiceless anthems92 of peace rose in the dreaming sighs of half the world.
The flames, checked by the stone passage, and rising straight and clear in a windless night, had spared the stables; and thither93 at the last they all bent their footsteps, bearing the dead and the wounded with them.
My lord, my lady; Tom and Dick and Moll—there they were fain to camp amongst the muck and litter left by the fallow-deer; and the frost pinched them sadly, and hunger even, and for the sick thirst; and never did reluctant day so dawdle94 in the East.
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1
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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2
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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3
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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4
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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5
upheaval
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| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
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6
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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7
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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8
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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9
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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10
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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12
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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13
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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14
gaseous
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| adj.气体的，气态的 | |
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15
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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16
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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turnip
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| n.萝卜，芜菁 | |
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18
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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19
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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20
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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22
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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23
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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24
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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26
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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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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28
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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30
grilled
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| adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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31
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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32
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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33
misgives
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| v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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35
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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36
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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37
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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38
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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39
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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40
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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41
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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42
taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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43
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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44
clumped
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| adj.[医]成群的v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的过去式和过去分词 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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45
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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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
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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48
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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49
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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50
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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51
scourges
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| 带来灾难的人或东西，祸害( scourge的名词复数 )； 鞭子 | |
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52
nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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53
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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54
ransacking
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的现在分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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55
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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56
proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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57
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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58
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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59
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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60
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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61
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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62
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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63
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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64
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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65
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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66
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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67
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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68
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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69
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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70
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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71
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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72
sprouted
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| v.发芽( sprout的过去式和过去分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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73
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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74
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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75
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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76
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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77
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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78
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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79
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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80
exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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81
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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82
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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83
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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84
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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85
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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86
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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87
slag
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| n.熔渣，铁屑，矿渣；v.使变成熔渣，变熔渣 | |
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88
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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89
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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90
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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91
cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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92
anthems
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| n.赞美诗( anthem的名词复数 )；圣歌；赞歌；颂歌 | |
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93
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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94
dawdle
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| vi.浪费时间；闲荡 | |
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