That summer day was so holy in its beauty, so bright, so clear, so cool; that rural scene was so soothing1 in its influences, so calm, so fresh, so harmonious2; it was almost impossible to associate with that lovely day and scene thoughts of wrong and violence and cruelty. So felt Edith as she sometimes lifted her eyes from her work to the beauty and glory of nature around her. And if now her heart ached it was more with grief for Fanny's fate than dread3 of her own. There comes, borne upon the breeze that lifts her dark tresses, and fans her pearly cheeks, the music of many rural voices—of rippling4 streams and rustling5 leaves and twittering birds and humming bees.
But mingled6 with these, at length, there comes to her attentive7 ear a sound, or the suspicion of a sound, of distant horse hoofs8 falling upon the forest leaves—it draws nearer—it becomes distinct—she knows it now—it is—it is a troop of British soldiers approaching the house!
They rode in a totally undisciplined and disorderly manner; reeling in their saddles, drunken with debauchery, red-hot, reeking9 from some scene of fire and blood!
And in no condition to be operated upon by Edith's beautiful and holy influences.
They galloped10 into the yard—they galloped up to the house—their leader threw himself heavily from his horse and advanced to the door.
It was the terrible and remorseless Thorg! No one could doubt the identity for a single instant. The low, square-built, thick-set body, the huge head, the bull neck, heavy jowl, coarse, sensual lips, bloodshot eyes, and fiery12 visage surrounded with coarse red hair—the whole brutalized, demonized aspect could belong to no monster in the universe but that cross between the fiend and the beast called Thorg! And now he came, intoxicated14, inflamed15, burning with fierce passions from some fell scene of recent violence!
Pale as death, and nearly as calm, Edith awaited his coming. She could not hope to influence this man or his associates. She knew her fate now—it was death!—death by her own hand, before that man's foot should profane16 her threshold! She knew her fate, and knowing it, grew calm and strong. There were no more hopes or fears or doubts or trepidations. Over the weakness of the flesh the spirit ruled victorious17, and Edith stood revealed to herself richly endowed with that heroism18 she had so worshiped in others—in that supreme19 moment mistress of herself and of her fate. To die by her own hand! but not rashly—not till a trial should be made—not till the last moment. And how beautiful in this last fateful moment she looked! The death pallor had passed from her countenance—the summer breeze was lifting the light black curls—soft shadows were playing upon the pearly brow—a strange elevation20 irradiated her face, and it "shone as it had been the face of an angel."
"By George! boys, what a pretty wench! Keep back, you d——d rascals21!" (for the men had dismounted and were pressing behind him) "keep back, I say, you drunken ——! Let rank have precedence in love as in other things! Your turn may come afterward22! Ho! pretty mistress, has your larder23 the material to supply my men with a meal?"
Edith glanced around for her attendants. Jenny lay upon the hall floor, fallen forward upon her face, in a deep swoon. Oliver stood out upon the lawn, his teeth chattering24, and his knees knocking together with terror, yet faintly meditating25 a desperate onslaught to the rescue with his wooden rake.
"No matter! for first of all we must have a taste of those dainty lips; stand back, bl—t you," he vociferated with a volley of appalling26 oaths, that sent the disorderly men, who were again crowding behind him, back into the rear; "we would be alone, d—— you; do you hear?"
The drunken soldiers fell back, and he advanced toward Edith, who stood calm in desperate resolution. She raised her hand to supplicate27 or wave him off, he did not care which—her other hand, hanging down by her side, grasped the pistol, which she concealed28 in the folds of her dress.
"Proceed, my beauty! Only don't let the grace before meat be too long."
"I am a soldier's child," said Edith; her sweet, clear voice slightly quavering like the strings31 of a lute32 over which the wind has passed; "I am a soldier's child—my father died gallantly33 on the field of battle. You are soldiers, and will not hurt a soldier's orphan34 daughter."
"Not for the universe, my angel; bl——t 'em! let any of 'em hurt a hair of your head! I only want to love you a little, my beauty! that's all!—only want to pet you to your heart's content;" and the brute35 made a step toward her.
"Hear me!" exclaimed Edith, raising her hand.
"Well, well, go on, my dear, only don't be too long!—for my men want something to eat and drink, and I have sworn not to break my fast until I know the flavor of those ripe lips."
Edith's fingers closed convulsively upon the pistol still held bidden.
"I am alone and defenseless," she said; "I remained here, voluntarily, to protect our home, because I had faith in the better feelings of men when they should be appealed to. I had heard dreadful tales of the ravages37 of the enemy through neighboring sections of the country. I did not fully38 believe them. I thought them the exaggerations of terror, and knew how such stories grow in the telling. I could not credit the worst, believing, as I did, the British nation to be an upright and honorable enemy—British soldiers to be men—and British officers gentlemen. Sir, have I trusted in vain? Will you not let me and my servants retire in peace? All that the cellars and storehouses of Luckenough contain is at your disposal. You will leave myself and attendants unmolested. I have not trusted in the honor of British soldiers to my own destruction!"
"A pretty speech, my dear, and prettily39 spoken—but not half so persuasive40 as the sweet wench that uttered it," said Thorg, springing toward her.
Edith suddenly raised the pistol—an expression of deadly determination upon her face.
Thorg as suddenly fell back. He was an abominable41 coward in addition to his other qualities.
"Seize that girl! Seize and disarm42 her! What mean you, rascals? Are you to be foiled by a girl? Seize and disarm her, I say! Are you men?"
Yes, they were men, and therefore, drunken and brutal13 as they were, they hesitated to close upon one helpless girl.
"H—l fire and furies! surround! disarm her, I say!" vociferated Thorg.
"Oh! one moment! for heaven's sake, one moment! Still hear me! I would not have fired upon your captain! Nor would I fire upon one of you, who close upon me only at your captain's order. There is something within me that shrinks from taking life! even the life of an enemy—any life but my own, and that only in such a desperate strait as this. Oh! by the mercy that is in my own heart, show mercy to me! You are men! You have mothers, or sisters, or wives at home, whom you hope to meet again, when war and its insanities45 are over. Oh! for their sakes, show mercy to the defenseless girl who stands here in your power! Do not compel her to shed her own blood! for, sure as you advance one step toward me, I pull this trigger, and fall dead at your feet." And Edith raised the pistol and placed the muzzle46 to her own temple—her finger against the trigger.
The men stood still—the captain swore.
"H—l fire and flames! Do you intend to stand there all day, to hear the wench declaim? Seize her, curse you! Wrench47 that weapon from her hand."
"Not so quick as I can pull the trigger!" said Edith—her eyes blazing with the sense of having fate—the worst of fate in her own hands; it was but a pressure of the finger, to be made quick as lightning, and she was beyond their power! Her finger was on the trigger—the muzzle of the pistol, a cold ring of steel, pressed her burning temple! She felt it kindly—protective as a friend's kiss!
"Seize her! Seize her, curse you!" cried the brutal Thorg, "what care I whether she pull the trigger or not? Before the blood cools in her body, I will have had my satisfaction! Seize her, you infernal—"
"Captain, countermand48 your order! I beg, I entreat44 you, countermand your order! You yourself will greatly regret having given it, when you are calmer," said a young officer, riding hastily forward, and now, for the first time, taking a part in the scene.
"One step more, and I pull the trigger!" said Edith.
"Captain Thorg! This must not be!" persisted the young officer.
"D—n, sir! Do you oppose me? Do you dare? Fall back, sir, I command you! Scoundrels! close upon that wench and bind51 her!"
"Captain Thorg! This shall not be! Do you hear? Do you understand? I say this violence shall not be perpetrated!" said the young officer, firmly.
"D—n, sir! Are you drunk, or mad? You are under arrest, sir! Corporal
Truman, take Ensign Shields' sword!"
"Knock down and disarm that vixen! Obey your orders, villains54! Or by h—l, and all its fiends, I'll have you all court-martialed, and shot before to-morrow noon!"
The soldiers closed around the unprotected girl.
"Lord, all merciful! forgive my sins," she prayed, and with a firm hand pulled the trigger!
It did not respond to her touch—it failed! it failed!
Casting the traitorous55 weapon from her, she sunk upon her knees, murmuring:
"Lost—lost—all is lost!" remained crushed, overwhelmed, awaiting her fate!
"Ha! ha! ha! as pretty a little make-believe as ever I saw!" laughed the brutal Thorg, now perfectly56 at his ease, and gloating over her beauty, and helplessness, and, deadly terror. "As pretty a little sham57 as ever I saw!"
"It was no sham! She couldn't sham! I drawed out the shot unbeknownst to her! I wish, I does, my fingers had shriveled and dropped off afore they ever did it!" exclaimed Oliver, in a passion of remorse11, as he ran forward, rake in hand.
"Now then, my fair!" said Thorg, moving toward his victim.
Edith was now wild with desperation—her eyes flew wildly around in search of help, where help there seemed none. Then she turned with the frenzied60 impulse of flying.
But the men surrounded to cut off her retreat.
"Nay61, nay, let her run! Let her run! Give her a fair start, and do you give chase! It will be the rarest sport! Fox-hunting is a good thing, but girl-chasing must be the very h—l of sport, when I tell you—mind, I tell you, men—she shall be the exclusive prize of him who catches her!" swore the remorseless Thorg.
Edith had gained the back door.
They started in pursuit.
"Now, by the living Lord that made me, the first man that lays hands on her shall die!" suddenly exclaimed the young ensign, wresting62 his sword from the hand of the corporal, springing between Edith and her pursuers, flashing out the blade, and brandishing63 it in the faces of the foremost.
He was but a stripling, scarcely older than Edith's self—the arm that wielded64 that slender blade scarcely stronger than Edith's own—but the fire that flashed from the eagle eye showed a spirit to rescue or die in her defense36.
Thorg threw himself into the most frantic65 fury—a volley of the most horrible oaths was discharged from his lips.
"Upon that villain53, men! Beat him down! Slay66 him! Pin him to the ground with your bayonets! And then! do your will with the girl!"
But before this fiendish order could be executed, ay, before it was half spoken, whirled into the yard a body or about thirty horsemen, galloping67 fiercely to the rescue with drawn68 swords and shouting voices.
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收听单词发音
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1
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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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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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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7
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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8
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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9
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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10
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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11
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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12
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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13
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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14
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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15
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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17
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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18
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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19
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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20
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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21
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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22
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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24
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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25
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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27
supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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28
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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31
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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32
lute
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| n.琵琶，鲁特琴 | |
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33
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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34
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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35
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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36
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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37
ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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38
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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39
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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40
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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41
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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42
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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43
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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45
insanities
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| 精神错乱( insanity的名词复数 )； 精神失常； 精神病； 疯狂 | |
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46
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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47
wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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48
countermand
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| v.撤回(命令)，取消(订货) | |
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49
licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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50
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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51
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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52
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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53
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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54
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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55
traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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56
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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57
sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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58
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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59
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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60
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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61
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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62
wresting
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| 动词wrest的现在进行式 | |
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63
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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64
wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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65
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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66
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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67
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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68
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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69
foraging
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| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
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