As the decisive day approached, Jacquelina certainly acted like one distraught—now in wild defiance1, now in paleness and tears, and anon in fitful mirth, or taunting2 threats. She rapidly lost flesh and color, and in hysterical3 laughter accounted for it by saying that she believed in her soul Grim was a spiritual vampire4, who preyed5 upon her life! She avoided him as much as she could. And if sometimes, when she was about to escape from him, he would seize her wrist and detain her, she would suddenly lose her breath and turn so pale that in the fear of her fainting, he would release her. So he got no opportunity to press his claims.
One morning, however—it was about a week before Christmas—she voluntarily sought his presence. She entered the parlor6 where he sat alone. Excitement had flushed her cheeks with a vivid crimson7 and lighted her eyes with sparkling fire—she did not know that her beauty was enhanced a thousand fold—she did not know that never in her life had her presence kindled8 such a flame in the heart of her lover as it did at that moment. And if he restrained himself from going to meet her, it was the dread9 lest she should fade away from him as he had seen her do so often. But she advanced and stood before him.
"Dr. Grimshaw!" she said, "I have come to make a last appeal to you! I have come to beg, to supplicate10 you, for my sake, for honor, for truth and for mercy's sake, yes! for heaven's sake, to withdraw your pretensions11 to my poor hand. For, sir, I do not and cannot like you! I do not say but that you are far too good and wise, and every way too worthy12 for such a girl as I am—and that you do me the very greatest honor by your preference, but still no one can account for tastes—and, sir, I cannot like you—pray, pardon me! indeed, I cannot help it."
Although her words were so humble13, her color was still heightened, and her eyes had a threatening, defiant14 sparkle in them, so contradictory15, so piquant16 and fascinating in contrast with the little, fragile, graceful17, helpless form, that his head was almost turned. It was with difficulty he could keep from snatching the fluttering, half-defiant, half-frightened, bird-like creature to his bosom18. But he contented19 himself with saying:
"My fairy! we are commanded to love those that hate us; and should you hate me more than ever, I should only continue to love you!"
"Love me at a distance, then! and the greater the distance, the more grateful I shall be!"
He could no longer quite restrain himself. He seized her hand and drew her towards him, exclaiming in an eager, breathless, half-whisper:
"No! closer and closer shall my love draw us, beautiful one! until it compasses your hate and unites us forever!"
"I sought your presence to entreat21 you—and to warn you! I have supplicated22 you, and you have turned a deaf ear to my prayer! Now I warn you! and disregard my warning, if you dare! despise it at your peril23! I am going out of my wits, I think! I warn you that I may consent to become your wife! I have no persevering24 resistance in my nature. I cannot hold out forever against those I love. But I warn you, that if ever I consent, it will be under the undue25 influence of others!"
"Put your consent upon any ground you please, you delightful26, you enchanting27 little creature. We will spare your blushes, charming as they are!" he exclaimed, surprised out of self-control and seizing both her hands.
Angrily she snatched them from him.
"What have I said? Oh! what have I said? I believe I am going crazy! I tell you, Dr. Grimshaw, that if I ever yield, it will be only to the overwhelming force brought to bear upon me; and even then it will be only during a temporary fit of insanity28! And I warn you—I warn you not to dare to take me at my word!"
"Will I not? You bewitching little sprite! do you do this to make me love you ten thousand times more than I do?"
"You do not believe me! You do not see that I am in terrible earnest! I tell you, Dr. Grimshaw, that were I induced to consent to be your wife, you had better not take advantage of such a consent! It would be the most fatal day's work you ever did for yourself in this world! You think I'm only a spoiled, petulant31 child! You do not know me! I do not know myself! I am full of evil! I feel it sensibly, when I am near you! You develop the worst of me! Should you marry me, the very demon32 would rise in my bosom! I should drive you to distraction33!"
"You drive me to distraction now, you intoxicating34 little witch!" he exclaimed, laughing and darting35 towards her.
She started and escaped his hand, crying:
"Saints in heaven! What infatuation! What madness! It must be fate! Avert36 the fate, man! Avert it! while there is yet time! Go get a mill-stone and tie it around your neck and cast yourself into the uttermost depths of the sea before ever you dare to marry me!" Her cheeks were blazing with color and her eyes with light! He saw only her transcendant beauty.
"Why, you little tragi-comic enchantress, you!—what do you mean? Come to my arms! Come, wild, bright bird! come to my bosom!" he said, stepping towards her and throwing his arms around her.
"Vampire!" she exclaimed, struggling to free herself for a moment; and then as his lips sought hers the color faded from her face and the light died in her eyes, and he hastily released her and set her in a chair lest she should swoon in his hated arms.
"Now, how am I expected to live with such a wife as this girl would make me? If it were not for the estate I should be tempted37 to give her up, and travel to forget her! How shall I overcome her repugnance38? Not by courting her; that's demonstrated. Only by being kind to her, and letting her alone." Such was the tenor39 of his thoughts as he stood a little behind her chair out of her sight.
But Jacquelina, when she found herself free, soon recovered, and arose and left the room.
Until a day or two before Christmas, when, in the evening, she glided40 in to her uncle's room and sunk down by his side—so unlike herself; so like a spirit—that the old sinner impulsively41 shrank away from her, and put out his hand to ring for lights.
"What do you mean now, minx?"
"Uncle, in all your voyages around the world did you ever stop at
Constantinople? And did you ever visit a slave mart there?"
"Yes; of course I have! What then? What the deuce are you dreaming of?"
"How much would such a girl as myself bring in the slave market of the
Sultan's city?"
"Are you crazy?" asked the commodore, opening his eyes to their widest extent.
"I don't know. If I am, it can make little difference in your plans. But as there is method in my madness, please to answer my question. How much would I sell for in Constantinople?"
"You are mad; that's certain! How do I know—where beauties sell for from five hundred to many thousand zechins. But you wouldn't sell for much; you're too small and too thin."
"Beauty sells by the weight, does it? Well, uncle, I see that you have been accustomed to the mart, for you know how to cheapen the merchandise! Save yourself the trouble, uncle! I shall not live long, and therefore I shall not have the conscience to ask a high price for myself!"
"Mad! Mad as a March hare! As sure as shooting she is!" said the commodore in dismay, staring at her until his great, fat eyes seemed bursting from their sockets43.
"Not so mad as you think, uncle, either. I have come to make a bargain with you."
Constantinople, pray?"
Jacquelina laughed, something like her old silvery laugh, as she answered:
"No, uncle; though if it were not for Mimmy, I really should prefer it to marrying Grim!"
"What do you mean, then? Speak!"
"This, then, uncle: By what I have heard, and what I have seen, and what I have surmised45, I am already as deep in your secrets respecting Grim as you are yourself."
"You speak falsely, you little ——! No one knows anything about it but myself!" exclaimed the commodore, betraying himself through astonishment46 and indignation.
"And I know that you wish to make me a stalking-horse, to convey the estate to Grimshaw, only because you cannot give it to him in any other way but through his wife."
"What do you mean, you little diabolical48 ——! It is my own—why can I not give it to whom I please, I should like to know?"
"You can give it to any one in the world, uncle, except Dr. Grimshaw, or to one who bears the same relationship to you that he does; for to such a one you may not legally bequeath your landed estate, or—"
"Hear me out, uncle. I say, knowing such to be the case, I also know my own importance as a 'stalking-horse,' or sumpter-mule, or something of the sort, to bear upon my own shoulders the burden of this estate, which you wish to give by me to Dr. Grimshaw. Therefore, I shall not give myself away for nothing. I intend to sell myself for a price! Nothing on earth would induce me to consent to marry Dr. Grimshaw, were it not to secure peace and comfort to my mother's latter days. Your threat of turning me out of doors would not compel me into such a marriage, for well I know that you would not venture to put that threat into execution. But I cannot bear to see my poor mother suffer so much as she does while here, dependent upon your uncertain protection. You terrify and distress50 her beyond her powers of endurance. You make the bread of dependence51 very, very bitter to her, indeed! And well I know that she will certainly die if she remains52 subjected to your powers of tormenting53. I speak plainly to you, uncle, having nothing to conceal54; to proceed, I assure you I will not meet your views in marrying Dr. Grimshaw, unless it be to purchase for my poor mother a deliverance from bondage55, and an independence for life. Therefore, I demand that you shall buy this place, 'Locust56 Hill,' which I hear can be bought for five thousand dollars, and settle it upon my mother; in return for which I will bestow57 my hand in marriage upon Dr. Grimshaw. And, mind, I do not promise with it either love, or esteem58, or service—only my hand in civil marriage, and the estate it has the power of carrying with it! And the documents that shall make my mother independent of the world must be drawn59 up or examined by a lawyer that she shall appoint, and must be placed in her hands on the same hour that gives my hand to Dr. Grimshaw. Do you understand? Now, uncle, that is my ultimatum60! For, please the heavens above us! come what may! do what you will! turn me and my mother out of doors, to freeze and starve—I will die, and see her die, before I will sell my hand for a less price than will make her independent and at ease for life! For, look you, I would rather see her dead, than leave her in your power! Think of this, uncle! There is time enough to-morrow and next day to make all the arrangements; only be sure I am in earnest! Look in my face! Am I not in earnest?"
"I think you are, you little wretch! I could shake the life out of you!"
"That would be easy, uncle! There is not much to shake out. Only, in that case, you would have no stalking-horse to take the estate over to Dr. Grimshaw." And so saying, Jacquelina arose to leave the room.
"Come back here—you little vixen, you!"
Sans Souci returned.
"It's well to 'strike while the iron's hot,' and to bind61 you while you're willing to be bound, for you are an uncertain little villain62. Though I don't believe you'd break a solemn pledge once given—hey?"
"No, sir!"
"Pledge me your word of honor, now, that if I buy this little farm of Locust Hill, and settle it upon your mother, you will marry Dr. Grimshaw on this coming Christmas Eve?"
"I pledge you my word of honor that I will"
"Without mental reservation?"
"Without mental reservation!"
"Stop! it is safer to seal such a pledge! Climb up on the stand, and hand me that Bible down off the top shelf. Brush the cobwebs off it, and don't let the spiders come with it."
Jacquelina did as she was bid, with a half indifferent, half disdainful air.
"There! Now lay your hand upon this book, and swear by the Holy Evangelists of Almighty63 God that you will do as you have pledged yourself to do."
"I swear," said Jacquelina.
"Very well! Now, confound you! you may put the book back again, and go about your business."
Sans Souci very willingly complied. And then, as she left the room and closed the door after her, her quick ear caught the sound of the commodore's voice, chuckling64:
"So! I've trapped you! Ten minutes more, and it would have been impossible."
Full of wonder as to what his words might mean, doubting also whether she had heard them aright, Jacquelina was hastening on toward her mother's room, when she met her Aunt Henrietta hurrying toward her, and speaking impetuously.
"Oh, my little Lapwing! where have you been? I have been looking for you all over the house! Good news, dear Lapwing! Good news! Deliverance is at hand for you! Who do you think has come?"
"Who? Who?" questioned Sans Souci, eagerly.
"Cloudy!"
"Lost! lost!" cried the wretched girl; and, with a wild shriek65 that rang through all the house, she threw up her arms and fell forward to the ground.
The marriage was appointed to take place Christmas Day. Jacquelina suffered her mother to dress her in bridal array. Dr. Grimshaw was waiting for her in the hall.
As soon as she reached the foot of the stairs, he took her hand; and, pressing it, whispered:
"Sweet girl, forgive me this persistence66!"
"May God never forgive me if I do!" she fiercely exclaimed, transfixing him with a flashing glance.
Never lover uttered a deeper sigh than that which Dr. Grimshaw gave forth as he led his unwilling67 bride to the carriage. The groomsman followed with the bridesmaid. The commodore and Mary L'Oiseau accompanied the party in a gig. Henrietta, true to her word, refused to be present at the marriage.
When the wedding party arrived at the chapel68, all the pews were filled to suffocation69 with the crowd that the rumor70 of the approaching marriage had drawn together. And the bridal party were the cynosure71 of many hundred eyes as they passed up the aisle72 and stood before the altar.
The ceremony proceeded. But not one response, either verbally or mentally, did Jacquelina make. The priest passed over her silence, naturally ascribing it to bashfulness, and honestly taking her consent for granted.
The rites73 were finished, the benediction74 bestowed75, and friends and acquaintances left their pews, and crowded around with congratulations.
Among the foremost was Thurston Willcoxen, whose suave76 and stately courtesy, and graceful bearing, and gracious words, so pleased Commodore Waugh that, knowing Jacquelina to be married and safe, he invited and urged the accomplished77 young "Parisian," as he was often called, to return and partake of the Christmas wedding breakfast.
"Nace, do you take your bride home in the gig, as you will want her company to yourself, and we will go in the carriage," said the commodore, good-naturedly. In fact, the old man had not been in such a fine humor for many a day.
Dr. Grimshaw, "nothing loth," led his fair bride to the gig, handed her in, and took the place beside her.
"Now, then, fairest and dearest, you are at last, indeed, my own!" he said, seeking her eyes.
"Thank Heaven, I am not! I never foreswore myself. I never opened my lips, or formed a vow78 in my head. I never promised you anything," said Jacquelina, turning away; and the rest of the journey was made in silence.
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1
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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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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supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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13
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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14
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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piquant
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| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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supplicated
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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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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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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44
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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45
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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46
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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50
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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51
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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52
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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53
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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55
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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56
locust
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| n.蝗虫；洋槐，刺槐 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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62
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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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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64
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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65
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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66
persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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67
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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68
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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69
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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70
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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71
cynosure
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| n.焦点 | |
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72
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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73
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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74
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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75
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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77
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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