In the meanwhile, where was he whose headlong passions had precipitated1 this catastrophe2? where was Thurston? After having parted with his confederate, he hurried home, for a very busy day lay before him. To account for his sudden departure, and long absence, and to cover his retreat, it was necessary to have some excuse, such as a peremptory3 summons to Baltimore upon the most important business. Once in that city, he would have leisure to find some further apology for proceeding4 directly to France without first returning home. Now, strange as it may appear, though his purposed treachery to Marian wrung5 his bosom6 with remorse7 whenever he paused to think of it, yet it was the remorse without humiliation8; for he persuaded himself that stratagem9 was fair in love as in war, especially in his case with Marian, who had already given him her hand; but now the unforseen necessity of these subterfuges10 made his cheek burn. He hastened to Dell-Delight, and showing the old man a letter he had that morning received from the city, informed him that he was obliged to depart immediately, upon affairs of the most urgent moment to him, and then, to escape the sharp stings of self-scorn, he busied himself with arranging his papers, packing his trunks and ordering his servants. His baggage was packed into and behind the old family carriage, and having completed his preparations about one o'clock, he entered it, and was driven rapidly to the village.
The schooner11 was already at the wharf12 and waiting for him. Thurston met many of his friends in the village, and in an off-hand manner explained to them the ostensible13 cause of his journey. And thus, in open daylight, gayly chatting with his friends, Thurston superintended the embarkation14 of his baggage. And it was not until one by one they had shaken hands with him, wished him a good voyage and departed, that Thurston found himself alone with the captain in the cabin.
"Now you know, Miles, that I have not come on board to remain. When the coast is clear I shall go on shore, get in the carriage, and return to Dell-Delight. I must meet my wife on the beach. I must remain with her through all. I must take her on board. You will be off Pine Bluff15 just at dusk, captain?"
"Ay, ay, sir."
"You will not be a moment behind hand?"
"Trust me for that, Cap'n."
"See if the people have left."
The skipper went on deck and returned to report the coast clear.
Thurston then went on shore, entered the carriage, and was driven homeward.
It was nearly four o'clock when he reached Dell-Delight, and there he found the whole premises16 in a state of confusion. Several negroes were on the lookout17 for him; and as soon as they saw him ran to the house.
"What is the meaning of all this?" he inquired, detaining one of the hindmost.
"Oh, Marse Thuster, sir! oh, sir!" exclaimed the boy, rolling his eyes quite wildly.
"What is the matter with the fool?"
"Oh, sir; my poor ole marse! my poor ole marse!"
"What has happened to your master? Can't you be plain, sir?"
"A fit! good heavens! has a doctor been summoned?" exclaimed Thurston, springing from his seat.
"Oh, yes, sir! Jase be done gone arter de doctor."
Thurston stopped to inquire no farther, but ran into the house and up into his grandfather's chamber19.
There a distressing20 scene met his eyes. The old man, with his limbs distorted, and his face swollen21 and discolored, lay in a state of insensibility upon the bed. Two or three negro women were gathered around him, variously occupied with rubbing his hands, chafing22 his temples and wiping the oozing23 foam24 from his lips. At the foot of the bed stood poor daft Fanny, with disheveled hair and dilated25 eyes, chanting a grotesque26 monologue27, and keeping time with a see-saw motion from side to side. The first thing Thurston did, was to take the hand of this poor crazed, but docile28 creature, and lead her from the sick-room up into her own. He bade her remain there, and then returned to his grandfather's bedside. In reply to his anxious questioning, he was informed that the old man had fallen into a fit about an hour before—that a boy had been instantly sent for the doctor, and the patient carried to bed; but that he had not spoken since they laid him there. It would yet be an hour before the doctor could possibly arrive, and the state of the patient demanded instant attention.
And withal Thurston was growing very anxious upon Marian's account. The sun was now sinking under a dark bank of clouds. The hour of his appointed meeting with her was approaching. He felt, of course, that his scheme must for the present be deferred—even if its accomplishment30 should again seem necessary, which was scarcely possible. But Marian would expect him. And how should he prevent her coming to the beach and waiting for him there? He did not know where a message would most likely now to find her, whether at Luckenough, at Old Fields or at Colonel Thornton's. But he momentarily expected the arrival of Dr. Brightwell, and he resolved to leave that good man in attendance at the sick bed, while he himself should escape for a few hours; and hurry to the beach to meet and have an explanation with his wife.
But an hour passed, and the doctor did not come.
Thurston's eyes wandered anxiously from the distorted face of the dying man before him, to the window that commanded the approach to the house. But no sign of the doctor was to be seen.
The sun was on the very edge of the horizon. The sufferer before him was evidently approaching his end. Marian he knew must be on her way to the beach. And a dreadful storm was rising.
His anxiety reached fever heat.
He could not leave the bedside of his dying relative, yet Marian must not be permitted to wait upon the beach, exposed to the fierceness of the storm, or worse the rudeness of his own confederates.
He took a sudden resolution, and wondered that he had not done so before. He resolved to summon Marian as his wife to his home.
Full of this thought, he hastened down stairs and ordered Melchizedek to put the horse to the gig and get ready to go an errand. And while the boy was obeying his directions, Thurston penned the following lines to Marian:
"My dear Marian—my dear, generous, long-suffering wife—come to my aid. My grandfather has been suddenly stricken down with apoplexy, and is dying. The physician has not yet arrived, and I cannot leave his bedside. Return with my messenger, to assist me in taking care of the dying man. You, who are the angel of the sick and suffering, will not refuse me your aid. Come, never to leave me more! Our marriage shall be acknowledged to-morrow, to-night, any time, that you in your nicer judgment32, shall approve. Come! let nothing hinder you. I will send a message to Edith to set her anxiety at rest, or I will send for her to be with you here. Come to me, beloved Marian. Dictate33 your own conditions if you will—only come."
He had scarcely sealed this note, when the boy, hat in hand, appeared at the door.
"Take this note, sir, jump in the gig and drive as fast as possible to the beach below Pine Bluffs34. You will see Miss Mayfield waiting there, give her this note, and then—await her orders. Be quicker than you ever were before," said Thurston, hurrying his messenger off.
Then, much relieved of anxiety upon Marian's account, he returned to the sick-room and renewed his endeavors to relieve the patient.
Ah! he was far past relief now; he was stricken with death. And with Thurston all thoughts, all feelings, all interests, even those connected with Marian, were soon lost in that awful presence. It was the first time he had ever looked upon death, and now, in the rushing tide of his sinful passions and impetuous will, he was brought face to face with this last, dread31, all-conquering power! What if it were not in his own person? What if it were in the person of an old man, very infirm, and over-ripe for the great reaper35? It was death—the final earthly end of every living creature—death, the demolition36 of the human form, the breaking up of the vital functions, the dissolution between soul and body, the one great event that "happeneth to all;" the doom37 certain, the hour uncertain; coming in infancy38, youth, maturity39, as often or oftener than in age. These were the thoughts that filled Thurston's mind as he stood and wiped the clammy dews from the brow of the dying man.
Thurston might have remained much longer, too deeply and painfully absorbed in thought to notice the darkening of the night or the beating of the storm, had not a gust40 of the rain and wind, of unusual violence, shaken the windows.
This recalled Marian to his mind; it was nearly time for her to arrive; he hoped that she was near the house; that she would soon be there; he arose and went to the window to look forth41 into the night; but the deep darkness prevented his seeing, as the noise of the storm prevented his hearing the approach of any vehicle that might be near. He went back to the bedside; the old man was breathing his life away without a struggle. Thurston called the mulatto housekeeper42 to take his place, and then went down stairs and out of the hall door, and gazed and listened for the coming of the gig, in vain. He was just about to re-enter the hall and close the door when the sound of wheels, dashing violently, helter-skelter, and with break-neck speed into the yard, arrested his attention.
"Marian! it is my dear Marian at last; but the fellow need not risk her life to save her from the storm by driving at that rate. My own Marian!" he exclaimed, as he hurried out, expecting to meet her.
Melchizedek alone sprang from the gig, and sank trembling and quaking at his master's feet.
Thurston blindly pushed past him, and peered and felt in the gig. It was empty.
"Where is the lady, sirrah? What ails43 you? Why don't you answer me?" exclaimed Thurston, anxiously returning to the spot where the boy crouched44. But the latter remained speechless, trembling, groaning45, and wringing46 his hands. "Will you speak, idiot? I ask you where is the lady? Was she not upon the beach? What has frightened you so? Did the horse run away?" inquired Thurston, hurriedly, in great alarm.
"Oh, sir, marster! I 'spects she's killed!"
"Killed! Oh, my God! she has been thrown from the gig!" cried the young man, in a piercing voice, as he reeled under this blow. In another instant he sprang upon the poor boy and shaking him furiously, cried in a voice of mingled47 grief, rage and anxiety: "Where was she thrown? Where is she? How did it happen? Oh! villain48! villain! you shall pay for this with your life! Come and show me the spot! instantly! instantly!"
"Oh, marster, have mercy, sir! 'Twasn't along o' me an' the gig it happened of! She wur 'parted when I got there!"
"Where? Where? Good heavens, where?" asked Thurston, nearly beside himself.
"On de beach, sir. Jes' as I got down there, I jumped out'n de gig, and walked along, and then I couldn't see my way, an' I turned de bull-eye ob de lantern on de sand afore me, an' oh, marse—"
"Go, on! go on!"
"I seen de lady lying like dead, and a man jump up and run away, and when I went nigh, I seen her all welkering in her blood, an' dis yer lying by her," and the boy handed a small poignard to his master.
It was Thurston's own weapon, that he had lost some months previous in the woods of Luckenough. It was a costly49 and curious specimen50 of French taste and ingenuity51. The handle was of pearl, carved in imitation of the sword-fish, and the blade corresponded to the long pointed29 beak52 that gives the fish that name.
Thurston scarcely noticed that it was his dagger53, but pushing the boy aside, he ran to the stables, saddled a horse with the swiftness of thought, threw himself into his stirrups, and galloped54 furiously away towards the beach.
The rain was now falling in torrents55, and the wind driving it in fierce gusts56 against his face. The tempest was at its very height, and it seemed at times impossible to breast the blast—it seemed as though steed and rider must be overthrown57! Yet he lashed58 and spurred his horse, and struggled desperately59 on, thinking with fierce anguish60 of Marian, his Marian, lying wounded, helpless, alone and dying, exposed to all the fury of the winds and waves upon that tempestuous61 coast, and dreading62 with horror, lest before he should be able to reach her, her helpless form, still living, might be washed off by the advancing waves. Thus he spurred and lashed his horse, and drove him against rain and wind, and through the darkness of the night.
With all his desperate haste, it was two hours before he approached the beach. And as he drew near the heavy cannonading of the waves upon the shore admonished63 him that the tide was at its highest point. He pressed rapidly onward64, threw himself from his horse, and ran forward to the edge of the bank above the beach. It was only to meet the confirmation65 of his worst fears! The waters were thundering against the bank upon which he stood. The tide had come in and overswept the whole beach, and now, lashed and driven by the wind, the waves tossed and raved66 and roared with appalling67 fury.
Marian was gone, lost, swept away by the waves! that was the thought that wrung from him a cry of fierce agony, piercing through all the discord68 of the storm, as he ran up and down the shore, hoping nothing, expecting nothing, yet totally unable to tear himself from the fatal spot.
And so he wildly walked and raved, until his garments were drenched69 through with the rain; until the storm exhausted70 its fury and subsided71; until the changing atmosphere, the still, severe cold, froze all his clothing stiff around him; so he walked, groaning and crying and calling despairingly upon the name of Marian, until the night waned72 and the morning dawned, and the eastern horizon grew golden, then crimson73, then fiery74 with the coming sun.
The sky was clear, the waters calm, the sands bare and glistening75 in the early sunbeams; no vestige76 of the storm or of the bloody77 outrage78 of the night remained—all was peace and beauty. In the distance was a single snow-white sail, floating swan-like on the bosom of the blue waters. All around was beauty and peace, yet from the young man's tortured bosom peace had fled, and remorse, vulture-like, had struck its talons79 deep into his heart. He called himself a murderer, the destroyer of Marian; he said it was his selfishness, his willfulness, his treachery, that had exposed her to this danger, and brought her to this fate! Some outlaw80, some waterman, or fugitive81 negro had robbed and murdered her. Marian usually wore a very valuable watch; probably, also, she had money about her person—enough to have tempted82 the cupidity83 of some lawless wretch84. He shrank in horror from pursuing conjecture—it was worse than torture, worse than madness to him. Oh, blindness and frenzy85; why had he not thought of these dangers so likely to beset86 her solitary87 path? Why had he so recklessly exposed her to them? Vain questions, alas88! vain as was his self-reproach, his anguish and despair!
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收听单词发音
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1
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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5
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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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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10
subterfuges
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| n.（用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的）花招，遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 ) | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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embarkation
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| n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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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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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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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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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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34
bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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reaper
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| n.收割者，收割机 | |
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demolition
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| n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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46
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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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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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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49
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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50
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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51
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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52
beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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53
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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54
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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55
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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56
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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57
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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58
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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59
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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60
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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61
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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62
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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63
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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64
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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65
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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66
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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67
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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68
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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69
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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70
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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71
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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72
waned
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| v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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73
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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74
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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75
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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76
vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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77
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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78
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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79
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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80
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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81
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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82
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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83
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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84
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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85
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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86
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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87
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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