He wore a flame-coloured mantle1 that hung about him in heavy folds, and under that a tight yellow doublet; his hair drooped2 smoothly3, there was a bright colour in his face, and his eyes sparkled.
“Ye are merry,” he mocked, glancing round him. “Will you that I play or sing?” He looked, in his direct burning way at Jacobea, and she answered hastily —
“Certes, with all my heart — the air is hot — and thick — to-night.”
Dirk laughed, and Theirry stared at him bewildered, so utterly4 had his demeanour changed; he was gay now, radiant; he leant against the wall in the centre of them and glanced from one silent face to another.
“I can play rarely,” he smiled.
Jacobea took an instrument from among the cushions in the window-seat; it was red, with a heart-shaped body, a long neck and three strings5.
“You can play this?” she asked in a half-frightened manner.
“Ay.” Dirk came forward and took it. “I will sing you a fine tune6, surely.”
Theirry was something of a musician himself, but he had never heard that Dirk had any such skill; he said nothing, however; a sense of helplessness was upon him; the atmosphere of gloom and horror that he felt held him chained and gagged.
Dirk returned to his place against the wall; Sybilla had dropped the red lily on to her lap; they were all looking at him.
“I will sing you the tune of a foolish lady,” he smiled.
His shadow was heavy on the wall behind him; the dark purple hues7 of the tapestry9 threw into brilliant relief the flame hues of his robe and the clear pale colour of his strange face; he held the instrument across his knees and commenced playing on it with the long bow Jacobea had given him; an irregular quick melody arose, harsh and jeering10.
After he had played a while he began to sing, but in a chant under his breath, so that the quality of his voice was not heard.
He sang strange meaningless words at first; the four listening sat very still; only Sybilla had picked up her sewing, and her fingers rose and fell steadily11 as the bodkin glittered over the red lily.
Theirry hid his face in his hands; he hated the place, the woman quietly sewing, the dark-faced man beside him; he even hated the image of Jacobea, that he saw, as clearly as if he looked at her, brightly before him.
Dirk broke into a little doggerel12 rhyme, every word of which was hard and clear.
“The turkis in my fine spun13 hair Was brought to me from Barbarie.
My pointed14 shield is rouge15 and vair, Where mullets three shine royallie.
Now if he guessed.
He need not wait in poor estate, But on his breast
Wear all my state and be my mate.
For sick for very love am I.
My heart is weak to kiss his cheek; But he is low, and I am high.
I cannot speak, for I am weak.”
Jacobea put the cat among the cushions and rose; she had a curious set smile on her lips. “Do you call that the rhyme of a foolish lady?” she asked.
“Ay, for if she had offered her love, surely it had not been refused,” answered Dirk, dragging the bow across the strings.
“You think so?” said Jacobea in a shrinking tone.
“Mark you, she was a rich lady,” smiled Dirk, “and fair enough, and young and gentle, and he was poor; so I think, if she had not been so foolish, she might have been his second wife.”
At these words Theirry looked up; he saw Jacobea standing16 in a bewildered fashion, as if she knew not whether to go or stay, and in her eyes an unmistakable look of amazement17 and horror.
“The rhyme said nothing of the first wife,” remarked Sybilla, without looking up from the red lily.
“The rhyme says very little,” answered Dirk. “It is an old story — the squire18 had a wife, but if the lady had told her love belike he had found himself a widower19.”
Jacobea touched the steward20’s wife on the shoulder.
“Dear heart,” she said, “I am weary — very weary with doing nought21. And it is late — and the place strange — to-night — at least”— she gave a trembling smile —“I feel it — strange — so — good even.”
Sybilla rose, Jacobea’s lips touched her on the forehead.
The steward watched them; Jacobea, the taller of the two, stooping to kiss his wife. Theirry got to his feet; the chatelaine raised her head and looked towards him.
“To-morrow I will bid you God speed, sirs;” her blue eyes glanced aside at Dirk, who had moved to the door by the fire-placer and held it open for her; she looked back at Theirry, then round in silence and coloured swiftly.
Sybilla glanced at the sand clock against the wall.
“Yea, it is near midnight. I will come with you.” She put her arm round Jacobea’s waist, and smiled backwards22 over her shoulder at Theirry; so they went, the sound of their garments on the stairs making a faint soft noise; the little cat rose from her cushions, stretched herself, and followed them.
Sebastian picked up the red silk lily that his wife had flung down on the cushions; the candles were guttering23 to the iron sockets24, making the light in the chamber25 still dimmer, the corners still more deeply obscured with waving shadows.
“You know your chamber,” said the steward to Dirk. “You will find me here in the morning. Good-night.”
He took a bunch of keys from his belt and swung them in his hand.
“Good-night,” said Theirry heavily.
Dirk smiled, and threw himself into the vacated window-seat.
The steward crossed the room to the door by which they had entered; he did not look back, though both were watching him; the door closed after him violently, and they were alone in the vast darkening hall.
“This is fine hospitality,” sneered27 Dirk. “Is there none to light us to our chamber?” Theirry walked to and fro with an irregular agitated28 step.
“What was that song of yours?” he asked. “What did you mean? What ails29 this place and these people? She never looked at me.”
Dirk pulled at the strings of the instrument he still held; they emitted little wailing30 sounds.
“She is pretty, your chatelaine,” he said. “I did not think to see her so soon. You love her — or you might love her.”
His bright eyes glanced across the shadowy space between them.
“Ye mock and sneer26 at me,” answered Theirry hotly, “because she is a great dame31. I do not love her, and yet —”
“If our arts can do anything for us — could they not — if I wished it — some day — get this lady for me?”
He paused, his hand to his pale brow.
“You shall never have her,” said Dirk, biting his under lip.
Theirry turned on him violently.
“You cannot tell. Of what use to serve Evil for nought?”
“Ye have done with remorse33 belike?” mocked Dirk. “Ye have ceased to long for priests and holy water?”
“Ay,” said Theirry recklessly, “I shall not falter34 again — I will take these means — any means —”
“To attain35 — her?” Dirk got up from the window-seat and rose to his full height.
Theirry gave him a sick look.
“I will not bandy taunts36 with you. I must sleep a little.”
“They have given us the first chamber ye come to, ascending37 those stairs,” answered Dirk quietly. “There is a lamp, and the door is set open. Good-night.”
“You will not come?” asked Theirry sullenly38.
“Nay. I will sleep here.”
“Why? You are strange to-night.”
Dirk smiled unpleasantly.
“There is a reason. A good reason. Get to bed.” Theirry left him without an answer, and closed the door upon him.
When he had gone, and there was no longer a sound of his footstep, a rustle39 of the arras to tell he had been, a great change swept over Dirk’s face; a look of agony, of distraction40 contorted his proud features, he paced softly here and there, twisting his hands together and lifting his eyes blindly to the painted ceiling.
Half the candles had flickered41 out; the others smoked and flared42 in the sockets; the rain dripping on the window-sill without made an insistent43 sound.
Dirk paused before the vast bare hearth44.
“He shall never have her,” he said in a low, steady voice as if he saw and argued with some personage facing him. “No. You will prevent it. Have I not served you well? Ever since I left the convent? Did you not promise me great power — as the black letters of the forbidden books swam before my eyes; did I not hear you whispering, whispering?”
He turned about as though following a movement in the person he spoke45 to, and shivered.
“I will keep my comrade. Do you hear me? Did you send me here to prevent it? — they seemed to know you were at my elbow to-night — hush46! — one comes!”
He fell back against the wall, his finger on his lips, his o her hand clutching the arras behind him.
“Hush!” he repeated.
The door at the far end of the chamber was slowly opened; a man stepped in and cautiously closed it; a little cry of triumph rose to Dirk’s lips, but he repressed it and gave a glance into the pulsating47 shadows as if he communicated with some mysterious companion.
It was Sebastian who had entered; he looked swiftly round, and seeing Dirk, came towards him.
In the steward’s hand was a little cresset lamp; the clear, heart-shaped flame illuminated48 his dark face and his pink habit; his eyes looked over this light in a burning way at Dirk. “So — you are not abed?” he said.
There was more than the aimless comment in his tone, an expectation, an excitement. “You came to find me,” answered Dirk. “Why?”
Sebastian set the lamp on a little bracket by the window he put his hand to his neck, loosening his doublet, and looked away.
“It is very hot,” he said in a low voice. “I cannot rest. I feel to-night as I have never felt — I think the cause is with you — what you said has distracted me.” he turned his head. “Who are you? What did you mean?” “You know,” answered Dirk, “what I am-a poor student from Basle college. And in your heart you know what I meant.”
Sebastian stared at him a moment.
“God! But how could you discern — even if it be true? — you, a stranger. But now I think of it, belike there is reason in it — certes, she has shown me favour.”
Dirk smiled.
“’Tis a rich lady, her husband would be a noble, think of it.”
“What ye put into me!” cried Sebastian in a distracted voice. “That I should talk thus to a prating49 boy! But the thought clings and burns — and surely ye are wise.”
Dirk, still leaning against the wall, smoothed the arras with delicate fingers.
“Surely I am wise. Well skilled in difficult sciences am I, and quick to see — and understand —— take this for your hospitality, sir steward — watch your mistress.”
Sebastian put his hand to his head.
“I have a wife.”
Dirk laughed.
“Will she live for ever?”
Sebastian looked at him and stammered50, as if some sudden sight of terror seared his eyes. “There — there is witchcraft51 in this — your meaning —”
“Think of it!” flashed Dirk. “Remember it! Ye get no more from me.”
The steward stood quite still, gazing at him.
“I think that I have lost my wits to-night,” he said in a low voice. “I do not know what I came down to you for — nor whence come these strange thoughts.”
Dirk nodded his head; a small, slow smile trembled on the corners of his lips.
“Perchance I shall see you in Frankfort, sir steward.”
Sebastian caught at the words with eagerness.
“Yea — I go there with — my lady —” He stopped blankly.
“As yet,” said Dirk, “I know neither my dwelling52 there nor the name I shall assume. But you —— if I need to I shall find you at the Emperor’s court?”
“Yea,” answered Sebastian; then, reluctantly, “What should you want with me?”
“Will it not be you who may need me?” smiled Dirk. “I, who have to-night put thoughts into your brain that you will not forget?”
Sebastian turned about quickly, and caught up the cresset lamp.
“I will see you before you go,” he whispered, horror in his face. “Yea, on the morrow I shall desire more speech with you.”
Like a man afraid, in terror of himself, filled with a dread53 of his companion, Sebastian, the pure flame of the lamp quivering with the shaking of his hand, crossed the long chamber and left by the door through which he had entered.
Dirk gave a half-suppressed shiver of excitement; the candles had mostly burnt out; the hall seemed monstrous54 in the gusty55, straggling light. He crept to the window; the rain had ceased, and he looked out on a hot starless darkness, disturbed by no sound.
He shivered again, closed the window and flung himself along the cushions in the niched seat. Lying there, where Jacobea had sat, he thought of her; she was more present to his mind than all the crowded incidents of the past day; his afternoon passed in the sunny library, his evening before the beautiful witch fire, the wild escape into the night, the flight through the wet forest, the sombre arrival at the castle, were but flitting backgrounds to the slim figure of the chatelaine.
Certainly she had a potent56 personality; she was exquisite57, a thing shut away in sweet fragrancy. He thought of her as an ivory pyx filled with red flowers; there were her trembling passionate58 emotions, her modest secrets, that she guarded delicately.
It was his intention to tear open this tabernacle to wrench59 from her her treasures and scatter60 them among blood and ruin; he meant to bring her to utter destruction; not her body, perhaps, but her soul.
And this because she had interfered61 with the one being on earth he cared about — Theirry; not because he hated her for herself.
“How beautiful she is!” he said aloud, almost tenderly.
The last candle fluttered up and sank out; Dirk, lying luxuriously62 among the cushions, looked into the complete blackness with half-closed eyes.
“How beautiful!” he repeated; he felt he could have loved her himself; he thought of her now, lying in her white bed, her hair unbound; he wished himself kneeling beside her, caressing63 those yellow locks; a desire possessed64 him to touch her curls, her soft cheek, to have her hand in his and hear her laugh surely she was a sweet thing, made to be loved.
Yet the power that had brought him here to-night had made plain that if he did not take the chance of her destruction set in his way, she would win Theirry from him for ever.
He had made the first move; in the dark face of Sebastian the steward he had seen the beginning of —— the end.
But thinking of her he felt the tears come to his eyes; suddenly he fell into weary weeping, thinking of her, and sobbed65 sadly, face downwards66, on the cushion.
Her yellow hair, mostly he thought of that, her long, fine, soft, yellow hair, and how, before the end, it would be trailing in the dust of despair and humiliation67.
Presently he laughed at himself for his tears, and drying them, fell asleep; and awoke from blank dreamlessness to hear his name ringing in his ears. He sat up in the window-seat.
His eyes were hot with his late tears; the misty68 blue light of dawn that he found about him hurt them; he shrank from this light that came in a clear shaft69 through the arched window, and, crouching70 away from it, saw Theirry standing close to him, Theirry, fully71 dressed and pale, looking at him earnestly.
“Dirk, we must go now. I cannot stay any longer in this place.”
Dirk, leaning his head against the cushions, said nothing, impressed anew with his friend’s beauty. How fine and fair a thing Theirry’s face was in the colourless early light; in hue8 and line splendid, in expression wild and pained.
“I could not sleep much,” continued Theirry. “I do not want to see them — her — again — not like this — get up, Dirk — why did you not come to bed? I wanted your company — things were haunting me.”
“Mostly her face?” breathed Dirk.
“Ay,” said Theirry sombrely. “Mostly her face.”
Dirk was silent again; was not her loveliness the counterpart of his friend’s? — he imagined them together — close — touching72 hands, lips — and as he pictured this he grew paler.
“The castle is open, there are varlets abroad,” cried Theirry. “Let us go — supposing — oh, my heart! supposing one came from the college to look for us!”
Dirk considered; he reflected that he had no desire to meet Sebastian again; he had said all he wished to.
“Let us go,” he assented73; his one regret was that he should not see again the delicate face crowned with the yellow hair.
He rose from the seat and shook out his borrowed flame-coloured mantle, then he closed his tired eyes as he stood, for a very exquisite sensation rushed over him; nothing had come between him and his friend; Theirry of his own choice had roused him — wanting him — they were to go forth74 together alone.
收听单词发音 |
1
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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doggerel
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| n.拙劣的诗，打油诗 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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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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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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guttering
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| n.用于建排水系统的材料；沟状切除术；开沟 | |
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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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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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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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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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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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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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47
pulsating
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| adj.搏动的，脉冲的v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的现在分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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prating
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| v.（古时用语）唠叨，啰唆( prate的现在分词 ) | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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52
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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53
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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60
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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61
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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62
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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63
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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64
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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65
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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66
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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67
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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68
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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69
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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70
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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71
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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72
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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73
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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