LAVINIA, almost equally terrified, followed her sister; and Sir Sedley, burying all foppery in compassion1 and good nature, was foremost to accompany and assist. Camilla had no thought but to get instantly to Cleves; she considered not how; she only forced herself rapidly on, persuaded she could walk it in ten minutes, and ejaculating incessantly2, ‘My Uncle!-my dear Uncle!’–
They almost instantly encountered Edgar, who, upon the fatal call, had darted3 round to meet them, and finding each provided with an attendant, inquired whose carriage he should seek?
Camilla, in a broken voice, answered she had no carriage, and should walk.
‘Walk?’ he repeated; ‘you are near five miles from Cleves!’
Scarce in her senses, she hurried on without reply.
‘What carriage did you come in, Miss Tyrold?’ said Edgar to Lavinia.
‘We came with Mrs. Arlbery.’
‘Mrs. Arlbery?-she has been gone this half hour; I met her as I entered.’
Camilla had now rushed out of doors, still handed by the Major.
‘If you have no carriage in waiting,’ said Edgar, ‘make use, I beseech4 you, of mine!’
‘O, gladly! O, thankfully!’ cried Camilla, almost sobbing5 out her words.
He flew then to call for his chaise and the door-keeper, for whom Sir Sedley had inquired, came to them, accompanied by Jacob.
‘O, Jacob!’ she cried, breaking violently from the Major, ‘tell me!-tell me!-my Uncle!-my dearest Uncle!’
Jacob, in a tone of deep and unfeigned sorrow, said, his Master had been seized suddenly with the gout in his stomach, and that the doctor, who had been instantly fetched, had owned there was little hope.
She could hear no more; the shock overpowered her, and she sunk nearly senseless into the arms of her sister.
She was recovered, however, almost in a minute, and carried by Edgar into his chaise, in which he placed her between himself and the weeping Lavinia; hastily telling the two gentlemen, that his intimate connection with the family authorized6 his assisting and attending them at such a period.
This was too well known to be disputed; and Sir Sedley and the Major, with great concern, uttered their good wishes and retreated.
Jacob had already been for Mr. Tyrold who had set off instantaneously on horseback.
Camilla spoke7 not a word for the first mile, which was spent in an hysteric sobbing: but, recovering a little afterwards, and sinking on the shoulder of her sister, ‘O, Lavinia!’ she cried, ‘should we lose my Uncle–’
A shower of tears wetted the neck of Lavinia, who mingled8 with them her own, though less violently, from having less connection with Sir Hugh, and a sensibility less ungovernable.
She called herself upon the postillion to drive faster, and pressed Edgar continually to hurry him; but though he gave every charge she could desire, so much swifter were her wishes than any possible speed, that twenty times she entreated9 to get out, believing she could walk quicker than the horses galloped10.
When they arrived at the park gate, she was with difficulty held back from opening the chaise door; and when, at length, they stopt at the house porch, she could not wait for the step, and before Edgar could either precede or prevent her, threw herself into the arms of Jacob, who, having just dismounted, was fortunately at hand to save her from falling.
She stopt not to ask any question; ‘My Uncle!-my Uncle!’ she cried, impetuously, and, rushing past all she met, was in his room in a moment.
Edgar, though he could not obstruct11, followed her close, dreading12 lest Sir Hugh might already be no more, and determined13, in that case, to force her from the fatal spot.
Eugenia, who heard her footstep, received her at the door, but took her immediately from the room, softly whispering, while her arms were thrown round her waist–‘He will live! he will live, my sister! his agonies are over-he is fallen asleep, and he will live!’
This was too sudden a joy for the desponding Camilla, whose breath instantly stopt, and who must have fallen upon the floor, had she not been caught by Edgar; who, though his own eyes copiously14 overflowed15 with delight, at such unexpected good news of the universally beloved Baronet, had strength and exertion16 sufficient to carry her downstairs into the parlour, accompanied by Eugenia.
There, hartshorn and water presently revived her, and then, regardless of the presence of Edgar, she cast herself upon her knees, to utter a fervent17 thanksgiving, in which Eugenia, with equal piety18, though more composure, joined.
Edgar had never yet beheld19 her in a light so resplendent–What a heart, thought he, is here! what feelings, what tenderness, what animation20!–O, what a heart!-were it possible to touch it!
The two sisters went both gently up stairs, encouraging and congratulating each other in soft whispers, and stationed themselves in an ante-room: Mr. Tyrold, by medical counsel, giving directions that no one but himself should enter the sick chamber21.
Edgar, though he only saw the domestics, could not persuade himself to leave the house till near two o’clock in the morning: and by six, his anxiety brought him thither22 again. He then heard, that the Baronet had passed a night of more pain than danger, the gout having been expelled his stomach, though it had been threatening almost every other part.
Three days and nights passed in this manner; during which, Edgar saw so much of the tender affections, and softer character of Camilla, that nothing could have withheld23 him from manifesting his entire sympathy in her feelings, but the unaccountable circumstance of her starting forth24 from a back seat at the play, where she had sat concealed25, attended by the Major, and without any matron protectress.
Miss Margland, meanwhile, scowled26 at him, and Indiana pouted27 in vain. His earnest solicitude28 for Sir Hugh surmounted29 every such obstacle to his present visits at Cleves; and he spent there almost the whole of his time.
On the fourth day of the attack, Sir Hugh had a sleep of five hours’ continuance, from which he awoke so much revived, that he raised himself in his bed, and called out–‘My dear Brother! you are still here?-you are very good to me, indeed; poor sinner that I am! to forgive me for all my bad behaviour to your Children.’
‘My dearest Brother! my Children, like myself, owe you nothing but kindness and beneficence; and, like myself, feel for you nothing but gratitude30 and tenderness.’
‘They are very good, very good indeed,’ said Sir Hugh, with a deep sigh; ‘but Eugenia!-poor little Eugenia has nearly been the death of me; though not meaning it in the least, being all her life as innocent as a lamb.’
Mr. Tyrold assured him, that Eugenia was attached to him with the most unalterable fondness. But Sir Hugh said, that the sight of her, returning from Etherington, with nearly the same sadness as ever, had wounded him to the heart, by shewing him she would never recover; which had brought back upon him all his first contrition31, about the smallpox32, and the fall from the plank33, and had caused his conscience to give him so many twitches35, that it never let him rest a moment, till the gout seized upon his stomach, and almost took him off at once.
Mr. Tyrold attributed solely36 to his own strong imagination the idea of the continuance of the dejection of Eugenia, as she had left Etherington calm, and almost chearful. He instantly, therefore, fetched her, intimating the species of consolation37 she could afford.
‘Kindest of Uncles!’ cried she, ‘is it possible you can ever, for a moment, have doubted the grateful affection with which your goodness has impressed me from my childhood? Do me more justice, I beseech you, my dearest Uncle! recover from this terrible attack, and you shall soon see your Eugenia restored to all the happiness you can wish her.’
‘Nobody has got such kind nieces as me!’ cried Sir Hugh, again dissolving into tenderness; ‘for all nobody has deserved so ill of them. My generous little Camilla, forgave me from the very first, before her young soul had any guile38 in it, which, God knows, it never has had to this hour, no more than your own. However, this I can tell you, which may serve to keep you from repenting39 being good, and that is, that your kindness to your poor Uncle may be the means of saving a christian’s life; which, for a young person at your age, is as much as can be expected: for I think, I may yet get about again, if I could once be assured I should see you as happy as you used to be; and you’ve been the contentedest little thing, till those unlucky market-women, that ever was seen: always speaking up for the servants, and the poor, from the time you were eight years old. And never letting me be angry, but taking every body’s part, and thinking them all as good as yourself, and only wanting to make them as happy.’
‘Ah, my dear Uncle! how kind a memory is yours! retaining only what can give pleasure, and burying in oblivion whatever might cause pain!–’
‘Is my Uncle well enough to speak?’ cried Camilla, softly opening the door, ‘and may I-for one single moment,-see him?’–
‘That’s the voice of my dear Camilla!’ said Sir Hugh; ‘come in, my little love, for I shan’t shock your tender heart now, for I’m going to get better.’
Camilla, in an ecstasy41, was instantly at his bedside, passionately43 exclaiming, ‘My dear, dear Uncle! will you indeed recover?–’
Sir Hugh, throwing his feeble arms round her neck, and leaning his head upon her shoulder, could only faintly articulate, ‘If God pleases, I shall, my little darling, my heart’s delight and joy! But don’t vex44, whether I do or not, for it is but in the course of nature for a man to die, even in his youth; but how much more when he comes to be old? Though I know you can’t help missing me, in particular at the first, because of all your goodness to me.’
‘Missing you? O my Uncle! we can never be happy again without you! never never!-when your loved countenance45 no longer smiles upon us,-when your kind voice no longer assembles us around you!–’
‘My dear child-my own little Camilla,’ cried Sir Hugh, in a faint voice, ‘I am ready to die!’
Mr. Tyrold here forced her away, and his brother grew so much worse, that a dangerous relapse took place, and for three days more, the physician, the nurse, and Mr. Tyrold, were alone allowed to enter his room.
During this time, the whole family suffered the truest grief, and Camilla was inconsolable.
When again he began to revive, he called Mr. Tyrold to him, and said that this second shake persuaded him he had but a short time more for this world; and begged therefore he would prepare him for his exit.
Mr. Tyrold complied, and found, with more happiness than surprise, his perfect and chearful resignation either to live or to die, rejoicing as much as himself, in the innocent benevolence46 of his past days.
Composed and strengthened by religious duties, he then desired to see Eugenia and Indiana, that he might give them his last exhortations47 and counsel, in case of a speedy end.
Mr. Tyrold would fain have spared him this touching48 exertion, but he declared he could not go off with a clear conscience, unless he told them the advice which he had been thinking of for them, between whiles, during all his illness.
Mr. Tyrold then feared that opposition49 might but discompose him, and summoned his youngest daughter and his niece, charging them both to repress their affliction, lest it should accelerate what they most dreaded50.
Camilla, always upon the watch, glided51 in with them, supplicating52 her Father not to deny her admittance; though fearful of her impetuous sorrows, he wished her to retreat; but Sir Hugh no sooner heard her murmuring voice, than he declared he would have her refused nothing, though he had meant to take a particular leave of her alone, for the last thing of all.
Gratefully thanking him, she advanced trembling to his bedside; solemnly promising53 her Father that no expression of her grief should again risk agitating54 a life and health so precious.
Sir Hugh then desired to have Lavinia called also, because, though he had thought of nothing to say to her, she might be hurt, after he was gone, in being left out.
He was then raised by pillows and sat upright, and they knelt round his bed. Mr. Tyrold entreated him to be concise55, and insisted upon the extremest forbearance and fortitude56 in his little audience. He seated himself at some distance, and Sir Hugh, after swallowing a cordial medicine, began:
‘My dear Nieces, I have sent for you all upon a particular account, which I beg you to listen to, because, God only knows whether I may ever be able to give you so much advice again. I see you all look very melancholy57, which I take very kind of you. However don’t cry, my little dears, for we must all go off, so it matters but little the day or the hour; dying being, besides, the greatest comfort of us all, taking us off from our cares; as my Brother will explain to you better than me.
‘The chief of what I have got to say, in regard to what I have been studying in my illness, is for you two, my dear Eugenia and Indiana; because, having brought you both up, I can’t get it out of my head what you’ll do, when I am no longer here to keep you out of the danger of bad designers.
‘My hope had been to have seen you both married while I was alive and amongst you, and I made as many plans as my poor head knew how, to bring it about; but we’ve all been disappointed alike, for which reason we must put up with it properly.
‘What I have now last of all, to say to you, my little dears, is three maxims58, which may serve for you all four alike, though I thought of them, at first, only for you two.
‘In the first place, Never be proud: if you are, your superiors will laugh at you, your equals won’t love you, and your dependants59 will hate you. And what is there for poor mortal man to be proud of?–Riches!-why they are but a charge, and if we don’t use them well, we may envy the poor beggar that has so much less to answer for.–Beauty!-why, we can neither get it when we haven’t it; nor keep it when we have it.–Power!-why we scarce ever use it one way, but what we are sorry we did not use it another!
‘In the second place, Never trust a Flatterer. If a man makes you a great many compliments, always suspect him of some bad design, and never believe him your friend, till he tells you of some of your faults. Poor little things! you little imagine how many you have, for all you’re so good!
‘In the third place, Do no harm to others, for the sake of any good it may do to yourselves; because the good will last you but a little while; and the repentance60 will stick by you as long as you live, and what is worse, a great while longer, and beyond any count the best Almanack-maker knows how to reckon.
‘And now, my dear Nieces, this is all; except the recommending to my dear Eugenia to be kind to my poor servants, who have all used me so well, knowing I have nothing to leave them.’
Eugenia, suppressing her sobs61, promised to retain them all, as long as they should desire to remain with her, and to provide for them afterwards.
‘I know, you’ll forget nobody, my dear little girl,’ cried the Baronet, ‘which makes me die contented40; not even Mrs. Margland, a little particularity not being to be considered at one’s last end: and much less Dr. Orkborne, who has so much a better right from you. As to Indiana, she’ll have her own little fortune when she comes of age; and I dare say her pretty face will marry her before long.–And as to Clermont, he’ll come off rather short, finding I leave him nothing; but you’ll make up for the deficiency, by giving him the whole, as well as a good wife. As to Lionel, I leave him my blessing62; and as to any other legacy63 I never happened to promise him any; which is very good luck for me, as well as my best excuse; and I may say the same to my dear Lavinia, which is the reason I called her in, because she may not often have an opportunity to hear a man speak upon his death-bed. However all I wish for is, that I could leave you all equal shares, as well as give Eugenia the whole.’
‘O my dear Uncle!’ exclaimed Eugenia, ‘make a new Will immediately! do everything your tenderness can dictate64!-or tell me what I shall do in your name, and every word, every wish shall be sacredly obeyed!’
‘Dear, generous, noble girl! no! I won’t take from you a shilling! keep it all-nobody will spend it so well;-and I can’t give you back your beauty; so keep it, my dear, all, for my oath’s sake, when I am gone; and don’t make me die under a prevaricating65; which would be but a grievous thing for a person to do; unless he was but a bad believer: which, God help us! there are enough, without my helping66 to make more.’
Mr. Tyrold now again remonstrated67, motioning to the weeping group to be gone.
‘Ah! my dear Brother!’ said Sir Hugh, ‘you are the only right person that ought to have had it all, if it had not been for my poor weak brain, that made me always be looking askew68, instead of strait forward. And indeed I always meant you to have had it for your life, till the smallpox put all things out of my head. However, I hope you won’t object to preach my funeral sermon, for all my bad faults, for nobody else will speak of me so kindly69; which may serve as a better lesson for those I leave behind.’
Tears flowed fast down the cheeks of Mr. Tyrold, as he uttered whatever he could suggest most tenderly soothing70 to his Brother: and the young mourners, not daring to resist, were all gliding71 away, except Camilla, whose hand was fast grasped in that of her Uncle.
‘Ah, my Camilla,’ cried he, as she would gently have withdrawn72 it, ‘how shall I part with my little dear darling? this is the worst twitch34 to me of all, with all my contentedness73! And the more because I know you love your poor old Uncle, just as well as if he had left you all he was worth, though you won’t get one penny by his death!’
‘O my dear, dearest Uncle–’ exclaimed Camilla, in a passionate42 flood of tears; when Mr. Tyrold, assuring them both the consequences might be fatal, tore her away from the bed and the room.
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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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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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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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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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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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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contrition
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| n.悔罪，痛悔 | |
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smallpox
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| n.天花 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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twitches
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| n.（使）抽动， （使）颤动， （使）抽搐( twitch的名词复数 ) | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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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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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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vex
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| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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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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supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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dependants
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| 受赡养者，受扶养的家属( dependant的名词复数 ) | |
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60
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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61
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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62
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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64
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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65
prevaricating
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| v.支吾( prevaricate的现在分词 )；搪塞；说谎 | |
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66
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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67
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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68
askew
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| adv.斜地；adj.歪斜的 | |
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69
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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70
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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71
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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72
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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73
contentedness
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