MRS. Arlbery and Camilla set off in the coach of Mr. Dennel, widower1 of a deceased sister of the husband of Mrs. Arlbery, whom she was induced to admit of the party that he might aid in bearing the expenses, as she could not, from some family considerations, refuse taking her niece into her coterie2. Sir Sedley Clarendel drove his own phaeton; but instead of joining them, according to the condition which occasioned the treaty, cantered away his ponies3 from the very first stage, and left word, where he changed horses, that he should proceed to the hotel upon the Pantiles.
Mrs. Arlbery was nearly provoked to return to the Grove4. With Mr. Dennel she did not think it worth while to converse5; her niece she regarded as almost an idiot; and Camilla was so spiritless, that, had not Sir Sedley acceded6 to her plan, this was the last period in which she would have chosen her for a companion.
They travelled very quietly to within a few miles of Tunbridge, when an accident happened to one of the wheels of the carriage, that the coachman said would take some hours to repair. They were drawn7 on, with difficulty, to a small inn upon the road, whence they were obliged to send a man and horse to Tunbridge for chaises.
As they were destined8, now, to spend some time in this place, Mrs. Arlbery retired9 to write letters, and Mr. Dennel to read newspapers; and, invited by a bright moon, Camilla and Miss Dennel wandered from a little garden to an adjoining meadow, which conducted them to a lane, rendered so beautiful by the strong masses of shade with which the trees intercepted10 the resplendent whiteness of the moon, that they walked on, catching11 fresh openings with fresh pleasure, till the feet of Miss Dennel grew as weary with the length of the way, unbroken by any company, as the ears of Camilla with her incessant12 prattling13, unaided by any idea. Miss Dennel proposed to sit down, and, while relieving herself by a fit of yawning and stretching, Camilla strolled a little further in search of a safe and dry spot.
Miss Dennel, following in a moment, on tiptoe, and trembling, whispered that she was sure she heard a voice. Camilla, with a smile, asked if only themselves were privileged to enjoy so sweet a night? ‘Hush!’ cried she, ‘hush! I hear it again!’ They listened, and, in a minute, a soft plaintive14 tone reached their ears, too distant to be articulate, but undoubtedly15 female.
‘I dare say it’s a robber!’ exclaimed Miss Dennel shaking; ‘If you don’t run back, I shall die!’
Camilla assured her, from the gentleness of the sound, she must be mistaken; and pressed her to advance a few steps further, in case it should be anybody ill.
‘But you know,’ said Miss Dennel, speaking low, ‘people say that sometimes there are noises in the air, without its being any body? Suppose it should be that?’
Still, though almost imperceptibly, Camilla drew her on, till, again listening, they distinctly heard the words, ‘My lovely friend.’
‘La! how pretty!’ said Miss Dennel; ‘let’s go a little nearer.’
They advanced, and presently, again stopping heard, ‘Could pity pour balm into my woes16, how sweetly would they be alleviated17 by your’s , my lovely friend?’
Miss Dennel now looked enchanted18, and eagerly led the way herself.
In a few minutes, arriving at the end of the lane, which opened upon a wild and romantic common, they caught a glimpse of a figure in white.
Miss Dennel turned pale. ‘Dear!’ cried she, in the lowest whisper, ‘what is it?’
‘A lady,’ answered Camilla, equally cautious not to be heard, though totally without alarm.
‘Are you sure of that?’ said Miss Dennel, shrinking back, and pulling her companion to accompany her.
‘Do you think it’s a ghost?’ cried Camilla, unresisting the retreat, yet walking backwards19 to keep the form in sight.
‘Fie! how can you talk so shocking? all in the dark so, except only for the moon?’
‘Your’s , my lovely friend!’ was now again pronounced in the tenderest accent.
‘She’s talking to herself!’ exclaimed Miss Dennel; ‘Lord, how frightful20!’ and she clung close to Camilla, who, mounting a little hillock of stones, presently perceived that the lady was reading a letter.
Miss Dennel, tranquillised by hearing this, was again content to stop, when their ears were suddenly struck by a piercing shriek21.
‘O Lord! we shall be murdered!’ cried she, screaming still louder herself.
They both ran back some paces down the lane, Camilla determining to send somebody from the inn to inquire what all this meant: but presently, through an opening in the common, they perceived the form in white darting22 forwards, with an air wild and terrified. Camilla stopt, struck with compassion23 and curiosity at once; Miss Dennel could not quit her, but after the first glance, hid her face, faintly articulating, ‘O, don’t let it see us! don’t let it see us! I am sure it’s nothing natural! I dare say it’s somebody walking!’
The next instant, they perceived a man, looking earnestly around, as if to discover who had echoed the scream; the place they occupied was in the shade, and he did not observe them. He soon rushed hastily on, and seized the white garment of the flying figure, which appeared, both by its dress and form, to be an elegant female. She clasped her hands in supplication24, cast up her eyes towards heaven, and again shrieked25 aloud.
Camilla, who possessed26 that fine internal power of the thinking and feeling mind to adopt courage for terror, where any eminent27 service may be the result of immediate28 exertion29, was preparing to spring to her relief; while Miss Dennel, in extreme agony holding her, murmured out, ‘Let’s run away! let’s run away! she’s going to be murdered!’ when they saw the man prostrate30 himself at the lady’s feet, in the humblest subjection.
Camilla stopt her flight;-and Miss Dennel, appeased31, called out; ‘La! his kneeling! how pretty it looks! I dare say it’s a lover. How I wish one could hear what he says!’
An exclamation32, however, from the lady, uttered in a tone of mingled33 affright and disgust, of ‘leave me! leave me!’ was again the signal to Miss Dennel of retreat, but of Camilla to advance.
The rustling34 of the leaves, caused by her attempt to make way through the breach35, caught the ears of the suppliant36, who hastily arose; while the lady folded her arms across her breast, and seemed ejaculating the most fervent37 thanks for this relief.
Camilla now forced a passage through the hedge, and the lady, as she saw her approach, called out, in a voice the most touching38, ‘Surely ’tis some pitying Angel, mercifully come to my rescue!’
The pursuer drew back, and Camilla, in the gentlest words, besought39 the lady to accompany her to the friends she had just left, who would be happy to protect her.
She gratefully accepted the proposal, and Camilla then ventured to look round, to see if the object of this alarm had retreated: but, with an astonishment40 that almost confounded her, she perceived him, a few yards off, taking a pinch of snuff, and humming an opera air.
The lady, then, snatching up her letter, which had fallen to the ground, touched it with her lips, and carefully folding, put it into her bosom41, tenderly ejaculating, ‘I have preserved thee!... O from what danger! what violation42!’
Then pressing the hand of Camilla, ‘You have saved me,’ she cried, ‘from the calamity43 of losing what is more dear than I have words to express! Take me but where I may be shielded from that wretch44, and what shall I not owe to you?’
The moon now shining full upon her face, Camilla saw seated on it youth, sensibility, and beauty. Her pleasure, involuntarily rather than rationally, was redoubled that she had proved serviceable to her, as, in equal proportion, was her abhorrence45 of the man who had caused the disturbance46.
The three females were now proceeding47, when the offender48, with a careless air, and yet more careless bow, advancing towards them, negligently49 said, ‘Shall I have the honour to see you safe home, ladies?’
Camilla felt indignant; Miss Dennel again screamed; and the stranger, with a look of horror and disgust, said; ‘Persecute me no more!’
‘O hang it! O curse it!’ cried he, swinging his cane50 to and fro, ‘don’t be serious. I only meant to frighten you about the letter.’
The lady deigned51 no answer, but murmured to herself ‘that letter is more precious to me than life or light!’
They now walked on; and, when they entered the lane, they had the pleasure to observe they were not pursued. She then said to Camilla, ‘You must be surprised to see any one out, and unprotected, at this late hour; but I had employed myself, unthinkingly, in reading some letters from a dear and absent friend, and forgot the quick passage of time.’
A man in a livery now appearing at some distance, she hastily summoned him, and demanded where was the carriage?
In the road, he answered, where she had left it, at the end of the lane.
She then took the hand of Camilla, and with a smile of the utmost softness said, ‘When the shock I have suffered is a little over, I must surely cease to lament52 I have sustained it, since it has brought to me such sweet succour. Where may I find you tomorrow, to repeat my thanks?’
Camilla answered, ‘she was going to Tunbridge immediately, but knew not yet where she should lodge53.’
‘Tunbridge!’ she repeated; ‘I am there myself; I shall easily find you out tomorrow morning, for I shall know no rest till I have seen you again.’
She then asked her name, and, with the most touching acknowledgments, took leave.
Camilla recounted her adventure to Mrs. Arlbery, with an animated54 description of the fair Incognita, and with the most heart-felt delight of having, though but accidentally, proved of service to her. Mrs. Arlbery laughed heartily55 at the recital56, assuring her she doubted not but she had made acquaintance with some dangerous fair one, who was playing upon her inexperience, and utterly57 unfit to be known to her. Camilla warmly vindicated58 her innocence59, from the whole of her appearance, as well as from the impossibility of her knowing that her scream could be heard: yet was perplexed60 how to account for her not naming herself, and for the mystery of the carriage and servant in waiting so far off. These latter she concluded to belong to her father, as she looked too young to have any sort of establishment of her own.
‘What I don’t understand in the matter is, that there reading of letters by the light of the moon;’ said Mr. Dennel. ‘Where’s the necessity of doing that, for a person that can afford to keep her own coach and servants?’
Mr. Dennel was a man as unfavoured by nature as he was uncultivated by art. He had been accepted as a husband by the sister of Mr. Arlbery, merely on account of a large fortune, which he had acquired in business. The marriage, like most others made upon such terms, was as little happy in its progression as honourable61 in its commencement; and Miss Dennel, born and educated amidst domestic dissention, which robbed her of all will of her own, by the constant denial of one parent to what was accorded by the other, possessed too little reflexion to benefit by observing the misery62 of an alliance not mentally assorted63; and grew up with no other desire but to enter the state herself, from an ardent64 impatience65 to shake off the slavery she experienced in singleness. The recent death of her mother had given her, indeed, somewhat more liberty; but she had not sufficient sense to endure any restraint, and languished66 for the complete power which she imagined a house and servants of her own would afford.
When they arrived at the hotel, in Tunbridge, Mrs. Arlbery heard, with some indignation, that Sir Sedley Clarendel was gone to the rooms, without demonstrating, by any sort of inquiry67, the smallest solicitude68 at her non-appearance.
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1
widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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coterie
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| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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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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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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14
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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alleviated
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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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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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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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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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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40
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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41
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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42
violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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43
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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44
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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45
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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46
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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49
negligently
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50
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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51
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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53
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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54
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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58
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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59
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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62
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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assorted
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| adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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65
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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66
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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67
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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