MR. TYROLD left Eugenia to her sisters, unwilling1 to speak of Lynmere till he had seen something more of him. Sir Hugh, also, was going, for he had no time, he said, to lose in his but Eugenia, taking his arm, besought3 that nothing might, at present, be mentioned.
‘Don’t trouble yourself about that, my dear,’ he answered; for it’s what I take all into my own hands; your cousin being a person that don’t talk much; by which, how can any thing be forward, if nobody interferes4? A girl, you know, my dear, can’t speak for herself, let her wish it never so much.’
‘Alas5!’ said Eugenia, when he was gone, ‘how painfully am I situated6! Clermont will surely suppose this precipitance all mine; and already, possibly, concludes it is upon my suggestion he has thus prematurely7 been called from his travels, and impeded8 in his praise-worthy ambition of studying the laws, manners, and customs of the different nations of Europe!’
The wan9 countenance10 of Camilla soon, however, drew all observation upon herself, and obliged her to narrate11 the cruel adventure of the morning.
The sisters were both petrified12 by the account of Sir Sedley, and their compassion13 for his expected despair was changed into disgust at his insulting impertinence. They were of opinion that his bird and his letters should immediately be returned; and their horror of any debt with a character mingling15 such presumption16 with such levity17, made Eugenia promise that, as soon as she was mistress of so much money, she would send him, in the name of Lionel, his two hundred pounds.
The bird, therefore, by Tom Hodd, was instantly conveyed to Clarendel Place; but the letters Camilla retained, till she could first shew them to Edgar,... if this event had not lost him to her for ever, and if he manifested any desire of an explanation.
* * *
Edgar himself, meanwhile, in a paroxysm of sudden misery18, and torturing jealousy19, had galloped20 furiously to the rector of Cleves.
‘O, Doctor Marchmont!’ he cried, ‘what a tale have I now to unfold! Within these last twenty-four hours I have been the most wretched... the happiest... and again the most agonized21 of human beings! I have thought Camilla bestowed22 upon another,... I have believed her,... oh, Doctor!... my own!... I have conceived myself at the summit of all earthly felicity!... I find myself, at this moment deluded23 and undone24!’
He then detailed25 the account, calling upon the Doctor to unravel26 to him the insupportable ?|nigma of his destiny; to tell him for what purpose Camilla had shewn him a tenderness so bewitching, at the very time she was carrying on a clandestine27 intercourse28 with another? with a man, who, though destitute29 neither of wit nor good qualities, it was impossible she should love, since she was as incapable30 of admiring as of participating in his defects? To what incomprehensible motives31 attribute such incongruities32? Why accept and suffer her friends to accept him, if engaged to Sir Sedley? why, if seriously meaning to be his, this secret correspondence? Why so early, so private, so strange a meeting? ‘Whence, Doctor Marchmont, the daring boldness of his seizing her hand? whence the never-to-be-forgotten licence with which he presumed to lift it to his lips, and there hardily33 to detain it, so as never man durst do, whose hopes were not all alive, from his own belief in their encouragement! explain, expound34 to me this work of darkness and amazement35; tell me why, with every appearance of the most artless openness, I find her thus eternally disingenuous36 and unintelligible37? why, though I have cast myself wholly into her power, she retains all her mystery... she heightens it into deceit next perjury38?’
‘Ask me, my dear young friend, why the sun does not give night, and the moon day; then why women practise coquetry. Alas! my season for surprise has long been passed! They will rather trifle, even with those they despise, than be candid39 even with those they respect. The young baronet, probably, has been making his court to her, or she has believed such was his design; but as you first came to the point, she would not hazard rejecting you, while uncertain if he were serious. She was, possibly, putting him to the test, by the account of your declaration, at the moment of your unseasonable intrusion.’
‘If this, Doctor, is your statement, and if your statement is just, in how despicable a lottery40 have I risked the peace of my life! You suppose then... that, if sure of Sir Sedley... I am discarded?’
‘You know what I think of your situation: can I, when to yet more riches I add a title, suppose that of Sir Sedley less secure?’
The shuddering41 start, the distracted look of Edgar, with his hand clapped to his burning forehead, now alarmed the Doctor, who endeavoured to somewhat soften42 his sentence, dissuading43 him against any immediate14 measures, and advising him to pass over these first moments of emotion, and then coolly to suffer inquiry44 to take place of decision. But Edgar could not hear him; he shook hands with him, faintly smiled, as an apology for not speaking; and, hurrying off, without waiting for his servant, galloped towards the New Forest: leaving his absence from Cleves to declare his defection, and bent45 only to fly from Camilla, and all that belonged to her.
All, however, that belonged to Camilla was precisely46 what followed him; pursued him in every possible form, clung to his heart-strings, almost maddened his senses. He could not bear to reflect; retrospection was torture, anticipation47 was horror. To lose thus, without necessity, without calamity48, the object of his dearest wishes,... to lose her from mere2 declension of esteem49..., ‘Any inevitable50 evil,’ he cried, ‘I could have sustained; any blow of fortune, however severe; any stroke of adversity, however terrible;... but this... this error of all my senses... this deception51 of all my hopes... this extinction52 of every feeling I have cherished’–
He rode on yet harder, leaping over every thing, thoughtless rather than fearless of every danger he could encounter, and galloping53 with the speed and violence of some pursuit, though wholly without view, and almost without consciousness; as if hoping by flight, to escape from the degenerate54 portrait of Camilla: but its painter was his own imagination, and mocked the attempt.
From the other side of a five-barred gate, which, with almost frantic55 speed, he was approaching with a view to clear, a voice halloo’d to stop him; and, at the same time, a man who was leading one horse, and riding another, dismounted, and called ‘Why, as sure as I’m alive, it’s ‘Squire56 Mandlebert!’
Edgar now, perceiving Jacob, was going to turn back to avoid him; but, restraining this first movement, faintly desired him to stand by, as he had not a moment to lose.
‘Good lack!’ cried Jacob, with the freedom of an old servant, who had known him from a boy; ‘why, I would not but have happened to come this way for never so much! why you might have broke your neck, else! Leap such a gate as this here? why, I can’t let you do no such a thing! Miss Camilla’s like a child of my own as one may say; and she’ll never hold up her head again, I’ll be bound for it, if you should come to any harm; and, as to poor old master! ’twould go nigh to break his heart.’
Struck with words which, from so faithful an old servant, could not but be touching57, Edgar was brought suddenly to himself, and felt the claim of the Tyrold family for a conduct more guarded. He endeavoured to put his own feelings apart, and consider how best he might spare those of the friends of Camilla; those of Camilla herself he concluded to be out of his reach, except as they might simply relate to the female pride and vanity of refusing rather than being given up.
He paused, now, to weigh how he might obviate58 any offence; and, after first resolving to write a sort of general leave-taking, and, next, seeing the almost insuperable objections to whatever he could state, determined59 upon gaining time for deliberation, by merely commissioning Jacob to carry a message to Cleves, that some sudden affairs called him, for the present, to a distant part of the country. This, at such a period, would create a surprise that might lead the way to what would follow: and Camilla, who could not, he thought, be much astonished, might then take her own measures for the defection she would see reason to expect.
But Jacob resisted bearing the intelligence: ‘Good lack, sir,’ he cried, ‘what have you got in your head? something that will do you no good, I’ll be bound, by the look of your eyes, which look as big as if they was both going to drop out; you’d better come yourself and tell ’em what’s the matter, and speak a word to poor Miss Camilla, or she’ll never believe but what some ill has betided you, Why we all knew about it, fast enough, before our master told us; servants have eyes well as their masters; only Mary will have it she found it out at the first, which an’t true, for I saw it by the time you’d been a week in the house; and if you’ll take my word, squire, I don’t think there’s such another heart in the world as Miss Camilla’s , except just my own old master’s.’
Edgar leant against his horse neither speaking nor moving, yet involuntarily listening, while deeply sighing.
‘What a power of good she’ll do,’ continued Jacob, ‘when she’s mistress of Beech60 Park! I warrant she’ll go about, visiting the poor, and making them clothes, and broths61, and wine possets, and baby-linen, all day long. She has done it at Etherington quite from a child; and when she had nothing to give ’em, she used to take her thread papers and needle books, and sit down and work for them, and carry them bits and scraps62 of things to help ’em patch their gowns. Why when she’s got your fine fortunes, she’ll bring a blessing63 upon the whole county.’
Edgar felt touched; his wrath64 was softened65 into tenderness, and he ejaculated to himself: ‘Such, indeed, I thought Camilla! Active in charity, gentle in good works!... I thought that in putting my fortune into her hands, I was serving the unhappy, feeding the indigent,... reviving the sick!’
‘Master,’ continued Jacob, ‘took a fancy to her from the very first, as well as I; and when master said she was coming to live with us, I asked to make it a holiday for all our folks, and master was as pleased as I. But nobody’d think what a tender heart she’s got of her own, without knowing her, because of singing, and laughing, and dancing so, except when old Margland’s in the way, who’s what Mr. Lionel calls a kill-joy at any time. Howbeit, I’ll take special care she shan’t be by when I tell her of my stopping you from breaking your neck here; but I wish you could be in a corner yourself, to peep at her without her knowing it; I’ll warrant you she’ll give me such a smile, you’d be fit to eat her!’
Shaken once more in every resolution, because uncertain every opinion, Edgar found the indignant desperation which had seized him begin to subside66, and his mind again become assailable67 by something resembling hope. Almost instinctively68 he remounted his horse, and almost involuntarily drawn69 on by hearkening to the praise of Camilla, and fascinated by the details made by Jacob of her regard, accompanied him back to Cleves.
As they rode into the park, and while he was earnestly endeavouring to form some palliation, by which he, might exculpate70 what seemed to him so guilty in the strange meeting and its strange circumstances, he perceived Camilla herself, walking upon the lawn. He saw she had observed him, and saw, from her air, she seemed irresolute71 if to re-enter the house, or await him.
Jacob, significantly pointing her out, offered to shew the effect he could produce by what he could relate; but Edgar, giving him the charge of his horse, earnestly besought him to retire in quiet, and to keep his opinions and experiments to himself.
Each now, separately, and with nearly equal difficulty, strove to attain72 fortitude73 to seek an explanation. They approached each other; Camilla with her eyes fixed74 upon the ground, her air embarrassed, and her cheeks covered with blushes; Edgar with quick, but almost tottering75 steps, his eyes wildly avoiding hers, and his complexion76 pale even to indisposition.
When they were met within a few yards, they stopt; Camilla still without courage to look up, and Edgar striving to speak, but finding no passage for his voice. Camilla, then, ashamed of her situation, raised her eyes, and forced herself to say, ‘Have you been into the house? Have you seen my cousin Lynmere?’
‘No... madam.’
Struck with a cold formality that never before, from Edgar, had reached her ears, and shocked by the sight of his estranged77 and altered countenance, with the cruel consciousness that appearances authorised the most depreciating78 suspicions, she advanced, and holding out her hand, ‘Edgar,’ she gently cried, ‘are you ill? Or only angry?’
‘O Camilla!’ he answered, ‘can you deign79 to use to me such a word? can you distort my dearest affections, convulse my fairest hopes, eradicate80 every power of happiness... yet speak with so much sweetness... yet look at me with such mildness? Such softness... I had almost said... such kindness?’
Deeply affected81, she could hardly stand. He had taken her offered hand, but in a manner so changed from the same action the preceding day, that she scarce knew if he touched while he held it, scarce felt that he relinquished82, as almost immediately she withdrew it.
But her condescension83 at this moment was rather a new torment84 than any solace85 to him. The hand which she proferred, and which the day before had received as the token of permanent felicity, he had now seen in the possession of another, with every licence, every apparent mark of permitted rapture86 in which he had been indulged himself. He knew not to whom it of right belonged; and the doubt not merely banished87 happiness, but mingled88 resentment89 with misery.
‘I see,’ cried she, after a mortified90 pause; ‘you have lost your good opinion of me... I can only, therefore....’ She stopt, his melancholy91 silence was a confirmation92 of her suggestion that offended her into more exertion93, and, with sensibility raised into dignity, she added, ‘only hope your intended tour to the Continent may take place without delay!’
She would then have walked on to the house; but following her, ‘Is all over?’ he cried, ‘and is it thus, Camilla, we part?’
‘Why not?’ said she, suppressing a sigh, yet turning back.
‘What a question! cruel Camilla! Is this all the explanation you allow me?’
‘What other do you wish?’
‘All!... every other!... that meeting... those letters...’
‘If you have any curiosity yet remaining... only name what you desire.’
‘Are you indeed so good?’ cried he, in a voice that shewed his soul again melting; ‘those letters, then....’
‘You shall have them... every one!’ she cried, with alacrity94; and instantly taking out her pocket-book, presented him with the prepared packet.
Penetrated95 by this unexpected openness and compliance96, he snatched her hand, with intent to press it to his lips; but again the recollection he had seen that liberty accorded to Sir Sedley, joined to the sight of his writing, checked him; he let it go; bowed his thanks with a look of grateful respect, and attempting no more to stop her, walked towards the summer house, to peruse97 the letters.
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1
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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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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interferes
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| vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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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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narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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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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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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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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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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clandestine
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| adj.秘密的，暗中从事的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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incongruities
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| n.不协调( incongruity的名词复数 )；不一致；不适合；不协调的东西 | |
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hardily
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| 耐劳地，大胆地，蛮勇地 | |
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expound
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| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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disingenuous
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| adj.不诚恳的，虚伪的 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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dissuading
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| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的现在分词 ) | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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48
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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53
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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56
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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58
obviate
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| v.除去，排除，避免，预防 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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61
broths
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| n.肉汤( broth的名词复数 )；厨师多了烧坏汤；人多手杂反坏事；人多添乱 | |
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62
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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64
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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65
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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67
assailable
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| adj.可攻击的，易攻击的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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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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exculpate
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| v.开脱，使无罪 | |
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71
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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76
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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estranged
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| adj.疏远的，分离的 | |
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depreciating
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的现在分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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80
eradicate
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| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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83
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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84
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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85
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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86
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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90
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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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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confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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