CATALEPSY!
A dread1 word to the ignorant.
Imperceptibly the crowd dwindled2; the most discreet3 among them quite content to leave the house; others, with their curiosity inflamed4 anew, to poke5 about and peer into corners and curtained recesses6 while the opportunity remained theirs and the man of whom they stood in fear sat lapsed7 in helpless unconsciousness. A few, and these the most thoughtful, devoted8 all their energies to a serious quest for the woman and child whom they continued to believe to be in hiding somewhere inside the walls she had so audaciously entered.
Among these was Miss Weeks whose importance none felt more than herself, and it was at her insistence9 and under her advice (for she only, of all who remained, had ever had a previous acquaintance with the house) that the small party decided10 to start their search by a hasty inspection11 of the front hall. As this could not be reached from the room where its owner’s motionless figure sat at its grim watch, they were sidling hastily out, with eyes still turned back in awful fascination12 upon those other eyes which seemed to follow all their movements and yet gave no token of life, when a shout and scramble13 in the passages beyond cut short their intent and held them panting and eager, each to his place.
“They’ve seen her! They’ve found her!” ran in quick, whispered suggestion from lip to lip, and some were for rushing to see.
But Miss Weeks’ trim and precise figure blocked the doorway14, and she did not move.
“Hark!” she murmured in quick admonishment16; “what is that other sound? Something is happening — something dreadful. What is it? It does not seem to be near here yet, but it is coming — coming.”
Frightened in spite of themselves, both by her manner and tone, they drew their gaze from the rigid17 figure in the chair, and, with bated breaths and rapidly paling cheeks, listened to the distant murmur15 on the far-off road, plainly to be heard pulsing through the nearer sounds of rushing feet and chattering18 voices in the rooms about.
What was it? They could not guess, and it was with unbounded relief they pressed forward to greet the shadowy form of a young girl hurrying towards them from the rear, with news in her face. She spoke19 quickly and before Miss Weeks could frame her question.
“The woman is gone. Harry20 Doane saw her sliding out behind us just after we came in. She was hiding in some of the corners here, and slipped out by the kitchen-way when we were not looking. He has gone to see —”
But interesting as this was, the wonder of the now rapidly increasing hubbub21 was more so. A mob was at the gates! Men, women and children shouting, panting and making loud calls.
Breathlessly Miss Weeks cut the girl’s story short; breathlessly she rushed to the nearest window, and, helped by willing hands, succeeded in forcing it up and tearing a hole in the vines, through which they one and all looked out in eager excitement.
A motley throng22 of people were crowding in through the double gateway23. Some one was in their grasp. Was it the woman? No; it was Bela! Bela, the giant! Bela, the terror of the town, but no longer a terror now but a struggling, half-fainting figure, fighting to free itself and get in advance, despite some awful hurt which blanched24 his coal-black features into an indescribable hue25 and made his great limbs falter26 and his gasping27 mouth writhe28 in anguish29 while still keeping his own and making his way, by sheer force of will, up the path and the two steps of entrance — his body alternately sinking back or plunging30 forward as those in the rear or those in front got the upper hand.
It was an awful and a terrifying sight to little Miss Weeks and, screaming loudly, she left her window and ran, scattering31 her small party before her like sheep, not into the near refuge of the front hall and its quiet parlours, but into the very spot towards which this mob seemed headed — the great library pulsing with its own terror, in the shape of the yet speechless and unconscious man to whom the loudest noise and the most utter silence were yet as one, and the worst struggle of human passion a blank lost in unmeaning chaos32.
Why this instinctive33 move? She could not tell. Impulse prevailed, and without a thought she flew into Judge Ostrander’s presence, and, gazing wildly about, wormed her way towards a heavily carved screen guarding a distant corner, and cowered34 down behind it.
What awaited her?
What awaited the judge?
As the little woman shook with terror in her secret hiding-place she felt that she had played him false; that she had no right to save herself by the violation35 of a privacy she should have held in awe36. She was paying for her temerity37 now, paying for it with every terrible moment that her suspense38 endured. The gasping, struggling men, the frantic39 negro, were in the next room now — she could catch the sound of the latter’s panting breath rising above the clamour of strange entreaties40 and excited cries with which the air was full; then a quick, hoarse41 shout of “Judge! Judge!” rose in the doorway, and she became conscious of the presence of a headlong, rushing force struck midway into silence as the frozen figure of his master flashed upon the negro’s eyes;— then,— a growl42 of concentrated emotion, uttered almost in her ear, and the screen which had been her refuge was violently thrust away from before her, and in its place she beheld43 a terrible being standing44 over her, in whose eyes, dilating45 under this fresh surprise, she beheld her doom46, even while recognising that if she must suffer it would be simply as an obstacle to some goal at her back which he must reach — now — before he fell in his blood and died.
What was this goal? As she felt herself lifted, nay47, almost hurled48 aside, she turned to see and found it to be a door before which the devoted Bela had now thrown himself, guarding it with every inch of his powerful but rapidly sinking body, and chattering defiance49 with his bloodless, quivering lips — a figure terrible in anger, sublime50 in purpose, and piteous in its failing energies.
“Back! all of you!” he cried, and stopped, clutching at the door~casing on either side to hold himself erect51. “You cannot come in here. This is the judge’s —”
Not even his iron resolve or once unequalled physique could stand the sapping of the terrible gash52 which disfigured his forehead. He had been run over by an automobile53 in a moment of blind abstraction, and his hurt was mortal. But though his tongue refused to finish, his eye still possessed54 its power to awe and restrain. Though the crowd had followed him almost into the centre of the room, they felt themselves held back by the spirit of this man, who as long as he lived and breathed would hold himself a determined55 barrier between them and what he had been set to guard.
As long as he lived and breathed. Alas56! that would be but a little while now. Already his head, held erect by the passion of his purpose, was sinking on his breast; already his glazing57 eye was losing its power of concentration, when with a final rally of his decaying strength, he started erect again and cried out in terrible appeal:
“I have disobeyed the judge, and, as you see, it has killed him. Do not make me guilty of giving away his secret. Swear that you will leave this door unpassed; swear that no one but his son shall ever turn this lock; or I will haunt you, I, Bela, man by man, till you sink in terror to your graves. Swear! sw —”
The last adjuration58 ended in a moan. His head fell forward again and in that intense moment of complete silence they could hear the splash of his life-blood as it dropped from his forehead on to the polished boards beneath; then he threw up his arms and fell in a heap to the floor.
They had not been driven to answer. Wherever that great soul had gone, his ears were no longer open to mortal promise, nor would any oath from the lip of man avail to smooth his way into the shadowy unknown.
“Dead!” broke from little Miss Weeks as she flung herself down in reckless abandonment at his side. She had never known an agitation59 beyond some fluttering woman’s hope she had stifled60 as soon as born, and now she knelt in blood. “Dead!” she again repeated. And there was no one this time to cry: “You need not be frightened; in a few minutes he will be himself again.” The master might reawaken to life, but never more the man.
A solemn hush61, then a mighty62 sigh of accumulated emotion swept from lip to lip, and the crowd of later invaders63, already abashed64 if not terrified by the unexpected spectacle of suspended animation65 which confronted them from the judge’s chair, shrank tumultuously back as little Miss Weeks advanced upon them, holding out her meagre arms in late defence of the secret to save which she had just seen a man die.
“Let us do as he wished,” she prayed. “I feel myself much to blame. What right had we to come in here?”
“The fellow was hurt. We were just bringing him home,” spoke up a voice, rough with the surprise of unaccustomed feeling. “If he had let us carry him, he might have been alive this minute; but he would run and struggle to keep us back. He says he killed his master. If so, his death is a retribution. Don’t you say so, fellows? The judge was a good man ——”
“Hush! hush! the judge is all right,” admonished66 one of the party; “he’ll be waking up soon”; and then, as every eye flew in fresh wonder towards the chair and its impassive occupant, the low whisper was heard,— no one ever could tell from whose lips it fell: “If we are ever to know this wonderful secret, now is the time, before he wakes and turns us out of the house.”
No one in authority was present; no one representing the law, not even a doctor; only haphazard67 persons from the street and a few neighbours who had not been on social terms with the judge for years and never expected to be so again. His secret!— always a source of wonder to every inhabitant of Shelby, but lifted now into a matter of vital importance by the events of the day and the tragic68 death of the negro! Were they to miss its solution, when only a door lay between it and them — a door which they might not even have to unlock? If the judge should rouse,— if from a source of superstitious69 terror he became an active one, how pat their excuse might be. They were but seeking a proper place — a couch — a bed — on which to lay the dead man. They had been witness to his hurt; they had been witness to his death, and were they to leave him lying in his blood, to shock the eyes of his master when he came out of his long swoon? No tongue spoke these words, but the cunning visible in many an eye and the slight start made by more than one eager foot in the direction of the forbidden door gave Miss Weeks sufficient warning of what she might expect in another moment. Making the most of her diminutive70 figure,— such a startling contrast to the one which had just dominated there!— she was about to utter an impassioned appeal to their honour, when the current of her and their thoughts, as well as the direction of all looks, was changed by a sudden sense common to all, of some strange new influence at work in the room, and turning, they beheld the judge upon his feet, his mind awakened71, but his eyes still fixed72 — an awesome73 figure; some thought more awesome than before; for the terror which still held him removed from all about, was no longer passive but active and had to do with what no man there could understand or alleviate74. Death was present with them — he saw it not. Strangers were making havoc75 with his solitude76 — he was as oblivious77 of their presence as he had been unconscious of it before. His faculties78 and all his attention were absorbed by the thought which had filled his brain when the cogs of that subtle mechanism79 had slipped and his faculties paused inert80.
This was shown by his first question:
“WHERE IS THE WOMAN?”
It was a cry of fear; not of mastery.
收听单词发音 |
1
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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lapsed
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| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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admonishment
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| n.警告 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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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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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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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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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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writhe
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| vt.挣扎，痛苦地扭曲；vi.扭曲，翻腾，受苦；n.翻腾，苦恼 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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38
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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40
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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41
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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42
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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43
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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44
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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45
dilating
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| v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的现在分词 ) | |
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46
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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47
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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48
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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49
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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50
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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51
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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52
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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53
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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54
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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56
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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57
glazing
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| n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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58
adjuration
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| n.祈求，命令 | |
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59
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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60
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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61
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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64
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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66
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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69
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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70
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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71
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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72
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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73
awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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74
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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75
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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76
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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77
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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78
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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79
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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80
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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