Had she not caught the words themselves she would have recognised their import from the blighting1 effect they produced upon the persons grouped within hearing.
Schooled as most of them were to face with minds secure and tempers quite unruffled the countless2 surprises of a court room, they paled at the insinuation conveyed in these two sentences, and with scarcely the interchange of glance or word, drew aside in a silence which no man seemed inclined to break.
As for the people still huddled3 in the doorway4, they rushed away helter-skelter into the street, there to proclaim the judge’s condition and its probable cause;— an event which to many quite eclipsed in interest the more ordinary one which had just released to freedom a man seemingly doomed5.
Few persons were now left in the great room, and Deborah, embarrassed to find that she was the only woman present, was on the point of escaping from her corner when she perceived a movement take place in the rigid6 form from which she had not yet withdrawn7 her eyes, and, regarding Judge Ostrander more attentively9, she caught the gleam of his suspicious eye as it glanced this way and that to see if his lapse10 of consciousness had been noticed by those about him.
Would the man still in possession of the paper whose contents had brought about this attack understand these evidences of apprehension11? Yes; and what is more, he seems to take such means as offers to hide from the judge all knowledge of the fact that any other eyes than his own have read these invidious words. With unexpected address, he waits for the judge to turn his head aside when with a quick and dextrous movement he so launches the paper from his hand that it falls softly and without flurry within an inch of the judicial12 seat. Then he goes back to his papers.
This suggestion, at once so marked and so delicate, did not fail of its effect upon those about. Wherever the judge looked he saw abstracted faces and busy hands, and, taking heart at not finding himself watched, he started to rise. Then memory came,— blasting, overwhelming memory of the letter he had been reading; and, rousing with a start, he looked down at his hand, then at the floor before him, and, seeing the letter lying there, picked it up with a secret, side-long glance to right and left, which sank deep into the heart of the still watchful13 Deborah.
If those about him saw, they made no motion. Not an eye looked round and not a head turned as he straightened himself and proceeded to leave the room. Only Deborah noted14 how his steps faltered15 and how little he was to be trusted to find his way unguided to the door. It lay to the right and he was going left. Now he stumbles — Isn’t there any one to — Yes, she is not the sole one on watch. The same man who had read aloud the note and then dropped it within his reach, had stepped after him, and kindly16, if artfully, turned him towards the proper place of exit. As the two disappear, Deborah wakes from her trance, and, finding herself alone among the seats, hurries to quit her corner and leave the building.
The glare — the noise of the square, as she dashes down into it seems for the moment unendurable. The pushing, panting mass of men and women of which she has now become a part, closes about her, and for the moment she can see nothing but faces,— faces with working mouths and blazing eyes,— a medley17 of antagonistic18 expression, all directed against herself;— or so she felt in the heat of her self-consciousness. But after the first recoil20 she knew that no such universal recognition could be hers; that she was merely a new and inconsiderable atom caught in a wave of feeling which engulfed21 all it met; that this mob was not raised from the stones to overwhelm her but HIM, and that if she flew, it should be to his aid, and not to save herself. But how was she to reach him? He would not come out by the main entrance; that she knew. Where look for him, then? Suddenly she remembered; and using some of her strength of which she had good measure, and more of that address to which I have already alluded22, she began to worm herself along through this astounding23 collection of people much too large already for the ordinary force of police to handle, to that corner of the building where a small door opened upon a rear street. She remembered it from those old days when she had once entered this courthouse as a witness.
But alas24, others knew it also, and thick as the crowd was in front, it was even thicker here, and far more tumultuous. Word had gone about that the father of Oliver Ostrander had been given his lesson at last, and the curiosity of the populace had risen to fever-heat in their anxiety to see how the proud Ostrander would bear himself in his precipitate25 downfall. They had crowded there to see and they would see. Were he to shirk the ordeal26! Were he to wait for the square to be cleared — But they knew him too well to fear this. He will come — nay27, he is coming now — and coming alone! No other figure looms28 so grandly in a doorway, nor is there any other face in Shelby whose pallor could strike so coldly to the heart, or rouse such conflicting emotions.
He was evidently not prepared to see his path quite so heavily marked out for him by the gaping29 throng30; but after one look, he assumed some show of his old commanding presence and advanced bravely down the steps, awing31 some and silencing all, until he had reached his carriage step and the protection of the officers on guard.
Then a hoot32 rose from some far-off quarter of the square, and he turned short about and the people saw his face. Despair had seized it, and if any one there desired vengeance33, he had it. The knell34 of active life had been rung for this man. He would never remount the courthouse steps, or face again a respectful jury.
As for Deborah, she had shrunk out of sight at his approach, but as soon as he had ridden off, she looked eagerly for a taxicab to carry her in his wake. She could not let him ride that mile alone. She was still fearful for him, though the mass of people about her was rapidly dissolving away, and the streets growing clear.
But an apprehension still greater, because more personal, seized her when she found herself behind him on the long road. Several minutes had been lost in obtaining a taxicab and she feared that she would be unable to overtake him before he reached his own gates. This would be to subject Reuther to a shock which the poor child had little strength to meet. She could not escape the truth long. Soon, very soon she would have to be told that the man who stood so high in her esteem35 was now regarded as a common criminal. But she must be prepared for the awful news. She must be within reach of her mother’s arms when the blow fell destroying her past as well as her future.
Were minutes really so long — the house really so far away? Deborah gazes eagerly forward. There is very little traffic in the streets to-day and the road ahead looks clear — too clear, she cannot even see the dust raised by the judge’s rapidly disappearing carriage. Can he have arrived home already? No, or the carriage would be coming back, and not a vehicle is in view.
Her anxiety increases. She has reached the road debouching towards the bridge — has crossed it — is drawing near — nearer — when, what is this? Men — women — coming from the right, coming from the left, running out of houses, flocking from every side street, filling up the road! A lesser36 mob than that from which she had just escaped, but still, a mob, and all making for one point — the judge’s house! And he? She can see his carriage now. Held up for a moment by the crowd, it has broken through, and is rolling quickly towards Ostrander Lane. But the mob is following, and she is yet far behind.
Shouting to the chauffeur37 to hasten, the insistent38 honk39! honk! of the cab adds its raucous40 note to the turmoil41. They have dashed through one group;— they are dashing through another;— naught42 can withstand an on-rushing automobile43. She catches glimpses of raised arms threatening retaliation44; of eager, stolid45, uncertain and furious faces — and her breath held back during that one instant of wild passage rushes pantingly forth46 again. Ostrander Lane is within sight. If only they can reach it!— if only they can cross it! But they cannot without sowing death in their track. No scattered47 groups here, the mob fills the corner. It is packed close as a wall. Brought up against it, the motor necessarily comes to a standstill.
Balked48? No, not yet. Opening the door, Deborah leaps to the ground and in one instant finds herself but a mote49 in this seethe50 of humanity. In vain her efforts, she cannot move arm or limb. The gate is but a few paces off, but all hope of reaching it is futile51. She can only hold herself still and listen as all around are listening. But to what? To nothing. It is expectation which holds them all silent. She will have to wait until the crowd sways apart, allowing her to — Ah, there, some heads are moving now! She catches one glimpse ahead of her, and sees — What does she see? The noble but shrunk figure of the judge drawn8 up before his gate. His lips are moving, but no sound issues from them; and while those about are waiting for his words, they peer, with an insolence52 barely dashed by awe53, at his white head and his high fence and now at the gate swerving54 gently inward under the hand of some one whose figure is invisible.
But no words coming, a change passes like a stroke of lightning over the surging mass. Some one shouts out COWARD! another, TRAITOR55! and the lifted head falls, the moving lips cease from their efforts and in place of the great personality which filled their eyes a moment before, they see a man entrapped56, waking to the horror of a sudden death in life for which no visions of the day, no dreams of the night, had been able to prepare him.
It was a sight to waken pity not derision. But these people had gathered here in a bitter mood and their rancour had but scented57 the prey58. Calls of “Oliver!” and such threats as “You saved him at a poor man’s expense, but we’ll have him yet, we’ll have him yet!” began to rise about him; followed by endless repetitions of the name from near and far: “Oliver! Oliver!”
Oliver! His own lips seemed to re-echo the word. Then like a lion baited beyond his patience the judge lifted his head and faced them all with a fiery59 intensity60 which for the moment made him a terrible figure to contemplate61.
“Let no one utter that name to me here!” shot from his lips in tones of unspeakable menace and power. “Spare me that name, or the curse of my ruined life be upon you. I can bear no more to-day.”
Thrilled by his aspect, cowering62 under his denunciation, emphasised as it was by a terrifying gesture, the people, pressing closest about him, drew back and left the passage open to the gate. He took it with a bound, and would have entered but that from the outskirts63 of the crowd where his voice had not reached, the cry arose again of “Oliver! Oliver! The sons of the rich go free, but ours have to hang!”
At which he turned his head about, gave them one stare and fell back against the door. It yielded and a woman’s arms received him. The gentle Reuther in that hour of dire19 extremity64, showed herself stronger than her mother who had fallen in a faint amid the crowd.
收听单词发音 |
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blighting
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| 使凋萎( blight的现在分词 )； 使颓丧； 损害； 妨害 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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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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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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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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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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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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medley
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| n.混合 | |
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antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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29
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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31
awing
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| adj.& adv.飞翔的[地]v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的现在分词 ) | |
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32
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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34
knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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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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36
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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38
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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honk
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| n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声 | |
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40
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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41
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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42
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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43
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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44
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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45
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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46
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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47
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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48
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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49
mote
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| n.微粒；斑点 | |
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50
seethe
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| vi.拥挤，云集；发怒，激动，骚动 | |
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51
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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52
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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53
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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54
swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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55
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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56
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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58
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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59
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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60
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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61
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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62
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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63
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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