When the doctor had gone upstairs, Philip went into the dining-room to eat something, only to find that food was repugnant to him; he could scarcely swallow a mouthful. To some extent, however, he supplied its place by wine, of which he drank several glasses. Then, drawn1 by a strange fascination2, he went back into the little study, and, remembering the will, bethought himself that it might be as well to secure it. In taking it off the table, however, a folded and much erased3 sheet of manuscript was disclosed. Recognizing Bellamy’s writing, he took it up and commenced to read the draft, for it was nothing else. Its substance was as follows.
The document began by stating that the testator’s former will was declared null and void on account of the “treacherous and dishonourable conduct of his son Philip.” It then, in brief but sweeping4 terms, bequeathed and devised to trustees, of whom Philip was not one, the unentailed property and personalty to be held by them: firstly, for the benefit of any son that might be born to the said disinherited Philip by his wife Hilda — the question of daughters being, probably by accident, passed over in silence — and failing such issue, then to the testator’s nephew, George Caresfoot, absolutely, subject, however, to the following curious condition: Should the said George Caresfoot, either by deed of gift or will, attempt to convey the estate to his cousin Philip, or to descendants of the said Philip, then the gift over to the said George was to be of none effect, and the whole was to pass to some distant cousins of the testator’s who lived in Scotland. Then followed several legacies5 and one charge on the estate to the extent of 1000 pounds a year payable6 to the separate use of the aforesaid Hilda Caresfoot for life, and reverting7 at death to the holder8 of the estate.
In plain English, Philip was, under this draft, totally disinherited, first in favour of his own male issue, by his wife Hilda, all mention of daughters being omitted, and failing such issue, in favour of his hated cousin George, who, as though to add insult to injury, was prohibited from willing the property back either to himself or his descendants, by whom the testator had probably understood the children of a second marriage.
Philip read the document over twice carefully.
“Phew!” he said, “that was touch and go. Thank heavens he had no time to carry out his kind intentions.”
But presently a terrible thought struck him. He rang the bell hastily. It was answered by the footman, who, since he had an hour before helped to carry his poor master upstairs, had become quite demoralized. It was some time before Philip could get an answer to his question as to whether or no any one had been with his father that day whilst he was out. At last he succeeded in extracting a reply from the man that nobody had been except the young lady —“leastways, he begged pardon, Mrs. Caresfoot, as he was told she was.”
“Never mind her,” said Philip, feeling as though a load had been taken from his breast, “you are sure nobody else has been?”
“No, sir, nobody, leastways he begged pardon, nobody except lawyer Bellamy and his clerk, who had been there all the afternoon writing, with a black bag, and had sent for Simmons to be witnessed.”
“You can go,” said Philip, in a quiet voice. He saw it all now, he had let the old man die after he had executed the fresh will disinheriting him. He had let him die; he had effectually and beyond redemption cut his own throat. Doubtless, too, Bellamy had taken the new will with him; there was no chance of his being able to destroy it.
By degrees, however, his fit of brooding gave way to one of sullen9 fury against his wife, himself, but most of all against his dead father. Drunk with excitement, rage, and baffled avarice10, he seized and candle and staggered up to the room where the corpse11 had been laid, launching imprecations as he went at his dead father’s head. But when he came face to face with that dread12 Presence his passion died, and a cold sense of the awful quiet and omnipotence13 of death came upon him and chilled him into fear. In some indistinct way he realized how impotent is the chafing14 of the waters of Mortality against the iron-bound coasts of Death. To what purpose did he rail against that solemn quiet thing, that husk and mask of life which lay in unmoved mockery of his reviling15?
His father was dead, and he, even he, had killed his father. He was his father’s murderer. And then a terror of the reckoning that must one day be struck between that dead man’s spirit and his own took possession of him, and a foreknowledge of the awful shadow under which he must henceforth live crept into his mind and froze the very marrow16 in his bones. He looked again at the face, and, to his excited imagination, it appeared to have assumed a sardonic17 smile. The curse of Cain fell upon him as he looked, and weighed him down; his hair rose, and the cold sweat poured from his forehead. At length he could bear it no longer, but, turning, fled out of the room and out of the house, far into the night.
When, haggard with mental and bodily exhaustion18, he at length returned, it was after midnight. He found Dr. Caley waiting for him; he had just come from the sick-room and wore an anxious look upon his face.
“Your wife has been delivered of a fine girl,” he said; “but I am bound to tell you that her condition is far from satisfactory. The case is a most complicated and dangerous one.”
“A girl!” groaned19 Philip, mindful of the will. “Are you sure that it is a girl?”
“Of course I am sure,” answered the doctor, testily20.
“And Hilda ill — I don’t understand.”
“Look here, my good fellow, you are upset; take a glass of brandy and go to bed. Your wife does not wish to see you now, but, if necessary, I will send for you. Now, do as I tell you, or you will be down next. Your nerves are seriously shaken.”
Philip did as he was bid, and, as soon as he had seen him off to his room, the doctor returned upstairs.
In the early morning he sent for two of his brother-practitioners, and they held a consultation21, the upshot of which was that they had come to the conclusion nothing short of a miracle could save Hilda’s life — a conclusion that she herself had arrived at some hours before.
“Doctor,” she said, “I trust to you to let me know when the end is near. I wish my husband to be present when I die, but not before.”
“Hush, my child — never talk of dying yet. Please God, you have many years of life before you.”
She shook her golden head a little sadly.
“No, doctor, my sand has run out, and perhaps it as as well. Give me the child — why do you keep the child away from me? It is the messenger sent to call me to a happier world. Yes, she is an angel messenger. When I am gone, see that you call her ‘Angela,’ so that I may know by what name to greet her when the time comes.”
During the course of the morning, she expressed a strong desire to see Maria Lee, who was accordingly sent for.
It will be remembered that old Mr. Caresfoot had on the previous day, immediately after Hilda had left him, sat down and written to Maria Lee. In this note he told her the whole shameful22 truth, ending it with a few words of bitter humiliation23 and self-reproach that such a thing should have befallen her at the hands of one bearing his name. Over the agony of shame and grief thus let loose upon this unfortunate girl we will draw a veil. It is fortunate for the endurance of human reason that life does not hold many such hours as that through which she passed after the receipt of this letter. As was but natural, notwithstanding old Mr. Caresfoot’s brief vindication24 of Hilda’s conduct in his letter, Maria was filled with indignation at what to herself she called her treachery and deceit.
While she was yet full of these thoughts, a messenger came galloping25 over from Bratham Abbey, bringing a note from Dr. Caley that told her of her old friend’s sudden death, and of Hilda’s dangerous condition, and her desire to see her. The receipt of this news plunged26 her into a fresh access of grief, for she had grown fond of the old man; nor had the warm affection for Hilda that had found a place in her gentle heart been altogether wrenched27 away; and, now that she heard that her rival was face to face with that King of Terrors before whom all earthly love, hate, hope, and ambition must fall down and cease their troubling, it revived in all its force; nor did any thought of her own wrongs come to chill it.
Within half an hour she was at the door of the Abbey House, where the doctor met her, and, in answer to her eager question, told her that, humanly speaking, it was impossible her friend could live through another twenty-four hours, adding an injunction that she must not stay with her long.
She entered the sick-room with a heavy heart, and there from Hilda’s dying lips she heard the story of her marriage and of Philip’s perfidy28. Their reconciliation29 was as complete as her friend’s failing voice and strength would allow. At length she tore herself away, and, turning at the door, took her last look at Hilda, who had raised herself upon her elbow, and was gazing at her retreating form with an earnestness that was very touching30. The eyes, Maria felt, were taking their fill of what they looked upon for the last time in this world. Catching31 her tearful gaze, the dying woman smiled, and, lifting her hand, pointed32 upwards33. Thus they parted.
But Maria could control herself no longer: her own blasted prospects34, the loss of the man she loved, and the affecting scene through which she had just passed, all helped to break her down. Running downstairs into the dining-room, she threw herself on a sofa, and gave full passage to her grief. Presently she became aware that she was not alone. Philip stood before her, or, rather, the wreck35 of him whom she knew as Philip. Indeed, it was hard to recognize in this scared man, with dishevelled hair, white and trembling lips, and eyes ringed round with black, the bold, handsome youth whom she had loved. The sight of him stayed her sorrow, and a sense of her bitter injuries rushed in upon her.
“What do you want with me?” she asked.
“Want! I want forgiveness. I am crushed, Maria, crushed — quite crushed,” and he put his hands to his face and sobbed36.
She answered him with the quiet dignity that good women can command in moments of emergency — dignity of a very different stamp from Hilda’s haughty37 pride, but perhaps as impressive in its way.
“You ask forgiveness of me, and say that you are crushed. Has it occurred to you that, without fault of my own, except the fault of trusting you as entirely38 as I loved you, I too am crushed? Do you know that you have wantonly, or to gain selfish ends, broken my heart, blighted39 my name, and driven me from my home, for I can live here no more? Do you understand that you have done me one of the greatest injuries one person can do to another? I say, do you know all this, Philip Caresfoot, and, knowing it, do you still ask me to forgive you? Do you think it possible that I can forgive?”
He had never heard her speak like this before, and did not remember that intense feeling is the mother of eloquence40. He gazed at her for a moment in astonishment41; then he dropped his face into his hands again and groaned, making no other answer. After waiting awhile, she went on —
“I am an insignificant42 creature, I know, and perhaps the mite43 of my happiness or misery44 makes little difference in the scale of things; but to me the gift of all my love was everything. I gave it to you, Philip — gave it without a doubt or murmur45, gave it with both hands. I can never have it back to give again! How you have treated it you best know.” Here she broke down a little, and then continued: “It may seem curious, but though my love has been so mistakenly given; though you to whom it was given have dealt so ill with it; yet I am anxious that on my side there should be no bitter memory, that, in looking back at all this in after years, you should never be able to dwell upon any harsh or unkind word of mine. It is on that account, and also because I feel that it is not for me to judge you, and that you have already much to bear, that I do as you ask me, and say, ‘Philip, from my heart I forgive you, as I trust that the Almighty46 may forgive me.’”
He flung himself upon his knees before her, and tried to take her hand. “You do not know how you have humbled48 me,” he groaned.
She gazed at him with pity.
“I am sorry,” she said; “I did not wish to humble47 you. I have one word more to say, and then I must go. I have just bid my last earthly farewell to — your wife. My farewell to you must be as complete as that, as complete as though the grave had already swallowed one of us. We have done with each other for ever. I do not think that I shall come back here. In my waking moments your name shall never willingly pass my lips again. I will say it for the last time now. Philip, Philip, Philip, whom I chose to love out of all the world, I pray God that He will take me, or deaden the edge of what I suffer, and that He may never let my feet cross your path or my eyes fall upon your face again.”
In another second she had passed out of the room and out of his life.
That night, or rather just before dawn on the following morning, Hilda, knowing that her end was very near, sent for her husband.
“Go quickly, doctor,” she said. “I shall die at dawn.”
The doctor found him seated in the same spot where Maria Lee had left him.
“What, more misery!” he said, when he had told his errand. “I cannot bear it. There is a curse upon me — death and wickedness, misery and death!”
“You must come if you wish to see your wife alive.”
“I will come;” and he rose and followed him.
A sad sight awaited him. The moment of the grey dawn was drawing near, and, by his wife’s request, a window had been unshuttered, that her dimmed eyes might once more look upon the light. On the great bed in the centre of the room lay Hilda, whose life was now quickly draining from her, and by her side was placed the sleeping infant. She was raised and supported on either side by pillows, and her unbound golden hair fell around her shoulders, enclosing her face as in a frame. Her pallid49 countenance50 seemed touched with an awful beauty that had not belonged to it in life, whilst in her eyes was that dread and prescient gaze which sometimes come to those who are about to solve death’s mystery.
By the side of the bed knelt Mr. Fraser, the clergyman of the parish, repeating in an earnest tone the prayers for the dying, whilst the sad-faced attendants moved with muffled51 tread backwards52 and forwards from the ring of light around the bed into the dark shadows that lay beyond.
When Philip came, the clergyman ceased praying, and drew back into the further part of the room, as did Pigott and the nurse, the former taking the baby with her.
Hilda motioned to him to come close to her. He came, and bent53 over and kissed her, and she, with an effort, threw one ivory arm around his neck, and smiled sweetly. After about a minute, during which she was apparently54 collecting her thoughts, she spoke55 in a low voice, and in her native tongue.
“I have not sent for you before, Philip, for two reasons — first, because I wished to spare you pain; and next, in order that I might have time to rid my mind of angry thoughts against you. They are all gone now — gone with every other earthly interest; but I was angry with you, Philip. And now listen to me — for I have not much time — and do not forget my words in future years, when the story of my life will seem but as a shadow that once fell upon your path. Change your ways, Philip dear, abandon deceit, atone56 for the past; if you can, make your peace with Maria Lee, and marry her — ah! it is a pity that you did not do that at first, and leave me to go my ways — and, above all, humble your heart before the Power that I am about to face. I love you, dear, and, notwithstanding all, I am thankful to have been your wife. Please God, we shall meet again.”
She paused awhile, and then spoke in English. To the astonishment of all, her voice was strong and clear, and she uttered her words with an energy that, under the circumstances, seemed almost awful.
“Tell her to bring the child.”
There was no need for Philip to repeat what she said, for Pigott heard her, and at once came forward with the baby, which she laid beside her.
The dying woman placed her hand upon its tiny head, and, turning her eyes upwards with the rapt expression of one who sees a vision, said —
“May the power of God be about you to protect you, my motherless babe, may angels guard you, and make you as they are; and may the heavy curse and everlasting57 doom58 of the Almighty fall upon those who would bring evil upon you.”
She paused, and then addressed her husband.
“Philip, you have heard my words; in your charge I leave the child, see that you never betray my trust.”
Then, turning to Pigott, she said, in a fainter voice —
“Thank you for your kindness to me. You have a good face; if you can, stop with my child, and give her your love and care. And now, may God have mercy on my soul!”
Then came a minute’s silence, broken only by the stifled59 sobs60 of those who stood around, till a ray of light from the rising sun struggled through the grey mist of the morning, and, touching the heads of mother and child, illumined them as with a glory. It passed as quickly as it came, drawing away with it the mother’s life. Suddenly, as it faded, she spread out her arms, sighed, and smiled. When the doctor reached the bed, her story was told: she had fallen asleep.
Death had been very gentle with her.
收听单词发音 |
1
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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legacies
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| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
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payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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omnipotence
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| n.全能，万能，无限威力 | |
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chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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reviling
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的现在分词 ) | |
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marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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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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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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33
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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blighted
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| adj.枯萎的，摧毁的 | |
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40
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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41
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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42
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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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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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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47
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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48
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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49
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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50
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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51
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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52
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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53
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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54
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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55
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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56
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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57
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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58
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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59
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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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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