Here’s a good world!
Knew you of this fair work?
King John.
Julia Mannering to Matilda Marchmont
‘I must take up the thread of my story, my dearest Matilda, where I broke off yesterday.
‘For two or three days we talked of nothing but our siege and its probable consequences, and dinned1 into my father’s unwilling2 ears a proposal to go to Edinburgh, or at least to Dumfries, where there is remarkably3 good society, until the resentment4 of these outlaws5 should blow over. He answered with great composure that he had no mind to have his landlord’s house and his own property at Woodbourne destroyed; that, with our good leave, he had usually been esteemed6 competent to taking measures for the safety or protection of his family; that, if he remained quiet at home, he conceived the welcome the villains7 had received was not of a nature to invite a second visit, but should he show any signs of alarm, it would be the sure way to incur8 the very risk which we were afraid of. Heartened by his arguments, and by the extreme indifference9 with which he treated the supposed danger, we began to grow a little bolder, and to walk about as usual. Only the gentlemen were sometimes invited to take their guns when they attended us, and I observed that my father for several nights paid particular attention to having the house properly secured, and required his domestics to keep their arms in readiness in case of necessity.
‘But three days ago chanced an occurrence of a nature which alarmed me more by far than the attack of the smugglers.
‘I told you there was a small lake at some distance from Woodbourne, where the gentlemen sometimes go to shoot wild-fowl. I happened at breakfast to say I should like to see this place in its present frozen state, occupied by skaters and curlers, as they call those who play a particular sort of game upon the ice. There is snow on the ground, but frozen so hard that I thought Lucy and I might venture to that distance, as the footpath10 leading there was well beaten by the repair of those who frequented it for pastime. Hazlewood instantly offered to attend us, and we stipulated11 that he should take his fowling-piece. He laughed a good deal at the idea of going a-shooting in the snow; but, to relieve our tremors12, desired that a groom13, who acts as gamekeeper occasionally, should follow us with his gun. As for Colonel Mannering, he does not like crowds or sights of any kind where human figures make up the show, unless indeed it were a military review, so he declined the party.
‘We set out unusually early, on a fine, frosty, exhilarating morning, and we felt our minds, as well as our nerves, braced14 by the elasticity15 of the pure air. Our walk to the lake was delightful16, or at least the difficulties were only such as diverted us, — a slippery descent, for instance, or a frozen ditch to cross, which made Hazlewood’s assistance absolutely necessary. I don’t think Lucy liked her walk the less for these occasional embarrassments17.
‘The scene upon the lake was beautiful. One side of it is bordered by a steep crag, from which hung a thousand enormous icicles all glittering in the sun; on the other side was a little wood, now exhibiting that fantastic appearance which the pine trees present when their branches are loaded with snow. On the frozen bosom18 of the lake itself were a multitude of moving figures, some flitting along with the velocity19 of swallows, some sweeping20 in the most graceful21 circles, and others deeply interested in a less active pastime, crowding round the spot where the inhabitants of two rival parishes contended for the prize at curling, — an honour of no small importance, if we were to judge from the anxiety expressed both by the players and bystanders. We walked round the little lake, supported by Hazlewood, who lent us each an arm. He spoke22, poor fellow, with great kindness to old and young, and seemed deservedly popular among the assembled crowd. At length we thought of retiring.
‘Why do I mention these trivial occurrences? Not, Heaven knows, from the interest I can now attach to them; but because, like a drowning man who catches at a brittle23 twig24, I seize every apology for delaying the subsequent and dreadful part of my narrative25. But it must be communicated: I must have the sympathy of at least one friend under this heart-rending calamity26.
‘We were returning home by a footpath which led through a plantation27 of firs. Lucy had quitted Hazlewood’s arm; it is only the plea of absolute necessity which reconciles her to accept his assistance. I still leaned upon his other arm. Lucy followed us close, and the servant was two or three paces behind us. Such was our position, when at once, and as if he had started out of the earth, Brown stood before us at a short turn of the road! He was very plainly, I might say coarsely, dressed, and his whole appearance had in it something wild and agitated28. I screamed between surprise and terror. Hazlewood mistook the nature of my alarm, and, when Brown advanced towards me as if to speak, commanded him haughtily29 to stand back, and not to alarm the lady. Brown replied, with equal asperity30, he had no occasion to take lessons from him how to behave to that or any other lady. I rather believe that Hazlewood, impressed with the idea that he belonged to the band of smugglers, and had some bad purpose in view, heard and understood him imperfectly. He snatched the gun from the servant, who had come up on a line with us, and, pointing the muzzle31 at Brown, commanded him to stand off at his peril32. My screams, for my terror prevented my rinding articulate language, only hastened the catastrophe33. Brown, thus menaced, sprung upon Hazlewood, grappled with him, and had nearly succeeded in wrenching34 the fowling-piece from his grasp, when the gun went off in the struggle, and the contents were lodged35 in Hazlewood’s shoulder, who instantly fell. I saw no more, for the whole scene reeled before my eyes, and I fainted away; but, by Lucy’s report, the unhappy perpetrator of this action gazed a moment on the scene before him, until her screams began to alarm the people upon the lake, several of whom now came in sight. He then bounded over a hedge which divided the footpath from the plantation, and has not since been heard of. The servant made no attempt to stop or secure him, and the report he made of the matter to those who came up to us induced them rather to exercise their humanity in recalling me to life, than show their courage by pursuing a desperado, described by the groom as a man of tremendous personal strength, and completely armed.
‘Hazlewood was conveyed home, that is, to Woodbourne, in safety; I trust his wound will prove in no respect dangerous, though he suffers much. But to Brown the consequences must be most disastrous36. He is already the object of my father’s resentment, and he has now incurred37 danger from the law of the country, as well as from the clamorous38 vengeance39 of the father of Hazlewood, who threatens to move heaven and earth against the author of his son’s wound. How will he be able to shroud40 himself from the vindictive41 activity of the pursuit? how to defend himself, if taken, against the severity of laws which, I am told, may even affect his life? and how can I find means to warn him of his danger? Then poor Lucy’s ill-concealed grief, occasioned by her lover’s wound, is another source of distress42 to me, and everything round me appears to bear witness against that indiscretion which has occasioned this calamity.
‘For two days I was very ill indeed. The news that Hazlewood was recovering, and that the person who had shot him was nowhere to be traced, only that for certain he was one of the leaders of the gang of smugglers, gave me some comfort. The suspicion and pursuit being directed towards those people must naturally facilitate Brown’s escape, and I trust has ere this ensured it. But patrols of horse and foot traverse the country in all directions, and I am tortured by a thousand confused and unauthenticated rumours43 of arrests and discoveries.
‘Meanwhile my greatest source of comfort is the generous candour of Hazlewood, who persists in declaring that, with whatever intentions the person by whom he was wounded approached our party, he is convinced the gun went off in the struggle by accident, and that the injury he received was undesigned. The groom, on the other hand, maintains that the piece was wrenched44 out of Hazlewood’s hands and deliberately45 pointed46 at his body, and Lucy inclines to the same opinion; I do not suspect them of wilful47 exaggeration, yet such is the fallacy of human testimony48, for the unhappy shot was most unquestionably discharged unintentionally. Perhaps it would be the best way to confide49 the whole secret to Hazlewood; but he is very young, and I feel the utmost repugnance50 to communicate to him my folly51. I once thought of disclosing the mystery to Lucy, and began by asking what she recollected52 of the person and features of the man whom we had so unfortunately met; but she ran out into such a horrid53 description of a hedgeruffian, that I was deprived of all courage and disposition54 to own my attachment55 to one of such appearance as she attributed to him. I must say Miss Bertram is strangely biassed56 by her prepossessions, for there are few handsomer men than poor Brown. I had not seen him for a long time, and even in his strange and sudden apparition57 on this unhappy occasion, and under every disadvantage, his form seems to me, on reflection, improved in grace and his features in expressive58 dignity. Shall we ever meet again? Who can answer that question? Write to me kindly59, my dearest Matilda; but when did you otherwise? Yet, again, write to me soon, and write to me kindly. I am not in a situation to profit by advice or reproof60, nor have I my usual spirits to parry them by raillery. I feel the terrors of a child who has in heedless sport put in motion some powerful piece of machinery61; and, while he beholds62 wheels revolving63, chains clashing, cylinders64 rolling around him, is equally astonished at the tremendous powers which his weak agency has called into action, and terrified for the consequences which he is compelled to await, without the possibility of averting65 them.
‘I must not omit to say that my father is very kind and affectionate. The alarm which I have received forms a sufficient apology for my nervous complaints. My hopes are, that Brown has made his escape into the sister kingdom of England, or perhaps to Ireland or the Isle66 of Man. In either case he may await the issue of Hazlewood’s wound with safety and with patience, for the communication of these countries with Scotland, for the purpose of justice, is not (thank Heaven) of an intimate nature. The consequences of his being apprehended67 would be terrible at this moment. I endeavour to strengthen my mind by arguing against the possibility of such a calamity. Alas68! how soon have sorrows and fears, real as well as severe, followed the uniform and tranquil69 state of existence at which so lately I was disposed to repine! But I will not oppress you any longer with my complaints. Adieu, my dearest Matilda! ‘Julia Mannering.’
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1
dinned
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| vt.喧闹（din的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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tremors
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| 震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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elasticity
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| n.弹性，伸缩力 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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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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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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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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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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52
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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56
biassed
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| （统计试验中）结果偏倚的，有偏的 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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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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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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64
cylinders
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| n.圆筒( cylinder的名词复数 )；圆柱；汽缸；（尤指用作容器的）圆筒状物 | |
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averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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