Storm.
Oh, my offence is rank, it smells to heav’n:
It hath the primal1 eldest2 curse upon ‘t!
Hamlet.
A DAY had passed. Mr. Byrd, who no longer had any reason to doubt that he was upon the trail of the real assailant of the Widow Clemmens, had resolved upon a third visit to the woods, this time with the definite object of picking up any clew, however trifling3, in support of the fact that Craik Mansell had passed through the glade4 behind his aunt’s house.
The sky, when he left the hotel, was one vast field of blue; but by the time he reached the terminus of the car-route, and stepped out upon the road leading to the woods, dark clouds had overcast5 the sun, and a cool wind replaced the quiet zephyrs6 which had all day fanned the brilliant autumn foliage7.
He did not realize the condition of the atmosphere, however, and proceeded on his way, thinking more of the person he had just perceived issuing from the door-way of Professor Darling’s lofty mansion8, than of the low mutterings of distant thunder that now and then disturbed the silence of the woods, or of the ominous9, brazen10 tint11 which was slowly settling over the huge bank of cloud that filled the northern sky. For that person was Miss Dare, and her presence here, or anywhere near him, at this time, must of necessity, awaken12 a most painful train of thought.
But, though unmindful of the storm, he was dimly conscious of the darkness that was settling about him. Quicker and quicker grew his pace, and at last he almost broke into a run as the heavy pall13 of a large black cloud swept up over the zenith, and wiped from the heavens the last remnant of blue sky. One drop fell, then another, then a slow, heavy patter, that bent14 double the leaves they fell upon, as if a shower of lead had descended15 upon the heavily writhing16 forest. The wind had risen, too, and the vast aisles17 of that clear and beautiful wood thundered with the swaying of boughs18, and the crash here and there of an old and falling limb. But the lightning delayed.
The blindest or most abstracted man could be ignorant no longer of what all this turmoil19 meant. Stopping in the path along which he had been speeding, Mr. Byrd glanced before him and behind, in a momentary20 calculation of distances, and deciding he could not regain21 the terminus before the storm burst, pushed on toward the hut.
He reached it just as the first flash of lightning darted22 down through the heavy darkness, and was about to fling himself against the door, when something — was it the touch of an invisible hand, or the crash of awful thunder which at this instant plowed23 up the silence of the forest and woke a pandemonium24 of echoes about his head? — stopped him.
He never knew. He only realized that he shuddered26 and drew back, with a feeling of great disinclination to enter the low building before him, alone; and that presently taking advantage of another loud crash of falling boughs, he crept around the corner of the hut, and satisfied his doubts by looking into the small, square window opening to the west.
He found there was ample reason for all the hesitation27 he had felt. A man was sitting there, who, at the first glimpse, appeared to him to be none other than Craik Mansell. But reason soon assured him this could not be, though the shape, the attitude — that old attitude of despair which he remembered so well — was so startlingly like that of the man whose name was uppermost in his thoughts, that he recoiled28 in spite of himself.
A second flash swept blinding through the wood. Mr. Byrd advanced his head and took another glance at the stranger. It was Mr. Mansell. No other man would sit so quiet and unmoved during the rush and clatter29 of a terrible storm.
Look! not a hair of his head has stirred, not a movement has taken place in the hands clasped so convulsively beneath his brow. He is an image, a stone, and would not hear though the roof fell in.
Mr. Byrd himself forgot the storm, and only queried30 what his duty was in this strange and surprising emergency.
But before he could come to any definite conclusion, he was subjected to a new sensation. A stir that was not the result of the wind or the rain had taken place in the forest before him. A something — he could not tell what — was advancing upon him from the path he had himself travelled so short a time before, and its step, if step it were, shook him with a vague apprehension31 that made him dread32 to lift his eyes. But he conquered the unmanly instinct, and merely taking the precaution to step somewhat further back from view, looked in the direction of his fears, and saw a tall, firmly-built woman, whose grandly poised33 head, held high, in defiance34 of the gale35, the lightning, and the rain, proclaimed her to be none other than Imogene Dare.
It was a juxtaposition36 of mental, moral, and physical forces that almost took Mr. Byrd’s breath away. He had no doubt whom she had come to see, or to what sort of a tryst37 he was about to be made an unwilling38 witness. But he could not have moved if the blast then surging through the trees had uprooted39 the huge pine behind which he had involuntarily drawn40 at the first impression he had received of her approach. He must watch that white face of hers slowly evolve itself from the surrounding darkness, and he must be present when the dreadful bolt swept down from heaven, if only to see her eyes in the flare41 of its ghostly flame.
It came while she was crossing the glade. Fierce, blinding, more vivid and searching than at any time before, it flashed down through the cringing42 boughs, and, like a mantle43 of fire, enveloped44 her form, throwing out its every outline, and making of the strong and beautiful face an electric vision which Mr. Byrd was never able to forget.
A sudden swoop45 of wind followed, flinging her almost to the ground, but Mr. Byrd knew from that moment that neither wind nor lightning, not even the fear of death, would stop this woman if once she was determined46 upon any course.
Dreading47 the next few moments inexpressibly, yet forcing himself, as a detective, to remain at his post, though every instinct of his nature rebelled, Mr. Byrd drew himself up against the side of the low hut and listened. Her voice, rising between the mutterings of thunder and the roar of the ceaseless gale, was plainly to be heard.
“Craik Mansell,” said she, in a strained tone, that was not without its severity, “you sent for me, and I am here.”
Ah, this was her mode of greeting, was it? Mr. Byrd felt his breath come easier, and listened for the reply with intensest interest.
But it did not come. The low rumbling48 of the thunder went on, and the wind howled through the gruesome forest, but the man she had addressed did not speak.
“Craik!” Her voice still came from the door-way, where she had seemingly taken her stand. “Do you not hear me?”
A stifled49 groan50 was the sole reply.
She appeared to take one step forward, but no more.
“I can understand,” said she, and Mr. Byrd had no difficulty in hearing her words, though the turmoil overhead was almost deafening51, “why the restlessness of despair should drive you into seeking this interview. I have longed to see you too, if only to tell you that I wish heaven’s thunderbolts had fallen upon us both on that day when we sat and talked of our future prospects52 and ——”
A lurid53 flash cut short her words. Strange and awesome54 sounds awoke in the air above, and the next moment a great branch fell crashing down upon the roof of the hut, beating in one corner, and sliding thence heavily to the ground, where it lay with all its quivering leaves uppermost, not two feet from the door-way where this woman stood.
A shriek55 like that of a lost spirit went up from her lips.
“I thought the vengeance56 of heaven had fallen!” she gasped57. And for a moment not a sound was heard within or without the hut, save that low flutter of the disturbed leaves. “It is not to be,” she then whispered, with a return of her old calmness, that was worse than any shriek. “Murder is not to be avenged58 thus.” Then, shortly: “A dark and hideous59 line of blood is drawn between you and me, Craik Mansell. I cannot pass it, and you must not, forever and forever and forever. But that does not hinder me from wishing to help you, and so I ask, in all sincerity60, What is it you want me to do for you to-day?”
A response came this time.
“Show me how to escape the consequences of my act,” were his words, uttered in a low and muffled61 voice.
She did not answer at once.
“Are you threatened?” she inquired at last, in a tone that proved she had drawn one step nearer to the bowed form and hidden face of the person she addressed.
“My conscience threatens me,” was the almost stifled reply.
Again that heavy silence, all the more impressive that the moments before had been so prolific62 of heaven’s most terrible noises.
“You suffer because another man is forced to endure suspicion for a crime he never committed,” she whisperingly exclaimed.
Only a groan answered her; and the moments grew heavier and heavier, more and more oppressive, though the hitherto accompanying outcries of the forest had ceased, and a faint lightening of the heavy darkness was taking place overhead. Mr. Byrd felt the pressure of the situation so powerfully, he drew near to the window he had hitherto avoided, and looked in. She was standing63 a foot behind the crouched64 figure of the man, between whom and herself she had avowed65 a line of blood to be drawn. As he looked she spoke67.
“Craik,” said she, and the deathless yearning68 of love spoke in her voice at last, “there is but one thing to do. Expiate69 your guilt70 by acknowledging it. Save the innocent from unmerited suspicion, and trust to the mercy of God. It is the only advice I can give you. I know no other road to peace. If I did ——” She stopped, choked by the terror of her own thoughts. “Craik,” she murmured, at last, “on the day I hear of your having made this confession71, I vow66 to take an oath of celibacy72 for life. It is the only recompense I can offer for the misery73 and sin into which our mutual74 mad ambitions have plunged75 you.”
And subduing76 with a look of inexpressible anguish77 an evident longing78 to lay her hand in final caress79 upon that bended head, she gave him one parting look, and then, with a quick shudder25, hurried away, and buried herself amid the darkness of the wet and shivering woods.
收听单词发音 |
1
primal
|
|
| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eldest
|
|
| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
trifling
|
|
| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
glade
|
|
| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
overcast
|
|
| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
zephyrs
|
|
| n.和风，微风( zephyr的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
brazen
|
|
| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
tint
|
|
| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
awaken
|
|
| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
writhing
|
|
| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
aisles
|
|
| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
plowed
|
|
| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
pandemonium
|
|
| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
shuddered
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
poised
|
|
| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
juxtaposition
|
|
| n.毗邻，并置，并列 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tryst
|
|
| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
uprooted
|
|
| v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
flare
|
|
| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
cringing
|
|
| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
swoop
|
|
| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dreading
|
|
| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
stifled
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
prospects
|
|
| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
lurid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
awesome
|
|
| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
avenged
|
|
| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
sincerity
|
|
| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
muffled
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
prolific
|
|
| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
avowed
|
|
| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
yearning
|
|
| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
expiate
|
|
| v.抵补，赎罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
celibacy
|
|
| n.独身(主义) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
subduing
|
|
| 征服( subdue的现在分词 )； 克制； 制服； 色变暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |