JANE HARDIE had found Albion Villa1 in the miserable2 state that precedes an auction3: the house raw, its contents higgledy-piggledy. The stair carpets, and drawing-room carpets, were up, and in rolls in the dining-room; the bulk of the furniture was there too; the auction was to be in that room. The hall was clogged4 with great packages, and littered with small, all awaiting the railway carts; and Edward, dusty and deliquescent, was cording, strapping5, and nailing them at the gallop6, in his shirt sleeves.
Jane’s heart sank at the visible signs of his departure. She sighed; and then, partly to divert his attention, told him hastily there was a letter from Alfred. On this he ran upstairs and told Mrs. Dodd; and she came downstairs, and after a conversation took Jane up softly to her friend’s room.
They opened the door gently, and Jane saw the grief she was come to console — or to embitter7.
Such a change! instead of the bright, elastic8, impetuous young beauty, there sat a pale, languid girl, with “weary of the world” written on every part of her eloquent9 body; her right hand dangled10 by her side, and on the ground beneath it lay a piece of work she had been attempting; but it had escaped from those listless fingers: her left arm was stretched at full length on the table with an unspeakable abandon, and her brow laid wearily on it above the elbow. So lies the wounded bird, so droops11 the broken lily.
She did not move for Jane’s light foot. She often sat thus, a drooping12 statue, and let the people come and go unheeded.
Jane’s heart yearned13 for her. She came softly and laid a little hand lightly on her shoulder, and true to her creed14 that we must look upward for consolation15, said in her ear, and in solemn silvery tones, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Julia turned at this and flung her arms round Jane’s neck, and panted heavily.
Jane kissed her, and with tears in her eyes, proceeded to pour out, from a memory richly stored with Scripture16, those blessed words it is full of, words that in our hours of ease or biblical criticism pass over the mind like some drowsy17 chime but in the bitter day of anguish18 and bereavement19, when the body is racked, the soul darkened, shine out like stars to the mariner20; seem then first to swell21 to their real size and meaning, and come to writhing22 mortals like pitying seraphim23, divinity on their faces and healing on their wings.
Julia sighed heavily: “Ah,” she said, “these are sweet words. But I am not ripe for them. You show me the true path of happiness: but I don’t want to be happy; it’s him I want to be happy. If the angels came for me and took me to heaven this moment, I should be miserable there, if I thought he was in eternal torment24. Ay, I should be as miserable there as I am here. Oh, Jane, when God means to comfort me, He will show me he is alive; till then words are wasted on me, even Bible words.”
“Tell her your news, my dear,” said Mrs. Dodd quietly. She was one of those who take human nature as it is, and make the best of it.
“Julia dear,” said Jane, “your fears are extravagant25; indeed: Alfred is alive, we know.”
Julia trembled, but said nothing.
“He has written today.”
“Ah! To you?”
“No, to papa.”
“I don’t believe it. Why to him?”
“But I saw the letter, dear; I had it my hand.”
“Did you read it?” asked Julia, trembling now like an aspen, and fluttering like a bird.
“No, but I read the address, and the date inside, and I saw the handwriting; and I was offered the letter, but papa told me it was full of abuse of him, so I declined22 to read it; however, I will get it for you.”
22 This was one of those involuntary inaccuracies which creep into mortal statements.
Mrs. Dodd thanked her warmly; but asked her if she could not in the meantime give some idea of the contents.
“Oh yes, Mrs. Dodd: papa read me out a great deal of it. He was in Paris, but just starting for London: and he demanded his money and his accounts. You know papa is one of his trustees.”
“Well, but,” said Mrs. Dodd, “there was nothing — nothing about ——?”
“Oh yes, there was,” said Jane, “only I— well then, for dear Julia’s sake — the letter said, ‘What wonder the son of a sharper should prove a traitor26? You have stolen her money and I her affections, and’— oh, I can’t, I can’t.” And Jane Hardie began to cry.
Mrs. Dodd embraced her like a mother, and entered into her filial feelings: Mrs. Dodd had never seen her so weak, and, therefore, never thought her so amiable27. Thus occupied they did not at first observe how these tidings were changing Julia.
But presently looking up, they saw her standing28 at her full height on fire with wrath29 and insulted pride.
“Ah, you have brought me comfort,” she cried. “ Mamma, I shall hate and scorn this man some day, as much as I hate and scorn myself now for every tear I have shed for him.”
They tried to calm her, but in vain; a new gust30 of passion possessed31 the ardent32 young creature and would have vent33. She reddened from bosom34 to brow, and the scalding tears ran down her flaming cheeks, and she repeated between her clenched35 teeth, “My veins36 are not filled with skim-milk, I can tell you: you have seen how I can love, you shall see how I can hate.” And with this she went haughtily37 out of the room, not to expose the passion which overpowered her.
Mrs. Dodd took advantage of her absence to thank Jane for her kindness, and told her she had also received some letters by this morning’s post, and thought it would be neither kind on her part nor just to conceal38 their purport39 from her. She then read her a letter from Mrs. Beresford, and another from Mr. Grey, in answer to queries40 about the L. 14,000.
Sharpe, I may as well observe, was at sea; Bayliss drowned.
Mrs. Beresford knew nothing about the matter.
Mr. Grey was positive Captain Dodd, when in command, had several thousand pounds in his cabin; Mrs. Beresford’s Indian servant had been detected trying to steal it, and put in irons: believed the lady had not been told the cause — out of delicacy41! and Captain Roberts had liberated42 him. As to whether the money had escaped the wreck43 — if on Captain Dodd’s person, it might have been saved; but if not, it was certainly lost: for Captain Dodd to his knowledge had run on deck from the passenger’s cabin the moment the ship struck, and had remained there till she went to pieces; and everything was washed out of her.
“Our own opinion,” said Mrs. Dodd, “I mean Edward’s and mine, is now, that the money was lost in the ship; and you can tell your papa so if you like.”
Jane thanked her, and said she thought so too: and what a sad thing it was.
Soon after this Julia returned, pale and calm as a statue, and sat down humbly44 beside Jane. “Oh, pray with me,” she said: “pray that I may not hate, for to hate is to be wicked; and pray that I may not love, for to love is to be miserable.”
Mrs. Dodd retired45, with her usual tact46 and self-denial.
Then Jane Hardie, being alone with her friend, and full of sorrow, sympathy, and faith, found words of eloquence47 almost divine to raise her.
With these pious48 consolations49 Julia’s pride and self-respect now cooperated. Relieved of her great terror, she felt her insult to her fingers’ ends: “I’ll never degrade myself so far as to pine for another lady’s lover,” she said. “I’ll resume my duties in another sphere, and try to face the world by degrees. I am not quite alone in it; I have my mother still — and my Redeemer.”
Some tears forced their way at these brave, gentle words. Jane gave her time.
Then she said: “Begin by putting on your bonnet50, and visiting with me. Come with one who is herself thwarted51 in the carnal affections; come with her and see how sick some are, and we two in health; how racked with pain some are, and we two at ease; how hungry some, and we have abundance; and, above all, in what spiritual deserts some lie, while we walk in the Gospel light.”
“Oh that I had the strength,” said Julia; “I’ll try.”
She put on her bonnet, and went down with her friend; but at the street door the strange feeling of shame overpowered her; she blushed and trembled, and begged to substitute the garden for the road. Jane consented, and said everything must have a beginning.
The fresh air, the bursting buds, and all the face of nature, did Julia good, and she felt it. “You little angel,” said she, with something of her old impetuosity, “ you have saved me. I was making myself worse by shutting myself up in that one miserable room.”
They walked hand in hand for a good half hour, and then Jane said she must go; papa would miss her. Julia was sorry to part with her, and almost without thinking, accompanied her through the house to the front gate; and that was another point gained. “I never was so sorry to part with you, love,” said she. “When will you come again? We leave tomorrow. I am selfish to detain you; but it seems as if my guardian52 angel was leaving me.”
Jane smiled. “I must go,” said she, “but I’ll leave better angels than I am behind me. I leave you this: ‘Humble yourself under the mighty53 hand of God!’ When it seems most harsh, then it is most loving. Pray for faith to say with me, ‘Lead us by a way that we know not.’”
They kissed one another, and Julia stood at the gate and looked lovingly after her, with the tears standing thick in her own violet eyes.
Now Maxley was coming down the road, all grizzly54 and bloodshot, baited by the boys, who had gradually swelled55 in number as he drew nearer the town.
Jane was shocked at their heathenish cruelty, and went off the path to remonstrate56 with them.
On this, Maxley fell upon her, and began beating her about the head and shoulders with his heavy stick.
The miserable boys uttered yells of dismay, but did nothing.
Julia uttered a violent scream, but flew to her friend’s aid, and crying, “Oh you wretch57! you wretch!” actually caught the man by the throat and shook him violently. He took his hand off Jane Hardie, who instantly sank moaning on the ground, and he cowered58 like a cur at the voice and the purple gleaming eyes of the excited girl.
The air filled with cries, and Edward ran out of the house to see what was the matter; but on the spot nobody was game enough to come between the furious man and the fiery59 girl. The consequence was, her impetuous courage began to flag and her eye to waver; the demented man found this out by some half animal instinct, and instantly caught her by the shoulder and whirled her down on her knees; then raised his staff high to destroy her.
She screamed, and was just putting up her hands, womanlike, not to see her death as well as feel it, when something dark came past her like a rushing wind — a blow, that sounded exactly like that of a paving ram60, caught Maxley on the jaw61: and there was Edward Dodd blowing like a grampus with rage, and Maxley on his back in the road. But men under cerebral62 excitement are not easily stunned63, and know no pain: he bounded off the ground, and came at Edward like a Spanish bull. Edward slipped aside, and caught him another ponderous64 blow that sent him staggering, and his bludgeon flew out of his hand, and Edward caught it. Lo! the maniac65 flew at him again more fiercely than ever; but the young Hercules had seen Jane bleeding on the ground: he dealt her assailant in full career such a murderous stroke with the bludgeon, that the people, who were running from all quarters, shrieked66 with dismay — not for Jane, but for Maxley; and well they might; that awful stroke laid him senseless, motionless and mute, in a pool of his own blood.
“Don’t kill him, sir; don’t kill the man,” was the cry.
“Why not?” said Edward sternly. He then kneeled over his sweetheart and lifted her in his arms like a child. Her bonnet was all broken, her eyes were turned upwards67 and set, and a little blood trickled68 down her cheek; and that cheek seemed streaked69 white and red.
He was terrified, agonised; yet he gasped70 out, “You are safe, dear; don’t be frightened.”
She knew the voice.
“Oh, Edward!” she said piteously and tenderly, and then moaned a little on his broad bosom. He carried her into the house out of the crowd.
Poor old doctor Phillips, coming in to end his days in the almshouse, had seen it all: he got out of his cart and hobbled up. He had been in the army, and had both experience and skill. He got her bonnet off, and at sight of her head looked very grave.
In a minute a bed was laid in the drawing-room, and all the windows and doors open: and Edward, trembling now in every limb, ran to Musgrove Cottage, while Mrs. Dodd and Julia loosened the poor girl’s dress, and bathed her wounds with tepid71 water (the doctor would not allow cold), and put wine carefully to her lips with a teaspoon72.
“Wanted at your house, pray what for?” said Mr. Hardie superciliously73.
“Oh, sir,” said Edward, “such a calamity74. Pray come directly. A ruffian has struck her, has hurt her terribly, terribly.”
“Her! Who?” asked Mr. Hardie, beginning to be uneasy.
“Who! why Jane, your daughter, man; and there you sit chattering75, instead of coming at once.”
Mr. Hardie rose hurriedly and put on his hat, and accompanied him, half confused.
Soon Edward’s mute agitation76 communicated itself to him, and he went striding and trembling by his side.
The crowd had gone with insensible Maxley to the hospital, but the traces of the terrible combat were there. Where Maxley fell the last time, a bullock seemed to have been slaughtered77 at the least.
The miserable father came on this, and gave a great scream like a woman, and staggered back white as a sheet.
Edward laid his hand on him, for he seemed scarce able to stand.
“No, no, no,” he cried, comprehending the mistake at last; that is not hers — Heaven forbid! That is the madman’s who did it; I knocked him down with his own cudgel.”
“God bless you! you’ve killed him, I hope.”
“Oh, sir, be more merciful, and then perhaps He will be merciful to us, and not take this angel from us.”
“No! no! you are right; good young man. I little thought I had such a friend in your house.”
“Don’t deceive yourself, sir,” said Edward; “it’s not you I care for:” then, with a great cry of anguish, “I love her.”
At this blunt declaration, so new and so offensive to him, Mr. Hardie winced78, and stopped bewildered.
But they were at the gate, and Edward hurried him on. At the house door he drew back once more; for he felt a shiver of repugnance79 at entering this hateful house, of whose happiness he was the destroyer.
But enter it he must; it was his fate.
The wife of the poor Captain he had driven mad met him in the passage, her motherly eyes full of tears for him, and both hands held out to him like a pitying angel. “Oh, Mr. Hardie,” she said in a broken voice, and took him, and led him, wonder-struck, stupefied, shivering with dark fears, to the room where his crushed daughter lay.
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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clogged
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| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
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strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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embitter
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| v.使苦；激怒 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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droops
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的名词复数 ) | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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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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bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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seraphim
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| n.六翼天使(seraph的复数)；六翼天使( seraph的名词复数 ) | |
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torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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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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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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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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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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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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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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consolations
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| n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物） | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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cerebral
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| adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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68
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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69
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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70
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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71
tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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72
teaspoon
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| n.茶匙 | |
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73
superciliously
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| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
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74
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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75
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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76
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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77
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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