IF we could always know at the time what we are doing.
Two ladies carried a paper to Whitehall out of charity to a stranger.
Therein the elder was a benefactress to a man she had never spoken of but as “the Wretch;” the younger held her truant1 bridegroom’s heart, I may say, in her hand all the road and was his protectress. Neither recognised the hand-writing; for no man can write his own hand with a toothpick.
They reached Whitehall, and were conducted upstairs to a gentleman of pleasant aspect but powerful brow, seated in a wilderness2 of letters.
He waved his hand, and a clerk set them chairs: he soon after laid down his pen, and leaned gravely forward to hear their business. They saw they must waste no time; Julia looked at her mother, rose, and took Alfred’s missive to his desk, and handed it him with one of her eloquent5 looks, grave and pitiful. He seemed struck by her beauty and her manner.
“It was pinned on my parasol, sir, by a poor prisoner at Drayton House,” said Mrs. Dodd.
“Oh, indeed,” said the gentleman, and began to read the superscription with a cold and wary6 look. But thawed7 visibly as he read. He opened the missive and ran his eye over it. The perusal8 moved him not a little: a generous flush mounted to his brow; he rang the bell sharply. A clerk answered it; the gentleman wrote on a slip of paper, and said earnestly, “Bring me every letter that is signed with that name, and all our correspondence about him.”
He then turned to Mrs. Dodd, and put to her a few questions, which drew out the main facts I have just related. The papers were now brought in. “Excuse me a moment,” said he, and ran over them. “I believe the man is sane10,” said he, “and that you will have enabled us to baffle a conspiracy11, a heartless conspiracy.”
“We do hope he will be set free, sir,” said Mrs. Dodd piteously.
He shall, madam, if it is as I suspect. I will stay here all night but I will master this case; and lay it before the Board myself without delay.”
Julia looked at her mother, and then asked if it would be wrong to inquire “the poor gentleman’s name?”
“Humph!” said the official; “I ought not to reveal that without his consent. But stay! he will owe you much, and it really seems a pity he should not have an opportunity of expressing his gratitude12. Perhaps you will favour me with your address: and trust to my discretion13. Of course, if he does not turn out as sane as he seems, I shall never let him know it.”
Mrs. Dodd then gave her address; and she and Julia went home with a glow about the heart selfish people, thank Heaven, never know.
Unconsciously these two had dealt their enemy and Alfred’s a heavy blow; had set the train to a mine. Their friend at the office was a man of another stamp than Alfred had fallen in with.
Meantime Alfred was subjected to hourly mortifications and irritations14. He guessed the motive15, and tried to baffle it by calm self-possession: but this was far more difficult than heretofore, because his temper was now exacerbated16 and his fibre irritated by broken sleep (of this poor David was a great cause), and his heart inflamed17 and poisoned by that cruel, that corroding18 passion jealousy19.
To think, that while he was in prison, a rival was ever at his Julia’s ear, making more and more progress in her heart! This corroder was his bitter companion day and night; and perhaps of all the maddeners human cunning could have invented this was the worst. It made his temples beat and his blood run boiling poison. Indeed, there were times when he was so distempered by passion that homicide seemed but an act of justice, and suicide a legitimate20 relief. For who could go on for ever carrying Hell in his bosom21 up and down a prison yard? He began to go alone! to turn impatiently from the petty troubles and fathomless22 egotism of those afflicted23 persons he had hitherto forced his sore heart to pity. Pale, thin, and wo-begone, he walked the weary gravel3, like the lost ones in that Hall of Eblis whose hearts were a devouring24 fire. Even an inspector25 with a naked eye would no longer have distinguished26 him at first sight from a lunatic of the unhappiest class, the melancholiac.
“Ipse suum cor edens hominum vestigia vitans.”
Mrs. Archbold looked on and saw this sad sight, not with the pity it would once have caused, but with a sort of bitter triumph lightened by no pleasure, and darkened by the shadow of coming remorse27. Yet up to this time she had shown none of that inconstancy of purpose which marks her sex; while she did go far to justify28 the poet’s charge:
“Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned.”
Rooke had a hint to provoke Alfred to violence such as would justify them in subjecting so popular a patient to bodily restraint, composing draughts29, and other quick maddeners. Rooke entered into the game zealously30 from two motives31; he was devoted32 to Mrs. Archbold, and he hated Alfred, who had openly defied him, and mortified33 his vanity about Frank Beverley.
One Saturday Alfred was ordered out to walk with Rooke and Hayes and Vulcan. He raised no objection: suspected, felt homicidal, suppressed the impulse, and by this self-command he got time to give that letter to Beverley with instructions.
But, all the walk, he was saying to himself that Julia was in the house, and he was kept away from her, and a rival with her; this made him sicken and rage by turns. He came back in a state verging34 on fury.
On entering the yard poor Beverley, who had done his bit of cunning, and by reaction now relapsed into extra simplicity35, came running, and said, “I’ve done it; she has got it.”
“What have you done? Who has got what?” cried Rooke.
“Don’t tell, Frank.”
“If you don’t I’ll shake your life out, ye young blackguard,” cried Rooke, seizing him and throttling36 him till he was black in the face.
Alfred’s long-pent fury broke out: he gnashed his teeth and dashed his fist in Rooke’s face.
Rooke staggered back and bellowed37 with pain and anger, then rushing at him incautiously, received a stinger that staggered him, and nearly closed his right eye. He took the hint, and put himself in a posture38 that showed he was skilled in the art of self-defence. He stopped two blows neatly39, and returned a heavy one upon the ribs40. Alfred staggered back some steps, but steadied himself, and, as Rooke rushed in too hastily to improve his advantage, caught him heavily on the other eye, but lost his own balance a little, which enabled Rooke to close; then came a sharp short rally of reechoing blows, and Rooke, not to be denied, got hold of his man, and a wrestling bout9 ensued, in which Alfred being somewhat weakened by misery41 and broken rest, Rooke’s great weight and strength enabled him, after a severe struggle, to fall with his antagonist42 under him, and knock the breath out of his body for the moment. Then Hayes, who had stood prudently43 aloof44, came in and helped handcuff him. They could not walk up and down him for the Robin45, who stood by with a professional air to see fair play.
“Ah, cold iron is your best chance,” he said satirically. “Never you mind, sir: you hit quick and well: I’d back you at long odds46 in the ring: both his peepers are in deep mourning.” He added, “A cow can beat a man wrestling.”
When Alfred was handcuffed they turned him loose. It soon transpired47, however, that he was now a dangerous maniac48 (Formula) and to be confined in the noisy ward4.
On hearing this he saw the trap he had fallen into; saw and trembled. He asked himself what on earth he should do; and presently the saying came back to him, “And this is the highest stroke of art, to turn evil into good.” He argued thus: Wolf’s love of money is my great evil; he will destroy me for money, do anything for money. Then suppose I offer him money to be honest. He begged an interview with Dr. Wolf on business. This was accorded at once. He asked the doctor plump whether he received a large sum to detain him under pretence49 of insanity50.
“Not very, considering the trouble you sometimes give, Mr. Hardie,” was the dry reply.
“Well, then, Justice shall outbid rascality51 for once. I am a sane man, and you know it; a man of my word, and you know it. I’ll give you a thousand pounds to let me out of this place.”
Dr. Wolf’s eyes sparkled.
“You shall have any bond or security you like; and the money within a week of my deliverance.”
Dr. Wolf said he should be delighted to do it, if he could conscientiously53.
At this piece of hypocrisy54 Alfred’s cheek reddened, and he could not speak.
“Well, well, I do see a great change in you for the better,” said Dr. Wolf. “If, as I suspect, you are convalescent, I will part with you without a thousand pounds or a thousand pence.
Alfred stared. Had he mistaken his man?
“I’ll tell you what, though,” said the smooth doctor. “I have got two pictures, one by Raphael, one by Correggio.”
“I know them,” said the quick-witted Alfred; “they are worth more than a thousand pounds.”
“Of course they are, but I would take a thousand pounds from you.”
“Throw me in my liberty, and I’ll make it guineas.”
“We will see about that.” And with this understanding the men of business parted. Dr. Wolf consulted Mrs. Archbold then and there.
“Impossible,” said she; “the law would dissolve such a bargain, and you would be exposed and ruined.”
“But a thousand pounds!” said the poor doctor.
“Oh, he offered me more than that,” said Mrs. Archbold.
“You don’t mean to say so; when was that?”
“Do you remember one Sunday that I walked him out, to keep clear of Mrs. Dodd? Have you not observed that I have not repeated the experiment?”
“Yes. But I really don’t know why.”
“Will you promise me faithfully not to take any notice if I tell you?”
The doctor promised.
Then she owned to him with manifest reluctance56 that Alfred had taken advantage of her kindness, her indiscretion, in walking alone with him, and made passionate57 love to her. “He offered me not a thousand pounds,” said she, “but his whole fortune, and his heart, if I would fly with him from these odious58 walls; that was his expression.”
Then seeing out of a corner of her eye that the doctor was turning almost green with jealousy, this artist proceeded to describe the love scene between her and Alfred, with feigned59 hesitation60, yet minute detail. Only she inverted61 the parts: Alfred in her glowing page made the hot love; she listened abashed62, confused, and tried all she could think of to bring him to better sentiments. She concluded this chapter of history inverted with a sigh, and said, “So now he hates me, I believe, poor fellow.”
“Do you regret your refusal?” asked Dr. Wolf uneasily.
“Oh no, my dear friend. Of course, my judgment63 says that few women at my age and in my position would have refused. But we poor women seldom go by our judgments64.” And she cast a tender look down at the doctor’s feet.
In short, she worked on him so, that he left Alfred at her disposition65, and was no sooner gone to his other asylum66 six miles off; than the calumniated67 was conducted by Hayes and Rooke through passage after passage, and door after door, to a wing of the building connected with the main part only by a covered way. As they neared it, strange noises became audible. Faint at first, they got louder and louder. Singing, roaring, howling like wolves. Alfred’s flesh began to creep. He stopped at the covered way: he would have fought to his last gasp68 sooner than go further, but he was handcuffed. He appealed to the keepers; but he had used them both too roughly: they snarled69 and forced him on, and shut him into a common flagged cell, with a filthy70 truckle-bed in it, and all the vessels71 of gutta-percha. Here he was surrounded by the desperate order of maniacs72 he at present scarcely knew but by report. Throughout that awful night he could never close his eyes for the horrible unearthly sounds that assailed73 him. Singing, swearing, howling like wild beasts! His right-hand neighbour reasoned high of faith and works, ending each pious74 argument with a sudden rhapsody of oaths and never slept a wink75. His left-hand neighbour alternately sang, and shouted, “Cain was a murderer, Cain was a murderer;” and howled like a wolf, making night hideous76. His opposite neighbour had an audience, and every now and then delivered in a high nasal key, “Let us curse and pray;” varying it sometimes thus: “Brethren, let us work double tides.” And then he would deliver a long fervent77 prayer, and follow it up immediately with a torrent78 of blasphemies79 so terrific, that coming in such a contrast they made Alfred’s body wet with perspiration80 to hear a poor creature so defy his Creator. No rest, no peace. When it was still, the place was like the grave; and ever and anon, loud, sharp, tremendous, burst a thunderclap of curses, and set those poor demented creatures all yelling again for half-an-hour, making the tombs ring. And at clock-like intervals81 a harmless but dirty idiot, who was allowed to roam the ward, came and chanted through the keyhole, “Everything is nothing, and nothing is everything.”
This was the only observation he had made for many years.
His ears assailed with horrors, of which you have literally82 no conception, or shadow of a conception, his nose poisoned with ammoniacal vapours, and the peculiar83 wild-beast smell that marks the true maniac, Alfred ran wildly about his cell trying to stop his ears, and trembling for his own reason. When the fearful night rolled away, and morning broke, and he could stand on his truckle-bed and see the sweet hoar-frost on a square yard of grass level with his prison bars, it refreshed his very soul, and affected84 him almost to tears. He was then, to his surprise, taken out, and allowed to have a warm bath and to breakfast with David and the rest; but I suspect it was done to watch the effect of the trial he had been submitted to. After breakfast, having now no place to go, he lay on a bench, and there exhausted85 nature overpowered him, and he fell fast asleep.
Mrs. Archbold came by on purpose, and saw him. He looked very pale and peaceful. There was a cut on his forehead due to Rooke’s knuckles86. Mrs. Archbold looked down, and the young figure and haughty87 face seemed so unresisting and peaceful sad, she half relented, and shed some bitter tears. That did not, however, prevent her setting her female spies to watch him more closely than ever.
He awoke cold but refreshed, and found little Beverley standing55 by him with wet eyes. Alfred smiled and held out his hand like a captive monarch88 to his faithful vassal89. “They shan’t put you in the noisy ward again,” sobbed90 Frank. “This is your last night here.”
“Hy, Frank, you rascal52, my boots!” roared Rooke from an open window.
“Coming, sir — coming!”
Alfred’s next visitor was the Robin. He came whispering, “It is all right with Garrett, sir, and he has got a key of the back gate; but you must get back to your old room, or we can’t work.”
“Would to Heaven I could, Robin; another night or two in the noisy ward will drive me mad, I think.”
“Well, sir, I’ll tell you what you do: which we all have to do it at odd times: hold a candle to the devil: here she comes: I think she is everywhere all at one time.” The Robin then sauntered away, affecting nonchalance91: and Alfred proceeded to hold the candle as directed. “Mrs. Archbold,” said he timidly rising from his seat at her approach.
“Sir,” said she haughtily92, and affecting surprise.
“I have a favour to ask you, madam. Would you be so kind as to let me go back to my room?”
“What, you have found I am not so powerless as you thought!”
“I find myself so weak, and you so powerful that — you can afford to be generous.”
“I have no more power over you than you have over me.”
“I wish it was so.”
“I’ll prove it,” said she. “Who has got the key of your room? Hayes?” She whistled, and sent for him; and gave him the requisite93 order before Alfred. Alfred thanked her warmly.
She smiled, and went away disposed to change her tactics, and, having shown him how she could torment94, try soothing95 means, and open his heart by gratitude.
But presently looking out of her window she saw the Robin and him together; and somehow they seemed to her subtle, observant eyes, to be plotting. The very suspicion was fatal to that officer. His discharge was determined96 on. Meantime she set her spies to watch him, and tell her if they saw or heard anything.
Now Mrs. Archbold was going out to tea that evening, and, as soon as ever this transpired, the keepers secretly invited the keeperesses to a party in the first-class patients drawing-room. This was a rare opportunity, and the Robin and Garrett put their heads together accordingly.
In the dusk of the evening the Robin took an opportunity and slipped a new key of the back gate into Alfred’s hand, and told him “the trick was to be done that very night:” he was to get Thompson to go to bed early; and, instead of taking off his clothes, was to wait in readiness. “We have been plying97 Hayes already, “ said the Robin, “and, as soon as she is off, we shall hocuss him, and get the key; and, while they are all larking98 in the drawing-room, off you go to Merrimashee.”
“Oh, you dear Robin! You have taken my breath away. But how about Vulcan?”
“Oh, we know how to make him amiable99: a dog-fancier, a friend of mine, has provided the ondeniable where dogs is concerned: whereby Garrett draws the varmint into the scullery, and shuts him in, while I get the key from the other. It’s all right.”
“Ah, Robin,” said Alfred, “it sounds too good to be true. What? this my last day here!”
The minutes seemed to creep very slowly till eight o’clock came. Then he easily persuaded David to go to bed; Hayes went up and unlocked the door for them: it closed with a catch-lock. Hayes was drunk, but full of discipline, and insisted on the patients putting out their clothes; so Alfred made up a bundle from his portmanteau, and threw it out. Hayes eyed it suspiciously, but was afraid to stoop and inspect it closer: for his drunken instinct told him he would pitch on his head that moment: so he retired100 grumbling101 and dangling102 his key.
At the end of the corridor he met Mrs. Archbold full dressed, and with a candle in her hand. She held the candle up and inspected him; and a little conversation followed that sobered Mr. Hayes for a minute or two.
Mrs. Archbold was no sooner gone to her little tea-party than all the first-class ladies and gentlemen were sent to bed to get a good sleep for the good of their health, and the keepers and keeperesses took their place and romped103, and made such a row, sleep was not easy within hearing of them. They sat on the piano, they sang songs to a drum accompaniment played on the table, they danced, drank, flirted104, and enjoyed themselves like schoolboys. Hayes alone was gloomy and morose105: so the Robin and Garrett consoled him, drank with him, and soothed106 him with the balm of insensibility: in which condition they removed him under charitable pretences107, and searched his pockets in the passage for the key of Alfred’s room.
To their infinite surprise and disappointment it was not upon him.
The fact is, Mrs. Archbold had snatched it from him in her wrath108, and put it in her own pocket. How far her suspicions went, how much her spies had discovered, I really don’t know; but somehow or other she was uneasy in her mind, and, seeing Hayes in such a state, she would not trust him during her absence, but took the key away with her.
The Robin and Garrett knew nothing of this, and were all abroad, but they thought Rooke must have the key; so they proceeded to drink with him, and were just about to administer a really effective soporific in his grog, when they and all the merry party were suddenly startled by violent ringing at the bell, and thundering and halloaing at the hall door. The men jumped to their feet and balanced themselves, and looked half wild, half stupid. The women sat, and began to scream: for they had heard a word that has terrors for us all: peculiar terrors for them.
This alarm was due to a personage hitherto undervalued in the establishment.
Mr. Francis Beverley had been THINKING. So now, finding all the patients boxed up, and their attendants romping109 in the drawing-room, he lighted seven fires, skilfully110 on the whole, for practice makes perfect; but, singular oversight111, he omitted one essential ingredient in the fire, and that was the grate.
To be plain, Mr. Francis made seven bonfires of bed-curtains, chairs, and other combustibles in the servants’ garrets, lighted them contemporaneously, and retired to the basement, convinced he had taken the surest means to deliver his friend out of Drayton House: and with a certain want of candour that characterises the weak, proceeded to black his other bad master’s shoes with singular assiduity.
There was no wind to blow the flame; but it was a clear frost; and soon fiery112 tongues shot out of three garret-windows into the night, and lurid113 gleams burnished114 four more, and the old house was burning merrily overhead, and ringing with hilarity115 on the first floor.
But the neighbours saw, pointed116, wondered, comprehended, shouted, rang, knocked, and surged round the iron gate. “Fire! fire! fire!” and “Fire!” went down the road, and men on horseback galloped118 for engines; and the terror-stricken porter opened and the people rushed in and hammered at the hall doors, and when Rooke ran down and opened, “Fire!” was the word that met him from a score of eager throats and glittering eyes.
“Fire! Where?” he cried.
“Where! Why, you are on fire. Blazing!”
He ran out and looked up at the tongues of flame and volleys of smoke. “Shut the gate,” he roared. “Call the police. Fire! fire!” And he dashed back, and calling to the other keepers to unlock all the doors they had keys of, ran up to the garrets to see what could be done. He came out awe-stricken at what he saw. He descended120 hastily to the third floor. Now the third floor of that wing was occupied principally by servants. In fact, the only patients at that time were Dodd and Alfred. Rooke called to the men below to send Hayes up to No. 75 with his key directly; he then ran down to the next floor — of which he had keys — and opened all the doors, and said to the inmates121 with a ghastly attempt at cheerfulness, belied122 by his shaking voice, “Get up, gentlemen; there is a ball and supper going on below.” He was afraid to utter the word “fire” to them. The other keepers were as rapid, each on his beat, and soon the more rational patients took the alarm and were persuaded or driven out half-dressed into the yard, where they cowered123 together in extremity124 of fear; for the fire began to roar overhead like a lion, and lighted up the whole interior red and bright. All was screaming and confusion; and then came a struggle to get the incurable125 out from the basement story. There was no time to handcuff them. The keepers trusted to the terror of the scene to cow them, and so opened the doors and got them out anyhow. Wild, weird126 forms, with glaring eyes and matted hair, leaped out and ran into the hall, and laughed, and danced, and cursed in the lurid reflection of the fires above. Hell seemed discharging demons127. Men recoiled129 from them. And well they did; for now the skylight exploded, and the pieces fell tinkling130 on the marble hall fast as hail. The crowd recoiled and ran; but those awful figures continued their gambols131. One picked up the burning glass and ground it in his hands that bled directly: but he felt neither burn nor cut. The keepers rushed in to withdraw them from so dangerous a place: all but one obeyed with sudden tameness: that one struggled and yelled like a demon128. In the midst. of which fearful contest came a sudden thundering at a door on the third floor.
“What is that?” cried Rooke.
“It is Mr. Hardie,” screamed the Robin. “You have left him locked in.”
“I told Hayes to let him out long ago.”
“But Hayes hasn’t got the key. You’ve got it.”
“No, no. I tell you Hayes has got it.”
“No, no! Murder! murder! They are dead men. Run for Mrs. Archbold, somebody. Run! Here, hammers, hammers! for God’s sake, come and help me, break the door. Oh, Rooke, Rooke!”
“As I’m a man Hayes has got the key,” cried Rooke, stamping on the ground, and white with terror.
By this time Garrett had got a hammer, and he and Wales rushed wildly up the stairs to batter132 in the strong door if they could. They got to the third floor, but with difficulty; the smoke began to blind them and choke them, and fiery showers fell on them, and drove them back smarting and choking. Garrett sank down gasping133 at the stair-foot. Wales ran into the yard uttering pitiful cries, and pointing wildly upwards134; but before he got there, a hand had broken through the glass of a window up in the third floor, the poor white hand of a perishing prisoner, and clutched the framework and tore at it.
At this hand a thousand white faces were now upturned amid groans135 of pity and terror, such as only multitudes can utter. Suddenly those anxious faces and glistening136 eyes turned like one, for an attempt, wild and unintelligible137, but still an attempt, was about to be made to save that hand and its owner out of the very jaws138 of death.
Now amongst the spectators was one whose life and reason were at stake on that attempt.
Mrs. Dodd was hurrying homeward from this very neighbourhood when the fire broke out. Her son Edward was coming at nine o’clock to tea, and, better still, to sleep. He was leaving the fire brigade. It had disappointed him; he found the fire-escape men saved the lives, the firemen only the property. He had gone into the business earnestly too; he had invented a thing like a treble pouch139 hook, which could he fastened in a moment to the end of a rope, and thrown into the window, and would cling to the bare wall, if there was nothing better, and enable him to go up and bring life down. But he had never got a chance to try it; and, per contra, he was on the engine when they went tearing over a woman and broke her arm and collar-bone in the Blackfriars Road; and also when they went tearing over their own fire-dog, and crippled him. All this seemed out of character, and shocked Edward; and then his mother could not get over the jacket.
In a quarter of an hour he was to take off the obnoxious140 jacket for ever, and was now lounging at the station smoking a short pipe, when a man galloped up crying “Fire!”
“All right!” said Edward, giving a whiff. “Where?”
“Lunatic Asylum. Drayton House.”
Guess how long before the horses were to, and the engine tearing at a gallop117 down the road, and the firemen shouting “Fire! fire!” to clear the way, and Edward’s voice the loudest.
When the report of fire swept townward past Mrs. Dodd, she turned, and saw the glow.
“Oh dear,” said she, “that must be somewhere near Drayton House.” And full of the tender fears that fill such bosoms141 as hers for those they love, she could not go home till she had ascertained142 that it was not Drayton House. Moreover, Edward’s was the nearest station; she had little hope now of seeing him to tea. She sighed, and retraced143 her steps, and made timid inquiries144, but could gain no clear information. Presently she heard galloping145 behind her, and the fireman’s wild sharp cry of fire. An engine drawn146 by two powerful brown horses came furiously, all on fire itself with red paint and polished steel gleaming in the lights; helmeted men clustered on it, and out of one of these helmets looked a face like a fighting lion’s, the eyes so dilated147, the countenance148 in such towering excitement, the figure half rising from his seat as though galloping was too slow and he wanted to fly. It was Edward. Mother and son caught sight of one another as the engine thundered by, and he gave her a solemn ardent149 look, and pointed towards the fire; by that burning look and eloquent gesture she knew it was something more than a common fire. She trembled and could not move. But this temporary weakness was followed by an influx150 of wild vigour151; she forgot her forty-two years, and flew to hover152 round the fire as the hen round water. Unfortunately she was too late to get any nearer than the road outside the gates, the crowd was so dense153. And, while her pale face and anxious eyes, the eyes of a wife and a mother, were bent154 on that awful fire, the human tide flowed swiftly up behind her, and there she was wedged in. She was allowed her foot of ground to stand and look like the rest — no more. Mere119 unit in that mass of panting humanity, hers was one of the thousands of upturned faces lurid in the light of the now blazing roof. She saw with thousands the hand break the window and clutch the frame; she gasped155 with the crowd at that terrible and piteous sight, and her bosom panted for her fellow-creature in sore peril156. But what is this? The mob inside utter a great roar of hope; the crowd outside strain every eye.
A gleaming helmet overtops the outer wall. It is a fireman mounting the great elm-tree in the madhouse yard. The crowd inside burst in a cheer. He had a rope round his loins; his face was to the tree. He mounted and mounted like a cat; higher, and higher, and higher, till he reached a branch about twelve feet above the window and as many distant from it laterally158; the crowd cheered him lustily. But Mrs. Dodd, half distracted with terror, implored159 them not to encourage him. “It is my child!” she cried despairingly; “my poor reckless darling! Come down, Edward; for your poor mother’s sake, come down.”
“Dear heart,” said a woman, “it is the lady’s son. Poor thing!”
“Stand on my knee, ma’am,” said a coal-heaver.
“Oh no, sir, no. I could not look at him for the world. I can only pray for him. Good people, pray for us!” And she covered her face, and prayed and trembled and sobbed hysterically160. A few yards behind was another woman, who had arrived later, yet like her was wedged immovable. This woman was more terror-stricken than Mrs. Dodd; and well she might; for she knew who was behind that fatal window: the woman’s name was Edith Archbold. The flames were now leaping through the roof, and surging up towards heaven in waves of fire six feet high. Edward, scorched161 and half blinded, managed to fasten his rope to the bough162, and, calculating the distances vertical163 and lateral157 he had to deal with, took up rope accordingly, and launched himself into the air.
The crowd drew their breath so hard it sounded like a murmur164. To their horror he missed the window, and went swinging back.
There was a cry of dismay. But Edward had never hoped to leap into the window; he went swinging by the rope back to the main stem of the tree, gave it a fierce spang with his feet, and by this means and a powerful gesture of his herculean loins got an inch nearer the window: back again, and then the same game; and so he went swinging to and fro over a wider and wider space; and, by letting out an inch of cord each swing, his flying feet came above the window-ledge, then a little higher, then higher still; and now, oh sight strange and glorious — as this helmeted hero, with lips clenched165 and great eyes that stared unflinchingly at the surging flames, and gleamed supernaturally with inward and outward fire, swang to and fro on his frail166 support still making for the window — the heads of all the hoping, fearing, admiring, panting crowd went surging and waving to and fro beneath; so did not their hearts only but their agitated167 bodies follow the course of his body, as it rushed to and fro faster and faster through the hot air starred with snow-flakes, and hail, of fire. And those his fellow-men for whom the brave fireman made this supernatural effort, did they know their desperate condition? Were they still alive? One little hour ago Alfred sat on the bed, full of hope. Every minute he expected to hear the Robin put a key into the door. He was all ready, and his money in his pocket. Alas168! his liberator169 came not; some screw loose again. Presently he was conscious of a great commotion170 in the house. Feet ran up and down. Then came a smell of burning. The elm-tree outside was illuminated171. He was glad at first; he had a spite against the place. But soon he became alarmed, and hammered at the door and tried to force it. Impossible. “Fire!” rang from men’s voices. Fire crackled above his head; he ran about the room like a wild creature; he sprang up at the window and dashed his hand through, but fell back. He sprang again and got his hand on some of the lighter172 woodwork; he drew himself up nearly to the window, and then the wood gave way and he fell to the ground, and striking the back of his head, nearly stunned173 himself; the flames roared fearfully now; and at this David, who had hitherto sat unconcerned, started up, and in a stentorian174 voice issued order upon order to furl every rag of sail and bring the ship to the wind. He thought it was a tempest. “Oh hush175! hush!” cried Alfred in vain.. A beam fell from the roof to the floor, precursor176 of the rest. On this David thought the ship was ashore177, and shouted a fresh set of orders proper to the occasion, so terribly alike are the angry voices of the sister-elements. But Alfred implored him, and got him to kneel down with him, and held his hand, and prayed.
And, even while they kneeled and Alfred prayed, Death and Life met and fought for them. Under the door, tight as it was, and through the keyhole, struggled a hot stifling178 smoke, merciful destroyer running before fire; and the shadow of a gigantic figure began to flicker179 in from the outside, and to come and go upon the wall. Alfred did not know what that was, but it gave him a vague hope: he prayed aloud as men pray only for their bodies. (The crowd heard him and hushed itself breathless.)
The smoke penetrated180 faster, blinding and stifling; the giant shadow came and went. But now the greater part of the roof fell in with an awful report; the blazing timbers thundered down to the basement with endless clatter181 of red-hot tiles; the walls quivered, and the building belched182 skyward a thousand jets of fire like a bouquet183 of rockets: and then a cloud of smoke. Alfred gave up all hope, and prepared to die. Crash! as if discharged from a cannon184, came bursting through the window, with the roar of an applauding multitude and a mother’s unheeded scream, a helmeted figure, rope in hand, and alighted erect185 and commanding on the floor amidst a shower of splinters and tinkling glass. “Up, men, for your lives,” roared this fire-warrior, clutching them hard, and dragged them both up to their feet by one prodigious186 gesture: all three faces came together and shone in the lurid light; and he knew his father and “the Wretch,” and “the Wretch” knew him. “Oh!” “Ah!” passed like pistol shots; but not a word: even this strange meeting went for little, so awful was the moment, so great are Death and Fire. Edward clawed his rope to the bed; up to the window by it, dropped his line to fireman Jackson planted express below, and in another moment was hauling up a rope ladder: this he attached, and getting on it and holding his own rope by way of banister, cried, “Now, men, quick, for your lives.” But poor David called that deserting the ship, and demurred187, till Alfred assured him the captain had ordered it. He then submitted directly, touched his forelock to Edward, whom he took for that officer, and went down the ladder; Alfred followed.
Now the moment those two figures emerged from the burning pile, Mrs. Dodd, already half dead with terror for her son, saw and knew her husband: for all about him it was as light as day.
What terror! what joy! what gratitude! what pride! what a tempest of emotions!
But her fears were not ended: Edward, not to overweight the ladder, went dangling by his hands along the rope towards the tree. And his mother’s eyes stared fearfully from him to the other, and her heart hung trembling on her husband descending188 cautiously, and then on his preserver, her son, who was dangling along by the hands on that frail support. The mob cheered him royally, but she screamed and hid her face again. At last both her darlings were safe, and then the lusty cheers made her thrill with pride and joy, till all of a sudden they seemed to die away, and the terrible fire to go out; and the sore-tried wife and mother drooped189 her head and swooned away, wedged in and kept from falling by the crowd.
Inside, the mob parted and made two rushes, one at the rescued men, one at the gallant190 fireman. Alfred and David were overpowered with curiosity and sympathy. They had to shake a hundred honest hands, and others still pressing on hurried them nearly off their feet.
“Gently, good friends; don’t part us,” said Alfred.
“He is the keeper,” said one of the crowd.
“Yes, I’m his keeper: and I want to get him quietly away. This excitement will do him harm else; good friends, help me out by that door.”
“All right,” was the cry, and they rushed with him to the back door. Rooke, who was about twenty yards off saw and suspected this movement. He fought his way and struggled after Alfred in silence. Presently, to his surprise, Alfred unlocked the door and whipped out with David, leaving the door open. Rooke shouted and halloaed: “Stop him! he is escaping,” and struggled madly to the door. Now another crowd had been waiting in the meadows; seeing the door open they rushed in and the doorway191 was jammed directly. In the confusion Alfred drew David along the side of the wall; told him to stay quiet, bolted behind an outhouse, and then ran across country for the bare life.
To his horror David followed him, and with a madman’s agility192 soon caught him.
He snorted like a spirited horse, and shouted cheerily, “Go ahead, messmate; I smell blue water.”
“Come on, then,” cried Alfred, half mad himself with excitement, and the pair ran furiously, and dashed through hedges and ditches, torn, bleeding, splashed, triumphant193; behind them the burning madhouse, above them the spangled sky, the fresh free air of liberty blowing in their nostrils194, and rushing past their ears.
Alfred’s chest expanded, he laughed for joy, he sang for joy, he leaped as he went; nor did he care where he went. David took the command, and kept snuffing the air, and shaping his course for blue water. And so they rushed along the livelong night.
Free.
收听单词发音 |
1
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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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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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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irritations
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| n.激怒( irritation的名词复数 )；恼怒；生气；令人恼火的事 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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exacerbated
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| v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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corroding
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| 使腐蚀，侵蚀( corrode的现在分词 ) | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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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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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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throttling
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| v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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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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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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49
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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50
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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51
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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53
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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55
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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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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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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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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calumniated
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| v.诽谤，中伤( calumniate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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maniacs
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| n.疯子（maniac的复数形式） | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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75
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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blasphemies
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| n.对上帝的亵渎，亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 )；侮慢的言词（或行为） | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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81
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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82
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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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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nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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92
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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93
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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94
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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95
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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96
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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97
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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98
larking
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| v.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的现在分词 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了 | |
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99
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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100
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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101
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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102
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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103
romped
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| v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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104
flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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106
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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107
pretences
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| n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称 | |
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108
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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109
romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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110
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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111
oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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112
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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113
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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114
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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115
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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116
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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117
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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118
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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119
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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120
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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121
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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122
belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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123
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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124
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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125
incurable
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| adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人 | |
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126
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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127
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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128
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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129
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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130
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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131
gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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132
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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133
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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134
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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135
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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136
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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137
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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138
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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139
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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140
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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141
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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142
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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143
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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144
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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145
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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146
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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147
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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149
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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150
influx
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| n.流入，注入 | |
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151
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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152
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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153
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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154
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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155
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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156
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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157
lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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158
laterally
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| ad.横向地；侧面地；旁边地 | |
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159
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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161
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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162
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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163
vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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164
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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165
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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166
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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167
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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168
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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169
liberator
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| 解放者 | |
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170
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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171
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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172
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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173
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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174
stentorian
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| adj.大声的，响亮的 | |
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175
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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176
precursor
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| n.先驱者；前辈；前任；预兆；先兆 | |
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177
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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178
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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179
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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180
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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181
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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182
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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183
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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184
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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185
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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186
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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187
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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188
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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189
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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190
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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191
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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192
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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193
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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194
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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