To man, in this his trial state,
The privilege is given,
When tost by tides of human fate,
To anchor fast on heaven.
It was with a firm step that Deans sought his daughter’s apartment, determined3 to leave her to the light of her own conscience in the dubious4 point of casuistry in which he supposed her to be placed.
The little room had been the sleeping apartment of both sisters, and there still stood there a small occasional bed which had been made for Effie’s accommodation, when, complaining of illness, she had declined to share, as in happier times, her sister’s pillow. The eyes of Deans rested involuntarily, on entering the room, upon this little couch, with its dark-green coarse curtains, and the ideas connected with it rose so thick upon his soul as almost to incapacitate him from opening his errand to his daughter. Her occupation broke the ice. He found her gazing on a slip of paper, which contained a citation5 to her to appear as a witness upon her sister’s trial in behalf of the accused. For the worthy6 magistrate7, determined to omit no chance of doing Effie justice, and to leave her sister no apology for not giving the evidence which she was supposed to possess, had caused the ordinary citation, or subpoena8, of the Scottish criminal court, to be served upon her by an officer during his conference with David.
This precaution was so far favourable9 to Deans, that it saved him the pain of entering upon a formal explanation with his daughter; he only said, with a hollow and tremulous voice, “I perceive ye are aware of the matter.”
“O father, we are cruelly sted between God’s laws and man’s laws — What shall we do? — What can we do?”
Jeanie, it must be observed, had no hesitation10 whatever about the mere11 act of appearing in a court of justice. She might have heard the point discussed by her father more than once; but we have already noticed that she was accustomed to listen with reverence12 to much which she was incapable13 of understanding, and that subtle arguments of casuistry found her a patient, but unedified hearer. Upon receiving the citation, therefore, her thoughts did not turn upon the chimerical14 scruples15 which alarmed her father’s mind, but to the language which had been held to her by the stranger at Muschat’s Cairn. In a word, she never doubted but she was to be dragged forward into the court of justice, in order to place her in the cruel position of either sacrificing her sister by telling the truth, or committing perjury16 in order to save her life. And so strongly did her thoughts run in this channel, that she applied17 her father’s words, “Ye are aware of the matter,” to his acquaintance with the advice that had been so fearfully enforced upon her. She looked up with anxious surprise, not unmingled with a cast of horror, which his next words, as she interpreted and applied them, were not qualified18 to remove.
“Daughter,” said David, “it has ever been my mind, that in things of ane doubtful and controversial nature, ilk Christian’s conscience suld be his ain guide — Wherefore descend19 into yourself, try your ain mind with sufficiency of soul exercise, and as you sall finally find yourself clear to do in this matter — even so be it.”
“But, father,” said Jeanie, whose mind revolted at the construction which she naturally put upon his language, “can this-this be a doubtful or controversial matter? — Mind, father, the ninth command —‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’”
David Deans paused; for, still applying her speech to his preconceived difficulties, it seemed to him as if she, a woman, and a sister, was scarce entitled to be scrupulous20 upon this occasion, where he, a man, exercised in the testimonies21 of that testifying period, had given indirect countenance22 to her following what must have been the natural dictates23 of her own feelings. But he kept firm his purpose, until his eyes involuntarily rested upon the little settle-bed, and recalled the form of the child of his old age, as she sate24 upon it, pale, emaciated25, and broken-hearted. His mind, as the picture arose before him, involuntarily conceived, and his tongue involuntarily uttered — but in a tone how different from his usual dogmatical precision! — arguments for the course of conduct likely to ensure his child’s safety.
“Daughter,” he said, “I did not say that your path was free from stumbling — and, questionless, this act may be in the opinion of some a transgression26, since he who beareth witness unlawfully, and against his conscience, doth in some sort bear false witness against his neighbour. Yet in matters of compliance28, the guilt29 lieth not in the compliance sae muckle, as in the mind and conscience of him that doth comply; and, therefore, although my testimony30 hath not been spared upon public defections, I haena felt freedom to separate mysell from the communion of many who have been clear to hear those ministers who have taken the fatal indulgence because they might get good of them, though I could not.”
When David had proceeded thus far, his conscience reproved him, that he might be indirectly31 undermining the purity of his daughter’s faith, and smoothing the way for her falling off from strictness of principle. He, therefore, suddenly stopped, and changed his tone:—“Jeanie, I perceive that our vile1 affections — so I call them in respect of doing the will of our Father — cling too heavily to me in this hour of trying sorrow, to permit me to keep sight of my ain duty, or to airt you to yours. I will speak nae mair anent this overtrying matter — Jeanie, if ye can, wi’ God and gude conscience, speak in favour of this puir unhappy”—(here his voice faltered)—“She is your sister in the flesh — worthless and castaway as she is, she is the daughter of a saint in heaven, that was a mother to you, Jeanie, in place of your ain — but if ye arena32 free in conscience to speak for her in the court of judicature, follow your conscience, Jeanie, and let God’s will be done.” After this adjuration33 he left the apartment, and his daughter remained in a state of great distress34 and perplexity.
It would have been no small addition to the sorrows of David Deans, even in this extremity35 of suffering, had he known that his daughter was applying the casuistical arguments which he had been using, not in the sense of a permission to follow her own opinion on a dubious and disputed point of controversy36, but rather as an encouragement to transgress27 one of those divine commandments which Christians37 of all sects38 and denominations39 unite in holding most sacred.
“Can this be?” said Jeanie, as the door closed on her father —“Can these be his words that I have heard, or has the Enemy taken his voice and features to give weight unto the counsel which causeth to perish? — a sister’s life, and a father pointing out how to save it! — O God, deliver me! — this is a fearfu’ temptation.”
Roaming from thought to thought, she at one time imagined her father understood the ninth commandment literally40, as prohibiting false witness against our neighbour, without extending the denunciation against falsehood uttered in favour of the criminal. But her clear and unsophisticated power of discriminating41 between good and evil, instantly rejected an interpretation42 so limited, and so unworthy of the Author of the law. She remained in a state of the most agitating43 terror and uncertainty44 — afraid to communicate her thoughts freely to her father, lest she should draw forth45 an opinion with which she could not comply — wrung46 with distress on her sister’s account, rendered the more acute by reflecting that the means of saving her were in her power, but were such as her conscience prohibited her from using — tossed, in short, like a vessel47 in an open roadstead during a storm, and, like that vessel, resting on one only sure cable and anchor — faith in Providence48, and a resolution to discharge her duty.
Butler’s affection and strong sense of religion would have been her principal support in these distressing49 circumstances, but he was still under restraint, which did not permit him to come to St. Leonard’s Crags; and her distresses50 were of a nature, which, with her indifferent habits of scholarship, she found it impossible to express in writing. She was therefore compelled to trust for guidance to her own unassisted sense of what was right or wrong. It was not the least of Jeanie’s distresses, that, although she hoped and believed her sister to be innocent, she had not the means of receiving that assurance from her own mouth.
The double-dealing of Ratcliffe in the matter of Robertson had not prevented his being rewarded, as double-dealers frequently have been, with favour and preferment. Sharpitlaw, who found in him something of a kindred genius, had been intercessor in his behalf with the magistrates51, and the circumstance of his having voluntarily remained in the prison, when the doors were forced by the mob, would have made it a hard measure to take the life which he had such easy means of saving. He received a full pardon; and soon afterwards, James Ratcliffe, the greatest thief and housebreaker in Scotland, was, upon the faith, perhaps, of an ancient proverb, selected as a person to be entrusted52 with the custody53 of other delinquents54.
When Ratcliffe was thus placed in a confidential55 situation, he was repeatedly applied to by the sapient56 Saddletree and others, who took some interest in the Deans family, to procure57 an interview between the sisters; but the magistrates, who were extremely anxious for the apprehension58 of Robertson, had given strict orders to the contrary, hoping that, by keeping them separate, they might, from the one or the other, extract some information respecting that fugitive59. On this subject Jeanie had nothing to tell them. She informed Mr. Middleburgh, that she knew nothing of Robertson, except having met him that night by appointment to give her some advice respecting her sister’s concern, the purport60 of which, she said, was betwixt God and her conscience. Of his motions, purposes, or plans, past, present, or future, she knew nothing, and so had nothing to communicate.
Effie was equally silent, though from a different cause. It was in vain that they offered a commutation and alleviation61 of her punishment, and even a free pardon, if she would confess what she knew of her lover. She answered only with tears; unless, when at times driven into pettish62 sulkiness by the persecution63 of the interrogators, she made them abrupt64 and disrespectful answers.
At length, after her trial had been delayed for many weeks, in hopes she might be induced to speak out on a subject infinitely65 more interesting to the magistracy than her own guilt or innocence66, their patience was worn out, and even Mr. Middleburgh finding no ear lent to farther intercession in her behalf, the day was fixed67 for the trial to proceed.
It was now, and not sooner, that Sharpitlaw, recollecting68 his promise to Effie Deans, or rather being dinned69 into compliance by the unceasing remonstrances70 of Mrs. Saddletree, who was his next-door neighbour, and who declared it was heathen cruelty to keep the twa brokenhearted creatures separate, issued the important mandate71, permitting them to see each other.
On the evening which preceded the eventful day of trial, Jeanie was permitted to see her sister — an awful interview, and occurring at a most distressing crisis. This, however, formed a part of the bitter cup which she was doomed72 to drink, to atone73 for crimes and follies74 to which she had no accession; and at twelve o’clock noon, being the time appointed for admission to the jail, she went to meet, for the first time for several months, her guilty, erring75, and most miserable76 sister, in that abode77 of guilt, error, and utter misery78.
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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citation
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| n.引用，引证，引用文；传票 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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subpoena
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| n.（法律）传票；v.传讯 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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chimerical
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| adj.荒诞不经的，梦幻的 | |
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15
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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testimonies
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| （法庭上证人的）证词( testimony的名词复数 )； 证明，证据 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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transgression
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| n.违背；犯规；罪过 | |
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transgress
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| vt.违反，逾越 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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adjuration
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| n.祈求，命令 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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denominations
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| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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42
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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distresses
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| n.悲痛( distress的名词复数 )；痛苦；贫困；危险 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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delinquents
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| n.（尤指青少年）有过失的人，违法的人( delinquent的名词复数 ) | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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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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alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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pettish
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| adj.易怒的，使性子的 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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dinned
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| vt.喧闹（din的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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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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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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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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