Containing the Intimation of a Somewhat Mysterious Adventure.
IT WAS absolutely necessary that Lady Armine’s interview with her son be confined merely to observations about his health. Any allusion1 to the past might not only produce a relapse of his fever, but occasion explanations, at all times most painful, but at the present full of difficulty and danger. It was therefore with feelings of no common anxiety that Glastonbury prepared the mother for this first visit to her son, and impressed upon her the absolute necessity of not making any allusion at present to Miss Grandison, and especially to her presence in the house. He even made for this purpose a sort of half-confidant of the physician, who, in truth, had heard enough during the fever to excite his suspicions; but this is a class of men essentially2 discreet3, and it is well, for few are the family secrets ultimately concealed4 from them.
The interview occurred without any disagreeable results. The next day, Ferdinand saw his father for a few minutes. In a short time, Lady Armine was established as nurse to her son; Sir Ratcliffe, easy in mind, amused himself with his sports; and Glastonbury devoted5 himself to Miss Grandison. The intimacy6, indeed, between the tutor of Ferdinand and his intended bride became daily more complete, and Glastonbury was almost her inseparable companion. She found him a very interesting one. He was the most agreeable guide amid all the haunts of Armine and its neighbourhood, and drove her delightfully7 in Lady Armine’s pony8 phaeton. He could share, too, all her pursuits, and open to her many new ones. Though time had stolen something of its force from the voice of Adrian Glastonbury, it still was wondrous9 sweet; his musical accomplishments10 were complete; and he could guide the pencil or prepare the herbal, and indite11 fair stanzas12 in his fine Italian handwriting in a lady’s album. All his collections, too, were at Miss Grandison’s service. She handled with rising curiosity his medals, copied his choice drawings, and even began to study heraldry. His interesting conversation, his mild and benignant manners, his captivating simplicity13, and the elegant purity of his mind, secured her confidence and won her heart. She loved him as a father, and he soon exercised over her an influence almost irresistible14.
Every morning as soon as he awoke, every evening before he composed himself again for the night’s repose15, Ferdinand sent for Glastonbury, and always saw him alone. At first he requested his mother to leave the room, but Lady Armine, who attributed these regular visits to a spiritual cause, scarcely needed the expression of this desire. His first questions to Glastonbury were ever the same. ‘Had he heard anything? Were there any letters? He thought there might be a letter, was he sure? Had he sent to Bath; to London, for his letters?’ When he was answered in the negative, he usually dwelt no more upon the subject. One morning he said to Glastonbury, ‘I know Katherine is in the house.’
‘Miss Grandison is here,’ replied Glastonbury.
‘Why don’t they mention her? Is all known?’
‘Nothing is known,’ said Glastonbury.
‘Why don’t they mention her, then? Are you sure all is not known?’
‘At my suggestion, her name has not been mentioned. I was unaware16 how you might receive the intelligence; but the true cause of my suggestion is still a secret.’
‘I must see her,’ said Ferdinand, ‘I must speak to her.’
‘You can see her when you please,’ replied Glastonbury; ‘but I would not speak upon the great subject at present.’
‘But she is existing all this time under a delusion17. Every day makes my conduct to her more infamous18.’
‘Miss Grandison is a wise and most admirable young lady,’ said Glastonbury. ‘I love her from the bottom of my heart; I would recommend no conduct that could injure her, assuredly none that can disgrace you.’
‘Dear Glastonbury, what shall I do?’
‘Be silent; the time will come when you may speak. At present, however anxious she may be to see you, there are plausible19 reasons for your not meeting. Be patient, my Ferdinand.’
‘Good Glastonbury, good, dear Glastonbury, I am too quick and fretful. Pardon me, dear friend. You know not what I feel. Thank God, you do not; but my heart is broken.’
When Glastonbury returned to the library, he found Sir Ratcliffe playing with his dogs, and Miss Grandison copying a drawing.
‘How is Ferdinand?’ enquired20 the father.
‘He mends daily,’ replied Glastonbury. ‘If only May-day were at hand instead of Christmas, he would soon be himself again; but I dread21 the winter.’
‘And yet the sun shines.’ said Miss Grandison.
Glastonbury went to the window and looked at the sky. ‘I think, my dear lady, we might almost venture upon our promised excursion to the Abbey today. Such a day as this may not quickly be repeated. We might take our sketch22-book.’
‘It would be delightful,’ said Miss Grandison; ‘but before I go, I must pick some flowers for Ferdinand.’ So saying, she sprang from her seat, and ran out into the garden.
‘Kate is a sweet creature,’ said Sir Ratcliffe to Glastonbury. ‘Ah! my dear Glastonbury, you know not what happiness I experience in the thought that she will soon be my daughter.’
Glastonbury could not refrain from sighing. He took up the pencil and touched her drawing.
‘Do you know, dear Glastonbury,’ resumed Sir Ratcliffe, ‘I had little hope in our late visitation. I cannot say I had prepared myself for the worst, but I anticipated it. We have had so much unhappiness in our family, that I could not persuade myself that the cup was not going to be dashed from our lips.’
‘God is merciful,’ said Glastonbury.
‘You are his minister, dear Glastonbury, and a worthy23 one. I know not what we should have done without you in this awful trial; but, indeed, what could I have done throughout life without you?’
‘Let us hope that everything is for the best,’ said Glastonbury.
‘And his mother, his poor mother, what would have become of her? She never could have survived his loss. As for myself, I would have quitted England for ever, and gone into a monastery24.’
‘Let us only remember that he lives,’ said Glastonbury.
‘And that we shall soon all be happy,’ said Sir Ratcliffe, in a more animated25 tone. ‘The future is, indeed, full of solace26. But we must take care of him; he is too rapid in his movements. He has my father’s blood in him, that is clear. I never could well make out why he left Bath so suddenly, and rushed down in so strange a manner to this place.’
‘Youth is impetuous,’ said Glastonbury.
‘It was lucky you were here, Glastonbury.’
‘I thank God that I was,’ said Glastonbury, earnestly; then checking himself, he added, ‘that I have been of any use.’
‘You are always of use. What should we do without you? I should long ago have sunk. Ah! Glastonbury, God in his mercy sent you to us.’
‘See here,’ said Katherine, entering, her fair cheek glowing with animation27, ‘only dahlias, but they will look pretty, and enliven his room. Oh! that I might write him a little word, and tell him I am here! Do not you think I might, Mr. Glastonbury?’
‘He will know that you are here today,’ said Glastonbury. ‘To-morrow———’
‘Ah! you always postpone28 it,’ said Miss Grandison, in a tone half playful, half reproachful; ‘and yet it is selfish to murmur29. It is for his good that I bear this bereavement30, and that thought should console me. Heigho!’
Sir Ratcliffe stepped forward and kissed his niece. Glastonbury was busied on the drawing: he turned away his face.
Sir Ratcliffe took up his gun. ‘God bless you, dear Kate,’ he said; ‘a pleasant drive and a choice sketch. We shall meet at dinner.’
‘At dinner, dear uncle; and better sport than yesterday.’
‘Ha! ha!’ said Sir Ratcliffe. ‘But Armine is not like Grandison. If I were in the old preserves, you should have no cause to jeer31 at my sportsmanship.’
Miss Grandison’s good wishes were prophetic: Sir Ratcliffe found excellent sport, and returned home very late, and in capital spirits. It was the dinner-hour, and yet Katherine and Glastonbury had not returned. He was rather surprised. The shades of evening were fast descending32, and the distant lawns of Armine were already invisible; the low moan of the rising wind might be just distinguished33; and the coming night promised to be raw and cloudy, perhaps tempestuous34. Sir Ratcliffe stood before the crackling fire in the dining-room, otherwise in darkness, but the flame threw a bright yet glancing light upon the Snyders, so that the figures seemed really to move in the shifting shades, the eye of the infuriate boar almost to emit sparks of rage, and there wanted but the shouts of the huntsmen and the panting of the dogs to complete the tumult35 of the chase.
Just as Sir Ratcliffe was anticipating some mischance to his absent friends, and was about to steal upon tip-toe to Lady Armine, who was with Ferdinand, to consult her, the practised ear of a man who lived much in the air caught the distant sound of wheels, and he went out to welcome them.
‘Why, you are late,’ said Sir Ratcliffe, as the phaeton approached the house. ‘All right, I hope?’
He stepped forward to assist Miss Grandison. The darkness of the evening prevented him from observing her swollen36 eyes and agitated37 countenance38. She sprang out of the carriage in silence, and immediately ran up into her room. As for Glastonbury, he only observed it was very cold, and entered the house with Sir Ratcliffe.
‘This fire is hearty,’ said Glastonbury, warming himself before it: ‘you have had good sport, I hope? We are not to wait dinner for Miss Grandison, Sir Ratcliffe. She will not come down this evening; she is not very well.’
‘Not very well: ah! the cold, I fear. You have been imprudent in staying so late. I must run and tell Lady Armine.’
‘Oblige me, I pray, by not doing so,’ said Glastonbury; ‘Miss Grandison most particularly requested that she should not be disturbed.’
It was with some difficulty that Glastonbury could contrive39 that Miss Grandison’s wishes should be complied with; but at length he succeeded in getting Sir Ratcliffe to sit down to dinner, and affecting a cheerfulness which was far from his spirit, the hour of ten at length arrived, and Glastonbury, before retiring to his tower, paid his evening visit to Ferdinand.
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1
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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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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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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7
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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indite
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作 | |
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12
stanzas
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| 节，段( stanza的名词复数 ) | |
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13
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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20
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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23
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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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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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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32
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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33
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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34
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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38
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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