In cloisters1 dim, far from the haunts of folly2,
With freedom by my side, and soft-ey’d melancholy3.
GRAY
The Lady Blanche was so much interested for Emily, that, upon hearing she was going to reside in the neighbouring convent, she requested the Count would invite her to lengthen4 her stay at the chateau5. ‘And you know, my dear sir,’ added Blanche, ‘how delighted I shall be with such a companion; for, at present, I have no friend to walk, or to read with, since Mademoiselle Bearn is my mamma’s friend only.’
The Count smiled at the youthful simplicity6, with which his daughter yielded to first impressions; and, though he chose to warn her of their danger, he silently applauded the benevolence7, that could thus readily expand in confidence to a stranger. He had observed Emily, with attention, on the preceding evening, and was as much pleased with her, as it was possible he could be with any person, on so short an acquaintance. The mention, made of her by Mons. Du Pont, had also given him a favourable8 impression of Emily; but, extremely cautious as to those, whom he introduced to the intimacy9 of his daughter, he determined10, on hearing that the former was no stranger at the convent of St. Claire, to visit the abbess, and, if her account corresponded with his wish, to invite Emily to pass some time at the chateau. On this subject, he was influenced by a consideration of the Lady Blanche’s welfare, still more than by either a wish to oblige her, or to befriend the orphan11 Emily, for whom, however, he felt considerably12 interested.
On the following morning, Emily was too much fatigued13 to appear; but Mons. Du Pont was at the breakfast-table, when the Count entered the room, who pressed him, as his former acquaintance, and the son of a very old friend, to prolong his stay at the chateau; an invitation, which Du Pont willingly accepted, since it would allow him to be near Emily; and, though he was not conscious of encouraging a hope, that she would ever return his affection, he had not fortitude14 enough to attempt, at present, to overcome it.
Emily, when she was somewhat recovered, wandered with her new friend over the grounds belonging to the chateau, as much delighted with the surrounding views, as Blanche, in the benevolence of her heart, had wished; from thence she perceived, beyond the woods, the towers of the monastery15, and remarked, that it was to this convent she designed to go.
‘Ah!’ said Blanche with surprise, ‘I am but just released from a convent, and would you go into one? If you could know what pleasure I feel in wandering here, at liberty,— and in seeing the sky and the fields, and the woods all round me, I think you would not.’ Emily, smiling at the warmth, with which the Lady Blanche spoke16, observed, that she did not mean to confine herself to a convent for life.
‘No, you may not intend it now,’ said Blanche; ‘but you do not know to what the nuns17 may persuade you to consent: I know how kind they will appear, and how happy, for I have seen too much of their art.’
When they returned to the chateau, Lady Blanche conducted Emily to her favourite turret18, and from thence they rambled19 through the ancient chambers20, which Blanche had visited before. Emily was amused by observing the structure of these apartments, and the fashion of their old but still magnificent furniture, and by comparing them with those of the castle of Udolpho, which were yet more antique and grotesque23. She was also interested by Dorothee the house-keeper, who attended them, whose appearance was almost as antique as the objects around her, and who seemed no less interested by Emily, on whom she frequently gazed with so much deep attention, as scarcely to hear what was said to her.
While Emily looked from one of the casements24, she perceived, with surprise, some objects, that were familiar to her memory;— the fields and woods, with the gleaming brook25, which she had passed with La Voisin, one evening, soon after the death of Monsieur St. Aubert, in her way from the monastery to her cottage; and she now knew this to be the chateau, which he had then avoided, and concerning which he had dropped some remarkable26 hints.
Shocked by this discovery, yet scarcely knowing why, she mused22 for some time in silence, and remembered the emotion, which her father had betrayed on finding himself so near this mansion27, and some other circumstances of his conduct, that now greatly interested her. The music, too, which she had formerly28 heard, and, respecting which La Voisin had given such an odd account, occurred to her, and, desirous of knowing more concerning it, she asked Dorothee whether it returned at midnight, as usual, and whether the musician had yet been discovered.
‘Yes, ma’amselle,’ replied Dorothee, ‘that music is still heard, but the musician has never been found out, nor ever will, I believe; though there are some people, who can guess.’
‘Indeed!’ said Emily, ‘then why do they not pursue the enquiry?’
‘Ah, young lady! enquiry enough has been made — but who can pursue a spirit?’
Emily smiled, and, remembering how lately she had suffered herself to be led away by superstition29, determined now to resist its contagion30; yet, in spight of her efforts, she felt awe31 mingle32 with her curiosity, on this subject; and Blanche, who had hitherto listened in silence, now enquired33 what this music was, and how long it had been heard.
‘Ever since the death of my lady, madam,’ replied Dorothee.
‘Why, the place is not haunted, surely?’ said Blanche, between jesting and seriousness.
‘I have heard that music almost ever since my dear lady died,’ continued Dorothee, ‘and never before then. But that is nothing to some things I could tell of.’
‘Do, pray, tell them, then,’ said Lady Blanche, now more in earnest than in jest. ‘I am much interested, for I have heard sister Henriette, and sister Sophie, in the convent, tell of such strange appearances, which they themselves had witnessed!’
‘You never heard, my lady, I suppose, what made us leave the chateau, and go and live in a cottage,’ said Dorothee. ‘Never!’ replied Blanche with impatience34.
‘Nor the reason, that my lord, the Marquis’— Dorothee checked herself, hesitated, and then endeavoured to change the topic; but the curiosity of Blanche was too much awakened35 to suffer the subject thus easily to escape her, and she pressed the old house-keeper to proceed with her account, upon whom, however, no entreaties36 could prevail; and it was evident, that she was alarmed for the imprudence, into which she had already betrayed herself.
‘I perceive,’ said Emily, smiling, ‘that all old mansions37 are haunted; I am lately come from a place of wonders; but unluckily, since I left it, I have heard almost all of them explained.’
Blanche was silent; Dorothee looked grave, and sighed; and Emily felt herself still inclined to believe more of the wonderful, than she chose to acknowledge. Just then, she remembered the spectacle she had witnessed in a chamber21 of Udolpho, and, by an odd kind of coincidence, the alarming words, that had accidentally met her eye in the MS. papers, which she had destroyed, in obedience38 to the command of her father; and she shuddered39 at the meaning they seemed to impart, almost as much as at the horrible appearance, disclosed by the black veil.
The Lady Blanche, meanwhile, unable to prevail with Dorothee to explain the subject of her late hints, had desired, on reaching the door, that terminated the gallery, and which she found fastened on the preceding day, to see the suite40 of rooms beyond. ‘Dear young lady,’ said the housekeeper41, ‘I have told you my reason for not opening them; I have never seen them, since my dear lady died; and it would go hard with me to see them now. Pray, madam, do not ask me again.’
‘Certainly I will not,’ replied Blanche, ‘if that is really your objection.’
‘Alas! it is,’ said the old woman: ‘we all loved her well, and I shall always grieve for her. Time runs round! it is now many years, since she died; but I remember every thing, that happened then, as if it was but yesterday. Many things, that have passed of late years, are gone quite from my memory, while those so long ago, I can see as if in a glass.’ She paused, but afterwards, as they walked up the gallery, added to Emily, ‘this young lady sometimes brings the late Marchioness to my mind; I can remember, when she looked just as blooming, and very like her, when she smiles. Poor lady! how gay she was, when she first came to the chateau!’
‘And was she not gay, afterwards?’ said Blanche.
Dorothee shook her head; and Emily observed her, with eyes strongly expressive42 of the interest she now felt. ‘Let us sit down in this window,’ said the Lady Blanche, on reaching the opposite end of the gallery: ‘and pray, Dorothee, if it is not painful to you, tell us something more about the Marchioness. I should like to look into the glass you spoke of just now, and see a few of the circumstances, which you say often pass over it.’
‘No, my lady,’ replied Dorothee; ‘if you knew as much as I do, you would not, for you would find there a dismal43 train of them; I often wish I could shut them out, but they will rise to my mind. I see my dear lady on her death-bed,— her very look,— and remember all she said — it was a terrible scene!’
‘Why was it so terrible?’ said Emily with emotion.
‘Ah, dear young lady! is not death always terrible?’ replied Dorothee.
To some further enquiries of Blanche Dorothee was silent; and Emily, observing the tears in her eyes, forbore to urge the subject, and endeavoured to withdraw the attention of her young friend to some object in the gardens, where the Count, with the Countess and Monsieur Du Pont, appearing, they went down to join them.
When he perceived Emily, he advanced to meet her, and presented her to the Countess, in a manner so benign44, that it recalled most powerfully to her mind the idea of her late father, and she felt more gratitude45 to him, than embarrassment46 towards the Countess, who, however, received her with one of those fascinating smiles, which her caprice sometimes allowed her to assume, and which was now the result of a conversation the Count had held with her, concerning Emily. Whatever this might be, or whatever had passed in his conversation with the lady abbess, whom he had just visited, esteem47 and kindness were strongly apparent in his manner, when he addressed Emily, who experienced that sweet emotion, which arises from the consciousness of possessing the approbation48 of the good; for to the Count’s worth she had been inclined to yield her confidence almost from the first moment, in which she had seen him.
Before she could finish her acknowledgments for the hospitality she had received, and mention of her design of going immediately to the convent, she was interrupted by an invitation to lengthen her stay at the chateau, which was pressed by the Count and the Countess, with an appearance of such friendly sincerity49, that, though she much wished to see her old friends at the monastery, and to sigh, once more, over her father’s grave, she consented to remain a few days at the chateau.
To the abbess, however, she immediately wrote, mentioning her arrival in Languedoc and her wish to be received into the convent, as a boarder; she also sent letters to Monsieur Quesnel and to Valancourt, whom she merely informed of her arrival in France; and, as she knew not where the latter might be stationed, she directed her letter to his brother’s seat in Gascony.
In the evening, Lady Blanche and Mons. Du Pont walked with Emily to the cottage of La Voisin, which she had now a melancholy pleasure in approaching, for time had softened50 her grief for the loss of St. Aubert, though it could not annihilate51 it, and she felt a soothing52 sadness in indulging the recollections, which this scene recalled. La Voisin was still living, and seemed to enjoy, as much as formerly, the tranquil53 evening of a blameless life. He was sitting at the door of his cottage, watching some of his grandchildren, playing on the grass before him, and, now and then, with a laugh, or a commendation, encouraging their sports. He immediately recollected54 Emily, whom he was much pleased to see, and she was as rejoiced to hear, that he had not lost one of his family, since her departure.
‘Yes, ma’amselle,’ said the old man, ‘we all live merrily together still, thank God! and I believe there is not a happier family to be found in Languedoc, than ours.’
Emily did not trust herself in the chamber, where St. Aubert died; and, after half an hour’s conversation with La Voisin and his family, she left the cottage.
During these the first days of her stay at Chateau-le-Blanc, she was often affected55, by observing the deep, but silent melancholy, which, at times, stole over Du Pont; and Emily, pitying the self-delusion, which disarmed56 him of the will to depart, determined to withdraw herself as soon as the respect she owed the Count and Countess De Villefort would permit. The dejection of his friend soon alarmed the anxiety of the Count, to whom Du Pont, at length, confided57 the secret of his hopeless affection, which, however, the former could only commiserate58, though he secretly determined to befriend his suit, if an opportunity of doing so should ever occur. Considering the dangerous situation of Du Pont, he but feebly opposed his intention of leaving Chateau-le-Blanc, on the following day, but drew from him a promise of a longer visit, when he could return with safety to his peace. Emily herself, though she could not encourage his affection, esteemed59 him both for the many virtues60 he possessed61, and for the services she had received from him; and it was not without tender emotions of gratitude and pity, that she now saw him depart for his family seat in Gascony; while he took leave of her with a countenance62 so expressive of love and grief, as to interest the Count more warmly in his cause than before.
In a few days, Emily also left the chateau, but not before the Count and Countess had received her promise to repeat her visit very soon; and she was welcomed by the abbess, with the same maternal63 kindness she had formerly experienced, and by the nuns, with much expression of regard. The well-known scenes of the convent occasioned her many melancholy recollections, but with these were mingled64 others, that inspired gratitude for having escaped the various dangers, that had pursued her, since she quitted it, and for the good, which she yet possessed; and, though she once more wept over her father’s grave, with tears of tender affection, her grief was softened from its former acuteness.
Some time after her return to the monastery, she received a letter from her uncle, Mons. Quesnel, in answer to information that she had arrived in France, and to her enquiries, concerning such of her affairs as he had undertaken to conduct during her absence, especially as to the period for which La Vallee had been let, whither it was her wish to return, if it should appear, that her income would permit her to do so. The reply of Mons. Quesnel was cold and formal, as she expected, expressing neither concern for the evils she suffered, nor pleasure, that she was now removed from them; nor did he allow the opportunity to pass, of reproving her for her rejection65 of Count Morano, whom he affected still to believe a man of honour and fortune; nor of vehemently66 declaiming against Montoni, to whom he had always, till now, felt himself to be inferior. On Emily’s pecuniary67 concerns, he was not very explicit68; he informed her, however, that the term, for which La Vallee had been engaged, was nearly expired; but, without inviting69 her to his own house, added, that her circumstances would by no means allow her to reside there, and earnestly advised her to remain, for the present, in the convent of St. Claire.
To her enquiries respecting poor old Theresa, her late father’s servant, he gave no answer. In the postscript70 to his letter, Monsieur Quesnel mentioned M. Motteville, in whose hands the late St. Aubert had placed the chief of his personal property, as being likely to arrange his affairs nearly to the satisfaction of his creditors71, and that Emily would recover much more of her fortune, than she had formerly reason to expect. The letter also inclosed to Emily an order upon a merchant at Narbonne, for a small sum of money.
The tranquillity72 of the monastery, and the liberty she was suffered to enjoy, in wandering among the woods and shores of this delightful73 province, gradually restored her spirits to their natural tone, except that anxiety would sometimes intrude74, concerning Valancourt, as the time approached, when it was possible that she might receive an answer to her letter.
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1
cloisters
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| n.（学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的）走廊( cloister的名词复数 )；回廊；修道院的生活；隐居v.隐退，使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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lengthen
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| vt.使伸长，延长 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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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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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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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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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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40
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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43
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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44
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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45
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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47
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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48
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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49
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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50
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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51
annihilate
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| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
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52
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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53
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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54
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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56
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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57
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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58
commiserate
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| v.怜悯，同情 | |
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59
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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60
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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61
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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62
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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63
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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64
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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65
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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66
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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67
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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68
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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70
postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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71
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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72
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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73
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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74
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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