Not that St. Ogg’s was empty of women with some tenderness of heart and conscience; probably it had as fair a proportion of human goodness in it as any other small trading town of that day. But until every good man is brave, we must expect to find many good women timid — too timid even to believe in the correctness of their own best promptings, when these would place them in a minority. And the men at St. Ogg’s were not all brave, by any means; some of them were even fond of scandal, and to an extent that might have given their conversation an effeminate character, if it had not been distinguished15 by masculine jokes, and by an occasional shrug16 of the shoulders at the mutual17 hatred18 of women. It was the general feeling of the masculine mind at St. Ogg’s that women were not to be interfered19 with in their treatment of each other.
And thus every direction in which Dr. Kenn had turned, in the hope of procuring20 some kind recognition and some employment for Maggie, proved a disappointment to him. Mrs. James Torry could not think of taking Maggie as a nursery governess, even temporarily — a young woman about whom “such things had been said,” and about whom “gentlemen joked”; and Miss Kirke, who had a spinal21 complaint, and wanted a reader and companion, felt quite sure that Maggie’s mind must be of a quality with which she, for her part, could not risk any contact. Why did not Miss Tulliver accept the shelter offered her by her aunt Glegg? It did not become a girl like her to refuse it. Or else, why did she not go out of the neighborhood, and get a situation where she was not known? (It was not, apparently22, of so much importance that she should carry her dangerous tendencies into strange families unknown at St. Ogg’s.) She must be very bold and hardened to wish to stay in a parish where she was so much stared at and whispered about.
Dr. Kenn, having great natural firmness, began, in the presence of this opposition, as every firm man would have done, to contract a certain strength of determination over and above what would have been called forth23 by the end in view. He himself wanted a daily governess for his younger children; and though he had hesitated in the first instance to offer this position to Maggie, the resolution to protest with the utmost force of his personal and priestly character against her being crushed and driven away by slander24, was now decisive. Maggie gratefully accepted an employment that gave her duties as well as a support; her days would be filled now, and solitary25 evenings would be a welcome rest. She no longer needed the sacrifice her mother made in staying with her, and Mrs. Tulliver was persuaded to go back to the Mill.
But now it began to be discovered that Dr. Kenn, exemplary as he had hitherto appeared, had his crotchets, possibly his weaknesses. The masculine mind of St. Ogg’s smiled pleasantly, and did not wonder that Kenn liked to see a fine pair of eyes daily, or that he was inclined to take so lenient26 a view of the past; the feminine mind, regarded at that period as less powerful, took a more melancholy27 view of the case. If Dr. Kenn should be beguiled into marrying that Miss Tulliver! It was not safe to be too confident, even about the best of men; an apostle had fallen, and wept bitterly afterwards; and though Peter’s denial was not a close precedent28, his repentance29 was likely to be.
Maggie had not taken her daily walks to the Rectory for many weeks, before the dreadful possibility of her some time or other becoming the Rector’s wife had been talked of so often in confidence, that ladies were beginning to discuss how they should behave to her in that position. For Dr. Kenn, it had been understood, had sat in the schoolroom half an hour one morning, when Miss Tulliver was giving her lessons — nay31, he had sat there every morning; he had once walked home with her — he almost always walked home with her — and if not, he went to see her in the evening. What an artful creature she was! What a mother for those children! It was enough to make poor Mrs. Kenn turn in her grave, that they should be put under the care of this girl only a few weeks after her death. Would he be so lost to propriety32 as to marry her before the year was out? The masculine mind was sarcastic33, and thought not.
The Miss Guests saw an alleviation34 to the sorrow of witnessing a folly35 in their Rector; at least their brother would be safe; and their knowledge of Stephen’s tenacity36 was a constant ground of alarm to them, lest he should come back and marry Maggie. They were not among those who disbelieved their brother’s letter; but they had no confidence in Maggie’s adherence37 to her renunciation of him; they suspected that she had shrunk rather from the elopement than from the marriage, and that she lingered in St. Ogg’s, relying on his return to her. They had always thought her disagreeable; they now thought her artful and proud; having quite as good grounds for that judgment38 as you and I probably have for many strong opinions of the same kind. Formerly39 they had not altogether delighted in the contemplated40 match with Lucy, but now their dread30 of a marriage between Stephen and Maggie added its momentum41 to their genuine pity and indignation on behalf of the gentle forsaken42 girl, in making them desire that he should return to her. As soon as Lucy was able to leave home, she was to seek relief from the oppressive heat of this August by going to the coast with the Miss Guests; and it was in their plans that Stephen should be induced to join them. On the very first hint of gossip concerning Maggie and Dr. Kenn, the report was conveyed in Miss Guest’s letter to her brother.
Maggie had frequent tidings through her mother, or aunt Glegg, or Dr. Kenn, of Lucy’s gradual progress toward recovery, and her thoughts tended continually toward her uncle Deane’s house; she hungered for an interview with Lucy, if it were only for five minutes, to utter a word of penitence43, to be assured by Lucy’s own eyes and lips that she did not believe in the willing treachery of those whom she had loved and trusted. But she knew that even if her uncle’s indignation had not closed his house against her, the agitation44 of such an interview would have been forbidden to Lucy. Only to have seen her without speaking would have been some relief; for Maggie was haunted by a face cruel in its very gentleness; a face that had been turned on hers with glad, sweet looks of trust and love from the twilight45 time of memory; changed now to a sad and weary face by a first heart-stroke. And as the days passed on, that pale image became more and more distinct; the picture grew and grew into more speaking definiteness under the avenging46 hand of remorse47; the soft hazel eyes, in their look of pain, were bent48 forever on Maggie, and pierced her the more because she could see no anger in them. But Lucy was not yet able to go to church, or any place where Maggie could see her; and even the hope of that departed, when the news was told her by aunt Glegg, that Lucy was really going away in a few days to Scarborough with the Miss Guests, who had been heard to say that they expected their brother to meet them there.
Only those who have known what hardest inward conflict is, can know what Maggie felt as she sat in her loneliness the evening after hearing that news from Mrs. Glegg — only those who have known what it is to dread their own selfish desires as the watching mother would dread the sleeping-potion that was to still her own pain.
She sat without candle in the twilight, with the window wide open toward the river; the sense of oppressive heat adding itself undistinguishably to the burthen of her lot. Seated on a chair against the window, with her arm on the windowsill she was looking blankly at the flowing river, swift with the backward-rushing tide, struggling to see still the sweet face in its unreproaching sadness, that seemed now from moment to moment to sink away and be hidden behind a form that thrust itself between, and made darkness. Hearing the door open, she thought Mrs. Jakin was coming in with her supper, as usual; and with that repugnance49 to trivial speech which comes with languor50 and wretchedness, she shrank from turning round and saying she wanted nothing; good little Mrs. Jakin would be sure to make some well-meant remarks. But the next moment, without her having discerned the sound of a footstep, she felt a light hand on her shoulder, and heard a voice close to her saying, “Maggie!”
The face was there — changed, but all the sweeter; the hazel eyes were there, with their heart-piercing tenderness.
“Maggie!” the soft voice said. “Lucy!” answered a voice with a sharp ring of anguish51 in it; and Lucy threw her arms round Maggie’s neck, and leaned her pale cheek against the burning brow.
“I stole out,” said Lucy, almost in a whisper, while she sat down close to Maggie and held her hand, “when papa and the rest were away. Alice is come with me. I asked her to help me. But I must only stay a little while, because it is so late.”
It was easier to say that at first than to say anything else. They sat looking at each other. It seemed as if the interview must end without more speech, for speech was very difficult. Each felt that there would be something scorching52 in the words that would recall the irretrievable wrong. But soon, as Maggie looked, every distinct thought began to be overflowed53 by a wave of loving penitence, and words burst forth with a sob54.
“God bless you for coming, Lucy.”
The sobs55 came thick on each other after that.
“Maggie, dear, be comforted,” said Lucy now, putting her cheek against Maggie’s again. “Don’t grieve.” And she sat still, hoping to soothe56 Maggie with that gentle caress57.
“I didn’t mean to deceive you, Lucy,” said Maggie, as soon as she could speak. “It always made me wretched that I felt what I didn’t like you to know. It was because I thought it would all be conquered, and you might never see anything to wound you.”
“I know, dear,” said Lucy. “I know you never meant to make me unhappy. It is a trouble that has come on us all; you have more to bear than I have — and you gave him up, when — you did what it must have been very hard to do.”
They were silent again a little while, sitting with clasped hands, and cheeks leaned together.
“Lucy,” Maggie began again, “he struggled too. He wanted to be true to you. He will come back to you. Forgive him — he will be happy then ——”
These words were wrung58 forth from Maggie’s deepest soul, with an effort like the convulsed clutch of a drowning man. Lucy trembled and was silent.
A gentle knock came at the door. It was Alice, the maid, who entered and said —
“I daren’t stay any longer, Miss Deane. They’ll find it out, and there’ll be such anger at your coming out so late.”
Lucy rose and said, “Very well, Alice — in a minute.”
“I’m to go away on Friday, Maggie,” she added, when Alice had closed the door again. “When I come back, and am strong, they will let me do as I like. I shall come to you when I please then.”
“Lucy,” said Maggie, with another great effort, “I pray to God continually that I may never be the cause of sorrow to you any more.”
She pressed the little hand that she held between hers, and looked up into the face that was bent over hers. Lucy never forgot that look.
“Maggie,” she said, in a low voice, that had the solemnity of confession59 in it, “you are better than I am. I can’t ——”
She broke off there, and said no more. But they clasped each other again in a last embrace.
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1
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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2
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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piquancy
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| n.辛辣，辣味，痛快 | |
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6
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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7
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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11
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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12
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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venerated
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| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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15
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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16
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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20
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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21
spinal
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| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
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22
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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23
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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25
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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26
lenient
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| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
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27
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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28
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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29
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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30
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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31
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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32
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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33
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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34
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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35
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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36
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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37
adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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38
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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39
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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40
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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41
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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42
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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43
penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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44
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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45
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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46
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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47
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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48
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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49
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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50
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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51
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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52
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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53
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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54
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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55
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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56
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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57
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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58
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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59
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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