The dreary1 aftermath of a great contest and a great failure, with the general public from coast to coast--in view ofthis stern local interpretation3 of the tragedy--firmly convinced that Clyde was guilty and, as heralded4 by thenewspapers everywhere, that he had been properly convicted. The pathos5 of that poor little murdered countrygirl! Her sad letters! How she must have suffered! That weak defense6! Even the Griffiths of Denver were soshaken by the evidence as the trial had progressed that they scarcely dared read the papers openly--one to theother--but, for the most part, read of it separately and alone, whispering together afterwards of the damning,awful deluge7 of circumstantial evidence. Yet, after reading Belknap's speech and Clyde's own testimony8, thislittle family group that had struggled along together for so long coming to believe in their own son and brother inspite of all they had previously9 read against him. And because of this--during the trial as well as afterwards-writinghim cheerful and hopeful letters, based frequently on letters from him in which he insisted over and overagain that he was not guilty. Yet once convicted, and out of the depths of his despair wiring his mother as hedid--and the papers confirming it--absolute consternation10 in the Griffiths family. For was not this proof? Or, wasit? All the papers seemed to think so. And they rushed reporters to Mrs. Griffiths, who, together with her littlebrood, had sought refuge from the unbearable11 publicity12 in a remote part of Denver entirely13 removed from themission world. A venal14 moving-van company had revealed her address.
And now this American witness to the rule of God upon earth, sitting in a chair in her shabby, nondescriptapartment, hard-pressed for the very means to sustain herself--degraded by the milling forces of life and the felland brutal15 blows of chance--yet serene16 in her trust--and declaring: "I cannot think this morning. I seem numb17 andthings look strange to me. My boy found guilty of murder! But I am his mother and I am not convinced of hisguilt by any means! He has written me that he is not guilty and I believe him. And to whom should he turn withthe truth and for trust if not to me? But there is He who sees all things and who knows."At the same time there was so much in the long stream of evidence, as well as Clyde's first folly18 in Kansas City,that had caused her to wonder--and fear. Why was he unable to explain that folder19? Why couldn't he have goneto the girl's aid when he could swim so well? And why did he proceed so swiftly to the mysterious Miss X-whoevershe was? Oh, surely, surely, surely, she was not going to be compelled, in spite of all her faith, tobelieve that her eldest--the most ambitious and hopeful, if restless, of all of her children, was guilty of such acrime! No! She could not doubt him--even now. Under the merciful direction of a living God, was it not evil in amother to believe evil of a child, however dread20 his erring21 ways might seem? In the silence of the differentrooms of the mission, before she had been compelled to remove from there because of curious and troublesomevisitors, had she not stood many times in the center of one of those miserable22 rooms while sweeping23 and dusting,free from the eye of any observer--her head thrown back, her eyes closed, her strong, brown face molded inhomely and yet convinced and earnest lines--a figure out of the early Biblical days of her six-thousand-year-oldworld--and earnestly directing her thoughts to that imaginary throne which she saw as occupied by the living,giant mind and body of the living God--her Creator. And praying by the quarter and the half hour that she begiven strength and understanding and guidance to know of her son's innocence24 or guilt--and if innocent that thissearing burden of suffering be lifted from him and her and all those dear to him and her--or if guilty, she beshown how to do--how to endure the while he be shown how to wash from his immortal25 soul forever the horrorof the thing he had done--make himself once more, if possible, white before the Lord.
"Thou art mighty26, O God, and there is none beside Thee. Behold27, to Thee all things are possible. In Thy favor isLife. Have mercy, O God. Though his sins be as scarlet28, make him white as snow. Though they be red likecrimson, make them as wool."Yet in her then--and as she prayed--was the wisdom of Eve in regard to the daughters of Eve. That girl whomClyde was alleged29 to have slain--what about her? Had she not sinned too? And was she not older than Clyde?
The papers said so. Examining the letters, line by line, she was moved by their pathos and was intensely andpathetically grieved for the misery30 that had befallen the Aldens. Nevertheless, as a mother and woman full of thewisdom of ancient Eve, she saw how Roberta herself must have consented--how the lure2 of her must have aidedin the weakening and the betrayal of her son. A strong, good girl would not have consented--could not have.
How many confessions31 about this same thing had she not heard in the mission and at street meetings? And mightit not be said in Clyde's favor--as in the very beginning of life in the Garden of Eden--"the woman tempted32 me"?
Truly--and because of that-"His mercy endureth forever," she quoted. And if His mercy endureth--must that of Clyde's mother be less?
"If ye have faith, so much as the grain of a mustard seed," she quoted to herself--and now, in the face of theseimportuning reporters added: "Did my son kill her? That is the question. Nothing else matters in the eyes of ourMaker," and she looked at the sophisticated, callous33 youths with the look of one who was sure that her Godwould make them understand. And even so they were impressed by her profound sincerity34 and faith. "Whether ornot the jury has found him guilty or innocent is neither here nor there in the eyes of Him who holds the stars inthe hollow of His hand. The jury's finding is of men. It is of the earth's earthy. I have read his lawyer's plea. Myson himself has told me in his letters that he is not guilty. I believe my son. I am convinced that he is innocent."And Asa in another corner of the room, saying little. Because of his lack of comprehension of the actualities aswell as his lack of experience of the stern and motivating forces of passion, he was unable to grasp even a tithe35 ofthe meaning of this. He had never understood Clyde or his lacks or his feverish36 imaginings, so he said, andpreferred not to discuss him.
"But," continued Mrs. Griffiths, "at no time have I shielded Clyde in his sin against Roberta Alden. He didwrong, but she did wrong too in not resisting him. There can be no compromising with sin in any one. Andthough my heart goes out in sympathy and love to the bleeding heart of her dear mother and father who havesuffered so, still we must not fail to see that this sin was mutual37 and that the world should know and judgeaccordingly. Not that I want to shield him," she repeated. "He should have remembered the teachings of hisyouth." And here her lips compressed in a sad and somewhat critical misery. "But I have read her letters too. AndI feel that but for them, the prosecuting38 attorney would have no real case against my son. He used them to workon the emotions of the jury." She got up, tried as by fire, and exclaimed, tensely and beautifully: "But he is myson! He has just been convicted. I must think as a mother how to help him, however I feel as to his sin." Shegripped her hands together, and even the reporters were touched by her misery. "I must go to him! I should havegone before. I see it now." She paused, discovering herself to be addressing her inmost agony, need, fear, to thesepublic ears and voices, which might in no wise understand or care.
"Some people wonder," now interrupted one of these same--a most practical and emotionally calloused39 youth ofClyde's own age--"why you weren't there during the trial. Didn't you have the money to go?""I had no money," she replied simply. "Not enough, anyhow. And besides, they advised me not to come--that they did not need me. But now--now I must go--in some way--I must find out how." She went to a small shabbydesk, which was a part of the sparse40 and colorless equipment of the room. "You boys are going downtown," shesaid. "Would one of you send a telegram for me if I give you the money?""Sure!" exclaimed the one who had asked her the rudest question. "Give it to me. You don't need any money. I'llhave the paper send it." Also, as he thought, he would write it up, or in, as part of his story.
She seated herself at the yellow and scratched desk and after finding a small pad and pen, she wrote: "Clyde-Trustin God. All things are possible to Him. Appeal at once. Read Psalm41 51. Another trial will prove yourinnocence. We will come to you soon. Father and Mother.""Perhaps I had just better give you the money," she added, nervously42, wondering whether it would be well topermit a newspaper to pay for this and wondering at the same time if Clyde's uncle would be willing to pay foran appeal. It might cost a great deal. Then she added: "It's rather long.""Oh, don't bother about that!" exclaimed another of the trio, who was anxious to read the telegram. "Write allyou want. We'll see that it goes.""I want a copy of that," added the third, in a sharp and uncompromising tone, seeing that the first reporter wasproceeding to take and pocket the message. "This isn't private. I get it from you or her--now!"And at this, number one, in order to avoid a scene, which Mrs. Griffiths, in her slow way, was beginning tosense, extracted the slip from his pocket and turned it over to the others, who there and then proceeded to copy it.
At the same time that this was going on, the Griffiths of Lycurgus, having been consulted as to the wisdom andcost of a new trial, disclosed themselves as by no means interested, let alone convinced, that an appeal--at least attheir expense--was justified43. The torture and socially--if not commercially--destroying force of all this--everyhour of it a Golgotha! Bella and her social future, to say nothing of Gilbert and his--completely overcast44 andcharred by this awful public picture of the plot and crime that one of their immediate45 blood had conceived andexecuted! Samuel Griffiths himself, as well as his wife, fairly macerated by this blasting flash from his wellintentioned,though seemingly impractical46 and nonsensical good deed. Had not a long, practical struggle with lifetaught him that sentiment in business was folly? Up to the hour he had met Clyde he had never allowed it toinfluence him in any way. But his mistaken notion that his youngest brother had been unfairly dealt with by theirfather! And now this! This! His wife and daughter compelled to remove from the scene of their happiest yearsand comforts and live as exiles--perhaps forever--in one of the suburbs of Boston, or elsewhere--or foreverendure the eyes and sympathy of their friends! And himself and Gilbert almost steadily47 conferring ever since asto the wisdom of uniting the business in stock form with some of the others of Lycurgus or elsewhere--or, if notthat, of transferring, not by degrees but speedily, to either Rochester or Buffalo48 or Boston or Brooklyn, where amain plant might be erected49. The disgrace of this could only be overcome by absenting themselves fromLycurgus and all that it represented to them. They must begin life all over again--socially at least. That did notmean so much to himself or his wife--their day was about over anyhow. But Bella and Gilbert and Myra--how torehabilitate them in some way, somewhere?
And so, even before the trial was finished, a decision on the part of Samuel and Gilbert Griffiths to remove the business to South Boston, where they might decently submerge themselves until the misery and shame of thishad in part at least been forgotten.
And because of this further aid to Clyde absolutely refused. And Belknap and Jephson then sitting down togetherto consider. For obviously, their time being as valuable as it was--devoted hitherto to the most successful practicein Bridgeburg--and with many matters waiting on account of the pressure of this particular case--they were byno means persuaded that either their practical self-interest or their charity permitted or demanded their assistingClyde without further recompense. In fact, the expense of appealing this case was going to be considerable asthey saw it. The record was enormous. The briefs would be large and expensive, and the State's allowance forthem was pitifully small. At the same time, as Jephson pointed50 out, it was folly to assume that the westernGriffiths might not be able to do anything at all. Had they not been identified with religious and charitable workthis long while? And was it not possible, the tragedy of Clyde's present predicament pointed out to them, thatthey might through appeals of various kinds raise at least sufficient money to defray the actual costs of such anappeal? Of course, they had not aided Clyde up to the present time but that was because his mother had beennotified that she was not needed. It was different now.
"Better wire her to come on," suggested Jephson, practically. "We can get Oberwaltzer to set the sentence overuntil the tenth if we say that she is trying to come on here. Besides, just tell her to do it and if she says she can'twe'll see about the money then. But she'll be likely to get it and maybe some towards the appeal too."And forthwith a telegram and a letter to Mrs. Griffiths, saying that as yet no word had been said to Clyde butnone-the-less his Lycurgus relatives had declined to assist him further in any way. Besides, he was to besentenced not later than the tenth, and for his own future welfare it was necessary that some one--preferablyherself--appear. Also that funds to cover the cost of an appeal be raised, or at least the same guaranteed.
And then Mrs. Griffiths, on her knees praying to her God to help her. Here, NOW, he must show his Almightyhand--his never-failing mercy. Enlightenment and help must come from somewhere--otherwise how was she toget the fare, let alone raise money for Clyde's appeal?
Yet as she prayed--on her knees--a thought. The newspapers had been hounding her for interviews. They hadfollowed her here and there. Why had she not gone to her son's aid? What did she think of this? What of that?
And now she said to herself, why should she not go to the editor of one of the great papers so anxious to questionher always and tell him how great was her need? Also, that if he would help her to reach her son in time to bewith him on his day of sentence that she, his mother, would report the same for him. These papers were sendingtheir reporters here, there--even to the trial, as she had read. Why not her--his mother? Could she not speak andwrite too? How many, many tracts51 had she not composed?
And so now to her feet--only to sink once more on her knees: "Thou hast answered me, oh, my God!" sheexclaimed. Then rising, she got out her ancient brown coat, the commonplace brown bonnet52 with strings--basedon some mood in regard to religious livery--and at once proceeded to the largest and most important newspaper.
And because of the notoriety of her son's trial she was shown directly to the managing editor, who was as muchinterested as he was impressed and who listened to her with respect and sympathy. He understood her situationand was under the impression that the paper would be interested in this. He disappeared for a few moments--thenreturned. She would be employed as a correspondent for a period of three weeks, and after that until further notice. Her expenses to and fro would be covered. An assistant, into whose hands he would now deliver herwould instruct her as to the method of preparing and filing her communications. He would also provide her withsome ready cash. She might even leave tonight if she chose--the sooner, the better. The paper would like aphotograph or two before she left. But as he talked, and as he noticed, her eyes were closed--her head back. Shewas offering thanks to the God who had thus directly answered her plea.
经过激烈斗争和大败亏输之后，结果确实是够惨的。鉴于当地法庭对这场悲剧作出了如此严峻的处置，从东海岸到西海岸，广大公众都坚信克莱德确实犯了罪，而且正如各地报刊所预告的，他是理应严惩不贷。这个可怜的乡下小姑娘，死得该有多惨啊!
她的那些悲切动人的信啊!
谅她一定经历过多大的苦难啊!
还有，被告一方多么软弱无力的申辩!
哪怕是来自丹佛的格思菲思一家人，也被审判期间各种证据所震惊，几乎大家都不敢公开看报纸，多半是各归各单独看，看过以后，对这些该死的。象可怕的洪水般涌来的间接证据，也只是窃窃私语罢了。可是，在读过了贝尔纳普的申辩和克莱德自己的证词以后，这个小小的。
长期以来休戚与共的家庭都对自己的子弟表示信得过，尽管在此以前他们在报上看到过许多不利于他的报道。因此，不论是在审判期间或是在审判以后，他们经常给他写些愉快而又充满希望的信，信里内容往往根据克莱德来信中一再坚持说他无罪的口径写的。但在定罪以后，他在万分绝望之中给母亲发了电报……各报刊又证实了判罪一事……格里菲思一家人就顿时惊慌万状了。这不是他确实犯了罪的证据吗?
难道说还不是吗?
所有的报刊好象都持这种看法。而且，各报刊立即派出记者赶去采访格里菲思太太。原来她已拖家带口，搬到了丹佛郊外一个比较偏僻的地方，远离宗教界，来这里避避风，因为各报刊上大肆渲染，实在让人受不了。可是某汽车搬运公司里一位贪财的职员，还是把她的住所泄漏出去了。
这位美国女人乃是上帝主宰世间俗务的见证人，此刻正在她那不可名状的寒伧的住房里，坐在一张椅子上，生计几乎让她难以为继……人世间的磨难和命运的残酷打击，竟使她如此穷愁潦倒……可她心中还是恬然宁静，虔信上帝。
她说:
"今天早上，什么事我都想不起来。我好象已经麻木不仁了，觉得一切事情都怪得出奇。我的小孩子被确认犯了杀人罪!
不过，我是他的母亲，说他有罪，我是怎么也不相信的。他写信给我，说他没有罪;我是相信他的。除我以外，他还能向谁去吐露真情，求得信任呢?
但是，还有他(此处指克莱德之母虔信的上帝。)，他看得见一切，他洞察一切。"此外还有没完没了的一长串的证据，连同克莱德在堪萨斯城最早的秽行，使她不由得暗自纳闷……并且感到很害怕。为什么旅游指南问题他都解释不清楚呢?
他既然水性那么好，为什么不能去搭救那个姑娘呢?
为什么他一溜烟似的就到了那个神秘的某某小姐那里呢?
她到底是谁呢?
啊，当然罗，当然罗，她决不能有违自己的信仰，被迫相信她的大儿子……在她子女里头就数他最爱虚荣，最有希望，尽管也是最不安分……竟然会犯下这样的罪行!
不!
她决不能怀疑他……哪怕是现在。在活灵活现的上帝的仁慈的指引下，做母亲的若是相信自己的孩子是邪恶的(不管孩子好象已经多么可怕地误入了歧途)，难道这本身不就是邪恶吗?
在那些好奇而又讨厌的来访者逼使她不得不搬家以前，她在寂然无声的传道馆里，有好几回打扫尘土时，站在一个寒伧的小房间中央，没有任何人看见……她昂起头，闭上眼，她那坚强的棕色脸容虽然并不出众，但是露出坚信。诚挚的神态……好一个来自遥远的圣经时代。长达六千年之久的世界里的人物……虔诚地把她的一切思念都引向她想象中的那个宝座，这时她在心中仿佛看见坐在宝座上的，正是那个活灵活现的上帝，及其活灵活现而又伟大的心灵和躯体……她的创世主。每隔一刻钟，每隔半个钟头，她就做祷告，祈求上帝给予她力量和智慧，启迪她了解清楚她的儿子到底是无辜，还是有罪……要是无辜的话，那就祈求上帝让他。她自己和他们俩所有的亲人不再受到五内俱裂的痛苦。如果说有罪的话，那就祈求上帝启示她该怎么办?
她该怎样忍受这一切，而克莱德又该怎样从永恒的灵魂里洗涤掉他所做过的骇人的罪孽……如果可能的话，让他涤尽心灵上的邪恶，成为道德上清白的人，重新站到至高无上的主跟前。
"您是全能的，啊，上帝，没有什么人比得上您。看啊，您一切都做得到。
由于您的眷爱就有了生命。显示您的仁慈吧，啊，上帝。他的罪虽象朱红，必变成雪白。他的罪虽红如丹颜，必白如羊毛。
"(参见《圣经。旧约。以赛亚书》
第１章第１８节。)可是，在她身上……也是正当她在祈祷的时候……就具有夏娃对于夏娃女儿们的那种睿智。据说被克莱德害死的那个姑娘……她是怎么样的呢?
难道说她不是也犯了罪吗?
难道说她年纪不是比克莱德还要大吗?
报刊上都是这么说的。罗伯达那些信，她仔细地。一行一行地看过了;凄惨动人之处使她非常感动，并对奥尔登一家人遭到的不幸深为悲恸。尽管如此，作为一个具有创世之初夏娃的睿智的母亲和女人，她知道当时罗伯达自己一定赞同了的……她的诱惑也一定助长了她儿子的意志薄弱和道德堕落。一个坚强。善良的姑娘怎么也不会赞同的……断断乎不能赞同的。在传道馆里，在街头祈祷会上，象这一类的忏悔，她不知道听过多少回了。难道不该替克莱德申辩说，正如伊甸园里浑沌初开时那样……"这个女人引诱了我?
"确实是这样……而由于这个原因……"他的慈爱永远长存，"(引自《圣经。旧约。耶利米书》第３３章第１１节。)她援引了《圣经》里的话。如果他的慈爱永远长存……难道说克莱德母亲对儿子的慈爱就应该少一些吗?
"你们若有信心象一粒芥菜种，"(引自《圣经。新约。马太福音》第１７章第２０节。)她援引了《圣经》里的话，自言自语道……随后，她冲一些死乞白赖地缠住她的记者找补着说:
"我的儿子果真害死了她吗?
这是最重要的问题。在我们创世主的心目中，唯有这件事才最重要。"她两眼望着这些世故很深。铁石心肠的年轻记者们，相信她的上帝会使他们心明眼亮的。尽管如此，他们对她那种诚挚和信仰留下了很深的印象。"陪审团认定他有罪也好，还是无罪也好，这在掌心里捏着星星的他看起来，都是无关紧要的。陪审团的判决，只是对凡夫俗子的判决。这是尘世间的俗事。我看过他的辩护律师的申诉。我儿子亲自给我写信说他无罪。我相信我的儿子。我深信他是无辜的。"这时，阿萨正在这个房间的另一个角落里，几乎一言不发。他对生活现实不了解，他对情欲那种强烈的诱发力也不懂得。因此，他对眼前所发生的这件事的意义，哪怕是它的十分之一，也领会不了。他说过，他从来就不了解克莱德，不管是他的缺点也好，还是他狂热的想象力也好。所以，他觉得还是不去谈论他为好。
"不过，"格里菲思太太继续说，"克莱德对罗伯达。奥尔登造的孽，我从来没有包庇过。他做了错事，但是她也做了错事，因为她并没有抗拒他。不论是谁造的孽，绝对不能妥协。对于她亲爱的父母遭受莫大痛苦，心儿淌着血，我是衷心表示同情和热爱，可是，我们不能不看到，这个罪孽是他们两人一块造成的。这一点应该让全世界知道，并且据此作出判断来。这样说法并不是我存心包庇他，"这句话她又重复念叨了一遍。"本来他早该记住年幼时所受到的教导。
"说到这里，她的嘴唇紧紧闭住，露出伤心而又多少有一点自我责备的神色。"不过，她的那些信我也读过。我觉得，要不是有这些信，检察官就说不上有什么真正的论据来指控我的儿子。他就是利用这些信，去影响陪审团的情绪。"她站了起来，象受过烈火炙烤似的，突然激情迸发，嚷了起来:
"不过，他是我的儿呀!
他刚听到给自己定了罪。我非得想一想，作为母亲该怎样帮助他，不管我对他造的孽有怎样的看法。"说罢，她紧攥着两手。甚至这些记者也都被她的巨大痛苦所感动了。"我非去他那儿不可!
我早就该去啦。现在我明白了。"她沉吟不语，发现她正在向这些群众的喉舌倾诉自己心头深处的痛苦。危难和恐惧，殊不知他们这些人压根儿不懂得，而且还无动于衷。
"有好些人觉得挺怪，"他们里头有一个人，年龄跟克莱德相仿，虽然挺能干，但是心肠很硬的年轻人插嘴说，"为什么审判的时候你没有出庭。你没有这笔钱去吧?
""是的，我没有钱，"她干脆利索回答说。"反正是钱不够吧。除此以外，他们关照我不要去，说他们用不着我去。不过，现在啊……现在我不管怎么办，非去不可……现在我非得寻摸个办法不可。"她便走向一张破烂的小桌子……它就是这房间里稀稀落落的。褪了色的陈设之一。"小伙子们，你们现在要进城去，"她说。"你们哪一位替我把这个电报发出去?
钱我就交给你们。""当然罗!
"原先向她最不策略地提问的那个人大声嚷道。"把电报给我。你用不着交钱。我让报社给发出去。"他暗自寻思，不妨把这个电报改写成一条新闻消息，或是把它干脆写进去，作为他对格里菲思太太的访问记的一部分。
她坐在那张黄色的油漆早已剥落的小桌子旁，找来一小本拍纸簿和一支笔，写道:
"克莱德……虔信上帝。他是无所不能的。立即提出上诉。念赞美诗第五十一篇。复审将证明是你无辜的。我们马上就到。父母。""恐怕还是把钱给你的好，"她忐忑不安地找补着说，暗自纳闷，一是让报社出钱发电报究竟好不好，二是又不知道克莱德的伯父肯不肯承担上诉的费用。
也许要花很多的钱。稍后，她又添了一句说:
"电报相当长呗。""哦，这你可不用担心!
"那三个人里头的另一个人大声说道。此人恨不得看到电报的内容。"你想写什么就写什么。电报由我们拍发就得了。""我也要抄一份呀，"那第三个人眼看着第一个记者正把电报掖进口袋，就用尖锐而又毫不客气的口气说。"这可不是什么私人电报。我非要从你那里，或是从她那里抄一份不可……马上就抄!
"第一个人听了以后，为了免得出丑闻(对此，格里菲思太太尽管反应慢些，也开始觉察到了)便把电报从口袋里掏出来，交给另外几位，于是他们马上抄了一份。
与此同时，有人就上诉是不是妥当和要花钱一事征询过在莱柯格斯的格里菲思一家人，现已表明他们并不认为好象应该提出上诉的(无论如何也不负担上诉费用)，反正他们对这个问题毫无兴趣。这一切给他们带来多大苦恼，如果说不是在商业上，而是在社会地位上……对他们该有多大打击!
每小时……真的都象是在各各他!
(《圣经》地名，耶稣被钉死在十字架上的殉难处。)由于如此彰明昭著地公开揭示了这是由他们的血亲蓄意策划的骇人罪行，贝拉和她在上流社会里的前途，更不用说吉尔伯特和他在上流社会里的前途，全都彻底被断送了!
塞缪尔。格里菲思和他的妻子当时做了一件好事，仅仅是出于善良的意愿，尽管看起来既不实在，也没有什么意义，到头来却被这一剧变折磨得够呛。他漫长的一生中踏踏实实奋斗的经验告诉过他:
把感情和做生意掺和在一起，岂不是很荒唐吗?
他在遇见克莱德以前，不管做什么事，决不让自己感情用事的。可是，他暗自寻思当初父亲亏待了小兄弟，仅仅这一念之差却招来了眼前灾祸!
眼前这一场灾祸!
他的妻子和女儿无可奈何，只好从度过他们最欢乐的岁月的安适的家园搬走，过着流亡异乡的生活……也许永远地……住在波士顿近郊或是别的什么地方……永远饱受周围人们那种同情而又讨厌的眼色!
自从这一剧变发生以来，他自己几乎动不动就跟吉尔伯特商量，要不要采用股份的形式让企业跟莱柯格斯或是外地厂家合并……要不然，就把公司(不是逐步地，而是力求很快地)迁往罗切斯特，或是布法罗，或是波士顿，或是布洛克林，在那里也许设立一个总厂。若要摆脱这一丑事，他们只有离开莱柯格斯，把他们在这里心爱的一切通通给扔掉。他们的生活又得从头开始……至少在上流社会里要重新树立自己的地位。这对他本人，对他的妻子，本来算不上什么……反正他们一辈子差不多都过去了。可是贝拉。吉尔伯特。麦拉，叫他们怎样在别的什么地方重新树立他们的好名声呢?
因此，远在审判结束以前，塞缪尔。格里菲思和吉尔伯特。格里菲思就决定将领子衬衫工厂迁往南波士顿。在那里，也许他们可以不露头角地待下去，一直要到这次灾祸和耻辱好歹被人淡忘了为止。
所以，继续帮助克莱德一事，已被断然拒绝了。贝尔纳普和杰夫森只好坐下来一起商量对策。显然，他们的时间历来非常宝贵……在这以前，他们在布里奇伯格办案都挺顺手，总是稳操胜券……但因克莱德一案特别要紧，许多事情都被搁了下来，尚待他们日后处置。这两位律师相信，无论从个人收益考虑，或是纯粹出于慈悲心，既不允许，也不需要他们在再也不给酬劳的情况下继续帮助克莱德。事实上，他们知道，本案倘要上诉，其费用不用说非常可观。法庭的案卷多得有如山积了。要搞成很多案情摘要，抄起来挺费钱，而政府给的补贴却又少得可怜。不过，杰夫森又说，如果认为西部的格里菲思家压根儿一点办法都没有，这也未免太傻了。听说，他们不是长年累月一直从事宗教和慈善事业吗?
只要把克莱德目前所处的够惨的窘境给他们一指出来，不是他们就可以通过各种各样呼吁人们帮助的方式，至少能敛到一笔钱，足够应付上诉时种种实际开支吗?
是的，当然罗，直到目前为止，他们还没有帮助过克莱德，不过，那是因为当初关照过他母亲，说用不着她去的。可现在……又是另一回事了。
"最好打电报叫她来，"杰夫森挺老练地提议说。"我们只要说她正要上这儿来，那就可以使奥伯沃泽把宣判往后推迟到十日。反正一开头，我们就请她务必来这儿;要是她说来不了，到了那时候，我们再考虑钱的问题。不过，路费想来她总可以敛到吧，说不定上诉费用的一部分也还能敛到哩。"于是，马上就给格里菲思太太拍了一个电报，另外还寄去一封信，说他们虽然至今对克莱德一点没有提起过，不过，莱柯格斯的亲戚已经表示今后再也不给他任何帮助了。再说，最迟到十日，他就要被宣判了。为了让克莱德心境宁静起见，亲属方面必须有个把人……最好是她母亲本人……出庭。此外还提到要设法把上诉费用张罗好，哪怕是对这笔费用有个保证也好。
于是，格里菲思太太就两膝跪下，祈祷她的上帝帮助她。现在，他必须让他那无所不能的巨掌……他那永远不变的仁慈都给显示出来。必须从某个地方获得启示和帮助……要不然，叫她怎能敛到这一笔路费呢?
更不用提为克莱德筹措上诉的费用了。
不过，当她两膝跪下祈祷的时候，脑际突然掠过一个闪念。各报刊记者老是找她采访。他们到处盯她的梢。为什么她没有赶去救她儿子呢?
她对这一点有什么想法?
而对那一点又有什么想法?
这时，她暗自思忖着:
原先老是急于采访她的那几家大报，她为什么不可以去找一找其中某报编辑，告诉他们，说她目前的急难该有多大。如果他们可以帮助她，好让她能够在她儿子被宣判的那一天及时赶到他身边，那末，她，他的母亲，愿意把当时的情况写成报道寄给他。
这些报社到处……甚至连这次开庭……都派出了记者……她是从报刊上看到的。那末，为什么就不可以也派她……克莱德的母亲去呢?
难道是她不会说，也不会写吗?
不知道有多少布道的稿子不就是她自己写的吗?
于是，她就站了起来……不过两膝马上又下跪:
"你已经回答我了，啊，我的上帝!
"她大声喊道。稍后，她又站了起来，取出自己的棕色旧外套和极其普通。
垂着丝带的棕色女帽……是照传道士服饰做的……马上动身前往一家最大的。
也是最有影响的报社去。因为她儿子在受审期间已出了名，她马上就给直接领去见总编辑了。总编辑对她这位特殊来访者极感兴趣，并且满怀尊敬和同情仔细听她一一诉说。他很了解她的处境，并且觉得他们报社一定对此也很关注。
他走了出去，不一会儿又回来了。该报准备雇用她作为特派记者，期限是三个星期，以后再听通知。她的往返旅费可向报社报销。同时派给她一名助手，总编辑准备马上让她去见一见。凡是有关她的通讯稿如何准备，以及如何拍发等问题，助手都会关照她的。总编辑还给了她一些现款。她要是愿意，甚至今晚就可以动身……越快越好。动身前，报社很想给她拍一两张照片。殊不知总编辑把这一切向她交代的时候，突然发现她两眼闭上，脑袋往后仰着。这是她在感谢上帝就这样直接回答了她的祈求。
收听单词发音 |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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venal
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| adj.唯利是图的，贪脏枉法的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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folder
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| n.纸夹，文件夹 | |
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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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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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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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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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confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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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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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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calloused
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| adj.粗糙的，粗硬的，起老茧的v.（使）硬结，（使）起茧( callous的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）冷酷无情 | |
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sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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impractical
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| adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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