The party broke up in very sober fashion at five o’clock. Tom remained in St. Ogg’s to attend to some business, and Mr. Tulliver mounted his horse to go home, and describe the memorable23 things that had been said and done, to “poor Bessy and the little wench.” The air of excitement that hung about him was but faintly due to good cheer or any stimulus24 but the potent25 wine of triumphant26 joy. He did not choose any back street to-day, but rode slowly, with uplifted head and free glances, along the principal street all the way to the bridge.
Why did he not happen to meet Wakem? The want of that coincidence vexed27 him, and set his mind at work in an irritating way. Perhaps Wakem was gone out of town to-day on purpose to avoid seeing or hearing anything of an honorable action which might well cause him some unpleasant twinges. If Wakem were to meet him then, Mr. Tulliver would look straight at him, and the rascal16 would perhaps be forsaken28 a little by his cool, domineering impudence29. He would know by and by that an honest man was not going to serve him any longer, and lend his honesty to fill a pocket already over-full of dishonest gains. Perhaps the luck was beginning to turn; perhaps the Devil didn’t always hold the best cards in this world.
Simmering in this way, Mr. Tulliver approached the yardgates of Dorlcote Mill, near enough to see a well-known figure coming out of them on a fine black horse. They met about fifty yards from the gates, between the great chestnuts30 and elms and the high bank.
“Tulliver,” said Wakem, abruptly31, in a haughtier32 tone than usual, “what a fool’s trick you did — spreading those hard lumps on that Far Close! I told you how it would be; but you men never learn to farm with any method.”
“Oh!” said Tulliver, suddenly boiling up; “get somebody else to farm for you, then, as’ll ask you to teach him.”
“You have been drinking, I suppose,” said Wakem, really believing that this was the meaning of Tulliver’s flushed face and sparkling eyes.
“No, I’ve not been drinking,” said Tulliver; “I want no drinking to help me make up my mind as I’ll serve no longer under a scoundrel.”
“Very well! you may leave my premises33 to-morrow, then; hold your insolent34 tongue and let me pass.” (Tulliver was backing his horse across the road to hem13 Wakem in.)
“No, I sha’n’t let you pass,” said Tulliver, getting fiercer. “I shall tell you what I think of you first. You’re too big a raskill to get hanged — you’re ——”
“Let me pass, you ignorant brute35, or I’ll ride over you.”
Mr. Tulliver, spurring his horse and raising his whip, made a rush forward; and Wakem’s horse, rearing and staggering backward, threw his rider from the saddle and sent him sideways on the ground. Wakem had had the presence of mind to loose the bridle36 at once, and as the horse only staggered a few paces and then stood still, he might have risen and remounted without more inconvenience than a bruise37 and a shake. But before he could rise, Tulliver was off his horse too. The sight of the long-hated predominant man down, and in his power, threw him into a frenzy38 of triumphant vengeance39, which seemed to give him preternatural agility40 and strength. He rushed on Wakem, who was in the act of trying to recover his feet, grasped him by the left arm so as to press Wakem’s whole weight on the right arm, which rested on the ground, and flogged him fiercely across the back with his riding-whip. Wakem shouted for help, but no help came, until a woman’s scream was heard, and the cry of “Father, father!”
Suddenly, Wakem felt, something had arrested Mr. Tulliver’s arm; for the flogging ceased, and the grasp on his own arm was relaxed.
“Get away with you — go!” said Tulliver, angrily. But it was not to Wakem that he spoke41. Slowly the lawyer rose, and, as he turned his head, saw that Tulliver’s arms were being held by a girl, rather by the fear of hurting the girl that clung to him with all her young might.
“Oh, Luke — mother — come and help Mr. Wakem!” Maggie cried, as she heard the longed-for footsteps.
“Help me on to that low horse,” said Wakem to Luke, “then I shall perhaps manage; though — confound it — I think this arm is sprained42.”
With some difficulty, Wakem was heaved on to Tulliver’s horse. Then he turned toward the miller43 and said, with white rage, “You’ll suffer for this, sir. Your daughter is a witness that you’ve assaulted me.”
“I don’t care,” said Mr. Tulliver, in a thick, fierce voice; “go and show your back, and tell ’em I thrashed you. Tell ’em I’ve made things a bit more even i’ the world.”
“Ride my horse home with me,” said Wakem to Luke. “By the Tofton Ferry, not through the town.”
“Father, come in!” said Maggie, imploringly44. Then, seeing that Wakem had ridden off, and that no further violence was possible, she slackened her hold and burst into hysteric sobs45, while poor Mrs. Tulliver stood by in silence, quivering with fear. But Maggie became conscious that as she was slackening her hold her father was beginning to grasp her and lean on her. The surprise checked her sobs.
“I feel ill — faintish,” he said. “Help me in, Bessy — I’m giddy — I’ve a pain i’ the head.”
He walked in slowly, propped46 by his wife and daughter and tottered47 into his arm-chair. The almost purple flush had given way to paleness, and his hand was cold.
“Hadn’t we better send for the doctor?” said Mrs. Tulliver.
He seemed to be too faint and suffering to hear her; but presently, when she said to Maggie, “Go and seek for somebody to fetch the doctor,” he looked up at her with full comprehension, and said, “Doctor? No — no doctor. It’s my head, that’s all. Help me to bed.”
Sad ending to the day that had risen on them all like a beginning of better times! But mingled48 seed must bear a mingled crop.
In half an hour after his father had lain down Tom came home. Bob Jakin was with him, come to congratulate “the old master,” not without some excusable pride that he had had his share in bringing about Mr. Tom’s good luck; and Tom had thought his father would like nothing better, as a finish to the day, than a talk with Bob. But now Tom could only spend the evening in gloomy expectation of the unpleasant consequences that must follow on this mad outbreak of his father’s long-smothered hate. After the painful news had been told, he sat in silence; he had not spirit or inclination49 to tell his mother and sister anything about the dinner; they hardly cared to ask it. Apparently50 the mingled thread in the web of their life was so curiously51 twisted together that there could be no joy without a sorrow coming close upon it. Tom was dejected by the thought that his exemplary effort must always be baffled by the wrong-doing of others; Maggie was living through, over and over again, the agony of the moment in which she had rushed to throw herself on her father’s arm, with a vague, shuddering52 foreboding of wretched scenes to come. Not one of the three felt any particular alarm about Mr. Tulliver’s health; the symptoms did not recall his former dangerous attack, and it seemed only a necessary consequence that his violent passion and effort of strength, after many hours of unusual excitement, should have made him feel ill. Rest would probably cure him.
Tom, tired out by his active day, fell asleep soon, and slept soundly; it seemed to him as if he had only just come to bed, when he waked to see his mother standing53 by him in the gray light of early morning.
“My boy, you must get up this minute; I’ve sent for the doctor, and your father wants you and Maggie to come to him.”
“Is he worse, mother?”
“He’s been very ill all night with his head, but he doesn’t say it’s worse; he only said suddenly, ‘Bessy, fetch the boy and girl. Tell ’em to make haste.’”
Maggie and Tom threw on their clothes hastily in the chill gray light, and reached their father’s room almost at the same moment. He was watching for them with an expression of pain on his brow, but with sharpened, anxious consciousness in his eyes. Mrs. Tulliver stood at the foot of the bed, frightened and trembling, looking worn and aged54 from disturbed rest. Maggie was at the bedside first, but her father’s glance was toward Tom, who came and stood next to her.
“Tom, my lad, it’s come upon me as I sha’n’t get up again. This world’s been too many for me, my lad, but you’ve done what you could to make things a bit even. Shake hands wi’ me again, my lad, before I go away from you.”
The father and son clasped hands and looked at each other an instant. Then Tom said, trying to speak firmly —
“Have you any wish, father — that I can fulfil, when ——”
“Ay, my lad — you’ll try and get the old mill back.”
“Yes, father.”
“And there’s your mother — you’ll try and make her amends55, all you can, for my bad luck — and there’s the little wench ——”
The father turned his eyes on Maggie with a still more eager look, while she, with a bursting heart, sank on her knees, to be closer to the dear, time-worn face which had been present with her through long years, as the sign of her deepest love and hardest trial.
“You must take care of her, Tom — don’t you fret56, my wench — there’ll come somebody as’ll love you and take your part — and you must be good to her, my lad. I was good to my sister. Kiss me, Maggie. — Come, Bessy. — You’ll manage to pay for a brick grave, Tom, so as your mother and me can lie together.”
He looked away from them all when he had said this, and lay silent for some minutes, while they stood watching him, not daring to move. The morning light was growing clearer for them, and they could see the heaviness gathering in his face, and the dulness in his eyes. But at last he looked toward Tom and said —
“I had my turn — I beat him. That was nothing but fair. I never wanted anything but what was fair.”
“But, father, dear father,” said Maggie, an unspeakable anxiety predominating over her grief, “you forgive him — you forgive every one now?”
He did not move his eyes to look at her, but he said —
“No, my wench. I don’t forgive him. What’s forgiving to do? I can’t love a raskill ——”
His voice had become thicker; but he wanted to say more, and moved his lips again and again, struggling in vain to speak. At length the words forced their way.
“Does God forgive raskills? — but if He does, He won’t be hard wi’ me.”
His hands moved uneasily, as if he wanted them to remove some obstruction57 that weighed upon him. Two or three times there fell from him some broken words —
“This world’s — too many — honest man — puzzling ——”
Soon they merged58 into mere59 mutterings; the eyes had ceased to discern; and then came the final silence.
But not of death. For an hour or more the chest heaved, the loud, hard breathing continued, getting gradually slower, as the cold dews gathered on the brow.
At last there was total stillness, and poor Tulliver’s dimly lighted soul had forever ceased to be vexed with the painful riddle60 of this world.
Help was come now; Luke and his wife were there, and Mr. Turnbull had arrived, too late for everything but to say, “This is death.”
Tom and Maggie went downstairs together into the room where their father’s place was empty. Their eyes turned to the same spot, and Maggie spoke —
“Tom, forgive me — let us always love each other”; and they clung and wept together.
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收听单词发音
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1
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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2
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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4
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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5
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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6
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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7
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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8
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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9
creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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10
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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11
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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12
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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13
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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14
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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15
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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16
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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17
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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18
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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19
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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20
eulogy
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| n.颂词；颂扬 | |
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21
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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22
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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23
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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24
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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25
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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26
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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27
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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28
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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29
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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30
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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31
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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32
haughtier
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| haughty（傲慢的，骄傲的）的比较级形式 | |
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33
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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34
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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35
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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36
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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37
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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38
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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39
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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40
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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41
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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42
sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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43
miller
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| n.磨坊主 | |
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44
imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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45
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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46
propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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48
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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49
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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50
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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51
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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52
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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53
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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54
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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55
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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56
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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57
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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58
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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59
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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60
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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