the darrow enigma-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
water。 For a moment I stood as one petrified； unable to reason；
much less to act； then the excited voices of the crowd recalled me。
They had thrown a rope into the water and were waiting for her to
come to the surface and grasp it。 The wall from which she had fallen
must have been at least fifteen feet above the water； which was
littered with broken spars； pieces of timber； and other odd bits of
wood。 It seemed as if she would never come to the surface； and when
at length she did； she did not attempt to seize the rope thrown to
her； but sank without a movement。 The truth flashed upon me in an
instant。 She had struck her head against some of the floating drift
and was unconscious！ Something must be done at once。 I seized the
rope and sprang in after her； taking good care to avoid obstructions；
and although； as you know； I never learned to swim； I succeeded in
reaching her； and we were drawn up together。 I bore her in my arms
into one of the storerooms close by； and； laying her upon a bale of
cotton； used such restoratives as could be quickly procured。
I was kneeling by her； my arm under her neck； in the act of raising
her head； when she opened her eyes； and fastened them； full of
wonderment； upon my face。 A moment more； her memory returning to her；
she made a little movement； as if to free herself。 I was too excited
then to heed it； and continued to support her head。 She did not
repeat the movement； but half closed her eyes and leaned back
resignedly against my arm。 If； I thought； these few minutes could
be expanded into an eternity； it would be my idea of heaven。 She
was recovering rapidly now and soon raised herself into a sitting
posture； saying； in very good English； 〃I think I can stand now；
Sahib。〃 I gave her my arm and assisted her to her feet。 Her
hand closed upon my sleeve as if to see how wet it was； and glancing
at my dripping garments； she said simply： 〃You have been in the
water； Sahib； and it is to you I owe my life。 I shall never forget
your kindness。 She raised her eyes to my face and met my gaze for
a moment； as she spoke。 We are told that the eye is incapable of
any expression save that lent it by the lids and brow； … that the
eyeball itself； apart from its direction； and the changes of the
pupil resulting from variations in the intensity of light； can
carry no message whatsoever。 This may be so； but； without any
noticeable movement of the eyes that met mine； I learned with
ineffable delight that this young girl's soul and mine were threaded
upon the same cord of destiny。 My emotion so overpowered me that
I could not speak； and when my self…possession returned the young
girl had vanished。
》From the height of bliss I now plunged into the abyss of despair。
I had let her go without a word。 I did not even know her name。 I
had caught her to myself from the ocean only to suffer her to drown
herself among the half…million inhabitants of Bombay。 What must she
think of me？ I asked the wharfinger if he knew her； but he had never
seen her before。 All my other inquiries proved equally fruitless。
I wondered if she knew that I loved her； but hardiy dared to hope
she had been able to correctly interpret my boorish conduct。 I
could think of but one thing to do。 If I did not know her name；
neither did she know mine； and so if she desired a further
acquaintance； she； like myself； must rely upon a chance meeting。
If she had detected my admiration for her she must know that I too
would strive to meet her again。 Where would she be most likely to
expect me to look for her？ Clearly at the same place we had met
before； and at the same time of day。 She might naturally think my
duties called me there daily at that hour。 I determined to be there
at the same time the next day。
I arrived to find her there before me； anxiously peering at the
passers…by。 She was certainly looking for me； … there was ecstasy
in the thought！
It is not necessary； my dear child； that I should describe the
details of our love…making； for my present purpose is not merely to
interest you； but rather to acquaint you with certain occurrences
which I now deem it wise you should know。 Time only intensified our
love for each other； and for several months all went well。 One
serious obstacle to our union presented itself； … that of caste。
Her people； Lona said； would never permit her to marry outside her
own station in life； besides which there was another ground upon
which we might be equally sure of their opposition。 They had already
chosen for her and she was betrothed to Rama Ragobah。 It is of this
man that I have chiefly to speak。 By birth he was of the same Vaisya
caste as Lona。 Early in life his lot had fallen among fakirs and
he had acquired all their secrets。 This did not satisfy his
ambitions； for he wished to be numbered among the rishis or adepts；
and subjected himself to the most horrible asceticism to qualify
himself for adeptship。 His indifference to physical pain was truly
marvellous。 He had rolled his naked body to the Ganges over
hundreds of miles of burning sands！ He had held his hands clinched
until the nails had worn through the palm and out at the back of the
hand。 He had at one time maintained for weeks a slow fire upon the
top of his head； keeping the skin burned to the skull。
When he came wooing Lona； his rigid asceticism had much relaxed； but
he would still seek to amuse her by driving knives into his body
until she would sicken at the blood； a condition of affairs which；
she said； afforded him great enjoyment。 Ragobah was a man of
gigantic build and immense physical strength。 His features were
heavy and forbidding。 You are familiar with pictures of Nana Sahib。
If I had not known this fiend to have died while beset in a swamp；
I should have mistaken Ragobah for him。 It was to such a being that
Lona was betrothed in spite of the loathing her parents knew she
felt for him。 She told me all this one night at our accustomed
tryst on Malabar Hill。 We had chosen to meet here on account of
the beauty of the place and the seclusion it offered。 There； on
bright moonlit nights； with the sea and the city below me； the
〃Tower of Silence〃 in the Parsees' burial plot ablaze with reflected
glory； the majestic banyan over me rustling gently in the soft sea
breeze； while Lona nestled close beside me； … the exquisite perfume
of the luxuriant garden less welcome than the delicious fragrance
of her breath； … hours fraught with years of bliss would pass as if
but pulse…beats。 In the world of love the heart is the only true
timepiece。 On one or two occasions Lona had thought she had been
followed when coming to meet me； and she began to conceive a strange
dislike for a little cavelike recess in the rocks just back of the
tree by which we sat。 I tried on one occasion to reassure her by
telling her it was so shallow that； with the moonlight streaming
into it； I could see clear to the back wall； and arose to enter it
to convince her there was no one there； but she clung to me in
terror； saying： 〃Don't go！ Don't leave me！ I was foolish to
mention it。 I cannot account for my fear； … and yet； do you know；〃
she continued in a low； frightened tone； 〃there is a shaft at the
back of the cave that has； they say； no bottom； but goes down；
… down； … down； … hundreds of feet to the sea？〃 It is useless；
as you know only too well； to strive to reason down a presentiment；
and so； instead； I sought to make use of her fear in the
accomplishment of my dearest wish。 〃Why need we；〃 I urged； 〃come
here； why longer continue these clandestine meetings？ Let us be
brave； darling； in our loves。 Your people have chosen another
husband for you； … my people another wife for me； but we are both
quite able to choose for ourselves。 We have done so； and it is
our most sacred duty to adhere to and consummate that choice。 Let
us； I beseech you； do so without further delay。 Dearest； meet me
here to…morrow night prepared for a journey。 We will take the
late train for Matheron Station； where I have friends who can be
trusted。 We will be married immediately upon our arrival； and
can communicate by post with our respe
