the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第40章
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gentlemen whom he had left； his step became so slow and irresolute； as to
correspond with his doubts and his fears。 At length he paused in an
antechamber to collect his ideas； and form his plan of argument； before
approaching his daughter。
〃In what more hopeless and inextricable dilemma was ever an
unfortunate man involved！〃 Such was the tenor of his reflections。〃If
we now fall to pieces by disunion； there can be little doubt that the
government will take my life as the prime agitator of the insurrection。 Or；
grant I could stoop to save myself by a hasty submission； am I not； even in
that case； utterly ruined？ I have broken irreconcilably with Ratcliffe； and
can have nothing to expect from that quarter but insult and persecution。 I
must wander forth an impoverished and dishonoured man； without even
the means of sustaining life； far less wealth sufficient to counterbalance
the infamy which my countrymen； both those whom I desert and those
whom I join； will attach to the name of the political renegade。 It is not to
be thought of。 And yet； what choice remains between this lot and the
ignominious scaffold？ Nothing can save me but reconciliation with these
men； and； to accomplish this； I have promised to Langley that Isabella
shall marry him ere midnight； and to Mareschal； that she shall do so
without compulsion。 I have but one remedy betwixt me and ruinher
consent to take a suitor whom she dislikes； upon such short notice as
would disgust her； even were he a favoured lover But I must trust to the
romantic generosity of her disposition； and let me paint the necessity of
her obedience ever so strongly； I cannot overcharge its reality。〃
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Having finished this sad chain of reflections upon his perilous
condition； he entered his daughter's apartment with every nerve bent up to
the support of the argument which he was about to sustain。 Though a
deceitful and ambitious man； he was not so devoid of natural affection but
that he was shocked at the part he was about to act； in practising on the
feelings of a dutiful and affectionate child； but the recollections； that； if he
succeeded； his daughter would only be trepanned into an advantageous
match； and that； if he failed； he himself was a lost man； were quite
sufficient to drown all scruples。
He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing…room； her
head reclining on her hand； and either sunk in slumber； or so deeply
engaged in meditation； that she did not hear the noise he made at his
entrance。 He approached with his features composed to a deep
expression of sorrow and sympathy； and； sitting down beside her； solicited
her attention by quietly taking her hand； a motion which he did not fail to
accompany with a deep sigh。
〃My father！〃 said Isabella； with a sort of start； which expressed at
least as much fear； as joy or affection。
〃Yes； Isabella；〃 said Vere； 〃your unhappy father； who comes now as a
penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her in
the excess of his affection； and then to take leave of her for ever。〃
〃Sir？ Offence to me take leave for ever？ What does all this mean？〃
said Miss Vere。
〃Yes； Isabella； I am serious。 But first let me ask you； have you no
suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell
you yesterday morning？〃
〃You； sir？〃 answered Isabella； stammering between a consciousness
that he had guessed her thoughts justly； and the shame as well as fear
which forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so
unnatural。
〃Yes！〃 he continued； 〃your hesitation confesses that you entertained
such an opinion； and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that
your suspicions have done me no injustice。 But listen to my motives。 In
an evil hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley；
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conceiving it impossible that you could have any permanent objections to
a match where the advantages were； in most respects； on your side。 In a
worse； I entered with him into measures calculated to restore our banished
monarch； and the independence of my country。 He has taken advantage
of my unguarded confidence； and now has my life at his disposal。〃
〃Your life； sir？〃 said Isabella； faintly。
〃Yes； Isabella；〃 continued her father； 〃the life of him who gave life to
you。 So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion
（for； to do him justice； I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from
excess of attachment to you） was likely to hurry him； I endeavoured； by
finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks； to extricate
myself from the dilemma in which I am placed。 For this purpose I
wished； in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable； to
have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your maternal
aunt at Paris。 By a series of mistakes you have been brought from the
place of secrecy and security which I had destined for your temporary
abode。 Fate has baffled my last chance of escape； and I have only to give
you my blessing； and send you from the castle with Mr。 Ratcliffe； who
now leaves it； my own fate will soon be decided。〃
〃Good Heaven； sir！ can this be possible？〃 exclaimed Isabella。 〃O；
why was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me？ or why did
you not impart your pleasure to me？〃
〃Think an instant； Isabella。 Would you have had me prejudice in
your opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving； by communicating
to you the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object？ Could I
do so honourably； having promised to assist his suit？But it is all over； I
and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men； it only remains to
send you from hence under a safe escort。〃
〃Great powers！ and is there no remedy？〃 said the terrified young
woman。
〃None； my child；〃 answered Vere； gently； 〃unless one which you
would not advise your father to adoptto be the first to betray his friends。〃
〃O； no！ no！〃 she answered； abhorrently yet hastily； as if to reject
the temptation which the alternative presented to her。 〃But is there no
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other hopethrough flightthrough mediation through supplication？I
will bend my knee to Sir Frederick！〃
〃It would be a fruitless degradation； he is determined on his course；
and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate。 On one condition
only he will turn aside from his purpose； and that condition my lips shall
ne
