the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第43章
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While the ground was favourable； the speed of their journey was such
as to prevent much communication； but when a steep ascent compelled
them to slacken their pace； a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss
Vere's mind。
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 she said； pulling up her horse's bridle； 〃let us prosecute
no farther a journey； which nothing but the extreme agitation of my mind
can vindicate my having undertakenI am well aware that this man passes
among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers； and carrying
on an intercourse with beings of another world； but I would have you
aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies； nor； were I to believe
in their existence； durst I； with my feelings of religion； apply to this being
in my distress。〃
〃I should have thought； Miss Vere；〃 replied Ratcliffe； 〃my character
and habits of thinking were so well known to you； that you might have
held me exculpated from crediting in such absurdity。〃
〃But in what other mode；〃 said Isabella； 〃can a being； so miserable
himself in appearance； possess the power of assisting me？〃
〃Miss Vere。〃 said Ratcliffe； after a momentary pause； 〃I am bound
by a solemn oath of secrecyYou must； without farther explanation； be
satisfied with my pledged assurance； that he does possess the power； if
you can inspire him with the will； and that； I doubt not； you will be able to
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do。〃
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃you may yourself be mistaken； you
ask an unlimited degree of confidence from me。〃
〃Recollect； Miss Vere；〃 he replied； 〃that when； in your humanity； you
asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his ruined
familywhen you requested me to prevail on him to do a thing most
abhorrent to his natureto forgive an injury and remit a penaltyI
stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the sources of
my influenceYou found no reason to distrust me then； do not distrust me
now。〃
〃But the extraordinary mode of life of this man；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃his
seclusionhis figurethe deepness of mis…anthropy which he is said to
express in his languageMr。 Ratcliffe； what can I think of him if he really
possesses the powers you ascribe to him？〃
〃This man； young lady； was bred a Catholic； a sect which affords a
thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to
voluntary privations more strict even than his。〃
〃But he avows no religious motive；〃 replied Miss Vere。
〃No；〃 replied Ratcliffe； 〃disgust with the world has operated his retreat
from it without assuming the veil of superstition。 Thus far I may tell
youhe was born to great wealth； which his parents designed should
become greater by his union with a kinswoman； whom for that purpose
they bred up in their own house。 You have seen his figure； judge what the
young lady must have thought of the lot to which she was destinedYet；
habituated to his appearance； she showed no reluctance； and the friends of…
…of the person whom I speak of； doubted not that the excess of his
attachment； the various acquisitions of his mind； his many and amiable
qualities； had overcome the natural horror which his destined bride must
have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully inauspicious。〃
〃And did they judge truly？〃 said Isabella。
〃You shall hear。 He； at least； was fully aware of his own deficiency；
the sense of it haunted him like a phantom。 'I am；' was his own
expression to me；I mean to a man whom he trusted； 'I am； in spite of
what you would say； a poor miserable outcast； fitter to have been
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smothered in the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world in
which I crawl。' The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to
impress him with the indifference to external form which is the natural
result of philosophy； or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental
talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely personal。 'I hear
you；' he would reply； 'but you speak the voice of cold…blooded stoicism； or；
at least； of friendly partiality。 But look at every book which we have read；
those excepted of that abstract philosophy which feels no responsive voice
in our natural feelings。 Is not personal form； such as at least can be
tolerated without horror and disgust； always represented as essential to our
ideas of a friend； far more a lover？ Is not such a mis…shapen monster as I
am； excluded； by the very fiat of Nature； from her fairest enjoyments？
What but my wealth prevents allperhaps even Letitia； or youfrom
shunning me as something foreign to your nature； and more odious； by
bearing that distorted resemblance to humanity which we observe in the
animal tribes that are more hateful to man because they seem his
caricature？'〃
〃You repeat the sentiments of a madman；〃 said Miss Vere。
〃No；〃 replied her conductor； 〃unless a morbid and excessive sensibility
on such a subject can be termed insanity。 〃Yet I will not deny that this
governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained it；
to lengths which indicated a deranged imagination。 He appeared to think
that it was necessary for him； by exuberant； and not always well…chosen
instances of liberality； and even profusion； to unite himself to the human
race； from which he conceived himself naturally dissevered。 The
benefits which he bestowed； from a disposition naturally philanthropical in
an uncommon degree； were exaggerated by the influence of the goading
reflection； that more was necessary from him than from others；lavishing
his treasures as if to bribe mankind to receive him into their class。 It is
scarcely necessary to say； that the bounty which flowed from a source so
capricious was often abused； and his confidence frequently betrayed。
These disappointments； which occur to all； more or less； and most to such
as confer benefits without just discrimination； his diseased fancy set down
to the hatred and contempt excited by his personal deformity。 But I
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fatigue you； Miss Vere？〃
〃No； by no means； II could not prevent my attention from wandering
an instant； pray proceed。〃
〃He became at length；〃 continued Ratcliffe； 〃the most ingenious self…
tormentor of whom I have ever heard； the scoff of the rabble； and the sneer
of the yet more brutal vulgar of his own rank； was to him agony and
breaking on the wheel。 He regarded the laugh of the common people
whom he passed on the street； and the suppressed titter； or yet more
offensive terror； of the young girls to whom he was introduced in company；
as proofs of the true sense which the world entertained of him； as a
prodigy unfit to be received among them on t
