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第18章

mary stuart-第18章

小说: mary stuart 字数: 每页4000字

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the castle; like those migratory birds which always return to the

same place but only stay a moment; then take their way again without

one's knowing towards what spot in the world they are directing their

flight。



An instinct of misfortune in common had drawn Little Douglas to

George。  George; seeing the child ill…treated by everyone; had

conceived an affection for him; and Little Douglas; feeling himself

loved amid the atmosphere of indifference around him; turned with

open arms and heart to George: it resulted from this mutual liking

that one day; when the child had committed I do not know what fault;

and that William Douglas raised the whip he beat his dogs with to

strike him; that George; who was sitting on a stone; sad and

thoughtful; had immediately sprung up; snatched the whip from his

brother's hands and had thrown it far from him。  At this insult

William had drawn his sword; and George his; so that these two

brothers; who had hated one another for twenty years like two

enemies; were going to cut one another's throats; when Little

Douglas; who had picked up the whip; coming back and kneeling before

William; offered him the ignominious weapon; saying



〃Strike; cousin; I have deserved it。〃



This behaviour of the child had caused some minutes' reflection to

the two young men; who; terrified at the crime they were about to

commit; had returned their swords to their scabbards and had each

gone away in silence。  Since this incident the friendship of George

and Little Douglas had acquired new strength; and on the child's side

it had become veneration。



We dwell upon all these details somewhat at length; perhaps; but no

doubt our readers will pardon us when they see the use to be made of

them。



This is the family; less George; who; as we have said; was absent at

the time of her arrival; into the midst of which the queen had

fallen; passing in a moment from the summit of power to the position

of a prisoner; for from the day following her arrival Mary saw that

it was by such a title she was an inmate of Lochleven Castle。  In

fact; Lady Douglas presented herself before her as soon as it was

morning; and with an embarrassment and dislike ill disguised beneath

an appearance of respectful indifference; invited Mary to follow her

and take stock of the several parts of the fortress which had been

chosen beforehand for her private use。  She then made her go through

three rooms; of which one was to serve as her bedroom; the second as

sitting…room; and the third as ante…chamber; afterwards; leading the

way down a spiral staircase; which looked into the great hall of the

castle; its only outlet; she had crossed this hall; and had taken

Mary into the garden whose trees the queen had seen topping the high

walls on her arrival: it was a little square of ground; forming a

flower…bed in the midst of which was an artificial fountain。  It was

entered by a very low door; repeated in the opposite wall; this

second door looked on to the lake and; like all the castle doors;

whose keys; however; never left the belt or the pillow of William

Douglas; it was guarded night and day by a sentinel。  This was now

the whole domain of her who had possessed the palaces; the plains;

and the mountains of an entire kingdom。



Mary; on returning to her room; found breakfast ready; and William

Douglas standing near the table he was going to fulfil about the

queen the duties of carver and taster。



In spite of their hatred for Mary; the Douglases would have

considered it an eternal blemish on their honour if any accident

should have befallen the queen while she was dwelling in their

castle; and it was in order that the queen herself should not

entertain any fear in this respect that William Douglas; in his

quality of lord of the manor; had not only desired to carve before

the queen; but even to taste first in her presence; all the dishes

served to her; as well as the water and the several wines to be

brought her。  This precaution saddened Mary more than it reassured

her; for she understood that; while she stayed in the castle; this

ceremony would prevent any intimacy at table。  However; it proceeded

from too noble an intention for her to impute it as a crime to her

hosts: she resigned herself; then; to this company; insupportable as

it was to her; only; from that day forward; she so cut short her

meals that all the time she was at Lochleven her longest dinners

barely lasted more than a quarter of an hour。



Two days after her arrival; Mary; on sitting down to table for

breakfast; found on her plate a letter addressed to her which had

been put there by William Douglas。  Mary recognised Murray's

handwriting; and her first feeling was one of joy; for if a ray of

hope remained to her; it came from her brother; to whom she had

always been perfectly kind; whom from Prior of St。  Andrew's she had

made an earl in bestowing on him the splendid estates which formed

part of the old earldom of Murray; and to whom; which was of more

importance; she had since pardoned; or pretended to pardon; the part

he had taken in Rizzio's assassination。



Her astonishment was great; then; when; having opened the letter; she

found in it bitter reproaches for her conduct; an exhortation to do

penance; and an assurance several times repeated that she should

never leave her prison。  He ended his letter in announcing to her

that; in spite of his distaste for public affairs; he had been

obliged to accept the regency; which he had done less for his country

than for his sister; seeing that it was the sole means he had of

standing in the way of the ignominious trial to which the nobles

wished to bring her; as author; or at least as chief accomplice; of

Darnley's death。  This imprisonment was then clearly a great good

fortune for her; and she ought to thank Heaven for it; as an

alleviation of the fate awaiting her if he had not interceded for

her。



This letter was a lightning stroke for Mary: only; as she did not

wish to give her enemies the delight of seeing her suffer; she

contained her grief; and; turning to William Douglas



〃My lord;〃 said she; 〃this letter contains news that you doubtless

know already; for although we are not children by the same mother; he

who writes to me is related to us in the same degree; and will not

have desired to write to his sister without writing to his brother at

the same time; besides; as a good son; he will have desired to

acquaint his mother with the unlooked…for greatness that has befallen

him。〃



〃Yes; madam;〃 replied William; 〃we know since yesterday that; for the

welfare of Scotland; my brother has been named regent; and as he is a

son as respectful to his mother as he is devoted to his country; we

hope that he will repair the evil that for five years favourites of

every sort and kind have done to both。〃



〃It is like a good son; and at the same time like a courteous host;

to go back no farther into the history of Scotland;〃 replied Mary

Stuart;〃 and not to make the daughter blush for the father's errors;

for I have heard say that the evil which your lordship laments was

prior to the time to which you assign it; and that King James V also

had formerly favourites; both male and female。  It is true that they

add that the ones as ill rewarded his friendship as the others his

love。  In this; if you are ignorant of it; my lord; you can be

instructed; if he is still living; by a certain。  Porterfeld or

Porterfield; I don't know which; understanding these names of the

lower classes too ill to retain and pronounce them; but about which;

in my stead; your noble mother could give you information。〃



With these words; Mary Stuart rose; and; leaving William Douglas

crimson with rage; she returned into her bedroom; and bolted the door

behind her。



All that day Mary did not come down; remaining at her window; from

which she at least enjoyed a splendid view over the plains and

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