hard times(艰难时世)-第69章
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plain to the dark eyes of her body； Mrs Sparsit saw her staircase
with the figure coming down。 Very near the bottom now。 Upon the
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brink of the abyss。
An overcast September evening； just at nightfall； saw beneath
its drooping eyelid Mrs Sparsit glide out of her carriage； pass
down the wooden steps of the little station into a stony road； cross
it into a green lane； and become hidden in a summer…growth of
leaves and branches。 One or two late birds sleepily chirping in
their nests； and a bat heavily crossing and recrossing her； and the
reek of her own tread in the thick dust that felt like velvet； were all
Mrs Sparsit heard or saw until she very softly closed a gate。
She went up to the house； keeping within the shrubbery； and
went round it； peeping between the leaves at the lower windows。
Most of them were open； as they usually were in such warm
weather； but there were no lights yet； and all was silent。 She tried
the garden with no better effect。 She thought of the wood； and
stole towards it； heedless of long grass and briers： of worms； snails；
and slugs； and all the creeping things that be。 With her dark eyes
and her hook nose warily in advance of her； Mrs Sparsit softly
crushed her way through the thick undergrowth； so intent upon
her object that she probably would have done no less； if the wood
had been a wood of adders。
Hark！
The smaller birds might have tumbled out of their nests；
fascinated by the glittering of Mrs Sparsit’s eyes in the gloom； as
she stopped and listened。
Low voices close at hand。 His voice and hers。 The appointment
was a device to keep the brother away！ There they were yonder；
by the felled tree。
Bending low among the dewy grass； Mrs Sparsit advanced
closer to them。 She drew herself up； and stood behind a tree； like
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Robinson Crusoe in his ambuscade against the savages； so near to
them that at a spring； and that no great one； she could have
touched them both。 He was there secretly； and had not shown
himself at the house。 He had come on horseback； and must have
passed through the neighbouring fields； for his horse was tied to
the meadow side of the fence； within a few paces。
“My dearest love；” said he； “what could I do？ Knowing you
were alone； was it possible that I could stay away？”
“You may hang your head； to make yourself the more
attractive； I don’t know what they see in you when you hold it up；”
thought Mrs Sparsit； “but you little think； my dearest love； whose
eyes are on you！”
That she hung her head was certain。 She urged him to go away；
she commanded him to go away； but she neither turned her face
to him； nor raised it。 Yet it was remarkable that she sat as still as
ever the amiable woman in ambuscade had seen her sit； at any
period in her life。 Her hands rested in one another； like the hands
of a statue； and even her manner of speaking was not hurried。
“My dear child；” said Harthouse； Mrs Sparsit saw with delight
that his arm embraced her； “will you not bear with my society for
a little while？”
“Not here。”
“Where； Louisa？”
“Not here。”
“But we have so little time to make so much of； and I have come
so far； and am altogether so devoted and distracted。 There never
was a slave at once so devoted and ill…used by his mistress。 To look
for your sunny welcome that has warmed me into life； and to be
received in your frozen manner； is heart…rending。”
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“Am I to say again； that I must be left to myself here？”
“But we must meet； my dear Louisa。 Where shall we meet？”
They both started。 The listener started； guiltily； too； for she
thought there was another listener among the trees。 It was only
rain； beginning to fall fast； in heavy drops。
“Shall I ride up to the house a few minutes hence； innocently
supposing that its master is at home and will be charmed to
receive me？”
“No！”
“Your cruel commands are implicitly to be obeyed； though I am
the most unfortunate fellow in the world； I believe； to have been
insensible to all other women； and to have fallen prostrate at last
under the foot of the most beautiful； and the most engaging； and
the most imperious。 My dearest Louisa； I cannot go myself； or let
you go； in this hard abuse of your power。”
Mrs Sparsit saw him detain her with his encircling arm； and
heard him then and there； within her （Mrs Sparsit’s） greedy
hearing； tell her how he loved her； and how she was the stake for
which he ardently desired to play away all that he had in life。 The
objects he had lately pursued； turned worthless beside her； such
success as was almost in his grasp； he flung away from him like
the dirt it was； compared with her。 Its pursuit； nevertheless； if it
kept him near her； or its renunciation if it took him from her； or
flight if she shared it； or secrecy if she commanded it or any fate；
or every fate； all was alike to him； so that she was true to him；—the
man who had seen how cast away she was； whom she had inspired
at their first meeting with an admiration； an interest； of which he
had thought himself incapable； whom she had received into her
confidence； who was devoted to her and adored her。 All this； and
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more； in his hurry； and in hers； in the whirl of her own gratified
malice； in the dread of being discovered； in the rapidly increasing
noise of heavy rain among the leaves； and a thunder…storm rolling
up—Mrs Sparsit received into her mind； set off with such an
unavoidable halo of confusion and indistinctness； that when at
length he climbed the fence and led his horse away； she was not
sure where they were to meet； or when； except that they had said
it was to be that night。
But one of them yet remained in the darkness before her； and
while she tracked that one she must be right。 “Oh； my dearest
love；” thought Mrs Sparsit； “you little think how well attended you
are！”
Mrs Sparsit saw her out of the wood； and saw her enter the
house。 What to do next？ It rained now； in a sheet of water。 Mrs
Sparsit’s white stockings were of many colours； green
predominating； prickly things were in her shoes； caterpillars slung
themselves in hammocks of their own making； from various parts
of her dress； rills ran from her bonnet； and her Roman nose。 In
such condition； Mrs Sparsit stood hidden
