贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the purcell papers-2 >

第12章

the purcell papers-2-第12章

小说: the purcell papers-2 字数: 每页4000字

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!




girl?' inquired Dwyer。



'Altogether so;' was the reply。



'Then I have a request to make;'

continued Dwyer; 'and I may as well urge

it now as at any other time。 I have

been for nearly twenty years the faithful;

and by no means useless; servant of your

family; you know that I have rendered

your father critical and important

services' he paused; and added hastily:

'you are not in the moodI tire you;

sir。'



'Nay;' cried O'Mara; 'I listen patiently

proceed。'



'For all these services; and they were

not; as I have said; few or valueless; I

have received little more reward than

liberal promises; you have told me often

that this should be mendedI'll make it

easily doneI'm not unreasonableI

should be contented to hold Heathcote's

ground; along with this small farm on

which we stand; as full quittance of all

obligations and promises between us。'



'But how the devil can I effect that

for you; this farm; it is true; I; or my

father; rather; may lease to you; but

Heathcote's title we cannot impugn; and

even if we could; you would not expect

us to ruin an honest man; in order to

make way for YOU; Ned。'



'What I am;' replied Dwyer; with the

calmness of one who is so accustomed to

contemptuous insinuations as to receive

them with perfect indifference; 'is to be

attributed to my devotedness to your

honourable familybut that is neither

here nor there。 I do not ask you to

displace Heathcote; in order to made

room for me。 I know it is out of your

power to do so。 Now hearken to me for

a moment; Heathcote's property; that

which he has set out to tenants; is worth;

say in rents; at most; one hundred

pounds: half of this yearly amount is

assigned to your father; until payment be

made of a bond for a thousand pounds;

with interest and soforth。 Hear me

patiently for a moment and I have done。

Now go you to Heathcote; and tell him

your father will burn the bond; and cancel

the debt; upon one conditionthat when

I am in possession of this farm; which you

can lease to me on what terms you think

suitable; he will convey over his property

to me; reserving what life…interest may

appear fair; I engaging at the same time

to marry his daughter; and make such

settlements upon her as shall be thought

fittinghe is not a foolthe man will

close with the offer。'



O'Mara turned shortly upon Dwyer;

and gazed upon him for a moment with

an expression of almost unmixed resentment。



'How;' said he at length; 'YOU contract

to marry Ellen Heathcote? the poor;

innocent; confiding; light…hearted girl。

No; no; Edward Dwyer; I know you too

well for thatyour services; be they what

they will; must not; shall not go unrewarded

your avarice shall be appeased

but not with a human sacrifice! Dwyer;

I speak to you without disguise; you

know me to be acquainted with your

history; and what's more; with your

character。 Now tell me frankly; were I

to do as you desire me; in cool blood;

should I not prove myself a more

uncompromising and unfeeling villain than

humanity even in its most monstrous

shapes has ever yet given birth

to?'



Dwyer met this impetuous language

with the unmoved and impenetrable calmness

which always marked him when

excitement would have appeared in

others; he even smiled as he replied:

(and Dwyer's smile; for I have seen it;

was characteristically of that unfortunate

kind which implies; as regards the

emotions of others; not sympathy but

derision)。



'This eloquence goes to prove Ellen

Heathcote something nearer to your heart

than your great indifference would have

led me to suppose。'



There was something in the tone;

perhaps in the truth of the insinuation; which

at once kindled the quick pride and the

anger of O'Mara; and he instantly replied:



'Be silent; sir; this is insolent

folly。'



Whether it was that Dwyer was more

keenly interested in the success of his suit;

or more deeply disappointed at its failure

than he cared to express; or that he was in

a less complacent mood than was his wont;

it is certain that his countenance expressed

more emotion at this direct insult than it

had ever exhibited before under similar

circumstances; for his eyes gleamed for an

instant with savage and undisguised ferocity

upon the young man; and a dark glow

crossed his brow; and for the moment he

looked about to spring at the throat of his

insolent patron; but the impulse whatever

it might be; was quickly suppressed; and

before O'Mara had time to detect the

scowl; it had vanished。



'Nay; sir;' said Dwyer; 'I meant no

offence; and I will take none; at your

hands at least。 I will confess I care not;

in love and soforth; a single bean for the

girl; she was the mere channel through

which her father's wealth; if such a pittance

deserves the name; was to have flowed into

my possession'twas in respect of your

family finances the most economical

provision for myself which I could devisea

matter in which you; not I; are interested。

As for women; they are all pretty much

alike to me。 I am too old myself to make

nice distinctions; and too ugly to succeed by

Cupid's arts; and when a man despairs of

success; he soon ceases to care for it。 So;

if you know me; as you profess to do; rest

satisfied 〃caeteris paribus;〃 the money part

of the transaction being equally advantageous;

I should regret the loss of Ellen

Heathcote just as little as I should the

escape of a minnow from my landing…net。'



They walked on for a few minutes in

silence; which was not broken till Dwyer;

who had climbed a stile in order to pass a

low stone wall which lay in their way;

exclaimed:



'By the rood; she's herehow like a

philosopher you look。〃



The conscious blood mounted to O'Mara's

cheek; he crossed the stile; and; separated

from him only by a slight fence and a gate;

stood the subject of their recent and somewhat

angry discussion。



'God save you; Miss Heathcote;' cried

Dwyer; approaching the gate。



The salutation was cheerfully returned;

and before anything more could pass;

O'Mara had joined the party。



My friend; that you may understand the

strength and depth of those impetuous

passions; that you may account for the

fatal infatuation which led to the catastrophe

which I have to relate; I must tell

you; that though I have seen the beauties

of cities and of courts; with all the splendour

of studied ornament about them to

enhance their graces; possessing charms

which had made them known almost

throughout the world; and worshipped with

the incense of a thousand votaries; yet

never; nowhere did I behold a being of

such exquisite and touching beauty; as

that possessed by the creature of whom I

have just spoken。 At the moment of

which I write; she was standing near the

gate; close to which several brown…armed;

rosy…cheeked damsels were engaged in

milking the peaceful cows; who stood

picturesquely grouped together。 She had

just thrown back the hood which is the

graceful characteristic of the Irish girl's

attire; so that her small and classic head was

quite uncovered; save only by the dark…

brown hair; which with graceful simplicity

was parted above her forehead。 There

was nothing to shade the clearness of her

beautiful complexion; the delicately…formed

features; so exquisite when taken singly; so

indescribable when combined; so purely

artless; yet so meet for all expression。 She

was a thing so very beautiful; you could

not look on her without feeling your heart

touched as by sweet music。 Whose

lightest action was a gracewhose lightest

word a spellno limner's art; though ne'er

so perfect; could shadow forth her beauty;

and do I dare with feeble words try to

make you see it?'1' Providence is indeed

no respecter of persons; its blessings and

its inflictions are apportioned with an

undistinguishi

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的