the purcell papers-2-第3章
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minute and circumstantial particulars of
which none but an EYE…WITNESS could have
been possessed; and by implications almost
too unequivocal to be regarded in the light
of insinuation; to involve the 'TITLED
GAMBLER' in the guilt of the transaction。
My father at once urged Sir Arthur to
proceed against the paper in an action of
libel; but he would not hear of it; nor
consent to my father's taking any legal
steps whatever in the matter。 My father;
however; wrote in a threatening tone to
Faulkner; demanding a surrender of the
author of the obnoxious article。 The
answer to this application is still in my
possession; and is penned in an apologetic
tone: it states that the manuscript had
been handed in; paid for; and inserted as
an advertisement; without sufficient
inquiry; or any knowledge as to whom it
referred。
No step; however; was taken to clear
my uncle's character in the judgment of
the public; and as he immediately sold a
small property; the application of the
proceeds of which was known to none; he
was said to have disposed of it to enable
himself to buy off the threatened information。
However the truth might have been;
it is certain that no charges respecting the
mysterious murder were afterwards publicly
made against my uncle; and; as far as
external disturbances were concerned; he
enjoyed henceforward perfect security and
quiet。
A deep and lasting impression; however;
had been made upon the public mind; and
Sir Arthur Tn was no longer visited
or noticed by the gentry and aristocracy of
the county; whose attention and courtesies
he had hitherto received。 He accordingly
affected to despise these enjoyments which
he could not procure; and shunned even
that society which he might have commanded。
This is all that I need recapitulate of my
uncle's history; and I now recur to my own。
Although my father had never; within my
recollection; visited; or been visited by; my
uncle; each being of sedentary; procrastinating;
and secluded habits; and their respective
residences being very far apart
the one lying in the county of Galway; the
other in that of Corkhe was strongly
attached to his brother; and evinced his
affection by an active correspondence; and
by deeply and proudly resenting that
neglect which had marked Sir Arthur as
unfit to mix in society。
When I was about eighteen years of
age; my father; whose health had been
gradually declining; died; leaving me in
heart wretched and desolate; and; owing to
his previous seclusion; with few acquaintances;
and almost no friends。
The provisions of his will were curious;
and when I had sufficiently come to myself
to listen to or comprehend them;
surprised me not a little: all his vast property
was left to me; and to the heirs of my
body; for ever; and; in default of such
heirs; it was to go after my death to my
uncle; Sir Arthur; without any entail。
At the same time; the will appointed
him my guardian; desiring that I might be
received within his house; and reside with
his family; and under his care; during the
term of my minority; and in consideration
of the increased expense consequent upon
such an arrangement; a handsome annuity
was allotted to him during the term of my
proposed residence。
The object of this last provision I at
once understood: my father desired; by
making it the direct; apparent interest of
Sir Arthur that I should die without
issue; while at the same time he placed me
wholly in his power; to prove to the world
how great and unshaken was his
confidence in his brother's innocence and
honour; and also to afford him an
opportunity of showing that this mark of
confidence was not unworthily bestowed。
It was a strange; perhaps an idle
scheme; but as I had been always brought
up in the habit of considering my uncle as
a deeply…injured man; and had been taught;
almost as a part of my religion; to regard
him as the very soul of honour; I felt no
further uneasiness respecting the arrangement
than that likely to result to a timid
girl; of secluded habits; from the immediate
prospect of taking up her abode for the
first time in her life among total strangers。
Previous to leaving my home; which I felt
I should do with a heavy heart; I re…
ceived a most tender and affectionate letter
from my uncle; calculated; if anything
could do so; to remove the bitterness of
parting from scenes familiar and dear from
my earliest childhood; and in some degree
to reconcile me to the measure。
It was during a fine autumn that I
approached the old domain of Carrickleigh。
I shall not soon forget the impression of
sadness and of gloom which all that I saw
produced upon my mind; the sunbeams
were falling with a rich and melancholy
tint upon the fine old trees; which stood in
lordly groups; casting their long; sweeping
shadows over rock and sward。 There was
an air of neglect and decay about the spot;
which amounted almost to desolation; the
symptoms of this increased in number as
we approached the building itself; near
which the ground had been originally more
artificially and carefully cultivated than
elsewhere; and whose neglect consequently
more immediately and strikingly betrayed
itself。
As we proceeded; the road wound near
the beds of what had been formally two
fish…ponds; which were now nothing more
than stagnant swamps; overgrown with
rank weeds; and here and there encroached
upon by the straggling underwood; the
avenue itself was much broken; and in
many places the stones were almost
concealed by grass and nettles; the loose
stone walls which had here and there
intersected the broad park were; in many
places; broken down; so as no longer to
answer their original purpose as fences;
piers were now and then to be seen; but
the gates were gone; and; to add to the
general air of dilapidation; some huge
trunks were lying scattered through the
venerable old trees; either the work of the
winter storms; or perhaps the victims of
some extensive but desultory scheme of
denudation; which the projector had not
capital or perseverance to carry into full
effect。
After the carriage had travelled a mile
of this avenue; we reached the summit of
rather an abrupt eminence; one of the
many which added to the picturesqueness;
if not to the convenience of this rude
passage。 From the top of this ridge the
grey walls of Carrickleigh were visible;
rising at a small distance in front; and
darkened by the hoary wood which
crowded around them。 It was a quadrangular
building of considerable extent;
and the front which lay towards us; and
in which the great entrance was placed;
bore unequivocal marks of antiquity; the
time…worn; solemn aspect of the old building;
the ruinous and deserted appearance
of the whole place; and the associations
which connected it with a dark page in the
history of my family; combined to depress
spirits already predisposed for the reception
of sombre and dejecting impressions。
When the carriage drew up in the grass…
grown court yard before the hall…door; two
lazy…looking men; whose appearance well
accorded with that of the place which they
tenanted; alarmed by the obstreperous
barking of a great chained dog; ran out
from some half…ruinous out…houses; and
took charge of the horses; the hall…door
stood open; and I entered a gloomy and
imperfectly lighted apartment; and found
no one within。 However; I had not long
to wait in this awkward predicament; for
before my luggage had been deposited in
the house; indeed; before I had well
removed my cloak and other wraps; so as
to enable me to look around; a young girl
ran lightly into the hall; and kissing me
heartily; and somewhat boisterously;
exclaimed:
'My dear cousin; my dear Margaret
I am so delightedso out of breath。 We
did not e