the purcell papers-2-第7章
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agitated。 He continued to hold my hand
with an almost painful pressure; while; as
if unconsciously; seeming to forget my
presence; he muttered:
'Strange; strange; strange; indeed!
fatuity; helpless fatuity!' there was here a
long pause。 'Madness INDEED to strain a
cable that is rotten to the very heartit
must breakand thenall goes。'
There was again a pause of some
minutes; after which; suddenly changing
his voice and manner to one of wakeful
alacrity; he exclaimed:
'Margaret; my son Edward shall plague
you no more。 He leaves this country on
to…morrow for Francehe shall speak no
more upon this subjectnever; never
morewhatever events depended upon
your answer must now take their own
course; but; as for this fruitless proposal; it
has been tried enough; it can be repeated
no more。'
At these words he coldly suffered my
hand to drop; as if to express his total
abandonment of all his projected schemes
of alliance; and certainly the action; with
the accompanying words; produced upon
my mind a more solemn and depressing
effect than I believed possible to have
been caused by the course which I had
determined to pursue; it struck upon my
heart with an awe and heaviness which
WILL accompany the accomplishment of an
important and irrevocable act; even though
no doubt or scruple remains to make it
possible that the agent should wish it undone。
'Well;' said my uncle; after a little time;
'we now cease to speak upon this topic;
never to resume it again。 Remember you
shall have no farther uneasiness from
Edward; he leaves Ireland for France on
to…morrow; this will be a relief to you。
May I depend upon your HONOUR that no
word touching the subject of this interview
shall ever escape you?'
I gave him the desired assurance; he
said:
'It is wellI am satisfiedwe have
nothing more; I believe; to say upon
either side; and my presence must be a
restraint upon you; I shall therefore bid
you farewell。'
I then left the apartment; scarcely
knowing what to think of the strange
interview which had just taken place。
On the next day my uncle took occasion
to tell me that Edward had actually
sailed; if his intention had not been
interfered with by adverse circumstances; and
two days subsequently he actually produced
a letter from his son; written; as it
said; ON BOARD; and despatched while the
ship was getting under weigh。 This was
a great satisfaction to me; and as being
likely to prove so; it was no doubt
communicated to me by Sir Arthur。
During all this trying period; I had
found infinite consolation in the society
and sympathy of my dear cousin Emily。
I never in after…life formed a friendship so
close; so fervent; and upon which; in all its
progress; I could look back with feelings
of such unalloyed pleasure; upon whose
termination I must ever dwell with so
deep; yet so unembittered regret。 In
cheerful converse with her I soon
recovered my spirits considerably; and
passed my time agreeably enough;
although still in the strictest seclusion。
Matters went on sufficiently smooth;
although I could not help sometimes
feeling a momentary; but horrible
uncertainty respecting my uncle's character;
which was not altogether unwarranted by
the circumstances of the two trying
interviews whose particulars I have just
detailed。 The unpleasant impression which
these conferences were calculated to leave
upon my mind; was fast wearing away;
when there occurred a circumstance; slight
indeed in itself; but calculated irresistibly
to awaken all my worst suspicions; and to
overwhelm me again with anxiety and
terror。
I had one day left the house with my
cousin Emily; in order to take a ramble of
considerable length; for the purpose of
sketching some favourite views; and we
had walked about half a mile when I
perceived that we had forgotten our drawing
materials; the absence of which would have
defeated the object of our walk。 Laughing
at our own thoughtlessness; we returned
to the house; and leaving Emily without; I
ran upstairs to procure the drawing…books
and pencils; which lay in my bedroom。
As I ran up the stairs I was met by the
tall; ill…looking Frenchwoman; evidently
a good deal flurried。
'Que veut; madame?' said she; with a
more decided effort to be polite than I had
ever known her make before。
'No; nono matter;' said I; hastily
running by her in the direction of my
room。
'Madame;' cried she; in a high key;
'restez ici; s'il vous plait; votre chambre
n'est pas faiteyour room is not ready
for your reception yet。'
I continued to move on without heeding
her。 She was some way behind me; and
feeling that she could not otherwise prevent
my entrance; for I was now upon the
very lobby; she made a desperate attempt
to seize hold of my person: she succeeded
in grasping the end of my shawl; which
she drew from my shoulders; but slipping at
the same time upon the polished oak floor;
she fell at full length upon the boards。
A little frightened as well as angry at
the rudeness of this strange woman; I
hastily pushed open the door of my room;
at which I now stood; in order to escape
from her; but great was my amazement
on entering to find the apartment preoccupied。
The window was open; and beside it
stood two male figures; they appeared to
be examining the fastenings of the casement;
and their backs were turned towards
the door。 One of them was my uncle;
they both turned on my entrance; as if
startled。 The stranger was booted and
cloaked; and wore a heavy broad…leafed hat
over his brows。 He turned but for a moment;
and averted his face; but I had seen
enough to convince me that he was no
other than my cousin Edward。 My uncle
had some iron instrument in his hand;
which he hastily concealed behind his back;
and coming towards me; said something as
if in an explanatory tone; but I was too
much shocked and confounded to understand
what it might be。 He said something
about 'REPAIRSwindowframes
cold; and safety。'
I did not wait; however; to ask or to
receive explanations; but hastily left the
room。 As I went down the stairs I
thought I heard the voice of the Frenchwoman
in all the shrill volubility of excuse;
which was met; however; by suppressed
but vehement imprecations; or what
seemed to me to be such; in which the
voice of my cousin Edward distinctly
mingled。
I joined my cousin Emily quite out of
breath。 I need not say that my head was
too full of other things to think much of
drawing for that day。 I imparted to her
frankly the cause of my alarms; but at the
same time as gently as I could; and with
tears she promised vigilance; and devotion;
and love。 I never had reason for a
moment to repent the unreserved confidence
which I then reposed in her。 She was no
less surprised than I at the unexpected
appearance of Edward; whose departure
for France neither of us had for a moment
doubted; but which was now proved by his
actual presence to be nothing more than
an imposture; practised; I feared; for no
good end。
The situation in which I had found my
uncle had removed completely all my
doubts as to his designs。 I magnified
suspicions into certainties; and dreaded night
after night that I should be murdered in
my bed。 The nervousness produced by
sleepless nights and days of anxious fears
increased the horrors of my situation to
such a degree; that I at length wrote a
letter to a Mr。 Jefferies; an old and faithful
friend of my father's; and perfectly
acquainted with all his affairs; praying him;
for God's sake; to relieve me from my
present terrible situation; and communicating
without reserve the nature and
grounds of my suspicions。
This letter I kept sealed and directed
for two or three days always about my
person; fo