lay morals-第42章

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aid。

But　she　was　to　be　no　more　exercised；　for　Mr。　Archer；　　disclaiming　any　thought　of　flattery；　turned　off　to　other　　subjects；　and　held　her　all　through　the　wood　in　conversation；　　addressing　her　with　an　air　of　perfect　sincerity；　and　　listening　to　her　answers　with　every　mark　of　interest。　　Had　　open　flattery　continued；　Nance　would　have　soon　found　refuge　　in　good　sense；　but　the　more　subtle　lure　she　could　not　　suspect；　much　less　avoid。　　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　　taken　part　in　a　conversation　illuminated　by　any　ideas。　　All　　was　then　true　that　she　had　heard　and　dreamed　of　gentlemen；　　they　were　a　race　apart；　like　deities　knowing　good　and　evil。　　　And　then　there　burst　upon　her　soul　a　divine　thought；　hope's　　glorious　sunrise：　since　she　could　understand；　since　it　seemed　　that　she　too；　even　she；　could　interest　this　sorrowful　Apollo；　　might　she　not　learn？　or　was　she　not　learning？　　Would　not　her　　soul　awake　and　put　forth　wings？　　Was　she　not；　in　fact；　an　　enchanted　princess；　waiting　but　a　touch　to　become　royal？　　She　　saw　herself　transformed；　radiantly　attired；　but　in　the　most　　exquisite　taste：　her　face　grown　longer　and　more　refined；　her　　tint　etherealised；　and　she　heard　herself　with　delighted　　wonder　talking　like　a　book。

Meanwhile　they　had　arrived　at　where　the　track　comes　out　above　　the　river　dell；　and　saw　in　front　of　them　the　castle；　faintly　　shadowed　on　the　night；　covering　with　its　broken　battlements　a　　bold　projection　of　the　bank；　and　showing　at　the　extreme　end；　　where　were　the　habitable　tower　and　wing；　some　crevices　of　　candle…light。　　Hence　she　called　loudly　upon　her　uncle；　and　he　　was　seen　to　issue；　lantern　in　hand；　from　the　tower　door；　and；　　where　the　ruins　did　not　intervene；　to　pick　his　way　over　the　　swarded　courtyard；　avoiding　treacherous　cellars　and　winding　　among　blocks　of　fallen　masonry。　　The　arch　of　the　great　gate　　was　still　entire；　flanked　by　two　tottering　bastions；　and　it　　was　here　that　Jonathan　met　them；　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　　bridge；　bent　somewhat　forward；　and　blinking　at　them　through　　the　glow　of　his　own　lantern。　　Mr。　Archer　greeted　him　with　　civility；　but　the　old　man　was　in　no　humour　of　compliance。　　He　　guided　the　new…comer　across　the　court…yard；　looking　sharply　　and　quickly　in　his　face；　and　grumbling　all　the　time　about　the　　cold；　and　the　discomfort　and　dilapidation　of　the　castle。　　He　　was　sure　he　hoped　that　Mr。　Archer　would　like　it；　but　in　truth　　he　could　not　think　what　brought　him　there。　　Doubtless　he　had　　a　good　reason　…　this　with　a　look　of　cunning　scrutiny　…　but；　　indeed；　the　place　was　quite　unfit　for　any　person　of　repute；　　he　himself　was　eaten　up　with　the　rheumatics。　　It　was　the　most　　rheumaticky　place　in　England；　and　some　fine　day　the　whole　　habitable　part　（to　call　it　habitable）　would　fetch　away　bodily　　and　go　down　the　slope　into　the　river。　　He　had　seen　the　cracks　　widening；　there　was　a　plaguy　issue　in　the　bank　below；　he　　thought　a　spring　was　mining　it；　it　might　be　tomorrow；　it　　might　be　next　day；　but　they　were　all　sure　of　a　come…down　　sooner　or　later。　　'And　that　is　a　poor　death；'　said　he；　'for　　any　one；　let　alone　a　gentleman；　to　have　a　whole　old　ruin　　dumped　upon　his　belly。　　Have　a　care　to　your　left　there；　these　　cellar　vaults　have　all　broke　down；　and　the　grass　and　hemlock　　hide　'em。　　Well；　sir；　here　is　welcome　to　you；　such　as　it　is；　　and　wishing　you　well　away。'

And　with　that　Jonathan　ushered　his　guest　through　the　tower　　door；　and　down　three　steps　on　the　left　hand　into　the　kitchen　　or　common　room　of　the　castle。　　It　was　a　huge；　low　room；　as　　large　as　a　meadow；　occupying　the　whole　width　of　the　habitable　　wing；　with　six　barred　windows　looking　on　the　court；　and　two　　into　the　river　valley。　　A　dresser；　a　table；　and　a　few　chairs　　stood　dotted　here　and　there　upon　the　uneven　flags。　　Under　the　　great　chimney　a　good　fire　burned　in　an　iron　fire…basket；　a　　high　old　settee；　rudely　carved　with　figures　and　Gothic　　lettering；　flanked　it　on　either　side；　there　was　a　hinge　table　　and　a　stone　bench　in　the　chimney　corner；　and　above　the　arch　　hung　guns；　axes；　lanterns；　and　great　sheaves　of　rusty　keys。

Jonathan　looked　about　him；　holding　up　the　lantern；　and　　shrugged　his　shoulders；　with　a　pitying　grimace。　　'Here　it　　is；'　he　said。　　'See　the　damp　on　the　floor；　look　at　the　moss；　　where　there's　moss　you　may　be　sure　that　it's　rheumaticky。　　　Try　and　get　near　that　fire　for　to　warm　yourself；　it'll　blow　　the　coat　off　your　back。　　And　with　a　young　gentleman　with　a　　face　like　yours；　as　pale　as　a　tallow…candle；　I'd　be　afeard　of　　a　churchyard　cough　and　a　galloping　decline；'　says　Jonathan；　　naming　the　maladies　with　gloomy　gusto；　'or　the　cold　might　　strike　and　turn　your　blood；'　he　added。

Mr。　Archer　fairly　laughed。　　'My　good　Mr。　Holdaway；'　said　he；　　'I　was　born　with　that　same　tallow…candle　face；　and　the　only　　fear　that　you　inspire　me　with　is　the　fear　that　I　intrude　　unwelcomely　upon　your　private　hours。　　But　I　think　I　can　　promise　you　that　I　am　very　little　troublesome；　and　I　am　　inclined　to　hope　that　the　terms　which　I　can　offer　may　still　　pay　you　the　derangement。'

'Yes；　the　terms；'　said　Jonathan；　'I　was　thinking　of　that。　　As　　you　say；　they　are　very　small；'　and　he　shook　his　head。

'Unhappily；　I　can　afford　no　more；'　said　Mr。　Archer。　　'But　　this　we　have　arranged　already；'　he　added　with　a　certain　　stiffness；　'and　as　I　am　aware　that　Miss　Holdaway　has　matter　　to　communicate；　I　will；　if　you　permit；　retire　at　once。　　To…　night　I　must　bivouac；　to…morrow　my　trunk　is　to　follow　from　　the　〃Dragon。〃　　So　if　you　will　show　me　to　my　room　I　shall　wish　　you　a　good　slumber　and　a　better　awakening。'

Jonathan　silently　gave　the　lantern　to　Nance；　and　she；　turning　　and　curtseying　in　the　doorway；　proceeded　to　conduct　their　　guest　up　the　broad　winding　staircase　of　the　tower。　　He　　followed　with　a　very　brooding　face。

'Alas！'　cried　Nance；　as　she　entered　the　room；　'your　fire　　black　out；'　and；　setting　down　the　lantern；　she　clapped　upon　　her　knees　before　the　chimney　and　began　to　rearrange　the　　charred　and　still　smouldering　remains。　　Mr。　Archer　looked　　about　the　gaunt　apartment　with　a　sort　of　shudder。　　The　great　　height；　the　bare　stone；　the　shattered　windows；　the　aspect　of　　the　uncurtained　bed；　with　one　of　its　four　fluted　columns　　broken　short；　all　struck　a　chill　upon　his　fancy。　　From　this　　dismal　survey　his　eyes　returned　to　Nance　crouching　before　the　　fire；　the　candle　in　one　hand　and　artfully　puffing　at　the　　embers；　the　flames　as　they　broke　forth　played　upon　the　soft　　outline　of　her　cheek　…　she　was　alive　and　young；　coloured　with　　the　bright　hues　of　life；　and　a　woman。　　He　looked　upon　her；　　softening；　and　then　sat　down　and　continued　to　admire　the　　picture。

'There；　sir；'　said　she；　getting　upon　her　feet；　'your　fire　is　　doing　bravely　now。　　Good…night。'

He　rose　and　held　out　his　hand。　　'Come；'　said　he；　'you　are　my　　only　friend　in　these　parts；　and　you　must　shake　hands。'

She　brushed　her　hand　upon　her　skirt　and　offered　it；　blushing。

'God　bless　you；　my　dear；'　said　he。

And　then；　when　he　was　alone；　he　opened　one　of　the　windows；　　and　stared　down　into　the　dark　valley。　　A　gentle　wimpling　of　　the　river　among　stones　ascended　to　his　ear；　the　trees　upon　　the　other　bank　stood　very　black　against　the　sky；　farther　away　　an　owl　was　hooting。　　It　was　dreary　and　cold；　and　as　he　turned　　back　to　the　hearth　and　the　fine　glow　of　fire；　'Heavens！'　said　　he　to　himself；　'what　an　unfortunate　destiny　is　mine！'

He　went　to　bed；　but　sleep　only　visited　his　pillow　in　uneasy　　snatches。　　Outbreaks　of　loud　speech　came　up　the　staircase；　he　　heard　the　old　stones　of　the　castle　crack　in　the　frosty　night　　with　sharp　reverberations；　and　the　bed　complained　under　his　　tossings。　　Lastly；　far　on　into　the　morning；　he　awakened　from　　a　doze　to　hear；　very　far　off；　in　the　extreme　and　breathless　　quiet；　a　wailing　flourish　on　the　horn。　　The　down　mail　was　　drawing　near　to　the　'Green　Dragon。'　　He　sat　up　in　bed；　the　　sound　was　tragical　by　distance；　and　the　modulation　appealed　　to　his　ear　like　human　speech。　　It　seemed　to　call　upon　him　　with　a　dreary　insistence　…　to　call　him　far　away；　to　address　　him　personally；　and　to　have　a　meaning　that　he　failed　to　　seize。　　It　was　thus；　at　least；　in　this　nodding　castle；　in　a　　cold；　miry　woodland；　and　so　far　from　men　and　society；　that　　the　traffic　on　the　Great　North　Road　spoke