liber amoris-第17章
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may have something to support me under the dreadful conviction。〃 She let me take her hands in mine； saying； 〃She supposed there could be no objection to that；〃as if she acted on the suggestions of others； instead of following her own willbut still avoided giving me any answer。 I conjured her to tell me the worst； and kill me on the spot。 Any thing was better than my present state。 I said； 〃Is it Mr。 C…？〃 She smiled； and said with gay indifference； 〃Mr。 C… was here a very short time。〃 〃Well； then； was it Mr。 …？〃 She hesitated； and then replied faintly； 〃No。〃 This was a mere trick to mislead； one of the profoundnesses of Satan； in which she is an adept。 〃But；〃 she added hastily； 〃she could make no more confidences。〃 〃Then；〃 said I； 〃you have something to communicate。〃 〃No； but she had once mentioned a thing of the sort； which I had hinted to her mother； though it signified little。〃 All this while I was in tortures。 Every word； every half…denial； stabbed me。 〃Had she any tie？〃 〃No； I have no tie！〃 〃You are not going to be married soon？〃 〃I don't intend ever to marry at all！〃 〃Can't you be friends with me as of old？〃 〃She could give no promises。〃 〃Would she make her own terms？〃 〃She would make none。〃〃I was sadly afraid the LITTLE IMAGE was dethroned from her heart； as I had dashed it to the ground the other night。〃〃She was neither desperate nor violent。〃 I did not answer〃But deliberate and deadly；〃though I might； and so she vanished in this running fight of question and answer； in spite of my vain efforts to detain her。 The cockatrice； I said； mocks me： so she has always done。 The thought was a dagger to me。 My head reeled； my heart recoiled within me。 I was stung with scorpions； my flesh crawled； I was choked with rage； her scorn scorched me like flames； her air （her heavenly air） withdrawn from me； stifled me； and left me gasping for breath and being。 It was a fable。 She started up in her own likeness； a serpent in place of a woman。 She had fascinated； she had stung me； and had returned to her proper shape； gliding from me after inflicting the mortal wound； and instilling deadly poison into every pore； but her form lost none of its original brightness by the change of character； but was all glittering； beauteous； voluptuous grace。 Seed of the serpent or of the woman； she was divine！ I felt that she was a witch； and had bewitched me。 Fate had enclosed me round about。 _I_ was transformed too； no longer human （any more than she； to whom I had knit myself） my feelings were marble； my blood was of molten lead； my thoughts on fire。 I was taken out of myself； wrapt into another sphere； far from the light of day； of hope； of love。 I had no natural affection left； she had slain me； but no other thing had power over me。 Her arms embraced another； but her mock…embrace； the phantom of her love； still bound me； and I had not a wish to escape。 So I felt then； and so perhaps shall feel till I grow old and die； nor have any desire that my years should last longer than they are linked in the chain of those amorous folds； or than her enchantments steep my soul in oblivion of all other things！ I started to find myself alonefor ever alone； without a creature to love me。 I looked round the room for help； I saw the tables； the chairs； the places where she stood or sat； empty； deserted； dead。 I could not stay where I was； I had no one to go to but to the parent…mischief； the preternatural hag； that had 〃drugged this posset〃 of her daughter's charms and falsehood for me； and I went down and （such was my weakness and helplessness） sat with her for an hour； and talked with her of her daughter； and the sweet days we had passed together； and said I thought her a good girl； and believed that if there was no rival； she still had a regard for me at the bottom of her heart； and how I liked her all the better for her coy； maiden airs： and I received the assurance over and over that there was no one else； and that Sarah （they all knew） never staid five minutes with any other lodger； while with me she would stay by the hour together； in spite of all her father could say to her （what were her motives； was best known to herself！） and while we were talking of her； she came bounding into the room； smiling with smothered delight at the consummation of my folly and her own art； and I asked her mother whether she thought she looked as if she hated me； and I took her wrinkled； withered； cadaverous； clammy hand at parting； and kissed it。 Faugh！
I will make an end of this story； there is something in it discordant to honest ears。 I left the house the next day； and returned to Scotland in a state so near to phrenzy； that I take it the shades sometimes ran into one another。 R met me the day after I arrived； and will tell you the way I was in。 I was like a person in a high fever； only mine was in the mind instead of the body。 It had the same irritating； uncomfortable effect on the bye…standers。 I was incapable of any application； and don't know what I should have done； had it not been for the kindness of …。 I came to see you； to 〃bestow some of my tediousness upon you；〃 but you were gone from home。 Everything went on well as to the law business； and as it approached to a conclusion； I wrote to my good friend P to go to M； who had married her sister； and ask him if it would be worth my while to make her a formal offer； as soon as I was free； as； with the least encouragement； I was ready to throw myself at her feet； and to know； in case of refusal； whether I might go back there and be treated as an old friend。 Not a word of answer could be got from her on either point； notwithstanding every importunity and intreaty； but it was the opinion of M that I might go and try my fortune。 I did so with joy； with something like confidence。 I thought her giving no positive answer implied a chance； at least； of the reversion of her favour； in case I behaved well。 All was false； hollow； insidious。 The first night after I got home； I slept on down。 In Scotland； the flint had been my pillow。 But now I slept under the same roof with her。 What softness； what balmy repose in the very thought！ I saw her that same day and shook hands with her； and told her how glad I was to see her； and she was kind and comfortable； though still cold and distant。 Her manner was altered from what it was the last time。 She still absented herself from the room； but was mild and affable when she did come。 She was pale； dejected； evidently uneasy about something； and had been ill。 I thought it was perhaps her reluctance to yield to my wishes； her pity for what I suffered； and that in the struggle between both； she did not know what to do。 How I worshipped her at these moments！ We had a long interview the third day； and I thought all was doing well。 I found her sitting at work in the window…seat of the front parlour； and on my asking if I might come in； she made no objection。 I sat down by her； she let me take her hand； I talked to her of indifferent things； and of old times。 I asked her if she would put some new frills on my shirts？…〃With the greatest pleasure。〃 If she could get THE LITTLE IMAGE mended？ 〃It was broken in three pieces； and the sword was gone； but she would try。〃 I then asked her to make up a plaid silk which I had given her in the winter； and which she said would make a pretty summer gown。 I so longed to see her in it！〃She had little time to spare； but perhaps might！〃 Think what I felt； talking peaceably； kindly； tenderly with my love；not passionately； not violently。 I tried to take pattern by her patient meekness； as I thought it； and to subdue my desires to her will。 I then sued to her； but respectfully； to be admitted to her friendshipshe must know I was as true a friend as ever woman hador if there was a bar to our intimacy from a dearer attachment； to let me know it frankly； as I shewed her all my heart。 She drew out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes 〃of tears which sacred pity had engendered there。〃 Was it so or not？ I cannot tell。 But so she stood （while I pleaded my cause to her with all the earnestness； and fondness in the world） with the tears trickling from her eye…lashes； her head stooping； her attitude fixed； with the
