the poor clare-第11章
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In the morning I went to see her。 She was standing on the green outside her cottage; and received me with the sullen grandeur of a throneless queen。 I read in her face that she recognized me; and that I was not unwelcome; but she stood silent till I had opened my errand。
〃I have news of your daughter;〃 said I; resolved to speak straight to all that I knew she felt of love; and not to spare her。 〃She is dead!〃
The stern figure scarcely trembled; but her hand sought the support of the door…post。
〃I knew that she was dead;〃 said she; deep and low; and then was silent for an instant。 〃My tears that should have flowed for her were burnt up long years ago。 Young man; tell me about her。〃
〃Not yet;〃 said I; having a strange power given me of confronting one; whom; nevertheless; in my secret soul I dreaded。
〃You had once a little dog;〃 I continued。 The words called out in her more show of emotion than the intelligence of her daughter's death。 She broke in upon my speech:…
〃I had! It was hersthe last thing I had of hersand it was shot for wantonness! It died in my arms。 The man who killed that dog rues it to this day。 For that dumb beast's blood; his best…beloved stands accursed。〃
Her eyes distended; as if she were in a trance and saw the working of her curse。 Again I spoke:…
〃O; woman!〃 I said; 〃that best…beloved; standing accursed before men; is your dead daughter's child。〃
The life; the energy; the passion; came back to the eyes with which she pierced through me; to see if I spoke truth; then; without another question or word; she threw herself on the ground with fearful vehemence; and clutched at the innocent daisies with convulsed hands。
〃Bone of my bone! flesh of my flesh! have I cursed theeand art thou accursed?〃
So she moaned; as she lay prostrate in her great agony。 I stood aghast at my own work。 She did not hear my broken sentences; she asked no more; but the dumb confirmation which my sad looks had given that one fact; that her curse rested on her own daughter's child。 The fear grew on me lest she should die in her strife of body and soul; and then might not Lucy remain under the spell as long as she lived?
Even at this moment; I saw Lucy coming through the woodland path that led to Bridget's cottage; Mistress Clarke was with her: I felt at my heart that it was she; by the balmy peace which the look of her sent over me; as she slowly advanced; a glad surprise shining out of her soft quiet eyes。 That was as her gaze met mine。 As her looks fell on the woman lying stiff; convulsed on the earth; they became full of tender pity; and she came forward to try and lift her up。 Seating herself on the turf; she took Bridget's head into her lap; and; with gentle touches; she arranged the dishevelled gray hair streaming thick and wild from beneath her mutch。
〃God help her!〃 murmured Lucy。 〃How she suffers!〃
At her desire we sought for water; but when we returned; Bridget had recovered her wandering senses; and was kneeling with clasped hands before Lucy; gazing at that sweet sad face as though her troubled nature drank in health and peace from every moment's contemplation。 A faint tinge on Lucy's pale cheeks showed me that she was aware of our return; otherwise it appeared as if she was conscious of her influence for good over the passionate and troubled woman kneeling before her; and would not willingly avert her grave and loving eyes from that wrinkled and careworn countenance。
Suddenlyin the twinkling of an eyethe creature appeared; there; behind Lucy; fearfully the same as to outward semblance; but kneeling exactly as Bridget knelt; and clasping her hands in jesting mimicry as Bridget clasped hers in her ecstasy that was deepening into a prayer。 Mistress Clarke cried outBridget arose slowly; her gaze fixed on the creature beyond: drawing her breath with a hissing sound; never moving her terrible eyes; that were steady as stone; she made a dart at the phantom; and caught; as I had done; a mere handful of empty air。 We saw no more of the creatureit vanished as suddenly as it came; but Bridget looked slowly on; as if watching some receding form。 Lucy sat still; white; trembling; droopingI think she would have swooned if I had not been there to uphold her。 While I was attending to her; Bridget passed us; without a word to any one; and; entering her cottage; she barred herself in; and left us without。
All our endeavours were now directed to get Lucy back to the house where she had tarried the night before。 Mistress Clarke told me that; not hearing from me (some letter must have miscarried); she had grown impatient and despairing; and had urged Lucy to the enterprise of coming to seek her grandmother; not telling her; indeed; of the dread reputation she possessed; or how we suspected her of having so fearfully blighted that innocent girl; but; at the same time; hoping much from the mysterious stirring of blood; which Mistress Clarke trusted in for the removal of the curse。 They had come; by a different route from that which I had taken; to a village inn not far from Coldholme; only the night before。 This was the first interview between ancestress and descendant。
All through the sultry noon I wandered along the tangled brush…wood of the old neglected forest; thinking where to turn for remedy in a matter so complicated and mysterious。 Meeting a countryman; I asked my way to the nearest clergyman; and went; hoping to obtain some counsel from him。 But he proved to be a coarse and common…minded man; giving no time or attention to the intricacies of a case; but dashing out a strong opinion involving immediate action。 For instance; as soon as I named Bridget Fitzgerald; he exclaimed:…
〃The Coldholme witch! the Irish papist! I'd have had her ducked long since but for that other papist; Sir Philip Tempest。 He has had to threaten honest folk about here over and over again; or they'd have had her up before the justices for her black doings。 And it's the law of the land that witches should be burnt! Ay; and of Scripture; too; sir! Yet you see a papist; if he's a rich squire; can overrule both law and Scripture。 I'd carry a faggot myself to rid the country of her!〃
Such a one could give me no help。 I rather drew back what I had already said; and tried to make the parson forget it; by treating him to several pots of beer; in the village inn; to which we had adjourned for our conference at his suggestion。 I left him as soon as I could; and returned to Coldholme; shaping my way past deserted Starkey Manor…house; and coming upon it by the back。 At that side were the oblong remains of the old moat; the waters of which lay placid and motionless under the crimson rays of the setting sun; with the forest…trees lying straight along each side; and their deep…green foliage mirrored to blackness in the burnished surface of the moat belowand the broken sun…dial at the end nearest the halland the heron; standing on one leg at the water's edge; lazily looking down for fishthe lonely and desolate house scarce needed the broken windows; the weeds on the door…sill; the broken shutter softly flapping to and fro in the twilight breeze; to fill up the picture of desertion and decay。 I lingered about the place until the growing darkness warned me on。 And then I passed along the path; cut by the orders of the last lady of Starkey Manor…House; that led me to Bridget's cottage。 I resolved at once to see her; and; in spite of closed doorsit might be of resolved willshe should see me。 So I knocked at her door; gently; loudly; fiercely。 I shook it so vehemently that a length the old hinges gave way; and with a crash it fell inwards; leaving me suddenly face to face with BridgetI; red; heated; agitated with my so long baffled effortsshe; stiff as any stone; standing right facing me; her eyes dilated with terror; her ashen lips trembling; but her body motionless。 In her hands she held her crucifix; as if by that holy symbol she sought to oppose my entrance。 At sight of me; her whole frame relaxed; and she sank back upon a chair。 Some mighty tension had given way。 Still her eyes looked fearfully into the gloom of the outer air; made more opaque by the glimmer of the lamp inside; which sh