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第12章

the poor clare-第12章

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rfully into the gloom of the outer air; made more opaque by the glimmer of the lamp inside; which she had placed before the picture of the Virgin。

〃Is she there?〃 asked Bridget; hoarsely。

〃No!  Who?  I am alone。  You remember me。〃

〃Yes;〃 replied she; still terror stricken。  〃But shethat creature has been looking in upon me through that window all day long。  I closed it up with my shawl; and then I saw her feet below the door; as long as it was light; and I knew she heard my very breathingnay; worse; my very prayers; and I could not pray; for her listening choked the words ere they rose to my lips。  Tell me; who is she? what means that double girl I saw this morning?  One had a look of my dead Mary; but the other curdled my blood; and yet it was the same!〃

She had taken hold of my arm; as if to secure herself some human companionship。  She shook all over with the slight; never…ceasing tremor of intense terror。  I told her my tale as I have told it you; sparing none of the details。

How Mistress Clarke had informed me that the resemblance had driven Lucy forth from her father's househow I had disbelieved; until; with mine own eyes; I had seen another Lucy standing behind my Lucy; the same in form and feature; but with the demon…soul looking out of the eyes。  I told her all; I say; believing that shewhose curse was working so upon the life of her innocent grandchildwas the only person who could find the remedy and the redemption。  When I had done; she sat silent for many minutes。

〃You love Mary's child?〃 she asked。

〃I do; in spite of the fearful working of the curseI love her。  Yet I shrink from her ever since that day on the moor…side。  And men must shrink from one so accompanied; friends and lovers must stand afar off。  Oh; Bridget Fitzgerald! loosen the curse!  Set her free!〃

〃Where is she?〃

I eagerly caught at the idea that her presence was needed; in order that; by some strange prayer or exorcism; the spell might be reversed。

〃I will go and bring her to you;〃 I exclaimed。  Bridget tightened her hold upon my arm。

〃Not so;〃 said she; in a low; hoarse voice。  〃It would kill me to see her again as I saw her this morning。  And I must live till I have worked my work。  Leave me!〃 said she; suddenly; and again taking up the cross。  〃I defy the demon I have called up。  Leave me to wrestle with it!〃

She stood up; as if in an ecstasy of inspiration; from which all fear was banished。  I lingeredwhy I can hardly telluntil once more she bade me begone。  As I went along the forest way; I looked back; and saw her planting the cross in the empty threshold; where the door had been。

The next morning Lucy and I went to seek her; to bid her join her prayers with ours。  The cottage stood open and wide to our gaze。  No human being was there:  the cross remained on the threshold; but Bridget was gone。



CHAPTER III。



What was to be done next? was the question that I asked myself。  As for Lucy; she would fain have submitted to the doom that lay upon her。  Her gentleness and piety; under the pressure of so horrible a life; seemed over…passive to me。  She never complained。  Mrs。 Clarke complained more than ever。  As for me; I was more in love with the real Lucy than ever; but I shrunk from the false similitude with an intensity proportioned to my love。  I found out by instinct that Mrs。 Clarke had occasional temptations to leave Lucy。  The good lady's nerves were shaken; and; from what she said; I could almost have concluded that the object of the Double was to drive away from Lucy this last; and almost earliest friend。  At times; I could scarcely bear to own it; but I myself felt inclined to turn recreant; and I would accuse Lucy of being too patienttoo resigned。  One after another; she won the little children of Coldholme。  (Mrs。 Clarke and she had resolved to stay there; for was it not as good a place as any other; to such as they? and did not all our faint hopes rest on Bridgetnever seen or heard of now; but still we trusted to come back; or give some token?)  So; as I say; one after another; the little children came about my Lucy; won by her soft tones; and her gentle smiles; and kind actions。  Alas! one after another they fell away; and shrunk from her path with blanching terror; and we too surely guessed the reason why。  It was the last drop。  I could bear it no longer。  I resolved no more to linger around the spot; but to go back to my uncle; and among the learned divines of the city of London; seek for some power whereby to annul the curse。

My uncle; meanwhile; had obtained all the requisite testimonials relating to Lucy's descent and birth; from the Irish lawyers; and from Mr。 Gisborne。  The latter gentleman had written from abroad (he was again serving in the Austrian army); a letter alternately passionately self…reproachful and stoically repellant。  It was evident that when he thought of Maryher short lifehow he had wronged her; and of her violent death; he could hardly find words severe enough for his own conduct; and from this point of view; the curse that Bridget had laid upon him and his; was regarded by him as a prophetic doom; to the utterance of which she was moved by a Higher Power; working for the fulfilment of a deeper vengeance than for the death of the poor dog。  But then; again; when he came to speak of his daughter; the repugnance which the conduct of the demoniac creature had produced in his mind; was but ill…disguised under a show of profound indifference as to Lucy's fate。  One almost felt as if he would have been as content to put her out of existence; as he would have been to destroy some disgusting reptile that had invaded his chamber or his couch。

The great Fitzgerald property was Lucy's; and that was allwas nothing。

My uncle and I sat in the gloom of a London November evening; in our house in Ormond Street。  I was out of health; and felt as if I were in an inextricable coil of misery。  Lucy and I wrote to each other; but that was little; and we dared not see each other for dread of the fearful Third; who had more than once taken her place at our meetings。  My uncle had; on the day I speak of; bidden prayers to be put up on the ensuing Sabbath in many a church and meeting…house in London; for one grievously tormented by an evil spirit。  He had faith in prayersI had none; I was fast losing faith in all things。  So we sat; he trying to interest me in the old talk of other days; I oppressed by one thoughtwhen our old servant; Anthony; opened the door; and; without speaking; showed in a very gentlemanly and prepossessing man; who had something remarkable about his dress; betraying his profession to be that of the Roman Catholic priesthood。 He glanced at my uncle first; then at me。  It was to me he bowed。

〃I did not give my name;〃 said he; 〃because you would hardly have recognised it; unless; sir; when; in the north; you heard of Father Bernard; the chaplain at Stoney Hurst?〃

I remembered afterwards that I had heard of him; but at the time I had utterly forgotten it; so I professed myself a complete stranger to him; while my ever…hospitable uncle; although hating a papist as much as it was in his nature to hate anything; placed a chair for the visitor; and bade Anthony bring glasses; and a fresh jug of claret。

Father Bernard received this courtesy with the graceful ease and pleasant acknowledgement which belongs to a man of the world。  Then he turned to scan me with his keen glance。  After some alight conversation; entered into on his part; I am certain; with an intention of discovering on what terms of confidence I stood with my uncle; he paused; and said gravely …

〃I am sent here with a message to you; sir; from a woman to whom you have shown kindness; and who is one of my penitents; in Antwerpone Bridget Fitzgerald。〃

〃Bridget Fitzgerald!〃 exclaimed I。  〃In Antwerp?  Tell me; sir; all that you can about her。〃

〃There is much to be said;〃 he replied。  〃But may I inquire if this gentlemanif your uncle is acquainted with the particulars of which you and I stand informed?〃

〃All that I know; he knows;〃 said I; eagerly laying my hand on my uncle's arm; as he made a motion as if to quit the room。

〃Then I have to speak before two gentlemen who; however they 

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