the poor clare-第3章

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rdians；　and　Bridget　was　left　alone。

I　have　said　that　she　had　not　heard　from　Mary　for　some　time。　　In　her　last　letter；　she　had　told　of　travelling　about　with　her　mistress；　who　was　the　English　wife　of　some　great　foreign　officer；　and　had　spoken　of　her　chances　of　making　a　good　marriage；　without　naming　the　gentleman's　name；　keeping　it　rather　back　as　a　pleasant　surprise　to　her　mother；　his　station　and　fortune　being；　as　I　had　afterwards　reason　to　know；　far　superior　to　anything　she　had　a　right　to　expect。　　Then　came　a　long　silence；　and　Madam　was　dead；　and　the　Squire　was　dead；　and　Bridget's　heart　was　gnawed　by　anxiety；　and　she　knew　not　whom　to　ask　for　news　of　her　child。　　She　could　not　write；　and　the　Squire　had　managed　her　communication　with　her　daughter。　　She　walked　off　to　Hurst；　and　got　a　good　priest　thereone　whom　she　had　known　at　Antwerpto　write　for　her。　　But　no　answer　came。　　It　was　like　crying　into　the'　awful　stillness　of　night。

One　day；　Bridget　was　missed　by　those　neighbours　who　had　been　accustomed　to　mark　her　goings…out　and　comings…in。　　She　had　never　been　sociable　with　any　of　them；　but　the　sight　of　her　had　become　a　part　of　their　daily　lives；　and　slow　wonder　arose　in　their　minds；　as　morning　after　morning　came；　and　her　house…door　remained　closed；　her　window　dead　from　any　glitter；　or　light　of　fire　within。　　At　length；　some　one　tried　the　door；　it　was　locked。　　Two　or　three　laid　their　heads　together；　before　daring　to　look　in　through　the　blank　unshuttered　window。　　But；　at　last；　they　summoned　up　courage；　and　then　saw　that　Bridget's　absence　from　their　little　world　was　not　the　result　of　accident　or　death；　but　of　premeditation。　　Such　small　articles　of　furniture　as　could　be　secured　from　the　effects　of　time　and　damp　by　being　packed　up；　were　stowed　away　in　boxes。　　The　picture　of　the　Madonna　was　taken　down；　and　gone。　　In　a　word；　Bridget　had　stolen　away　from　her　home；　and　left　no　trace　whither　she　was　departed。　　I　knew　afterwards；　that　she　and　her　little　dog　had　wandered　off　on　the　long　search　for　her　lost　daughter。　　She　was　too　illiterate　to　have　faith　in　letters；　even　had　she　had　the　means　of　writing　and　sending　many。　But　she　had　faith　in　her　own　strong　love；　and　believed　that　her　passionate　instinct　would　guide　her　to　her　child。　　Besides；　foreign　travel　was　no　new　thing　to　her；　and　she　could　speak　enough　of　French　to　explain　the　object　of　her　journey；　and　had；　moreover；　the　advantage　of　being；　from　her　faith；　a　welcome　object　of　charitable　hospitality　at　many　a　distant　convent。　　But　the　country　people　round　Starkey　Manor…house　knew　nothing　of　all　this。　　They　wondered　what　had　become　of　her；　in　a　torpid；　lazy　fashion；　and　then　left　off　thinking　of　her　altogether。　　Several　years　passed。　　Both　Manor…house　and　cottage　were　deserted。　　The　young　Squire　lived　far　away　under　the　direction　of　his　guardians。　　There　were　inroads　of　wool　and　corn　into　the　sitting…rooms　of　the　Hall；　and　there　was　some　low　talk；　from　time　to　time；　among　the　hinds　and　country　people　whether　it　would　not　be　as　well　to　break　into　old　Bridget's　cottage；　and　save　such　of　her　goods　as　were　left　from　the　moth　and　rust　which　must　be　making　sad　havoc。　　But　this　idea　was　always　quenched　by　the　recollection　of　her　strong　character　and　passionate　anger；　and　tales　of　her　masterful　spirit；　and　vehement　force　of　will；　were　whispered　about；　till　the　very　thought　of　offending　her；　by　touching　any　article　of　hers；　became　invested　with　a　kind　of　horror：　　it　was　believed　that；　dead　or　alive；　she　would　not　fail　to　avenge　it。

Suddenly　she　came　home；　with　as　little　noise　or　note　of　preparation　as　she　had　departed。　　One　day　some　one　noticed　a　thin；　blue　curl　of　smoke　ascending　from　her　chimney。　　Her　door　stood　open　to　the　noonday　sun；　and；　ere　many　hours　had　elapsed；　some　one　had　seen　an　old　travel…and…sorrow…stained　woman　dipping　her　pitcher　in　the　well；　and　said；　that　the　dark；　solemn　eyes　that　looked　up　at　him　were　more　like　Bridget　Fitzgerald's　than　any　one　else's　in　this　world；　and　yet；　if　it　were　she；　she　looked　as　if　she　had　been　scorched　in　the　flames　of　hell；　so　brown；　and　scared；　and　fierce　a　creature　did　she　seem。　　By…　and…by　many　saw　her；　and　those　who　met　her　eye　once　cared　not　to　be　caught　looking　at　her　again。　　She　had　got　into　the　habit　of　perpetually　talking　to　herself；　nay；　more；　answering　herself；　and　varying　her　tones　according　to　the　side　she　took　at　the　moment。　　It　was　no　wonder　that　those　who　dared　to　listen　outside　her　door　at　night　believed　that　she　held　converse　with　some　spirit；　in　short；　she　was　unconsciously　earning　for　herself　the　dreadful　reputation　of　a　witch。

Her　little　dog；　which　had　wandered　half　over　the　Continent　with　her；　was　her　only　companion；　a　dumb　remembrancer　of　happier　days。　　Once　he　was　ill；　and　she　carried　him　more　than　three　miles；　to　ask　about　his　management　from　one　who　had　been　groom　to　the　last　Squire；　and　had　then　been　noted　for　his　skill　in　all　diseases　of　animals。　　Whatever　this　man　did；　the　dog　recovered；　and　they　who　heard　her　thanks；　intermingled　with　blessings　（that　were　rather　promises　of　good　fortune　than　prayers）；　looked　grave　at　his　good　luck　when；　next　year；　his　ewes　twinned；　and　his　meadow…grass　was　heavy　and　thick。

Now　it　so　happened　that；　about　the　year　seventeen　hundred　and　eleven；　one　of　the　guardians　of　the　young　squire；　a　certain　Sir　Philip　Tempest；　bethought　him　of　the　good　shooting　there　must　be　on　his　ward's　property；　and　in　consequence　he　brought　down　four　or　five　gentlemen；　of　his　friends；　to　stay　for　a　week　or　two　at　the　Hall。　From　all　accounts；　they　roystered　and　spent　pretty　freely。　　I　never　heard　any　of　their　names　but　one；　and　that　was　Squire　Gisborne's。　　He　was　hardly　a　middle…aged　man　then；　he　had　been　much　abroad；　and　there；　I　believe；　he　had　known　Sir　Philip　Tempest；　and　done　him　some　service。　　He　was　a　daring　and　dissolute　fellow　in　those　days：　careless　and　fearless；　and　one　who　would　rather　be　in　a　quarrel　than　out　of　it。　　He　had　his　fits　of　ill…temper　besides；　when　he　would　spare　neither　man　nor　beast。　　Otherwise；　those　who　knew　him　well；　used　to　say　he　had　a　good　heart；　when　he　was　neither　drunk；　nor　angry；　nor　in　any　way　vexed。　　He　had　altered　much　when　I　came　to　know　him。

One　day；　the　gentlemen　had　all　been　out　shooting；　and　with　but　little　success；　I　believe；　anyhow；　Mr。　Gisborne　had　none；　and　was　in　a　black　humour　accordingly。　　He　was　coming　home；　having　his　gun　loaded；　sportsman…like；　when　little　Mignon　crossed　his　path；　just　as　he　turned　out　of　the　wood　by　Bridget's　cottage。　　Partly　for　wantonness；　partly　to　vent　his　spleen　upon　some　living　creature。　　Mr。　Gisborne　took　his　gun；　and　firedhe　had　better　have　never　fired　gun　again；　than　aimed　that　unlucky　shot；　he　hit　Mignon；　and　at　the　creature's　sudden　cry；　Bridget　came　out；　and　saw　at　a　glance　what　had　been　done。　She　took　Mignon　up　in　her　arms；　and　looked　hard　at　the　wound；　the　poor　dog　looked　at　her　with　his　glazing　eyes；　and　tried　to　wag　his　tail　and　lick　her　hand；　all　covered　with　blood。　　Mr。　Gisborne　spoke　in　a　kind　of　sullen　penitence：

〃You　should　have　kept　the　dog　out　of　my　waya　little　poaching　varmint。〃

At　this　very　moment；　Mignon　stretched　out　his　legs；　and　stiffened　in　her　armsher　lost　Mary's　dog；　who　had　wandered　and　sorrowed　with　her　for　years。　　She　walked　right　into　Mr。　Gisborne's　path；　and　fixed　his　unwilling；　sullen　look；　with　her　dark　and　terrible　eye。

〃Those　never　throve　that　did　me　harm；〃　said　she。　　〃I'm　alone　in　the　world；　and　helpless；　the　more　do　the　saints　in　heaven　hear　my　prayers。　　Hear　me；　ye　blessed　ones！　hear　me　while　I　ask　for　sorrow　on　this　bad；　cruel　man。　　He　has　killed　the　only　creature　that　loved　me　the　dumb　beast　that　I　loved。　　Bring　down　heavy　sorrow　on　his　head　for　it；　O　ye　saints！　　He　thought　that　I　was　helpless；　because　he　saw　me　lonely　and　poor；　but　are　not　the　armies　of　heaven　for　the　like　of　me？〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　he；　half　remorseful；　but　not　one　whit　afraid。　〃Here's　a　crown　to　buy　thee　another　dog。　　Take　it；　and　leave　off　cursing！　　I　care　none　for　thy　threats。〃

〃Don't　you？〃　said　she；　coming　a　step　closer；　and　changing　her　imprecatory　cry　for　a　whisper　which　made　the　gamekeeper's　lad；　following　Mr。　Gisborne；　creep　all　over。　　〃You　shall　live　to　see　the　creature　you　love　best；　and　who　alone　loves　y