the purcell papers-2-第3章

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general　air　of　dilapidation；　some　huge　

trunks　were　lying　scattered　through　the

venerable　old　trees；　either　the　work　of　the

winter　storms；　or　perhaps　the　victims　of

some　extensive　but　desultory　scheme　of

denudation；　which　the　projector　had　not

capital　or　perseverance　to　carry　into　full

effect。



After　the　carriage　had　travelled　a　mile

of　this　avenue；　we　reached　the　summit　of

rather　an　abrupt　eminence；　one　of　the

many　which　added　to　the　picturesqueness；

if　not　to　the　convenience　of　this　rude

passage。　From　the　top　of　this　ridge　the

grey　walls　of　Carrickleigh　were　visible；

rising　at　a　small　distance　in　front；　and

darkened　by　the　hoary　wood　which

crowded　around　them。　It　was　a　quadrangular

building　of　considerable　extent；

and　the　front　which　lay　towards　us；　and

in　which　the　great　entrance　was　placed；

bore　unequivocal　marks　of　antiquity；　the

time…worn；　solemn　aspect　of　the　old　building；

the　ruinous　and　deserted　appearance

of　the　whole　place；　and　the　associations

which　connected　it　with　a　dark　page　in　the

history　of　my　family；　combined　to　depress

spirits　already　predisposed　for　the　reception

of　sombre　and　dejecting　impressions。



When　the　carriage　drew　up　in　the　grass…

grown　court　yard　before　the　hall…door；　two

lazy…looking　men；　whose　appearance　well

accorded　with　that　of　the　place　which　they

tenanted；　alarmed　by　the　obstreperous

barking　of　a　great　chained　dog；　ran　out

from　some　half…ruinous　out…houses；　and

took　charge　of　the　horses；　the　hall…door

stood　open；　and　I　entered　a　gloomy　and

imperfectly　lighted　apartment；　and　found

no　one　within。　However；　I　had　not　long

to　wait　in　this　awkward　predicament；　for

before　my　luggage　had　been　deposited　in

the　house；　indeed；　before　I　had　well

removed　my　cloak　and　other　wraps；　so　as

to　enable　me　to　look　around；　a　young　girl

ran　lightly　into　the　hall；　and　kissing　me

heartily；　and　somewhat　boisterously；

exclaimed：



'My　dear　cousin；　my　dear　Margaret

I　am　so　delightedso　out　of　breath。　We

did　not　expect　you　till　ten　o'clock；　my

father　is　somewhere　about　the　place；　he

must　be　close　at　hand。　JamesCorney

run　out　and　tell　your　mastermy

brother　is　seldom　at　home；　at　least　at　any

reasonable　houryou　must　be　so　tiredso

fatiguedlet　me　show　you　to　your　room

see　that　Lady　Margaret's　luggage　is　all

brought　upyou　must　lie　down　and　rest

yourselfDeborah；　bring　some　coffeeup

these　stairs；　we　are　so　delighted　to　see

youyou　cannot　think　how　lonely　I　have

beenhow　steep　these　stairs　are；　are　not

they？　I　am　so　glad　you　are　comeI

could　hardly　bring　myself　to　believe　that

you　were　really　cominghow　good　of　you；

dear　Lady　Margaret。'



There　was　real　good…nature　and　delight

in　my　cousin's　greeting；　and　a　kind　of

constitutional　confidence　of　manner　which

placed　me　at　once　at　ease；　and　made　me

feel　immediately　upon　terms　of　intimacy

with　her。　The　room　into　which　she

ushered　me；　although　partaking　in　the

general　air　of　decay　which　pervaded　the

mansion　and　all　about　it；　had　nevertheless

been　fitted　up　with　evident　attention　to

comfort；　and　even　with　some　dingy　attempt

at　luxury；　but　what　pleased　me　most　was

that　it　opened；　by　a　second　door；　upon　a

lobby　which　communicated　with　my　fair

cousin's　apartment；　a　circumstance　which

divested　the　room；　in　my　eyes；　of　the　air

of　solitude　and　sadness　which　would　otherwise

have　characterised　it；　to　a　degree

almost　painful　to　one　so　dejected　in　spirits

as　I　was。



After　such　arrangements　as　I　found

necessary　were　completed；　we　both　went

down　to　the　parlour；　a　large　wainscoted

room；　hung　round　with　grim　old　portraits；

and；　as　I　was　not　sorry　to　see；　containing

in　its　ample　grate　a　large　and　cheerful

fire。　Here　my　cousin　had　leisure　to　talk

more　at　her　ease；　and　from　her　I　learned

something　of　the　manners　and　the　habits

of　the　two　remaining　members　of　her

family；　whom　I　had　not　yet　seen。



On　my　arrival　I　had　known　nothing　of

the　family　among　whom　I　was　come　to

reside；　except　that　it　consisted　of　three

individuals；　my　uncle；　and　his　son　and

daughter；　Lady　Tn　having　been　long

dead。　In　addition　to　this　very　scanty　stock

of　information；　I　shortly　learned　from　my

communicative　companion　that　my　uncle

was；　as　I　had　suspected；　completely　retired

in　his　habits；　and　besides　that；　having　been

so　far　back　as　she　could　well　recollect；

always　rather　strict；　as　reformed　rakes

frequently　become；　he　had　latterly　been

growing　more　gloomily　and　sternly

religious　than　heretofore。



Her　account　of　her　brother　was　far　less

favourable；　though　she　did　not　say　anything

directly　to　his　disadvantage。　From　all

that　I　could　gather　from　her；　I　was　led　to

suppose　that　he　was　a　specimen　of　the　idle；

coarse…mannered；　profligate；　low…minded

'squirearchy'a　result　which　might

naturally　have　flowed　from　the　circum…

stance　of　his　being；　as　it　were；　outlawed

from　society；　and　driven　for　companionship

to　grades　below　his　ownenjoying；

too；　the　dangerous　prerogative　of　spending

much　money。



However；　you　may　easily　suppose　that

I　found　nothing　in　my　cousin's　communication

fully　to　bear　me　out　in　so　very

decided　a　conclusion。



I　awaited　the　arrival　of　my　uncle；

which　was　every　moment　to　be　expected；

with　feelings　half　of　alarm；　half　of

curiositya　sensation　which　I　have　often

since　experienced；　though　to　a　less　degree；

when　upon　the　point　of　standing　for　the

first　time　in　the　presence　of　one　of　whom

I　have　long　been　in　the　habit　of　hearing

or　thinking　with　interest。



It　was；　therefore；　with　some　little

perturbation　that　I　heard；　first　a　slight

bustle　at　the　outer　door；　then　a　slow　step

traverse　the　hall；　and　finally　witnessed　the

door　open；　and　my　uncle　enter　the　room。

He　was　a　striking…looking　man；　from

peculiarities　both　of　person　and　of　garb；　the

whole　effect　of　his　appearance　amounted

to　extreme　singularity。　He　was　tall；　and

when　young　his　figure　must　have　been

strikingly　elegant；　as　it　was；　however；　its

effect　was　marred　by　a　very　decided　stoop。

His　dress　was　of　a　sober　colour；　and　in

fashion　anterior　to　anything　which　I　could

remember。　It　was；　however；　handsome；

and　by　no　means　carelessly　put　on；　but

what　completed　the　singularity　of　his

appearance　was　his　uncut；　white　hair；

which　hung　in　long；　but　not　at　all

neglected　curls；　even　so　far　as　his　shoulders；

and　which　combined　with　his　regularly

classic　features；　and　fine　dark　eyes；　to

bestow　upon　him　an　air　of　venerable

dignity　and　pride；　which　I　have　never　seen

equalled　elsewhere。　I　rose　as　he　entered；

and　met　him　about　the　middle　of　the

room；　he　kissed　my　cheek　and　both　my

hands；　saying：



'You　are　most　welcome；　dear　child；　as

welcome　as　the　command　of　this　poor

place　and　all　that　it　contains　can　make

you。　I　am　most　rejoiced　to　see　you

truly　rejoiced。　I　trust　that　you　are　not

much　fatiguedpray　be　seated　again。'

He　led　me　to　my　chair；　and　continued：　'I

am　glad　to　perceive　you　have　made

acquaintance　with　Emily　already；　I　see；

in　your　being　thus　brought　together；　the

foundation　of　a　lasting　friendship。　You

are　both　innocent；　and　both　young。　God

bless　youGod　bless　you；　and　make　you

all　that　I　could　wish。'





He　raised　his　eyes；　and　remained　for　a

few　moments　silent；　as　if　in　secret　prayer。

I　felt　that　it　was　impossible　that　this　man；

with　feelings　so　quick；　so　warm；　so　tender；

could　be　the　wretch　that　public　opinion

had　represented　him　to　be。　I　was　more

than　ever　convinced　of　his　innocence。



His　manner　was；　or　appeared　to　me；

most　fascinating；　there　was　a　mingled

kindness　and　courtesy　in　it　which　seemed

to　speak　benevolence　itself。　It　was　a

manner　which　I　felt　cold　art　could　never

have　taught；　it　owed　most　of　its　charm　to

its　appearing　to　emanate　directly　from　the

heart；　it　must　be　a　genuine　index　of　the

owner's　mind。　So　I　thought。



My　uncle　having　given　me　fully　to

understand　that　I　was　most　welcome；　and

might　command　whatever　was　his　own；

pressed　me　to　take　some　refreshment；　and

on　my　refusing；　he　observed　that　previously

to　bidding　me　good…night；　he　had　one　duty

further　to　perform；　one　in　whose　observance

he　was　convinced　I　would　cheerfully

acquiesce。



He　then　proceeded　to　read　a　chapter

from　the　Bible；　after　which　he　took　his

leave　with　the　same　affectionate　kindness

with　which　he　had　greeted　me；　having

repeated　his　desire　that　I　should　consider

everything　in　his　house　as　altogether　at

my　disposal。　It　is　needless　to　say　that　I

was　much　pleased　with　my　uncleit　was

impossible　to　avoid　being　so；　and　I　could

not　help　saying　to　myself；　if　such　a　man

as　this　is　not　safe　from　the　assaults　of

slander；　who　is？　I　felt　much　happier　than

I　had　done　since　my　father's　death；　and

enjoyed　that　night　the　first　refreshing

sleep　which　had　visited　me　since　that　event。



My　curiosity　respecting　my　male　cousin

did　not　long　remain　unsatisfiedhe

appeared　the　next　day　at　dinner。　His

manners；　though　not　so　coarse　as　I　had

expected；　were　exceedingly　disagreeable；

there　was　an　assurance　and　a　forwardness

for　which　I　was　not　prepared；　there

was　less　of　the　vulgarity　of　manner；　and

almost　more　of　that　of　the　mind；　than　I

had　anticipated。　I　felt　quite　uncomfortable

in　his　presence；　there　was　just　that

confidence　in　his　look　and　tone　which

would　read　encouragement　even　in　mere

toleration；　and　I　felt　more　disgusted　and

annoyed　at　the　coarse　and　extravagant

compliments　which　he　was　pleased　from

time　to　time　to　pay　me；　than　perhaps　the

extent　of　the　atrocity　might　fully　have

warranted。　It　was；　however；　one　consolation

that　he　did　not　often　appear；　being

much　engrossed　by　pursuits　about　which　I

neither　knew　nor　cared　anything；　but

when　he　did　appear；　his　attentions；　either

with　a　view　to　his　amusement　or　to　some

more　serious　advantage；　were　so　obviously

and　perseveringly　directed　to　me；　that

young　and　inexperienced　as　I　was；　even　_I_

could　not　be　ignorant　of　his　preference。　I

felt　more　provoked　by　this　odious　persecution

than　I　can　express；　and　discouraged

him　with　so　much　vigour；　that　I　employed

even　rudeness　to　convince　him　that　his

assiduities　were　unwelcome；　but　all　in

vain。



This　had　gone　on　for　nearly　a　twelve…

month；　to　my　infinite　annoyance；　when　one

day　as　I　was　sitting　at　some　needle…work

with　my　companion　Emily；　as　was　my

habit；　in　the　parlour；　the　door　opened；

and　my　cousin　Edward　entered　the　room。

There　was　something；　I　thought；　odd　in

his　mannera　kind　of　struggle　between

shame　and　impudencea　kind　of　flurry

and　ambiguity　which　made　him　appear；

if　possible；　more　than　ordinarily　disagreeable。



'Your　servant；　ladies；'　he　said；　seating

himself　at　the　same　time；　'sorry　to　spoil

your　tete…a…tete；　but　never　mind；　I'll　only

take　Emily's　place　for　a　minute　or　two；

and　then　we　part　for　a　whi