the man between-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


im　to　be。

Almost　as　soon　as　he　entered　his　carriage　there　was　a　movement；　and　she　hoped　her　driver　might　advance　sufficiently　to　make　recognition　possible；　but　some　feeling；　she　knew　not　what；　prevented　her　giving　any　order　leading　to　this　result。　Perhaps　she　had　an　instinctive　presentiment　that　it　was　best　to　leave　all　to　Destiny。　Toward　the　upper　part　of　the　avenue　the　carriage　of　her　eager　observation　came　to　a　stand　before　a　warehouse　of　antique　furniture　and　bric…a…brac；　and；　as　it　did　so；　a　beautiful　woman　ran　down　the　steps；　and　Apollo；　for　so　Ethel　had　men…　tally　called　him；　went　hurriedly　to　meet　her。　Finally　her　coachman　passed　the　party；　and　there　was　a　momentary　recognition。　He　was　bending　forward；　listening　to　something　the　lady　was　saying；　when　the　vehicles　almost　touched　each　other。　He　flashed　a　glance　at　them；　and　met　the　flash　of　Ethel's　eyes　full　of　interest　and　curiosity。

It　was　over　in　a　moment；　but　in　that　moment　Ethel　saw　his　astonishment　and　delight；　and　felt　her　own　eager　questioning　answered。　Then　she　was　joyous　and　full　of　hope；　for　〃these　two　silent　meetings　are　promises；〃　she　said　to　Ruth。　〃I　feel　sure　I　shall　see　him　again；　and　then　we　shall　speak　to　each　other。〃

〃I　hope　you　are　not　allowing　yourself　to　feel　too　much　interest　in　this　man；　Ethel；　he　is　very　likely　married。〃

〃Oh；　no！　I　am　sure　he　is　not；　Ruth。〃

〃How　can　you　be　sure？　You　know　nothing　about　him。〃

〃I　cannot　tell　HOW　I　know；　nor　WHY　I　know；　but　I　believe　what　I　feel；　and　he　is　as　much　interested　in　me　as　I　am　in　him。　I　confess　that　is　a　great　deal。〃

〃You　may　never　see　him　again。〃

〃I　shall　expect　to　see　him　next　winter；　he　evidently　lives　in　New　York。〃

〃The　lady　you　saw　may　be　his　wife。　Don't　be　interested　in　any　man　on　unknown　ground；　Ethel。　It　is　not　prudentit　is　not　right。〃

〃Time　will　show。　He　will　very　likely　be　looking　for　me　this　summer　at　Newport　and　elsewhere。　He　will　be　glad　to　see　me　when　I　come　home。　Don't　worry；　Ruth。　It　is　all　right。〃

〃Fred　called　soon　after　you　went　out　this　morning。　He　left　for　Newport　this　afternoon。　He　will　be　at　sea　now。〃

〃And　we　shall　be　there　in　a　few　days。　When　I　am　at　the　seaside　I　always　feel　a　delicious　torpor；　yet　Nelly　Baldwin　told　me　she　loved　an　Atlantic　passage　because　she　had　such　fun　on　board。　You　have　crossed　several　times；　Ruth；　is　it　fun　or　torpor？〃

〃All　mirth　at　sea　soon　fades　away；　Ethel。　Passengers　are　a　very　dull　class　of　people；　and　they　know　it；　they　rebel　against　it；　but　every　hour　it　becomes　more　natural　to　be　dull。　Very　soon　all　mentally　accommodate　themselves　to　being　bored；　dreamy　and　dreary。　Then；　as　soon　as　it　is　dark；　comes　that　old　mysterious；　hungering　sound　of　the　sea；　and　I　for　one　listen　till　I　can　bear　it　no　longer；　and　so　steal　away　to　bed　with　a　pain　in　my　heart。〃

〃I　think　I　shall　like　the　ocean。　There　are　games；　and　books；　and　company；　and　dinners；　and　other　things。〃

〃Certainly；　and　you　can　think　yourself　happy；　until　gradually　a　contented　cretinism　steals　over　you；　body　and　mind。〃

〃No；　no！〃　said　Ethel　enthusiastically。　〃I　shall　do　according　to　Swinburne

　　〃‘Have　therefore　in　my　heart；　and　in　my　mouth；　　　The　sound　of　song　that　mingles　North　and　South；　　　And　in　my　Soul　the　sense　of　all　the　Sea！'〃


And　Ruth　laughed　at　her　dramatic　attitude；　and　answered：　〃The　soul　of　all　the　sea　is　a　contented　cretinism；　Ethel。　But　in　ten　days　we　may　be　in　Yorkshire。　And　then；　my　dear；　you　may　meet　your　Princesome　fine　Yorkshire　gentleman。〃

〃I　have　strictly　and　positively　promised　myself　that　my　Prince　shall　be　a　fine　American　gentleman。〃

〃My　dear　Ethel；　it　is　very　seldom

　　　　　　　〃‘the　time；　and　the　place；　　　And　the　Loved　One；　come　together。'〃


〃I　live　in　the　land　of　good　hope；　Ruth；　and　my　hopes　will　be　realized。〃

〃We　shall　see。〃



PART　THIRD


〃I　WENT　DOWN　INTO　THE　GARDEN　　　　　TO　SEE　IF　THE　POMEGRANATES　BUDDED。　Song　of　Solomon；　VI。　11。



CHAPTER　VII

IT　was　a　lovely　afternoon　on　the　last　day　of　May。　The　sea　and　all　the　toil　and　travail　belonging　to　it　was　overpass；　and　Judge　Rawdon；　Ruth　and　Ethel　were　driving　in　lazy；　blissful　contentment　through　one　of　the　lovely　roads　of　the　West　Riding。　On　either　hand　the　beautifully　cut　hedges　were　white　and　sweet；　and　a　caress　of　scentthe　soul　of　the　hawthorne　flower　enfolded　them。　Robins　were　singing　on　the　topmost　sprays；　and　the　linnet's　sweet　babbling　was　heard　from　the　happy　nests　in　its　secret　places；　while　from　some　unseen　steeple　the　joyful　sound　of　chiming　bells　made　music　between　heaven　and　earth　fit　for　bands　of　traveling　angels。

They　had　dined　at　a　wayside　inn　on　jugged　hare；　roast　beef；　and　Yorkshire　pudding；　clotted　cream　and　haver　（oaten）　bread；　and　the　careless　stillness　of　physical　well…being　and　of　minds　at　ease　needed　no　speech；　but　the　mutual　smiling　nod　of　intimate　sympathy。　For　the　sense　of　joy　and　beauty　which　makes　us　eloquent　is　far　inferior　to　that　sense　which　makes　us　silent。

This　exquisite　pause　in　life　was　suddenly　ended　by　an　exclamation　from　the　Judge。　They　were　at　the　great　iron　gates　of　Rawdon　Park；　and　soon　were　slowly　traversing　its　woody　solitudes。　The　soft　light；　the　unspeakable　green　of　the　turf；　the　voice　of　ancient　days　murmuring　in　the　great　oak　trees；　the　deer　asleep　among　the　ferns；　the　stillness　of　the　summer　afternoon　filling　the　air　with　drowsy　peace　this　was　the　atmosphere　into　which　they　entered。　Their　road　through　this　grand　park　of　three　hundred　acres　was　a　wide；　straight　avenue　shaded　with　beech　trees。　The　green　turf　on　either　hand　was　starred　with　primroses。　In　the　deep　undergrowth；　ferns　waved　and　fanned　each　other；　and　the　scent　of　hidden　violets　saluted　as　they　passed。　Drowsily；　as　if　half　asleep；　the　blackbirds　whistled　their　couplets；　and　in　the　thickest　hedges　the　little　brown　thrushes　sang　softly　to　their　brooding　mates。　For　half　an　hour　they　kept　this　heavenly　path；　and　then　a　sudden　turn　brought　them　their　first　sight　of　the　old　home。

It　was　a　stately；　irregular　building　of　red　brick；　sandaled　and　veiled　in　ivy。　The　nu…　merous　windows　were　all　latticed；　the　chimneys　in　picturesque　stacks；　the　sloping　roof　made　of　flags　of　sandstone。　It　stood　in　the　center　of　a　large　garden；　at　the　bottom　of　which　ran　a　babbling　little　rivera　cheerful　tongue　of　life　in　the　sweet；　silent　place。　They　crossed　it　by　a　pretty　bridge；　and　in　a　few　minutes　stood　at　the　great　door　of　the　mansion。　It　was　wide　open；　and　the　Squire；　with　outstretched　hands；　rose　to　meet　them。　While　yet　upon　the　threshold　he　kissed　both　Ethel　and　Ruth；　and；　clasping　the　Judge's　hand；　gazed　at　him　with　such　a　piercing；　kindly　look　that　the　eyes　of　both　men　filled　with　tears。

He　led　them　into　the　hall；　and　standing　there　he　seemed　almost　a　part　of　it。　In　his　youth　he　had　been　a　son　of　Anak；　and　his　great　size　had　been　matched　by　his　great　strength。　His　stature　was　still　large；　his　face　broad　and　massive；　and　an　abundance　of　snow…white　hair　emphasized　the　dignity　of　a　countenance　which　age　had　made　nobler。　The　generations　of　eight　hundred　years　were　crystallized　in　this　benignant　old　man；　looking　with　such　eager　interest　into　the　faces　of　his　strange　kindred　from　a　far…off　land。

In　the　evening　they　sat　together　in　the　old　hall　talking　of　the　Rawdons。　〃There　is　great　family　of　us；　living　and　dead；〃　said　the　Squire；　〃and　I　count　them　all　my　friends。　Bare　is　the　back　that　has　no　kin　behind　it。　That　is　not　our　case。　Eight　hundred　years　ago　there　was　a　Rawdon　in　Rawdon；　and　one　has　never　been　wanting　since。　Saxon；　Danish；　Norman；　and　Stuart　kings　have　been　and　gone　their　way；　and　we　remain；　and　I　can　tell　you　every　Rawdon　born　since　the　House　of　Hanover　came　to　England。　We　have　had　our　share　in　all　England's　strife　and　glory；　for　if　there　was　ever　a　fight　going　on　anywhere　Rawdon　was　never　far　off。　Yes；　we　can　string　the　centuries　together　in　the　battle　flags　we　have　won。　See　there！〃　he　cried；　pointing　to　two　standards　interwoven　above　the　central　chimney…piece；　〃one　was　taken　from　the　Paynim　in　the　first　Crusade；　and　the　other　my　grandson　took　in　Africa。　It　seems　but　yesterday；　and　Queen　Victoria　gave　him　the　Cross　for　it。　Poor　lad；　he　had　it　on　when　he　died。　It　went　to　the　grave　with　him。　I　wouldn't　have　it　touched。　I　fancy　the　Rawdons　would　know　it。　No　one　dare　say　they　don't。　I　think　they　meddle　a　good　deal　more　with　this　life　than　we　count　on。〃

The　days　that　followed　were　days　in　The　House　Wonderful。　It　held　the　treasure…trove　of　centuries；　all　its　rooms　were　full　of　secrets。　Even　the　common　sitting…room　had　an　antique　homeliness　that　provoked　questions　as　to　the　dates　of　its　furniture　and　the　whereabouts　of　its　wall　cupboards　and　hidden　recesses。　Its　china　had　the　marks　of　forgotten　makers；　its　silver　was　puzzling　with　half…　obliterated　names　and　dates；　its　sideboard　of　oak　was　black　with　age　and　full　of　table　accessories；　the　very　names　of　which　were　forgotten。　For　this　house　had　not　been　built　in　the　ordinary　sense；　it　had　grown　through　centuries；　grown　out　of　desire　and　necessity；　just　as　a　tree　grows；　and　was　therefore　fit　and　beautiful。　And　it　was　no　wonder　that　about　every　room　floated　the　perfume　of　ancient　things　and　the　peculiar　family　aura　that　had　saturated　all　the　inanimate　objects　around　them。

In　a　few　days；　life　settled　itself　to　orderly　occupations。　The　Squire　was　a　late　riser；　the　Judge　and　his　family　breakfasted　very　early。　Then　the　two　women　had　a　ride　in　the　park；　or　wandered　in　the　garden；　or　sat　reading；　or　sewing；　or　writing　in　some　of　the　sweet；　fair　rooms。　Many　visitors　soon　appeared；　and　there　were　calls　to　return　and　courtesies　to　accept。　Among　these　visitors　the　Tyrrel…　Rawdons　were　the　earliest。　The　representatives　of　that　family　were　Nicholas　Rawdon　and　his　wife　Lydia。　Nicholas　Rawdon　was　a　large；　stout　man；　very　arrogant；　very　complete；　very　alert　for　this　world；　and　not　caring　much　about　the　other。　He　was　not　pleased　at　Judge　Rawdon's　visit；　but　thought　it　best　to　be　cousinly　until　his　cousin　interfered　with　his　plans〃rights〃　he　called　them〃and　then！〃　and　his　〃THEN〃　implied　a　great　deal；　for　Nicholas　Rawdon　was　a　man　incapable　of　conceiving　the　idea　of　loving　an　enemy。

His　wife　was　a　pleasant；　garrulous　woman；　who　interested　Ethel　very　much。　Her　family　was　her　chief　topic　of　conversation。　She　had　two　daughters；　one　of　whom　had　married　a　baronet；　〃a　man　with　money　and　easy　to　manage〃；　and　the　other；　〃a　rich　cotton　lord　in　Manchester。〃

〃They　haven't　done　badly；〃　she　said　confidentially；　〃and　it's　a　great　thing　to　get　girls　off　your　hands　early。　Adelaide　and　Martha　were　well　educated　and　suitable；　but；　〃she　added　with　a　glow　of　pride；　〃you　should　see　my　John　Thomas。　He's　manager　of　the　mill；　and　he　loves　the　mill；　and　he　knows　every　pound　of　warp　or　weft　that　comes　in　or　goes　out　of　the　mill；　and　what　his　father　would　do　without　him；　I'm　sure　I　don't　know。　And　he　is　a　member　of　Parliament；　tooRadical　ticket。　Won　over　Mostyn。　Wiped　Mostyn　out　pretty　well。　That　was　a　thing　to　do；　wasn't　it？〃

〃I　suppose　Mr。　Mostyn　was　the　Conservative　candidate？〃

〃You　may　be　sure　of　that。　But　my　John　Thomas　doesn't　blame　him　for　itthe　gentry　have　to　be　Conservatives。　John　Thomas　said　little　against　his　politics；　he　just　set　the　crowd　laughing　at　his　wayshis　dandified　ways。　And　he　tried　to　wear　one　eyeglass；　and　let　it　fall；　and