the poor clare-第7章

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Just　at　that　instant；　standing　as　I　was　opposite　to　her　in　the　full　and　perfect　morning　light；　I　saw　behind　her　another　figurea　ghastly　resemblance；　complete　in　likeness；　so　far　as　form　and　feature　and　minutest　touch　of　dress　could　go；　but　with　a　loathsome　demon　soul　looking　out　of　the　gray　eyes；　that　were　in　turns　mocking　and　voluptuous。　　My　heart　stood　still　within　me；　every　hair　rose　up　erect；　my　flesh　crept　with　horror。　　I　could　not　see　the　grave　and　tender　Lucymy　eyes　were　fascinated　by　the　creature　beyond。　　I　know　not　why；　but　I　put　out　my　hand　to　clutch　it；　I　grasped　nothing　but　empty　air；　and　my　whole　blood　curdled　to　ice。　　For　a　moment　I　could　not　see；　then　my　sight　came　back；　and　I　saw　Lucy　standing　before　me；　alone；　deathly　pale；　and；　I　could　have　fancied；　almost；　shrunk　in　size。

〃IT　has　been　near　me？〃　she　said；　as　if　asking　a　question。

The　sound　seemed　taken　out　of　her　voice；　it　was　husky　as　the　notes　on　an　old　harpsichord　when　the　strings　have　ceased　to　vibrate。　　She　read　her　answer　in　my　face；　I　suppose；　for　I　could　not　speak。　　Her　look　was　one　of　intense　fear；　but　that　died　away　into　an　aspect　of　most　humble　patience。　　At　length　she　seemed　to　force　herself　to　face　behind　and　around　her：　　she　saw　the　purple　moors；　the　blue　distant　hills；　quivering　in　the　sunlight；　but　nothing　else。

〃Will　you　take　me　home？〃　she　said；　meekly。

I　took　her　by　the　hand；　and　led　her　silently　through　the　budding　heatherwe　dared　not　speak；　for　we　could　not　tell　but　that　the　dread　creature　was　listening；　although　unseen；but　that　IT　might　appear　and　push　us　asunder。　　I　never　loved　her　more　fondly　than　now　when　and　that　was　the　unspeakable　miserythe　idea　of　her　was　becoming　so　inextricably　blended　with　the　shuddering　thought　of　IT。　　She　seemed　to　understand　what　I　must　be　feeling。　　She　let　go　my　hand；　which　she　had　kept　clasped　until　then；　when　we　reached　the　garden　gate；　and　went　forwards　to　meet　her　anxious　friend；　who　was　standing　by　the　window　looking　for　her。　　I　could　not　enter　the　house：　　I　needed　silence；　society；　leisure；　changeI　knew　not　whatto　shake　off　the　sensation　of　that　creature's　presence。　　Yet　I　lingered　about　the　gardenI　hardly　know　why；　I　partly　suppose；　because　I　feared　to　encounter　the　resemblance　again　on　the　solitary　common；　where　it　had　vanished；　and　partly　from　a　feeling　of　inexpressible　compassion　for　Lucy。　　In　a　few　minutes　Mistress　Clarke　came　forth　and　joined　me。　　We　walked　some　paces　in　silence。

〃You　know　all　now；〃　said　she；　solemnly。

〃I　saw　IT；〃　said　I；　below　my　breath。

〃And　you　shrink　from　us；　now；〃　she　said；　with　a　hopelessness　which　stirred　up　all　that　was　brave　or　good　in　me。

〃Not　a　whit；〃　said　I。　　〃Human　flesh　shrinks　from　encounter　with　the　powers　of　darkness：　　and；　for　some　reason　unknown　to　me；　the　pure　and　holy　Lucy　is　their　victim。〃

〃The　sins　of　the　fathers　shall　be　visited　upon　the　children；〃　she　said。

〃Who　is　her　father？〃　asked　I。　　〃Knowing　as　much　as　I　do；　I　may　surely　know　moreknow　all。　　Tell　me；　I　entreat　you；　madam；　all　that　you　can　conjecture　respecting　this　demoniac　persecution　of　one　so　good。〃

〃I　will；　but　not　now。　　I　must　go　to　Lucy　now。　　Come　this　afternoon；　I　will　see　you　alone；　and　oh；　sir！　　I　will　trust　that　you　may　yet　find　some　way　to　help　us　in　our　sore　trouble！〃

I　was　miserably　exhausted　by　the　swooning　affright　which　had　taken　possession　of　me。　　When　I　reached　the　inn；　I　staggered　in　like　one　overcome　by　wine。　　I　went　to　my　own　private　room。　　It　was　some　time　before　I　saw　that　the　weekly　post　had　come　in；　and　brought　me　my　letters。　　There　was　one　from　my　uncle；　one　from　my　home　in　Devonshire；　and　one；　re…directed　over　the　first　address；　sealed　with　a　great　coat　of　arms；　It　was　from　Sir　Philip　Tempest：　　my　letter　of　inquiry　respecting　Mary　Fitzgerald　had　reached　him　at　Liege；　where　it　so　happened　that　the　Count　de　la　Tour　d'Auvergne　was　quartered　at　the　very　time。　　He　remembered　his　wife's　beautiful　attendant；　she　had　had　high　words　with　the　deceased　countess；　respecting　her　intercourse　with　an　English　gentleman　of　good　standing；　who　was　also　in　the　foreign　service。　　The　countess　augured　evil　of　his　intentions；　while　Mary；　proud　and　vehement；　asserted　that　he　would　soon　marry　her；　and　resented　her　mistress's　warnings　as　an　insult。　　The　consequence　was；　that　she　had　left　Madame　de　la　Tour　d'Auvergne's　service；　and；　as　the　Count　believed；　had　gone　to　live　with　the　Englishman；　whether　he　had　married　her；　or　not；　he　could　not　say。　　〃But；〃　added　Sir　Philip　Tempest；　you　may　easily　hear　what　particulars　you　wish　to　know　respecting　Mary　Fitzgerald　from　the　Englishman　himself；　if；　as　I　suspect；　he　is　no　other　than　my　neighbour　and　former　acquaintance；　Mr。　Gisborne；　of　Skipford　Hall；　in　the　West　Riding。　　I　am　led　to　the　belief　that　he　is　no　other；　by　several　small　particulars；　none　of　which　are　in　themselves　conclusive；　but　which；　taken　together；　furnish　a　mass　of　presumptive　evidence。　　As　far　as　I　could　make　out　from　the　Count's　foreign　pronunciation；　Gisborne　was　the　name　of　the　Englishman：　　I　know　that　Gisborne　of　Skipford　was　abroad　and　in　the　foreign　service　at　that　timehe　was　a　likely　fellow　enough　for　such　an　exploit；　and；　above　all；　certain　expressions　recur　to　my　mind　which　he　used　in　reference　to　old　Bridget　Fitzgerald；　of　Coldholme；　whom　he　once　encountered　while　staying　with　me　at　Starkey　Manor…　house。　　I　remember　that　the　meeting　seemed　to　have　produced　some　extraordinary　effect　upon　his　mind；　as　though　he　had　suddenly　discovered　some　connection　which　she　might　have　had　with　his　previous　life。　　I　beg　you　to　let　me　know　if　I　can　be　of　any　further　service　to　you。　　Your　uncle　once　rendered　me　a　good　turn；　and　I　will　gladly　repay　it；　so　far　as　in　me　lies；　to　his　nephew。〃

I　was　now　apparently　close　on　the　discovery　which　I　had　striven　so　many　months　to　attain。　　But　success　had　lost　its　zest。　　I　put　my　letters　down；　and　seemed　to　forget　them　all　in　thinking　of　the　morning　I　had　passed　that　very　day。　　Nothing　was　real　but　the　unreal　presence；　which　had　come　like　an　evil　blast　across　my　bodily　eyes；　and　burnt　itself　down　upon　my　brain。　　Dinner　came；　and　went　away　untouched。　　Early　in　the　afternoon　I　walked　to　the　farm…house。　　I　found　Mistress　Clarke　alone；　and　I　was　glad　and　relieved。　　She　was　evidently　prepared　to　tell　me　all　I　might　wish　to　hear。

〃You　asked　me　for　Mistress　Lucy's　true　name；　it　is　Gisborne；〃　she　began。

〃Not　Gisborne　of　Skipford？〃　I　exclaimed；　breathless　with　anticipation。

〃The　same；〃　said　she；　quietly；　not　regarding　my　manner。　　〃Her　father　is　a　man　of　note；　although；　being　a　Roman　Catholic；　he　cannot　take　that　rank　in　this　country　to　which　his　station　entitles　him。　　The　consequence　is　that　he　lives　much　abroadhas　been　a　soldier；　I　am　told。〃

〃And　Lucy's　mother？〃　I　asked。

She　shook　her　head。　　〃I　never　knew　her；〃　said　she。　　〃Lucy　was　about　three　years　old　when　I　was　engaged　to　take　charge　of　her。　　Her　mother　was　dead。〃

〃But　you　know　her　name？you　can　tell　if　it　was　Mary　Fitzgerald？〃

She　looked　astonished。　　〃That　was　her　name。　　But；　sir；　how　came　you　to　be　so　well　acquainted　with　it？　　It　was　a　mystery　to　the　whole　household　at　Skipford　Court。　　She　was　some　beautiful　young　woman　whom　he　lured　away　from　her　protectors　while　he　was　abroad。　　I　have　heard　said　he　practised　some　terrible　deceit　upon　her；　and　when　she　came　to　know　it；　she　was　neither　to　have　nor　to　hold；　but　rushed　off　from　his　very　arms；　and　threw　herself　into　a　rapid　stream　and　was　drowned。　　It　stung　him　deep　with　remorse；　but　I　used　to　think　the　remembrance　of　the　mother's　cruel　death　made　him　love　the　child　yet　dearer。〃

I　told　her；　as　briefly　as　might　be；　of　my　researches　after　the　descendant　and　heir　of　the　Fitzgeralds　of　Kildoon；　and　added　something　of　my　old　lawyer　spirit　returning　into　me　for　the　moment　that　I　had　no　doubt　but　that　we　should　prove　Lucy　to　be　by　right　possessed　of　large　estates　in　Ireland。

No　flush　came　over　her　gray　face；　no　light　into　her　eyes。　　〃And　what　is　all　the　wealth　in　the　whole　world　to　that　poor　girl？〃　she　said。　〃It　will　not　free　her　from　the　ghastly　bewitchment　which　persecutes　her。　　As　for　money；　what　a　pitiful　thing　it　is！　it　cannot　touch　her。〃

〃No　more　can　the　Evil　Creature　harm　her；〃　I　said。　　〃Her　holy　nature　dwells　apart；　and　cannot　be　defiled　or　stained　by　all　the　devilish　arts　in　the　whole　world。〃

〃True！　but　it　is　a　cruel　fate　to　know　that　all　shrink　from　her；　sooner　or　later；　as　from　one　possessedaccursed。〃

〃How　came　it　to　pass？〃　I　asked。

〃Nay；　I　know　not。　　Old　rumours　there　are；　that　were　bruited　through　the　household　at　Skipford。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　I　demanded。

〃They　came　from　servants；　who　would　fain　account　for　every　thing。　They　say　that；　many　years　ago；　Mr。　Gisborne　killed　a　dog　belonging　to　an　old　witch　at　Coldholme；　that　she　cursed；　with　a　dreadful　and　mysterious　curse；　the　creature；　whatever　it　might　be；　that　he　should　love　best；　and　that　it　struck　so　deeply　into　his　heart　that　for　years　he　kept　himself　aloof　from　any　temptation　to　love　aught。　　But　who　could　help　loving　Lucy？〃

〃You　never　heard　the　witch's　name？〃　I　gasped。

〃Yesthey　called　her　Bridget：　　they　said　he　would　never　go　near　the　spot　again　for　terror　of　her。　　Yet　he　was　a　brave　man！〃

〃Listen；〃　said　I；　taking　hold　of　her　arm；　the　better　to　arrest　her　full　attention：　　〃if　what　I　suspect　holds　true；　that　man　stole　Bridget's　only　childthe　very　Mary　Fitzgerald　who　was　Lucy's　mother；　if　so；　Bridget　cursed　him　in　ignorance　of　the　deeper　wrong　he　had　done　her。　　To　this　hour　she　yearns　after　her　lost　child；　and　questions　the　saints　whether　she　be　living　or　not。　　The　roots　of　that　curse　lie　deeper　than　she　knows：　　she　unwittingly　banned　him　for　a　deeper　guilt　than　that　of　killing　a　dumb　beast。　　The　sins　of　the　fathers　are　indeed　visited　upon　the　children。〃

〃But；〃　said　Mistress　Clarke；　eagerly；　〃she　would　never　let　evil　rest　on　her　own　grandchild？　　Surely；　sir；　if　what　you　say　be　true；　there　are　hopes　for　Lucy。　　Let　us　gogo　at　once；　and　tell　this　fearful　woman　all　that　you　suspect；　and　beseech　her　to　take　off　the　spell　she　has　put　upon　her　innocent　grandchild。〃

It　seemed　to　me；　indeed；　that　something　like　this　was　the　best　course　we　could　pursue。　　But　first　it　was　necessary　to　ascertain　more　than　what　mere　rumour　or　careless　hearsay　could　tell。　　My　thoughts　turned　to　my　unclehe　could　advise　me　wiselyhe　ought　to　know　all。　　I　resolved　to　go　to　him　without　delay；　but　I　did　not　choose　to　tell　Mistress　Clarke　of　all　the　visionary　plans　that　flitted　through　my　mind。　　I　simply　declared　my　intention　of　proceeding　straight　to　London　on　Lucy's　affairs。　　I　bade　her　believe　that　my　interest　on　the　young　lady's　behalf　was　greater　than　ever；　and　that　my　whole　time　should　be　given　up　to　her　cause。　　I　saw　that　Mistress　Clarke　distrusted　me；　because　my　mind　was　too　full　of　thoughts　for　my　words　to　flow　freely。　　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head；　and　said；　〃Well；　it　is　all　right！〃　in　such　a　tone　that　it　was　an　implied　reproach。　　But　I　was　firm　and　constant　in　my　heart；　and　I　took　confidence　from　that。

I　rode　to　London。　　I　rode　long　days　drawn　out　into　the　lovely　summer　nights：　　I　could　not　rest。　　I　reached　London。　　I　told　my　uncle　all；　though　in　the　stir　of　the　great　city　the　horror　had　faded　away；　and　I　could　hardly　imagine　that　he　would　believe　the　account　I　gav