the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第33章
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and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness of the
hideousness of his appearance。 Your path lies straight beside yon half…
fallen willow； keep the left side of it； the marsh lies on the right。
Farewell for a time。 Remember the evil you are threatened with； and let it
overcome at once your fears and scruples。〃
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 said Isabella； 〃farewell； if you have deceived one so
unfortunate as myself； you have for ever forfeited the fair character for
probity and honour to which I have trusted。〃
〃On my lifeon my soul；〃 continued Ratcliffe； raising his voice as the
distance between them increased； 〃you are safeperfectly safe。〃
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CHAPTER XVI。
'Twas time and griefs That framed him thus： Time； with his
fairer hand； Offering the fortunes of his former days； The former man
may make him。Bring us to him； And chance it as it may。OLD PLAY。
The sounds of Ratcliffe's voice had died on Isabella's ear； but as she
frequently looked back； it was some encouragement to her to discern his
form now darkening in the gloom。 Ere； however； she went much farther；
she lost the object in the increasing shade。 The last glimmer of the
twilight placed her before the hut of the Solitary。 She twice extended her
hand to the door； and twice she withdrew it； and when she did at length
make the effort； the knock did not equal in violence the throb of her own
bosom。 Her next effort was louder； her third was reiterated； for the fear
of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised so much；
began to overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she was to
request it。 At length； as she still received no answer； she repeatedly
called upon the Dwarf by his assumed name； and requested him to answer
and open to her。
〃What miserable being is reduced；〃 said the appalling voice of the
Solitary； 〃to seek refuge here？ Go hence； when the heath… fowl need
shelter； they seek it not in the nest of the night… raven。〃
〃I come to you； father；〃 said Isabella； 〃in my hour of adversity； even as
you yourself commanded； when you promised your heart and your door
should be open to my distress； but I fear〃
〃Ha！〃 said the Solitary； 〃then thou art Isabella Vere？ Give me a token
that thou art she。〃
〃I have brought you back the rose which you gave me； it has not had
time to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me！〃
〃And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃I will
not forfeit mine。 The heart and the door that are shut against every other
earthly being； shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows。〃
She heard him move in his hut； and presently afterwards strike a light。
One by one； bolt and bar were then withdrawn； the heart of Isabella
throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively
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THE BLACK DWARF
removed。 The door opened； and the Solitary stood before her； his
uncouth form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in
his hand。
〃Enter； daughter of affliction；〃 he said；〃enter the house of misery。〃
She entered； and observed； with a precaution which increased her
trepidation； that the Recluse's first act； after setting the lamp upon the table；
was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door of his hut。 She
shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this ominous operation；
yet remembered Ratcliffe's caution； and endeavoured to suppress all
appearance of apprehension。 The light of the lamp was weak and
uncertain； but the Solitary； without taking immediate notice of Isabella；
otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small settle beside the
fireplace； made haste to kindle some dry furze； which presently cast a
blaze through the cottage。 Wooden shelves； which bore a few books；
some bundles of dried herbs； and one or two wooden cups and platters；
were on one side of the fire； on the other were placed some ordinary tools
of field…labour； mingled with those used by mechanics。 Where the bed
should have been； there was a wooden frame； strewed with withered moss
and rushes； the couch of the ascetic。 The whole space of the cottage did
not exceed ten feet by six within the walls； and its only furniture； besides
what we have mentioned； was a table and two stools formed of rough
deals。
Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed
with a being； whose history had nothing to reassure her； and the fearful
conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost
superstitious terror。 He occupied the seat opposite to her； and dropping
his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes； gazed at her in
silence； as if agitated by a variety of contending feelings。 On the other
side sate Isabella； pale as death； her long hair uncurled by the evening
damps； and falling over her shoulders and breast； as the wet streamers
droop from the mast when the storm has passed away； and left the vessel
stranded on the beach。 The Dwarf first broke the silence with the sudden；
abrupt； and alarming question；〃Woman； what evil fate has brought thee
hither？〃
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〃My father's danger； and your own command；〃 she replied faintly； but
firmly。
〃And you hope for aid from me？〃
〃If you can bestow it；〃 she replied； still in the same tone of mild
submission。
〃And how should I possess that power？〃 continued the Dwarf； with a
bitter sneer； 〃Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs？ Is this the castle
in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant is likely to
hold his residence？ I but mocked thee； girl； when I said I would relieve
thee。〃
〃Then must I depart； and face my fate as I best may！〃
〃No！〃 said the Dwarf； rising and interposing between her and the
door； and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat〃No！ you leave
me not in this way； we must have farther conference。 Why should one
being desire aid of another？ Why should not each be sufficient to itself？
Look round youI； the most despised and most decrepit on Nature's
common； have required sympathy and help from no one。 These stones
are of my own piling； these utensils I framed with my own hands； and
with this〃and he laid his hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger
which he always wore beneath his garment； and unsheathed it so far that
the blade glimmered clear in the fire…light〃with this；〃 he pursued； as he
thrust the weapon back into the scabbard； 〃I can； if necessary； defend the
vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk； against the fairest and strongest that
shall threaten me with injury。〃
It was with difficulty Isabella refrained from screaming out aloud； but
she DID refrain。
〃This；〃 continued the Recluse； 〃is the life of nature； solitary； self…
sufficing； and independent。 The wolf calls not the wolf to aid him in
forming his den； and the vulture invites not another to assist her in striking
down her prey。〃
〃And when they are unable to procure themselves support；〃 said
Isabella； judiciously thinking that he would be most accessible to
argument couched in his own metaphorical style； 〃what then is to befall
them？〃
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〃Let them starve； die； and be forgotten； it is the common lot of
humanity。〃
〃It is the lot of the wild tribes of nature；〃 said Isabella； 〃but chiefly of
those who are destined to support themselves by rapine； which brooks no
partner； but it is not the law of nature in general； even the lower orders
have confederacies for mutual defence。 But mankindthe race would
perish did they cease to aid each other。From the time that the mother
binds the child's head； till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the
death… damp from the brow of the dying； we cannot exist without mutual
help。 All； therefore； that need aid； have right to ask it of their fellow…
mortals； no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without guilt。〃
〃And in this simple hope； poor maiden；〃 said the Solitary； 〃thou hast
come into the desert； to seek one whose wish it were that the league thou
hast spoken of were broken for ever； and that； in very truth； the whole race
should perish？ Wert thou not frightened？〃
〃Misery；〃 said Isabella； firmly； 〃is superior to fear。〃
〃Hast thou not heard it said in thy mortal world； that I have leagued
myself with other powers； deformed to the eye and malevolent to the
human race as myself？ Hast thou not heard thisAnd dost thou seek my
cell at midnight？〃
〃The Being I worship supports me against such idle fears；〃 said
Isabella； but the increasing agitation of her bosom belied the affected
courage which her words expressed。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 said the Dwarf； 〃thou vauntest thyself a philosopher？
Yet； shouldst thou not have thought of the danger of intrusting thyself；
young and beautiful； in the power of one so spited against humanity； as to
place his chief pleasure in defacing； destroying； and degrading her fairest
works？〃
Isabella； much alarmed； continued to answer with firmness； 〃Whatever
injuries you
