登陆注册
5154600000021

第21章

They were now so near the fire, which had long flamed at a distance on the blackness of night, that it gleamed upon the road, and they could distinguish figures moving about the blaze.The way winding still nearer, they perceived in the valley one of those numerous bands of gipsies, which at that period particularly haunted the wilds of the Pyrenees, and lived partly by plundering the traveller.Emily looked with some degree of terror on the savage countenances of these people, shewn by the fire, which heightened the romantic effects of the scenery, as it threw a red dusky gleam upon the rocks and on the foliage of the trees, leaving heavy masses of shade and regions of obscurity, which the eye feared to penetrate.

They were preparing their supper; a large pot stood by the fire, over which several figures were busy.The blaze discovered a rude kind of tent, round which many children and dogs were playing, and the whole formed a picture highly grotesque.The travellers saw plainly their danger.Valancourt was silent, but laid his hand on one of St.

Aubert's pistols; St.Aubert drew forth another, and Michael was ordered to proceed as fast as possible.They passed the place, however, without being attacked; the rovers being probably unprepared for the opportunity, and too busy about their supper to feel much interest, at the moment, in any thing besides.

After a league and a half more, passed in darkness, the travellers arrived at Beaujeu, and drove up to the only inn the place afforded;which, though superior to any they had seen since they entered the mountains, was bad enough.

The surgeon of the town was immediately sent for, if a surgeon he could be called, who prescribed for horses as well as for men, and shaved faces at least as dexterously as he set bones.After examining Valancourt's arm, and perceiving that the bullet had passed through the flesh without touching the bone, he dressed it, and left him with a solemn prescription of quiet, which his patient was not inclined to obey.The delight of ease had now succeeded to pain; for ease may be allowed to assume a positive quality when contrasted with anguish; and, his spirits thus re-animated, he wished to partake of the conversation of St.Aubert and Emily, who, released from so many apprehensions, were uncommonly cheerful.Late as it was, however, St.Aubert was obliged to go out with the landlord to buy meat for supper; and Emily, who, during this interval, had been absent as long as she could, upon excuses of looking to their accommodation, which she found rather better than she expected, was compelled to return, and converse with Valancourt alone.They talked of the character of the scenes they had passed, of the natural history of the country, of poetry, and of St.Aubert; a subject on which Emily always spoke and listened to with peculiar pleasure.

The travellers passed an agreeable evening; but St.Aubert was fatigued with his journey; and, as Valancourt seemed again sensible of pain, they separated soon after supper.

In the morning St.Aubert found that Valancourt had passed a restless night; that he was feverish, and his wound very painful.The surgeon, when he dressed it, advised him to remain quietly at Beaujeu; advice which was too reasonable to be rejected.St.Aubert, however, had no favourable opinion of this practitioner, and was anxious to commit Valancourt into more skilful hands; but learning, upon enquiry, that there was no town within several leagues which seemed more likely to afford better advice, he altered the plan of his journey, and determined to await the recovery of Valancourt, who, with somewhat more ceremony than sincerity, made many objections to this delay.

By order of his surgeon, Valancourt did not go out of the house that day; but St.Aubert and Emily surveyed with delight the environs of the town, situated at the feet of the Pyrenean Alps, that rose, some in abrupt precipices, and others swelling with woods of cedar, fir, and cypress, which stretched nearly to their highest summits.The cheerful green of the beech and mountain-ash was sometimes seen, like a gleam of light, amidst the dark verdure of the forest; and sometimes a torrent poured its sparkling flood, high among the woods.

Valancourt's indisposition detained the travellers at Beaujeu several days, during which interval St.Aubert had observed his disposition and his talents with the philosophic inquiry so natural to him.He saw a frank and generous nature, full of ardour, highly susceptible of whatever is grand and beautiful, but impetuous, wild, and somewhat romantic.Valancourt had known little of the world.His perceptions were clear, and his feelings just; his indignation of an unworthy, or his admiration of a generous action, were expressed in terms of equal vehemence.St.Aubert sometimes smiled at his warmth, but seldom checked it, and often repeated to himself, 'This young man has never been at Paris.' A sigh sometimes followed this silent ejaculation.

He determined not to leave Valancourt till he should be perfectly recovered; and, as he was now well enough to travel, though not able to manage his horse, St.Aubert invited him to accompany him for a few days in the carriage.This he the more readily did, since he had discovered that Valancourt was of a family of the same name in Gascony, with whose respectability he was well acquainted.The latter accepted the offer with great pleasure, and they again set forward among these romantic wilds about Rousillon.

They travelled leisurely; stopping wherever a scene uncommonly grand appeared; frequently alighting to walk to an eminence, whither the mules could not go, from which the prospect opened in greater magnificence; and often sauntering over hillocks covered with lavender, wild thyme, juniper, and tamarisc; and under the shades of woods, between those boles they caught the long mountain-vista, sublime beyond any thing that Emily had ever imagined.

同类推荐
  • 龙川别志

    龙川别志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 菩萨生地经

    菩萨生地经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北涧居简禅师语录

    北涧居简禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 现在贤劫千佛名经

    现在贤劫千佛名经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四部丛刊书目

    四部丛刊书目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 相思引之曾相忘

    相思引之曾相忘

    她本是现代一名中医,一朝穿越,成为护国公府嫡小姐,因父母之仇不卧闺阁,投身江湖,与丐帮联手建立天下第一阁只为调查当年之事。他是南楚五皇子,亦是皇室中可有可无的存在,可谁能想到多年后,这位默默无闻的五皇子不仅继承了南楚江山更是一统华夏大陆,其才华、其谋略、其心性更是令人叹为观止。阴差阳错下,她身中相思引,相思若入骨便再难相解,且看她与他如何如何巧妙化解相思引,守住这一世繁华。(本文纯属虚构)
  • 庶女翻身,夫君别不乖

    庶女翻身,夫君别不乖

    一朝穿越,却发现自己正在受刑!心冷的父亲,狠毒的姐姐,作为庶女的苏浅浅决定奋起反击!然而……“在下沈青风,特意求娶苏府小姐。”还没来得及反击的苏浅浅被直接打发嫁去了偏远山庄。什么?她的夫君有病?她给熬十全大补汤也治不好?苏浅浅一甩医书,夫君有病,多半是欠揍,打一顿就好!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 我很想爱他

    我很想爱他

    “江策,我们之间的爱早就死了,为什么你还不明白?”那一场爱情的追逐,她下了套,他设了局,最终却两败俱伤。热销作者蓝白色、红九、余姗姗、居筱亦联袂推荐,感动万人的都市蚀心之作,这是最无法言喻的青春暗伤,也是爱恨交织的终极互搏!我曾为你赌上整颗心,如今却再也输不起。
  • 杠上腹黑王爷:妾本狂野

    杠上腹黑王爷:妾本狂野

    带着现代桀骜不驯、张狂固执的灵魂,她重生了,现在的她,成了王府里一个不受宠的,王爷的小妾,当清冽的眼睛睁开,“她”已经不再是“她”,一个顶级杀手穿越成了大婚第二天就被打死,并被贬为小妾的王妃,纵然是萧条院落也难掩她的绝代风华,粗布麻衣也难掩她的万丈光芒!冷眼看那些想置自己于死地的人,她高调的宣布:“要我命者,我先灭之”
  • 菊与刀

    菊与刀

    日本,一个小小的弹丸之地,一个资源极度匮乏的岛国,其造就了一场极度惨烈的世界大战,但也造就了第二次世界大战后最伟大的经济奇迹。日本为什么会成为令人发指的侵略者? 日本的野心到底有多大,真的想吞掉美国吗?作为世界上唯一一个被原子弹轰炸过的国家,是怎样迅速复兴崛起的?所有问题都能在这本鲁思·本尼迪克特编著的《菊与刀》中得到解答。 “菊”本是日本皇室家徽,“刀”是武士道文化的象征。本尼迪克特用“菊”与“刀”来象征日本人的矛盾性格,以一个西方人的冷静视角,通览日本独特的文化传统和民族性格。此书受到了社会各界的高度评价,其极大的影响至今不减。
  • 王者荣耀之飞天战神

    王者荣耀之飞天战神

    【2018王者荣耀文学大赛·征文参赛作品】外卖骑手,叛逆少年,冷艳女神,富家公子,呆萌吃货……这些形形色色的人物都因王者荣耀而聚在一起,为了梦想和荣耀,在KPL职业赛场上和那些天才对手展开精彩绝伦的对决。本书慢热,前期平淡,后期热血,欢迎收藏。
  • 校园三剑客·怪兽博士岛(经典版)

    校园三剑客·怪兽博士岛(经典版)

    一个长着翅膀的白衣少女降落到张小开家,可是还没等到张小开来救助,少女便被同时从天而降的鸟人带走了,留下了一个来自复活节岛的小雕像。就在这时,“校园三剑客”收到神秘客的来信,让他们去探索复活节岛,这是巧合吗?“校园三剑客”能否找到白衣少女?他们在小岛上又将发现什么样的惊天大秘密呢?
  • 老婆,我们复婚吧2

    老婆,我们复婚吧2

    3年前,她离他而去,成为别人的妻子。3年后,她离婚,还带回了个儿子,而他即将成为她姐姐的老公。她以为他只是她的姐夫,想不到他狂妄的要她为他生个孩子……
  • 黑铁时代

    黑铁时代

    李银河独家授权,并亲自校订全稿。完整收入28篇未竟稿,9篇为首次曝光。读过这本,才算完整读过王小波。迄今最完整的王小波手稿拾遗整理。王小波小说、随笔未竞稿合集,收入《黑铁时代》《黑铁公寓》等未完成的小说作品,亦包括《白银时代》《寻找无双》等经典作品创作材料、写作笔记,以及题材罕见的对科学论文的眉批、自书简介、年谱等。其中,《一个愤世嫉俗的人》《海鬼》《大学四年级》等9篇根据手稿整理的未竞稿为SHOU次出版。本书充满了王小波作品中一以贯之的幻想与批判,清晰勾勒了王小波的创作版图,令读者得以一窥其日臻成熟的创作过程。
  • 悬凶的镜照

    悬凶的镜照

    “这是在我县境内出土的唐代古铜镜。”县文化宫四楼,约四百平方米的展厅,沿中轴线两边精心摆放的玻璃柜内,陈列着这一区域出土的各种文物。这等最为普通的布置虽远远不能与大型博物馆展出的讲究与豪华相比,但在淡淡光晕的映衬下,整个布局显得简约、明快,给人一种风格迥异的感觉。县文管所所长田佳介正在向以省文化厅周厅长为首的特意前来视察参观的宾客介绍展出的文物。