登陆注册
5168000000012

第12章

Tell me some particulars.Why are you in grief--what is your secret--why are you here? I declare solemnly that nothing you have said has daunted me in my wish to become Lucy's husband; nor will I shrink from any difficulty that, as such an aspirant, I may have to encounter.You say you are friendless--why cast away an honest friend? I will tell you of people to whom you may write, and who will answer any questions as to my character and prospects.I do not shun inquiry."She shook her head again."You had better go away, sir.You know nothing about us.""I know your names," said I, "and I have heard you allude to the part of the country from which you came, which I happen to know as a wild and lonely place.There are so few people living in it that, if Ichose to go there, I could easily ascertain all about you; but Iwould rather hear it from yourself." You see I wanted to pique her into telling me something definite.

"You do not know our true names, sir," said she, hastily.

"Well, I may have conjectured as much.But tell me, then, I conjure you.Give me your reasons for distrusting my willingness to stand by what I have said with regard to Mistress Lucy.""Oh, what can I do?" exclaimed she."If I am turning away a true friend, as he says?--Stay!" coming to a sudden decision--" I will tell you something--I cannot tell you all--you would not believe it.

But, perhaps, I can tell you enough to prevent your going on in your hopeless attachment.I am not Lucy's mother.""So I conjectured," I said."Go on."

"I do not even know whether she is the legitimate or illegitimate child of her father.But he is cruelly turned against her; and her mother is long dead; and for a terrible reason, she has no other creature to keep constant to her but me.She--only two years ago--such a darling and such a pride in her father's house! Why, sir, there is a mystery that might happen in connection with her any moment; and then you would go away like all the rest; and, when you next heard her name, you would loathe her.Others, who have loved her longer, have done so before now.My poor child! whom neither God nor man has mercy upon--or, surely, she would die!"The good woman was stopped by her crying.I confess, I was a little stunned by her last words; but only for a moment.At any rate, till I knew definitely what was this mysterious stain upon one so simple and pure, as Lucy seemed, I would not desert her, and so I said; and she made me answer:-"If you are daring in your heart to think harm of my child, sir, after knowing her as you have done, you are no good man yourself; but I am so foolish and helpless in my great sorrow, that I would fain hope to find a friend in you.I cannot help trusting that, although you may no longer feel toward her as a lover, you will have pity upon us; and perhaps, by your learning you can tell us where to go for aid.""I implore you to tell me what this mystery is," I cried, almost maddened by this suspense.

"I cannot," said she, solemnly."I am under a deep vow of secrecy.

If you are to be told, it must be by her." She left the room, and Iremained to ponder over this strange interview.I mechanically turned over the few books, and with eyes that saw nothing at the time, examined the tokens of Lucy's frequent presence in that room.

When I got home at night, I remembered how all these trifles spoke of a pure and tender heart and innocent life.Mistress Clarke returned;she had been crying sadly.

"Yes," said she, "it is as I feared: she loves you so much that she is willing to run the fearful risk of telling you all herself--she acknowledges it is but a poor chance; but your sympathy will be a balm, if you give it.To-morrow, come here at ten in the morning;and, as you hope for pity in your hour of agony, repress all show of fear or repugnance you may feel towards one so grievously afflicted."I half smiled."Have no fear," I said.It seemed too absurd to imagine my feeling dislike to Lucy.

"Her father loved her well," said she, gravely, "yet he drove her out like some monstrous thing."Just at this moment came a peal of ringing laughter from the garden.

It was Lucy's voice; it sounded as if she were standing just on one side of the open casement--and as though she were suddenly stirred to merriment--merriment verging on boisterousness, by the doings or sayings of some other person.I can scarcely say why, but the sound jarred on me inexpressibly.She knew the subject of our conversation, and must have been at least aware of the state of agitation her friend was in; she herself usually so gentle and quiet.

I half rose to go to the window, and satisfy my instinctive curiosity as to what had provoked this burst of, ill-timed laughter; but Mrs.

Clarke threw her whole weight and power upon the hand with which she pressed and kept me down.

"For God's sake!" she said, white and trembling all over, "sit still;be quiet.Oh! be patient.To-morrow you will know all.Leave us, for we are all sorely afflicted.Do not seek to know more about us."Again that laugh--so musical in sound, yet so discordant to my heart.

She held me tight--tighter; without positive violence I could not have risen.I was sitting with my back to the window, but I felt a shadow pass between the sun's warmth and me, and a strange shudder ran through my frame.In a minute or two she released me.

"Go," repeated she."Be warned, I ask you once more.I do not think you can stand this knowledge that you seek.If I had had my own way, Lucy should never have yielded, and promised to tell you all.Who knows what may come of it?""I am firm in my wish to know all.I return at ten tomorrow morning, and then expect to see Mistress Lucy herself."I turned away; having my own suspicions, I confess, as to Mistress Clarke's sanity.

同类推荐
  • 外储说右上

    外储说右上

    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。
  • 李司马桥了承高使君

    李司马桥了承高使君

    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。
  • 相牛经

    相牛经

    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。
  • 孔子编年

    孔子编年

    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。
  • 高坡异纂

    高坡异纂

    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
  • 钱钟书的人生智慧课(智者人生系列)

    钱钟书的人生智慧课(智者人生系列)

    钱钟书先生成就卓越,他低调为人、高调治学,与家人和睦共处、其乐融融。这正是对如今骄纵、虚妄的社会风气的鞭策和激励。
  • 武破苍穹

    武破苍穹

    这是一部愤青逆袭的血泪史,有血,有泪,有屎……在这里仁者可以见仁,智者可以见智,翔者可以见翔……强者眼中的高傲不羁,弱者脸上的悲天悯人。只有经历过非人之经历才能成为人上人,在那高傲的天空之中熬翔,如果你不想被人踩在脚下,那么就请你把他踩死……
  • 绝版逆袭之傲娇王爷请绕行

    绝版逆袭之傲娇王爷请绕行

    若爱请深爱,若不爱请放手。如不能相濡以沫,那便相忘于江湖。凉城最终不暖心,空梦最终空无人。
  • 巫师之谜

    巫师之谜

    圣灵学院的学生在赶往巫师考试的考场的路上,捡到神秘小美女一枚,原本不平静的生活变得更加丰富多彩……山鬼的复仇,黑巫师的归来,这个危险重重的世界也藏了很多秘密。被隐瞒的神魔之战,被扭曲的神赐之战,神秘的大巫师,封印的神族,与人族反目的妖族,隐遁大陆的羽族与异人族……背后隐藏的真相是什么?而这一切又与晞和有何关系?化名白牙的晞和,在揭开重重迷雾之时,也逐渐在找回自己……陌生的身体,似曾相识的力量,梦境中的声音,封印的记忆……她,到底是谁?
  • 凤九卿.3

    凤九卿.3

    边境一役胜利后,几人本欲重返朝廷,但途中突生变故。凤九卿不过是想女扮男装上台为中原男子挣个面子,却引得那名张扬跋扈的女子芳心暗许,非她不嫁。好不容易脱身,在回京途中,凤九卿竟发现老父被囚,民众的生活也陷入水深火热之中。她一路顺藤摸瓜,竟发现是太子从中作梗。轩辕容锦功高震主,不仅太子想除去他,就连当朝皇帝也对他十分忌惮。老谋深算的凤九卿利用自己的智慧帮助轩辕容锦一一化解,但轩辕容锦不能理解,为何她为自己打下了天下之后,却要不辞而别呢?
  • 红影黛姿潇湘月

    红影黛姿潇湘月

    那样一个女子,不下眉头,也上心头!那样一个女子,她在寂寞的夜里开放如清雅的兰花,泪水在叶尖滚动,晶莹剔透,折射有微亮的星光,闪烁不停。那样一个女子,她不知道为了什么而来,有人说她背负了前世的债,于是她从七彩的天上下来,而又终于飘然而去。这样一个女子,她在月下绕篱而行,口唇微启,轻轻地诵着词句。这样一个女子,她在寒夜里,呵着手里的笔,在一方手帕上静静地写着诗。这样一个女子,她白衣胜雪,已经悄悄地远去了。一直想写林妹妹,但是却不知该如何下笔,唯恐世俗的语言,玷污了妹妹!现在鼓起勇气,写一篇若是不好,大家不要拍瑜啊!不想写穿越的黛玉,因为一直认为那会与原本的妹妹差太远,之前写迎春也是这个原因!本文的妹妹,是一个外柔内刚,自有一番主见的人,虽不似原著那般我见尤怜,却有另一番别样的风情!看她怎样为自己创造一个不一样的人生!推荐自己的新文《倾歌天下》,是瑜的转型力作,亲们千万表错过哦,瑜保证精彩滴啦,鞠躬谢过!地址:推荐自己的完结红楼文:《穿越红楼之我是迎春》推荐好友的文文:沧海明珠的清穿美文:《怡诺千年》红楼新文《红楼惊梦之黛灵》:好友梅灵的红楼新文:《禛心俜玉》各位亲爱的筒子们,瑜的书友会QQ群:66858739,喜欢瑜的朋友可以加入哦,敲门砖是瑜的任何一篇文文哈!瑜的圈子:http://m.wkkk.net欢迎大家参观访问,畅所欲言,呵呵……
  • The Lure of the Dim Trails

    The Lure of the Dim Trails

    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。
  • 灵兽归元记

    灵兽归元记

    自盘古开天辟地,世间各种灵兽相继诞生,以维持混沌之气化作的混沌兽,所造成的时间灵力平衡,但随着时间的流逝,世界上相继出现的各方势力,为了达到各自不同的目的,纷纷利用各种手段将那些灵兽控制了起来,在那当中最为厉害的就是一个叫做“夜幕降临”的超级恐怖组织,他们当中的所有人,都是想要征服世界的各种超级厉害人物,世间有邪必有正,身为正义之士的各方势力,在无奈之下最终通过长期战斗。
  • 九霄风华

    九霄风华

    一个从雪域北国走出的少年,开始了他非凡的人生!
  • 青年作家(2015年第12期)

    青年作家(2015年第12期)

    《青年作家》是一本老牌纯文学读物,创刊于2007年,由文学巨匠巴金先生撰写创刊词,曾被誉为中国文学刊物“四小名旦”之一。