the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第5节
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！
a good deal of sensation at the time； and the girl Helen was closely
questioned by Mr。 R。； but to no purpose； she steadfastly denying that she
had frightened or in any way molested Trevor。
The second event with which this girl's name is connected took place
about six years ago； and is of a still more extraordinary character。
At the beginning of the summer of 1882； Helen contracted a friendship
of a peculiarly intimate character with Rachel M。； the daughter of a
prosperous farmer in the neighbourhood。 This girl； who was a year
younger than Helen； was considered by most people to be the prettier of
the two； though Helen's features had to a great extent softened as she
became older。 The two girls； who were together on every available
opportunity； presented a singular contrast； the one with her clear； olive
skin and almost Italian appearance； and the other of the proverbial red and
white of our rural districts。 It must be stated that the payments made to
Mr。 R。 for the maintenance of Helen were known in the village for their
excessive liberality； and the impression was general that she would one
day inherit a large sum of money from her relative。 The parents of Rachel
were therefore not averse from their daughter's friendship with the girl；
and even encouraged the intimacy； though they now bitterly regret having
done so。 Helen still retained her extraordinary fondness for the forest； and
on several occasions Rachel accompanied her； the two friends setting out
early in the morning； and remaining in the wood until dusk。 Once or
twice after these excursions Mrs。 M。 thought her daughter's manner rather
peculiar； she seemed languid and dreamy； and as it has been expressed；
〃different from herself；〃 but these peculiarities seem to have been thought
too trifling for remark。 One evening； however； after Rachel had come
home； her mother heard a noise which sounded like suppressed weeping in
the girl's room； and on going in found her lying； half undressed； upon the
bed； evidently in the greatest distress。 As soon as she saw her mother；
she exclaimed； 〃Ah； mother； mother； why did you let me go to the forest
with Helen？〃 Mrs。 M。 was astonished at so strange a question； and
proceeded to make inquiries。 Rachel told her a wild story。 She said
Clarke closed the book with a snap； and turned his chair towards the
fire。 When his friend sat one evening in that very chair； and told his story；
15
… Page 16…
THE GREAT GOD PAN
Clarke had interrupted him at a point a little subsequent to this； had cut
short his words in a paroxysm of horror。 〃My God！〃 he had exclaimed；
〃think； think what you are saying。 It is too incredible； too monstrous；
such things can never be in this quiet world； where men and women live
and die； and struggle； and conquer； or maybe fail； and fall down under
sorrow； and grieve and suffer strange fortunes for many a year； but not this；
Phillips； not such things as this。 There must be some explanation； some
way out of the terror。 Why； man； if such a case were possible； our earth
would be a nightmare。〃
But Phillips had told his story to the end； concluding：
〃Her flight remains a mystery to this day； she vanished in broad
sunlight； they saw her walking in a meadow； and a few moments later she
was not there。〃
Clarke tried to conceive the thing again； as he sat by the fire； and again
his mind shuddered and shrank back； appalled before the sight of such
awful； unspeakable elements enthroned as it were； and triumphant in
human flesh。 Before him stretched the long dim vista of the green
causeway in the forest； as his friend had described it； he saw the swaying
leaves and the quivering shadows on the grass； he saw the sunlight and the
flowers； and far away； far in the long distance； the two figure moved
toward him。 One was Rachel； but the other？
Clarke had tried his best to disbelieve it all； but at the end of the
account； as he had written it in his book； he had placed the inscription：
ET DIABOLUS INCARNATE EST。 ET HOMO FACTUS EST。
16
… Page 17…
THE GREAT GOD PAN
III
THE CITY OF RESURRECTIONS
〃Herbert！ Good God！ Is it possible？〃
〃Yes； my name's Herbert。 I think I know your face； too； but I don't
remember your name。 My memory is very queer。〃
〃Don't you recollect Villiers of Wadham？〃
〃So it is； so it is。 I beg your pardon； Villiers； I didn't think I was
begging of an old college friend。 Good…night。〃
〃My dear fellow； this haste is unnecessary。 My rooms are close by；
but we won't go there just yet。 Suppose we walk up Shaftesbury Avenue
a little way？ But how in heaven's name have you come to this pass；
Herbert？〃
〃It's a long story； Villiers； and a strange one too； but you can hear it if
you like。〃
〃Come on； then。 Take my arm； you don't seem very strong。〃
The ill…assorted pair moved slowly up Rupert Street； the one in dirty；
evil…looking rags； and the other attired in the regulation uniform of a man
about town； trim； glossy； and eminently well…to…do。 Villiers had emerged
from his restaurant after an excellent dinner of many courses； assisted by
an ingratiating little flask of Chianti； and； in that frame of mind which was
with him almost chronic； had delayed a moment by the door； peering
round in the dimly…lighted street in search of those mysterious incidents
and persons with which the streets of London teem in every quarter and
every hour。 Villiers prided himself as a practised explorer of such
obscure mazes and byways of London life； and in this unprofitable pursuit
he displayed an assiduity which was worthy of more serious employment。
Thus he stood by the lamp…post surveying the passers…by with undisguised
curiosity； and with that gravity known only to the systematic diner； had
just enunciated in his mind the formula： 〃London has been called the city
of encounters； it is more than that； it is the city of Resurrections；〃 when
these reflections were suddenly interrupted by a piteous whine at his
elbow； and a deplorable appeal for alms。 He looked around in some
17
… Page 18…
THE GREAT GOD PAN
irritation； and with a sudden shock found himself confronted with the
embodied proof of his somewhat stilted fancies。 There； close beside him；
his face altered and disfigured by poverty and disgrace； his body barely
covered by greasy ill…fitting rags； stood his old friend Charles Herbert；
who had matriculated on the same day as himself； with whom he had been
merry and wise for twelve revolving terms。 Different occupations and
varying interests had interrupted the friendship； and it was six years since
Villiers had seen Herbert； and now he looked upon this wreck of a man
with grief and dismay； mingled with a certain inquisitiveness as to what
dreary chain of circumstances had dragged him down to such a doleful
pass。 Villiers felt together with compassion all the relish of the amateur
in mysteries； and congratulated himself on his leisurely speculations
outside the restaurant。
They walked on in silence for some time； and more than one passer…by
stared in astonishment at the unaccustomed spectacle of a well…dressed
man with an unmistakable beggar hanging on to his arm； and； observing
this； Villiers led the way to an obscure street in Soho。 Here he repeated
his question。
〃How on earth has it happened； Herbert？ I always understood you
would succeed to an excellent position in Dorsetshire。 Did your father
disinherit you？ Sure
