barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第74节
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letters and those addressed to other people？’
‘If you don’t want it；’ said Hugh； disconcerted by this reproof；
for he had expected high praise； ‘give it me back； and I’ll deliver it。
I don’t know how to please you； master。’
‘I shall deliver it；’ returned his patron； putting it away after a
moment’s consideration； ‘myself。 Does the young lady walk out； on
fine mornings？’
‘Mostly—about noon is her usual time。’
‘Alone？’
‘Yes； alone。’
‘Where？’
‘In the grounds before the house。—Them that the footpath
crosses。’
‘If the weather should be fine； I may throw myself in her way to…
morrow； perhaps；’ said Mr Chester； as coolly as if she were one of
his ordinary acquaintance。 ‘Mr Hugh； if I should ride up to the
Maypole door； you will do me the favour only to have seen me
once。 You must suppress your gratitude； and endeavour to forget
my forbearance in the matter of the bracelet。 It is natural it should
break out； and it does you honour； but when other folks are by；
you must； for your own sake and safety； be as like your usual self
as though you owed me no obligation whatever； and had never
stood within these walls。 You comprehend me？’
Hugh understood him perfectly。 After a pause he muttered that
he hoped his patron would involve him in no trouble about this
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last letter； for he had kept it back solely with the view of pleasing
him。 He was continuing in this strain； when Mr Chester with a
most beneficent and patronising air cut him short by saying：
‘My good fellow； you have my promise； my word； my sealed
bond （for a verbal pledge with me is quite as good）； that I will
always protect you so long as you deserve it。 Now； do set your
mind at rest。 Keep it at ease； I beg of you。 When a man puts
himself in my power so thoroughly as you have done； I really feel
as though he had a kind of claim upon me。 I am more disposed to
mercy and forbearance under such circumstances than I can tell
you； Hugh。 Do look upon me as your protector； and rest assured； I
entreat you； that on the subject of that indiscretion； you may
preserve； as long as you and I are friends； the lightest heart that
ever beat within a human breast。 Fill that glass once more to cheer
you on your road homewards—I am really quite ashamed to think
how far you have to go—and then God bless you for the night。’
‘They think；’ said Hugh； when he had tossed the liquor down；
‘that I am sleeping soundly in the stable。 Ha ha ha！ The stable
door is shut； but the steed’s gone； master。’
‘You are a most convivial fellow；’ returned his friend； ‘and I love
your humour of all things。 Good night！ Take the greatest possible
care of yourself； for my sake！’
It was remarkable that during the whole interview； each had
endeavoured to catch stolen glances of the other’s face； and had
never looked full at it。 They interchanged one brief and hasty
glance as Hugh went out； averted their eyes directly； and so
separated。 Hugh closed the double doors behind him； carefully
and without noise； and Mr Chester remained in his easy…chair；
with his gaze intently fixed upon the fire。
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‘Well！’ he said； after meditating for a long time—and said with a
deep sigh and an uneasy shifting of his attitude； as though he
dismissed some other subject from his thoughts； and returned to
that which had held possession of them all the day—the plot
thickens； I have thrown the shell； it will explode； I think； in eight…
and…forty hours； and should scatter these good folks amazingly。
We shall see！’
He went to bed and fell asleep； but had not slept long when he
started up and thought that Hugh was at the outer door； calling in
a strange voice； very different from his own； to be admitted。 The
delusion was so strong upon him； and was so full of that vague
terror of the night in which such visions have their being； that he
rose； and taking his sheathed sword in his hand； opened the door；
and looked out upon the staircase； and towards the spot where
Hugh had lain asleep； and even spoke to him by name。 But all was
dark and quiet； and creeping back to bed again； he fell； after an
hour’s uneasy watching； into a second sleep； and woke no more till
morning。
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Chapter 29
he thoughts of worldly men are for ever regulated by a
moral law of gravitation； which； like the physical one；
T
holds them down to earth。 The bright glory of day； and the
silent wonders of a starlit night； appeal to their minds in vain。
There are no signs in the sun； or in the moon； or in the stars； for
their reading。 They are like some wise men； who； learning to know
each planet by its Latin name； have quite forgotten such small
heavenly constellations as Charity； Forbearance； Universal Love；
and Mercy； although they shine by night and day so brightly that
the blind may see them； and who； looking upward at the spangled
sky； see nothing there but the reflection of their own great wisdom
and book…learning。
It is curious to imagine these people of the world； busy in
thought； turning their eyes towards the countless spheres that
shine above us； and making them reflect the only images their
minds contain。 The man who lives but in the breath of princes； has
nothing his sight but stars for courtiers’ breasts。 The envious man
beholds his neighbours’ honours even in the sky； to the money…
hoarder； and the mass of worldly folk； the whole great universe
above glitters with sterling coin—fresh from the mint—stamped
with the sovereign’s head—coming always between them and
heaven； turn where they may。 So do the shadows of our own
desires stand between us and our better angels； and thus their
brightness is eclipsed。
Everything was fresh and gay； as though the world were but
that morning made； when Mr Chester rode at a tranquil pace
along the Forest road。 Though early in the season； it was warm
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and genial weather； the trees were budding into leaf； the hedges
and the grass were green； the air was musical with songs of birds；
and high above them all the lark poured out her richest melody。 In
shady spots； the morning dew sparkled on each young leaf and
blade of grass； and where the sun was shining； some diamond
drops yet glistened brightly； as in unwillingness to leave so fair a
world； and have such brief existence。 Even the light wind； whose
rustling was as gentle to the ear as softly…falling water； had its
hope and promise； and； leaving a pleasant fragrance in its track as
it went fluttering by； whispered of its intercourse with Summer；
and of his happy coming。
The solitary rider went glancing on among the trees； from
sunlight into shade and back again； at the same even pace—
looking about him； certainly； from time to time； but with no
greater thought of the day or the scene through which he moved；
than that he wa
