a woman of thirty-第28部分

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trong　hands；　through　which　the　light　passed；　tinting　them　with　a　diaphanous；　almost　fluid　redthose　hands　were　trembling。　Once　only　did　the　eyes　of　the　mother　and　daughter　clash　without　shrinking；　and　the　two　women　read　each　other's　thoughts　in　a　look；　cold；　wan；　and　respectful　on　Helene's　part；　sombre　and　threatening　on　her　mother's。　At　once　Helene's　eyes　were　lowered　to　her　work；　she　plied　her　needle　swiftly；　and　it　was　long　before　she　raised　her　head；　bowed　as　it　seemed　by　a　weight　of　thought　too　heavy　to　bear。　Was　the　Marquise　over　harsh　with　this　one　of　her　children？　Did　she　think　this　harshness　needful？　Was　she　jealous　of　Helene's　beauty？She　might　still　hope　to　rival　Helene；　but　only　by　the　magic　arts　of　the　toilette。　Or　again；　had　her　daughter；　like　many　a　girl　who　reaches　the　clairvoyant　age；　read　the　secrets　which　this　wife　（to　all　appearance　so　religiously　faithful　in　the　fulfilment　of　her　duties）　believed　to　be　buried　in　her　own　heart　as　deeply　as　in　a　grave？

Helene　had　reached　an　age　when　purity　of　soul　inclines　to　pass　over…　rigid　judgments。　A　certain　order　of　mind　is　apt　to　exaggerate　transgression　into　crime；　imagination　reacts　upon　conscience；　and　a　young　girl　is　a　hard　judge　because　she　magnifies　the　seriousness　of　the　offence。　Helene　seemed　to　think　herself　worthy　of　no　one。　Perhaps　there　was　a　secret　in　her　past　life；　perhaps　something　had　happened；　unintelligible　to　her　at　the　time；　but　with　gradually　developing　significance　for　a　mind　grown　susceptible　to　religious　influences；　something　which　lately　seemed　to　have　degraded　her；　as　it　were；　in　her　own　eyes；　and　according　to　her　own　romantic　standard。　This　change　in　her　demeanor　dated　from　the　day　of　reading　Schiller's　noble　tragedy　of　/Wilhelm　Tell/　in　a　new　series　of　translations。　Her　mother　scolded　her　for　letting　the　book　fall；　and　then　remarked　to　herself　that　the　passage　which　had　so　worked　on　Helene's　feelings　was　the　scene　in　which　Wilhelm　Tell；　who　spilt　the　blood　of　a　tyrant　to　save　a　nation；　fraternizes　in　some　sort　with　John　the　Parricide。　Helene　had　grown　humble；　dutiful；　and　self…contained；　she　no　longer　cared　for　gaiety。　Never　had　she　made　so　much　of　her　father；　especially　when　the　Marquise　was　not　by　to　watch　her　girlish　caresses。　And　yet；　if　Helene's　affection　for　her　mother　had　cooled　at　all；　the　change　in　her　manner　was　so　slight　as　to　be　almost　imperceptible；　so　slight　that　the　General　could　not　have　noticed　it；　jealous　though　he　might　be　of　the　harmony　of　home。　No　masculine　insight　could　have　sounded　the　depths　of　those　two　feminine　natures；　the　one　was　young　and　generous；　the　other　sensitive　and　proud；　the　first　had　a　wealth　of　indulgence　in　her　nature；　the　second　was　full　of　craft　and　love。　If　the　Marquise　made　her　daughter's　life　a　burden　to　her　by　a　woman's　subtle　tyranny；　it　was　a　tyranny　invisible　to　all　but　the　victim；　and　for　the　rest；　these　conjectures　only　called　forth　after　the　event　must　remain　conjectures。　Until　this　night　no　accusing　flash　of　light　had　escaped　either　of　them；　but　an　ominous　mystery　was　too　surely　growing　up　between　them；　a　mystery　known　only　to　themselves　and　God。

〃Come；　Abel；〃　called　the　Marquise；　seizing　on　her　opportunity　when　the　children　were　tired　of　play　and　still　for　a　moment。　〃Come；　come；　child；　you　must　be　put　to　bed〃

And　with　a　glance　that　must　be　obeyed；　she　caught　him　up　and　took　him　on　her　knee。

〃What！〃　exclaimed　the　General。　〃Half…past　ten　o'clock；　and　not　one　of　the　servants　has　come　back！　The　rascals！Gustave；〃　he　added；　turning　to　his　son；　〃I　allowed　you　to　read　that　book　only　on　the　condition　that　you　should　put　it　away　at　ten　o'clock。　You　ought　to　have　shut　up　the　book　at　the　proper　time　and　gone　to　bed；　as　you　promised。　If　you　mean　to　make　your　mark　in　the　world；　you　must　keep　your　word；　let　it　be　a　second　religion　to　you；　and　a　point　of　honor。　Fox；　one　of　the　greatest　English　orators；　was　remarkable；　above　all　things；　for　the　beauty　of　his　character；　and　the　very　first　of　his　qualities　was　the　scrupulous　faithfulness　with　which　he　kept　his　engagements。　When　he　was　a　child；　his　father　（an　Englishman　of　the　old　school）　gave　him　a　pretty　strong　lesson　which　he　never　forgot。　Like　most　rich　Englishmen；　Fox's　father　had　a　country　house　and　a　considerable　park　about　it。　Now；　in　the　park　there　was　an　old　summer…house；　and　orders　had　been　given　that　this　summer…house　was　to　be　pulled　down　and　put　up　somewhere　else　where　there　was　a　finer　view。　Fox　was　just　about　your　age；　and　had　come　home　for　the　holidays。　Boys　are　fond　of　seeing　things　pulled　to　pieces；　so　young　Fox　asked　to　stay　on　at　home　for　a　few　days　longer　to　see　the　old　summer…house　taken　down；　but　his　father　said　that　he　must　go　back　to　school　on　the　proper　day；　so　there　was　anger　between　father　and　son。　Fox's　mother　（like　all　mammas）　took　the　boy's　part。　Then　the　father　solemnly　promised　that　the　summer…house　should　stay　where　it　was　till　the　next　holidays。

〃So　Fox　went　back　to　school；　and　his　father；　thinking　that　lessons　would　soon　drive　the　whole　thing　out　of　the　boy's　mind；　had　the　summer…house　pulled　down　and　put　up　in　the　new　position。　But　as　it　happened；　the　persistent　youngster　thought　of　nothing　but　that　summer…　house；　and　as　soon　as　he　came　home　again；　his　first　care　was　to　go　out　to　look　at　the　old　building；　and　he　came　in　to　breakfast　looking　quite　doleful；　and　said　to　his　father；　'You　have　broken　your　promise。'　The　old　English　gentleman　said　with　confusion　full　of　dignity；　'That　is　true；　my　boy；　but　I　will　make　amends。　A　man　ought　to　think　of　keeping　his　word　before　he　thinks　of　his　fortune；　for　by　keeping　his　word　he　will　gain　fortune；　while　all　the　fortunes　in　the　world　will　not　efface　the　stain　left　on　your　conscience　by　a　breach　of　faith。'　Then　he　gave　orders　that　the　summer…house　should　be　put　up　again　in　the　old　place；　and　when　it　had　been　rebuilt　he　had　it　taken　down　again　for　his　son　to　see。　Let　this　be　a　lesson　to　/you/；　Gustave。〃

Gustave　had　been　listening　with　interest；　and　now　he　closed　the　book　at　once。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　while　the　General　took　possession　of　Moina；　who　could　scarcely　keep　her　eyes　open。　The　little　one's　languid　head　fell　back　on　her　father's　breast；　and　in　a　moment　she　was　fast　asleep；　wrapped　round　about　in　her　golden　curls。

Just　then　a　sound　of　hurrying　footsteps　rang　on　the　pavement　out　in　the　street；　immediately　followed　by　three　knocks　on　the　street　door；　waking　the　echoes　of　the　house。　The　reverberating　blows　told；　as　plainly　as　a　cry　for　help　that　here　was　a　man　flying　for　his　life。　The　house　dog　barked　furiously。　A　thrill　of　excitement　ran　through　Helene　and　Gustave　and　the　General　and　his　wife；　but　neither　Abel；　with　the　night…cap　strings　just　tied　under　his　chin；　nor　Moina　awoke。

〃The　fellow　is　in　a　hurry！〃　exclaimed　the　General。　He　put　the　little　girl　down　on　the　chair；　and　hastened　out　of　the　room；　heedless　of　his　wife's　entreating　cry；　〃Dear；　do　not　go　down〃

He　stepped　into　his　own　room　for　a　pair　of　pistols；　lighted　a　dark　lantern；　sprang　at　lightning　speed　down　the　staircase；　and　in　another　minute　reached　the　house　door；　his　oldest　boy　fearlessly　following。

〃Who　is　there？〃　demanded　he。

〃Let　me　in；〃　panted　a　breathless　voice。

〃Are　you　a　friend？〃

〃Yes；　friend；〃

〃Are　you　alone？〃

〃Yes！　But　let　me　in；　/they/　are　after　me！〃

The　General　had　scarcely　set　the　door　ajar　before　a　man　slipped　into　the　porch　with　the　uncanny　swiftness　of　a　shadow。　Before　the　master　of　the　house　could　prevent　him；　the　intruder　had　closed　the　door　with　a　well…directed　kick；　and　set　his　back　against　it　resolutely；　as　if　he　were　determined　that　it　should　not　be　opened　again。　In　a　moment　the　General　had　his　lantern　and　pistol　at　a　level　with　the　stranger's　breast；　and　beheld　a　man　of　medium　height　in　a　fur…lined　pelisse。　It　was　an　old　man's　garment；　both　too　large　and　too　long　for　its　present　wearer。　Chance　or　caution　had　slouched　the　man's　hat　over　his　eyes。

〃You　can　lower　your　pistol；　sir；〃　said　this　person。　〃I　do　not　claim　to　stay　in　your　house　against　your　will；　but　if　I　leave　it；　death　is　waiting　for　me　at　the　barrier。　And　what　a　death！　You　would　be　answerable　to　God　for　it！　I　ask　for　your　hospitality　for　two　hours。　And　bear　this　in　mind；　sir；　that；　suppliant　as　I　am；　I　have　a　right　to　command　with　the　despotism　of　necessity。　I　want　the　Arab's　hospitality。　Either　I　and　my　secret　must　be　inviolable；　or　open　the　door　and　I　will　go　to　my　death。　I　want　secrecy；　a　safe　hiding…place；　and　water。　Oh！　water！〃　he　cried　again；　with　a　rattle　in　his　throat。

〃Who　are　you？〃　demanded　the　General；　taken　aback　by　the　stranger's　feverish　volubility。

〃Ah！　who　am　I？　Good；　open　the　door；　and　I　will　put　a　distance　between　us；〃　retorted　the　other；　and　there　was　a　diabolical　irony　in　his　tone。

Dexterously　as　the　Marquis　passed　the　light　of　the　lantern　over　the　man's　face；　he　could　only　see　the　lower　half　of　it；　and　that　in　nowise　prepossessed　him　in　favor　of　this　singular　claimant　of　hospitality。　The　cheeks　were　livid　and　quivering；　the　features　dreadfully　contorted。　Under　the　shadow　of　the　hat…brim　a　pair　of　eyes　gleamed　out　like　flames；　the　feeble　candle…light　looked　almost　dim　in　comparison。　Some　sort　of　answer　must　be　made　however。

〃Your　language；　sir；　is　so　extraordinary　that　in　my　place　you　yourself〃

〃My　life　is　in　your　hands！〃　the　intruder　broke　in。　The　sound　of　his　voice　was　dreadful　to　hear。

〃Two　hours？〃　said　the　Marquis；　wavering。

〃Two　hours；〃　echoed　the　other。

Then　quite　suddenly；　with　a　desperate　gesture；　he　pushed　back　his　hat　and　left　his　forehead　bare；　and；　as　if　he　meant　to　try　a　final　expedient；　he　gave　the　General　a　glance　that　seemed　to　plunge　like　a　vivid　flash　into　his　very　soul。　That　electrical　discharge　of　intelligence　and　will　was　swift　as　lightning　and　crushing　as　a　thunderbolt；　for　there　are　moments　when　a　human　being　is　invested　for　a　brief　space　with　inexplicable　power。

〃Come；　whoever　you　may　be；　you　shall　be　in　safety　under　my　roof；〃　the　master　of　the　house　said　gravely　at　last；　acting；　as　he　imagined；　upon　one　of　those　intuitions　which　a　man　cannot　always　explain　to　himself。

〃God　will　repay　you！〃　said　the　stranger；　with　a　deep；　involuntary　sigh。

〃Have　you　weapons？〃　asked　the　General。

For　all　answer　the　stranger　flung　open