redgauntlet-第79部分

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Lilias；　on　her　part；　endeavoured　to　prevail　upon　Darsie　to　partake　of　the　food　which　she　offered　him；　with　a　kindly　and　affectionate　courtesy　corresponding　to　the　warmth　of　the　interest　she　had　displayed　at　their　meeting；　but　so　very　natural；　innocent；　and　pure　in　its　character；　that　it　would　have　been　impossible　for　the　vainest　coxcomb　to　have　mistaken　it　for　coquetry；　or　a　desire　of　captivating　a　prize　so　valuable　as　his　affection。　　Darsie；　with　no　more　than　the　reasonable　share　of　self…opinion　common　to　most　youths　when　they　approach　twenty…one；　knew　not　how　to　explain　her　conduct。

Sometimes　he　was　tempted　to　think　that　his　own　merits　had；　even　during　the　short　intervals　when　they　had　seen　each　other；　secured　such　a　hold　of　the　affections　of　a　young　person　who　had　probably　been　bred　up　in　ignorance　of　the　world　and　its　forms　that　she　was　unable　to　conceal　her　partiality。　　Sometimes　he　suspected　that　she　acted　by　her　guardian's　order；　who；　aware　that　he；　Darsie；　was　entitled　to　a　considerable　fortune；　might　have　taken　this　bold　stroke　to　bring　about　a　marriage　betwixt　him　and　so　near　a　relative。

But　neither　of　these　suppositions　was　applicable　to　the　character　of　the　parties。　　Miss　Lilias's　manners；　however　soft　and　natural；　displayed　in　their　ease　and　versatility　considerable　acquaintance　with　the　habits　of　the　world；　and　in　the　few　words　she　said　during　the　morning　repast；　there　were　mingled　a　shrewdness　and　good　sense；　which　could　scarce　belong　to　a　miss　capable　of　playing　the　silly　part　of　a　love…smitten　maiden　so　broadly。　　As　for　Redgauntlet；　with　his　stately　bearing；　his　fatal　frown；　his　eye　of　threat　and　of　command；　it　was　impossible；　Darsie　thought；　to　suspect　him　of　a　scheme　having　private　advantage　for　its　object；　he　could　as　soon　have　imagined　Cassius　picking　Caesar's　pocket；　instead　of　drawing　his　poniard　on　the　dictator。

While　he　thus　mused；　unable　either　to　eat；　drink；　or　answer　to　the　courtesy　of　Lilias；　she　soon　ceased　to　speak　to　him；　and　sat　silent　as　himself。

They　had　remained　nearly　an　hour　in　their　halting…place；　when　Redgauntlet　said　aloud；　'Look　out；　Cristal　Nixon。　　If　we　hear　nothing　from　Fairladies；　we　must　continue　our　journey。'

Cristal　went　to　the　door；　and　presently　returned　and　said　to　his　master；　in　a　voice　as　harsh　as　his　features；　'Gilbert　Gregson　is　coming；　his　horse　as　white　with　foam　as　if　a　fiend　had　ridden　him。'

Redgauntlet　threw　from　him　the　plate　on　which　he　had　been　eating；　and　hastened　towards　the　door　of　the　barn；　which　the　courier　at　that　moment　entered；　a　smart　jockey　with　a　black　velvet　hunting…　cap；　and　a　broad　belt　drawn　tight　round　his　waist；　to　which　was　secured　his　express…bag。　　The　variety　of　mud　with　which　he　was　splashed　from　cap　to　spur　showed　he　had　had　a　rough　and　rapid　ride。　　He　delivered　a　letter　to　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　with　an　obeisance；　and　then　retired　to　the　end　of　the　barn；　where　the　other　attendants　were　sitting　or　lying　upon　the　straw；　in　order　to　get　some　refreshment。

Redgauntlet　broke　the　letter　open　with　haste；　and　read　it　with　anxious　and　discomposed　looks。　　On　a　second　perusal；　his　displeasure　seemed　to　increase；　his　brow　darkened；　and　was　distinctly　marked　with　the　fatal　sign　peculiar　to　his　family　and　house。　　Darsie　had　never　before　observed　his　frown　bear　such　a　close　resemblance　to　the　shape　which　tradition　assigned　it。

Redgauntlet　held　out　the　open　letter　with　one　hand；　and　struck　it　with　the　forefinger　of　the　other；　as；　in　a　suppressed　and　displeased　tone；　he　said　to　Cristal　Nixon；　'Countermanded　ordered　northward　once　more！　　'Northward；　when　all　our　hopes　lie　to　the　southa　second　Derby　direction；　when　we　turned　our　back　on　glory；　and　marched　in　quest　of　ruin！'

Cristal　Nixon　took　the　letter　and　ran　it　over；　then　returned　it　to　his　master　with　the　cold　observation；　'A　female　influence　predominates。'

'But　it　shall　predominate　no　longer；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'it　shall　wane　as　ours　rises　in　the　horizon。　　Meanwhile；　I　will　on　before　and　you；　Cristal；　will　bring　the　party　to　the　place　assigned　in　the　letter。　　You　may　now　permit　the　young　persons　to　have　unreserved　communication　together；　only　mark　that　you　watch　the　young　man　closely　enough　to　prevent　his　escape；　if　he　should　be　idiot　enough　to　attempt　it；　but　not　approaching　so　close　as　to　watch　their　free　conversation。'

'I　care　naught　about　their　conversation；'　said　Nixon；　surlily。

'You　hear　my　commands；　Lilias；'　said　the　laird；　turning　to　the　young　lady。　　'You　may　use　my　permission　and　authority　to　explain　so　much　of　our　family　matters　as　you　yourself　know。　　At　our　next　meeting　I　will　complete　the　task　of　disclosure；　and　I　trust　I　shall　restore　one　Redgauntlet　more　to　the　bosom　of　our　ancient　family。　　Let　Latimer；　as　be　calls　himself；　have　a　horse　to　himself；　he　must　for　some　time　retain　his　disguise。My　horsemy　horse！'

In　two　minutes　they　heard　him　ride　off　from　the　door　of　the　barn；　followed　at　speed　by　two　of　the　armed　men　of　his　party。

The　commands　of　Cristal　Nixon；　in　the　meanwhile；　put　all　the　remainder　of　the　party　in　motion；　but　the　laird　himself　was　long　out　of　sight　ere　they　were　in　readiness　to　resume　their　journey。　When　at　length　they　set　out；　Darsie　was　accommodated　with　a　horse　and　side…saddle；　instead　of　being　obliged　to　resume　his　place　on　the　pillion　behind　the　detestable　Nixon。　　He　was　obliged；　however；　to　retain　his　riding…skirt；　and　to　reassume　his　mask。　Yet；　notwithstanding　this　disagreeable　circumstance；　and　although　he　observed　that　they　gave　him　the　heaviest　and　slowest　horse　of　the　party；　and　that；　as　a　further　precaution　against　escape；　he　was　closely　watched　on　every　side；　yet　riding　in　company　with　the　pretty　Lilias　was　an　advantage　which　overbalanced　these　inconveniences。

It　is　true　that　this　society；　to　which　that　very　morning　he　would　have　looked　forward　as　a　glimpse　of　heaven；　had；　now　that　it　was　thus　unexpectedly　indulged；　something　much　less　rapturous　than　he　had　expected。

It　was　in　vain　that；　in　order　to　avail　himself　of　a　situation　so　favourable　for　indulging　his　romantic　disposition；　he　endeavoured　to　coax　back；　if　I　may　so　express　myself；　that　delightful　dream　of　ardent　and　tender　passion；　he　felt　only　such　a　confusion　of　ideas　at　the　difference　between　the　being　whom　he　had　imagined；　and　her　with　whom　he　was　now　in　contact；　that　it　seemed　to　him　like　the　effect　of　witchcraft。　　What　most　surprised　him　was；　that　this　sudden　flame　should　have　died　away　so　rapidly；　notwithstanding　that　the　maiden's　personal　beauty　was　even　greater　than　he　had　expectedher　demeanour；　unless　it　should　be　deemed　over　kind　towards　himself；　as　graceful　and　becoming　as　he　could　have　fancied　if；　even　in　his　gayest　dreams。　　It　were　judging　hardly　of　him　to　suppose　that　the　mere　belief　of　his　having　attracted　her　affections　more　easily　than　he　expected　was　the　cause　of　his　ungratefully　undervaluing　a　prize　too　lightly　won；　or　that　his　transient　passion　played　around　his　heart　with　the　hitting　radiance　of　a　wintry　sunbeam　flashing　against　an　icicle；　which　may　brighten　it　for　a　moment；　but　cannot　melt　it。　Neither　of　these　was　precisely　the　ease；　though　such　fickleness　of　disposition　might　also　have　some　influence　in　the　change。

The　truth　is；　perhaps；　the　lover's　pleasure；　like　that　of　the　hunter；　is　in　the　chase；　and　that　the　brightest　beauty　loses　half　its　merit；　as　the　fairest　flower　its　perfume；　when　the　willing　hand　can　reach　it　too　easily。　　There　must　be　doubtthere　must　be　dangerthere　must　be　difficulty；　and　if；　as　the　poet　says；　the　course　of　ardent　affection　never　does　run　smooth；　it　is　perhaps　because；　without　some　intervening　obstacle；　that　which　is　called　the　romantic　passion　of　love；　in　its　high　poetical　character　and　colouring　can　hardly　have　an　existenceany　more　than　there　can　be　a　current　in　a　river　without　the　stream　being　narrowed　by　steep　banks；　or　checked　by　opposing　rocks。

Let　not　those；　however；　who　enter　into　a　union　for　life　without　those　embarrassments　which　delight　a　Darsie　Latimer；　or　a　Lydia　Languish；　and　which　are　perhaps　necessary　to　excite　an　enthusiastic　passion　in　breasts　more　firm　than　theirs；　augur　worse　of　their　future　happiness　because　their　own　alliance　is　formed　under　calmer　auspices。　　Mutual　esteem；　an　intimate　knowledge　of　each　other's　character；　seen；　as　in　their　case；　undisguised　by　the　mists　of　too　partial　passiona　suitable　proportion　of　parties　in　rank　and　fortune；　in　taste　and　pursuits　are　more　frequently　found　in　a　marriage　of　reason；　than　in　a　union　of　romantic　attachment；　where　the　imagination；　which　probably　created　the　virtues　and　accomplishments　with　which　it　invested　the　beloved　object；　is　frequently　afterwards　employed　in　magnifying　the　mortifying　consequences　of　its　own　delusion；　and　exasperating　all　the　stings　of　disappointment。　　Those　who　follow　the　banners　of　Reason　are　like　the　well…disciplined　battalion；　which；　wearing　a　more　sober　uniform　and　making　a　less　dazzling　show　than　the　light　troops　commanded　by　imagination；　enjoy　more　safety；　and　even　more　honour；　in　the　conflicts　of　human　life。　All　this；　however；　is　foreign　to　our　present　purpose。

Uncertain　in　what　manner　to　address　her　whom　he　had　been　lately　so　anxious　to　meet　with；　and　embarrassed　by　a　TETE…A…TETE　to　which　his　own　timid　inexperience；　gave　some　awkwardness；　the　party　had　proceeded　more　than　a　hundred　yards　before　Darsie　assumed　courage　to　accost；　or　even　to　look　at；　his　companion。　Sensible；　however；　of　the　impropriety　of　his　silence；　he　turned　to　speak　to　her；　and　observing　that；　although　she　wore　her　mask；　there　was　something　like　disappointment　and　dejection　in　her　manner；　he　was　moved　by　self…reproach　for　his　own　coldness；　and　hastened　to　address　her　in　the　kindest　tone　he　could　assume。

'You　must　think　me　cruelly　deficient　in　gratitude；　Miss　Lilias；　that　I　have　been　thus　long　in　your　company；　without　thanking　you　for　the　interest　which　you　have　deigned　to　take　in　my　unfortunate　affairs？'

'I　am　glad　you　have　at　length　spoken；'　she　said；　'though　I　owe　it　is　more　coldly　than　I　expected。　　MISS　Lilias！　　DEIGN　to　take　interest！　　In　whom；　dear　Darsie；　CAN　I　take　interest　but　in　you；　and　why　do　you　put　this　barrier　of　ceremony　betwixt　us；　whom　adverse　circumstances　have　already　separated　for　such　a　length　of　time？'

Darsie　was　again　conf