the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第19章
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he could best do alone … and they came back； upon a rain night； to the
scene of her long preparation。 She turned to him upon the threshold； as
the rain was dripping from the porch； and said：
'〃O sir； it is the Death…watch ticking for me！〃
'〃Well！〃 he answered。 〃And if it were？〃 '〃O sir！〃 she returned to
him； 〃look kindly on me； and be merciful to me！ I beg your pardon。 I
will do anything you wish； if you will only forgive me！〃
'That had become the poor fool's constant song： 〃I beg your pardon；〃
and 〃Forgive me！〃
'She was not worth hating； he felt nothing but contempt for her。 But；
she had long been in the way； and he had long been weary； and the work
was near its end； and had to be worked out。
'〃You fool；〃 he said。 〃Go up the stairs！〃
'She obeyed very quickly； murmuring； 〃I will do anything you wish！〃
When he came into the Bride's Chamber； having been a little retarded by
the heavy fastenings of the great door （for they were alone in the house；
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and he had arranged that the people who attended on them should come
and go in the day）； he found her withdrawn to the furthest corner； and
there standing pressed against the paneling as if she would have shrunk
through it： her flaxen hair all wild about her face； and her large eyes
staring at him in vague terror。
'〃What are you afraid of？ Come and sit down by me。〃
'〃I will do anything you wish。 I beg your pardon； sir。 Forgive me！〃
Her monotonous tune as usual。
'〃Ellen； here is a writing that you must write out to…morrow； in your
own hand。 You may as well be seen by others； busily engaged upon it。
When you have written it all fairly； and corrected all mistakes； call in any
two people there may be about the house； and sign your name to it before
them。 Then； put it in your bosom to keep it safe； and when I sit here
again to…morrow night； give it to me。〃
'〃I will do it all； with the greatest care。 I will do anything you wish。〃
'〃Don't shake and tremble； then。〃
'〃I will try my utmost not to do it … if you will only forgive me！〃
'Next day； she sat down at her desk； and did as she had been told。 He
often passed in and out of the room； to observe her； and always saw her
slowly and laboriously writing： repeating to herself the words she copied；
in appearance quite mechanically； and without caring or endeavouring to
comprehend them； so that she did her task。 He saw her follow the
directions she had received； in all particulars； and at night； when they were
alone again in the same Bride's Chamber； and he drew his chair to the
hearth； she timidly approached him from her distant seat； took the paper
from her bosom； and gave it into his hand。
'It secured all her possessions to him； in the event of her death。 He put
her before him； face to face； that he might look at her steadily； and he
asked her； in so many plain words； neither fewer nor more； did she know
that？
'There were spots of ink upon the bosom of her white dress； and they
made her face look whiter and her eyes look larger as she nodded her head。
There were spots of ink upon the hand with which she stood before him；
nervously plaiting and folding her white skirts。
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'He took her by the arm； and looked her； yet more closely and steadily；
in the face。 〃Now； die！ I have done with you。〃
'She shrunk； and uttered a low； suppressed cry。
'〃I am not going to kill you。 I will not endanger my life for yours。
Die！〃
'He sat before her in the gloomy Bride's Chamber； day after day； night
after night； looking the word at her when he did not utter it。 As often as
her large unmeaning eyes were raised from the hands in which she rocked
her head； to the stern figure； sitting with crossed arms and knitted forehead；
in the chair； they read in it； 〃Die！〃 When she dropped asleep in
exhaustion； she was called back to shuddering consciousness； by the
whisper； 〃Die！〃 When she fell upon her old entreaty to be pardoned； she
was answered 〃Die！〃 When she had out…watched and out…suffered the long
night； and the rising sun flamed into the sombre room； she heard it hailed
with； 〃Another day and not dead？ … Die！〃
'Shut up in the deserted mansion； aloof from all mankind； and engaged
alone in such a struggle without any respite； it came to this … that either he
must die； or she。 He knew it very well； and concentrated his strength
against her feebleness。 Hours upon hours he held her by the arm when
her arm was black where he held it； and bade her Die！
'It was done； upon a windy morning； before sunrise。 He computed
the time to be half…past four； but； his forgotten watch had run down； and
he could not be sure。 She had broken away from him in the night； with
loud and sudden cries … the first of that kind to which she had given vent …
and he had had to put his hands over her mouth。 Since then； she had
been quiet in the corner of the paneling where she had sunk down； and he
had left her； and had gone back with his folded arms and his knitted
forehead to his chair。
'Paler in the pale light； more colourless than ever in the leaden dawn；
he saw her coming； trailing herself along the floor towards him … a white
wreck of hair； and dress； and wild eyes； pushing itself on by an irresolute
and bending hand。
'〃O； forgive me！ I will do anything。 O； sir； pray tell me I may live！〃
'〃Die！〃
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'〃Are you so resolved？ Is there no hope for me？〃
'〃Die！〃
'Her large eyes strained themselves with wonder and fear； wonder and
fear changed to reproach； reproach to blank nothing。 It was done。 He
was not at first so sure it was done； but that the morning sun was hanging
jewels in her hair … he saw the diamond； emerald； and ruby； glittering
among it in little points； as he stood looking down at her … when he lifted
her and laid her on her bed。
'She was soon laid in the ground。 And now they were all gone； and
he had compensated himself well。
'He had a mind to travel。 Not that he meant to waste his Money； for
he was a pinching man and liked his Money dearly （liked nothing else；
indeed）； but； that he had grown tired of the desolate house and wished to
turn his back upon it and have done with it。 But； the house was worth
Money； and Money must not be thrown away。 He determined to sell it
before he went。 That it might look the less wretched and bring a better
price； he hired some labourers to work in the overgrown garden； to cut out
the dead wood； trim the ivy that drooped in heavy masses over the
windows and gables； and clear the walks in which the weeds were
growing mid…leg high。
'He worked； himself； along with them。 He worked later than they did；
and； one evening at dusk； was left working alone； with his bill…hook in his
hand。 One autumn evening； when the Bride was five weeks dead。
'〃It grows too dark to work longer；〃 he said to himself； 〃I must give
over for the night。〃
'He detested the house； and was loath to enter it。 He looked at the
dark porch waiting for him like a tomb； and felt that it was an accursed
house。 Near to the porch； and near to where he stood； was a tree whose
branches waved before the old bay…window of the Bride's Chamber； where
it had been done。 The tree swung suddenly； and made him start。 It
swung again； although the night was still。 Looking up into it； he saw a
figure among the branches。
'It was the figure of a young man。 The face looked down； as his
looked up； the branches cracked and swayed； the figure rapidly descended；
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and slid upon its feet before him。 A slender youth of about her age； with
long light brown hair。
'〃What thief are you？〃 he said； seizing the youth by the collar。
'The young man； in shaking himself free； swung him a blow with his
arm across the face and throat。 They closed； but the young man got from
him and stepped back； crying； with great eagerness and horror； 〃Don't
touch me！ I would as lieve be touched by the Devil！〃
'He stood still； with his bill…hook in his hand； looking at the young
man。 For； the young man's look was the counterpart of her last look； and
he had not expected ever to see that again。
'〃I am no thief。 Even if I were； I would not have a coin of your
wealth； if it would buy me the Indies。 You murderer！〃
'〃What！〃
'〃I climbed it；〃 said the young man； pointing up into the tree； 〃for the
first time； nigh four years ago。 I climbed it； to look at her。 I saw her。 I
spoke to her。 I have climbed it； many a time； to watch and listen for her。
I was a boy； hidden among its leaves； when from that bay…window she
gave me this！〃
'He showed a tress of flaxen hair； tied with a mourning ribbon。
'〃Her life；〃 said the young man； 〃was a life of mourning。 She gave
me this； as a token of it； and a sign that she was dead to every one but you。
If I had been older； if I had seen her sooner； I might have saved her from
you。 But； she was fast in the web when I first climbed the tree； and what
could I do then to break it！〃
'In saying those words； he burst into a fit of sobbing and crying：
weakly at first； then passionately。
'〃Murderer！ I climbed the tree on the night when you brought her
back。
