we two-第84章

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！


lmly　philosophical。

〃I　have　been　well　'friended'　all　my　life；〃　he　said　once；　looking　round　at　the　faces　by　his　bedside。

They　were　all　too　broken…hearted　to　respond；　and　there　were　long　silences；　broken　only　by　the　laboring　breath　and　restless　movements　of　the　dying　man。

Toward　midnight　there　was　a　low　roll　of　distant　thunder；　and　gradually　the　storm　drew　nearer　and　nearer。　　Raeburn　asked　to　be　raised　in　bed　that　he　might　watch　the　lightning　which　was　unusually　beautiful。　　It　was　a　strange；　weird　scene　the　plainly　furnished　hotel　room；　sparsely　lighted　by　candles；　the　sad　group　of　watchers；　the　pale；　beautiful　face　of　the　young　girl　bending　over　the　pillow；　and　the　strong；　rugged　Scotchman　with　his　white　hair　and　keen　brown　eyes；　upon　whose　face　death　had　already　set　his　pale　tokens。　　From　the　uncurtained　window　could　be　seen　the　dark　outline　of　the　adjacent　houses　and　the　lights　lower　down　the　hill　scattered　here　and　there　throughout　the　sleeping　city。　　Upon　all　this　the　vivid　lightning　played；　and　the　distant　thunder　followed　with　its　mighty　crash；　rolling　and　echoing　away　among　the　surrounding　hills。

〃I　am　glad　to　have　seen　one　more　storm；〃　said　Raeburn。

But　soon　he　grew　weary；　tired　just　with　the　slight　exertion　of　looking　and　listening。　　He　sighed。　　To　a　strong；　healthy　man　in　the　very　prime　of　life；　this　failing　of　the　powers　was　hard　to　bear。　　Death　was　very　near；　he　knew　it　well　enough　knew　it　by　this　slow；　sure；　painless　sinking。

He　held　Erica's　hand　more　closely；　and　after　that　lay　very　still；　once　or　twice　asking　for　more　coverings　over　his　feet。　　The　night　wore　on。　After　a　long　silence；　he　looked　up　once　more　and　said　to　Tom：

〃I　promised　Hazeldine　a　sovereign　toward　the　fund　for〃　he　broke　off　with　a　look　of　intense　weariness；　adding　after　an　interval　〃He'll　tell　you。　　See　that　it's　paid。〃

The　storm　had　passed；　and　the　golden…red　dawn　was　just　breaking　when　once　more　the　silence　was　broken。

〃Come　nearer；　Eric；〃　he　whispered　〃nearer！〃

Then　came　a　long　pause。

There　was　stillness　that　fearful　stillness　when　the　watchers　begin　to　hush　their　very　breath；　that　they　may　catch　the　last　faint　breathings。　　Poor　Tom　could　stand　it　no　longer；　he　just　buried　his　face　in　his　hands　and　sobbed。　　Perhaps　Erica　envied　him。　　Violent　grief　would　surely　have　been　more　endurable　than　this　terrible　sinking；　this　dread　of　not　keeping　up　to　the　end。　　Was　she　falling　with　him　down　those　horrible　steps？　　Was　she　sinking　with　him　beneath　the　cold；　green　waves？　　Oh；　death　cruel　death！　　Why　had　he　not　taken　them　together　on　that　summer　day？

Yet　what　was　she　saying？　　The　death　angel　was　but　God's　messenger；　and　her　father　could　never；　never　be　beyond　the　care　of　One　who　loved　him　infinitely　eternally。　If　He　the　Father　were　taking　him　from　her；　why；　she　would　trust　Him；　though　it　should　crush　her　whole　world。

〃Nearer；　Eric　nearer。〃　　How　those　last　words　rang　in　her　ears　as　she　waited　there　with　her　hands　in　his。　　She　knew　they　would　be　the　last　for　he　was　sinking　away　into　a　dreamily　passive　state　just　dying　because　too　tired　to　live。

〃Nearer；　nearer！〃　　Was　this　agony　indeed　to　heal　the　terrible　division　between　them？　　Ah；　mystery　of　evil；　mystery　of　pain；　mystery　of　death！　　Only　the　love　of　the　Infinitely　Loving　can　fathom　you　only　the　trust　in　that　Love　give　us　a　glimpse　of　your　meaning。

She　felt　a　tightening　of　the　fingers　that　clasped　hers。　　He　was　still　conscious；　he　smiled　just　such　a　smile　as　he　used　to　give　her　when；　as　a　little　thing；　she　had　fretted　about　his　leaving　home。

She　pressed　her　quivering　lips　to　his；　clung　to　him；　and　kissed　him　again　and　again。　　There　was　a　sigh。　　A　long　interval；　and　another　sigh。　　After　that；　silence。


CHAPTER　XLI。　Results　Closely　Following

But　that　one　man　should　die　ignorant　who　had　capacity　for　knowledge；　this　I　call　a　tragedy。　　Carlyle

Not　what　I　think；　but　what　Thou　art；　makes　sure。　　George　MacDonald

A　wave　of　strangely　varied　feeling　swept　through　the　country　in　the　next　four…and…twenty　hours。

From　the　Raeburnites　came　a　burst　of　mingled　wrath　and　grief；　and　a　bitter　outcry　against　the　religion　which　inevitably　they　thought　tended　to　produce　such　fanatics　as　Drosser。　　From　the　poor　and　oppressed　came　a　murmur　of　blank　despair；　they　had　looked　upon　Raeburn　as　the　deliverer　from　so　much　that　now　weighed　upon　them；　and　were　so　perfectly　conscious　that　he　understood　their　wants　and　difficulties　in　a　way　which　others　failed　to　do；　that　his　death　in　the　very　prime　of　manhood　simply　stunned　them。　　The　liberal…minded　felt　a　thrill　of　horror　and　indignation　at　the　thought　that　such　deeds　as　this　could　take　place　in　the　nineteenth　century；　realizing；　however；　with　a　shudder　that　the　rash　act　of　the　ignorant　fanatic　was；　in　truth；　no　worse　than　the　murder　of　hatred；　the　perpetual　calumny　and　injustice　which　thousands　of　professing　Christians　had　meted　out　to　Raeburn。　　In　nothing　had　the　un…Christlikeness　of　the　age　been　more　conspicuous　than　in　the　way　in　which　Raeburn　had　all　his　life　been　treated。

The　fashionable　world　felt　a　sort　of　uncomfortableness。　　The　news　reached　them　at　their　laziest　time　of　year；　they　came　in　from　shooting　parties　to　read　the　account　in　the　papers；　they　discussed　it　in　ball　rooms　and　at　evening　parties　at　Brighton　and　Greyshot　and　the　other　autumnal　resorts。　　〃So　he　was　dead！　　Well；　really　they　were　tired　of　hearing　his　name！　　It　was　rather　horrible；　certainly；　that　his　daughter　should　have　seen　it　all；　but　such　infamous　creatures　as　Raeburn　had　no　business　to　have　daughters。　　No　doubt　she　would　stand　it　very　well　anything；　you　know；　for　a　little　notoriety。　　Such　people　lived　for　notoriety。　　Of　course　the　papers　had　put　in　a　lot　of　twaddle　that　he　had　said　on　his　death　bed　'always　had　tried　to　work　entirely　for　the　good　of　humanity；'　and　that　sort　of　nonsense。　　This　coffee　ice　is　excellent。　　Let　me　get　you　another；〃　after　which　the　subject　would　be　dropped；　and　the　speakers　would　return　to　the　ball　room　to　improve　upon　Raeburn's　life；　which　they　presumed　so　severely　to　criticize；　by　a　trois　temps　enlivened　by　a　broad　flirtation。

Here　and　there　a　gleam　of　good　was　effected　inasmuch　as　some　of　the　excessively　narrow　began　to　see　what　narrowness　leads　to。　　Mr。　Cuthbert；　coming　home　from　his　annual　Swiss　tour；　was　leaning　back　sleepily　in　a　first…class　carriage　at　the　Folkestone　station　when　the　voice　of　a　newsboy　recalled　him　to　the　every…day　world　with　a　slight　shock。　　There　was　the　usual　list　of　papers；　he　was　sleepy　and　thought　he　would　not　get　one；　but　then　came　the　loud　voice；　not　a　couple　of　yards　from　his　ear；　〃Death　of　Mr。　Raeburn！　　Death　of　Luke　Raeburn　this　da…ay！〃

Mr。　Cuthbert　had　his　head　out　of　the　window　in　a　moment。

〃Here；　paper！〃

〃These　boys　will　call　anything　to　sell　their　papers；〃　he　remarked　to　his　companion；　〃I　dare　say　it's　nothing　more　than　a　rumor。〃

〃Precious　good　thing　for　the　country　if　it　was　true；〃　replied　the　other；　a　young　fellow　of　two…and…twenty　who　dawdled　through　life　upon　an　income　of　5；000　pounds　a　year；　and　found　it　quite　possible　to　combine　the　enjoyment　of　lax　living　with　the　due　expression　of　very　orthodox　sentiments。

Mr。　Cuthbert　did　not　answer；　his　eye　was　traveling　down　a　column　of　the　newspaper；　and　he　felt　a　curious　pricking　of　remorse　as　he　read。　　He　had　once　been　rude　to　Erica　Raeburn；　he　had　all　his　life　retailed　dubious　stories　about　her　father；　knowing　all　the　time　that　had　any　one　believed　such　stories　of　himself　upon　such　shaky　evidence；　he　would　have　used　very　strong　language　about　them。　　And　now　this　fellow　was　dead！　　Curiously　enough；　Mr。　Cuthbert；　who　had　many　times　remarked　that　〃Raeburn　ought　to　be　shut　up；　or　better　still；　hung；〃　was　now　the　one　to　wish　him　alive　again。　　Ugh！　　It　was　a　horrible　story。　　He　quite　shivered　as　he　read　the　account　of　those　days　of　torture。

But　in　a　room　at　the　Park　Hotel；　Ashborough；　two　very　different　men　were　discussing　the　same　subject。　　Mr。　Fane…Smith；　with　all　his　faults；　had　always　been　well…intentioned；　and　though　frightful　harm　may　be　done　by　people　with　good　intentions；　they　can　never　stand　upon　the　same　level　as　those　who　wilfully　and　maliciously　offend。　　All　too　plainly　now　he　saw　how　grievously　he　had　failed　with　regard　to　Raeburn；　and　patiently　did　he　listen　to　Donovan's　account　of　the　really　good　work　which　Raeburn　had　effected　in　many　instances。

〃Much　as　you　may　hate　his　views；　you　must　at　least　see　that；　as　some　one　has　well　expressed　it；　'It　takes　a　high…souled　man　to　move　the　masses　even　to　a　cleaner　sty。'　　And　I　say　that　a　man　who　worked　as　he　worked；　striving　hard　to　teach　the　people　to　live　for　the　general　good；　advocating　temperance；　promoting　the　spread　of　education；　and　somehow　winning　those　whom　no　one　else　had　ever　touched　to　take　an　intelligent　interest　in　politics；　in　science；　and　in　the　future　of　the　race；　that　such　a　man　claims　our　respect　however　much　we　may　disagree　with　him。〃

〃But　that　he　should　have　died　ignorant　like　this！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Fane…Smith　with　a　shudder。

〃'Tis　in　truth　a　tragedy；〃　said　Donovan；　sighing；。　　〃But　I　can　well　believe　that　in　another　world　the　barriers　which　he　allowed　to　distort　his　vision　will　be　removed；　the　very　continuance　of　existence　would　surely　be　sufficient。〃

〃You　are　a　universalist？〃　said　Mr。　Fane…Smith；　not　in　the　condemnatory　tone　he　would　once　have　assumed；　but　humbly；　anxiously；　like　one　who　gropes　his　way　in　a　dark　place。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Donovan。　　〃Believing　in　a　universal　Father；　I　am　naturally　that。　　Upon　any　other　system；　what　do　you　make　of　the　good　which　exists　in　so　many　of　those　who　deny　all　in　which　you　believe？　　Where　does　the　good　go　to？　　I　stood　beside　the　death　bed　of　that　noble　man　this　morning。　　At　the　very　last　I　saw　most　touching　proofs　of　his　strong　sense　of　justice；　his　honesty；　his　desire　to　promote　the　good　of　others；　his　devotion　to　his　child。　　Can　you　believe　that　all　that　goodness；　which　of　necessity　comes　from　God；　is　to　go　down　into　what　you　call　everlasting　punishment？　　Don't　mistake　me。　　Thank　God　there　is　a　punishment　which　no　one　would　wish　to　forego；　such　punishment；　such　drawing　forth　of　the　native　good；　such　careful　help　in　the　rooting　out　of　what　is　evil　as　all　good　fathers　give　to　their　children。〃

They　were　interrupted　by　the　opening　of　the　door。　　Mr。　Fane…Smith　started　and　almost　trembled　when；　on　turning　round；　he　saw　Erica。　　She　was　pale；　but　preternaturally　calm　looking；　however；　they　all　felt；　as　if　in　her　father's　death；　she　had　received　her　own　death　blow。

〃I　thought　I　heard　you；〃　she　said　in　that　strangely　〃gravened〃　voice　which　is　sometimes　one　of　the　consequences　of　great　and　sudden　trouble。　　〃Has　Donovan　taken　you　into　the　next　room？　　Will　you　come？〃

For　his　life　Mr。　Fane…Smith　could　not　have　refused　anything　which　she　asked　him；　there　was　something　in　her　manner　that　made　the　tears　rush　to　his　eyes　though　he　was　not；　as　a　rule；　easily　moved。

He　followed　her　obediently　though　with　a　sort　of　reluctance；　but　when　he　was　once　there　he　was　glad。　　Ever　since　the　previous　day　he　had　not　been　able　to　rid　himself　of　that　stern；　hard　look　with　which　Raeburn　had　so　terribly　rebuked　him；　it　had　persistently　haunted　him。　　There　was　nothing　stern　in　this　dead　face。　　It　was　still　and　passionless；　bearing　the　l