the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第30章
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and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men； it only remains to
send you from hence under a safe escort。〃
〃Great powers！ and is there no remedy？〃 said the terrified young
woman。
〃None； my child；〃 answered Vere； gently； 〃unless one which you
would not advise your father to adoptto be the first to betray his friends。〃
〃O； no！ no！〃 she answered； abhorrently yet hastily； as if to reject
the temptation which the alternative presented to her。 〃But is there no
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other hopethrough flightthrough mediation through supplication？I
will bend my knee to Sir Frederick！〃
〃It would be a fruitless degradation； he is determined on his course；
and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate。 On one condition
only he will turn aside from his purpose； and that condition my lips shall
never utter to you。〃
〃Name it； I conjure you； my dear father！〃 exclaimed Isabella。 〃What
CAN he ask that we ought not to grant； to prevent the hideous catastrophe
with which you are threatened？〃
〃That； Isabella；〃 said Vere； solemnly； 〃you shall never know； until your
father's head has rolled on the bloody scaffold； then； indeed； you will learn
there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved。〃
〃And why not speak it now？〃 said Isabella； 〃do you fear I would
flinch from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation？ or would you
bequeath me the bitter legacy of life…long remorse； so oft as I shall think
that you perished； while there remained one mode of preventing the
dreadful misfortune that overhangs you？〃
〃Then； my child；〃 said Vere； 〃since you press me to name what I
would a thousand times rather leave in silence； I must inform you that he
will accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage； and that
conferred before midnight this very evening！〃
〃This evening； sir？〃 said the young lady； struck with horror at the
proposal〃and to such a man！A man？a monster； who could wish to win
the daughter by threatening the life of the father it is impossible！〃
〃You say right； my child；〃 answered her father； 〃it is indeed impossible；
nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a sacrificeIt is the
course of nature that the old should die and be forgot； and the young
should live and be happy。〃
〃My father die； and his child can save him！but nonomy dear
father； pardon me； it is impossible； you only wish to guide me to your
wishes。 I know your object is what you think my happiness； and this
dreadful tale is only told to influence my conduct and subdue my
scruples。〃
〃My daughter；〃 replied Ellieslaw； in a tone where offended authority
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seemed to struggle with parental affection； 〃my child suspects me of
inventing a false tale to work upon her feelings！ Even this I must bear； and
even from this unworthy suspicion I must descend to vindicate myself。
You know the stainless honour of your cousin Mareschalmark what I
shall write to him； and judge from his answer； if the danger in which we
stand is not real； and whether I have not used every means to avert it。〃
He sate down； wrote a few lines hastily； and handed them to Isabella；
who； after repeated and painful efforts； cleared her eyes and head
sufficiently to discern their purport。
〃Dear cousin；〃 said the billet； 〃I find my daughter； as I expected； in
despair at the untimely and premature urgency of Sir Frederick Langley。
She cannot even comprehend the peril in which we stand； or how much we
are in his power Use your influence with him； for Heaven's sake； to
modify proposals； to the acceptance of which I cannot； and will not； urge
my child against all her own feelings； as well as those of delicacy and
propriety； and oblige your loving cousin；R。 V。〃
In the agitation of the moment； when her swimming eyes and dizzy
brain could hardly comprehend the sense of what she looked upon； it is not
surprising that Miss Vere should have omitted to remark that this letter
seemed to rest her scruples rather upon the form and time of the proposed
union； than on a rooted dislike to the suitor proposed to her。 Mr。 Vere
rang the bell； and gave the letter to a servant to be delivered to Mr。
Mareschal； and； rising from his chair； continued to traverse the apartment
in silence and in great agitation until the answer was returned。 He
glanced it over； and wrung the hand of his daughter as he gave it to her。
The tenor was as follows：
〃My dear kinsman； I have already urged the knight on the point you
mention； and I find him as fixed as Cheviot。 I am truly sorry my fair
cousin should be pressed to give up any of her maidenly rights。 Sir
Frederick consents； however； to leave the castle with me the instant the
ceremony is performed； and we will raise our followers and begin the fray。
Thus there is great hope the bridegroom may be knocked on the head
before he and the bride can meet again； so Bell has a fair chance to be
Lady Langley A TRES BON MARCHE。 For the rest； I can only say； that
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if she can make up her mind to the alliance at allit is no time for mere
maiden ceremonymy pretty cousin must needs consent to marry in haste；
or we shall all repent at leisure； or rather have very little leisure to repent；
which is all at present from him who rests your affectionate kinsman；R。
M。〃
〃P。S。Tell Isabella that I would rather cut the knight's throat after all；
and end the dilemma that way； than see her constrained to marry him
against her will。〃
When Isabella had read this letter； it dropped from her hand； and she
would； at the same time； have fallen from her chair； had she not been
supported by her father。
〃My God； my child will die！〃 exclaimed Vere； the feelings of nature
overcoming； even in HIS breast； the sentiments of selfish policy； 〃look up；
Isabellalook up； my childcome what will； you shall not be the sacrifice…
…I will fall myself with the consciousness I leave you happyMy child
may weep on my grave； but she shall notnot in this instancereproach
my memory。〃 He called a servant。〃Go； bid Ratcliffe come hither
directly。〃
During this interval； Miss Vere became deadly pale； clenched her
hands； pressing the palms strongly together； closed her eyes； and drew her
lips with strong compression； as if the severe constraint which she put
upon her internal feelings extended even to her muscular organization。
Then raising her head； and drawing in her breath strongly ere she spoke；
she said； with firmness； 〃Father； I consent to the marriage。〃
〃You shall notyou shall not；my childmy dear childyou shall not
embrace certain misery to free me from uncertain danger。〃
So exclaimed Ellieslaw； and； strange and inconsistent beings that we
are！ he expressed the real though momentary feelings of his heart。
〃Father；〃 repeated Isabella； 〃I will consent to this marriage。〃
〃No； my child； nonot now at leastwe will humble ourselves to
obtain delay from him； and yet； Isabella； could you overcome a dislike
which has no real foundation； think； in other respects； what a match！
wealthrankimportance。〃
〃Father！〃 reiterated Isabella； 〃I have consented。〃
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It seemed as if she had lost the power of saying anything else； or even
of varying the phrase which； with such effort； she had compelled herself to
utter。
〃Heaven bless thee； my child！Heaven bless thee！And it WILL bless
thee with riches； with pleasure； with power。〃
Miss Vere faintly entreated to be left by herself for the rest of the
evening。
〃But will you not receive Sir Frederick？〃 said her father； anxiously。
〃I will meet him；〃 she replied； 〃I will meet himwhen I must； and
where I must； but spare me now。〃
〃Be it so； my dearest； you shall know no restraint that I can save you
from。 Do not think too hardly of Sir Frederick for this；it is an excess of
passion。〃
Isabella waved her hand impatiently。
〃Forgive me； my childI goHeaven bless thee。 At elevenif you
call me not beforeat eleven I come to seek you。〃
〃When he left Isabella she dropped upon her knees〃Heaven aid me to
support the resolution I have taken Heaven only canO； poor Earnscliff！
who shall comfort him？ and with what contempt will he pronounce her
name； who listened to him to…day and gave herself to another at night！
But let him despise mebetter so than that he should know the truthlet
him despise me； if it will but lessen his grief； I should feel comfort in the
loss of his esteem。〃
She wept bitterly； attempting in vain； from time to time； to commence
the prayer for which she had sunk on her knees； but unable to calm her
spirits sufficiently for the exercise of devotion。 As she remained in this
agony of mind； the door of her apartment was slowly opened。
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CHAPTER XV。
The darksome cave they enter； where they found The woful man；
low sitting on the ground； Musing full sadly in his su
