the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第34章
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works？〃
Isabella； much alarmed； continued to answer with firmness； 〃Whatever
injuries you may have sustained in the world； you are incapable of
revenging them on one who never wronged you； nor；wilfully； any other。〃
〃Ay； but； maiden；〃 he continued； his dark eyes flashing with an
expression of malignity which communicated itself to his wild and
distorted features； 〃revenge is the hungry wolf； which asks only to tear
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flesh and lap blood。 Think you the lamb's plea of innocence would be
listened to by him？〃
〃Man！〃 said Isabella； rising； and expressing herself with much
dignity； 〃I fear not the horrible ideas with which you would impress me。
I cast them from me with disdain。 Be you mortal or fiend； you would not
offer injury to one who sought you as a suppliant in her utmost need。
You would notyou durst not。〃
〃Thou say'st truly； maiden；〃 rejoined the Solitary； 〃I dare not I would
not。 Begone to thy dwelling。 Fear nothing with which they threaten
thee。 Thou hast asked my protectionthou shalt find it effectual。〃
〃But； father； this very night I have consented to wed the man that I
abhor； or I must put the seal to my father's ruin。〃
〃This night？at what hour？〃
〃Ere midnight。〃
〃And twilight；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃has already passed away。 But fear
nothing； there is ample time to protect thee。〃
〃And my father？〃 continued Isabella； in a suppliant tone。
〃Thy father；〃 replied the Dwarf； 〃has been； and is； my most bitter
enemy。 But fear not； thy virtue shall save him。 And now； begone； were
I to keep thee longer by me； I might again fall into the stupid dreams
concerning human worth from which I have been so fearfully awakened。
But fear nothingat the very foot of the altar I will redeem thee。 Adieu；
time presses； and I must act！〃
He led her to the door of the hut； which he opened for her departure。
She remounted her horse； which had been feeding in the outer enclosure；
and pressed him forward by the light of the moon； which was now rising；
to the spot where she had left Ratcliffe。
〃Have you succeeded？〃 was his first eager question。
〃I have obtained promises from him to whom you sent me； but how
can he possibly accomplish them？〃
〃Thank God！〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃doubt not his power to fulfil his
promise。〃
At this moment a shrill whistle was heard to resound along the heath。
〃Hark！〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃he calls meMiss Vere； return home； and
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leave unbolted the postern…door of the garden； to that which opens on the
back…stairs I have a private key。〃
A second whistle was heard； yet more shrill and prolonged than the
first。
〃I come； I come；〃 said Ratcliffe； and setting spurs to his horse； rode
over the heath in the direction of the Recluse's hut。 Miss Vere returned to
the castle； the mettle of the animal on which she rode； and her own anxiety
of mind； combining to accelerate her journey。
She obeyed Ratcliffe's directions； though without well apprehending
their purpose； and leaving her horse at large in a paddock near the garden；
hurried to her own apartment； which she reached without observation。
She now unbolted her door； and rang her bell for lights。 Her father
appeared along with the servant who answered her summons。
〃He had been twice；〃 he said； 〃listening at her door during the two
hours that had elapsed since he left her； and； not hearing her speak； had
become apprehensive that she was taken ill。〃
〃And now； my dear father；〃 she said； 〃permit me to claim the promise
you so kindly gave； let the last moments of freedom which I am to enjoy
be mine without interruption； and protract to the last moment the respite
which is allowed me。〃
〃I will；〃 said her father； 〃nor shall you be again interrupted。 But this
disordered dressthis dishevelled hairdo not let me find you thus when I
call on you again； the sacrifice； to be beneficial； must be voluntary。〃
〃Must it be so？〃 she replied； 〃then fear not； my father！ the victim
shall be adorned。〃
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CHAPTER XVII。
This looks not like a nuptial。 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING。
The chapel in the castle of Ellieslaw； destined to be the scene of this
ill…omened union； was a building of much older date than the castle itself；
though that claimed considerable antiquity。 Before the wars between
England and Scotland had become so common and of such long duration；
that the buildings along both sides of the Border were chiefly dedicated to
warlike purposes； there had been a small settlement of monks at Ellieslaw；
a dependency； it is believed by antiquaries； on the rich Abbey of Jedburgh。
Their possessions had long passed away under the changes introduced by
war and mutual ravage。 A feudal castle had arisen on the ruin of their
cells； and their chapel was included in its precincts。
The edifice； in its round arches and massive pillars； the simplicity of
which referred their date to what has been called the Saxon architecture；
presented at all times a dark and sombre appearance； and had been
frequently used as the cemetery of the family of the feudal lords； as well
as formerly of the monastic brethren。 But it looked doubly gloomy by
the effect of the few and smoky torches which were used to enlighten it on
the present occasion； and which； spreading a glare of yellow light in their
immediate vicinity； were surrounded beyond by a red and purple halo
reflected from their own smoke； and beyond that again by a zone of
darkness which magnified the extent of the chapel； while it rendered it
impossible for the eye to ascertain its limits。 Some injudicious ornaments；
adopted in haste for the occasion； rather added to the dreariness of the
scene。 Old fragments of tapestry； torn from the walls of other apartments；
had been hastily and partially disposed around those of the chapel； and
mingled inconsistently with scutcheons and funeral emblems of the dead；
which they elsewhere exhibited。 On each side of the stone altar was a
monument； the appearance of which formed an equally strange contrast。
On the one was the figure； in stone； of some grim hermit； or monk； who
had died in the odour of sanctity； he was represented as recumbent； in his
cowl and scapulaire； with his face turned upward as in the act of devotion；
and his hands folded； from which his string of beads was dependent。 On
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the other side was a tomb； in the Italian taste； composed of the most
beautiful statuary marble； and accounted a model of modern art。 It was
erected to the memory of Isabella's mother； the late Mrs。 Vere of Ellieslaw；
who was represented as in a dying posture； while a weeping cherub； with
eyes averted； seemed in the act of extinguishing a dying lamp as
emblematic of her speedy dissolution。 It was； indeed； a masterpiece of
art； but misplaced in the rude vault to which it had been consigned。
Many were surprised； and even scandalized； that Ellieslaw； not remarkable
for attention to his lady while alive； should erect after her death such a
costly mausoleum in affected sorrow； others cleared him from the
imputation of hypocrisy； and averred that the monument had been
constructed under the direction and at the sole expense of Mr。 Ratcliffe。
Before these monuments the wedding guests were assembled。 They
were few in number； for many had left the castle to prepare for the ensuing
political explosion； and Ellieslaw was； in the circumstances of the case； far
from being desirous to extend invitations farther than to those near
relations whose presence the custom of the country rendered indispensable。
Next to the altar stood Sir Frederick Langley； dark； moody； and thoughtful；
even beyond his wont； and near him； Mareschal； who was to play the part
of bridesman； as it was called。 The thoughtless humour of this young
gentleman； on which he never deigned to place the least restraint； added to
the cloud which overhung the brow of the bridegroom
〃The bride is not yet come out of her chamber；〃 he whispered to Sir
Frederick； 〃I trust that we must not have recourse to the violent expedients
of the Romans which I read of at College。 It would be hard upon my
pretty cousin to be run away with twice in two days； though I know none
better worth such a violent compliment。〃
Sir Frederick attempted to turn a deaf ear to this discourse； humming a
tune； and looking another may； but Mareschal proceeded in the same wild
manner。
〃This delay is hard upon Dr。 Hobbler； who was disturbed to accelerate
preparations for this joyful event when he had successfully extracted the
cork of his third bottle。 I hope you will keep him free of the censure of
his superiors； for I take it this is beyond canonical hours。But here come
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Ellieslaw and my pretty cousinprettier than ever； I think； were it not she
seems so faint and so deadly paleHark ye； Sir Knight； if she says not
YES with right good…will； it shall be no wedding； for all that has come and
gone yet。〃
〃No wedding； sir？〃 returned Sir Frederick； in a loud whisper； the
tone of which in
