little novels-第45章

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de　by　the　slowly　sinking　island。　With　a　last　desperate　hope　that　Aimata　might　have　been　saved　as　_he_　had　been　saved；　he　swam　to　the　boat；　seized　the　heavy　oars　with　the　strength　of　a　giant；　and　made　for　the　place　（so　far　as　he　could　guess　at　it　now）　where　the　lake　and　the　Temple　had　once　been。

He　looked　round　and　round　him；　he　strained　his　eyes　in　the　vain　attempt　to　penetrate　below　the　surface　of　the　seething　dimpling　sea。　Had　the　panic…stricken　watchers　in　the　canoes　saved　themselves；　without　an　effort　to　preserve　the　father　and　daughter？　Or　had　they　both　been　suffocated　before　they　could　make　an　attempt　to　escape？　He　called　to　her　in　his　misery；　as　if　she　could　hear　him　out　of　the　fathomless　depths：　〃Aimata！　Aimata！〃　The　roar　of　the　distant　eruption　answered　him。　The　mounting　fires　lit　the　solitary　sea　far　and　near　over　the　sinking　island。　The　boat　turned　slowly　and　more　slowly　in　the　lessening　vortex。　Never　again　would　those　gentle　eyes　look　at　him　with　unutterable　love！　Never　again　would　those　fresh　lips　touch　his　lips　with　their　fervent　kiss！　Alone；　amid　the　savage　forces　of　Nature　in　conflict；　the　miserable　mortal　lifted　his　hands　in　frantic　supplicationand　the　burning　sky　glared　down　on　him　in　its　pitiless　grandeur；　and　struck　him　to　his　knees　in　the　boat。　His　reason　sank　with　his　sinking　limbs。　In　the　merciful　frenzy　that　succeeded　the　shock；　he　saw　afar　off；　in　her　white　robe；　an　angel　poised　on　the　waters；　beckoning　him　to　follow　her　to　the　brighter　and　the　better　world。　He　loosened　the　sail；　he　seized　the　oars；　and　the　faster　he　pursued　it；　the　faster　the　mocking　vision　fled　from　him　over　the　empty　and　endless　sea。

IX。

THE　boat　was　discovered；　on　the　next　morning；　from　the　ship。

All　that　the　devotion　of　the　officers　of　the　_Fortuna_　could　do　for　their　unhappy　commander　was　done　on　the　homeward　voyage。　Restored　to　his　own　country；　and　to　skilled　medical　help；　the　Captain's　mind　by　slow　degrees　recovered　its　balance。　He　has　taken　his　place　in　society　againhe　lives　and　moves　and　manages　his　affairs　like　the　rest　of　us。　But　his　heart　is　dead　to　all　new　emotions；　nothing　remains　in　it　but　the　sacred　remembrance　of　his　lost　love。　He　neither　courts　nor　avoids　the　society　of　women。　Their　sympathy　finds　him　grateful；　but　their　attractions　seem　to　be　lost　on　him；　they　pass　from　his　mind　as　they　pass　from　his　eyesthey　stir　nothing　in　him　but　the　memory　of　Aimata。



〃Now　you　know；　ladies；　why　the　Captain　will　never　marry；　and　why　（sailor　as　he　is）　he　hates　the　sight　of　the　sea。〃


MR。　MARMADUKE　AND　THE　MINISTER。

I。

September　13th。Winter　seems　to　be　upon　us；　on　the　Highland　Border；　already。

I　looked　out　of　window；　as　the　evening　closed　in；　before　I　barred　the　shutters　and　drew　the　curtains　for　the　night。　The　clouds　hid　the　hilltops　on　either　side　of　our　valley。　Fantastic　mists　parted　and　met　again　on　the　lower　slopes；　as　the　varying　breeze　blew　them。　The　blackening　waters　of　the　lake　before　our　window　seemed　to　anticipate　the　coming　darkness。　On　the　more　distant　hills　the　torrents　were　just　visible；　in　the　breaks　of　the　mist；　stealing　their　way　over　the　brown　ground　like　threads　of　silver。　It　was　a　dreary　scene。　The　stillness　of　all　things　was　only　interrupted　by　the　splashing　of　our　little　waterfall　at　the　back　of　the　house。　I　was　not　sorry　to　close　the　shutters；　and　confine　the　view　to　the　four　walls　of　our　sitting…room。

The　day　happened　to　be　my　birthday。　I　sat　by　the　peat…fire；　waiting　for　the　lamp　and　the　tea…tray；　and　contemplating　my　past　life　from　the　vantage…ground；　so　to　speak；　of　my　fifty…fifth　year。

There　was　wonderfully　little　to　look　back　on。　Nearly　thirty　years　since；　it　pleased　an　all…wise　Providence　to　cast　my　lot　in　this　remote　Scottish　hamlet；　and　to　make　me　Minister　of　Cauldkirk；　on　a　stipend　of　seventy…four　pounds　sterling　per　annum。　I　and　my　surroundings　have　grown　quietly　older　and　older　together。　I　have　outlived　my　wife；　I　have　buried　one　generation　among　my　parishioners；　and　married　another；　I　have　borne　the　wear　and　tear　of　years　better　than　the　kirk　in　which　I　minister　and　the　manse　（or　parsonage…house）　in　which　I　liveboth　sadly　out　of　repair；　and　both　still　trusting　for　the　means　of　reparation　to　the　pious　benefactions　of　people　richer　than　myself。　Not　that　I　complain；　be　it　understood；　of　the　humble　position　which　I　occupy。　I　possess　many　blessings；　and　I　thank　the　Lord　for　them。　I　have　my　little　bit　of　land　and　my　cow。　I　have　also　my　good　daughter；　Felicia；　named　after　her　deceased　mother；　but　inheriting　her　comely　looks；　it　is　thought；　rather　from　myself。

Neither　let　me　forget　my　elder　sister；　Judith；　a　friendless　single　person；　sheltered　under　my　roof；　whose　temperament　I　could　wish　somewhat　less　prone　to　look　at　persons　and　things　on　the　gloomy　side；　but　whose　compensating　virtues　Heaven　forbid　that　I　should　deny。　No；　I　am　grateful　for　what　has　been　given　me　（from　on　high）；　and　resigned　to　what　has　been　taken　away。　With　what　fair　prospects　did　I　start　in　life！　Springing　from　a　good　old　Scottish　stock；　blessed　with　every　advantage　of　education　that　the　institutions　of　Scotland　and　England　in　turn　could　offer；　with　a　career　at　the　Bar　and　in　Parliament　before　meand　all　cast　to　the　winds；　as　it　were；　by　the　measureless　prodigality　of　my　unhappy　father；　God　forgive　him！　I　doubt　if　I　had　five　pounds　left　in　my　purse；　when　the　compassion　of　my　relatives　on　the　mother's　side　opened　a　refuge　to　me　at　Cauldkirk；　and　hid　me　from　the　notice　of　the　world　for　the　rest　of　my　life。



September　14th。Thus　far　I　had　posted　up　my　Diary　on　the　evening　of　the　13th；　when　an　event　occurred　so　completely　unexpected　by　my　household　and　myself；　that　the　pen；　I　may　say；　dropped　incontinently　from　my　hand。

It　was　the　time　when　we　had　finished　our　tea；　or　supperI　hardly　know　which　to　call　it。　In　the　silence；　we　could　hear　the　rain　pouring　against　the　window；　and　the　wind　that　had　risen　with　the　darkness　howling　round　the　house。　My　sister　Judith；　taking　the　gloomy　view　according　to　customcopious　draughts　of　good　Bohea　and　two　helpings　of　such　a　mutton　ham　as　only　Scotland　can　produce　had　no　effect　in　raising　her　spiritsmy　sister；　I　say；　remarked　that　there　would　be　ships　lost　at　sea　and　men　drowned　this　night。　My　daughter　Felicia；　the　brightest…tempered　creature　of　the　female　sex　that　I　have　ever　met　with；　tried　to　give　a　cheerful　turn　to　her　aunt's　depressing　prognostication。　〃If　the　ships　must　be　lost；〃　she　said；　〃we　may　surely　hope　that　the　men　will　be　saved。〃　〃God　willing；〃　I　put　inthereby　giving　to　my　daughter's　humane　expression　of　feeling　the　fit　religious　tone　that　was　all　it　wantedand　then　went　on　with　my　written　record　of　the　events　and　reflections　of　the　day。　No　more　was　said。　Felicia　took　up　a　book。　Judith　took　up　her　knitting。

On　a　sudden；　the　silence　was　broken　by　　a　blow　on　the　house…door。

My　two　companions；　as　is　the　way　of　women；　set　up　a　scream。　I　was　startled　myself；　wondering　who　could　be　out　in　the　rain　and　the　darkness　and　striking　at　the　door　of　the　house。　A　stranger　it　must　be。　Light　or　dark；　any　person　in　or　near　Cauldkirk；　wanting　admission；　would　know　where　to　find　the　bell…handle　at　the　side　of　the　door。　I　waited　a　while　to　hear　what　might　happen　next。　The　stroke　was　repeated；　but　more　softly。　It　became　me　as　a　man　and　a　minister　to　set　an　example。　I　went　out　into　the　passage；　and　I　called　through　the　door；　〃Who's　there？〃

A　man's　voice　answeredso　faintly　that　I　could　barely　hear　him〃A　lost　traveler。〃

Immediately　upon　this　my　cheerful　sister　expressed　her　view　of　the　matter　through　the　open　parlor　door。　〃Brother　Noah；　it's　a　robber。　Don't　let　him　in！〃

What　would　the　Good　Samaritan　have　done　in　my　place？　Assuredly　he　would　have　run　the　risk　and　opened　the　door。　I　imitated　the　Good　Samaritan。

A　man；　dripping　wet；　with　a　knapsack　on　his　back　and　a　thick　stick　in　his　hand；　staggered　in；　and　would；　I　think；　have　fallen　in　the　passage　if　I　had　not　caught　him　by　the　arm。　Judith　peeped　out　at　the　parlor　door；　and　said；　〃He's　drunk。〃　Felicia　was　behind　her；　holding　up　a　lighted　candle；　the　better　to　see　what　was　going　on。　〃Look　at　his　face；　aunt；〃　says　she。　〃Worn　out　with　fatigue；　poor　man。　Bring　him　in；　fatherbring　him　in。〃

Good　Felicia！　I　was　proud　of　my　girl。　〃He'll　spoil　the　carpet；〃　says　sister　Judith。　I　said；　〃Silence；　for　shame！〃　and　brought　him　in；　and　dropped　him　dripping　into　my　own　armchair。　Would　the　Good　Samaritan　have　thought　of　his　carpet　or　his　chair？　I　did　think　of　them；　but　I　overcame　it。　Ah；　we　are　a　decadent　generation　in　these　latter　days！

〃Be　quick；　father〃'　says　Felicia；　〃he'll　faint　if　you　don't　give　him　something！〃

I　took　out　one　of　our　little　drinking　cups　（called　among　us　a　〃Quaigh〃）；　while　Felicia；　instructed　by　me；　ran　to　the　kitchen　for　the　cream…jug。　Filling　the　cup　with　whisky　and　cream　in　equal　proportions；　I　offered　it　to　him。　He　drank　it　off　as　if　it　had　been　so　much　water。　〃Stimulant　and　nourishment；　you'll　observe；　sir；　in　equal　portions；〃　I　remarked　to　him。　〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃

〃Ready　for　another；〃　says　he。

Felicia　burst　out　laughing。　I　gave　him　another。　As　I　turned　to　hand　it　to　him；　sister　Judith　came　behind　me；　and　snatched　away　the　cream…jug。　Never　a　generous　person；　sister　Judith；　at　the　best　of　timesmore　especially　in　the　matter　of　cream。

He　handed　me　back　the　empty　cup。　〃I　believe；　sir；　you　have　saved　my　life；〃　he　said。　〃Under　Providence；〃　I　put　inadding；　〃But　I　would　remark；　looking　to　the　state　of　your　clothes；　that　I　have　yet　another　service　to　offer　you；　before　you　tell　us　how　you　came　into　this　pitiable　state。〃　With　that　reply；　I　led　him　upstairs；　and　set　before　him　the　poor　resources　of　my　wardrobe；　and　left　him　to　do　the　best　he　could　with　them。　He　was　rather　a　small　man；　and　I　am　in　stature　nigh　on　six　feet。　When　he　came　down　to　us　in　my　clothes；　we　had　the　merriest　evening　that　I　can　remember　for　years　past。　I　thought　Felicia　would　have　had　a　hysteric　fit；　and　even　sister　Judith　laughedhe　did　look　such　a　comical　figure　in　the　minister's　garments。

As　for　the　misfortune　that　had　befallen　him；　it　offered　one　more　example　of　the　preternatural　rashness　of　the　English　traveler　in　countries　unknown　to　him。　He　was　on　a　walking　tour　through　Scotland；　and　he　had　set　forth　to　go　twenty　miles　a…foot；　from　a　town　on　one　side　of　the　Highland　Border；　to　a　town　on　the　other；　without　a　guide。　The　only　wonder　is　that　he　found　his　way　to　Cauldkirk；　instead　of　perishing　of　exposure　among　the　lonesome　hills。

〃Will　you　offer　thanks　for　your　preservation　to　the　Throne　of　Grace；　in　your　prayers　to…night？〃　I　asked　him。　And　he　answered；　〃Indeed　I　will！〃

We　have　a　spare　room　at　the　manse；　but　it　had　not　been　inhabited　for　more　than　a　year　past。　Therefore　we　made　his　bed；　for　that　night；　on　the　sofa　in　the　parlor；　and　so　left　him；　with　the　fire　on　one　side　of　his　couch；　and　the　whisky　and　the　mutton　ham　on　the　other　in　case　of　need。　He　mentioned　his　name　when　we　bade　him　good…night。　Marmaduke　Falmer　of　London；　son　of　a　minister　of　the　English　Church　Establishment；　now　deceased。　It　was　plain；　I　may　add；　before　he　spoke；　that　we　had　offered　the　hospitality　of　the　manse　to　a　man　of　gentle　breeding。



September　15th。I　have　to　record　a　singularly　pleasant　day；　due　partly　to　a　return　of　the　fine　weather；　partl