clotelle(有色女英雄)-第10节
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daughter's residence； she saw Henry walking in the direction of where the
quadroon was supposed to reside。 Being satisfied that the young man had
not seen her； the old woman at once resolved to follow him。 Linwood's
boots squeaked so loudly that Mrs。 Miller had no difficulty in following
him without being herself observed。
After a walk of about two miles； the young man turned into a narrow
and unfrequented road； and soon entered the cottage occupied by Isabella。
It was a fine starlight night； and the moon was just rising when they got to
their journey's end。 As usual； Isabella met Henry with a smile； and
expressed her fears regarding his health。
Hours passed； and still old Mrs。 Miller remained near the house；
determined to know who lived there。 When she undertook to ferret out
anything； she bent her whole energies to it。 As Michael Angelo； who
subjected all things to his pursuit and the idea he had formed of it； painted
the crucifixion by the side of a writhing slave and would have broken up
the true cross for pencils； so Mrs。 Miller would have entered the sepulchre；
if she could have done it； in search of an object she wished to find。
The full moon had risen； and was pouring its beams upon surrounding
objects as Henry stepped from Isabella's door； and looking at his watch；
said；
〃I must go； dear； it is now half…past ten。〃
Had little Clotelle been awake； she too would have been at the door。
As Henry walked to the gate； Isabella followed with her left hand locked
in his。 Again he looked at his watch； and said；
〃I must go。〃
〃It is more than a year since you staid all night；〃 murmured Isabella； as
he folded her convulsively in his arms； and pressed upon her beautiful lips
a parting kiss。
He was nearly out of sight when； with bitter sobs； the quadroon
retraced her steps to the door of the cottage。 Clotelle had in the mean time
awoke； and now inquired of her mother how long her father had been gone。
At that instant； a knock was heard at the door； and supposing that it was
Henry returning for something he had forgotten； as he frequently did；
Isabella flew to let him in。 To her amazement； however； a strange woman
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CLOTELLE
stood in the door。
〃Who are you that comes here at this late hour？〃 demanded the half…
frightened Isabella。
Without making any reply； Mrs。 Miller pushed the quadroon aside； and
entered the house。
〃What do you want here？〃 again demanded Isabella。
〃I am in search of you；〃 thundered the maddened Mrs。 Miller； but
thinking that her object would be better served by seeming to be kind； she
assumed a different tone of voice； and began talking in a pleasing manner。
In this way； she succeeded in finding out that connection existing
between Linwood and Isabella； and after getting all she could out of the
unsuspecting woman； she informed her that the man she so fondly loved
had been married for more than two years。 Seized with dizziness； the poor；
heart…broken woman fainted and fell upon the floor。 How long she
remained there she could not tell； but when she returned to consciousness；
the strange woman was gone； and her child was standing by her side。
When she was so far recovered as to regain her feet； Isabella went to the
door； and even into the yard； to see if the old woman was no somewhere
about。
As she stood there； the full moon cast its bright rays over her whole
person； giving her an angelic appearance and imparting to her flowing hair
a still more golden hue。 Suddenly another change came over her features；
and her full red kips trembled as with suppressed emotion。 The muscles
around her faultless mouth became convulsed； she gasped for breath； and
exclaiming； 〃Is it possible that man can be so false！〃 again fainted。
Clotelle stood and bathed her mother's temples with cold water until
she once more revived。
Although the laws of Virginia forbid the education of slaves； Agnes
had nevertheless employed an old free negro to teach her two daughters to
read and write。 After being separated from her mother and sister； Isabella
turned her attention to the subject of Christianity； and received that
consolation from the Bible which is never denied to the children of God。
This was now her last hope； for her heart was torn with grief and filled
with all the bitterness of disappointment。
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The night passed away； but without sleep to poor Isabella。 At the dawn
of day； she tried to make herself believe that the whole of the past night
was a dream； and determined to be satisfied with the explanation which
Henry should give on his next visit。
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CHAPTER XII
THE MOTHER…IN…LAW
WHEN Harry returned home； he found his wife seated at the window；
awaiting his approach。 Secret grief was gnawing at her heart。 Her sad；
pale cheeks and swollen eyes showed too well that agony； far deeper than
her speech portrayed； filled her heart。 A dull and death…like silence
prevailed on his entrance。 His pale face and brow； dishevelled hair； and the
feeling that he manifested on finding Gertrude still up； told Henry in
plainer words than she could have used that his wife was aware that her
love had never been held sacred by him。 The window…blinds were still
unclosed； and the full…orbed moon shed her soft refulgence over the
unrivalled scene； and gave it a silvery lustre which sweetly harmonized
with the silence of the night。 The clock's iron tongue； in a neighboring
belfry； proclaimed the hour of twelve； as the truant and unfaithful husband
seated himself by the side of his devoted and loving wife； and inquired if
she was not well。
〃I am； dear Henry；〃 replied Gertrude； 〃but I feat *you* are not。 If well
in body； I fear you are not at peace in mind。〃
〃Why？〃 inquired he。
〃Because；〃 she replied； 〃you are so pale and have such a wild look in
your eyes。〃
Again he protested his innocence； and vowed she was the only woman
who had any claim upon his heart。 To behold one thus playing upon the
feelings of two lovely women is enough to make us feel that evil must at
last bring its own punishment。
Henry and Gertrude had scarcely risen from the breakfast…table next
morning ere old Mrs。 Miller made her appearance。 She immediately took
her daughter aside； and informed her of her previous night's experience；
telling her how she had followed Henry to Isabella's cottage； detailing the
interview with the quadroon； and her late return home alone。 The old
woman urged her daughter to demand that the quadroon and her child be
at once sold to the negro speculators and taken out of the State； or that
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Gertrude herself should separate from Henry。
〃Assert your rights； my dear。 Let no one share a heart that justly
belongs to you；〃 said Mrs。 Miller； with her eyes flashing fire。 〃Don't sleep
this night； my child； until that wench has been removed from that cottage；
and as for the child； hand that over to me； I saw at once that it was
Henry's。〃
During these remarks； the old lady was walking up and down the room
like a caged lioness。 She had learned from Isabella that she had been
purchased by Henry； and the innocence of the injured quadroon caused her
to acknowledge that he was the father of her child。 Few women could have
taken such a matter in hand and carried it through with more determination
and success than old Mrs。 Miller。 Completely inured in all the crimes and
atrocities connected with the institution of slavery； she was also aware that；
to a greater or less extent； the slave women shared with their mistress the
affections of their master。 This caused her to look with a suspicious eye
on
