clotelle(有色女英雄)-第28节
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On the morning following this perilous adventure； Col。 G called at
Jerome's temporary residence； and； after expressing his admiration for his
noble daring； and thanking him for having saved his daughter's life；
invited him to visit him at his country residence。 This invitation was
promptly accepted in the spirit in which it was given； and three days after；
Jerome found himself at the princely residence of the father of the lady for
whose safety he had risked his own life。 The house was surrounded by fine
trees； and a sweet little stream ran murmuring at the foot； while beds of
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flowers on every hand shed their odors on the summer air。 It was； indeed；
a pleasant place to spend the warm weather； and the colonel and his family
gave Jerome a most cordial welcome。 Miss G。 showed especial attention to
the stranger。 He had not intended remaining longer than the following day：
but the family insisted on his taking part in a fox…hunt that was to come off
on the morning of the third day。 Wishing to witness a scene as interesting
as the chase usually proves to be； he decided to remain。
Fifteen persons； five of whom were ladies； were on the ground at the
appointed hour。 Miss G。 was； of course； one of the party。 In vain Jerome
endeavored to excuse himself from joining in the chase。 His plea of ill…
health was only met by smiles from the young ladies； and the reply that a
ride would effect a cure。
Dressed in a scarlet coat and high boots； with the low； round cap worn
in the chase； Jerome mounted a high…spirited horse； whip in hand； and
made himself one of the party。 In America； riding is a necessity； in
England； it is a pleasure。 Young men and women attend riding…school in
our fatherland； and consider that they are studying a science。 Jerome was
no rider。 He had not been on horseback for more than ten years； and as
soon as he mounted； every one saw that he was a novice； and a smile was
on the countenance of each member of the company。
The blowing of the horn； and assembling of the hounds； and finally the
release of the fox from his close prison； were the signals for the chase to
commence。 The first half…mile the little animal took his course over a
beautiful field where there was neither hedge nor ditch。 Thus far the
chase was enjoyed by all； even by the American rider； who was better
fitted to witness the scene than to take part in it。
We left Jerome in our last reluctantly engaged in the chase； and though
the first mile or so of the pursuit； which was over smooth meadow…land；
had had an exhilarating effect upon his mind； and tended somewhat to
relieve him of the embarrassment consequent upon his position； he
nevertheless still felt that he was far from being in his proper element。
Besides； the fox had now made for a dense forest which lay before； and he
saw difficulties in that direction which to him appeared insurmountable。
Away went the huntsmen； over stone walls； high fences； and deep
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ditches。 Jerome saw the ladies even leading the gentlemen； but this could
not inspire him。 They cleared the fences； four and five feet high with
perfect ease； showing they were quite at home in the saddle。 But alas for
the poor American！ As his fine steed came up to the first fence； and was
about to make the leap； Jerome pulled at the bridle； and cried at the top of
his voice； 〃Whoa！ whoa！ whoa！〃 the horse at the same time capering about；
and appearing determined to keep up with the other animals。
Away dashed the huntsmen； following the hounds； and all were soon
lost to the view of their colored companion。 Jerome rode up and down the
field looking for a gate or bars； that he might get through without risking
his neck。 Finding； however； that all hope of again catching up with the
party was out of the question； he determined to return to the house； under a
plea of sudden illness； and back he accordingly went。
〃I hope no accident has happened to your honor；〃 said the groom； as he
met our hero at the gate。
〃A slight dizziness；〃 was the answer。
One of the servants； without being ordered； went at once for the family
physician。 Ashamed to own that his return was owing to his inability to
ride； Jerome resolved to feign sickness。 The doctor came； felt his pulse；
examined his tongue； and pronounced him a sick man。 He immediately
ordered a tepid bath； and sent for a couple of leeches。
Seeing things taking such a serious turn； the American began to regret
the part he was playing； for there was no fun in being rubbed and leeched
when one was in perfect health。 He had gone too far to recede； however；
and so submitted quietly to the directions of the doctor； and； after
following the injunctions given by that learned Esculapius； was put to bed。
Shortly after； the sound of the horns and the yelp of the hounds
announced that the poor fox had taken the back track； and was repassing
near the house。 Even the pleasure of witnessing the beautiful sight from
the window was denied our hero； for the physician had ordered that he
must be kept in perfect quiet。
The chase was at last over； and the huntsmen all in； sympathizing with
their lost companion。 After nine days of sweating； blistering； and
leeching； Jerome left his bed convalescent； but much reduced in flesh and
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strength。 This was his first and last attempt to follow the fox and hounds。
During his fortnight's stay at Colonel G。'； Jerome spent most of his
time in the magnificent library。 Claude did not watch with more interest
every color of the skies； the trees； the grass； and the water； to learn from
nature； than did this son of a despised race search books to obtain that
knowledge which his early life as a slave had denied him。
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CHAPTER XXXI
THE MYSTERIOUS MEETING
AFTER more than a fortnight spent in the highlands of Scotland；
Jerome passed hastily through London on his way to the continent。
It was toward sunset； on a warm day in October； shortly after his
arrival in France； that； after strolling some distance from the Hotel de
Leon； in the old and picturesque town of Dunkirk； he entered a burial…
groundsuch places being always favorite walks with himand wandered
around among the silent dead。 All nature around was hushed in silence；
and seemed to partake of the general melancholy that hung over the quiet
resting…place of the departed。 Even the birds seemed imbued with the
spirit of the place； for they were silent； either flying noiselessly over the
graves； or jumping about in the tall grass。 After tracing the various
inscriptions that told the characters and conditions of the deceased； and
viewing the mounds beneath which the dust of mortality slumbered； he
arrived at a secluded spot near where an aged weeping willow bowed its
thick foliage to the ground； as though anxious to hide from the scrutinizing
gaze of curiosity the grave beneath it。 Jerome seated himself on a marble
tombstone； and commenced reading from a book which he had carried
under his arm。 It was now twilight； and he had read but a few minutes
when he observed a lady； attired in deep black； and leading a boy；
apparently some five or six years old； coming up one of the beautiful；
winding paths。 As the lady's veil was drawn closely over her face； he felt
somewhat at liberty to eye her more closely。 While thus engaged； the lady
gave a slight scream； and seemed suddenly to have fallen into a fainting
condition。 Jerome sprang from his
