in a hollow of the hills(山涧)-第28节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
suthin' was happenin' to ye then。〃
She did not reply； but he； holding her figure closer to him； felt it
trembling with a nervous expectation。 Suddenly she threw him off； and
rose to her feet with a cry。 〃There！〃 she screamed frantically； 〃they've
come！ they've come！〃
A rabbit had run out into the moonlight before them； a gray fox had
dashed from the thicket into the wood； but nothing else。
〃Who's come？〃 said Collinson； staring at her。
〃The sheriff and his posse！ They're surrounding them now。 Don't
you hear？〃 she gasped。
There was a strange rattling in the direction of the mill； a dull rumble；
with wild shouts and outcries； and the trampling of feet on its wooden
90
… Page 91…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
platform。 Collinson staggered to his feet； but at the same moment he was
thrown violently against his wife； and they both clung helplessly to the
tree； with their eyes turned toward the ledge。 There was a dense cloud of
dust and haze hanging over it。
She uttered another cry； and ran swiftly towards the rocky grade。
Collinson ran quickly after her； but as she reached the grade he suddenly
shouted； with an awful revelation in his voice； 〃Come back！ Stop； Sadie；
for God's sake！〃 But it was too late。 She had already disappeared； and
as he reached the rock on which Chivers had leaped； he felt it give way
beneath him。
But there was no sound； only a rush of wind from the valley below。
Everything lapsed again into its awful stillness。 As the cloud lifted from
where the mill had stood； the moon shone only upon empty space。 There
was a singular murmuring and whispering from the woods beyond that
increased in sound； and an hour later the dry bed of the old mill…stream
was filled with a rushing river。
91
… Page 92…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTERVIII。
Preble Key returned to his hotel from the convent； it is to be feared；
with very little of that righteous satisfaction which is supposed to follow
the performance of a good deed。 He was by no means certain that what
he had done was best for the young girl。 He had only shown himself to her
as a worldly monitor of dangers； of which her innocence was
providentially unconscious。 In his feverish haste to avert a scandal； he
had no chance to explain his real feelings； he had； perhaps； even exposed
her thwarted impulses to equally naive but more dangerous expression；
which he might not have the opportunity to check。 He tossed wakefully
that night upon his pillow； tormented with alternate visions of her adorable
presence at the hotel； and her bowed； renunciating figure as she reentered
the convent gate。 He waited expectantly the next day for the message she
had promised； and which he believed she would find some way to send。
But no message was forthcoming。 The day passed； and he became
alarmed。 The fear that her escapade had been discovered again seized
him。 If she were in close restraint； she could neither send to him； nor
could he convey to her the solicitude and sympathy that filled his heart。
In her childish frankness she might have confessed the whole truth； and
this would not only shut the doors of the convent against him； under his
former pretext； but compromise her still more if he boldly called。 He
waylaid the afternoon procession； she was not among them。 Utterly
despairing； the wildest plans for seeing her passed through his brain；
plans that recalled his hot…headed youth； and a few moments later made
him smile at his extravagance； even while it half frightened him at the
reality of his passion。 He reached the hotel heart…sick and desperate。
The porter met him on the steps。 It was with a thrill that sent the blood
leaping to his cheeks that he heard the man say：
〃Sister Seraphina is waiting for you in the sitting…room。〃
There was no thought of discovery or scandal in Preble Key's mind
now； no doubt or hesitation as to what he would do； as he sprang up the
staircase。 He only knew that he had found her again； and was happy！
He burst into the room； but this time remembered to shut the door behind
92
… Page 93…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
him。 He looked eagerly towards the window where she had stood the
day before； but now she rose quickly from the sofa in the corner； where
she had been seated； and the missal she had been reading rolled from her
lap to the floor。 He ran towards her to pick it up。 Her namethe name
she had told him to call herwas passionately trembling on his lips； when
she slowly put her veil aside； and displayed a pale； kindly； middle…aged
face； slightly marked by old scars of smallpox。 It was not Alice； it was
the real Sister Seraphina who stood before him。
His first revulsion of bitter disappointment was so quickly followed by
a realization that all had been discovered； and his sacrifice of yesterday
had gone for naught； that he stood before her； stammering； but without the
power to say a word。 Luckily for him； his utter embarrassment seemed
to reassure her； and to calm that timidity which his brusque man…like
irruption might well produce in the inexperienced； contemplative mind of
the recluse。 Her voice was very sweet； albeit sad； as she said gently：
〃I am afraid I have taken you by surprise； but there was no time to
arrange for a meeting； and the Lady Superior thought that I； who knew all
the facts； had better see you confidentially。 Father Cipriano gave us your
address。〃
Amazed and wondering； Key bowed her to a seat。
〃You will remember；〃 she went on softly； 〃that the Lady Superior
failed to get any information from you regarding the brother of one of our
dear children； whom he committed to our charge through aa companion
or acquaintancea Mrs。 Barker。 As she was armed with his authority by
letter； we accepted the dear child through her； permitted her as his
representative to have free access to his sister； and even allowed her； as an
unattended woman； to pass the night at the convent。 We were therefore
surprised this morning to receive a letter from him； absolutely forbidding
any further intercourse； correspondence； or association of his sister with
this companion； Mrs。 Barker。 It was necessary to inform the dear child of
this at once； as she was on the point of writing to this woman； but we were
pained and shocked at her reception of her brother's wishes。 I ought to
say； in justice to the dear child； that while she is usually docile； intelligent；
and tractable to discipline； and a devote in her religious feelings； she is
93
… Page 94…
IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
singularly impulsive。 But we were not prepared for the rash and sudden
step she has taken。 At noon to…day she escaped from the convent！〃
Key； who had been following her with relief； sprang to his feet at this
unexpected culmination。
〃Escaped！〃 he said。 〃Impossible！ I mean；〃 he added； hurriedly
recalling himself； 〃your rules； your discipline； your attendants are so
perfect。〃
〃The poor impulsive creature has added sacrilege to her madnessa
sacrilege we are willing to believe she did not understand； for she escaped
in a religious habitmy own。〃
〃But this would sufficiently identify her；〃 he said； controlling himself
with an effort。
〃Alas； not so！ There are many of us who go abroad on our missions
in these garments； and they are made all alike； so as to divert rather than
attract attention to any individuality。 We have sent private messengers in
all directions； and sought her
