the black dwarf-第32节

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　Farewell　for　a　time。　Remember　the　evil　you　are　threatened　with；　and　let　it　overcome　at　once　your　fears　and　scruples。〃

〃Mr。　Ratcliffe；〃　said　Isabella；　〃farewell；　if　you　have　deceived　one　so　unfortunate　as　myself；　you　have　for　ever　forfeited　the　fair　character　for　probity　and　honour　to　which　I　have　trusted。〃

〃On　my　lifeon　my　soul；〃　continued　Ratcliffe；　raising　his　voice　as　the　distance　between　them　increased；　〃you　are　safeperfectly　safe。〃



CHAPTER　XVI。

　'Twas　time　and　griefs　　That　framed　him　thus：　　Time；　with　his　fairer　hand；　　Offering　the　fortunes　of　his　former　days；　　The　former　man　may　make　him。Bring　us　to　him；　　And　chance　it　as　it　may。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　OLD　PLAY。

The　sounds　of　Ratcliffe's　voice　had　died　on　Isabella's　ear；　but　as　she　frequently　looked　back；　it　was　some　encouragement　to　her　to　discern　his　form　now　darkening　in　the　gloom。　　Ere；　however；　she　went　much　farther；　she　lost　the　object　in　the　increasing　shade。　　The　last　glimmer　of　the　twilight　placed　her　before　the　hut　of　the　Solitary。　　She　twice　extended　her　hand　to　the　door；　and　twice　she　withdrew　it；　and　when　she　did　at　length　make　the　effort；　the　knock　did　not　equal　in　violence　the　throb　of　her　own　bosom。　　Her　next　effort　was　louder；　her　third　was　reiterated；　for　the　fear　of　not　obtaining　the　protection　from　which　Ratcliffe　promised　so　much；　began　to　overpower　the　terrors　of　his　presence　from　whom　she　was　to　request　it。　　At　length；　as　she　still　received　no　answer；　she　repeatedly　called　upon　the　Dwarf　by　his　assumed　name；　and　requested　him　to　answer　and　open　to　her。

〃What　miserable　being　is　reduced；〃　said　the　appalling　voice　of　the　Solitary；　〃to　seek　refuge　here？　　Go　hence；　when　the　heath…　fowl　need　shelter；　they　seek　it　not　in　the　nest　of　the　night…　raven。〃

〃I　come　to　you；　father；〃　said　Isabella；　〃in　my　hour　of　adversity；　even　as　you　yourself　commanded；　when　you　promised　your　heart　and　your　door　should　be　open　to　my　distress；　but　I　fear〃

〃Ha！〃　　said　the　Solitary；　〃then　thou　art　Isabella　Vere？　Give　me　a　token　that　thou　art　she。〃

〃I　have　brought　you　back　the　rose　which　you　gave　me；　it　has　not　had　time　to　fade　ere　the　hard　fate　you　foretold　has　come　upon　me！〃

〃And　if　thou　hast　thus　redeemed　thy　pledge；〃　said　the　Dwarf；　〃I　will　not　forfeit　mine。　　The　heart　and　the　door　that　are　shut　against　every　other　earthly　being；　shall　be　open　to　thee　and　to　thy　sorrows。〃

She　heard　him　move　in　his　hut；　and　presently　afterwards　strike　a　light。　　One　by　one；　bolt　and　bar　were　then　withdrawn；　the　heart　of　Isabella　throbbing　higher　as　these　obstacles　to　their　meeting　were　successively　removed。　　The　door　opened；　and　the　Solitary　stood　before　her；　his　uncouth　form　and　features　illuminated　by　the　iron　lamp　which　he　held　in　his　hand。

〃Enter；　daughter　of　affliction；〃　he　said；〃enter　the　house　of　misery。〃

She　entered；　and　observed；　with　a　precaution　which　increased　her　trepidation；　that　the　Recluse's　first　act；　after　setting　the　lamp　upon　the　table；　was　to　replace　the　numerous　bolts　which　secured　the　door　of　his　hut。　　She　shrunk　as　she　heard　the　noise　which　accompanied　this　ominous　operation；　yet　remembered　Ratcliffe's　caution；　and　endeavoured　to　suppress　all　appearance　of　apprehension。　　The　light　of　the　lamp　was　weak　and　uncertain；　but　the　Solitary；　without　taking　immediate　notice　of　Isabella；　otherwise　than　by　motioning　her　to　sit　down　on　a　small　settle　beside　the　fireplace；　made　haste　to　kindle　some　dry　furze；　which　presently　cast　a　blaze　through　the　cottage。　　Wooden　shelves；　which　bore　a　few　books；　some　bundles　of　dried　herbs；　and　one　or　two　wooden　cups　and　platters；　were　on　one　side　of　the　fire；　on　the　other　were　placed　some　ordinary　tools　of　field…labour；　mingled　with　those　used　by　mechanics。　　Where　the　bed　should　have　been；　there　was　a　wooden　frame；　strewed　with　withered　moss　and　rushes；　the　couch　of　the　ascetic。　　The　whole　space　of　the　cottage　did　not　exceed　ten　feet　by　six　within　the　walls；　and　its　only　furniture；　besides　what　we　have　mentioned；　was　a　table　and　two　stools　formed　of　rough　deals。

Within　these　narrow　precincts　Isabella　now　found　herself　enclosed　with　a　being；　whose　history　had　nothing　to　reassure　her；　and　the　fearful　conformation　of　whose　hideous　countenance　inspired　an　almost　superstitious　terror。　　He　occupied　the　seat　opposite　to　her；　and　dropping　his　huge　and　shaggy　eyebrows　over　his　piercing　black　eyes；　gazed　at　her　in　silence；　as　if　agitated　by　a　variety　of　contending　feelings。　　On　the　other　side　sate　Isabella；　pale　as　death；　her　long　hair　uncurled　by　the　evening　damps；　and　falling　over　her　shoulders　and　breast；　as　the　wet　streamers　droop　from　the　mast　when　the　storm　has　passed　away；　and　left　the　vessel　stranded　on　the　beach。　　The　Dwarf　first　broke　the　silence　with　the　sudden；　abrupt；　and　alarming　question；〃Woman；　what　evil　fate　has　brought　thee　hither？〃

〃My　father's　danger；　and　your　own　command；〃　she　replied　faintly；　but　firmly。

〃And　you　hope　for　aid　from　me？〃

〃If　you　can　bestow　it；〃　she　replied；　still　in　the　same　tone　of　mild　submission。

〃And　how　should　I　possess　that　power？〃　　continued　the　Dwarf；　with　a　bitter　sneer；　〃Is　mine　the　form　of　a　redresser　of　wrongs？　　Is　this　the　castle　in　which　one　powerful　enough　to　be　sued　to　by　a　fair　suppliant　is　likely　to　hold　his　residence？　　I　but　mocked　thee；　girl；　when　I　said　I　would　relieve　thee。〃

〃Then　must　I　depart；　and　face　my　fate　as　I　best　may！〃

〃No！〃　　said　the　Dwarf；　rising　and　interposing　between　her　and　the　door；　and　motioning　to　her　sternly　to　resume　her　seat〃No！　　you　leave　me　not　in　this　way；　we　must　have　farther　conference。　　Why　should　one　being　desire　aid　of　another？　　Why　should　not　each　be　sufficient　to　itself？　　Look　round　youI；　the　most　despised　and　most　decrepit　on　Nature's　common；　have　required　sympathy　and　help　from　no　one。　　These　stones　are　of　my　own　piling；　these　utensils　I　framed　with　my　own　hands；　and　with　this〃and　he　laid　his　hand　with　a　fierce　smile　on　the　long　dagger　which　he　always　wore　beneath　his　garment；　and　unsheathed　it　so　far　that　the　blade　glimmered　clear　in　the　fire…light〃with　this；〃　he　pursued；　as　he　thrust　the　weapon　back　into　the　scabbard；　〃I　can；　if　necessary；　defend　the　vital　spark　enclosed　in　this　poor　trunk；　against　the　fairest　and　strongest　that　shall　threaten　me　with　injury。〃

It　was　with　difficulty　Isabella　refrained　from　screaming　out　aloud；　but　she　DID　refrain。

〃This；〃　continued　the　Recluse；　〃is　the　life　of　nature；　solitary；　self…sufficing；　and　independent。　　The　wolf　calls　not　the　wolf　to　aid　him　in　forming　his　den；　and　the　vulture　invites　not　another　to　assist　her　in　striking　down　her　prey。〃

〃And　when　they　are　unable　to　procure　themselves　support；〃　said　Isabella；　judiciously　thinking　that　he　would　be　most　accessible　to　argument　couched　in　his　own　metaphorical　style；　〃what　then　is　to　befall　them？〃

〃Let　them　starve；　die；　and　be　forgotten；　it　is　the　common　lot　of　humanity。〃

〃It　is　the　lot　of　the　wild　tribes　of　nature；〃　said　Isabella；　〃but　chiefly　of　those　who　are　destined　to　support　themselves　by　rapine；　which　brooks　no　partner；　but　it　is　not　the　law　of　nature　in　general；　even　the　lower　orders　have　confederacies　for　mutual　defence。　　But　mankindthe　race　would　perish　did　they　cease　to　aid　each　other。From　the　time　that　the　mother　binds　the　child's　head；　till　the　moment　that　some　kind　assistant　wipes　the　death…　damp　from　the　brow　of　the　dying；　we　cannot　exist　without　mutual　help。　　All；　therefore；　that　need　aid；　have　right　to　ask　it　of　their　fellow…mortals；　no　one　who　has　the　power　of　granting　can　refuse　it　without　guilt。〃

〃And　in　this　simple　hope；　poor　maiden；〃　said　the　Solitary；　〃thou　hast　come　into　the　desert；　to　seek　one　whose　wish　it　were　that　the　league　thou　hast　spoken　of　were　broken　for　ever；　and　that；　in　very　truth；　the　whole　race　should　perish？　Wert　thou　not　frightened？〃

〃Misery；〃　said　Isabella；　firmly；　〃is　superior　to　fear。〃

〃Hast　thou　not　heard　it　said　in　thy　mortal　world；　that　I　have　leagued　myself　with　other　powers；　deformed　to　the　eye　and　malevolent　to　the　human　race　as　myself？　　Hast　thou　not　heard　thisAnd　dost　thou　seek　my　cell　at　midnight？〃

〃The　Being　I　worship　supports　me　against　such　idle　fears；〃　said　Isabella；　but　the　increasing　agitation　of　her　bosom　belied　the　affected　courage　which　her　words　expressed。

〃Ho！　　ho！〃　　said　the　Dwarf；　〃thou　vauntest　thyself　a　philosopher？　Yet；　shouldst　thou　not　have　thought　of　the　danger　of　intrusting　thyself；　young　and　beautiful；　in　the　power　of　one　so　spited　against　humanity；　as　to　place　his　chief　pleasure　in　defacing；　destroying；　and　degrading　her　fairest　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　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；