the purcell papers-2-第6节
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attendant was actually gone； and far on
her way to the town of Galway； and in
her stead there appeared a tall； raw…boned；
ill…looking； elderly Frenchwoman； whose
sullen and presuming manners seemed to
imply that her vocation had never before
been that of a lady's…maid。 I could not
help regarding her as a creature of my
uncle's； and therefore to be dreaded；
even had she been in no other way suspicious。
Days and weeks passed away without
any； even a momentary doubt upon my
part； as to the course to be pursued by me。
The allotted period had at length elapsed；
the day arrived on which I was to
communicate my decision to my uncle。
Although my resolution had never for a
moment wavered； I could not shake of
the dread of the approaching colloquy；
and my heart sunk within me as I heard
the expected summons。
I had not seen my cousin Edward since
the occurrence of the grand eclaircissment；
he must have studiously avoided
meI suppose from policy； it could not
have been from delicacy。 I was prepared
for a terrific burst of fury from my uncle；
as soon as I should make known my
determination； and I not unreasonably
feared that some act of violence or of
intimidation would next be resorted to。
Filled with these dreary forebodings； I
fearfully opened the study door； and the
next minute I stood in my uncle's
presence。 He received me with a politeness
which I dreaded； as arguing a favourable
anticipation respecting the answer
which I was to give； and after some slight
delay； he began by saying：
'It will be a relief to both of us； I
believe； to bring this conversation as soon
as possible to an issue。 You will excuse
me； then； my dear niece； for speaking with
an abruptness which； under other
circumstances； would be unpardonable。 You
have； I am certain； given the subject of
our last interview fair and serious con…
sideration； and I trust that you are now
prepared with candour to lay your answer
before me。 A few words will sufficewe
perfectly understand one another。'
He paused； and I； though feeling that I
stood upon a mine which might in an
instant explode； nevertheless answered with
perfect composure：
'I must now； sir； make the same reply
which I did upon the last occasion； and I
reiterate the declaration which I then
made； that I never can nor will； while life
and reason remain； consent to a union with
my cousin Edward。'
This announcement wrought no apparent
change in Sir Arthur； except that he
became deadly； almost lividly pale。 He
seemed lost in dark thought for a minute；
and then with a slight effort said：
'You have answered me honestly and
directly； and you say your resolution is
unchangeable。 Well； would it had been
otherwisewould it had been otherwise
but be it as it isI am satisfied。'
He gave me his handit was cold and
damp as death； under an assumed calmness；
it was evident that he was fearfully
agitated。 He continued to hold my hand
with an almost painful pressure； while； as
if unconsciously； seeming to forget my
presence； he muttered：
'Strange； strange； strange； indeed！
fatuity； helpless fatuity！' there was here a
long pause。 'Madness INDEED to strain a
cable that is rotten to the very heartit
must breakand thenall goes。'
There was again a pause of some
minutes； after which； suddenly changing
his voice and manner to one of wakeful
alacrity； he exclaimed：
'Margaret； my son Edward shall plague
you no more。 He leaves this country on
to…morrow for Francehe shall speak no
more upon this subjectnever； never
morewhatever events depended upon
your answer must now take their own
course； but； as for this fruitless proposal； it
has been tried enough； it can be repeated
no more。'
At these words he coldly suffered my
hand to drop； as if to express his total
abandonment of all his projected schemes
of alliance； and certainly the action； with
the accompanying words； produced upon
my mind a more solemn and depressing
effect than I believed possible to have
been caused by the course which I had
determined to pursue； it struck upon my
heart with an awe and heaviness which
WILL accompany the accomplishment of an
important and irrevocable act； even though
no doubt or scruple remains to make it
possible that the agent should wish it undone。
'Well；' said my uncle； after a little time；
'we now cease to speak upon this topic；
never to resume it again。 Remember you
shall have no farther uneasiness from
Edward； he leaves Ireland for France on
to…morrow； this will be a relief to you。
May I depend upon your HONOUR that no
word touching the subject of this interview
shall ever escape you？'
I gave him the desired assurance； he
said：
'It is wellI am satisfiedwe have
nothing more； I believe； to say upon
either side； and my presence must be a
restraint upon you； I shall therefore bid
you farewell。'
I then left the apartment； scarcely
knowing what to think of the strange
interview which had just taken place。
On the next day my uncle took occasion
to tell me that Edward had actually
sailed； if his intention had not been
interfered with by adverse circumstances； and
two days subsequently he actually produced
a letter from his son； written； as it
said； ON BOARD； and despatched while the
ship was getting under weigh。 This was
a great satisfaction to me； and as being
likely to prove so； it was no doubt
communicated to me by Sir Arthur。
During all this trying period； I had
found infinite consolation in the society
and sympathy of my dear cousin Emily。
I never in after…life formed a friendship so
close； so fervent； and upon which； in all its
progress； I could look back with feelings
of such unalloyed pleasure； upon whose
termination I must ever dwell with so
deep； yet so unembittered regret。 In
cheerful converse with her I soon
recovered my spirits considerably； and
passed my time agreeably enough；
although still in the strictest seclusion。
Matters went on sufficiently smooth；
although I could not help sometimes
feeling a momentary； but horrible
uncertainty respecting my uncle's character；
which was not altogether unwarranted by
the circumstances of the two trying
interviews whose particulars I have just
detailed。 The unpleasant impression which
these conferences were calculated to leave
upon my mind； was fast wearing away；
when there occurred a circumstance； slight
indeed in itself； but calculated irresistibly
to awaken all my worst suspicions； and to
overwhelm me again with anxiety and
terror。
I had one day left the house with my
cousin Emily； in order to take a ramble of
considerable length； for the purpose of
sketching some favourite views； and we
had walked about half a mile when I
perceived that we had forgotten our drawing
materials； the absence of which would have
defeated the object of our walk。 Laughing
at our own thoughtlessness； we returned
to the house； and leaving Emily without； I
ran upstairs to procure the drawing…books
and pencils； which lay in my bedroom。
As I ran up the stairs I was met by the
tall； ill…looking Frenchwoman； evidently
a good deal flurried。
'Que veut； madame？' said she； with a
more decided effort to be polite than I had
ever known her make before。
'No； nono matter；' said I； hastily
running by her in the direction of my
room。
'Madame；' cried she； in a high key；
'restez ici； s'il vous plait； votre chambre
n'est pas faiteyour room is not ready
for your reception yet。'
I continued to move on without heeding
her。 She was some way behind me； and
feeling that she could not otherwise prevent
my entrance； for I was now upon the
very lobby； she made a desperate attempt
to seize hold of my person： she succeeded
in grasping the end of my shawl； which
she drew from my shoulders； but slipping at
the same time upon the polished oak floor；
she fell at full length upon the boards。
A little frightened as well as angry at
the rudeness of this strange woman； I
hastily pushed open the door of my room；
at which I now stood； in order to escape
from her； but great was my amazement
on entering to find the apartment preoccupied。
The window was open； and beside it
stood two male figures； they appeared to
be examining the fastenings of the casement；
and their backs were turned towards
the door。 One of them was my uncle；
they both turned on my entrance； as if
startled。 The stranger was booted and
cloaked； and wore a heavy broad…leafed hat
over his brows。 He turned but for a moment；
and averted his face； but I had seen
enough to convince me that he was no
other than my cousin Edward。 My uncle
had some iron instrument in his hand；
which he hastily concealed behind his back；
and coming towards me； said something as
