lay morals-第37节

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　tremulous　bright　dots　of　my　　Lord　Windermoor's　chaise…lamps。　　Mr。　Archer　followed　these　　yellow　and　unsteady　stars　until　they　dwindled　into　points　and　　disappeared。

'There　goes　my　only　friend；'　he　said。　　'Death　has　cut　off　　those　that　loved　me；　and　change　of　fortune　estranged　my　　flatterers；　and　but　for　you；　poor　bankrupt；　my　life　is　as　　lonely　as　this　moor。'

The　tone　of　his　voice　affected　both　of　them。　　They　stood　　there　on　the　side　of　the　moor；　and　became　thrillingly　　conscious　of　the　void　waste　of　the　night；　without　a　feature　　for　the　eye；　and　except　for　the　fainting　whisper　of　the　　carriage…wheels　without　a　murmur　for　the　ear。　　And　instantly；　　like　a　mockery；　there　broke　out；　very　far　away；　but　clear　and　　jolly；　the　note　of　the　mail…guard's　horn。　　'Over　the　hills'　　was　his　air。　　It　rose　to　the　two　watchers　on　the　moor　with　　the　most　cheerful　sentiment　of　human　company　and　travel；　and　　at　the　same　time　in　and　around　the　'Green　Dragon'　it　woke　up　　a　great　bustle　of　lights　running　to　and　fro　and　clattering　　hoofs。　　Presently　after；　out　of　the　darkness　to　southward；　　the　mail　grew　near　with　a　growing　rumble。　　Its　lamps　were　　very　large　and　bright；　and　threw　their　radiance　forward　in　　overlapping　cones；　the　four　cantering　horses　swarmed　and　　steamed；　the　body　of　the　coach　followed　like　a　great　shadow；　　and　this　lit　picture　slid　with　a　sort　of　ineffectual　　swiftness　over　the　black　field　of　night；　and　was　eclipsed　by　　the　buildings　of　the　'Green　Dragon。'

Mr。　Archer　turned　abruptly　and　resumed　his　former　walk；　only　　that　he　was　now　more　steady；　kept　better　alongside　his　young　　conductor；　and　had　fallen　into　a　silence　broken　by　sighs。　　　Nance　waxed　very　pitiful　over　his　fate；　contrasting　an　　imaginary　past　of　courts　and　great　society；　and　perhaps　the　　King　himself；　with　the　tumbledown　ruin　in　a　wood　to　which　she　　was　now　conducting　him。

'You　must　try；　sir；　to　keep　your　spirits　up；'　said　she。　　'To　　be　sure　this　is　a　great　change　for　one　like　you；　but　who　　knows　the　future？'

Mr。　Archer　turned　towards　her　in　the　darkness；　and　she　could　　clearly　perceive　that　he　smiled　upon　her　very　kindly。　　'There　　spoke　a　sweet　nature；'　said　he；　'and　I　must　thank　you　for　　these　words。　　But　I　would　not　have　you　fancy　that　I　regret　　the　past　for　any　happiness　found　in　it；　or　that　I　fear　the　　simplicity　and　hardship　of　the　country。　　I　am　a　man　that　has　　been　much　tossed　about　in　life；　now　up；　now　down；　and　do　you　　think　that　I　shall　not　be　able　to　support　what　you　support　…　　you　who　are　kind；　and　therefore　know　how　to　feel　pain；　who　　are　beautiful；　and　therefore　hope；　who　are　young；　and　　therefore　（or　am　I　the　more　mistaken？）　discontented？'

'Nay；　sir；　not　that；　at　least；'　said　Nance；　'not　　discontented。　　If　I　were　to　be　discontented；　how　should　I　　look　those　that　have　real　sorrows　in　the　face？　　I　have　faults　　enough；　but　not　that　fault；　and　I　have　my　merits　too；　for　I　　have　a　good　opinion　of　myself。　　But　for　beauty；　I　am　not　so　　simple　but　that　I　can　tell　a　banter　from　a　compliment。'

'Nay；　nay；'　said　Mr。　Archer；　'I　had　half　forgotten；　grief　is　　selfish；　and　I　was　thinking　of　myself　and　not　of　you；　or　I　　had　never　blurted　out　so　bold　a　piece　of　praise。　　'Tis　the　　best　proof　of　my　sincerity。　　But　come；　now；　I　would　lay　a　　wager　you　are　no　coward？'

'Indeed；　sir；　I　am　not　more　afraid　than　another；'　said　Nance。　　　'None　of　my　blood　are　given　to　fear。'

'And　you　are　honest？'　he　returned。

'I　will　answer　for　that；'　said　she。

'Well；　then；　to　be　brave；　to　be　honest；　to　be　kind；　and　to　be　　contented；　since　you　say　you　are　so　…　is　not　that　to　fill　up　　a　great　part　of　virtue？'

'I　fear　you　are　but　a　flatterer；'　said　Nance；　but　she　did　not　　say　it　clearly；　for　what　with　bewilderment　and　satisfaction；　　her　heart　was　quite　oppressed。

There　could　be　no　harm；　certainly；　in　these　grave　　compliments；　but　yet　they　charmed　and　frightened　her；　and　to　　find　favour；　for　reasons　however　obscure；　in　the　eyes　of　this　　elegant；　serious；　and　most　unfortunate　young　gentleman；　was　a　　giddy　elevation；　was　almost　an　apotheosis；　for　a　country　　maid。

But　she　was　to　be　no　more　exercised；　for　Mr。　Archer；　　disclaiming　any　thought　of　flattery；　turned　off　to　other　　subjects；　and　held　her　all　through　the　wood　in　conversation；　　addressing　her　with　an　air　of　perfect　sincerity；　and　　listening　to　her　answers　with　every　mark　of　interest。　　Had　　open　flattery　continued；　Nance　would　have　soon　found　refuge　　in　good　sense；　but　the　more　subtle　lure　she　could　not　　suspect；　much　less　avoid。　　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　　taken　part　in　a　conversation　illuminated　by　any　ideas。　　All　　was　then　true　that　she　had　heard　and　dreamed　of　gentlemen；　　they　were　a　race　apart；　like　deities　knowing　good　and　evil。　　　And　then　there　burst　upon　her　soul　a　divine　thought；　hope's　　glorious　sunrise：　since　she　could　understand；　since　it　seemed　　that　she　too；　even　she；　could　interest　this　sorrowful　Apollo；　　might　she　not　learn？　or　was　she　not　learning？　　Would　not　her　　soul　awake　and　put　forth　wings？　　Was　she　not；　in　fact；　an　　enchanted　princess；　waiting　but　a　touch　to　become　royal？　　She　　saw　herself　transformed；　radiantly　attired；　but　in　the　most　　exquisite　taste：　her　face　grown　longer　and　more　refined；　her　　tint　etherealised；　and　she　heard　herself　with　delighted　　wonder　talking　like　a　book。

Meanwhile　they　had　arrived　at　where　the　track　comes　out　above　　the　river　dell；　and　saw　in　front　of　them　the　castle；　faintly　　shadowed　on　the　night；　covering　with　its　broken　battlements　a　　bold　projection　of　the　bank；　and　showing　at　the　extreme　end；　　where　were　the　habitable　tower　and　wing；　some　crevices　of　　candle…light。　　Hence　she　called　loudly　upon　her　uncle；　and　he　　was　seen　to　issue；　lantern　in　hand；　from　the　tower　door；　and；　　where　the　ruins　did　not　intervene；　to　pick　his　way　over　the　　swarded　courtyard；　avoiding　treacherous　cellars　and　winding　　among　blocks　of　fallen　masonry。　　The　arch　of　the　great　gate　　was　still　entire；　flanked　by　two　tottering　bastions；　and　it　　was　here　that　Jonathan　met　them；　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　　bridge；　bent　somewhat　forward；　and　blinking　at　them　through　　the　glow　of　his　own　lantern。　　Mr。　Archer　greeted　him　with　　civility；　but　the　old　man　was　in　no　humour　of　compliance。　　He　　guided　the　new…comer　across　the　court…yard；　looking　sharply　　and　quickly　in　his　face；　and　grumbling　all　the　time　about　the　　cold；　and　the　discomfort　and　dilapidation　of　the　castle。　　He　　was　sure　he　hoped　that　Mr。　Archer　would　like　it；　but　in　truth　　he　could　not　think　what　brought　him　there。　　Doubtless　he　had　　a　good　reason　…　this　with　a　look　of　cunning　scrutiny　…　but；　　indeed；　the　place　was　quite　unfit　for　any　person　of　repute；　　he　himself　was　eaten　up　with　the　rheumatics。　　It　was　the　most　　rheumaticky　place　in　England；　and　some　fine　day　the　whole　　habitable　part　（to　call　it　habitable）　would　fetch　away　bodily　　and　go　down　the　slope　into　the　river。　　He　had　seen　the　cracks　　widening；　there　was　a　plaguy　issue　in　the　bank　below；　he　　thought　a　spring　was　mining　it；　it　might　be　tomorrow；　it　　might　be　next　day；　but　they　were　all　sure　of　a　come…down　　sooner　or　later。　　'And　that　is　a　poor　death；'　said　he；　'for　　any　one；　let　alone　a　gentleman；　to　have　a　whole　old　ruin　　dumped　upon　his　belly。　　Have　a　care　to　your　left　there；　these　　cellar　vaults　have　all　broke　down；　and　the　grass　and　hemlock　　hide　'em。　　Well；　sir；　here　is　welcome　to　you；　such　as　it　is；　　and　wishing　you　well　away。'

And　with　that　Jonathan　ushered　his　guest　through　the　tower　　door；　and　down　three　steps　on　the　left　hand　into　the　kitchen　　or　common　room　of　the　castle。　　It　was　a　huge；　low　room；　as　　large　as　a　meadow；　occupying　the　whole　width　of　the　habitable　　wing；　with　six　barred　windows　looking　on　the　court；　and　two　　into　the　river　valley。　　A　dresser；　a　table；　and　a　few　chairs　　stood　dotted　here　and　there　upon　the　uneven　flags。　　Under　the　　great　chimney　a　good　fire　burned　in　an　iron　fire…basket；　a　　high　old　settee；　rudely　carved　with　figures　and　Gothic　　lettering；　flanked　it　on　either　side；　there　was　a　hinge　table　　and　a　stone　bench　in　the　chimney　corner；　and　above　the　arch　　hung　guns；　axes；　lanterns；　and　great　sheaves　of　rusty　keys。

Jonathan　looked　about　him；　holding　up　the　lantern；　and　　shrugged　his　shoulders；　with　a　pitying　grimace。　　'Here　it　　is；'　he　said。　　'See　the　damp　on　the　floor；　look　at　the　moss；　　where　there's　moss　you　may　be　sure　that　it's　rheumaticky。　　　Try　and　get　near　that　fire　for　to　warm　yourself；　it'll　blow　　the　coat　off　your　back。　　And　with　a　young　gentleman　with　a　　face　like　yours；　as　pale　as　a　tallow…candle；　I'd　be　afeard　of　　a　churchyard　cough　and　a　galloping　decline；'　says　Jonathan；　　naming　the　maladies　with　gloomy　gusto；　'or　the　cold　might　　strike　and　turn　your　blood；'　he　added。

Mr。　Archer　fairly　laughed。　　'My　good　Mr。　Holdaway；'　said　he；　　'I　was　born　with　that　same　tallow…candle　face；　and　the　only　　fear　that　you　inspire　me　with　is　the　fear　that　I　intrude　　unwelcomely　upon　your　private　hours。　　But　I　think　I　can　　promise　you　that　I　am　very　little　troublesome；　and　I　am　　inclined　to　hope　that　the　terms　which　I　can　offer　may　still　　pay　you　the　derangement。'

'Yes；　the　terms；'　said　Jonathan；　'I　was　thinking　of　that。　　As　　you　say；　they　are　very　small；'　and　he　shook　his　head。

'Unhappily；　I　can　afford　no　more；'　said　Mr