condensed novels(压缩小说)-第15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！
CHAPTER I。
My earliest impressions are of a huge； misshapen rock； against which
the hoarse waves beat unceasingly。 On this rock three pelicans are
standing in a defiant attitude。 A dark sky lowers in the background； while
two sea…gulls and a gigantic cormorant eye with extreme disfavor the
floating corpse of a drowned woman in the foreground。 A few bracelets；
coral necklaces； and other articles of jewelry； scattered around loosely；
complete this remarkable picture。
It is one which； in some vague； unconscious way； symbolizes； to my
fancy； the character of a man。 I have never been able to explain exactly
why。 I think I must have seen the picture in some illustrated volume； when
a baby； or my mother may have dreamed it before I was born。
As a child I was not handsome。 When I consulted the triangular bit of
looking…glass which I always carried with me； it showed a pale； sandy； and
freckled face； shaded by locks like the color of seaweed when the sun
strikes it in deep water。 My eyes were said to be indistinctive； they were a
faint； ashen gray； but above them rose my only beautya high； massive；
domelike forehead； with polished temples； like door…knobs of the purest
porcelain。
Our family was a family of governesses。 My mother had been one； and
my sisters had the same occupation。 Consequently； when； at the age of
thirteen； my eldest sister handed me the advertisement of Mr。 Rawjester；
clipped from that day's 〃Times；〃 I accepted it as my destiny。 Nevertheless；
a mysterious presentiment of an indefinite future haunted me in my
dreams that night； as I lay upon my little snow…white bed。 The next
morning； with two bandboxes tied up in silk handkerchiefs； and a hair
trunk； I turned my back upon Minerva Cottage forever。
79
… Page 80…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER II。
Blunderbore Hall； the seat of James Rawjester； Esq。； was encompassed
by dark pines and funereal hemlocks on all sides。 The wind sang weirdly
in the turrets and moaned through the long…drawn avenues of the park。 As
I approached the house I saw several mysterious figures flit before the
windows； and a yell of demoniac laughter answered my summons at the
bell。 While I strove to repress my gloomy forebodings； the housekeeper； a
timid； scared… looking old woman； showed me into the library。
I entered； overcome with conflicting emotions。 I was dressed in a
narrow gown of dark serge； trimmed with black bugles。 A thick green
shawl was pinned across my breast。 My hands were encased with black
half…mittens worked with steel beads； on my feet were large pattens；
originally the property of my deceased grandmother。 I carried a blue
cotton umbrella。 As I passed before a mirror； I could not help glancing at it；
nor could I disguise from myself the fact that I was not handsome。
Drawing a chair into a recess； I sat down with folded hands； calmly
awaiting the arrival of my master。 Once or twice a fearful yell rang
through the house； or the rattling of chains； and curses uttered in a deep；
manly voice； broke upon the oppressive stillness。 I began to feel my soul
rising with the emergency of the moment。
〃You look alarmed； miss。 You don't hear anything； my dear； do you？〃
asked the housekeeper nervously。
〃Nothing whatever；〃 I remarked calmly； as a terrific scream； followed
by the dragging of chairs and tables in the room above； drowned for a
moment my reply。 〃It is the silence； on the contrary； which has made me
foolishly nervous。〃
The housekeeper looked at me approvingly； and instantly made some
tea for me。
I drank seven cups； as I was beginning the eighth； I heard a crash； and
the next moment a man leaped into the room through the broken window。
80
… Page 81…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER III。
The crash startled me from my self…control。 The housekeeper bent
toward me and whispered：
〃Don't be excited。 It's Mr。 Rawjester；he prefers to come in sometimes
in this way。 It's his playfulness； ha！ ha！ ha！〃
〃I perceive；〃 I said calmly。 〃It's the unfettered impulse of a lofty soul
breaking the tyrannizing bonds of custom。〃 And I turned toward him。
He had never once looked at me。 He stood with his back to the fire；
which set off the herculean breadth of his shoulders。 His face was dark and
expressive； his under jaw squarely formed； and remarkably heavy。 I was
struck with his remarkable likeness to a Gorilla。
As he absently tied the poker into hard knots with his nervous fingers；
I watched him with some interest。 Suddenly he turned toward me：
〃Do you think I'm handsome； young woman？〃
〃Not classically beautiful；〃 I returned calmly； 〃but you have； if I may
so express myself； an abstract manliness；a sincere and wholesome
barbarity which； involving as it does the naturalness〃 But I stopped； for
he yawned at that moment；an action which singularly developed the
immense breadth of his lower jaw；and I saw he had forgotten me。
Presently he turned to the housekeeper：
〃Leave us。〃
The old woman withdrew with a courtesy。
Mr。 Rawjester deliberately turned his back upon me and remained
silent for twenty minutes。 I drew my shawl the more closely around my
shoulders and closed my eyes。
〃You are the governess？〃 at length he said。
〃I am； sir。〃
〃A creature who teaches geography； arithmetic； and the use of the
globesha！a wretched remnant of femininity；a skimp pattern of
girlhood with a premature flavor of tea…leaves and morality。 Ugh！〃
I bowed my head silently。
〃Listen to me； girl！〃 he said sternly； 〃this child you have come to
teachmy wardis not legitimate。 She is the offspring of my mistress；a
81
… Page 82…
CONDENSED NOVELS
common harlot。 Ah！ Miss Mix； what do you think of me now？〃
〃I admire；〃 I replied calmly； 〃your sincerity。 A mawkish regard for
delicacy might have kept this disclosure to yourself。 I only recognize in
your frankness that perfect community of thought and sentiment which
should exist between original natures。〃
I looked up； he had already forgotten my presence； and was engaged in
pulling off his boots and coat。 This done； he sank down in an arm…chair
before the fire； and ran the poker wearily through his hair。 I could not help
pitying him。
The wind howled dismally without； and the rain beat furiously against
the windows。 I crept toward him and seated myself on a low stool beside
his chair。
Presently he turned； without seeing me； and placed his foot absently in
my lap。 I affected not to notice it。 But he started and looked down。
〃You here yetCarrothead？ Ah； I forgot。 Do you speak French？〃
〃Oui； Monsieur〃
〃Taisez…vous！〃 he said sharply； with singular purity of accent。 I
complied。 The wind moaned fearfully in the chimney； and the light burned
dimly。 I shuddered in spite of myself。 〃Ah； you tremble； girl！〃
〃It is a fearful night。〃
〃Fearful！ Call you this fearful； ha！ ha！ ha！ Look！ you wretched little
atom； look！〃 and he dashed forward； and； leaping out of the window； stood
like a statue in the pelting storm； with folded arms。 He did not stay long；
but in a few minutes returned by way of the hall chimney。 I saw from the
way that he wiped his feet on my dress that he had again forgotten my
presence。
〃You are a governess。 What can you teach？〃 he asked； suddenly and
fiercely thrusting his face in mine。
〃Manners！〃 I replied； calmly。
〃Ha！ teach ME！〃
〃You mistake yourself；〃 I said； adjusting my mittens。 〃Your manners
require not the artificial restraint of society。 You are radically polite； this
impetuosity and ferociousness is simply the sincerity which is the basis of
a proper deportment。 Your instincts are moral； your better nature； I see； is
