the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第38节
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seems） actually possesses the means of redeeming you from this hateful
union。〃
〃And of insuring my father's safety？〃
〃Yes！ even that；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃if you plead his cause with himyet
how to obtain admittance to the Recluse！〃
〃Fear not that；〃 said Miss Vere； suddenly recollecting the incident of
the rose； 〃I remember he desired me to call upon him for aid in my
extremity； and gave me this flower as a token。 Ere it faded away entirely；
I would need； he said； his assistance： is it possible his words can have been
aught but the ravings of insanity？〃
〃Doubt it not fear it notbut above all；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃let us lose no
timeare you at liberty； and unwatched？〃
〃I believe so；〃 said Isabella： 〃but what would you have me to do？〃
〃Leave the castle instantly；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃and throw yourself at the
feet of this extraordinary man； who in circumstances that seem to argue
the extremity of the most contemptible poverty； possesses yet an almost
absolute influence over your fate。 Guests and servants are deep in their
carousethe leaders sitting in conclave on their treasonable schemesmy
horse stands ready in the stableI will saddle one for you； and meet you at
the little garden…gateO； let no doubt of my prudence or fidelity prevent
your taking the only step in your power to escape the dreadful fate which
must attend the wife of Sir Frederick Langley！〃
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃you have always been esteemed a
man of honour and probity； and a drowning wretch will always catch at the
feeblest twig；I will trust youI will follow your adviceI will meet you
at the garden…gate。〃
She bolted the outer…door of her apartment as soon as Mr。 Ratcliffe left
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her； and descended to the garden by a separate stair of communication
which opened to her dressing…room。 On the way she felt inclined to
retract the consent she had so hastily given to a plan so hopeless and
extravagant。 But as she passed in her descent a private door which
entered into the chapel from the back…stair； she heard the voice of the
female…servants as they were employed in the task of cleaning it。
〃Married！ and to sae bad a manEwhow； sirs！ onything rather than
that。〃
〃They are rightthey are right；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃anything rather than
that！〃
She hurried to the garden。 Mr。 Ratcliffe was true to his appointment
the horses stood saddled at the garden…gate； and in a few minutes they
were advancing rapidly towards the hut of the Solitary。
While the ground was favourable； the speed of their journey was such
as to prevent much communication； but when a steep ascent compelled
them to slacken their pace； a new cause of apprehension occurred to Miss
Vere's mind。
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 she said； pulling up her horse's bridle； 〃let us prosecute
no farther a journey； which nothing but the extreme agitation of my mind
can vindicate my having undertakenI am well aware that this man passes
among the vulgar as being possessed of supernatural powers； and carrying
on an intercourse with beings of another world； but I would have you
aware I am neither to be imposed on by such follies； nor； were I to believe
in their existence； durst I； with my feelings of religion； apply to this being
in my distress。〃
〃I should have thought； Miss Vere；〃 replied Ratcliffe； 〃my character
and habits of thinking were so well known to you； that you might have
held me exculpated from crediting in such absurdity。〃
〃But in what other mode；〃 said Isabella； 〃can a being； so miserable
himself in appearance； possess the power of assisting me？〃
〃Miss Vere。〃 said Ratcliffe； after a momentary pause； 〃I am bound
by a solemn oath of secrecyYou must； without farther explanation； be
satisfied with my pledged assurance； that he does possess the power； if
you can inspire him with the will； and that； I doubt not； you will be able to
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do。〃
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃you may yourself be mistaken； you
ask an unlimited degree of confidence from me。〃
〃Recollect； Miss Vere；〃 he replied； 〃that when； in your humanity； you
asked me to interfere with your father in favour of Haswell and his ruined
familywhen you requested me to prevail on him to do a thing most
abhorrent to his natureto forgive an injury and remit a penaltyI
stipulated that you should ask me no questions concerning the sources of
my influenceYou found no reason to distrust me then； do not distrust me
now。〃
〃But the extraordinary mode of life of this man；〃 said Miss Vere； 〃his
seclusionhis figurethe deepness of mis…anthropy which he is said to
express in his languageMr。 Ratcliffe； what can I think of him if he really
possesses the powers you ascribe to him？〃
〃This man； young lady； was bred a Catholic； a sect which affords a
thousand instances of those who have retired from power and affluence to
voluntary privations more strict even than his。〃
〃But he avows no religious motive；〃 replied Miss Vere。
〃No；〃 replied Ratcliffe； 〃disgust with the world has operated his retreat
from it without assuming the veil of superstition。 Thus far I may tell
youhe was born to great wealth； which his parents designed should
become greater by his union with a kinswoman； whom for that purpose
they bred up in their own house。 You have seen his figure； judge what the
young lady must have thought of the lot to which she was destinedYet；
habituated to his appearance； she showed no reluctance； and the friends of…
…of the person whom I speak of； doubted not that the excess of his
attachment； the various acquisitions of his mind； his many and amiable
qualities； had overcome the natural horror which his destined bride must
have entertained at an exterior so dreadfully inauspicious。〃
〃And did they judge truly？〃 said Isabella。
〃You shall hear。 He； at least； was fully aware of his own deficiency；
the sense of it haunted him like a phantom。 'I am；' was his own
expression to me；I mean to a man whom he trusted； 'I am； in spite of
what you would say； a poor miserable outcast； fitter to have been
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smothered in the cradle than to have been brought up to scare the world in
which I crawl。' The person whom he addressed in vain endeavoured to
impress him with the indifference to external form which is the natural
result of philosophy； or entreat him to recall the superiority of mental
talents to the more attractive attributes that are merely personal。 'I hear
you；' he would reply； 'but you speak the voice of cold…blooded stoicism； or；
at least； of friendly partiality。 But look at every book which we have read；
those excepted of that abstract philosophy which feels no responsive voice
in our natural feelings。 Is not personal form； such as at least can be
tolerated without horror and disgust； always represented as essential to our
ideas of a friend； far more a lover？ Is not such a mis…shapen monster as I
am； excluded； by the very fiat of Nature； from her fairest enjoyments？
What but my wealth prevents allperhaps even Letitia； or youfrom
shunning me as something foreign to your nature； and more odious； by
bearing that distorted resemblance to humanity which we observe in the
animal tribes that are more hateful to man because they seem his
caricature？'〃
〃You repeat the sentiments of a madman；〃 said Miss Vere。
〃No；〃 replied her conductor； 〃unless a morbid and excessive sensibility
on such a subject can be termed insanity。 〃Yet I will not deny that this
governing feeling and apprehension carried the person who entertained
