the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第44节
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of the alacrity with which his friends and he had obeyed a hasty summons
received from Elshie through the faithful Ratcliffe。 And it was a lucky
chance； he said； that on that very day they had got notice that Westburnflat
did not intend to keep his tryste at Castleton； but to hold them at defiance；
so that a considerable party had assembled at the Heugh…foot； with the
intention of paying a visit to the robber's tower on the ensuing morning；
and their course was easily directed to Ellieslaw Castle。
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CHAPTER XVIII。
Last scene of all； To close this strange eventful history。 AS YOU
LIKE IT。
On the next morning； Mr。 Ratcliffe presented Miss Vere with a letter
from her father； of which the following is the tenor：
〃MY DEAREST CHILD； The malice of a persecuting government will
compel me； for my own safety； to retreat abroad； and to remain for some
time in foreign parts。 I do not ask you to accompany； or follow me； you
will attend to my interest and your own more effectually by remaining
where you are。 It is unnecessary to enter into a minute detail concerning
the causes of the strange events which yesterday took place。 I think I
have reason to complain of the usage I have received from Sir Edward
Mauley； who is your nearest kinsman by the mother's side； but as he has
declared you his heir； and is to put you in immediate possession of a large
part of his fortune； I account it a full atonement。 I am aware he has never
forgiven the preference which your mother gave to my addresses； instead
of complying with the terms of a sort of family compact； which absurdly
and tyrannically destined her to wed her deformed relative。 The shock
was even sufficient to unsettle his wits （which； indeed； were never over…
well arranged）； and I had； as the husband of his nearest kinswoman and
heir； the delicate task of taking care of his person and property； until he
was reinstated in the management of the latter by those who； no doubt；
thought they were doing him justice； although； if some parts of his
subsequent conduct be examined； it will appear that he ought； for his own
sake； to have been left under the influence of a mild and salutary restraint。
〃In one particular； however； he showed a sense of the ties of blood； as
well as of his own frailty； for while he sequestered himself closely from
the world； under various names and disguises； and insisted on spreading a
report of his own death （in which to gratify him I willingly acquiesced）； he
left at my disposal the rents of a great proportion of his estates； and
especially all those； which； having belonged to your mother； reverted to
him as a male fief。 In this he may have thought that he was acting with
extreme generosity； while； in the opinion of all impartial men； he will only
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be considered as having fulfilled a natural obligation； seeing that； in
justice； if not in strict law； you must be considered as the heir of your
mother； and I as your legal administrator。 Instead； therefore； of considering
myself as loaded with obligations to Sir Edward on this account； I think I
had reason to complain that these remittances were only doled out to me at
the pleasure of Mr。 Ratcliffe； who； moreover； exacted from me mortgages
over my paternal estate of Ellieslaw for any sums which I required as an
extra advance； and thus may be said to have insinuated himself into the
absolute management and control of my property。 Or； if all this seeming
friendship was employed by Sir Edward for the purpose of obtaining a
complete command of my affairs； and acquiring the power of ruining me
at his pleasure； I feel myself； I must repeat； still less bound by the alleged
obligation。
〃About the autumn of last year； as I understand； either his own crazed
imagination； or the accomplishment of some such scheme as I have hinted；
brought him down to this country。 His alleged motive； it seems； was a
desire of seeing a monument which he had directed to be raised in the
chapel over the tomb of your mother。 Mr。 Ratcliffe； who at this time had
done me the honour to make my house his own； had the complaisance to
introduce him secretly into the chapel。 The consequence； as he informs
me； was a frenzy of several hours； during which he fled into the
neighbouring moors； in one of the wildest spots of which he chose； when
he was somewhat recovered； to fix his mansion； and set up for a sort of
country empiric； a character which； even in his best days； he was fond of
assuming。 It is remarkable； that； instead of informing me of these
circumstances； that I might have had the relative of my late wife taken
such care of as his calamitous condition required； Mr。 Ratcliffe seems to
have had such culpable indulgence for his irregular plans as to promise
and even swear secrecy concerning them。 He visited Sir Edward often；
and assisted in the fantastic task he had taken upon him of constructing a
hermitage。 Nothing they appear to have dreaded more than a discovery
of their intercourse。
〃The ground was open in every direction around； and a small
subterranean cave； probably sepulchral； which their researches had
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detected near the great granite pillar； served to conceal Ratcliffe； when any
one approached his master。 I think you will be of opinion； my love； that
this secrecy must have had some strong motive。 It is also remarkable；
that while I thought my unhappy friend was residing among the Monks of
La Trappe； he should have been actually living； for many months； in this
bizarre disguise； within five miles of my house； and obtaining regular
information of my most private movements； either by Ratcliffe； or through
Westburnflat or others； whom he had the means to bribe to any extent。
He makes it a crime against me that I endeavoured to establish your
marriage with Sir Frederick。 I acted for the best； but if Sir Edward Mauley
thought otherwise； why did he not step manfully forward； express his own
purpose of becoming a party to the settlements； and take that interest
which he is entitled to claim in you as heir to his great property？
〃Even now； though your rash and eccentric relation is somewhat tardy
in announcing his purpose； I am far from opposing my authority against
his wishes； although the person he desires you to regard as your future
husband be young Earnscliff； the very last whom I should have thought
likely to be acceptable to him； considering a certain fatal event。 But I give
my free and hearty consent； providing the settlements are drawn in such an
irrevocable form as may secure my child from suffering by that state of
dependence； and that sudden and causeless revocation of allowances； of
which I have so much reason to complain。 Of Sir Frederick Langley； I
augur； you will hear no more。 He is not likely to claim the hand of a
dowerless maiden。 I therefore commit you； my dear Isabella； to the
wisdom of Providence and to your own prudence； begging you to lose no
time in securing those advantages； which the fickleness of your kinsman
has withdrawn from me to shower upon you。
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe mentioned Sir Edward's intention to settle a
considerable sum upon me yearly； for my maintenance in foreign parts；
but this my heart is too proud to accept from him。 I told him I had a dear
child； who； while in affluence herself； would never suffer me to be in
poverty。 I thought it right to intimate this to him pretty roundly； that
wh
