condensed novels-第11部分

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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。


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。


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　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　religious。　　As
St。　Paul　justly　remarkssee　chap。　6；　8；　9；　and　10〃

He　seized　a　heavy　candlestick；　and　threw　it　at　me。　　I　dodged　it
submissively　but　firmly。

〃Excuse　me；〃　he　remarked；　as　his　under　jaw　slowly　relaxed。　　〃Excuse
me；　Miss　Mixbut　I　can't　stand　St。　Paul！　　Enoughyou　are
engaged。〃


CHAPTER　IV。


I　followed　the　housekeeper　as　she　led　the　way　timidly　to　my　room。
As　we　passed　into　a　dark　hall　in　the　wing；　I　noticed　that　it　was
closed　by　an　iron　gate　with　a　grating。　　Three　of　the　doors　on　the
corridor　were　likewise　grated。　　A　strange　noise；　as　of　shuffling
feet　and　the　howling　of　infuriated　animals；　rang　through　the　hall。
Bidding　the　housekeeper　good　night；　and　taking　the　candle；　I
entered　my　bedchamber。

I　took　off　my　dress；　and；　putting　on　a　yellow　flannel　nightgown；
which　I　could　not　help　feeling　did　not　agree　with　my　complexion；　I
composed　myself　to　rest　by　reading　Blair's　Rhetoric　and　Paley's
Moral　Philosophy。　　I　had　just　put　out　the　light；　when　I　heard
voices　in　the　corridor。　　I　listened　attentively。　　I　recognized　Mr。
Rawjester's　stern　tones。

〃Have　you　fed　No。　1？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　a　gruff　voice；　apparently　belonging　to　a　domestic。

〃How's　No。　2？〃

〃She's　a　little　off　her　feed；　just　now；　but　will　pick　up　in　a　day
or　two！〃

〃And　No。　3？〃

〃Perfectly　furious；　sir。　　Her　tantrums　are　ungovernable。〃

〃Hush！〃

The　voices　died　away；　and　I　sank　into　a　fitful　slumber。

I　dreamed　that　I　was　wandering　through　a　tropical　forest。　　Suddenly
I　saw　the　figure　of　a　gorilla　approaching　me。　　As　it　neared　me；　I
recognized　the　features　of　Mr。　Rawjester。　　He　held　his　hand　to　his
side　as　if　in　pain。　　I　saw　that　he　had　been　wounded。　　He　recognized
me　and　called　me　by　name；　but　at　the　same　moment　the　vision　changed
to　an　Ashantee　village；　where；　around　the　fire；　a　group　of　negroes
were　dancing　and　participating　in　some　wild　Obi　festival。　　I　awoke
with　the　strain　still　ringing　in　my　ears。

〃Hokee…pokee　wokee　fum！〃

Good　Heavens！　could　I　be　dreaming？　　I　heard　the　voice　distinctly　on
the　floor　below；　and　smelt　something　burning。　　I　arose；　with　an
indistinct　presentiment　of　evil；　and　hastily　putting　some　cotton　in
my　ears　and　tying　a　towel　about　my　head；　I　wrapped　myself　in　a
shawl　and　rushed　down　stairs。　　The　door　of　Mr。　Rawjester's　room　was
open。　　I　entered。

Mr。　Rawjester　lay　apparently　in　a　deep　slumber；　from　which　even　the
clouds　of　smoke　that　came　from　the　burning　curtains　of　his　bed
could　not　rouse　him。　　Around　the　room　a　large　and　powerful　negress；
scantily　attired；　with　her　head　adorned　with　feathers；　was　dancing
wildly；　accompanying　herself　with　bone　castanets。　　It　looked　like
some　terrible　fetich。

I　did　not　lose　my　calmness。　　After　firmly　emptying　the　pitcher；
basin；　and　slop…jar　on　the　burning　bed；　I　proceeded　cautiously　to
the　garden；　and；　returning　with　the　garden…engine；　I　directed　a
small　stream　at　Mr。　Rawjester。

At　my　entrance　the　gigantic　negress　fled。　　Mr。　Rawjester　yawned　and
woke。　　I　explained　to　him；　as　he　rose　dripping　from　the　bed；　the
reason　of　my　presence。　　He　did　not　seem　to　be　excited；　alarmed；　or
discomposed。　　He　gazed　at　me　curiously。

〃So　you　risked　your　life　to　save　mine；　eh？　you　canary…colored
teacher　of　infants。〃

I　blushed　modestly；　and　drew　my　shawl　tightly　over　my　yellow
flanne