condensed novels-第6部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


seven　horses　shot　under　me；　and　was　mounting　the　eighth；　when　an
orderly　rode　up　hastily；　touched　his　cap；　and；　handing　me　a
despatch；　galloped　rapidly　away。

I　opened　it　hurriedly　and　read：

〃LET　PICTON　ADVANCE　IMMEDIATELY　ON　THE　RIGHT。〃

I　saw　it　all　at　a　glance。　　I　had　been　mistaken　for　a　general
officer。　　But　what　was　to　be　done？　　Picton's　division　was　two　miles
away；　only　accessible　through　a　heavy　cross　fire　of　artillery　and
musketry。　　But　my　mind　was　made　up。

In　an　instant　I　was　engaged　with　an　entire　squadron　of　cavalry；　who
endeavored　to　surround　me。　　Cutting　my　way　through　them；　I　advanced
boldly　upon　a　battery　and　sabred　the　gunners　before　they　could
bring　their　pieces　to　bear。　　Looking　around；　I　saw　that　I　had　in
fact　penetrated　the　French　centre。　　Before　I　was　well　aware　of　the
locality；　I　was　hailed　by　a　sharp　voice　in　French；

〃Come　here；　sir！〃

I　obeyed；　and　advanced　to　the　side　of　a　little　man　in　a　cocked　hat。

〃Has　Grouchy　come？〃

〃Not　yet；　sire；〃　I　replied；for　it　was　the　Emperor。

〃Ha！〃　he　said　suddenly；　bending　his　piercing　eyes　on　my　uniform；　〃a
prisoner？〃

〃No；　sire；〃　I　said；　proudly。

〃A　spy？〃

I　placed　my　hand　upon　my　sword；　but　a　gesture　from　the　Emperor　bade
me　forbear。

〃You　are　a　brave　man；〃　he　said。

I　took　my　snuff…box　from　my　pocket；　and；　taking　a　pinch；　replied　by
handing　it；　with　a　bow；　to　the　Emperor。

His　quick　eye　caught　the　cipher　on　the　lid。　　〃What！　a　D'Enville？
Ha！　this　accounts　for　the　purity　of　your　accent。　　Any　relation　to
Roderick　d'Enville？〃

〃My　father；　sire。〃

〃He　was　my　school…fellow　at　the　Ecole　Polytechnique。　　Embrace　me！〃
And　the　Emperor　fell　upon　my　neck　in　the　presence　of　his　entire
staff。　　Then；　recovering　himself；　he　gently　placed　in　my　hand　his
own　magnificent　snuff…box；　in　exchange　for　mine；　and　hanging　upon
my　breast　the　cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honor　which　he　took　from　his
own；　he　bade　one　of　his　Marshals　conduct　me　back　to　my　regiment。

I　was　so　intoxicated　with　the　honor　of　which　I　had　been　the
recipient；　that　on　reaching　our　lines　I　uttered　a　shout　of　joy　and
put　spurs　to　my　horse。　　The　intelligent　animal　seemed　to　sympathize
with　my　feelings；　and　fairly　flew　over　the　ground。　　On　a　rising
eminence　a　few　yards　before　me　stood　a　gray…haired　officer；
surrounded　by　his　staff。　　I　don't　know　what　possessed　me；　but
putting　spurs　to　my　horse；　I　rode　at　him　boldly；　and　with　one　bound
cleared　him；　horse　and　all。　　A　shout　of　indignation　arose　from　the
assembled　staff。　　I　wheeled　suddenly；　with　the　intention　of
apologizing；　but　my　mare　misunderstood　me；　and；　again　dashing
forward；　once　more　vaulted　over　the　head　of　the　officer；　this　time
unfortunately　uncovering　him　by　a　vicious　kick　of　her　hoof。　　〃Seize
him！〃　roared　the　entire　army。　　I　was　seized。　　As　the　soldiers　led
me　away；　I　asked　the　name　of　the　gray…haired　officer。　　〃Thatwhy；
that's　the　DUKE　OF　WELLINGTON！〃

I　fainted。

　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　*

For　six　months　I　had　brain…fever。　　During　my　illness　ten　grapeshot
were　extracted　from　my　body　which　I　had　unconsciously　received
during　the　battle。　　When　I　opened　my　eyes　I　met　the　sweet　glance　of
a　Sister　of　Charity。

〃Blanche！〃　I　stammered　feebly。

〃The　same；〃　she　replied。

〃You　here？〃

〃Yes；　dear；　but　hush！　　It's　a　long　story。　　You　see；　dear　Terence；
your　grandfather　married　my　great…aunt's　sister；　and　your　father
again　married　my　grandmother's　niece；　who；　dying　without　a　will；
was；　according　to　the　French　law〃

〃But　I　do　not　comprehend；〃　I　said。

〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Blanche；　with　her　old　sweet　smile；　〃you've
had　brain…fever；　so　go　to　sleep。〃

I　understood；　however；　that　Blanche　loved　me；　and　I　am　now；　dear
reader；　Sir　Terence　Sackville；　K。　C。　B。；　and　Lady　Blanche　is　Lady
Sackville。



SELINA　SEDILIA。

BY　MISS　M。　E。　BDDN　AND　MRS。　HNY　WD。


CHAPTER　I。


The　sun　was　setting　over　Sloperton　Grange；　and　reddened　the　window
of　the　lonely　chamber　in　the　western　tower；　supposed　to　be　haunted
by　Sir　Edward　Sedilia；　the　founder　of　the　Grange。　　In　the　dreamy
distance　arose　the　gilded　mausoleum　of　Lady　Felicia　Sedilia；　who
haunted　that　portion　of　Sedilia　Manor；　known　as　〃Stiff…uns　Acre。〃
A　little　to　the　left　of　the　Grange　might　have　been　seen　a
mouldering　ruin；　known　as　〃Guy's　Keep；〃　haunted　by　the　spirit　of
Sir　Guy　Sedilia；　who　was　found；　one　morning；　crushed　by　one　of　the
fallen　battlements。　　Yet；　as　the　setting　sun　gilded　these　objects；
a　beautiful　and　almost　holy　calm　seemed　diffused　about　the　Grange。

The　Lady　Selina　sat　by　an　oriel　window；　overlooking　the　park。　　The
sun　sank　gently　in　the　bosom　of　the　German　Ocean；　and　yet　the　lady
did　not　lift　her　beautiful　head　from　the　finely　curved　arm　and
diminutive　hand　which　supported　it。　　When　darkness　finally　shrouded
the　landscape　she　started；　for　the　sound　of　horse…hoofs　clattered
over　the　stones　of　the　avenue。　　She　had　scarcely　risen　before　an
aristocratic　young　man　fell　on　his　knees　before　her。

〃My　Selina！〃

〃Edgardo！　　You　here？〃

〃Yes；　dearest。〃

〃Andyouyouhaveseen　nothing？〃　said　the　lady　in　an　agitated
voice　and　nervous　manner；　turning　her　face　aside　to　conceal　her
emotion。

〃Nothingthat　is　nothing　of　any　account；〃　said　Edgardo。　　〃I　passed
the　ghost　of　your　aunt　in　the　park；　noticed　the　spectre　of　your
uncle　in　the　ruined　keep；　and　observed　the　familiar　features　of　the
spirit　of　your　great…grandfather　at　his　usual　post。　　But　nothing
beyond　these　trifles；　my　Selina。　　Nothing　more；　love；　absolutely
nothing。〃

The　young　man　turned　his　dark　liquid　orbs　fondly　upon　the　ingenuous
face　of　his　betrothed。

〃My　own　Edgardo！and　you　still　love　me？　　You　still　would　marry　me
in　spite　of　this　dark　mystery　which　surrounds　me？　　In　spite　of　the
fatal　history　of　my　race？　　In　spite　of　the　ominous　predictions　of
my　aged　nurse？〃

〃I　would；　Selina〃；　and　the　young　man　passed　his　arm　around　her
yielding　waist。　　The　two　lovers　gazed　at　each　other's　faces　in
unspeakable　bliss。　　Suddenly　Selina　started。

〃Leave　me；　Edgardo！　leave　me！　　A　mysterious　somethinga　fatal
misgivinga　dark　ambiguityan　equivocal　mistrust　oppresses　me。　　I
would　be　alone！〃

The　young　man　arose；　and　cast　a　loving　glance　on　the　lady。　　〃Then
we　will　be　married　on　the　seventeenth。〃

〃The　seventeenth；〃　repeated　Selina；　with　a　mysterious　shudder。

They　embraced　and　parted。　　As　the　clatter　of　hoofs　in　the　court…
yard　died　away；　the　Lady　Selina　sank　into　the　chair　she　had　just
quitted。

〃The　seventeenth；〃　she　repeated　slowly；　with　the　same　fateful
shudder。　　〃Ah！what　if　he　should　know　that　I　have　another　husband
living？　　Dare　I　reveal　to　him　that　I　have　two　legitimate　and　three
natural　children？　　Dare　I　repeat　to　him　the　history　of　my　youth？
Dare　I　confess　that　at　the　age　of　seven　I　poisoned　my　sister；　by
putting　verdigris　in　her　cream…tarts；that　I　threw　my　cousin　from
a　swing　at　the　age　of　twelve？　　That　the　lady's…maid　who　incurred
the　displeasure　of　my　girlhood　now　lies　at　the　bottom　of　the　horse…
pond？　　No！　no！　he　is　too　pure；too　good；too　innocent；　to　hear
such　improper　conversation！〃　and　her　whole　body　writhed　as　she
rocked　to　and　fro　in　a　paroxysm　of　grief。

But　she　was　soon　calm。　　Rising　to　her　feet；　she　opened　a　secret
panel　in　the　wall；　and　revealed　a　slow…match　ready　for　lighting。

〃This　match；〃　said　the　Lady　Selina；　〃is　connected　with　a　mine
beneath　the　western　tower；　where　my　three　children　are　confined；
another　branch　of　it　lies　under　the　parish　church；　where　the　record
of　my　first　marriage　is　kept。　　I　have　only　to　light　this　match　and
the　whole　of　my　past　life　is　swept　away！〃　she　approached　the　match
with　a　lighted　candle。

But　a　hand　was　laid　upon　her　arm；　and　with　a　shriek　the　Lady　Selina
fell　on　her　knees　before　the　spectre　of　Sir　Guy。


CHAPTER　II。


〃Forbear；　Selina；〃　said　the　phantom　in　a　hollow　voice。

〃Why　should　I　forbear？〃　responded　Selina　haughtily；　as　she
recovered　her　courage。　　〃You　know　the　secret　of　our　race？〃

〃I　do。　　Understand　me；I　do　not　object　to　the　eccentricities　of
your　youth。　　I　know　the　fearful　destiny　which；　pursuing　you；　led
you　to　poison　your　sister　and　drown　your　lady's…maid。　　I　know　the
awful　doom　which　I　have　brought　upon　this　house！　　But　if　you　make
way　with　these　children〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　Lady　Selina；　hastily。

〃They　will　haunt　you！〃

〃Well；　I　fear　them　not；〃　said　Selina；　drawing　her　superb　figure　to
its　full　height。

〃Yes；　but；　my　dear　child；　what　place　are　they　to　haunt？　　The　ruin
is　sacred　to　your　uncle's　spirit。　　Your　aunt　monopolizes　the　park；
and；　I　must　be　allowed　to　state；　not　unfrequently　trespasses　upon
the　grounds　of　others。　　The　horse…pond　is　frequented　by　the　spirit
of　your　maid；　and　your　murdered　sister　walks　these　corridors。　　To
be　plain；　there　is　no　room　at　Sloperton　Grange　for　another　ghost。
I　cannot　have　them　in　my　room；for　you　know　I　don't　like　children。
Think　of　this；　rash　girl；　and　forbear！　　Would　you；　Selina；〃　said
the　phantom；　mournfully；〃would　you　force　your　great…grandfather's
spirit　to　take　lodgings　elsewhere？〃

Lady　Selina's　hand　trembled；　the　lighted　candle　fell　from　her
nerveless　fingers。

〃No；〃　she　cried　passionately；　〃never！〃　and　fell　fainting　to　the
floor。


CHAPTER　III


Edgardo　galloped　rapidly　towards　Sloperton。　　When　the　outline　of
the　Grange　had　faded　away　in　the　darkness；　he　reined　his
magnificent　steed　beside　the　ruins　of　Guy's　Keep。

〃It　wants　but　a　few　minutes　of　the　hour；〃　he　said；　consulting　his
watch　by　the　light　of　the　moon。　　〃He　dare　not　break　his　word。　　He
will　come。〃　　He　paused；　and　peered　anxiously　into　the　darkness。
〃But　come　what　may；　she　is　mine；〃　he　continued；　as　his　thoughts
reverted　fondly　to　the　fair　lady　he　had　quitted。　　〃Yet　if　she　knew
all。　　If　she　knew　that　I　were　a　disgraced　and　ruined　man；a　felon
and　an　outcast。　　If　she　knew　that　at　the　age　of　fourteen　I　murdered
my　Latin　tutor　and　forged　my　uncle's　will。　　If　she　knew　that　I　had
three　wives　already；　and　that　the　fourth　victim　of　misplaced
confidence　and　my　unfortunate　peculiarity　is　expected　to　be　at
Sloperton　by　to…night's　train　with　her　baby。　　But　no；　she　must　not
know　it。　　Constance　must　not　arrive。　　Burke　the　Slogger　must　attend
to　that。

〃Ha！　here　he　is！　　Well？〃

The