put yourself in his place-第39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！



When　Grace　had　done　this；　she　saw　Henry　misunderstood　it；　and　she　was　sorry；　and　waited　an　opportunity　to　restore　the　balance；　but；　ere　one　came；　a　bell　was　heard　in　the　air；　the　great　alarm…bell　of　Raby　Hall。

Then　faint　voices　were　heard　of　people　calling　to　each　other　here　and　there　in　the　distance。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Grace。

Henry　replied；　〃What　should　it　be？　　The　whole　country　is　out　after　you。　　Mr　Raby　has　sense　enough　for　that。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　they　will　not　see　the　light　in　the　church；　and　find　you　out。〃

〃You　are　very　good　to　think　of　that。　　Ah！　　There's　a　bonfire：　and　here　comes　a　torch。　　I　must　go　and　quench　my　fires。　　Good…by；　Miss　Carden。　　Good…evening；　sir。〃

With　this；　he　retired：　but；　as　he　went；　he　sighed。

Grace　said　to　Coventry；　〃Oh；　I　forgot　to　ask　him　a　question；〃　and　ran　after　him。　　〃Mr。　Little！〃

He　heard　and　came　back　to　her。

She　was　violently　agitated。　　〃I　can't　leave　you　so；〃　she　said。　〃Give　me　your　hand。〃

He　gave　it　to　her。

〃I　mortified　you；　and　you　have　saved　me。〃　　She　took　his　hand；　and；　holding　it　gently　in　both　her　little　palms；　sobbed　out；〃Oh；　think　of　something　I　can　do；　to　show　my　gratitude；　my　esteem。　　Pray；　pray；　pray。〃

〃Wait　two　years　for　me。〃

〃Oh；　not　that。　　I　don't　mean　that。〃

〃That　or　nothing。　　In　two　years；　I'll　be　as　good　a　gentleman　as　HE　is。　　I'm　not　risking　my　life　in　that　church；　for　nothing。　　If　you　have　one　grain　of　pity　or　esteem　for　me；　wait　two　years。〃

〃Incurable！〃　she　murmured：　but　he　was　gone。

Coventry　heard　the　prayer。　　That　was　loud　and　earnest　enough。　　Her　reply　he　could　not　bear。

She　rejoined　him；　and　the　torch　came　rapidly　forward。

It　was　carried　by　a　lass；　with　her　gown　pinned　nearly　to　her　knees；　and　displaying　grand　and　powerful　limbs；　she　was　crying；　like　the　tenderest　woman；　and　striding　through　the　snow；　like　a　young　giant。


When　the　snow　first　came　down；　Mr。　Raby　merely　ordered　large　fires　to　be　lighted　and　fed　in　his　guests'　bedrooms；　he　feared　nothing　worse　for　them　than　a　good　wetting。

When　dinner…time　came；　without　them；　he　began　to　be　anxious；　and　sent　a　servant　to　the　little　public…house；　to　inquire　if　they　were　there。

The　servant　had　to　walk　through　the　snow；　and　had　been　gone　about　an　hour；　and　Mr。　Raby　was　walking　nervously　up　and　down　the　hall；　when　Jael　Dence　burst　in　at　the　front　door；　as　white　as　a　sheet；　and　gasped　out　in　his　face：　〃THE　GABRIEL　HOUNDS！！〃

Raby　ran　out　directly；　and　sure　enough；　that　strange　pack　were　passing　in　full　cry　over　the　very　house。　　It　was　appalling。　　He　was　dumb　with　awe　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　darted　into　the　kitchen　and　ordered　them　to　ring　the　great　alarm…bell　incessantly；　then　into　the　yard；　and　sent　messengers　to　the　village；　and　to　all　his　tenants；　and　in　about　an　hour　there　were　fifty　torches；　and　as　many　sheep…　bells；　directed　upon　Cairnhope　hill；　and；　as　men　and　boys　came　in　from　every　quarter；　to　know　why　Raby's　great　alarm…bell　was　ringing；　they　were　armed　with　torches　and　sent　up　Cairnhope。

At　last　the　servant　returned　from　〃The　Colley　Dog；〃　with　the　alarming　tidings　that　Miss　Carden　and　Mr。　Coventry　had　gone　up　the　hill；　and　never　returned。　　This；　however；　was　hardly　news。　　The　Gabriel　hounds　always　ran　before　calamity。

At　about　eleven　o'clock；　there　being　still　no　news　of　them；　Jael　Dence　came　to　Mr。　Raby　wringing　her　hands。　　〃Why　do　all　the　men　go　east　for　them？〃

〃Because　they　are　on　the　east　side。〃

〃How　can　ye　tell　that？　　They　have　lost　their　way。〃

〃I　am　afraid　so；〃　groaned　Raby。

〃Then　why　do　you　send　all　the　men　as　if　they　hadn't　lost　their　way？　East　side　of　Cairnhope！　why　that　is　where　they　ought　to　be；　but　it　is　not　where　they　are；　man。〃

〃You　are　a　good　girl；　and　I'm　a　fool；〃　cried　Raby。　　〃Whoever　comes　in　after　this；　I'll　send　them　up　by　the　old　church。〃

〃Give　me　a　torch；　and　I'll　run　myself。〃

〃Ay；　do；　and　I'll　put　on　my　boots；　and　after　you。〃

Then　Jael　got　a　torch；　and　kilted　her　gown　to　her　knees；　and　went　striding　through　the　snow　with　desperate　vigor；　crying　as　she　went；　for　her　fear　was　great　and　her　hope　was　small；　from　the　moment　she　heard　the　Gabriel　hounds。〃

Owing　to　the　torch；　Grace　saw　her　first；　and　uttered　a　little　scream；　a　loud　scream　of　rapture　replied：　the　torch　went　anywhere；　and　gentle　and　simple　were　locked　in　each　other's　arms；　Jael　sobbing　for　very　joy　after　terror；　and　Grace　for　sympathy；　and　also　because　she　wanted　to　cry；　on　more　accounts　than　one。

Another　torch　came　on；　and　Jael　cried　triumphantly；　〃This　way；　Squire。　　She　is　here！〃　and　kissed　her　violently　again。

Mr。　Raby　came　up；　and　took　her　in　his　arms；　without　a　word；　being　broken　with　emotion：　and；　after　he　had　shaken　Coventry　by　both　hands；　they　all　turned　homeward；　and　went　so　fast　that　Coventry　gave　in　with　a　groan。

Then　Grace　told　Jael　what　had　befallen　him；　and　just　then　another　torch　came　in；　held　by　George　the　blacksmith；　who；　at　sight　of　the　party；　uttered　a　stentorian　cheer；　and　danced　upon　the　snow。

〃Behave；　now；〃　said　Jael；　〃and　here's　the　gentleman　sore　hurt　in　the　river；　Geordie；　come　and　make　a　chair　with　me。〃

George　obeyed　and　put　out　his　hands；　with　the　fingers　upward；　Jael　did　the　same；　with　the　fingers　downward：　they　took　hands；　and；　putting　their　stalwart　arms　under　Coventry；　told　him　to　fling　an　arm　round　each　of　their　necks：　he　did　so；　and　up　he　went；　he　was　no　more　than　a　feather　to　this　pair；　the　strongest　man　and　woman　in　Cairnhope。

As　they　went　along；　he　told　them　his　adventure　in　the　stream；　and；　when　they　heard　it；　they　ejaculated　to　each　other；　and　condoled　with　him　kindly；　and　assured　him　he　was　alive　by　a　miracle。

They　reached　Raby；　and；　in　the　great　hall；　the　Squire　collected　his　people　and　gave　his　orders。　　〃Stop　the　bell。　　Broach　a　barrel　of　ale；　and　keep　open　house；　so　long　as　malt；　and　bacon；　and　cheese　last。　　Turn　neither　body　nor　beast　from　my　door　this　night；　or　may　God　shut　His　gate　in　your　faces。　　Here　are　two　guineas；　George；　to　ring　the　church…bells；　you　and　your　fellows；　but　sup　here　first。　Cans　of　hot　water　upstairs；　for　us。　　Lay　supper；　instead　of　dinner；　brew　a　bowl　of　punch。　　Light　all　the　Yule　candles；　as　if　it　was　Christmas　eve。　　But　first　down　on　your　knees；　all　of　ye；　whilst　I　thank　God；　who　has　baffled　those　Gabriel　Hell…hounds　for　once；　and　saved　a　good　man　and　a　bonny　lass　from　a　dog's　death。〃

They　all　went　down　on　their　knees；　on　the　marble　floor；　directly；　and　the　Squire　uttered　a　few　words　of　hearty　thanksgiving；　and　there　was　scarcely　a　dry　eye。

Then　the　guests　went　upstairs；　and　had　their　hot　baths；　and　changed　their　clothes；　and　came　down　to　supper　in　the　blazing　room。

Whilst　they　were　at　supper；　the　old　servant　who　waited　on　them　said　something　in　a　low　voice　to　his　master。　　He　replied　that　he　would　speak　to　the　man　in　the　hall。

As　soon　as　he　was　gone；　Miss　Carden　said　in　French；　〃Did　you　hear　that？〃

〃No。〃

〃Well；　I　did。　　Now；　mind　your　promise。　　We　shall　have　to　fib。　　You　had　better　say　nothing。　　Let　me　speak　for　you；　ladies　fib　so　much　better　than　gentlemen。〃

Mr。　Raby　came　back；　and　Grace　waited　to　see　if　he　would　tell　her。　　I　don't　think　he　intended　to；　at　first：　but　he　observed　her　eyes　inquiring；　and　said；　〃One　of　the　men；　who　was　out　after　you　tonight；　has　brought　in　word　there　is　a　light　in　Cairnhope　old　church。〃

〃Do　you　believe　it？〃

〃No。　　But　it　is　a　curious　thing；　a　fortnight　ago　（I　think；　I　told　you）　a　shepherd　brought　me　the　same　story。　　He　had　seen　the　church　on　fire；　at　least　he　said　so。　　But　mark　the　paralyzing　effect　of　superstition。　　My　present　informant　no　sooner　saw　this　light　probably　a　reflection　from　one　of　the　distant　torchesthan　he　coolly　gave　up　searching　for　you。　　'They　are　dead；'　says　he；　'and　the　spirits　in　the　old　church　are　saying　mass　for　their　souls。　　I'll　go　to　supper。'　　So　he　came　here　to　drink　my　ale；　and　tell　his　cock…　and…bull　story。〃

Grace　put　in　her　word　with　a　sweet；　candid　face。　　〃Sir；　if　there　had　been　a　light　in　that　church；　should　we　not　have　seen　it？〃

〃Why；　of　course　you　would：　you　must　have　been　within　a　hundred　yards　of　it　in　your　wanderings。　　I　never　thought　of　that。〃

Grace　breathed　again。

〃However；　we　shall　soon　know。　　I　have　sent　George　and　another　man　right　up　to　the　church　to　look。　　It　is　quite　clear　now。〃

Grace　felt　very　anxious；　but　she　forced　on　a　careless　air。　　〃And　suppose；　after　all；　there　should　be　a　light？〃

〃Then　George　has　his　orders　to　come　back　and　tell　me；　if　there　is　a　light；　it　is　no　ghost　nor　spirit；　but　some　smuggler；　or　poacher；　or　vagrant；　who　is　desecrating　that　sacred　place；　and　I　shall　turn　out　with　fifty　men；　and　surround　the　church；　and　capture　the　scoundrel；　and　make　an　example　of　him。〃

Grace　turned　cold　and　looked　at　Mr。　Coventry。　　She　surprised　a　twinkle　of　satisfaction　in　his　eye。　　She　never　forgot　it。

She　sat　on　thorns；　and　was　so　distraite　she　could　hardly　answer　the　simplest　question。

At　last；　after　an　hour　of　cruel　suspense；　the　servant　came　in；　and　said；　〃George　is　come　back；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　please　let　him　come　in　here；　and　tell　us。〃

〃By　all　means。　　Send　him　in。〃

George　appeared；　the　next　moment；　in　the　doorway。　　〃Well？〃　said　Mr。　Raby。

〃Well？〃　said　Grace；　pale；　but　self…possessed。

〃Well；〃　said　George；　sulkily；　〃it　is　all　a　lie。　　Th'　old　church　is　as　black　as　my　hat。〃

〃I　thought　as　much；〃　said　Mr。　Raby。　　〃There；　go　and　get　your　supper。〃

Soon　after　this　Grace　went　up　to　bed；　and　Jael　came　to　her；　and　they　talked　by　the　fire　while　she　was　curling　her　hair。　　She　was　in　high　spirits；　and　Jael　eyed　her　with　wonder　and　curiosity。

〃But；　miss；〃　said　Jael；　〃the　magpie　was　right。　　Oh；　the　foul　bird！　That's　the　only　bird　that　wouldn't　go　into　the　ark　with　Noah　and　his　folk。〃

〃Indeed！　　I　was　not　aware　of　the　circumstance。〃

〃'Twas　so；　miss；　and　I　know　the　reason。　　A　very　old　woman　told　me。〃

〃She　must　have　been　very　old　indeed；　to　be　an　authority　on　that　subject。　　Well；　what　was　the　reason？〃

〃She　liked　better　to　perch　on　the　roof　of　th'　ark；　and　jabber　over　the　drowning　world；　that　was　why。　　So；　ever　after　that；　when　a　magpie　flies　across；　turn　back；　or　look　to　meet　ill…luck。〃

〃That　is　to　say　the　worst　creatures　are　stronger　than　their　Creator；　and　can　bring　us　bad　luck　against　His　will。　　And　you　call　yourself　a　Chri