Ernest Maltravers Complete - Бульвер-Литтон Эдвард Джордж 3 стр.

Utterly incapable any longer to bear his own sensations, the traveller rose at last, fixed his eyes upon the fatal door, and was about to cry aloud to the listener to enter, when he heard a slight tap at the window; it was twice repeated; and at the third time a low voice pronounced the name of Darvil. It was clear, then, that accomplices had arrived; it was no longer against one man that he would have to contend. He drew his breath hard, and listened with throbbing ears. He heard steps without upon the plashing soil; they retiredall was still.

He paused a few minutes, and walked deliberately and firmly to the inner door, at which he fancied his host stationed; with a steady hand he attempted to open the door; it was fastened on the opposite side. So! said he, bitterly, and grinding his teeth, I must die like a rat in a cage. Well, Ill die biting.

He returned to his former post, drew himself up to his full height, and stood grasping his homely weapon, prepared for the worst, and not altogether unelated with a proud consciousness of his own natural advantages of activity, stature, strength and daring. Minutes rolled on; the silence was broken by some one at the inner door; he heard the bolt gently withdrawn. He raised his weapon with both hands; and started to find the intruder was only Alice. She came in with bare feet, and pale as marble, her finger on her lips.

She approachedshe touched him.

They are in the shed behind, she whispered, looking for the sledge-hammerthey mean to murder you; get you gonequick.

How?the door is locked.

Stay. I have taken the key from his room.

She gained the door, applied the keythe door yielded. The traveller threw his knapsack once more over his shoulder, and made but one stride to the threshold. The girl stopped him. Dont say anything about it; he is my father, they would hang him.

No, no. But you?are safe, I trust?depend on my gratitude.I shall be at to-morrowthe best innseek me if you can. Which way now?

Keep to the left.

The stranger was already several paces distant; through the darkness, and in the midst of the rain, he fled on with the speed of youth. The girl lingered an instant, sighed, then laughed aloud; closed and re-barred the door, and was creeping back, when from the inner entrance advanced the grim father, and another man, of broad, short, sinewy frame, his arms bare, and wielding a large hammer.

How? asked the host; Alice here, andhell and the devil! have you let him go?

I told you that you should not harm him.

With a violent oath the ruffian struck his daughter to the ground, sprang over her body, unbarred the door, and, accompanied by his comrade, set off in vague pursuit of his intended victim.

CHAPTER III

THE day dawned; it was a mild, damp, hazy morning; the sod sank deep beneath the foot, the roads were heavy with mire, and the rain of the past night lay here and there in broad shallow pools. Towards the town, waggons, carts, pedestrian groups were already moving; and, now and then, you caught the sharp horn of some early coach, wheeling its be-cloaked outside and be-nightcapped inside passengers along the northern thoroughfare.

A young man bounded over a stile into the road just opposite to the milestone, that declared him to be one mile from .

Thank Heaven! he said, almost aloud. After spending the night wandering about morasses like a will-o-the-wisp, I approach a town at last. Thank Heaven again, and for all its mercies this night! I breathe freely. I AM SAFE.

He walked on somewhat rapidly; he passed a slow waggon-he passed a group of mechanicshe passed a drove of sheep, and now he saw walking leisurely before him a single figure. It was a girl, in a worn and humble dress, who seemed to seek her weary way with pain and languor. He was about also to pass her, when he heard a low cry. He turned, and beheld in the wayfarer his preserver of the previous night.

Heavens! is it indeed you? Can I believe my eyes?

I was coming to seek you, sir, said the girl, faintly. I too have escaped; I shall never go back to father; I have no roof to cover my head now.

Poor child! but how is this? Did they ill use you for releasing me?

Father knocked me down, and beat me again when he came back; but that is not all, she added, in a very low tone.

What else?

The girl grew red and white by turns. She set her teeth rigidly, stopped short, and then walking on quicker than before, replied: It dont matter; I will never go backIm alone now. What, what shall I do? and she wrung her hands.

The travellers pity was deeply moved. My good girl, said he, earnestly, you have saved my life, and I am not ungrateful. Here (and he placed some gold in her hand), get yourself a lodging, food and rest; you look as if you wanted them; and see me again this evening when it is dark and we can talk unobserved.

The girl took the money passively, and looked up in his face while he spoke; the look was so unsuspecting, and the whole countenance was so beautifully modest and virgin-like, that had any evil passion prompted the travellers last words, it must have fled scared and abashed as he met the gaze.

My poor girl, said he, embarrassed, and after a short pause; you are very young, and very, very pretty. In this town you will be exposed to many temptations: take care where you lodge; you have, no doubt, friends here?

Friends?what are friends? answered Alice.

Have you no relations?no mothers kin?

None.

Do you know where to ask shelter?

No, sir; for I cant go where father goes, lest he should find me out.

Well, then, seek some quiet inn, and meet me this evening just here, half a mile from the town, at seven. I will try and think of something for you in the meanwhile. But you seem tired, you walk with pain; perhaps it will fatigue you to comeI mean, you had rather perhaps rest another day.

Oh no, no! it will do me good to see you again, sir.

The young mans eyes met hers, and hers were not withdrawn; their soft blue was suffused with tearsthey penetrated his soul. He turned away hastily, and saw that they were already the subject of curious observation to the various passengers that overtook them. Dont forget! he whispered, and strode on with a pace that soon brought him to the town.

He inquired for the principal hotelentered it with an air that bespoke that nameless consciousness of superiority which belongs to those accustomed to purchase welcome wherever welcome is bought and soldand before a blazing fire and no unsubstantial breakfast, forgot all the terrors of the past night, or rather felt rejoiced to think he had added a new and strange hazard to the catalogue of adventures already experienced by Ernest Maltravers.

CHAPTER IV

MALTRAVERS was first at the appointed place. His character was in most respects singularly energetic, decided, and premature in its development; but not so in regard to women: with them he was the creature of the moment; and, driven to and fro by whatever impulse, or whatever passion, caught the caprice of a wild, roving, and all-poetical imagination, Maltravers was, half unconsciously, a poeta poet of action, and woman was his muse.

He had formed no plan of conduct towards the poor girl he was to meet. He meant no harm to her. If she had been less handsome, he would have been equally grateful; and her dress, and youth, and condition, would equally have compelled him to select the hour of dusk for an interview.

He arrived at the spot. The winter night had already descended; but a sharp frost had set in: the air was clear, the stars were bright, and the long shadows slept, still and calm, along the broad road, and the whitened fields beyond.

He walked briskly to and fro, without much thought of the interview, or its object, half chanting old verses, German and English, to himself, and stopping to gaze every moment at the silent stars.

At length he saw Alice approach: she came up to him timidly and gently. His heart beat more quickly; he felt that he was young and alone with beauty. Sweet girl, he said, with involuntary and mechanical compliment, how well this light becomes you. How shall I thank you for not forgetting me?

Alice surrendered her hand to his without a struggle.

What is your name? said he, bending his face down to hers.

Alice Darvil.

And your terrible father,is he, in truth, your father?

Indeed he is my father and mother too!

What made you suspect his intention to murder me? Has he ever attempted the like crime?

No; but lately he has often talked of robbery. He is very poor, sir. And when I saw his eye, and when afterwards, while your back was turned, he took the key from the door, I felt thatthat you were in danger.

Good girlgo on.

I told him so when we went up-stairs. I did not know what to believe, when he said he would not hurt you; but I stole the key of the front door, which he had thrown on the table, and went to my room. I listened at my door; I heard him go down the stairshe stopped there for some time; and I watched him from above. The place where he was opened to the field by the back-way. After some time, I heard a voice whisper him; I knew the voice, and then they both went out by the back-way; so I stole down, and went out and listened; and I knew the other man was John Walters. Im afraid of him, sir. And then Walters said, says he, I will get the hammer, and, sleep or wake, well do it. And father said, Its in the shed. So I saw there was no time to be lost, sir, andandbut you know all the rest.

But how did you escape?

Oh, my father, after talking to Walters, came to my room, and beat andandfrightened me; and when he was gone to bed, I put on my clothes, and stole out; it was just light; and I walked on till I met you.

Poor child, in what a den of vice you have been brought up!

Anan, sir.

She dont understand me. Have you been taught to read and write?

Oh no!

But I suppose you have been taught, at least, to say your catechismand you pray sometimes?

I have prayed to father not to beat me.

But to God?

God, sirwhat is that?5

Maltravers drew back, shocked and appalled. Premature philosopher as he was, this depth of ignorance perplexed his wisdom. He had read all the disputes of schoolmen, whether or not the notion of a Supreme Being is innate; but he had never before been brought face to face with a living creature who was unconscious of a God.

After a pause, he said: My poor girl, we misunderstand each other. You know that there is a God?

No, sir.

Did no one ever tell you who made the stars you now surveythe earth on which you tread?

No.

And have you never thought about it yourself?

Why should I? What has that to do with being cold and hungry?

Maltravers looked incredulous. You see that great building, with the spire rising in the starlight?

Yes, sir, sure.

What is it called?

Why, a church.

Did you never go into it?

No.

What do people do there?

Father says one man talks nonsense, and the other folk listen to him.

Your father isno matter. Good heavens! what shall I do with this unhappy child?

Yes, sir, I am very unhappy, said Alice, catching at the last words; and the tears rolled silently down her cheeks.

Maltravers never was more touched in his life. Whatever thoughts of gallantry might have entered his young head, had he found Alice such as he might reasonably have expected, he now felt that there was a kind of sanctity in her ignorance; and his gratitude and kindly sentiment towards her took almost a brotherly aspect.You know, at least, what school is? he asked.

Yes, I have talked with girls who go to school.

Would you like to go there, too?

Oh, no, sir, pray not!

What should you like to do, then? Speak out, child. I owe you so much, that I should be too happy to make you comfortable and contented in your own way.

I should like to live with you, sir. Maltravers started, and half smiled, and coloured. But looking on her eyes, which were fixed earnestly on his, there was so much artlessness in their soft, unconscious gaze, that he saw she was wholly ignorant of the interpretation that might be put upon so candid a confession.

I have said that Maltravers was a wild, enthusiastic, odd beinghe was, in fact, full of strange German romance and metaphysical speculations. He had once shut himself up for months to study astrologyand been even suspected of a serious hunt after the philosophers stone; another time he had narrowly escaped with life and liberty from a frantic conspiracy of the young republicans of his university, in which, being bolder and madder than most of them, he had been an active ringleader; it was, indeed, some such folly that had compelled him to quit Germany sooner than himself or his parents desired. He had nothing of the sober Englishman about him. Whatever was strange and eccentric had an irresistible charm for Ernest Maltravers. And agreeably to this disposition, he now revolved an idea that enchanted his mobile and fantastic philosophy. He himself would educate this charming girlhe would write fair and heavenly characters upon this blank pagehe would act the Saint Preux to this Julie of Nature. Alas, he did not think of the result which the parallel should have suggested. At that age, Ernest Maltravers never damped the ardour of an experiment by the anticipation of consequences.