友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

kenilworth-第11章

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!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




〃Why; you gave a sample of it even now;〃 said Foster。  〃Your
speech twangs too much of the old stamp; and you garnish it ever
and anon with singular oaths; that savour of Papistrie。  Besides;
your exterior man is altogether too deboshed and irregular to
become one of his lordship's followers; since he has a reputation
to keep up in the eye of the world。  You must somewhat reform
your dress; upon a more grave and composed fashion; wear your
cloak on both shoulders; and your falling band unrumpled and well
starched。  You must enlarge the brim of your beaver; and diminish
the superfluity of your trunk…hose; go to church; or; which will
be better; to meeting; at least once a month; protest only upon
your faith and conscience; lay aside your swashing look; and
never touch the hilt of your sword but when you would draw the
carnal weapon in good earnest。〃

〃By this light; Anthony; thou art mad;〃 answered Lambourne; 〃and
hast described rather the gentleman…usher to a puritan's wife;
than the follower of an ambitious courtier!  Yes; such a thing as
thou wouldst make of me should wear a book at his girdle instead
of a poniard; and might just be suspected of manhood enough to
squire a proud dame…citizen to the lecture at Saint Antonlin's;
and quarrel in her cause with any flat…capped threadmaker that
would take the wall of her。  He must ruffle it in another sort
that would walk to court in a nobleman's train。〃

〃Oh; content you; sir;〃 replied Foster; 〃there is a change since
you knew the English world; and there are those who can hold
their way through the boldest courses; and the most secret; and
yet never a swaggering word; or an oath; or a profane word in
their conversation。〃

〃That is to say;〃 replied Lambourne; 〃they are in a trading
copartnery; to do the devil's business without mentioning his
name in the firm?  Well; I will do my best to counterfeit; rather
than lose ground in this new world; since thou sayest it is grown
so precise。  But; Anthony; what is the name of this nobleman; in
whose service I am to turn hypocrite?〃

〃Aha!  Master Michael; are you there with your bears?〃  said
Foster; with a grim smile; 〃and is this the knowledge you pretend
of my concernments?  How know you now there is such a person IN
RERUM NATURA; and that I have not been putting a jape upon you
all this time?〃

〃Thou put a jape on me; thou sodden…brained gull?〃  answered
Lambourne; nothing daunted。  〃Why; dark and muddy as thou
think'st thyself; I would engage in a day's space to sec as clear
through thee and thy concernments; as thou callest them; as
through the filthy horn of an old stable lantern。〃

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a scream
from the next apartment。

〃By the holy Cross of Abingdon;〃 exclaimed Anthony Foster;
forgetting his Protestantism in his alarm; 〃I am a ruined man!〃

So saying; he rushed into the apartment whence the scream issued;
followed by Michael Lambourne。  But to account for the sounds
which interrupted their conversation; it is necessary to recede a
little way in our narrative。

It has been already observed; that when Lambourne accompanied
Foster into the library; they left Tressilian alone in the
ancient parlour。  His dark eye followed them forth of the
apartment with a glance of contempt; a part of which his mind
instantly transferred to himself; for having stooped to be even
for a moment their familiar companion。  〃These are the
associates; Amy〃it was thus he communed with himself〃to which
thy cruel levitythine unthinking and most unmerited falsehood;
has condemned him of whom his friends once hoped far other
things; and who now scorns himself; as he will be scorned by
others; for the baseness he stoops to for the love of thee!  But
I will not leave the pursuit of thee; once the object of my
purest and most devoted affection; though to me thou canst
henceforth be nothing but a thing to weep over。  I will save thee
from thy betrayer; and from thyself; I will restore thee to thy
parentto thy God。  I cannot bid the bright star again sparkle
in the sphere it has shot from; but〃

A slight noise in the apartment interrupted his reverie。  He
looked round; and in the beautiful and richly…attired female who
entered at that instant by a side…door he recognized the object
of his search。  The first impulse arising from this discovery
urged him to conceal his face with the collar of his cloak; until
he should find a favourable moment of making himself known。  But
his purpose was disconcerted by the young lady (she was not above
eighteen years old); who ran joyfully towards him; and; pulling
him by the cloak; said playfully; 〃Nay; my sweet friend; after I
have waited for you so long; you come not to my bower to play the
masquer。  You are arraigned of treason to true love and fond
affection; and you must stand up at the bar and answer it with
face uncoveredhow say you; guilty or not?〃

〃Alas; Amy!〃  said Tressilian; in a low and melancholy tone; as
he suffered her to draw the mantle from his face。  The sound of
his voice; and still more the unexpected sight of his face;
changed in an instant the lady's playful mood。  She staggered
back; turned as pale as death; and put her hands before her face。
Tressilian was himself for a moment much overcome; but seeming
suddenly to remember the necessity of using an opportunity which
might not again occur; he said in a low tone; 〃Amy; fear me not。〃

〃Why should I fear you?〃  said the lady; withdrawing her hands
from her beautiful face; which was now covered with crimson;…
…〃Why should I fear you; Master Tressilian?or wherefore have
you intruded yourself into my dwelling; uninvited; sir; and
unwished for?〃

〃Your dwelling; Amy!〃  said Tressilian。  〃Alas!  is a prison your
dwelling?a prison guarded by one of the most sordid of men; but
not a greater wretch than his employer!〃

〃This house is mine;〃 said Amy〃mine while I choose to inhabit
it。  If it is my pleasure to live in seclusion; who shall gainsay
me?〃

〃Your father; maiden;〃 answered Tressilian; 〃your broken…hearted
father; who dispatched me in quest of you with that authority
which he cannot exert in person。  Here is his letter; written
while he blessed his pain of body which somewhat stunned the
agony of his mind。〃

〃The pain!  Is my father then ill?〃  said the lady。

〃So ill;〃 answered Tressilian; 〃that even your utmost haste may
not restore him to health; but all shall be instantly prepared
for your departure; the instant you yourself will give consent。〃

〃Tressilian;〃 answered the lady; 〃I cannot; I must not; I dare
not leave this place。  Go back to my fathertell him I will
obtain leave to see him within twelve hours from hence。  Go back;
Tressiliantell him I am well; I am happyhappy could I think
he was so; tell him not to fear that I will come; and in such a
manner that all the grief Amy has given him shall be forgotten
the poor Amy is now greater than she dare name。  Go; good
TressilianI have injured thee too; but believe me I have power
to heal the wounds I have caused。  I robbed you of a childish
heart; which was not worthy of you; and I can repay the loss with
honours and advancement。〃

〃Do you say this to me; Amy?do you offer me pageants of idle
ambition; for the quiet peace you have robbed me of!But be it
so I came not to upbraid; but to serve and to free you。  You
cannot disguise it from meyou are a prisoner。  Otherwise your
kind heartfor it was once a kind heartwould have been already
at your father's bedside。Come; poor; deceived; unhappy maiden!
all shall be forgotall shall be forgiven。  Fear not my
importunity for what regarded our contractit was a dream; and I
have awaked。  But comeyour father yet livescome; and one word
of affection; one tear of penitence; will efface the memory of
all that has passed。〃

〃Have I not already said; Tressilian;〃 replied she; 〃that I will
surely come to my father; and that without further delay than is
necessary to discharge other and equally binding duties?Go;
carry him the news; I come as sure as there is light in heaven
that is; when I obtain permission。〃

〃Permission!permission to visit your father on his sick…bed;
perhaps on his death…bed!〃  repeated Tressilian; impatiently;
〃and permission from whom?  From the villain; who; under disguise
of friendship; abused every duty of hospitality; and stole thee
from thy father's roof!〃

〃Do him no slander; Tressilian!  He whom thou speakest of wears a
sword as sharp as thinesharper; vain man; for the best deeds
thou hast ever done in peace or war were as unworthy to be named
with his; as thy obscure rank to match itself with the sphere he
moves in。Leave me!  Go; do mine errand to my father; and when
he next sends to me; let him choose a more welcome messenger。〃

〃Amy;〃 replied Tressilian calmly; 〃thou canst not move me by thy
reproaches。  Tell me one thing; that I may bear at least one ray
of comfort to my aged friend:this rank of his which thou dost
boastdost thou share it with him; Amy?does he claim a
husband's right to control thy motions?〃

〃Stop thy base; unmannered tongue!〃  said the lady; 〃to no
question that derogates from my honour do I deign an answer。
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!