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！
hard by the very chamber where the act was done—dull； dark； and
sombre； heavy with worm…eaten books； deadened and shut in by
faded hangings； muffling every sound； shadowed mournfully by
trees whose rustling boughs gave ever and anon a spectral
knocking at the glass； wore； beyond all others in the house； a
ghostly； gloomy air。 Nor were the group assembled there； unfitting
tenants of the spot。 The widow； with her marked and startling face
and downcast eyes； Mr Haredale stern and despondent ever； his
niece beside him； like； yet most unlike； the picture of her father；
which gazed reproachfully down upon them from the blackened
wall； Barnaby； with his vacant look and restless eye； were all in
keeping with the place； and actors in the legend。 Nay； the very
raven； who had hopped upon the table and with the air of some
old necromancer appeared to be profoundly studying a great folio
volume that lay open on a desk； was strictly in unison with the
rest； and looked like the embodied spirit of evil biding his time of
mischief。
‘I scarcely know；’ said the widow； breaking silence； ‘how to
begin。 You will think my mind disordered。’
‘The whole tenor of your quiet and reproachless life since you
were last here；’ returned Mr Haredale； mildly； ‘shall bear witness
for you。 Why do you fear to awaken such a suspicion？ You do not
speak to strangers。 You have not to claim our interest or
consideration for the first time。 Be more yourself。 Take heart。 Any
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 277…
Barnaby Rudge 278
advice or assistance that I can give you； you know is yours of right；
and freely yours。’
‘What if I came； sir；’ she rejoined； ‘I who have but one other
friend on earth； to reject your aid from this moment； and to say
that henceforth I launch myself upon the world； alone and
unassisted； to sink or swim as Heaven may decree！’
‘You would have； if you came to me for such a purpose；’ said Mr
Haredale calmly； ‘some reason to assign for conduct so
extraordinary； which—if one may entertain the possibility of
anything so wild and strange—would have its weight； of course。’
‘That； sir；’ she answered； ‘is the misery of my distress。 I can give
no reason whatever。 My own bare word is all that I can offer。 It is
my duty； my imperative and bounden duty。 If I did not discharge
it； I should be a base and guilty wretch。 Having said that； my lips
are sealed； and I can say no more。’
As though she felt relieved at having said so much； and had
nerved herself to the remainder of her task； she spoke from this
time with a firmer voice and heightened courage。
‘Heaven is my witness； as my own heart is—and yours； dear
young lady； will speak for me； I know—that I have lived； since that
time we all have bitter reason to remember； in unchanging
devotion； and gratitude to this family。 Heaven is my witness that
go where I may； I shall preserve those feelings unimpaired。 And it
is my witness； too； that they alone impel me to the course I must
take； and from which nothing now shall turn me； as I hope for
mercy。’
‘These are strange riddles；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘In this world； sir；’ she replied； ‘they may； perhaps； never be
explained。 In another； the Truth will be discovered in its own good
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 278…
Barnaby Rudge 279
time。 And may that time；’ she added in a low voice； ‘be far distant！’
‘Let me be sure；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘that I understand you； for I
am doubtful of my own senses。 Do you mean that you are resolved
voluntarily to deprive yourself of those means of support you have
received from us so long—that you are determined to resign the
annuity we settled on you twenty years ago—to leave house； and
home； and goods； and begin life anew—and this； for some secret
reason or monstrous fancy which is incapable of explanation；
which only now exists； and has been dormant all this time？ In the
name of God； under what delusion are you labouring？’
‘As I am deeply thankful；’ she made answer； ‘for the kindness of
those； alive and dead； who have owned this house； and as I would
not have its roof fall down and crush me； or its very walls drip
blood； my name being spoken in their hearing； I never will again
subsist upon their bounty； or let it help me to subsistence。 You do
not know；’ she added； suddenly； ‘to what uses it may be applied；
into what hands it may pass。 I do； and I renounce it。’
‘Surely；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘its uses rest with you。’
‘They did。 They rest with me no longer。 It may be—it is—
devoted to purposes that mock the dead in their graves。 It never
can prosper with me。 It will bring some other heavy judgement on
the head of my dear son； whose innocence will suffer for his
mother’s guilt。’
‘What words are these！’ cried Mr Haredale； regarding her with
wonder。 ‘Among what associates have you fallen？ Into what guilt
have you ever been betrayed？’
‘I am guilty； and yet innocent； wrong； yet right； good in
intention； though constrained to shield and aid the bad。 Ask me no
more questions； sir； but believe that I am rather to be pitied than
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 279…
Barnaby Rudge 280
condemned。 I must leave my house to…morrow； for while I stay
there； it is haunted。 My future dwelling； if I am to live in peace；
must be a secret。 If my poor boy should ever stray this way； do not
tempt him to disclose it or have him watched when he returns； for
if we are hunted； we must fly again。 And now this load is off my
mind； I beseech you—and you； dear Miss Haredale； too—to trust
me if you can； and think of me kindly as you have been used to do。
If I die and cannot tell my secret even then （for that may come to
pas