Chapter 56 Chapter 53 Another Intelligence

The two relatives of the rebel—the brother and sister whom he had abandoned—felt the weight of his guilt at this time more heavily than the one whom he had hurt.Society loves to spy and torment people, but it inspires Mr. Dombey to seek and avenge his enemies.It excites his rage, pricks his pride, transforms an idea of ​​his life into a new form; to appease it becomes the object of all his intellectual activity.All that obstinate and intransigent quality of his character, all his recalcitrance to others' opinions, all his sullen and surly features, all his sense of self-importance, all his His suspicious disposition, which resented the slightest omission in the full respect for his importance, like so many streams, in this direction, merged into one great river, and carried him along the current.The most irascible and impulsive man appears a milder enemy than the sullen Mr. Dombey in this state.An untamed beast is easier to hold back and appease than this stately gentleman in an unruffled cravat.

But his strong intentions are almost a substitute for action.It helped him to divert his attention from his own misfortune and to think about other problems when he did not yet know where the traitor was hiding.His treacherous favourite's brother and sister had no such consolation.Everything that had happened in their past history and their present life gave his crime a more painful meaning for them. The sister may have thought sadly at times that if she had lived with him, as he had once done, as his partner and friend, he might have avoided committing the crime.If she had thought so, she still had not regretted what she had done, never doubted her responsibility, never judged or exaggerated her self-sacrifice.But when his erring, remorseful brother sometimes thought of the possibility, the thought struck him hard, and provoked sharp self-condemnation that he could hardly bear.He never gloated vindictively at his cruel brother's misfortune.The revelation of this incident aroused in him only a new condemnation of himself, and silent lamentation once more of his own past depravity; Consolation, but also aroused his self-blame.

On the same day of the night we have described in the last chapter, when the news of his wife's elopement was being spread throughout the city of Mr. Dombey's upper class, and his brother and sister were sitting in their room eating breakfast, Out of the window came an unexpected figure, Mr. Perch, the Messenger, coming towards the small porch. "I started here early this morning from Bowers Pond," said Mr. Perch, looking into the room with an air of secrecy, pausing on the shoe-mat by the door to polish it carefully. The shoes, which do not have any dirt on them, actually." This is in accordance with the order I received last night. I have been ordered to give you this note before you go out this morning, Mr. Carker; if Mrs. Perch I am not well, and I should have been here an hour and a half ago," said Mr. Perch meekly; "to tell the truth, I almost lost her five times during the night."

"Is your wife so ill?" asked Harriet. "Well, you see," said Mr. Perch, turning first, and closing the door carefully behind her, "she takes too much of what happens in our company, miss. Her nerves are delicate, you know." , and confusion soon ensued. But, in truth, only the hardest of nerves can withstand such a shock. You, no doubt, must have been very distressed yourself." Harriet suppressed a sigh, and glanced at her brother. "Honestly, I am sorry, though I am an insignificant person," continued Mr. Perch, shaking his head, "and if I had not been fated to go through such things myself, I I can't believe I'm so upset. It affects me almost like drinking. Every morning I feel as though I've had too much to drink the night before."

Mr. Perch's appearance confirmed the symptoms he described, and he had an air of lethargy from a fever which seemed to have been caused by the contents of the glass.In fact, the root cause is that he went to the bar many times.People entertained him there, asked him all kinds of questions, and he had developed a habit of going to the bar every day. "Therefore," said Mr. Perch, shaking his head again, in a crisp whisper, "I cannot judge the feelings of persons in exceptional circumstances when this most distressing incident has been brought to light." While Mr. Perch waited for a confiding answer; no such answer he coughed over his mouth with his hand; this produced no reaction, he coughed over his cap with his hat; He put his hat on the ground and drew the letter from his bosom.

"If I remember correctly, no reply was requested," said Mr. Perch, smiling amiably, "but perhaps you'll take the trouble to read it, sir." John Carker opened the envelope. It was a very brief letter from Mr. Dombey. After reading it, he replied, "Yes, no reply is required." "Well, then, good morning, miss," said Perch, taking a step towards the door, "and I hope you will take good care of yourself, and don't be overly saddened by this recent distressing event. Newspaper," Mr. Perch continued. Taking two steps back, he spoke to both siblings at the same time in a more mysterious whisper, "I am so anxious to get new news that you can hardly imagine. There is a person from a Sunday newspaper, wearing a blue cloak, and white cap, (he tried to bribe me with both, needless to say, how could he succeed?), wandered about our yard last night till eight He left at twenty minutes past the o'clock. I saw him peep through the keyhole of our company office, but the keyhole is patented, and there is nothing in it. There is one more," said Mr. Perch. , "Wearing a military uniform with rings for weapons on his belt, sat all day in the 'King's Arms' tavern; , I saw it come out in the papers with great astonishment."

Mr. Perch reached into his breast pocket again, as if intending to retrieve the news, but being not encouraged, he drew his beaver gloves, picked up his hat, and went away.Before noon Mr. Perch was describing to a select audience at 'The King's Arms' and elsewhere how Miss Carker burst into tears, and shaking his hand, said, "Ah , my dear, dear Perch, seeing you is my only consolation!" how Mr. John Carker said with a kind of dread, "Perch, I disown him. Never again in my presence Call him my brother!" "My dear John," said Harriet, when they were alone, and after a few minutes' silence, "does this letter bring bad news?"

"Yes. But nothing unexpected," he answered. "I saw the writer yesterday." "Who wrote the letter?" "Mr. Dombey. He walked twice when I was in the office. Before that I could avoid being seen by him, but of course I couldn't hope to do so for long. I know, in his opinion, It was only natural that I was a nuisance there. I think I would feel that way myself if I were in his place." "Did he say so?" "No; he didn't say anything, but I saw, his eyes rested on me for a moment; I was prepared for what was going to happen (for what has happened now). I've been dismissed gone."

She did her best to hide her shock and feign hope for the future, but it was painful news for many reasons. "'I don't need to explain to you,'" John Carker read, "'Why should I hear your name so harshly from now on, though it has nothing to do with mine. I don't need to tell you Explain why I cannot bear to see people with this surname every day. I must inform you that as of today, all relations between us are interrupted, and please do not attempt to restore relations with me or my company contact.’ The letter contained money, much more than was due for dismissal at this time. I was thus dismissed. In truth, Harriet, if we recall all the circumstances of the past, we must admit that it was A gracious dismissal in consideration of our difficulties."

"If it is lenient to punish you for the bad conduct of others, and consider our difficulties, John, then I agree with you," she replied gently. "We were an unlucky family to him," said John Carker, "and he was disgusted at the hearing of our surname, and felt that there was something cursed and evil in our blood." things, he has reason to think so. I would almost have thought so, if it hadn't been for you, Harriet." "Don't talk like that, brother. If, as you say and think, you have any special reason for loving me (and I say, no such special reason!)

Then don't let me hear such absurd, crazy things! " He covered his face with his hands; but presently, as she approached him, he allowed her to take one of his hands into hers. "I know this dismissal is a sad thing after all these years," said his sister, "and the reasons for it are terrible for both of us. But we must live, And finance our living expenses. What's the big deal then? We can do it. Don't be discouraged. Go on, John, let's go on together. We should be proud of it, not distressed." A smile played on her lips as she kissed him on the cheek, begging him to cheer up. "Ah, dearest sister! By your noble will you have bound yourself to a ruined man! He has a ruined reputation, has no friends of his own, and has driven all your friends away." "John!" She hastily covered his mouth with her hand, "For my sake, and for the sake of our long-term sister-sibling friendship, don't say that!" He fell silent. "Now let me tell you, darling," she said, sitting quietly beside him, "I expected this just as much as you did; While I'm ready, I'm determined to tell you when this actually happens, and I've kept a secret from you: We have a friend." "What's our friend's name, Harriet?" he asked, with a sad smile. "I don't really know his name, but he once expressed his friendship to me very earnestly and his willingness to help us. I believe in him to this day." "Harriet!" cried the astonished brother, "where does this friend live?" "I don't know that either," she replied, "but he knows both of us, and our history--all about our short history, John. That's why I didn't bring him here, on his advice." for the sake of revealing this secret to you, lest it should pain you that he should know your history." "Here! Has he been here, Harriet?" "Here, in this room. Once." "What kind of person is it?" "Not young. Gray, as he said, and soon to be grayer, but generous, frank, kind, I'm sure." "Have you seen him only once, Harriet?" "Only once in this room," said his sister, with a very slight, very short-lived blush on her cheeks, "but here he asked me to allow him to see me once a week when he passed by, to show that We're doing fine and still don't need his help. Because when he suggested to me that he gave us some help (which was the purpose of his visit), I told him we didn't need anything." "So once a week—" "Since then, once a week, and often on the same day of the week, at the same hour, he has passed our door; often on foot; often in the same direction—towards London. direction; he often went away with a merry wave of his hand like a good guardian, never staying longer. When he suggested to me these wonderful and interesting interviews, he promised to do so, And has kept his promises so faithfully and cheerfully that if I had the slightest misgiving at first it was soon overdone (as his manner was so frank and sincere that I don't think I no such misgivings), and I was glad when that day came. Last Monday—the first Monday since this dreadful incident—he did not pass here; Wondering if he didn't have something to do with what happened." "How could it matter?" asked her brother. "I don't know how it could matter, I'm just guessing at the coincidence; I haven't tried to explain it. I'm sure he'll come again. When he does come again, dear John, let me tell him , I have already told you, and let me introduce you. He will definitely help us with our future living expenses. He has asked me to let him do something to ease the difficulties of my life and yours. I also Promised him that if we ever need a friend to help me, I will remember him, and then his name will no longer be a secret to us." "Harriet," said her brother, who had been listening with great attention, "please describe to me the appearance of this gentleman. I should undoubtedly know someone who knows me so well." His sister described her guest's face, figure, and dress as vividly as she could; but perhaps it was because he did not know the person, perhaps there was some defect in her narration, perhaps it was because he walked up and down and thought silently. At this time, his mind was distracted, so that John Carker could not make out the portrait painted by his sister. But they agreed that when the prototype of the portrait came next time, he must take a look at him.Having made this decision, the sister, less anxious, went to do the housework; and the grizzled former Dombey clerk labored in the garden, passing his first day of freedom to which he was not accustomed. It was late at night, and the younger brother was reading aloud, and the older sister was busy with her needlework, when they heard a knock at the door.A vague air of apprehension and dread had hung over them since their brother's escape, and the knocker was unusual here, so it was horrifying to hear under the circumstances.The younger brother went to the door, while the older sister sat there listening timidly.Someone spoke to him, and he answered, seeming surprised; and after a few words had been exchanged, they entered the room together. "Harriet," whispered her brother, holding a candle, as he ushered in their new visitor, "this is Mr. Morfin, who has been a long time with James at Dombey's." His sister took a step back in surprise, as if a ghost had entered.That formerly unknown friend stood in the doorway, with his black hair laced with white, his rosy face, his broad clear forehead, and his hazel eyes, the man from whom she had kept the secret for so long. "John!" she said breathlessly, "this is the gentleman I told you about today." "Miss Harriet," said the visitor, coming in, who had stood a moment at the door, "this gentleman is relieved to hear you say that. He has been thinking all the way how he can explain it to himself." , but couldn't think of a way to satisfy himself. Mr. John, I'm not a complete stranger here. You were taken aback when you saw me at the door just now. I noticed you were even more surprised now. Yes ! In the present circumstances, this is quite natural. If we were not slaves to habit, we should have no reason to wonder so often." He had now greeted Harriet with that pleasant cordiality and respect which Harriet remembered well; then he sat down beside her, and took off his Gloves, thrown into the hat on the table. "I have had a wish to see your sister, or I have fulfilled it in my own way, and there is nothing surprising here, Mr. John. As for my regular visits after that (she may have asked You mention this), and there is nothing extraordinary about it. They quickly become habits, and we are all slaves to habits—slaves to habits!" He put his hands in his pockets, leaned back in the chair, and looked at his brother and sister as if he were interested in seeing them together; It causes some of us who are more productive to develop demonic pride and obstinacy; it causes others among us to develop and deepen corrupt habits; All indifference, like statues made of clay, grows harder every day, according to the nature of our clay, and is as difficult as statues to form new molds and accept new beliefs. You must judge the value of habit My influence, John. During the past many years I have played a small and very limited part in the management of Dombey's business; I see your brother (who has proved himself a villain! Will forgive me for having to mention this) keep enlarging his power until at last the business of the company and its owner is his free football; I see you toiling every day at your desk in obscurity I am content to do the little bit of my duty, and try not to be negligent; I am content to let everything around me go on, day by day, without suspicion, like one great machine (this the machine's habits, and mine); I am content to see everything as unquestionable and perfectly correct. My favorite Wednesday nights come at regular intervals, our quartet plays, my cello is tuned Well, there is nothing wrong with anything in my world—if there is, it's not a big deal—and if there is something wrong, it's none of my business." "I can assure you that there is no one in our company who is so respected and loved by everyone." "Speak there!" replied the other. "I dare say it is due to my good temper and my tendency to obey others. It is my habit. It suits the manager's heart, especially, it suits me best. I do what I'm assigned, don't flatter any of them, and am content with a job that doesn't require me to pat on the back at all. So, if it weren't for my thin walls, I'd stay like this forever. You can Prove to your sister that my room is only separated from the manager's room by a basement." "It was two adjoining rooms; it might have been one room, as Mr. Morfin said, divided," said her brother, looking back at him, waiting for his explanation to go on. "I whistled and hummed and hummed the Beethoven sonata in B all the way through to show him that I was so close to him that I could hear him," said Mr. Morfin, "but he never noticed Me. Of course, I seldom hear conversations of a personal nature. But when I can hear them, and I have no other way of avoiding knowing some of them, I walk out of the room. I did once, John, It was when the brothers were talking, and young Walter Gay started to take part in that conversation. But I overheard some of it before I left the room. Maybe you can remember it well enough, you can Tell your sister what the nature of the conversation is?" "Harriet," whispered her brother, "we talked about the past and our respective places in the company." "The issues that were discussed this time were not new to me, but it was shown to me from a new angle. I used to believe that everything around me was intact because I was used to it - ten thousand in the world. Nine-tenths of the inhabitants have this habit--and this talk shook me up," said the guest, "and caused me to recall and reflect on the history of the two brothers. I think it was almost my For the first time in my life, I thought about things along the lines that many things that we now take for granted, when we look at them from the new and different point of view that we must all one day adopt, will appear What was it like? Since that morning I have become, as people say, less tempered, less submissive, less self-satisfied." He was silent for a minute or so, tapping one hand on the table at the same time, and then hurried on, as if eager to end his confession. "Before I knew what I had to do or what I could do, the brothers had a second conversation; in this conversation their sister was mentioned. Floating freely into my ears, without any qualm in conscience. I think it is my right. After this, I came here to see my sister in person. For the first time I stopped at the garden gate and pretended to inquire The reputation of one of your poor neighbors, but I went away, and I felt that Miss Harriet did not believe me. The second time I asked permission to go into the house; and having come in, I said what I wanted to say. Your sister Explained to me the reasons why she refused my help at that time, which I dared not argue with her; but I established a mode of intercourse between the two of us, which has continued without interruption until these days I had to take a break because I was busy with important things that were handed over to me recently." "Sir, I see you every day without ever suspecting it!" said John Carker. "If Harriet could guess your name—" "To tell you the truth, John," interrupted his visitor, "I did not name my name for two reasons. I don't know if the first reason alone is sufficient; a man has no right to Good intentions accept thanks from others, so I decided not to say my name under any circumstances until I can really help you guys. My second reason is that I always have a faint hope: Perhaps your younger brother will be more lenient towards you both than before; in such a case, if this suspicious and guarded person should find out that I am secretly approaching you, it may be a new link in your rupture. Serious grounds. Indeed, I once decided to wait for the right opportunity to petition the bosses of the company, regardless of the risk of his displeasure with me (which is nothing). However, due to death, marriage proposal, As a result of a series of events such as marriage, discordant family life, etc., during this long period of time, the boss of our company is actually your younger brother;" At this time, the guest lowered his voice and said, "If you use a dry plant It would have been better for us if we had replaced him with Trunk." As if realizing that the last remark had been blurted against his will, he held out one hand to his brother and the other to his sister, and continued: "I have now said all that I wanted to say, and more. I hope you will understand and believe that I mean more than words can express. Now I can help you, and not hinder your atonement. effort (which you have been making for so many years), "Since you are not dismissed today for your own actions, the time has come when I can help you, John, though it is extremely unfortunate , came with great sorrow.It's getting late now, and I don't need to say anything more tonight.You do not need my advice or reminders, you will protect the treasures entrusted to you here. " After saying these words, he stood up and prepared to leave. "But John, you go ahead with your candle," he said cheerfully, "and whatever you want to say, don't say it." They poured out, and relieved him; "Let me say a word to your sister again. We have spoken alone before, and in this room; though it seems more natural now that you are here." With his eyes on John Carker, he turned kindly to Harriet, and in a changed, more solemn manner, said in a low voice: "You wish to ask me about the man whose sister you have the misfortune to be?" "I'm afraid to ask," said Harriet. "You have looked at me so seriously more than once," said the guest, "so I think I can guess your question. You want to ask: Has he stolen the company's money, has he?" "yes." "He didn't." "Thank God!" said Harriet, "for John's sake." "But he abused the confidence in him in every possible way," said Mr. Morfin. "He often traded and speculated for his own benefit rather than that of the company he represented; and it was his duty (as it was within his purview to do) to check the vanity and ambition of his boss, and to show him what they might lead to, when he Instead, it often indulges them; all these things may not surprise you now. The company has launched various ventures to extend its reputation of deep pockets, and to show its great superiority over other commercial companies; a composure is required With a cool head to watch the potentially devastating consequences (which would have been made possible if some catastrophic change had taken place in the company's business). The company operates many transactions involving large parts of the world, and he He is the central figure in it, and he alone holds the clues to these intricate business affairs, so he may (and he seems to take advantage of this possibility) to conceal the various results that have been ascertained, and to use various estimates and generalizations instead of facts. But lately—will you listen to me, Miss Harriet?" "Quite listening, perfectly understanding," she replied, turning her frightened face immobile to him, "please tell me the worst at once." "Lately he seems to have expended a great deal of energy in making the results of these business operations visible and intelligible; though they are numerous, they can be grasped with great ease by consulting the books. As if he had resolved to Let the boss see at a cursory glance: what the vanity that dominated him has brought him! There is no doubt that he has been basely gratifying his vanity, flattering it nasty. He and These are the main offenses related to the business of the company.” "Before you go, I have one more word to ask you, my dear sir," said Harriet. "Is there no danger?" "What danger?" He asked hesitantly. "A danger to the company's credibility?" "I have to answer you frankly, and trust you completely," said Mr. Morfin, after a moment's careful study of her face. "You can, you really can!" "I believe I can. Is there any danger to the company's credit? No, there isn't any. Difficulty, severe or not, may occur, but there is no danger, unless, yes, unless the owners of the company cannot make up their minds to shrink it The scope of the business, the categorical disbelief that the state of the company is not what he often thinks it is, forces it to strain beyond its capacity. If that is the case, then it is teetering." "But you needn't worry about that?" asked Harriet. "It is possible to speak frankly between us," said he, shaking her hand, "that Mr. Dombey is a man unapproachable to any one. His present mood is haughty, rash, unreasonable, uncontrollable. But Now he is distraught and agitated to an extraordinary degree, and it may pass. Now you know the worst and the best. I shall say no more to-night. Good night!" When he had finished, he kissed her hand, and went out to the door, where her brother stood waiting for him; and when John Carker wished to speak to him, he pushed him cheerfully. Stepping aside, told him that they would soon see each other often, and could talk at another time if he liked, but it was late now; and went away briskly, not wanting to hear To thank him for his words. Brother and sister sat talking by the fire until almost daybreak; they lost sleep as they caught a glimpse of the new world that opened before them; On the desolate shore, when they had resigned themselves to the status quo and no longer wanted another home, a boat finally came to them.But a different kind of anxiety also keeps them awake.The ray of light broke through the darkness and fell upon them, but the darkness still gathered around them; the foot of their sinful brother had never entered this house, but his shadow was cast here now. It cannot be driven away, nor does it disappear in the sun.It's here the next morning, it's still here at noon and night.The night we are about to relate was the darkest and most extraordinary of all. John Carker had gone away with a letter of introduction from their friend; Harriet remained alone.She had been alone for hours.The dark, gloomy evening and the deepening twilight were not good for keeping her depressed mood out.She hadn't seen that brother for a long time, and she didn't know him for a long time. Her imagination of him was taking on all kinds of terrible shapes, circling around her.He was dead, dying, calling to her, staring at her, frowning at her.The field in her heart seemed so prominent and vivid that when the twilight deepened, she dared not raise her head to look into the dark corners of the room, lest his ghost (the product of her excited imagination) hide there, want to scare her.Once it seemed to her that he was hiding in the next room, and though she knew it was a grotesque hallucination caused by insanity, and she did not believe it at all, she forced herself to go there, trying to make her I really feel relieved.But this is also futile.No sooner had she left than the house returned to its unreal horror; she could not shake off this vague dread, as if they were stone giants rooted in solid earth. It was almost dark, and she was sitting by the window, with her head bent on one hand, and her eyes looking down, when suddenly she felt the room grow darker, raised her eyes, and gave an involuntary cry.A pale, frightened face was pressed against the glass and peered in.The eyes were dazed at first, as if looking for something, but after a while, they settled on Harriet, shining brightly. "Let me in! Let me in! I want to talk to you!" while tapping a hand on the glass. Harriet recognized at once the long, dark-haired woman who had given her warmth, food, and shelter on a rainy night.Harriet, remembering her violent conduct, was naturally terrified of her, and drew back a little from the window, and stood uncertain and terrified. “让我进来！让我跟您说话！我感谢您——是的，我会安安静静——顺顺从从——您想要我怎样我就怎样。可是请让我跟您说话。” 她请求的态度十分热烈，脸上的表情十分诚挚，举起哀求的双手颤抖得很厉害，中包含的恐惧与恐怖和哈里特自己当时的情况十分近似，这一切使哈里特克服了犹豫不决的情绪。她急忙跑到门口，开了门。 “我可以进去吗，还是就在这里说？”那女人抓住她的手，问道。 “您需要什么？您想要说什么？” “话不多，但是请让我把它说出来，要不然我就永远也不会说了。我现在很想走开。似乎有什么人在把我从门口拽走似的。如果现在您能信任我的话，就让我进去吧！” 她的活动能力又占了上风；她们走进有火光的小厨房里。 她以前曾经在这里坐过，吃过东西和晾过衣服。 “请坐在那里，”艾丽斯在她身旁跪下来，说道，“看着我。 您记得我吗？ " "Remember." “您记得我告诉过您：我过去是个什么人；那次狂风暴雨吹打着我的头的时候，我穿着破烂的衣服，跛着脚，是从哪里来的吗？” "Remember." “您知道那天夜里我又怎样回来，把您给我的钱扔在泥里，咒骂您和您的亲属。现在您看见我跪在这里。难道我现在讲话比那时不恳切吗？” “如果，”哈里特温柔地说道，“您是来请求我原谅您的话——” “可是我不是来请求您原谅我的，”那一位脸上露出高傲的、猛烈的神色，说道，“我是请求您相信我。现在请您判断一下，不论我过去是怎样，也不论我现在是怎样，我是不是值得相信？” 她依旧跪着，眼睛看着火；火照着她的毁损的美容和蓬乱的黑发；她把一长绺头发从肩膀上拉下来，缠绕在手上，说话的时候咬着它和揪着它。她继续说道： “我年轻、漂亮的时候，当这些头发，”她轻蔑地拽着握在手里的头发，“只是被人们温存地抚摸，而不能受到充分爱慕的时候，我的母亲看出了我年轻漂亮这些优点；她喜欢我，为我感到得意（当我是个小孩子的时候，她是很少关心我的）。她贪婪，穷苦，想把我变成一笔财产。我相信，没有一位贵夫人曾像她那样看自己的女儿，也不会像她那样行事——我们知道，决不会那样做的——。这说明，只有在像我们这样穷苦可怜的人们中间，才能遇上这些错误养育自己女儿的母亲，并看到从中滋生的邪恶。” 她望着火，仿佛一时忘记了有人在听她说话；她把那绺长长的头发紧紧地缠绕在手上，好像是在做梦似的，继续说下去： “我不需要说，这导致了什么样的结果。在像我们这种阶层的人们中间，这不会导致不幸的结婚，而只是导致不幸与堕落。不幸与堕落降临到我身上——降临到我身上。” 她迅速地把忧郁的眼光从炉火转移到哈里特的脸上，说道： “我在浪费时间，而时间已经不多，不能再耽误了；可是如果我没有反复考虑过这一切的话，那么我现在就不会到这里来了。是的，不幸与堕落降临到我的身上。我被当成了一个短暂的玩具，然后就被抛弃在一旁，甚至比人们抛弃这类东西时更残酷、更漫不在意。您想我是被谁的手抛弃了的呢？” “您为什么问我这个问题呢？”哈里特问道。 “您为什么哆嗦？”艾丽斯敏锐地看了她一眼，回答道，“他把我变成了一个魔鬼。我愈来愈深地陷入不幸与堕落，我被卷进了一桩抢劫案中。我没有参加分赃，但其他的事情都参加了。我被逮捕并审讯，这时我没有一个朋友，身上也没有一个小钱。虽然我只不过是一个年轻的女孩子，可是我宁肯死，也不愿意求他给我说情，即使他说上一句话就能救我。是的，我宁肯死，不论创制出什么样的死法都行。可是我那位贪婪的母亲，却用我的名义向他送去音信，把我案件的真实情况告诉了他，并低三下四地请求他赠送最后一笔礼金——几镑钱，不多于这只手上指头的数目。当时我处境悲惨，就像他认为的那样，正躺在他的脚旁，但是他却用两个手指头对着我叭地一弹，就离开了我，连这一丁点惦念过去情分的可怜的表示也没有；我被押送到海外，不再成为他的障碍物，然后在那里死去，腐烂掉，他是感到很满意的。您想，他是谁呢？” “您为什么问我这个问题呢？”哈里特重复问道。 “您为什么哆嗦？”艾丽斯把手放在她的胳膊上，注视着她的脸孔，说道，“这只是因为答案已在您的嘴边！他就是您的弟弟詹姆士。” 哈里特哆嗦得更加厉害了，但没有把眼睛从注视着它们的眼光中移开。 “当我在那天夜里知道您是他的姐姐的时候，我疲累不堪，脚一拐一拐地回到这里，轻蔑地退回了您的赠金。那天夜里我觉得，如果我能在一个荒凉的、没有人在他近旁的地方找到他的话，那么我仿佛也能不顾疲累，脚一拐一拐地走遍全世界去刺死他。您相信我这话是当真的吗？” “我相信！我的天老爷，您为什么又到这里来了呢？” “后来我看见了他！”艾丽斯跟先前一样紧紧地抓住她，跟先前一样地看着她的脸。“在光天化日之下，我的眼睛跟随着他。如果说怨恨的火花只是潜伏在我胸中的话，那么当我的眼睛一看到他的时候，它就立刻迸发出来，成为熊熊燃烧的火焰。您知道，他伤害了一个高傲的人，使他成了他的不共戴天的敌人。如果我向这个人提供有关他的信息的话，那么将会怎样呢？” “信息！”哈里特重复着说道。 “如果我找到一个人，他知道您弟弟的秘密，他知道他是怎样逃走的，知道他跟他的伴侣逃到哪里的话，那么将会怎样呢？如果我使您弟弟的敌人暗藏起来，让这个人在他面前逐字逐句地说出他所知道的有关您弟弟的全部消息的话，那么将会怎么样呢？如果我那时候坐在旁边注视着这个敌人的脸孔，看着他发生变化，直到他完全失去了人性的话，那么将会怎样呢？如果我看见他急如星火地离开，疯疯癫癫地去追寻的话，那么将会怎样呢？如果我现在知道他正在路上——与其说是个人，还不如说是个魔鬼——，而且一定会在几个钟头内追上他的话，那么将会怎样呢？” “把您的手拿开！”哈里特向后退缩，说道，“走开！您的接触使我害怕！” “我已做了这一切！”那一位继续说道，一边依旧注视着哈里特，没有注意到她打断她的话，“我说话的和脸上的神色是不是仿佛我已确实做了这一切？您相信我说的话吗？” “我担心，我不能不相信。放开我的胳膊吧！” “现在还不。再等一会儿！您可以理解，我复仇的决心持续了这么长久的时间，并驱使我采取了这个步骤，它一定是多么地强烈！” “可怕！”哈里特说道。 “因此，”艾丽斯用嘶哑的说道，“当您看到我现在又在这里，平静地跪在地上，手摸着您的胳膊，眼睛注视着您的脸孔的时候，您可以相信，当我说我在心中发生了极不寻常的斗争，我这话是非常认真的。讲这些话使我感到惭愧，但是我产生了怜悯。我看不起我自己；我心中斗争了今天一整天和昨天一整夜；但是我毫无理由地对他怜悯起来，并希望如果可能，我能补救我所已做了的事情。他的追赶者已失去理智，并将鲁莽行事。我但愿他们不要相遇。如果您昨天夜里看到他是怎样走出去的话，您就会更好地理解将会发生什么样的危险。” “怎样防止呢？我能做什么呢？”哈里特喊道。 “我昨天整夜梦见他身上流血，”另一位急忙地继续说下去，“可是我还是睡不着。今天一整天我感到他就在我身边。” “我能做什么呢？”哈里特说道；她听到这些话浑身打颤。 “如果有谁能写信给他，或派人捎信给他，或亲自前往他那里去，那就请他别耽误时间。他在第戎。您听说过这个城市的名称，知道它在哪里吗？” “知道。” “请警告他，他使他成为他的敌人的那个人现在正在狂怒之中；如果他把他的到来不当作一回事的话，那么就大不了解他了。请告诉他，他现在在路途中——我知道这一点——，并正急急忙忙地在追赶。当时间还来得及的时候——如果时间还来得及的话——，请催促他离开，别去跟他相遇。能够避开一个月，情况就会大不相同。让他们别由于我的缘故而相遇。在任何地方都好，可千万别在那里相遇！在任何时候都好，可千万别在现在相遇！让他的仇人追寻他，把他找到，可是别通过我！没有这桩事，我心中的负担就够沉重的了。” 炉火不再照耀她那乌油油的秀发、仰望着的脸和热烈、恳切的眼睛；她的手已从哈里特的胳膊上移开。她刚才待过的地方已空无一人。