the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第40部分
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person whose extravagance of imagination you yourself can only palliate。〃
〃Rather； then；〃 said Ratcliffe； 〃receive my solemn assurances； that you
do not incur the slightest danger。 But what I have been hitherto afraid to
mention for fear of alarming you is； that now when we are within sight of
his retreat； for I can discover it through the twilight； I must go no farther
with you； you must proceed alone。〃
〃Alone？I dare not。〃
〃You must；〃 continued Ratcliffe； 〃I will remain here and wait for you。〃
〃You will not； then； stir from this place；〃 said Miss Vere 〃yet the
distance is so great； you could not hear me were I to cry for assistance。〃
〃Fear nothing；〃 said her guide； 〃or observe； at least； the utmost caution
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in stifling every expression of timidity。 Remember that his predominant
and most harassing apprehension arises from a consciousness of the
hideousness of his appearance。 Your path lies straight beside yon half…
fallen willow； keep the left side of it； the marsh lies on the right。
Farewell for a time。 Remember the evil you are threatened with； and let it
overcome at once your fears and scruples。〃
〃Mr。 Ratcliffe；〃 said Isabella； 〃farewell； if you have deceived one so
unfortunate as myself； you have for ever forfeited the fair character for
probity and honour to which I have trusted。〃
〃On my lifeon my soul；〃 continued Ratcliffe； raising his voice as the
distance between them increased； 〃you are safeperfectly safe。〃
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CHAPTER XVI。
'Twas time and griefs That framed him thus： Time； with his
fairer hand； Offering the fortunes of his former days； The former man
may make him。Bring us to him； And chance it as it may。OLD PLAY。
The sounds of Ratcliffe's voice had died on Isabella's ear； but as she
frequently looked back； it was some encouragement to her to discern his
form now darkening in the gloom。 Ere； however； she went much farther；
she lost the object in the increasing shade。 The last glimmer of the
twilight placed her before the hut of the Solitary。 She twice extended her
hand to the door； and twice she withdrew it； and when she did at length
make the effort； the knock did not equal in violence the throb of her own
bosom。 Her next effort was louder； her third was reiterated； for the fear
of not obtaining the protection from which Ratcliffe promised so much；
began to overpower the terrors of his presence from whom she was to
request it。 At length； as she still received no answer； she repeatedly
called upon the Dwarf by his assumed name； and requested him to answer
and open to her。
〃What miserable being is reduced；〃 said the appalling voice of the
Solitary； 〃to seek refuge here？ Go hence； when the heath… fowl need
shelter； they seek it not in the nest of the night… raven。〃
〃I come to you； father；〃 said Isabella； 〃in my hour of adversity； even as
you yourself commanded； when you promised your heart and your door
should be open to my distress； but I fear〃
〃Ha！〃 said the Solitary； 〃then thou art Isabella Vere？ Give me a token
that thou art she。〃
〃I have brought you back the rose which you gave me； it has not had
time to fade ere the hard fate you foretold has come upon me！〃
〃And if thou hast thus redeemed thy pledge；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃I will
not forfeit mine。 The heart and the door that are shut against every other
earthly being； shall be open to thee and to thy sorrows。〃
She heard him move in his hut； and presently afterwards strike a light。
One by one； bolt and bar were then withdrawn； the heart of Isabella
throbbing higher as these obstacles to their meeting were successively
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removed。 The door opened； and the Solitary stood before her； his
uncouth form and features illuminated by the iron lamp which he held in
his hand。
〃Enter； daughter of affliction；〃 he said；〃enter the house of misery。〃
She entered； and observed； with a precaution which increased her
trepidation； that the Recluse's first act； after setting the lamp upon the table；
was to replace the numerous bolts which secured the door of his hut。 She
shrunk as she heard the noise which accompanied this ominous operation；
yet remembered Ratcliffe's caution； and endeavoured to suppress all
appearance of apprehension。 The light of the lamp was weak and
uncertain； but the Solitary； without taking immediate notice of Isabella；
otherwise than by motioning her to sit down on a small settle beside the
fireplace； made haste to kindle some dry furze； which presently cast a
blaze through the cottage。 Wooden shelves； which bore a few books；
some bundles of dried herbs； and one or two wooden cups and platters；
were on one side of the fire； on the other were placed some ordinary tools
of field…labour； mingled with those used by mechanics。 Where the bed
should have been； there was a wooden frame； strewed with withered moss
and rushes； the couch of the ascetic。 The whole space of the cottage did
not exceed ten feet by six within the walls； and its only furniture； besides
what we have mentioned； was a table and two stools formed of rough
deals。
Within these narrow precincts Isabella now found herself enclosed
with a being； whose history had nothing to reassure her； and the fearful
conformation of whose hideous countenance inspired an almost
superstitious terror。 He occupied the seat opposite to her； and dropping
his huge and shaggy eyebrows over his piercing black eyes； gazed at her in
silence； as if agitated by a variety of contending feelings。 On the other
side sate Isabella； pale as death； her long hair uncurled by the evening
damps； and falling over her shoulders and breast； as the wet streamers
droop from the mast when the storm has passed away； and left the vessel
stranded on the beach。 The Dwarf first broke the silence with the sudden；
abrupt； and alarming question；〃Woman； what evil fate has brought thee
hither？〃
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〃My father's danger； and your own command；〃 she replied faintly； but
firmly。
〃And you hope for aid from me？〃
〃If you can bestow it；〃 she replied； still in the same tone of mild
submission。
〃And how should I possess that power？〃 continued the Dwarf； with a
bitter sneer； 〃Is mine the form of a redresser of wrongs？ Is this the castle
in which one powerful enough to be sued to by a fair suppliant is likely to
hold his residence？ I but mocked thee； girl； when I said I would relieve
thee。〃
〃Then must I depart； and face my fate as I best may！〃
〃No！〃 said the Dwarf； rising and interposing between her and the
door； and motioning to her sternly to resume her seat〃No！ you leave
me not in this way； we must have farther conference。 Why should one
being desire aid of another？ Why should not each be sufficient to itself？
Look round youI； the most despised and most decrepit on Nature's
common； have required sympathy and help from no one。 These stones
are of my own piling； these utensils I framed with my own hands； and
with this〃and he laid his hand with a fierce smile on the long dagger
which he always wore beneath his garment； and unsheathed it so far that
the blade glimmered clear in the fire…light〃with this；〃 he pursued； as he
thrust the weapon back into the scabbard； 〃I can； if necessary； defend the
vital spark enclosed in this poor trunk； against the fairest and strong
