第 52 节
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温暖寒冬 更新:2024-04-09 19:50 字数:9279
direction; the voice that told her to go to Hetty seemed no stronger
that the other voice which said that Hetty was weary; and that
going to her now in an unseasonable moment would only tend to
close her heart more obstinately。 Dinah was not satisfied without a
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more unmistakable guidance than those inward voices。 There was
light enough for her; if she opened her Bible; to discern the text
sufficiently to know what it would say to her。 She knew the
physiognomy of every page; and could tell on what book she
opened; sometimes on what chapter; without seeing title or
number。 It was a small thick Bible; worn quite round at the edges。
Dinah laid it sideways on the window ledge; where the light was
strongest; and then opened it with her forefinger。 The first words
she looked at were those at the top of the left…hand page: “And
they all wept sore; and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him。” That
was enough for Dinah; she had opened on that memorable parting
at Ephesus; when Paul had felt bound to open his heart in a last
exhortation and warning。 She hesitated no longer; but; opening
her own door gently; went and tapped on Hetty’s。 We know she
had to tap twice; because Hetty had to put out her candles and
throw off her black lace scarf; but after the second tap the door
was opened immediately。 Dinah said; “Will you let me come in;
Hetty?” and Hetty; without speaking; for she was confused and
vexed; opened the door wider and let her in。
What a strange contrast the two figures made; visible enough in
that mingled twilight and moonlight! Hetty; her cheeks flushed
and her eyes glistening from her imaginary drama; her beautiful
neck and arms bare; her hair hanging in a curly tangle down her
back; and the baubles in her ears。 Dinah; covered with her long
white dress; her pale face full of subdued emotion; almost like a
lovely corpse into which the soul has returned charged with
sublimer secrets and a sublimer love。 They were nearly of the
same height; Dinah evidently a little the taller as she put her arm
round Hetty’s waist and kissed her forehead。
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“I knew you were not in bed; my dear;” she said; in her sweet
clear voice; which was irritating to Hetty; mingling with her own
peevish vexation like music with jangling chains; “for I heard you
moving; and I longed to speak to you again to…night; for it is the
last but one that I shall be here; and we don’t know what may
happen to…morrow to keep us apart。 Shall I sit down with you
while you do up your hair?”
“Oh yes;” said Hetty; hastily turning round and reaching the
second chair in the room; glad that Dinah looked as if she did not
notice her ear…rings。
Dinah sat down; and Hetty began to brush together her hair
before twisting it up; doing it with that air of excessive indifference
which belongs to confused self…consciousness。 But the expression
of Dinah’s eyes gradually relieved her; they seemed unobservant
of all details。
“Dear Hetty;” she said; “It has been borne in upon my mind to…
night that you may some day be in trouble—trouble is appointed
for us all here below; and there comes a time when we need more
comfort and help than the things of this life can give。 I want to tell
you that if ever you are in trouble; and need a friend that will
always feel for you and love you; you have got that friend in Dinah
Morris at Snowfield; and if you come to her; or send for her; she’ll
never forget this night and the words she is speaking to you now。
Will you remember it; Hetty?”
“Yes;” said Hetty; rather frightened。 “But why should you think
I shall be in trouble? Do you know of anything?”
Hetty had seated herself as she tied on her cap; and now Dinah
leaned forwards and took her hands as she answered; “Because;
dear; trouble comes to us all in this life: we set our hearts on things
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which it isn’t God’s will for us to have; and then we go sorrowing;
the people we love are taken from us; and we can joy in nothing
because they are not with us; sickness comes; and we faint under
the burden of our feeble bodies; we go astray and do wrong; and
bring ourselves into trouble with our fellow…men。 There is no man
or woman born into this world to whom some of these trials do not
fall; and so I feel that some of them must happen to you; and I
desire for you; that while you are young you should seek for
strength from your Heavenly Father; that you may have a support
which will not fail you in the evil day。”
Dinah paused and released Hetty’s hands that she might not
hinder her。 Hetty sat quite still; she felt no response within herself
to Dinah’s anxious affection; but Dinah’s words uttered with
solemn pathetic distinctness; affected her with a chill fear。 Her
flush had died away almost to paleness; she had the timidity of a
luxurious pleasure…seeking nature; which shrinks from the hint of
pain。 Dinah saw the effect; and her tender anxious pleading
became the more earnest; till Hetty; full of a vague fear that
something evil was some time to befall her; began to cry。
It is our habit to say that while the lower nature can never
understand the higher; the higher nature commands a complete
view of the lower。 But I think the higher nature has to learn this
comprehension; as we learn the art of vision; by a good deal of
hard experience; often with bruises and gashes incurred in taking
things up by the wrong end; and fancying our space wider than it
is。 Dinah had never seen Hetty affected in this way before; and;
with her usual benignant hopefulness; she trusted it was the
stirring of a divine impulse。 She kissed the sobbing thing; and
began to cry with her for grateful joy。 But Hetty was simply in that
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excitable state of mind in which there is no calculating what turn
the feelings may take from one moment to another; and for the
first time she became irritated under Dinah’s caress。 She pushed
her away impatiently; and said; with a childish sobbing voice;
“Don’t talk to me so; Dinah。 Why do you come to frighten me? I’ve
never done anything to you。 Why can’t you let me be?”
Poor Dinah felt a pang。 She was too wise to persist; and only
said mildly; “Yes; my dear; you’re tired; I won’t hinder you any
longer。 Make haste and get into bed。 Good…night。”
She went out of the room almost as quietly and quickly as if she
had been a ghost; but once by the side of her own bed; she threw
herself on her knees and poured out in deep silence all the
passionate pity that filled her heart。
As for Hetty; she was soon in the wood again—her waking
dreams being merged in a sleeping life scarcely more fragmentary
and confused。
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Chapter XVI
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rthur Donnithorne; you remember; is under an
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