第 22 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2021-02-18 22:30      字数:9322
  her answer?  It was now all that made life。
  Collier and his wife had left the veranda and had crossed the
  lawn towards the water's edge。  The moonlight fell full upon them
  with all the splendor of the tropics; and lit the night with a
  brilliant; dazzling radiance。  From where Miss Cameron sat on the
  veranda in the shadow; Sir Charles could see only the white
  outline of her figure and the indolent movement of her fan。
  Collier had left his wife and was returning slowly towards the
  step。  Sir Charles felt that if he meant to speak he must speak
  now; and quickly。  He rose and placed himself beside her in the
  shadow; and the girl turned her head inquiringly and looked up at
  him。
  But on the instant the hush of the night was broken by a
  sharp challenge; and the sound of men's voices raised in anger;
  there was the noise of a struggle on the gravel; and from the
  corner of the house the two sentries came running; dragging
  between them a slight figure that fought and wrestled to be free。
  Sir Charles exclaimed with indignant impatience; and turning;
  strode quickly to the head of the steps。
  〃What does this mean?〃 he demanded。  〃What are you doing with
  that man?  Why did you bring him here?〃
  As the soldiers straightened to attention; their prisoner ceased
  to struggle; and stood with his head bent on his chest。  His
  sombrero was pulled down low across his forehead。
  〃He was crawling through the bushes; Sir Charles;〃 the soldier
  panted; 〃watching that gentleman; sir;〃he nodded over his
  shoulder towards Collier。  〃I challenged; and he jumped to run;
  and we collared him。  He resisted; Sir Charles。〃
  The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than
  trespassers。
  〃Well; take him to the barracks; then;〃 he said。  〃Report to
  me in the morning。  That will do。〃
  The prisoner wheeled eagerly; without further show of resistance;
  and the soldiers closed in on him on either side。  But as the
  three men moved away together; their faces; which had been in
  shadow; were now turned towards Mr。 Collier; who was advancing
  leisurely; and with silent footsteps; across the grass。  He met
  them face to face; and as he did so the prisoner sprang back and
  threw out his arms in front of him; with the gesture of a man who
  entreats silence。  Mr。 Collier halted as though struck to stone;
  and the two men confronted each other without moving。
  〃Good God!〃 Mr。 Collier whispered。
  He turned stiffly and slowly; as though in a trance; and beckoned
  to his wife; who had followed him。
  〃Alice!〃 he called。  He stepped backwards towards her; and taking
  her hand in one of his; drew her towards the prisoner。  〃Here he
  is!〃 he said。
  They heard her cry 〃Henry!〃 with the fierceness of a call for
  help; and saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of
  the prisoner; and their two heads were bent close together。
  Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly。
  〃And now;〃 he gasped; in conclusion; 〃what's to be done?  What's
  he arrested for?  Is it bailable?  What?〃
  〃Good heavens!〃 exclaimed Sir Charles; miserably。  〃It is my
  fault entirely。  I assure you I had no idea。  How could I?  But I
  should have known; I should have guessed it。〃  He dismissed the
  sentries with a gesture。  〃That will do;〃 he said。  〃Return to
  your posts。〃
  Mr。 Collier laughed with relief。
  〃Then it is not serious?〃 he asked。
  〃Hehe had no money; that was all;〃 exclaimed Sir Charles。
  〃Serious?  Certainly not。  Upon my word; I'm sorry〃
  The young man had released himself from his sister's embrace; and
  was coming towards them; and Sir Charles; eager to redeem
  himself; advanced hurriedly to greet him。  But the young man did
  not see him; he was looking past him up the steps to where Miss
  Cameron stood in the shadow。
  Sir Charles hesitated and drew back。  The young man stopped at
  the foot of the steps; and stood with his head raised; staring up
  at the white figure of the girl; who came slowly forward。
  It was forced upon Sir Charles that in spite of the fact that the
  young man before them had but just then been rescued from arrest;
  that in spite of his mean garments and ragged sandals; something
  about himthe glamour that surrounds the prodigal; or possibly
  the moonlightgave him an air of great dignity and distinction。
  As Miss Cameron descended the stairs; Sir Charles recognized for
  the first time that the young man was remarkably handsome; and he
  resented it。  It hurt him; as did also the prodigal's youth and
  his assured bearing。  He felt a sudden sinking fear; a weakening
  of all his vital forces; and he drew in his breath slowly and
  deeply。  But no one noticed him; they were looking at the tall
  figure of the prodigal; standing with his hat at his hip and his
  head thrown back; holding the girl with his eyes。
  Collier touched Sir Charles on the arm; and nodded his head
  towards the library。  〃Come;〃 he whispered; 〃let us old people
  leave them together。  They've a good deal to say。〃  Sir Charles
  obeyed in silence; and crossing the library to the great oak
  chair; seated himself and leaned wearily on the table before him。
  He picked up one of the goose quills and began separating it into
  little pieces。  Mr。 Collier was pacing up and down; biting
  excitedly on the end of his cigar。  〃Well; this has
  certainly been a great night;〃 he said。  〃And it is all due to
  you; Sir Charlesall due to you。  Yes; they have you to thank
  for it。〃
  〃They? 〃 said Sir Charles。  He knew that it had to come。  He
  wanted the man to strike quickly。
  〃They?  YesFlorence Cameron and Henry;〃 Mr。 Collier answered。
  〃Henry went away because she wouldn't marry him。  She didn't care
  for him then; but afterwards she cared。  Now they're reunited;
  and so they're happy; and my wife is more than happy; and I won't
  have to bother any more; and it's all right; and all through
  you。〃
  〃I am glad;〃 said Sir Charles。  There was a long pause; which the
  men; each deep in his own thoughts; did not notice。
  〃You will be leaving now; I suppose?〃 Sir Charles asked。  He was
  looking down; examining the broken pen in his hand。
  Mr。 Collier stopped in his walk and considered。  〃Yes; I suppose
  they will want to get back;〃 he said。  〃I shall be sorry myself。
  And you?  What will you do?〃
  Sir Charles started slightly。  He had not yet thought what he
  would do。  His eyes wandered over the neglected work; which had
  accumulated on the desk before him。  Only an hour before he had
  thought of it as petty and little; as something unworthy of his
  energy。  Since that time what change had taken place in him?
  For him everything had changed; he answered; but in him there had
  been no change; and if this thing which the girl had brought into
  his life had meant the best in life; it must always mean that。
  She had been an inspiration; she must remain his spring of
  action。  Was he a slave; he asked himself; that he should rebel?
  Was he a boy; that he could turn his love to aught but the
  best account?  He must remember her not as the woman who had
  crushed his spirit; but as she who had helped him; who had lifted
  him up to something better and finer。  He would make sacrifice in
  her name; it would be in her name that he would rise to high
  places and accomplish much good。
  She would not know this; but he would know。
  He rose and brushed the papers away from him with an impatient
  sweep of the hand。
  〃I shall follow out the plan of which I spoke at dinner;〃 he
  answered。  〃I shall resign here; and return home and enter
  Parliament。〃
  Mr。 Collier laughed admiringly。  〃I love the way you English take
  your share of public life;〃 he said; 〃the way you spend
  yourselves for your country; and give your brains; your lives;
  everything you haveall for the empire。〃
  Through the open window Sir Charles saw Miss Cameron half hidden
  by the vines of the veranda。  The moonlight falling about
  her transformed her into a figure which was ideal; mysterious;
  and elusive; like a woman in a dream。  He shook his head wearily。
  〃For the empire?〃 he asked。
  THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER
  A SKETCH CONTAINING THREE POINTS OF VIEW
  What the Poet Laureate wrote。
  〃There are girls in the Gold Reef City
  There are mothers and children too!
  And they cry 'Hurry up for pity!'
  So what can a brave man do?
  〃I suppose we were wrong; were mad men;
  Still I think at the Judgment Day;
  When God sifts the good from the bad men;
  There'll be something more to say。〃
  What more the Lord Chief Justice found to say。
  〃In this case we know the immediate consequence of your crime。
  It has been the loss of human life; it has been the
  disturbance of public peace; it has been the creation of a
  certain sense of distrust of public professions and of public
  faith。 。 。 。  The sentence of this Court therefore is that; as to
  you; Leander Starr Jameson; you be confined for a period of
  fifteen months without hard labor; that you; Sir John Willoughby;
  have ten months' imprisonment; and that you; etc。; etc。〃
  London Times; July 29th。
  What the Hon。 〃Reggie〃 Blake thought about it。
  〃H。 M。 HOLLOWAY PRISON;
  〃J