第 31 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-02-19 17:02      字数:9321
  like    mansions;     with   the   enchanting     Rhine    winding     through     the  vine…
  covered hills。
  After   strolling   over   miles   and   miles   of   classic   ground;   and   visiting
  castles; whose legends and traditions have given them an enduring fame;
  our delighted travellers started for Geneva; bidding the picturesque banks
  of the Rhine a regretful farewell。 Being much interested in literature; and
  aware   that   Geneva   was   noted   for   having   been   the   city   of   refuge   to   the
  victims of religious and political persecution; Jerome arranged to stay here
  for some days。 He was provided with a letter of introduction to M。 de Stee;
  who had been a fellow…soldier of Mr。 Devenant in the East India wars; and
  they were invited to make his house their home during their sojourn。 On
  the side of a noble mountain; whose base is kissed by the waves of Lake
  Geneva; and whose slopes are decked with verdure to the utmost peak of
  its rocky crown; is situated the delightful country…residence of this wealthy;
  retired French officer。 A  winding   road; with   frequent   climbs   and   brakes;
  leads from the valley to this enchanting spot; the air and scenery of which
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  cannot be surpassed in the world。
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  CHAPTER XXXIV
  CLOTELLE MEETS HER FATHER。
  THE clouds that had skirted the sky during the day broke at last; and
  the rain fell in torrents; as Jerome and Clotelle retired for the night; in the
  little town of Ferney; on the borders of Lake Leman。 The peals of thunder;
  and   flashes of vivid   lightening;  which seemed   to   leap   from  mountain   to
  mountain and from crag to crag; reverberating among the surrounding hills;
  foretold a heavy storm。
  〃I would we were back at Geneva;〃 said Clotelle; as she heard groans
  issuing from an adjoining room。           The sounds; at first faint; grew louder
  and   louder;   plainly   indicating   that   some   person   was   suffering   extreme
  pain。
  〃I   did   not   like   this   hotel;   much;   when   we   came   in;〃   said   Jerome;
  relighting the lamp; which had been accidentally extinguished。
  〃Nor I;〃 returned Clotelle。
  The shrieks increased; and an occasional 〃she's dead!〃 〃I killed her!〃
  〃No; she is not dead!〃 and such…like expressions; would be heard from the
  person; who seemed to be deranged。
  The   thunder   grew   louder;   and   the   flashes   of   lightening   more   vivid;
  while the noise from the sick…room seemed to increase。
  As Jerome opened the door; to learn; if possible; the cause of the cries
  and groans; he could distinguish the words; 〃She's dead! yes; she's dead!
  but I did not kill her。 She was my child! my own daughter。                I loved her;
  and yet I did not protect her。〃
  〃Whoever      he   is;〃  said  Jerome;   〃he's   crack…brained;    some    robber;
  probably; from the mountains。〃
  The storm continued to rage; and the loud peals of thunder and sharp
  flashes of lightening; together with the shrieks and moans of the maniac in
  the   adjoining   room;   made   the   night   a   fearful   one。   The   long   hours   wore
  slowly away; but neither Jerome nor his wife could sleep; and they arose at
  an early hour in the morning; ordered breakfast; and resolved to return to
  Geneva。
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  〃I am sorry; sir; that you were so much disturbed by the sick man last
  night;〃 said the landlord; as he handed Jerome his bill。 〃I should be glad if
  he   would   get   able   to   go   away;   or   die;   for   he's   a   deal   of   trouble   to   me。
  Several persons have left my house on his account。〃
  〃Where is he from?〃 inquired Jerome。                〃He's from the United States;
  and has been here a week to…day; and has been crazy ever since。〃
  〃Has he no friends with him?〃 asked the guest。
  〃No; he is alone;〃 was the reply。
  Jerome   related   to   his   wife   what   he   had   learned   from   the   landlord;
  respecting   the   sick   man;   and   the   intelligence   impressed   her   so   strongly;
  that she requested him to make further inquiries concerning the stranger。
  He therefore consulted the book in which guests usually register their
  names;   and;   to   his   great   surprise;   found   that   the   American's   name   was
  Henry Linwood; and that he was from Richmond; Va。
  It was with feelings of trepidation that Clotelle heard these particulars
  from the lips of her husband。
  〃We   must   see   this   poor   man;   whoever   he   is;〃   said   she;   as   Jerome
  finished the sentence。
  The landlord was glad to hear that his guests felt some interest in the
  sick   man;   and   promised   that   the   invalid's   room   should   be   got   ready   for
  their reception。
  The clock in the hall was just striking ten; as Jerome passed through
  and entered the sick man's chamber。             Stretched upon a mattress; with both
  hands tightly bound to the bedstead; the friendless stranger was indeed a
  pitiful    sight。   His   dark;   dishevelled      hair  prematurely       gray;   his  long;
  unshaven beard; and the wildness of the eyes which glanced upon them as
  they   opened   the   door   and   entered;   caused   the   faint   hope   which   had   so
  suddenly risen in Clotelle's heart; to sink; and she felt that this man could
  claim no kindred with her。 Certainly; he bore no resemblance to the man
  whom she had called her father; and who had fondly dandled her on his
  knee in those happy days of childhood。
  〃Help!〃   cried   the   poor   man;  as   Jerome   and   his   wife   walked   into   the
  room。 His eyes glared; and shriek after shriek broke forth from his parched
  and fevered lips。
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  〃No; I did not kill my daughter!I did not! she is not dead! Yes; she is
  dead! but I did not kill herpoor girl! Look! that is she!             No; it cannot be!
  she cannot come here! it cannot be my poor Clotelle。〃
  At the sound of her own name; coming from the maniac's lips; Clotelle
  gasped for breath; and her husband saw that she had grown deadly pale。
  It seemed evident to him that the man was either guilty of some terrible act;
  or   imagined   himself   to   be。   His   eyeballs   rolled   in   their   sockets;   and   his
  features showed that he was undergoing 〃the tortures of that inward hell;〃
  which seemed to set his whole brain on fire。                 After recovering her self…
  possession and strength; Clotelle approached the bedside; and laid her soft
  hand upon the stranger's hot and fevered brow。
  One   long;   loud   shriek   rang   out   on   the   air;   and   a   piercing   cry;   〃It   is
  she!Yes;   it   is   she!  I   see;   I   see! Ah!   no;   it   is   not   my   daughter!   She
  would not come to me if she could!〃 broke forth from him。
  〃I am your daughter;〃 said Clotelle; as she pressed her handkerchief to
  her face; and sobbed aloud。
  Like   balls   of   fire;   the   poor   man's   eyes   rolled   and   glared   upon   the
  company;       while    large   drops    of  perspiration     ran   down     his   pale   and
  emaciated face。 Strange as the scene appeared; all present saw that it was
  indeed a meeting between a father and his long…lost daughter。 Jerome now
  ordered all present to   leave the room; except the nurse; and every  effort
  was at once made to quiet the sufferer。 When calm; a joyous smile would
  illuminate the sick man's face; and a strange light beam in his eyes; as he
  seemed to realize that she who stood before him was indeed his child。
  For two long days and nights did Clotelle watch at the bedside of her
  father before he could speak to her intelligently。 Sometimes; in his insane
  fits;  he   would    rave   in  the   most   frightful   manner;     and   then;   in  a  few
  moments; would be as easily governed as a child。 At last; however; after a
  long     and   apparently     refreshing     sleep;   he   awoke     suddenly     to   a  full
  consciousness       that   it  was   indeed    his  daughter     who    was   watching     so
  patiently by his side。
  The presence of his long absent child had a soothing effect upon Mr。
  Linwood; and he now recovered rapidly from the sad and almost hopeless
  condition   in   which   she   had   found   him。   When   able   to   converse;