第 103 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:40      字数:9322
  from her mood; but only; as she neared the house; lapsing into her
  other trouble; and preparing to resist any misjudged; though kind
  attempt of her father; to make her unsay her rebuke to Miss Bracy。
  Pride and temper!  Ah! Etheldred! where were they now?
  Dr。 May was at his study door as his daughters entered the hall; and
  Ethel expected the order which she meant to question; but; instead of
  this; after a brief inquiry after the doings of the nine muses; which
  Flora answered; so as to make him laugh; he stopped Ethel; as she was
  going upstairs; by saying; 〃I do not know whether this letter is
  intended for Richard; or for me。  At any rate; it concerns you most。〃
  The envelope was addressed to the Reverend Richard May; D。 D。; Market
  Stoneborough; and the letter began; 〃Reverend Sir。〃  So far Ethel
  saw; and exclaimed; with amusement; then; with a long…drawn  〃Ah!〃
  and an interjection; 〃My poor dear Una!〃 she became absorbed; the
  large tearsyes; Ethel's reluctant tears gathering slowly and
  dropping。
  The letter was from a clergyman far away in the north of England; who
  said he could not; though a stranger; resist the desire to send to
  Dr。 May an account of a poor girl; who seemed to have received great
  benefits from him; or from some of his family; especially as she had
  shown great eagerness on his proposing to write。
  He said it was nearly a year since there had come into his parish a
  troop of railwaymen and their families。  For the most part; they were
  completely wild and rude; unused to any pastoral care; but; even on
  the first Sunday; he had noticed a keen…looking; freckled; ragged;
  unmistakably Irish girl; creeping into church with a Prayer…book in
  her hand; and had afterwards found her hanging about the door of the
  school。  〃I never saw a more engaging; though droll; wild expression;
  than that with which she looked up to me。〃  (Ethel's cry of delight
  was at that sentenceshe knew that look too well; and had yearned
  after it so often!)  〃I found her far better instructed than her
  appearance had led me to expect; and more truly impressed with the
  spirit of what she had learned than it has often been my lot to find
  children。  She was perfect in the New Testament history〃(〃Ah! that
  she was not; when she went away!〃)〃and was in the habit of
  constantly attending church; and using morning and evening prayers。〃
  (〃Oh! how I longed; when she went away; to beg her to keep them up!
  Dear Una。〃)  〃On my questions; as to how she had been taught; she
  always replied; 'Mr。 Richard May;' or 'Miss Athel。'  You must excuse
  me if I have not correctly caught the name from her Irish
  pronunciation。〃  (〃I am afraid he thinks my name is Athaliah!  But
  oh! this dear girl!  How I have wished to hear of her!〃)  〃Everything
  was answered with 'Mr。 Richard;' or 'Miss Athel'; and; if I inquired
  further; her face would light up with a beam of gratitude; and she
  would run on; as long as I could listen; with instances of their
  kindness。  It was the same with her mother; a wild; rude specimen of
  an Irishwoman; whom I never could bring to church herself; but who
  ran on loudly with their praises; usually ending with 'Heavens be
  their bed;' and saying that Una had been quite a different girl since
  the young ladies and gentleman found her out; and put them parables
  in her head。
  〃For my own part; I can testify that; in the seven months that she
  attended my school; I never had a serious fault to find with her; but
  far more often to admire the earnestness and devout spirit; as well
  as the kindness and generosity apparent in all her conduct。  Bad
  living; and an unwholesome locality; have occasioned a typhus fever
  among the poor strangers in this place; and Una was one of the first
  victims。  Her mother; almost from the first; gave her up; saying she
  knew she was one marked for glory; and Una has been lying; day after
  day; in a sort of half…delirious state; constantly repeating hymns
  and psalms; and generally; apparently very happy; except when one
  distress occurred again and again; whether delirious or sensible;
  namely; that she had never gone to wish Miss May good…bye; and thank
  her; and that maybe she and Mr。 Richard thought her ungrateful; and
  she would sometimes beg; in her phraseology; to go on her bare knees
  to Stoneborough; only to see Miss Athel again。
  〃Her mother; I should say; told me the girl had been half mad at not
  being allowed to go and take leave of Miss May; and she had been
  sorry herself; but her husband had come home suddenly from the search
  for work; and; having made his arrangements; removed them at once;
  early the next morningtoo early to go to the young lady; though;
  she said; Una didas they passed through Stoneboroughrun down the
  street before she was aware; and she found her sobbing; fit to break
  her heart; before the house。〃  (〃Oh; why; why was I not up; and at
  the window!  Oh; my Una! to think of that!〃)  〃When I spoke of
  writing to let Miss May hear how it was; the poor girl caught at the
  idea with the utmost delight。  Her weakness was too great to allow
  her to utter many words distinctly; when I asked her what she would
  have me say; but these were as well as I could understand:'The
  blessing of one; that they have brought peace unto。  Tell them I
  pray; and will pray; that they may walk in the robe of gloryand
  tell Mr。 Richard that I mind what he said to me; of taking hold on
  the sure hope。  God crown all their crosses unto them; and fulfil all
  their desires unto everlasting life。'  I feel that I am not rendering
  her words with all their fervour and beauty of Irish expression; but
  I would that I could fully retain and transmit them; for those who
  have so led her must; indeed; be able to feel them precious。  I never
  saw a more peaceful frame of penitence and joy。  She died last night;
  sleeping herself away; without more apparent suffering; and will be
  committed to the earth on Sunday next; all her fellow…scholars
  attending; and; I hope; profiting by the example she has left。
  〃I have only to add my most earnest congratulations to those whose
  labour of love has borne such blessed fruit; and; hoping you will
  pardon the liberty; etc。〃
  Etheldred finished the letter through blinding tears; while rising
  sobs almost choked her。  She ran away to her own room; bolted the
  door; and threw herself on her knees; beside her bednow confusedly
  giving thanks for such resultsnow weeping bitterly over her own
  unworthiness。  Oh! what was she in the sight of Heaven; compared with
  what this poor girl had deemed herwith what this clergyman thought
  her?  She; the teacher; taught; trained; and guarded; from her
  infancy; by her wise mother; and by such a father!  She; to have
  given way all day to pride; jealousy; anger; selfish love of her own
  will; when this poor girl had embraced; and held fast; the blessed
  hope; from the very crumbs they had brought her!  Nothing could have
  so humbled the distrustful spirit that had been working in Ethel;
  which had been scotched into silencenot killedwhen she endured
  the bazaar; and now had been indemnifying itself by repining at every
  stumbling…block。  Her own scholar's blessing was the rebuke that went
  most home to her heart; for having doubted whether good could be
  worked in any way; save her own。
  She was interrupted by Mary trying to open the door; and; admitting
  her; heard her wonder at the traces of her tears; and ask what there
  was about Una。  Ethel gave her the letter; and Mary's tears showered
  very fastthey always came readily。  〃Oh; Ethel; how glad Richard
  will be!〃
  〃Yes; it is all Richard's doing。  So much more good; and wise; and
  humble; as he is。  No wonder his teaching〃 and Ethel sat down and
  cried again。
  Mary pondered。 〃 It makes me very glad;〃 she said; 〃and yet I don't
  know why one cries。  Ethel; do you think〃she came near; and
  whispered〃that Una has met dear mamma there?〃
  Ethel kissed her。  It was almost the first time Mary had spoken of
  her mother; and she answered; 〃Dear Mary; we cannot tellwe may
  think。  It is all one communion; you know。〃
  Mary was silent; and; next time she spoke; it was to hope that Ethel
  would tell the Cocksmoor children about Una。
  Ethel was obliged to dress; and go downstairs to tea。  Her father
  seemed to have been watching for her; with his study door open; for
  he came to meet her; took her hand; and said; in a low voice; 〃My
  dear child; I wish you joy。  This will be a pleasant message; to bid
  poor Ritchie good speed for his ordination; will it not?〃
  〃That it will; papa〃
  〃Why; Ethel; have you been crying over it all this time?〃 said he;
  struck by the sadness of her voice。
  〃Many other things; papa。  I am so unworthybut it was not our
  doingbut the grace〃
  〃No; but thankful you may be; to have been the means of awakening the
  grace!〃
  Ethel's lips trembled。  〃And oh; papa! coming to…day; when I have
  been behaving so ill to you; and Miss Bracy; and Flora; and all。
  〃Have you?  I did not know you had behaved ill to me。〃
  〃About Miss BracyI thought wrong things; if I did not say them。  To
  her; I believe; I said what was true; though it was harsh of me to
  say it; and〃
  〃What? about pride and temper?  It was true; and I hope it will do
  h