友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
twice-told tales- old esther dudley-第2部分
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
came the shadows of the Olivers; the Hutchinsons; the Dudleys; all the
grandees of a by…gone generation; gliding beneath the portal into
the well…known mansion; where Esther mingled with them as if she
likewise were a shade。 Without vouching for the truth of such
traditions; it is certain that Mistress Dudley sometimes assembled a
few of the stanch; though crestfallen; old tories; who had lingered in
the rebel town during those days of wrath and tribulation。 Out of a
cobwebbed bottle; containing liquor that a royal Governor might have
smacked his lips over; they quaffed healths to the King; and babbled
treason to the Republic; feeling as if the protecting shadow of the
throne were still flung around them。 But; draining the last drops of
their liquor; they stole timorously homeward; and answered not again
if the rude mob reviled them in the street。
Yet Esther Dudley's most frequent and favored guests were the
children of the town。 Towards them she was never stern。 A kindly and
loving nature; hindered elsewhere from its free course by a thousand
rocky prejudices; lavished itself upon these little ones。 By bribes of
gingerbread of her own making; stamped with a royal crown; she tempted
their sunny sportiveness beneath the gloomy portal of the Province
House; and would often beguile them to spend a whole playday there;
sitting in a circle round the verge of her hoop petticoat; greedily
attentive to her stories of a dead world。 And when these little boys
and girls stole forth again from the dark mysterious mansion; they
went bewildered; full of old feelings that graver people had long
ago forgotten; rubbing their eyes at the world around them as if
they had gone astray into ancient times; and become children of the
past。 At home; when their parents asked where they had loitered such a
weary while; and with whom they had been at play; the children would
talk of all the departed worthies of the Province; as far back as
Governor Belcher and the haughty dame of Sir William Phipps。 It
would seem as though they had been sitting on the knees of these
famous personages; whom the grave had hidden for half a century; and
had toyed with the embroidery of their rich waistcoats; or roguishly
pulled the long curls of their flowing wigs。 〃But Governor Belcher has
been dead this many a year;〃 would the mother say to her little boy。
〃And did you really see him at the Province House?〃 〃Oh yes; dear
mother! yes!〃 the half…dreaming child would answer。 〃But when old
Esther had done speaking about him he faded away out of his chair。〃
Thus; without affrighting her little guests; she led them by the
hand into the chambers of her own desolate heart; and made childhood's
fancy discern the ghosts that haunted there。
Living so continually in her own circle of ideas; and never
regulating her mind by a proper reference to present things; Esther
Dudley appears to have grown partially crazed。 It was found that she
had no right sense of the progress and true state of the Revolutionary
War; but held a constant faith that the armies of Britain were
victorious on every field; and destined to be ultimately triumphant。
Whenever the town rejoiced for a battle won by Washington; or Gates;
or Morgan; or Greene; the news; in passing through the door of the
Province House; as through the ivory gate of dreams; became
metamorphosed into a strange tale of the prowess of Howe; Clinton;
or Cornwallis。 Sooner or later it was her invincible belief the
colonies would be prostrate at the footstool of the King。 Sometimes
she seemed to take for granted that such was already the case。 On
one occasion; she startled the townspeople by a brilliant illumination
of the Province House; with candles at every pane of glass; and a
transparency of the King's initials and a crown of light in the
great balcony window。 The figure of the aged woman in the most
gorgeous of her mildewed velvets and brocades was seen passing from
casement to casement; until she paused before the balcony; and
flourished a huge key above her head。 Her wrinkled visage actually
gleamed with triumph; as if the soul within her were a festal lamp。
〃What means this blaze of light? What does old Esther's joy
portend?〃 whispered a spectator。 〃It is frightful to see her gliding
about the chambers; and rejoicing there without a soul to bear her
company。〃
〃It is as if she were making merry in a tomb;〃 said another。
〃Pshaw! It is no such mystery;〃 observed an old man; after some
brief exercise of memory。 〃Mistress Dudley is keeping jubilee for
the King of England's birthday。〃
Then the people laughed aloud; and would have thrown mud against
the blazing transparency of the King's crown and initials; only that
they pitied the poor old dame; who was so dismally triumphant amid the
wreck and ruin of the system to which she appertained。
Oftentimes it was her custom to climb the weary staircase that
wound upward to the cupola; and thence strain her dimmed eyesight
seaward and countryward; watching for a British fleet; or for the
march of a grand procession; with the King's banner floating over
it。 The passengers in the street below would discern her anxious
visage; and send up a shout; 〃When the golden Indian on the Province
House shall shoot his arrow; and when the cock on the Old South
spire shall crow; then look for a Royal Governor again!〃… for this had
grown a byword through the town。 And at last; after long; long
years; old Esther Dudley knew; or perchance she only dreamed; that a
Royal Governor was on the eve of returning to the Province House to
receive the heavy key which Sir William Howe had committed to her
charge。 Now it was the fact that intelligence bearing some faint
analogy to Esther's version of it was current among the townspeople。
She set the mansion in the best order that her means allowed; and;
arraying herself in silks and tarnished gold; stood long before the
blurred mirror to admire her own magnificence。 As she gazed; the
gray and withered lady moved her ashen lips; murmuring half aloud;
talking to shapes that she saw within the mirror; to shadows of her
own fantasies; to the household friends of memory; and bidding them
rejoice with her and come forth to meet the Governor。 And while
absorbed in this communion; Mistress Dudley heard the tramp of many
footsteps in the street; and; looking out at the window; beheld what
she construed as the Royal Governor's arrival。
〃O happy day! O blessed; blessed hour!〃 she exclaimed。 〃Let me
but bid him welcome within the portal; and my task in the Province
House; and on earth; is done!〃
Then with tottering feet; which age and tremulous joy caused to
tread amiss; she hurried down the grand staircase; her silks sweeping
and rustling as she went; so that the sound was as if a train of
spectral courtiers were thronging from the dim mirror。 And Esther
Dudley fancied that as soon as the wide door should be flung open; all
the pomp and splendor of by…gone times would pace majestically into
the Province House; and the gilded tapestry of the past would be
brightened by the sunshine of the present。 She turned the key…
withdrew it from the lock… unclosed the door… and stepped across the
threshold。 Advancing up the court…yard appeared a person of most
dignified mien; with tokens; as Esther interpreted them; of gentle
blood; high rank; and long…accustomed authority; even in his walk and
every gesture。 He was richly dressed; but wore a gouty shoe; which;
however; did not lessen the stateliness of his gait。 Around and behind
him were people in plain civic dresses; and two or three war…worn
veterans; evidently officers of rank; arrayed in a uniform of blue and
buff。 But Esther Dudley; firm in the belief that had fastened its
roots about her heart; beheld only the principal personage; and never
doubted that this was the long…looked…for Governor; to whom she was to
surrender up her charge。 As he approached; she involuntarily sank down
on her knees and tremblingly held forth the heavy key。
〃Receive my trust! take it quickly!〃 cried she; 〃for methinks Death
is striving to snatch away my triumph。 But he comes too late。 Thank
Heaven for this blessed hour! God save King George!〃
〃That; Madam; is a strange prayer to be offered up at such a
moment;〃 replied the unknown guest of the Province House; and
courteously removing his hat; he offered his arm to raise the aged
woman。 〃Yet; in reverence for your gray hairs and long…kept faith;
Heaven forbid that any here should say you nay。 Over the realms
which still acknowledge his sceptre; God save King George!〃
Esther Dudley started to her feet; and hastily clutching back the
key; gazed with fearful earnestness at the stranger; and dimly and
doubtfully; as if suddenly awakened from a dream; her bewildered
eyes half recognized his face。 Years ago she had known him among the
gentry of the province。 But the ban of the King had fallen upon him!
How; then; came the doomed victim here? Proscribed; excluded from
mercy; the monarch's most dreaded and hated foe; this New England
merchant had stood triumphantly against a kingdom's strength; and
his foot now trod upon humbled Royalty; as he ascended the steps of
the Province House; the people's chosen Governor of Massachusetts。
〃Wretch; wretch that I am!〃 muttered the old woman; with such a
heart…broken expression that the tears gushed from the stranger's
eyes。 〃Have I bidden a traitor welcome? Come; Death! come quickly!〃
〃Alas; venerable lady。 said Governor Hancock; lending her his
support with all the reverence that a courtier would have shown to a
queen。 〃Your life has been prolonged until the world has changed
around you。 You have treasured up all that time has rendered
worthless… the principles; feelings; manners; modes of being and
acting; which another generation has flung aside… and you are a symbol
of the past。 And I; and these around me… we represent a new race of
men… living no longer in the past; scarcely in the present… but
projecting our lives forward into the future。 Ceasing to model
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!