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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in the street unknowing and unknown。 His outward form she might not
recognize； but himself she should feel in the thrill of her whole
being。 He could not pass her unawares。
What little she did hear about him； all testified a downward
tendency。 He dranknot at stated times when there was no other work
to be done； but continually； whether it was seed…time or harvest。
His children were all ill at the same time； then one died； while the
others recovered； but were poor sickly things。 No one dared to give
Susan any direct intelligence of her former lover； many avoided all
mention of his name in her presence； but a few spoke out either in
indifference to； or ignorance of； those bygone days。 Susan heard
every word； every whisper； every sound that related to him。 But her
eye never changed； nor did a muscle of her face move。
Late one November night she sat over her fire； not a human being
besides herself in the house； none but she had ever slept there since
Willie's death。 The farm…labourers had foddered the cattle and gone
home hours before。 There were crickets chirping all round the warm
hearth…stones； there was the clock ticking with the peculiar beat
Susan had known from her childhood； and which then and ever since she
had oddly associated within the idea of a mother and child talking
together； one loud tick； and quicka feeble； sharp one following。
The day had been keen； and piercingly cold。 The whole lift of heaven
seemed a dome of iron。 Black and frost…bound was the earth under the
cruel east wind。 Now the wind had dropped； and as the darkness had
gathered in； the weather…wise old labourers prophesied snow。 The
sounds in the air arose again； as Susan sat still and silent。 They
were of a different character to what they had been during the
prevalence of the east wind。 Then they had been shrill and piping；
now they were like low distant growling； not unmusical； but strangely
threatening。 Susan went to the window； and drew aside the little
curtain。 The whole world was whitethe air was blinded with the
swift and heavy fall of snow。 At present it came down straight； but
Susan knew those distant sounds in the hollows and gulleys of the
hills portended a driving wind and a more cruel storm。 She thought
of her sheep； were they all folded？ the new…born calf； was it bedded
well？ Before the drifts were formed too deep for her to pass in and
outand by the morning she judged that they would be six or seven
feet deepshe would go out and see after the comfort of her beasts。
She took a lantern； and tied a shawl over her head； and went out into
the open air。 She had tenderly provided for all her animals； and was
returning； when； borne on the blast as if some spirit…cryfor it
seemed to come rather down from the skies than from any creature
standing on earth's levelshe heard a voice of agony； she could not
distinguish words； it seemed rather as if some bird of prey was being
caught in the whirl of the icy wind； and torn and tortured by its
violence。 Again up high above！ Susan put down her lantern； and
shouted loud in return； it was an instinct； for if the creature were
not human； which she had doubted but a moment before； what good could
her responding cry do？ And her cry was seized on by the tyrannous
wind； and borne farther away in the opposite direction to that from
which the call of agony had proceeded。 Again she listened； no sound：
then again it rang through space； and this time she was sure it was
human。 She turned into the house； and heaped turf and wood on the
fire； which； careless of her own sensations； she had allowed to fade
and almost die out。 She put a new candle in her lantern； she changed
her shawl for a maud； and leaving the door on latch； she sallied out。
Just at the moment when her ear first encountered the weird noises of
the storm； on issuing forth into the open air； she thought she heard
the words； 〃O God！ O help！〃 They were a guide to her； if words they
were； for they came straight from a rock not a quarter of a mile from
Yew Nook； but only to be reached； on account of its precipitous
character； by a round…about path。 Thither she steered； defying wind
and snow； guided by here a thorn…tree； there an old； doddered oak；
which had not quite lest their identity under the whelming mask of
snow。 Now and then she stopped to listen； but never a word or sound
heard she； till right from where the copse…wood grew thick and
tangled at the base of the rock； round which she was winding； she
heard a moan。 Into the brakeall snow in appearancealmost a plain
of snow looked on from the little eminence where she stoodshe
plunged； breaking down the bush； stumbling； bruising herself；
fighting her way； her lantern held between her teeth； and she herself
using head as well as hands to butt away a passage； at whatever cost
of bodily injury。 As she climbed or staggered； owing to the
unevenness of the snow…covered ground； where the briars and weeds of
years were tangled and matted together； her foot felt something
strangely soft and yielding。 She lowered her lantern； there lay a
man； prone on his face； nearly covered by the fast…falling flakes； he
must have fallen from the rock above； as； not knowing of the
circuitous path； he had tried to descend its steep； slippery face。
Who could tell？ it was no time for thinking。 Susan lifted him up
with her wiry strength； he gave no helpno sign of life； but for all
that he might be alive： he was still warm； she tied her maud round
him； she fastened the lantern to her apron…string； she held him
tight： half…carrying； half…draggingwhat did a few bruises signify
to him； compared to dear life； to precious life！ She got him through
the brake； and down the path。 There； for an instant； she stopped to
take breath； but； as if stung by the Furies； she pushed on again with
almost superhuman strength。 Clasping him round the waist； and
leaning his dead weight against the lintel of the door； she tried to
undo the latch； but now； just at this moment； a trembling faintness
came over her； and a fearful dread took possession of herthat here；
on the very threshold of her home； she might be found dead； and
buried under the snow； when the farm…servants came in the morning。
This terror stirred her up to one more effort。 Then she and her
companion were in the warmth of the quiet haven of that kitchen； she
laid him on the settle； and sank on the floor by his side。 How long
she remained in this swoon she could not tell； not very long she
judged by the fire； which was still red and sullenly glowing when she
came to herself。 She lighted the candle； and bent over her late
burden to ascertain if indeed he were dead。 She stood long gazing。
The man lay dead。 There could be no doubt about it。 His filmy eyes
glared at her； unshut。 But Susan was not one to be affrighted by the
stony aspect of death。 It was not that； it was the bitter； woeful
recognition of Michael Hurst！
She was convinc