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weir of hermiston(赫米斯顿的魏尔)-第5章

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antique relation of the mother and the child; hypocrisies are multiplied。 



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                                      Weir of Hermiston 



     When the Court rose that year and the family returned to Hermiston; it 

was a common remark in all the country that the lady was sore failed。 She 

seemed to loose and seize again her touch with life; now sitting inert in a 

sort of durable bewilderment; anon waking to feverish and weak activity。 

She dawdled about the lasses at their work; looking stupidly on; she fell to 

rummaging in old cabinets and presses; and desisted when half through; 

she would begin remarks with an air of animation and drop them without a 

struggle。     Her    common       appearance      was    of   one    who    has   forgotten 

something and is trying to remember; and when she overhauled; one after 

another;   the   worthless   and   touching   mementoes   of   her   youth;   she   might 

have   been   seeking   the   clue   to   that   lost   thought。   During   this   period;   she 

gave many  gifts   to   the neighbours and house lasses;  giving   them  with   a 

manner of regret that embarrassed the recipients。 

     The  last   night   of   all she   was   busy  on   some   female   work;   and   toiled 

upon it with so manifest and painful a devotion that my lord (who was not 

often curious) inquired as to its nature。 

     She blushed to the eyes。 〃O; Edom; it's for you!〃 she said。 〃It's slippers。 

I … I hae never made ye any。〃 

     〃Ye daft auld wife!〃 returned his lordship。 〃A bonny figure I would be; 

palmering about in bauchles!〃 

     The next day; at the hour of her walk; Kirstie interfered。 Kirstie took 

this decay  of   her   mistress   very  hard;   bore   her   a   grudge;   quarrelled   with 

and railed upon her; the anxiety of a genuine love wearing the disguise of 

temper。 This day of all days she insisted disrespectfully; with rustic fury; 

that Mrs。 Weir should stay at home。 But; 〃No; no;〃 she said; 〃it's my lord's 

orders;〃 and set forth as usual。 Archie was visible in the acre bog; engaged 

upon some childish enterprise; the instrument of which was mire; and she 

stood   and   looked   at   him   a   while   like   one   about   to   call;   then   thought 

otherwise; sighed; and shook her head; and proceeded on her rounds alone。 

The house lasses were at the burnside washing; and saw her pass with her 

loose; weary; dowdy gait。 

     〃She's a terrible feckless wife; the mistress!〃 said the one。 

     〃Tut;〃 said the other; 〃the wumman's seeck。〃 

     〃Weel; I canna see nae differ in her;〃 returned the first。 〃A fushionless 



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                                     Weir of Hermiston 



quean; a feckless carline。〃 

     The    poor   creature   thus   discussed    rambled     a  while   in  the  grounds 

without a purpose。 Tides in her mind ebbed and flowed; and carried her to 

and fro like seaweed。 She tried a path; paused; returned; and tried another; 

questing; forgetting her quest; the spirit of choice extinct in her bosom; or 

devoid     of   sequency。     On   a   sudden;    it  appeared     as  though    she   had 

remembered;   or   had   formed   a   resolution;   wheeled   about;   returned   with 

hurried steps; and appeared in the dining…room; where Kirstie was at the 

cleaning; like one charged with an important errand。 

     〃Kirstie!〃 she began; and paused; and then with conviction; 〃Mr。 Weir 

isna speeritually minded; but he has been a good man to me。〃 

     It was perhaps the first time since her husband's elevation that she had 

forgotten the handle to his name; of which the tender; inconsistent woman 

was not a little proud。 And when Kirstie looked up at the speaker's face; 

she was aware of a change。 

     〃Godsake;   what's   the   maitter   wi'   ye;   mem?〃   cried   the   housekeeper; 

starting from the rug。 

     〃I do not ken;〃 answered her mistress; shaking her head。 〃But he is not 

speeritually minded; my dear。〃 

     〃Here; sit down with ye! Godsake; what ails the wife?〃 cried Kirstie; 

and helped   and   forced her into   my  lord's own   chair   by the   cheek   of the 

hearth。 

     〃Keep     me;    what's    this?〃   she   gasped。    〃Kirstie;    what's   this?   I'm 

frich'ened。〃 

     They were her last words。 

     It was the lowering nightfall when my lord returned。 He had the sunset 

in his back; all clouds and glory; and before him; by the wayside; spied 

Kirstie Elliott waiting。 She was dissolved in tears; and addressed him in 

the high; false note of barbarous mourning; such as still lingers modified 

among Scots heather。 

     〃The Lord peety ye; Hermiston! the Lord prepare ye!〃 she keened out。 

〃Weary upon me; that I should have to tell it!〃 

     He reined in his horse and looked upon her with the hanging face。 

     〃Has the French landit?〃 cried he。 



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                                      Weir of Hermiston 



     〃Man; man;〃 she said; 〃is that a' ye can think of? The Lord prepare ye: 

the Lord comfort and support ye!〃 

     〃Is onybody deid?〃 said his lordship。 〃It's no Erchie?〃 

     〃Bethankit;   no!〃   exclaimed   the   woman;   startled   into   a   more   natural 

tone。 〃Na; na; it's no sae bad as that。 It's the mistress; my lord; she just fair 

flittit before my e'en。 She just gi'ed a sab and was by wi' it。 Eh; my bonny 

Miss   Jeannie;   that   I   mind   sae   weel!〃 And   forth   again upon   that   pouring 

tide of lamentation in which women of her class excel and over…abound。 

     Lord   Hermiston   sat   in   the   saddle   beholding   her。   Then   he   seemed   to 

recover command upon himself。 

     〃Well;     it's  something    of   the  suddenest;〃     said   he。   〃But   she   was    a 

dwaibly body from the first。〃 

     And   he   rode   home   at   a   precipitate   amble   with   Kirstie   at   his   horse's 

heels。 

     Dressed as she was for her last walk; they had laid the dead lady on 

her bed。 She was never interesting in life; in death she was not impressive; 

and   as   her   husband   stood   before   her;   with   his   hands   crossed   behind   his 

powerful   back;   that   which   he   looked   upon   was   the   very   image   of   the 

insignificant。 

     〃Her and me were never cut out for one another;〃 he remarked at last。 

〃It was a daft…like marriage。〃 And then; with a most unusual gentleness of 

tone; 〃Puir bitch;〃 said he; 〃puir bitch!〃 Then suddenly: 〃Where's Erchie?〃 

     Kirstie had decoyed him to her room and given him 〃a jeely…piece。〃 

     〃Ye    have    some    kind    of  gumption;     too;〃   observed     the   judge;   and 

considered his housekeeper grimly。 〃When all's said;〃 he added; 〃I micht 

have done waur … I micht have been marriet upon a skirting Jezebel like 

you!〃 

     〃T
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