we two-第99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！

ught；　too；　that　Raeburn　was　very　likely　right　and　that　she　was　rather　overdone　by　the　strain　of　those　long　weeks　of　solitary　attendance。　　But　he　was　much　too　wise　to　attempt　to　reason　away　her　fears；　he　knew　that　nothing　but　her　father's　presence　would　set　her　at　rest；　and　they　walked　as　fast　as　they　could　to　the　Town　Hall。　　He　was　just　turning　down　a　street　which　led　into　the　High　Street　when　Erica　drew　him　instead　in　the　direction　of　a　narrow　byway。

〃Down　here；〃　she　said；　walking　straight　on　as　though　she　held　some　guiding　clew　in　her　hand。

He　was　astonished　as　she　could　not　possibly　have　been　in　this　part　of　the　town　before。　　Moreover；　her　whole　bearing　was　very　strange；　she　was　still　pale　and　trembling；　and　her　ungloved　hands　felt　as　cold　as　ice　while；　although　he　had　given　her　his　arm；　he　felt　all　the　time　that　she　was　leading　him。

At　length　a　sound　of　many　voices　was　heard　in　the　distance。　　Donovan　felt　a　sort　of　thrill　pass　through　the　hand　that　rested　on　his　arm；　and　Erica　began　to　walk　more　quickly　than　ever。　　A　minute　more；　and　the　little　byway　led　them　out　into　the　market　place。　　It　was　lighted　with　the　electric　light；　and　tonight　the　light　was　concentrated　at　one　end；　the　end　at　which　stood　the　Town　Hall。　　Instinctively　Donovan's　eyes　were　turned　at　once　toward　that　brightest　point　and　also　toward　the　sound；　the　subdued　roar　of　the　multitude　which　they　had　heard　on　their　way。　　There　was　another　sound；　too　a　man's　ringing　voice；　a　stentorian　voice　which　reached　them　clearly　even　at　that　distance。　　Raeburn　stood　alone；　facing　an　angry；　tumultuous　throng；　with　his　back　to　the　closed　door　of　the　building　and　his　tawny　eyes　scanning　the　mass　of　hostile　faces　below。

〃Every　Englishman　has　a　right　to　freedom　of　speech。　　You　shall　not　rob　me　or　any　other　man　of　a　right。　　I　have　fought　for　this　all　my　life；　and　I　will　fight　as　long　as　I've　breath。〃

〃That　shall　not　be　long！〃　shouted　another　speaker。　　〃Forward；　brothers！　　Down　with　the　infidel！　Vengeance；　vengeance。〃

The　haggard；　wild…looking　man　who　had　addressed　Raeburn　the　day　before　at　Greyshot　now　sprang　forward　；　there　was　a　surging　movement　in　the　crowd　like　wind　in　a　corn　field。　　Donovan　and　Erica；　hurrying　forward；　saw　Raeburn　surrounded　on　every　side；　forced　away　from　the　door；　and　at　length　half　stunned　by　a　heavy　blow　from　the　fanatical　leader；　then；　taken　thus　at　a　disadvantage；　he　was　pushed　backward。　　They　saw　him　fall　heavily　down　the　stone　steps。

With　a　low　cry　Erica　rushed　toward　him；　breaking　away　from　Donovan　and　forcing　a　way　through　that　rough　crowd　as　if　by　magic。　　Donovan；　though　so　much　taller　and　stronger；　was　longer　in　reaching　the　foot　of　the　steps；　and　when　at　length　he　had　pushed　his　way　through　the　thickest　part　of　the　throng　he　was　hindered　for　the　haggard…looking　man　who　had　been　the　ringleader　in　the　assault　ran　into　his　very　arms。　　He　was　evidently　struck　with　horror　at　the　result　of　his　mad　enterprise　and　now　meditated　flight。　　But　Donovan　stopped　him。

〃You　must　come　with　me；　my　friend；〃　he　exclaimed；　seizing　the　fanatic　by　the　collar。

Nor　did　he　pause　till　he　had　handed　him　over　to　a　policeman。　　Then　once　more　he　forced　a　passage　through　the　hushed　crowd　and　at　last　reached　the　foot　of　the　steps。　　He　found　Erica　on　the　ground　with　her　father's　head　raised　on　her　knees。　　He　was　perfectly　unconscious；　but　it　seemed　as　if　his　spirit　and　energy　had　been　transmitted　to　his　child。　　Erica　was　giving　orders　so　clearly　and　authoritatively　that　Donovan　could　only　marvel　at　her　strength　and　composure。

〃Stand　back！〃　she　was　saying　as　he　approached。　　〃How　can　he　come　to　while　you　are　shutting　out　the　air？　　Some　one　go　quickly　and　fetch　a　door　or　a　litter。　　You　go；　and　you。〃

She　indicated　two　or　three　more　respectable…looking　men；　and　they　at　once　obeyed　her。　　She　looked　relieved　to　see　Donovan。

〃Won't　you　go　inside　and　speak　to　the　people？〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　sent　for　a　doctor。　　If　some　one　doesn't　go　soon；　they　will　come　out；　and　then　there　might　be　a　riot。　　Tell　them　if　they　have　any　feeling　for　my　father　to　separate　quietly。　　Don't　let　them　all　out　upon　these　people；　there　is　sure　to　be　fighting　if　they　meet。〃

Donovan　could　not　bear　to　leave　her　in　such　a　position；　but　just　then　a　doctor　came　up；　and　the　police　began　to　drive　back　the　crowd；　and　since　the　people　were　rather　awed　by　what　had　happened；　they　dispersed　meekly　enough。　　Donovan　went　into　the　Town　Hall　then；　and　gradually　learned　what　had　taken　place。　　It　seemed　that　soon　after　the　beginning　of　Raeburn's　lecture；　a　large　crowd　had　gathered　outside；　headed　by　a　man　named　Drosser；　a　street　preacher；　well…known　in　Ashborough　and　the　neighborhood。　　This　crowd　had　stormed　the　doors　of　the　hall　and　had　created　such　an　uproar　that　it　was　impossible　to　proceed　with　the　lecture。　　The　doors　had　been　quite　unequal　to　the　immense　pressure　from　without；　and　Raeburn；　foreseeing　that　they　would　give　way　and　knowing　that；　if　the　insurgents　met　his　audience；　there　would　be　serious　risk　to　the　lives　of　many；　had　insisted　on　trying　to　dismiss　the　crowd　without；　or；　at　any　rate；　to　secure　some　sort　of　order。　　Several　had　offered　to　go　with　him；　but　he　had　begged　the　audience　to　keep　still　and　had　gone　out　alone　the　crowd　being　so　astonished　by　this　unexpected　move　that　they　fell　back　for　a　moment　before　him。　　Apparently　his　plan　would　have　succeeded　very　well　had　it　not　been　for　Drosser's　deliberate　assault。　　He　had　gained　a　hearing　from　the　people　and　would　probably　have　dispersed　them　had　he　not　been　borne　down　by　brute　force。

It　was　no　easy　task　to　tell　the　audience　what　had　happened；　but　Donovan　was　popular　and　greatly　respected　and；　thanks　to　his　tact；　their　wrath；　though　very　great；　was　restrained。　　In　fact；　Raeburn　was　so　well　known　to　disapprove　of　any　sort　of　violence　that　Donovan's　appeal　to　them　to　preserve　order　for　his　sake　met　with　a　deep；　suppressed　murmur　of　assent。　　When　all　was　safe　he　hurried　back　to　the　hotel　where　they　were　glad　enough　of　his　services。　　Raeburn　had　recovered　his　senses　for　a　minute　but　only　to　sink　almost　immediately　into　another　swoon。　　For　many　hours　this　went　on；　he　would　partly　revive；　even　speak　a　few　words；　and　then　sink　back　once　more。　　Every　time　Erica　thought　it　would　end　in　death；　nor　could　she　gather　comfort　from　the　looks　of　either　of　the　doctors　or　of　Donovan。

〃This　is　not　the　first　time　I've　been　knocked　down　and　trampled　on；〃　said　Raeburn；　faintly；　in　one　of　his　intervals　of　consciousness；　〃but　it　will　be　the　last　time。〃

And　though　the　words　were　spoken　with　a　touch　of　his　native　humor　and　might　have　borne　more　than　one　interpretation；　yet　they　answered　painfully　to　the　conviction　which　lay　deep　in　Erica's　heart。

〃Then　let　me　send　a　telegram　from　the　'Ashborough　Times'　office；〃　said　Donovan　to　her　in　one　of　the　momentary　pauses。　　〃I　have　sent　for　your　cousin　and　Mrs。　Craigie　and　for　Brian。〃

For　the　first　time　Erica's　outward　composure　gave　way。　　Her　mouth　began　to　quiver　and　her　eyes　to　fill。

〃Oh！　　Thank　you；〃　she　said；　and　there　was　something　in　her　voice　that　went　to　Donovan's　heart。　　


CHAPTER　XL。　Mors　Janua　Vitae

Therefore　to　whom　turn　I　but　to　Thee；　the　ineffable　Name？　Builder　and　maker　Thou；　of　houses　not　made　with　hands！　What；　have　fear　of　change　from　Thee　who　art　ever　the　same？　Doubt　that　thy　power　can　fill　the　heart　that　Thy　power　expands？

And　what　is　our　failure　here　but　a　triumph's　evidence　For　the　fullness　of　the　days？　　Have　we　withered　or　agonized？　Why　else　was　the　pause　prolonged　but　that　singing　might　issue　thence？　Why　rushed　the　discords　in；　but　that　harmony　should　be　prized？　R。　Browning

Early　on　the　Monday　morning　three　anxious…looking　travelers　arrived　by　the　first　train　from　London；　and　drove　as　fast　as　might　be　to　the　Park　Hotel　at　Ashborough。　　They　were　evidently　expected　for　the　moment　their　cab　stopped　a　door　on　one　of　the　upper　floors　was　opened；　and　some　one　ran　quickly　down　the　stairs　to　meet　them。

〃Is　he　better？〃　asked　Aunt　Jean。

Erica　shook　her　head　and；　indeed；　her　face　told　them　much　more　than　the　brief　words　of　the　telegram。　　She　was　deathly　white；　and　had　that　weighed…down　look　which　people　wear　when　they　have　watched　all　night　beside　one　who　is　hovering　between　life　and　death。　　She　seemed　to　recover　herself　a　little　as　her　hand　rested　for　a　moment　in　Brian's。

〃He　has　been　asking　for　you；〃　she　said。　　〃Do　go　to　him。　　The　faintness　has　quite　passed　off；　and　they　say　inflammation　has　set　in；　he　is　in　frightful　pain。〃

Her　lips　grew　a　shade　whiter　as　she　spoke　and；　with　an　effort；　she　seemed　to　turn　away　from　some　horrible　recollection。

〃There　is　some　breakfast　ready　for　you　in　here；〃　she　said　to　her　aunt。　　〃You　must　have　something　before　you　see　him。　　Oh；　I　am　so　glad　you　have　come；　auntie！〃

Aunt　Jean　kissed　her　and　cried　a　little；　trouble　always　brought　these　two　together　however　much　they　disagreed　at　other　times。　　Tom　did　not　say　a　word；　but　began　to　cut　a　loaf　to　pieces　as　though　they　had　the　very　largest　appetites；　the　great　pile　of　slices　lay　untouched　on　the　trencher；　but　the　cutting　had　served　its　purpose　of　a　relief　to　his　pent…up　feelings。

Later　on　there　was　a　consultation　of　doctors；　their　verdict　was　perhaps　a　little　more　hopeful　than　Erica