stories by modern american authors-第49部分

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surprise　or　incredulity。　　He　pursued　with　visible　pleasure　that

kind　of　disquisition　which　was　naturally　suggested　by　them。　　His

fancy　was　eminently　vigorous　and　prolific；　and；　if　he　did　not

persuade　us　that　human　beings　are　sometimes　admitted　to　a　sensible

intercourse　with　the　Author　of　nature；　he　at　least　won　over　our

inclination　to　the　cause。　　He　merely　deduced；　from　his　own

reasonings；　that　such　intercourse　was　probable；　but　confessed　that；

though　he　was　acquainted　with　many　instances　somewhat　similar　to

those　which　had　been　related　by　us；　none　of　them　were　perfectly

exempted　from　the　suspicion　of　human　agency。



On　being　requested　to　relate　these　instances；　he　amused　us　with

many　curious　details。　　His　narratives　were　constructed　with　so　much

skill；　and　rehearsed　with　so　much　energy；　that　all　the　effects　of　a

dramatic　exhibition　were　frequently　produced　by　them。　　Those　that

were　most　coherent　and　most　minute；　and；　of　consequence；　least

entitled　to　credit；　were　yet　rendered　probable　by　the　exquisite　art

of　this　rhetorician。　　For　every　difficulty　that　was　suggested　a

ready　and　plausible　solution　was　furnished。　　Mysterious　voices　had

always　a　share　in　producing　the　catastrophe；　but　they　were　always

to　be　explained　on　some　known　principles；　either　as　reflected　into

a　focus　or　communicated　through　a　tube。　　I　could　not　but　remark

that　his　narratives；　however　complex　or　marvelous；　contained　no

instance　sufficiently　parallel　to　those　that　had　befallen

ourselves；　and　in　which　the　solution　was　applicable　to　our　own

case。



My　brother　was　a　much　more　sanguine　reasoner　than　our　guest。　　Even

in　some　of　the　facts　which　were　related　by　Carwin；　he　maintained

the　probability　of　celestial　interference；　when　the　latter　was

disposed　to　deny　it；　and　had　found；　as　he　imagined；　footsteps　of　a

human　agent。　　Pleyel　was　by　no　means　equally　credulous。　　He

scrupled　not　to　deny　faith　to　any　testimony　but　that　of　his　senses；

and　allowed　the　facts　which　had　lately　been　supported　by　this

testimony　not　to　mold　his　belief；　but　merely　to　give　birth　to

doubts。



It　was　soon　observed　that　Carwin　adopted；　in　some　degree；　a　similar

distinction。　　A　tale　of　this　kind；　related　by　others；　he　would

believe；　provided　it　was　explicable　upon　known　principles；　but　that

such　notices　were　actually　communicated　by　beings　of　a　higher　order

he　would　believe　only　when　his　own　ears　were　assailed　in　a　manner

which　could　not　be　otherwise　accounted　for。　　Civility　forbade　him

to　contradict　my　brother　or　myself；　but　his　understanding　refused

to　acquiesce　in　our　testimony。　　Besides；　he　was　disposed　to

question　whether　the　voices　were　not　really　uttered　by　human

organs。　　On　this　supposition　he　was　desired　to　explain　how　the

effect　was　produced。



He　answered　that　the　cry　for　help；　heard　in　the　hall　on　the　night

of　my　adventure；　was　to　be　ascribed　to　a　human　creature；　who

actually　stood　in　the　hall　when　he　uttered　it。　　It　was　of　no

moment；　he　said；　that　we　could　not　explain　by　what　motives　he　that

made　the　signal　was　led　hither。　　How　imperfectly　acquainted　were　we

with　the　condition　and　designs　of　the　beings　that　surrounded　us！

The　city　was　near　at　hand；　and　thousands　might　there　exist　whose

powers　and　purposes　might　easily　explain　whatever　was　mysterious　in

this　transaction。　　As　to　the　closet　dialogue；　he　was　obliged　to

adopt　one　of　two　suppositions；　and　affirm　either　that　it　was

fashioned　in　my　own　fancy；　or　that　it　actually　took　place　between

two　persons　in　the　closet。



Such　was　Carwin's　mode　of　explaining　these　appearances。　　It　is

such；　perhaps；　as　would　commend　itself　as　most　plausible　to　the

most　sagacious　minds；　but　it　was　insufficient　to　impart　conviction

to　us。　　As　to　the　treason　that　was　meditated　against　me；　it　was

doubtless　just　to　conclude　that　it　was　either　real　or　imaginary；

but　that　it　was　real　was　attested　by　the　mysterious　warning　in　the

summer…house；　the　secret　of　which　I　had　hitherto　locked　up　in　my

own　breast。



A　month　passed　away　in　this　kind　of　intercourse。　　As　to　Carwin；　our

ignorance　was　in　no　degree　enlightened　respecting　his　genuine

character　and　views。　　Appearances　were　uniform。　　No　man　possessed　a

larger　store　of　knowledge；　or　a　greater　degree　of　skill　in　the

communication　of　it　to　others；　hence　he　was　regarded　as　an

inestimable　addition　to　our　society。　　Considering　the　distance　of

my　brother's　house　from　the　city；　he　was　frequently　prevailed　upon

to　pass　the　night　where　he　spent　the　evening。　　Two　days　seldom

elapsed　without　a　visit　from　him；　hence　he　was　regarded　as　a　kind

of　inmate　of　the　house。　　He　entered　and　departed　without　ceremony。

When　he　arrived　he　received　an　unaffected　welcome；　and　when　he

chose　to　retire　no　importunities　were　used　to　induce　him　to　remain。



Carwin　never　parted　with　his　gravity。　　The　inscrutableness　of　his

character；　and　the　uncertainty　whether　his　fellowship　tended　to

good　or　to　evil；　were　seldom　absent　from　our　minds。　　This

circumstance　powerfully　contributed　to　sadden　us。



My　heart　was　the　seat　of　growing　disquietudes。　　This　change　in　one

who　had　formerly　been　characterized　by　all　the　exuberances　of　soul

could　not　fail　to　be　remarked　by　my　friends。　　My　brother　was　always

a　pattern　of　solemnity。　　My　sister　was　clay；　molded　by　the

circumstances　in　which　she　happened　to　be　placed。　　There　was　but

one　whose　deportment　remains　to　be　described　as　being　of　importance

to　our　happiness。　　Had　Pleyel　likewise　dismissed　his　vivacity？



He　was　as　whimsical　and　jestful　as　ever；　but　he　was　not　happy。　　The

truth　in　this　respect　was　of　too　much　importance　to　me　not　to　make

me　a　vigilant　observer。　　His　mirth　was　easily　perceived　to　be　the

fruit　of　exertion。　　When　his　thoughts　wandered　from　the　company；　an

air　of　dissatisfaction　and　impatience　stole　across　his　features。

Even　the　punctuality　and　frequency　of　his　visits　were　somewhat

lessened。　　It　may　be　supposed　that　my　own　uneasiness　was　heightened

by　these　tokens；　but；　strange　as　it　may　seem；　I　found；　in　the

present　state　of　my　mind；　no　relief　but　in　the　persuasion　that

Pleyel　was　unhappy。



That　unhappiness；　indeed；　depended　for　its　value　in　my　eyes　on　the

cause　that　produced　it。　　There　was　but　one　source　whence　it　could

flow。　　A　nameless　ecstasy　thrilled　through　my　frame　when　any　new

proof　occurred　that　the　ambiguousness　of　my　behavior　was　the　cause。





IV





My　brother　had　received　a　new　book　from　Germany。　　It　was　a　tragedy；

and　the　first　attempt　of　a　Saxon　poet　of　whom　my　brother　had　been

taught　to　entertain　the　highest　expectations。　　The　exploits　of

Zisca；　the　Bohemian　hero；　were　woven　into　a　dramatic　series　and

connection。　　According　to　German　custom；　it　was　minute　and　diffuse；

and　dictated　by　an　adventurous　and　lawless　fancy。　　It　was　a　chain

of　audacious　acts　and　unheard…of　disasters。　　The　moated　fortress

and　the　thicket；　the　ambush　and　the　battle；　and　the　conflict　of

headlong　passions；　were　portrayed　in　wild　numbers　and　with　terrific

energy。　　An　afternoon　was　set　apart　to　rehearse　this　performance。

The　language　was　familiar　to　all　of　us　but　Carwin；　whose　company；

therefore；　was　tacitly　dispensed　with。



The　morning　previous　to　this　intended　rehearsal　I　spent　at　home。

My　mind　was　occupied　with　reflections　relative　to　my　own　situation。

The　sentiment　which　lived　with　chief　energy　in　my　heart　was

connected　with　the　image　of　Pleyel。　　In　the　midst　of　my　anguish；　I

had　not　been　destitute　of　consolation。　　His　late　deportment　had

given　spring　to　my　hopes。　　Was　not　the　hour　at　hand　which　should

render　me　the　happiest　of　human　creatures？　　He　suspected　that　I

looked　with　favorable　eyes　upon　Carwin。　　Hence　arose　disquietudes

which　he　struggled　in　vain　to　conceal。　　He　loved　me；　but　was

hopeless　that　his　love　would　be　compensated。　　Is　it　not　time；　said

I；　to　rectify　this　error？　　But　by　what　means　is　this　to　be

effected？　　It　can　only　be　done　by　a　change　of　deportment　in　me；　but

how　must　I　demean　myself　for　this　purpose？



I　must　not　speak。　　Neither　eyes　nor　lips　must　impart　the

information。　　He　must　not　be　assured　that　my　heart　is　his；　previous

to　the　tender　of　his　own；　but　he　must　be　convinced　that　it　has　not

been　given　to　another；　he　must　be　supplied　with　space　whereon　to

build　a　doubt　as　to　the　true　state　of　my　affections；　he　must　be

prompted　to　avow　himself。　　The　line　of　delicate　propriety；how

hard　it　is　not　to　fall　short；　and　not　to　overleap　it！



This　afternoon　we　shall　meet。　。　。　。　　We　shall　not　separate　till

late。　　It　will　be　his　province　to　accompany　me　home。　　The　airy

expanse　is　without　a　speck。　　This　breeze　is　usually　steadfast；　and

its　promise　of　a　bland　and　cloudless　evening　may　be　trusted。　　The

moon　will　rise　at　eleven；　and　at　that　hour　we　shall　wind　along　this

bank。　　Possibly　that　hour　may　decide　my　fate。　　If　suitable

encouragement　be　given；　Pleyel　will　reveal　his　soul　to　me；　and　I；

ere　I　reach　this　threshold；　will　be　made　the　happiest　of　beings。



And　is　this　good　to　be　mine？　　Add　wings　to　thy　speed；　sweet

evening；　and　thou；　moon；　I　charge　thee；　shroud　thy　beams　at　the

moment　when　my　Pleyel　whispers　love。　　I　would　not　for　the　world

that　the　burning　blushes　and　the　mounting　raptures　of　that　moment

should　be　visible。



But　what　encouragement　is　wanting？　　I　must　be　regardful　of

insurmountable　limits。　　Yet；　when　minds　are　imbued　with　a　genuine

sympathy；　are　not　words　and　looks　superfluous？　　Are　not　motion　and

touch　sufficient　to　impart　feelings　such　as　mine？　　Has　he　not　eyed

me　at　moments　when　the　pressure　of　his　hand　has　thrown　me　into

tumults；　and　was　it　impossible　that　he　mistook　the　impetuosities　of

love　for　the　eloquence　of　indignation？



But　the　hastening　evening　will　decide。　　Would　it　were　come！　　And

yet　I　shudder　at　its　near　approach。　　An　interview　that　must　thus

terminate　is　surely　to　be　wished　for　by　me；　and　yet　it　is　not

without　its　terrors。　　Would　to　heaven　it　were　come　and　gone！