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！
windows were once more bright； the chimney once more vomited
smoke； but the most absolute silence reigned； and； but for
the figure of my mother very slowly following in our wake； I
felt convinced there was no human soul within a range of
miles。 At the thought； I looked upon the doctor； gravely
walking by my side； with his bowed shoulders and white hair；
and then once more at his house； lit up and pouring smoke
like some industrious factory。 And then my curiosity broke
forth。 'In Heaven's name；' I cried； 'what do you make in
this inhuman desert？'
He looked at me with a peculiar smile； and answered with an
evasion …
'This is not the first time；' said he； 'that you have seen my
furnaces alight。 One morning； in the small hours； I saw you
driving past； a delicate experiment miscarried； and I cannot
acquit myself of having startled either your driver or the
horse that drew you。'
'What！' cried I； beholding again in fancy the antics of the
figure； 'could that be you？'
'It was I；' he replied； 'but do not fancy that I was mad。 I
was in agony。 I had been scalded cruelly。'
We were now near the house； which； unlike the ordinary houses
of the country； was built of hewn stone and very solid。
Stone； too； was its foundation； stone its background。 Not a
blade of grass sprouted among the broken mineral about the
walls； not a flower adorned the windows。 Over the door； by
way of sole adornment； the Mormon Eye was rudely sculptured；
I had been brought up to view that emblem from my childhood；
but since the night of our escape； it had acquired a new
significance； and set me shrinking。 The smoke rolled
voluminously from the chimney top； its edges ruddy with the
fire； and from the far corner of the building； near the
ground； angry puffs of steam shone snow…white in the moon and
vanished。
The doctor opened the door and paused upon the threshold。
'You ask me what I make here；' he observed。 'Two things：
Life and Death。' And he motioned me to enter。
'I shall await my mother；' said I。
'Child；' he replied； 'look at me： am I not old and broken？
Of us two； which is the stronger； the young maiden or the
withered man？'
I bowed； and passing by him； entered a vestibule or kitchen；
lit by a good fire and a shaded reading…lamp。 It was
furnished only with a dresser； a rude table； and some wooden
benches； and on one of these the doctor motioned me to take a
seat； and passing by another door into the interior of the
house； he left me to myself。 Presently I heard the jar of
iron from the far end of the building； and this was followed
by the same throbbing noise that had startled me in the
valley； but now so near at hand as to be menacing by
loudness； and even to shake the house with every recurrence
of the stroke。 I had scarce time to master my alarm when the
doctor returned； and almost in the same moment my mother
appeared upon the threshold。 But how am I to describe to you
the peace and ravishment of that face？ Years seemed to have
passed over her head during that brief ride； and left her
younger and fairer； her eyes shone； her smile went to my
heart； she seemed no more a woman but the angel of ecstatic
tenderness。 I ran to her in a kind of terror； but she shrank
a little back and laid her finger on her lips； with something
arch and yet unearthly。 To the doctor； on the contrary； she
reached out her hand as to a friend and helper； and so
strange was the scene that I forgot to be offended。
'Lucy；' said the doctor； 'all is prepared。 Will you go
alone； or shall your daughter follow us？'
'Let Asenath come；' she answered； 'dear Asenath！ At this
hour； when I am purified of fear and sorrow； and already
survive myself and my affections； it is for your sake； and
not for mine； that I desire her presence。 Were she shut out；
dear friend； it is to be feared she might misjudge your
kindness。'
'Mother；' I cried wildly； 'mother； what is this？'
But my mother； with her radiant smile； said only 'Hush！' as
though I were a child again； and tossing in some fever…fit；
and the doctor bade me be silent and trouble her no more。
'You have made a choice；' he continued； addressing my mother；
'that has often strangely tempted me。 The two extremes：
all； or else nothing； never； or this very hour upon the clock
… these have been my incongruous desires。 But to accept the
middle term； to be content with a half…gift； to flicker
awhile and to burn out … never for an hour； never since I was
born； has satisfied the appetite of my ambition。' He looked
upon my mother fixedly； much of admiration and some touch of
envy in his eyes； then； with a profound sigh； he led the way
into the inner room。
It was very long。 From end to end it was lit up by many
lamps； which by the changeful colour of their light； and by
the incessant snapping sounds with which they burned； I have
since divined to be electric。 At the extreme end an open
door gave us a glimpse into what must have been a lean…to
shed beside the chimney； and this； in strong contrast to the
room； was painted with a red reverberation as from furnace…
doors。 The walls were lined with books and glazed cases； the
tables crowded with the implements of chemical research；
great glass accumulators glittered in the light； and through
a hole in the gable near the shed door； a heavy driving…belt
entered the apartment and ran overhead upon steel pulleys；
with clumsy activity and many ghostly and fluttering sounds。
In one corner I perceived a chair resting upon crystal feet；
and curiously wreathed with wire。 To this my mother advanced
with a decisive swiftness。
'Is this it？' she asked。
The doctor bowed in silence。
'Asenath；' said my mother； 'in this sad end of my life I have
found one helper。 Look upon him： it is Doctor Grierson。 Be
not； oh my daughter； be not ungrateful to that friend！'
She sate upon the chair； and took in her hands the globes
that terminated the arms。
'Am I right？' she asked； and looked upon the doctor with such
a radiancy of face that I trembled for her reason。 Once more
the doctor bowed； but this time leaning hard against the
wall。 He must have touched a spring。 The least shock
agitated my mother where she sat； the least passing jar
appeared to cross her features； and she sank back in the
chair like one resigned to weariness。 I was at her knees
that moment； but her hands fell loosely in my grasp； her
face； still beatified with the same touching smile； sank
forward on her bosom： her spirit had for ever fled。
I do not know how long may have elapsed before； raising for a
moment my tearful face； I met the doctor's eyes。 They rested
upon mine with such a depth of scrutiny； pity； and interest；
that even from the freshness of my sorrow； I was startled
into attention。
'Enough；' he said； 'to lamentation。 Your mother went to
death as to a bridal； dying where her husband died。 It is
time； Asenath； to think of the survivors。 Follow me to the
next room。'
I followed him； like a person in a dream； he made me sit by
the fire； he gave me wine to drink； a