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！
father； or say when she was coming back？〃
Ethan Brand's eye quailed beneath the old man's。 That daughter；
from whom he so earnestly desired a word of greeting； was the
Esther of our tale； the very girl whom； with such cold and
remorseless purpose； Ethan Brand had made the subject of a
psychological experiment； and wasted； absorbed； and perhaps
annihilated her soul； in the process。
〃Yes；〃 he murmured； turning away from the hoary wanderer； 〃it is
no delusion。 There is an Unpardonable Sin！〃
While these things were passing； a merry scene was going forward
in the area of cheerful light； beside the spring and before the
door of the hut。 A number of the youth of the village； young men
and girls； had hurried up the hill…side； impelled by curiosity to
see Ethan Brand； the hero of so many a legend familiar to their
childhood。 Finding nothing； however； very remarkable in his
aspect；nothing but a sunburnt wayfarer； in plain garb and dusty
shoes； who sat looking into the fire as if he fancied pictures
among the coals；these young people speedily grew tired of
observing him。 As it happened； there was other amusement at hand。
An old German Jew travelling with a diorama on his back； was
passing down the mountain…road towards the village just as the
party turned aside from it； and； in hopes of eking out the
profits of the day； the showman had kept them company to the
lime…kiln。
〃Come； old Dutchman；〃 cried one of the young men； 〃let us see
your pictures； if you can swear they are worth looking at！〃
〃Oh yes； Captain；〃 answered the Jew；whether as a matter of
courtesy or craft； he styled everybody Captain；〃I shall show
you； indeed； some very superb pictures！〃
So； placing his box in a proper position； he invited the young
men and girls to look through the glass orifices of the machine；
and proceeded to exhibit a series of the most outrageous
scratchings and daubings； as specimens of the fine arts； that
ever an itinerant showman had the face to impose upon his circle
of spectators。 The pictures were worn out； moreover； tattered；
full of cracks and wrinkles； dingy with tobacco…smoke； and
otherwise in a most pitiable condition。 Some purported to be
cities； public edifices； and ruined castles in Europe； others
represented Napoleon's battles and Nelson's sea…fights； and in
the midst of these would be seen a gigantic； brown； hairy
hand；which might have been mistaken for the Hand of Destiny；
though； in truth； it was only the showman's；pointing its
forefinger to various scenes of the conflict； while its owner
gave historical illustrations。 When； with much merriment at its
abominable deficiency of merit； the exhibition was concluded； the
German bade little Joe put his head into the box。 Viewed through
the magnifying…glasses； the boy's round； rosy visage assumed the
strangest imaginable aspect of an immense Titanic child； the
mouth grinning broadly； and the eyes and every other feature
overflowing with fun at the joke。 Suddenly； however； that merry
face turned pale； and its expression changed to horror； for this
easily impressed and excitable child had become sensible that the
eye of Ethan Brand was fixed upon him through the glass。
〃You make the little man to be afraid； Captain；〃 said the German
Jew； turning up the dark and strong outline of his visage from
his stooping posture。 〃But look again； and； by chance； I shall
cause you to see somewhat that is very fine； upon my word！〃
Ethan Brand gazed into the box for an instant； and then starting
back； looked fixedly at the German。 What had he seen？ Nothing；
apparently； for a curious youth； who had peeped in almost at the
same moment； beheld only a vacant space of canvas。
〃I remember you now；〃 muttered Ethan Brand to the showman。
〃Ah； Captain；〃 whispered the Jew of Nuremberg； with a dark smile；
〃I find it to be a heavy matter in my show…box；this
Unpardonable Sin！ By my faith； Captain； it has wearied my
shoulders； this long day； to carry it over the mountain。〃
〃Peace；〃 answered Ethan Brand； sternly； 〃or get thee into the
furnace yonder！〃
The Jew's exhibition had scarcely concluded； when a great；
elderly dog who seemed to be his own master； as no person in
the company laid claim to himsaw fit to render himself the
object of public notice。 Hitherto； he had shown himself a very
quiet； well…disposed old dog； going round from one to another；
and； by way of being sociable； offering his rough head to be
patted by any kindly hand that would take so much trouble。 But
now； all of a sudden； this grave and venerable quadruped； of his
own mere motion； and without the slightest suggestion from
anybody else； began to run round after his tail； which； to
heighten the absurdity of the proceeding； was a great deal
shorter than it should have been。 Never was seen such headlong
eagerness in pursuit of an object that could not possibly be
attained； never was heard such a tremendous outbreak of growling；
snarling； barking； and snapping；as if one end of the ridiculous
brute's body were at deadly and most unforgivable enmity with the
other。 Faster and faster； round about went the cur； and faster
and still faster fled the unapproachable brevity of his tail； and
louder and fiercer grew his yells of rage and animosity； until；
utterly exhausted； and as far from the goal as ever； the foolish
old dog ceased his performance as suddenly as he had begun it。
The next moment he was as mild； quiet； sensible； and respectable
in his deportment； as when he first scraped acquaintance with the
company。
As may be supposed； the exhibition was greeted with universal
laughter； clapping of hands； and shouts of encore； to which the
canine performer responded by wagging all that there was to wag
of his tail； but appeared totally unable to repeat his very
successful effort to amuse the spectators。
Meanwhile； Ethan Brand had resumed his seat upon the log； and
moved； as it might be； by a perception of some remote analogy
between his own case and that of this self…pursuing cur； he broke
into the awful laugh； which； more than any other token； expressed
the condition of his inward being。 From that moment； the
merriment of the party was at an end； they stood aghast； dreading
lest the inauspicious sound should be reverberated around the
horizon； and that mountain would thunder it to mountain； and so
the horror be prolonged upon their ears。 Then； whispering one to
another that it was late；that the moon was almost down；…that
the August night was growing chill；they hurried homewards；
leaving the lime…burner and little Joe to deal as they might with
their unwelcome guest。 Save for these three human beings； the
open space on the hill…side was a solitude； set in a vast gloom
of forest。 Beyond that darksome verge； the firelight glimmered on
the stately trunks and almost black foliage of pines； intermixed
with the lighter verdure of sapling oaks； maples； and poplars；
while here and there l