第49章

WhenUrfriedhadwithclamoursandmenacesdrivenRebeccabacktotheapartmentfromwhichshehadsallied，sheproceededtoconducttheunwillingCedricintoasmallapartment，thedoorofwhichsheheedfullysecured。Thenfetchingfromacupboardastoupofwineandtwoflagons，sheplacedthemonthetable，andsaidinatoneratherassertingafactthanaskingaquestion，``ThouartSaxon，father——Denyitnot，’’shecontinued，observingthatCedrichastenednottoreply；``thesoundsofmynativelanguagearesweettomineears，thoughseldomheardsavefromthetonguesofthewretchedanddegradedserfsonwhomtheproudNormansimposethemeanestdrudgeryofthisdwelling。ThouartaSaxon，father——aSaxon，and，saveasthouartaservantofGod，afreeman——

Thineaccentsaresweetinmineear。’’

``DonotSaxonpriestsvisitthiscastle，then?’’

repliedCedric；``itwere，methinks，theirdutytocomforttheoutcastandoppressedchildrenofthesoil。’’

``Theycomenot——oriftheycome，theybetterlovetorevelattheboardsoftheirconquerors，’’

answeredUrfried，``thantohearthegroansoftheircountrymen——so，atleast，reportspeaksofthem——

ofmyselfIcansaylittle。Thiscastle，fortenyears，hasopenedtonopriestsavethedebauchedNormanchaplainwhopartookthenightlyrevelsofFront-de-Buf，andhehasbeenlonggonetorenderanaccountofhisstewardship——ButthouartaSaxon——aSaxonpriest，andIhaveonequestiontoaskofthee。’’

``IamaSaxon，’’answeredCedric，``butunworthy，surely，ofthenameofpriest。Letmebegoneonmyway——IswearIwillreturn，orsendoneofourfathersmoreworthytohearyourconfession。’’

``Stayyetawhile，’’saidUrfried；``theaccentsofthevoicewhichthouhearestnowwillsoonbechokedwiththecoldearth，andIwouldnotdescendtoitlikethebeastIhavelived。Butwinemustgivemestrengthtotellthehorrorsofmytale。’’Shepouredoutacup，anddrankitwithafrightfulavidity，whichseemeddesirousofdrainingthelastdropinthegoblet。``Itstupifies，’’shesaid，lookingupwardsasshefinishedherdrought，``butitcannotcheer——Partakeit，father，ifyouwouldhearmytalewithoutsinkingdownuponthepavement。’’Cedricwouldhaveavoidedpledgingherinthisominousconviviality，butthesignwhichshemadetohimexpressedimpatienceanddespair。

Hecompliedwithherrequest，andansweredherchallengeinalargewine-cup；shethenproceededwithherstory，asifappeasedbyhiscomplaisance。

``Iwasnotborn，’’shesaid，``father，thewretchthatthounowseestme。Iwasfree，washappy，washonoured，loved，andwasbeloved。Iamnowaslave，miserableanddegraded——thesportofmymasters’passionswhileIhadyetbeauty——theobjectoftheircontempt，scorn，andhatred，sinceithaspassedaway。Dostthouwonder，father，thatIshouldhatemankind，and，aboveall，theracethathaswroughtthischangeinme?Canthewrinkleddecrepithagbeforethee，whosewrathmustventitselfinimpotentcurses，forgetshewasoncethedaughterofthenobleThaneofTorquilstone，beforewhosefrownathousandvassalstrembled?’’

``ThouthedaughterofTorquilWolfganger！’’

saidCedric，recedingashespoke；``thou——thou——

thedaughterofthatnobleSaxon，myfather’sfriendandcompanioninarms！’’

``Thyfather’sfriend！’’echoedUrfried；``thenCedriccalledtheSaxonstandsbeforeme，forthenobleHerewardofRotherwoodhadbutoneson，whosenameiswellknownamonghiscountrymen。

ButifthouartCedricofRotherwood，whythisreligiousdress?——hastthoutoodespairedofsavingthycountry，andsoughtrefugefromoppressionintheshadeoftheconvent?’’

``ItmattersnotwhoIam，’’saidCedric；``proceed，unhappywoman，withthytaleofhorrorandguilt！——Guilttheremustbe——thereisguilteveninthylivingtotellit。’’

``Thereis——thereis，’’answeredthewretchedwoman，``deep，black，damningguilt，——guilt，thatlieslikealoadatmybreast——guilt，thatallthepenitentialfiresofhereaftercannotcleanse——Yes，inthesehalls，stainedwiththenobleandpurebloodofmyfatherandmybrethren——intheseveryhalls，tohavelivedtheparamouroftheirmu