“Circumstances must guide me,” said I; and meeting Pelet’s false glance and insinuating22 smile, I thanked heaven that I had last night opened my window and read by the light of a full moon the true meaning of that guileful23 countenance. I felt half his master, because the reality of his nature was now known to me; smile and flatter as he would, I saw his soul lurk24 behind his smile, and heard in every one of his smooth phrases a voice interpreting their treacherous25 import.
But Zoraide Reuter? Of course her defection had cut me to the quick? That stint26; must have gone too deep for any consolations27 of philosophy to be available in curing its smart? Not at all. The night fever over, I looked about for balm to that wound also, and found some nearer home than at Gilead. Reason was my physician; she began by proving that the prize I had missed was of little value: she admitted that, physically28, Zoraide might have suited me, but affirmed that our souls were not in harmony, and that discord29 must have resulted from the union of her mind with mine. She then insisted on the suppression of all repining, and commanded me rather to rejoice that I had escaped a snare30. Her medicament did me good. I felt its strengthening effect when I met the directress the next day; its stringent31 operation on the nerves suffered no trembling, no faltering32; it enabled me to face her with firmness, to pass her with ease. She had held out her hand to me — that I did not choose to see. She had greeted me with a charming smile — it fell on my heart like light on stone. I passed on to the estrade, she followed me; her eye, fastened on my face, demanded of every feature the meaning of my changed and careless manner. “I will give her an answer,” thought I; and, meeting her gaze full, arresting, fixing her glance, I shot into her eyes, from my own, a look, where there was no respect, no love, no tenderness, no gallantry; where the strictest analysis could detect nothing but scorn, hardihood, irony33. I made her bear it, and feel it; her steady countenance did not change, but her colour rose, and she approached me as if fascinated. She stepped on to the estrade, and stood close by my side; she had nothing to say. I would not relieve her embarrassment34, and negligently35 turned over the leaves of a book.
“I hope you feel quite recovered to-day,” at last she said, in a low tone.
“And I, mademoiselle, hope that you took no cold last night in consequence of your late walk in the garden.”
Quick enough of comprehension, she understood me directly; her face became a little blanched36 — a very little — but no muscle in her rather marked features moved; and, calm and self-possessed37, she retired38 from the estrade, taking her seat quietly at a little distance, and occupying herself with netting a purse. I proceeded to give my lesson; it was a “Composition,” i.e., I dictated39 certain general questions, of which the pupils were to compose the answers from memory, access to books being forbidden. While Mdlle. Eulalie, Hortense, Caroline, &c., were pondering over the string of rather abstruse40 grammatical interrogatories I had propounded41, I was at liberty to employ the vacant half hour in further observing the directress herself. The green silk purse was progressing fast in her hands; her eyes were bent42 upon it; her attitude, as she sat netting within two yards of me, was still yet guarded; in her whole person were expressed at once, and with equal clearness, vigilance and repose43 — a rare union! Looking at her, I was forced, as I had often been before, to offer her good sense, her wondrous44 self-control, the tribute of involuntary admiration45. She had felt that I had withdrawn46 from her my esteem47; she had seen contempt and coldness in my eye, and to her, who coveted48 the approbation49 of all around her, who thirsted after universal good opinion, such discovery must have been an acute wound. I had witnessed its effect in the momentary50 pallor of her cheek-cheek unused to vary; yet how quickly, by dint51 of self-control, had she recovered her composure! With what quiet dignity she now sat, almost at my side, sustained by her sound and vigorous sense; no trembling in her somewhat lengthened52, though shrewd upper lip, no coward shame on her austere53 forehead!
“There is metal there,” I said, as I gazed. “Would that there were fire also, living ardour to make the steel glow — then I could love her.”
Presently I discovered that she knew I was watching her, for she stirred not, she lifted not her crafty54 eyelid55; she had glanced down from her netting to her small foot, peeping from the soft folds of her purple merino gown; thence her eye reverted56 to her hand, ivory white, with a bright garnet ring on the forefinger57, and a light frill of lace round the wrist; with a scarcely perceptible movement she turned her head, causing her nut-brown curls to wave gracefully58. In these slight signs I read that the wish of her heart, the design of her brain, was to lure60 back the game she had scared. A little incident gave her the opportunity of addressing me again.
While all was silence in the class — silence, but for the rustling61 of copy-books and the travelling of pens over their pages — a leaf of the large folding-door, opening from the hall, unclosed, admitting a pupil who, after making a hasty obeisance62, ensconced herself with some appearance of trepidation63, probably occasioned by her entering so late, in a vacant seat at the desk nearest the door. Being seated, she proceeded, still with an air of hurry and embarrassment, to open her cabas, to take out her books; and, while I was waiting for her to look up, in order to make out her identity — for, shortsighted as I was, I had not recognized her at her entrance — Mdlle. Reuter, leaving her chair, approached the estrade.
“Monsieur Creemsvort,” said she, in a whisper: for when the schoolrooms were silent, the directress always moved with velvet64 tread, and spoke65 in the most subdued key, enforcing order and stillness fully59 as much by example as precept66: “Monsieur Creemsvort, that young person, who has just entered, wishes to have the advantage of taking lessons with you in English; she is not a pupil of the house; she is, indeed, in one sense, a teacher, for she gives instruction in lace-mending, and in little varieties of ornamental67 needle-work. She very properly proposes to qualify herself for a higher department of education, and has asked permission to attend your lessons, in order to perfect her knowledge of English, in which language she has, I believe, already made some progress; of course it is my wish to aid her in an effort so praiseworthy; you will permit her then to benefit by your instruction — n’est ce pas, monsieur?” And Mdlle. Reuter’s eyes were raised to mine with a look at once naive68, benign69, and beseeching70.
I replied, “Of course,” very laconically71, almost abruptly72.
“Another word,” she said, with softness: “Mdlle. Henri has not received a regular education; perhaps her natural talents are not of the highest order: but I can assure you of the excellence73 of her intentions, and even of the amiability74 of her disposition. Monsieur will then, I am sure, have the goodness to be considerate with her at first, and not expose her backwardness, her inevitable75 deficiencies, before the young ladies, who, in a sense, are her pupils. Will Monsieur Creemsvort favour me by attending to this hint?” I nodded. She continued with subdued earnestness —
“Pardon me, monsieur, if I venture to add that what I have just said is of importance to the poor girl; she already experiences great difficulty in impressing these giddy young things with a due degree of deference76 for her authority, and should that difficulty be increased by new discoveries of her incapacity, she might find her position in my establishment too painful to be retained; a circumstance I should much regret for her sake, as she can ill afford to lose the profits of her occupation here.”
Mdlle. Reuter possessed marvellous tact77; but tact the most exclusive, unsupported by sincerity78, will sometimes fail of its effect; thus, on this occasion, the longer she preached about the necessity of being indulgent to the governess pupil, the more impatient I felt as I listened. I discerned so clearly that while her professed79 motive80 was a wish to aid the dull, though well-meaning Mdlle. Henri, her real one was no other than a design to impress me with an idea of her own exalted81 goodness and tender considerateness; so having again hastily nodded assent82 to her remarks, I obviated83 their renewal84 by suddenly demanding the compositions, in a sharp accent, and stepping from the estrade, I proceeded to collect them. As I passed the governess-pupil, I said to her —
“You have come in too late to receive a lesson to-day; try to be more punctual next time.”
I was behind her, and could not read in her face the effect of my not very civil speech. Probably I should not have troubled myself to do so, had I been full in front; but I observed that she immediately began to slip her books into her cabas again; and, presently, after I had returned to the estrade, while I was arranging the mass of compositions, I heard the folding-door again open and close; and, on looking up, I perceived her place vacant. I thought to myself, “She will consider her first attempt at taking a lesson in English something of a failure;” and I wondered whether she had departed in the sulks, or whether stupidity had induced her to take my words too literally85, or, finally, whether my irritable86 tone had wounded her feelings. The last notion I dismissed almost as soon as I had conceived it, for not having seen any appearance of sensitiveness in any human face since my arrival in Belgium, I had begun to regard it almost as a fabulous87 quality. Whether her physiognomy announced it I could not tell, for her speedy exit had allowed me no time to ascertain88 the circumstance. I had, indeed, on two or three previous occasions, caught a passing view of her (as I believe has been mentioned before); but I had never stopped to scrutinize89 either her face or person, and had but the most vague idea of her general appearance. Just as I had finished rolling up the compositions, the four o’clock bell rang; with my accustomed alertness in obeying that signal, I grasped my hat and evacuated90 the premises91.
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收听单词发音
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1
sleeplessness
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| n.失眠，警觉 | |
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2
perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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6
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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7
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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8
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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11
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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13
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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14
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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15
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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16
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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17
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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18
incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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19
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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20
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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21
ushers
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| n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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22
insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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23
guileful
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| adj.狡诈的，诡计多端的 | |
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lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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25
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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26
stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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27
consolations
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| n.安慰，慰问( consolation的名词复数 )；起安慰作用的人（或事物） | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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30
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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31
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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32
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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33
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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34
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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35
negligently
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36
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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37
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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38
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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39
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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40
abstruse
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| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
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41
propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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44
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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45
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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46
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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47
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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48
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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49
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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50
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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51
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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52
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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54
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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55
eyelid
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| n.眼睑，眼皮 | |
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56
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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57
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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58
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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59
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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60
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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61
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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62
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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63
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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64
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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65
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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66
precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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67
ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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68
naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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69
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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70
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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71
laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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72
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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73
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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74
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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75
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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76
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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77
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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78
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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79
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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80
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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81
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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82
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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83
obviated
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| v.避免，消除（贫困、不方便等）( obviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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85
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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86
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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87
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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88
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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89
scrutinize
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| n.详细检查，细读 | |
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90
evacuated
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| 撤退者的 | |
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91
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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