“Shut up or you’ll wake Davy. Come on up.”
So Phillip climbed the stairs—something he might have done in the first place had it not been contrary to established custom—and found David snoring in an armchair with a lap full of books and John sorting out some golf clubs.
“I’m going up to the links with Larry Baker1. Want to come along? Fresh air’ll do you good.”
“Can’t,” answered Phillip; “I’ve got to shoot. We begin at three. What time is it?”
“Three ten.”
“Really? I’ll have to hurry, won’t I?” He sat down and brought forth2 a letter from one of his pockets. “I got this a little while ago. It’s from[186] Margey. You know I wrote them on Sunday that I was going to bring you home with me for Christmas if you’d come, and this is what Margey says. Let’s see.... Um!... Here it is: ‘Mamma is so pleased at the prospect3 of seeing Mr. North and wants you to tell him for her that he will be very welcome for as long as he cares to stay. And she thinks you should explain that her health will not allow her to write to him in person. She fears he will consider her ungrateful for his kindness. You must tell him, Phil dear, that we are plain folks nowadays, and that Elaine is not very exciting. We wouldn’t want him to be disappointed, would we? Mamma says we must get up a dance or something for him. Does he like dancing? I have been wondering——’ Er, that’s all, I reckon. The rest is just nonsense.”
“Do you mean to tell me that your sister can write nonsense, Phil?” asked John.
“Why, yes; why?”
“No reason why she shouldn’t, of course. Only I’d somehow got the idea that she was an extremely dignified4 and serious-minded young lady.”
“Oh, Margey’s serious-minded, I reckon—at times. But she’s silly, too. All girls are, aren’t[187] they? That is,” amended5 Phillip, thinking of Betty, “most girls are. I know one that isn’t.”
“Hello!” said John, pausing in the act of pulling on his golf boots. “I thought I could discern an unusual buoyancy about you of late. Not a college widow, I hope?”
“No, of course not. But I must be getting on. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“To Virginia? Yes, Phil. And when you write please thank your mother and—— How about your sister? Think she wants me to come?”
“Why, of course.”
“Oh; I didn’t gather that impression from what you read me. I believe she didn’t mention herself, did she?”
“That doesn’t make any difference. She’ll be tickled6 to death.”
“Think so? Well, I hope she won’t mind having me. Don’t let them put themselves out for me, Phil. Never mind the dance, you know; I’m getting too old for such frivolous7 things. As for excitement, why, we can do without that for a few days. Elaine offers me one inducement that is quite sufficient.”
“You mean the shooting?” asked Phillip.
[188]
“Eh? Oh, yes; the shooting, of course. Let me see, Phil, we’re to shoot—what is it? Ducks?”
“Why, no; partridge, of course,” replied Phillip, gazing at the other in astonishment8.
“To be sure; partridge. The partridge is an exasperating9 bird that always goes off like a watchman’s rattle10 when you’re not expecting it and leaves your nerves in a state of collapse11. Yes, Phil, we will sally forth with dogs and guns and sandwiches and shoot the merry little partridge on its native heath. Does the Virginia partridge live on a heath, Phil?”
“Oh, you’re crazy,” answered the other in disgust. “I’m going now. But I’m awfully12 glad you’re coming South, John; it’s mighty13 good of you.”
“Don’t mention it. My regards to your folks when you write, and tell them I accept their kind invitation with a great deal of pleasure. So long. You said we were to shoot partridges, didn’t you?”
“I reckon you’re drunk,” answered Phillip. “I must get on.”
“So you’ve remarked several times. Don’t let me hurry you.”
There was no apparent danger of that, for Phillip, instead of rushing off, was strolling about the study[189] looking at the pictures as though they had suddenly acquired a new interest, and giving especial attention to the objects on the mantel. John watched him speculatingly as he drew on his coat.
“Help yourself if you see anything you fancy,” he said.
“I will, then.” Phillip took a photograph from the mantel. “I’ll take this; much obliged. Good-by.”
“Hold on, there! What have you got?”
“Just an old photograph of you.” He held it up.
“Oh; well, take it away. It’s not beautiful, Phil, but I’m told it flatters me quite a bit. I presume I get one of you in return?”
“When I have any you do,” laughed Phillip. “I’m off.”
“Queer chap,” mused14 John, when the door was closed. “Wonder why he wanted the picture?”
He put a couple of balls in his pocket and took up his bag. Then, his eye falling on the still slumbering15 David, he balanced six discarded clubs about him in such a way that they would topple to the floor at the slightest movement, and left the room.
Phillip wrote a letter that evening before dinner. One passage was as follows: “I’m sending a photograph[190] of him. He gave it to me to-day. He says it flatters him, but it doesn’t really. I don’t think it does him justice. Anyhow, it will tell you more than I could even if I answered all your questions. I don’t see what difference it makes whether he’s light or dark, anyhow. And I don’t believe it was mamma that wanted to know. It sounds a heap more like Margey. Don’t let any one shoot over the East Farm; I want some birds left for North. If Nate comes up again, tell him to shoot ’round the house; that’s good enough for him, anyway.”
November made a graceful16 exit under blue skies and to the music of soft breezes, and December tramped on in the manner of a stage villain17, filming the shallows with ice and piling the snow high in the streets. That first storm held for Phillip an irresistible18 attraction. He watched it through the window of his room until it was almost dark; and then, tossing aside the books with which he had been pretending to study, he called Tudor Maid and together they went forth and faced the beating wind and the flying, needlelike sleet19. Maid couldn’t see the fun of it at first, but after Phillip had rolled her in a snowbank she, too, became imbued20 with the spirit of adventure and went bounding clumsily[191] ahead through the drifts with all the ludicrous abandon of a ten-weeks’ puppy.
They followed the river, barely visible through the whirling mist, their path dimly outlined by the yellow lights that crept away into the gathering22 darkness in a far-reaching arc. They met no other wayfarers23 after they left the centre of the town, and, save for the occasional friendly gleam from house window and an infrequent car or snow-plow clanging and buzzing its way along, Phillip could have imagined himself back on one of his own country roads. At Mount Auburn they turned and struggled homeward, the wind at their backs now, and reached The Inn at half past six. Maid climbed onto a window seat, and with a long sigh of weariness and contentment went to sleep and snored peacefully until Phillip, his own appetite at length assuaged24, woke her up to feast royally on roast beef.
But after a week of storm and stress December relented and—like the stage character it was representing—prepared for the final curtain of the year’s drama by wearing the softened25, chastened mien26 that, on the stage at least, precedes and heralds27 repentance28. The days were cold, bright and invigourating,[192] and to Phillip, head over heels in love, formed a period of idyllic29 weather. It is probable, however, that Phillip would have accepted blizzard30, deluge31 and cyclone32 with perfect cheerfulness so long as the roads that led to Boston were passable. For he had discovered that happiness for him was only another name for Betty Kingsford; and the pursuit of happiness occupied a great deal of his time and led his feet to Marlborough Street always once and often twice a week.
There was no false delicacy33 about Phillip’s love-making. He was in love and didn’t care who knew it. The Southern male creature accepts sentiment as a natural accompaniment to youth and is no more ashamed of being in love than he is of being a gentleman. If he doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve, at least he does not hide it in his boots. There was a frankness and wholesomeness34 about Phillip’s wooing of Betty that appealed to Betty’s people even while it amused them. Mrs. Kingsford considered it a boy and girl affair, loath35 to own even to herself that Betty had reached an age when her affections might become seriously engaged, and negatively countenanced37 it. Betty’s father uttered a good many mild jokes at Betty’s expense and pretended to be fearful[193] of an elopement. But he liked Phillip, and acknowledged to himself that if assiduity and perseverance38 counted for anything that youth had an excellent chance of some day becoming his son-in-law. Everett, in the manner of the elder brother the world over, found in Betty’s wooing food for much open amusement, and plagued both her and Phillip whenever possible, until he found that neither one minded it in the least. As for Betty herself, what she thought about it was difficult to tell. None knew save herself; Phillip least of all. Just so long as he was content to conceal39 his ardour under the semblance40 of ordinary friendship, Betty was kindness itself; admiration41 temperately42 expressed was received demurely43 and as a matter of course. But the first word of serious love-making summoned dire44 frowns and a chilliness45 of demeanour that cast Phillip into dismal46 abysses of doubt and despair, from which he was only rescued by the merciful Betty after repeated assertions of repentance and vows47 of future good behaviour. And thus December wore on and the Christmas recess48 approached.
Aside from Phillip’s love affairs, the only incident concerning the persons of this story worthy49 of note is the election of John in mid-December to the office[194] of Class Day Secretary, and the selection, a week prior, of Guy Bassett for Vice-President of the Freshman50 Class. The latter event was duly celebrated51 in Guy’s room at a Saturday night orgy of beer and cavendish. There was no poker52. Of late—in fact, since Phillip had lost a month’s allowance to Guy and had paid it with exemplary promptness—their host had on every occasion shown a strange disinclination for cards and had politely but firmly refused to produce them. To-night he offered a new explanation:
“As Vice-President of the Class, it behooves53 me to set an example of righteousness to you and Phil. The vice-presidency is an office created for a purpose, and that purpose is the moral betterment of the class. Although I say it who shouldn’t, Chesty, the selection of myself for the position was a wise step. I am firmly convinced that I was cut out for a home missionary54.”
“You be blowed,” answered Chester in disgust. “I saw you playing cards at the union the other night.”
“Not poker, I swear!”
“What’s the difference? Cards are cards, and——”
[195]
“Very well, old chap, cards are cards. Who’s for a nice game of casino?”
Strange to relate, the suggestion was not well received.
About a week later Phillip found himself, to his surprise, engaged in packing a small trunk with apparel for the recess. The end of the term had come so suddenly that it found him rather bewildered and quite at a loss to know whether to welcome or regret its advent21. His delight in the prospect of homecoming and of acting55 as host to John North was offset56 by his dismay at the idea of being parted from Betty for a fortnight. His leavetaking from that enigmatic young person had been far from satisfactory to him. It had been devoid57 of any of the solemnity and tender sadness that, to him at least, had appeared befitting. Betty had been more than usually high-spirited and matter-of-fact, and had refused to recognize the propriety58 of sentimental59 farewells. She had also scoffed60 at the notion of letter-writing.
“But you know I—I love you, Betty!” Phillip had pleaded.
Betty’s smiling countenance36 froze instantly.
“I know you’re a very silly boy,” she had answered,[196] severely61, “and a very untruthful one. You promised——”
“I know I did,” Phillip had answered miserably62. “But this is different, Betty; don’t you see?”
“No, I don’t see.”
“But I’m going away——”
“For a week.”
“For nearly two weeks! For a fortnight!” Somehow, fortnight sounded more eternal than two weeks. Betty, however, failed to see the distinction.
“You talk as though it were two years,” she had replied scathingly.
“Well, just the same, it’s a powerful long time! If you’d write me just once, Betty, it——”
“Not a single letter! If you can’t remember me for two weeks without seeing my handwriting I’m willing you should forget all about me.”
“Remember you!” Phillip had exclaimed tragically63. “Of course I shall remember you, Betty! It isn’t that, only. Can’t you understand——”
Betty couldn’t. Neither could she understand that it was necessary that Phillip should kiss her good-by. He tried for a long, long while to explain this to her in such a way that she should discern[197] the imperative64 nature of it, but without success. In the end he had had to be content with a smiling handshake and a cheerful, undisturbed “Good-by, Phil,” supplemented a moment later by an airy gesture from the drawing-room window that, at least so he found courage to believe, had resemblance to a kiss thrown from small finger tips. He had ridden back to Cambridge in a mood of mingled65 hope and despair, of happiness and pain—a mood which, although not recognizable as such at the time, is the sweetest of all a lover’s many conditions.
He and John, with a good deal of hand luggage about them, and Tudor Maid between them, were driven into the Terminal one evening and there embarked66 on the Federal Express, Maid in a baggage car and John and Phillip in the Washington sleeper67. John was in fine spirits; Phillip seemed depressed68. In journeying it makes a difference whether the object of attraction is before or behind.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
baker
|
|
| n.面包师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
Amended
|
|
| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
exasperating
|
|
| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
collapse
|
|
| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
slumbering
|
|
| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sleet
|
|
| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
imbued
|
|
| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
advent
|
|
| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wayfarers
|
|
| n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
assuaged
|
|
| v.减轻( assuage的过去式和过去分词 )；缓和；平息；使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
heralds
|
|
| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
idyllic
|
|
| adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
blizzard
|
|
| n.暴风雪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
cyclone
|
|
| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
wholesomeness
|
|
| 卫生性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
35
loath
|
|
| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
countenanced
|
|
| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
38
perseverance
|
|
| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
semblance
|
|
| n.外貌，外表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
temperately
|
|
| adv.节制地，适度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
demurely
|
|
| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
chilliness
|
|
| n.寒冷，寒意，严寒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
vows
|
|
| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
recess
|
|
| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
freshman
|
|
| n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
poker
|
|
| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
behooves
|
|
| n.利益，好处( behoof的名词复数 )v.适宜( behoove的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
offset
|
|
| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
scoffed
|
|
| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
tragically
|
|
| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
imperative
|
|
| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
embarked
|
|
| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
sleeper
|
|
| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |