"This is surely one powerful' fine night. I don't wonder you-all like it better out here than—" He checked suddenly in both words and action: the women had started apart. "Why!" he added slowly, as though perplexed—"I hope I don't intrude4...."
His quick dark eyes shifted rapidly from Helena to Venetia, to Matthias, and again back to the women, during a momentary5 lull6 of embarrassment7. Then Helena said quietly:
"Not in the least. But this makes you the first to learn the news, Mr. Marbridge. Venetia and my nephew are engaged to be married."
"Engaged—!" The man's chin slacked: his eyes widened; a cigarette fell unheeded from his fingers. He smiled a trace stupidly.
"Why!"—he recollected8 himself almost instantaneously—"this certainly is some surprise, but I do congratulate you—both!"
With a stride he seized the hand Venetia could not refuse him, and pressed it warmly. "You're the luckiest man I ever knew!" he declared, turning to clasp hands with Matthias.
Instinctively9 the latter met his powerful grasp with one as forceful. "Thank you," he said, smiling gravely into the other's eyes. Under his firm but pleasant regard they wavered and fell, then steadied with a glint of temper. Their hands fell apart. Marbridge stepped back.
"Perhaps I don't know you well enough, Mr. Matthias, to congratulate Miss Tankerville as heartily11 as I do you; but I'm persuaded she's not liable to make any serious mistake."
Matthias nodded thoughtfully. "I understand: your intentions are excellent. I'm sure we both thank you. Venetia—?"
"Mr. Marbridge is very amiable," said the girl, a hint of mirth modifying her composure. "But I'm afraid, Helena," she added quickly—"if you don't mind—I think I'll go to my room."
To Marbridge she gave a quaint little bow that was half an old-fashioned courtesy, robbed of formality by her spirited smile: to Matthias her hand and a gentle "Good night!" Taking the arm of her sister-in-law, she drew her toward the house.
Watching them until they disappeared, Marbridge chuckled12 quietly.
"Took my breath away!" he declared. "Why, I never suspected for an instant!..." He dropped heavily but with characteristic grace into a chair. "It takes you quiet boys to get away with the girls like Venetia—all fire and dash!"
"Yes," said Matthias reflectively: "it does—doesn't it? Have another cigarette?" He offered his case. "You dropped yours...."
"Thanks.... She's a thoroughbred, all right. I reckon if I wasn't a mite13 too middle-aged14, maybe I might've set you a pace that you'd've found lively going."
"Well, let's be thankful nothing of that sort happened, at all events."
Marbridge looked up over his match and lifted his brows; but if in reality a retort trembled on his lips, he thought better of it; and before either spoke15 again, Tankerville was on the terrace, brandishing16 pudgy arms.
"Hey, you!" he called fretfully. "Don't you know you're holding us all up? Come on in...."
But the game held less attraction for Matthias than ever, and after another and final failure to establish himself in Tankerville's good graces, he pocketed his losses, relinquished17 his place to Marbridge and—with even less inclination18 for bed than for cards—took himself again out into the open night. But now the terrace was all too small to contain his spirits. The need of action—movement, freedom, space—was strong upon him. Striding away down the drive that wound like a broad band of whitewash19 through its dark bordering lawns and darker coppices, he found even the grounds of Tanglewood too constricted20 for the extravagant21 energy that animated22 him; and took to the broad highways, with all Long Island free to his tireless spirit.
For several hours or more he trudged23 valiantly24 hither and yon, with little or no notion of whither he went—with his head in the stars and his feet in the dust and kicking up a famous smother25 of it—and in that time was wittingly as near to happiness as he had ever been in all his days. The faculty26 of coherent thought had passed from him utterly27, but it passed unmourned: Venetia was his! This thought alone sufficed him. He had neither time nor inclination to entertain those doubts, those questionings and apprehensions28 which had beset29 him in saner30 humour theretofore. It mattered nothing now that he was poor and she wealthy, nothing that all his efforts to make something of himself had thus far proved vain and fruitless. She loved him: it was enough....
He came to his senses, eventually, long enough to recognize anew the grounds of Tanglewood. Of a sudden his impetuosity had run out; remained the pleasant languor31 of a healthy body thoroughly32 exercised, the peace of a mind vexed33 by no insatiable desire. And still he was not sleepy. Purposefully he retarded34 his footsteps, approaching the house with stealth, eager to escape observation and gain his room, unhindered. Tomorrow would be soon enough to submit to the ordeal35 of congratulations....
It was with a shock of amazement36 that he saw the house all quiet and dark. He pulled out his watch and studied its face by moonlight, finding its evidence difficult to credit: twenty minutes past one in the morning!
Gingerly, keeping to the grass in order that the gravel10 of the drive might not, by its crunching37 underfoot, betray him or alarm some wakeful member of the house-hold, he approached the front door, wondering if he were locked out, and—not without amusement at his self-contrived predicament—what to do if he were. To his relief one-half of the double door stood a foot or two ajar—thanks, he had no doubt, to the thoughtfulness of Helena or Tankerville. Blessing38 both on general principles, he entered, shut the door and softly shot the bolt; turned in deep obscurity to grope his way to the foot of the stairs; but paused with a hand on the newel-post and his breath catching39 in his throat.
In the hallway above a night-light was burning dim and low but sufficiently40 diffused41 to show him the figure of a woman silently descending42 the stairway. When he first became aware of her she was indeed almost within arm's length: a shape of shadow scarce three shades lighter43 than the encompassing44 gloom.... Venetia, possibly, having waited and watched for him from her windows overlooking the drive, stealing down to bid him that good night they had perforce foregone in the presence of Helena and Marbridge....
That wild and extravagant surmise45 had no more than entered his mind when he found the woman in his arms. She gave herself into them with a gesture of abandonment, with a little sigh that escaped in broken measure, murmurous46 and fond. An arm that, lifting, flashed naked to the shoulder as the sleeve of her negligee fell back, encircled his neck and drew down his head to hers. And her mouth fastened to his with clinging lips....
Half stunned47 by receipt of that mad caress48, one thought shot like light through the turmoil49 of his senses: this was never Venetia!
With an effort he straightened his neck against the pressure of the woman's arm. She strove to overcome his resistance, wooing him in accents hushed, shaking with passion:
"Vincent ... sweetheart!..."
He interrupted hastily: "I beg pardon!" The inadequacy50 of that stilted51 form, disgusting him, he added: "I am John Matthias."
Immediately the woman released him and, with a gasp52, sank back against the newel-post. Her breath came gustily53, with a sound like smothered54 sobbing55. Pitifully he divined her shame and terror; and though he knew her very well, beyond mistake, he said evenly: "Don't worry—there isn't any light."
In a stupefied voice she iterated: "No light—?"
"It's so confounded' dark," he complained: "I couldn't tell you from Eve. So perhaps you'd better run back to your room now...."
He turned away deliberately56. Behind him, after a pause of an instant, there rose a sound of soft rustling57 draperies, a swift and hushed patter of footsteps on the stairs. A moment or two later a latch58 clicked very gently in the corridor above.
Quietly Matthias switched on a single light, returned to the door, unbolted and quickly opened it.
He was not disappointed that this man?uvre surprised a shadow skulking59 in the penumbra60 of rose bushes that bordered the steps, the shadow of a man who drew back swiftly when he recognized Matthias. This last stepped out, turned in the direction of the fugitive61 shadow, and pursuing at leisure, hailed in a quiet and natural tone: "I say—Marbridge!—that you?"
Immediately he came upon Marbridge at a standstill round the corner of the house, awaiting him in a curious posture62 of antagonism63: his feet well apart, heavy body inclined a trifle forward, round dark head low between his shoulders, hands clenched64, upon his face a cloud of anger.
Matthias greeted him suavely65: "I was afraid I'd locked you out." Ignoring his attitude even as he seemed to ignore the fact that Marbridge had changed from evening dress to a suit of dark flannels66, he added: "Coming in now? It's a bit late."
Marbridge pulled himself together. "Perhaps you're right," he assented67 surlily. But it was with patent effort that he mastered his resentment68 and accompanied Matthias back to the doors.
"A fine night, what?" Matthias filled in the awkward silence.
"Yes," agreed Marbridge brusquely. "Too fine," he amended—"too fine to waste in bed."
"Sleepless69, eh?"
"Yes."
Following him in, Matthias refastened the door. "Several of us seem troubled with the same indisposition," he observed coolly, swinging to face Marbridge. "That's why I bothered to call you in, you know."
Marbridge scowled70: "Perhaps I don't get you...."
"She has gone back to bed," Matthias explained pleasantly. "I didn't like to think of you waiting out there, all alone."
Marbridge choked on a retort, turned and began slowly to mount the stairs.
"Oh—going? Half a minute."
The man paused, and in silence looked down.
"I just happened to think perhaps you haven't a time-table in your room," said Matthias amiably71. "There are several early trains tomorrow, you know. I fancy the eight-seven would suit you as well as any."
He got no answer other than a grunt72. Marbridge resumed his deliberate ascent73, gained the upper floor, and disappeared.
"Good night!" Matthias called after him, softly; and turned out the light.
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收听单词发音
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1
unctuous
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| adj.油腔滑调的，大胆的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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8
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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12
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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14
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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15
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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16
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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17
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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18
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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19
whitewash
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| v.粉刷，掩饰；n.石灰水，粉刷，掩饰 | |
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constricted
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| adj.抑制的，约束的 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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26
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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27
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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29
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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30
saner
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| adj.心智健全的( sane的比较级 )；神志正常的；明智的；稳健的 | |
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31
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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32
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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33
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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34
retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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36
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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37
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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38
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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39
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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40
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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41
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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42
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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43
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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44
encompassing
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| v.围绕( encompass的现在分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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45
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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46
murmurous
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| adj.低声的 | |
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47
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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49
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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50
inadequacy
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| n.无法胜任，信心不足 | |
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51
stilted
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| adj.虚饰的；夸张的 | |
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52
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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53
gustily
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| adv.暴风地，狂风地 | |
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54
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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55
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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56
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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57
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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58
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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59
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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60
penumbra
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| n.（日蚀）半影部 | |
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61
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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62
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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64
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
suavely
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66
flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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67
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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69
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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70
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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72
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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