But, if anything, the day was a little worse upon the next occasion, when Thursday had been selected, the same fate attending the luckless managers upon a Monday, a Tuesday, and a Wednesday. But now at last it seemed as if the fair goddess Flora1 herself had enlisted2 the sympathies of that individual known to mortals as “the clerk of the weather,” and, in consequence, the day was all that could be desired. In fact, the weather was so fine, that the bandsmen of the Grenadier Guards, instead of coming down in their old and tarnished3 uniforms—declared, as a rule, to be good enough for Lexville—mustered in full force, gorgeous in their brightest scarlet4 and gold. The committee-men had shaken hands in the secretary’s tent a dozen times over as many glasses of sherry, and forgotten to eat their biscuits in their hurry to order the cords of Edgington’s great tent to be tightened6, so potent7 were the rays of the sun; while within the canvas palace, in a golden hazy8 shade, the floral beauties from many a hot house and conservatory9 were receiving the last touches by way of arrangement.
Lexville was in a profound state of excitement that day, and Miss l’Aiguille, the dressmaker, declared that she had been nearly torn to pieces by her customers.
“As for Miss Bray10,” she said, “not another dress would she make for her—no, not if she became bankrupt to-morrow—that she wouldn’t! Six tryings-on, indeed, and then not satisfied!”
However, Miss l’Aiguille’s troubles were so far over that, like the rest of Lexville, she had partaken of an early dinner, or lunch, and prepared herself to visit the great fête.
Lexville flower-show was always held in the grounds of one of the county magistrates11, the Rev12. Henry Lingon, concerning whose kindness the reporter for the little newspaper generally went into raptures13 in print, and received orders for half-a-dozen extra copies the next bench-day. And now fast and furiously the carriages began to set down—the wealth and fashion of the neighbourhood making a point of being the earlier arrivals, so as to miss the crowd of commoner beings who would afterwards flock together.
“Ah, Vining! You’re here, then, mai dear fellow! Why didn’t you come to lunch?” exclaimed Maximilian Bray, sauntering up to the young man, who, rather flushed and energetic, was talking to a knot of flower-button-holed committee-men.
“How do, Max?” exclaimed Charley, hastily taking the extended hand, and giving it a good shake. Then, turning to the committee-men: “Much rather not—would, really, you know—don’t feel myself adapted. Well, there,” he exclaimed at last, in answer to several eager protestations, “I’ll do it, if you can get no one else!—Want me to give away the prizes,” he said, turning to Max Bray, who was gazing ruefully at his right glove, in whose back a slight crack was visible, caused, no doubt, by the hearty14 but rough grasp it had just received.
“To be sure—of course!” drawled Bray. “You’re the very man, bai Jove! But won’t you come towards the gate? I expect our people here directly.”
Nothing loth, Vining strolled with his companion down one of the pleasant floral avenues, but seeing no flowers, hearing no band; for his gaze, he hardly knew why, was directed towards the approach; and though Maximilian Bray kept up a drawling series of remarks, they fell upon inattentive ears.
“Do you expect them soon?” said Charley at last, somewhat impatiently, for he was growing tired of his companion’s chatter15.
“Ya-as, directly,” said Bray, smiling. “But, mai dear fellow, why didn’t you come over and then escort them?”
Charley did not answer; for just then he caught sight of Laura, radiant of lace and dress, sweeping16 along beside Mrs Bray, who seemed to cut a way through the crowd at the farther part of the great marquee.
“Here they are,” said Bray, drawing Charley along; “so now you can be out of your misery17.”
“What do you mean?” said Charley sharply.
“Bai Jove! how you take a fellow up! Nothing at all—nothing at all!”
Charley frowned slightly, and then suffered himself to be led up to the Elms party, Mrs Bray smiling upon him sweetly, and Laura favouring him with a look that was meant to bring him to her side.
But Laura’s look had not the desired effect; for Charley stayed talking to Mrs Bray, after just passing the customary compliments to the younger lady.
A frown—no slight one—appeared on Laura’s brow; but in a few seconds it was gone, and, walking back a few paces, she stayed by her younger sisters, with whom Charley could see the young lady of the previous day’s encounter.
And now he would have followed Laura in the hope of obtaining an introduction, but he was arrested by a stout18 committee-man.
“Would he kindly19 step that way for a moment?”
With an exclamation20 of impatience21, the young man followed, to find that his opinion was wanted as to the suitability of the site chosen for the distribution of the prizes.
“But surely you can obtain some one else?” exclaimed Charley.
“Impossible, my dear sir,” was the reply.
So, after two or three unavailing attempts to obtain a substitute, Charley gave in; for the owner of the grounds, upon being asked, declared that a better choice could not have been made; the principal doctor shook his head; while Mr Onesimus Bray literally22 turned and fled upon hearing Charley’s request. So, with a feeling of something like despair, the elected prize-giver began to cudgel his brains for the verbiage23 of a speech, telling himself that he should certainly break down and expose himself to the laughter of the assemblage; for the grandees24 from miles round had made their way to Lexville to patronise the flower-show; and at last, quite in despair, Charley walked hurriedly down one of the alleys26 of the garden, passing closely by the Bray party, and making Laura colour with annoyance27 at what she called his neglect.
But Charley Vining’s perturbed28 spirit was not soothed29 by the anticipated solitude30 of the shady alley25; for, before he had gone twenty yards, he saw Max Bray side by side with the lady who had occupied a goodly share of his thoughts since the encounter of the previous day.
Their backs were towards him, but it was quite evident that Mr Maximilian Bray was exerting himself to be as agreeable as possible to his companion, though with what success it was impossible to say. At all events, Charley Vining turned sharply round upon his heel, with a strange feeling of annoyance entirely31 new pervading32 his spirit.
“How absurd!” he muttered to himself. “What an ass5 I was to come to a set-out of this kind! No fellow could be more out of place!”
Turning out of the alley, he made his way, with rapid, business-like steps, on to the lawn, where the rapidly-increasing company were now gathering33 in knots, and listening to one of Godfrey’s finest selections. To an unbiased observer, the thought might have suggested itself that there was as bright a flower-show, and as beautiful a mingling34 of hues35, out there upon the closely-shaven turf, as within the tent; but Charley Vining was just then no impartial36 spectator; and, though more than one pair of eyes grew brighter as he approached, he saw nothing but two figures slowly issuing from the other end of the alley, where the guelder roses were showering down their vernal snows.
“I should uncommonly37 like to wing that Max Bray’s neck!” said Charley to himself, as he threw his stalwart form into a wicker garden-chair, which creaked and expostulated dismally38 beneath the weight it was called upon to bear; and then, indulging in rather a favourite habit, he lolled there, muttering and talking to himself—cross-examining and answering questions respecting his uneasiness.
But the more he thought, the more uneasy he grew, and twice over he shifted his seat to avoid an attack from some conversational39 friend whom he saw approaching.
“There, this sort of thing won’t do!” he exclaimed at last. “I’m afraid I’m going on the pointed-out road rather too fast. Suppose I take a dose of the Bray family by way of antidote40.”
So, leaving his seat, he strode towards where he could see Laura’s white parasol; but his intent was baffled by a couple of committee-men, who literally took him into custody—their purpose being to give him divers41 and sundry42 explanations respecting the distribution of the prizes.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
flora
|
|
| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
enlisted
|
|
| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
tarnished
|
|
| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ass
|
|
| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
hazy
|
|
| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
conservatory
|
|
| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
bray
|
|
| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
magistrates
|
|
| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
raptures
|
|
| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
chatter
|
|
| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
verbiage
|
|
| n.冗词；冗长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
grandees
|
|
| n.贵族，大公，显贵者( grandee的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
alley
|
|
| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
alleys
|
|
| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
soothed
|
|
| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
pervading
|
|
| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
impartial
|
|
| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
uncommonly
|
|
| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dismally
|
|
| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
conversational
|
|
| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
antidote
|
|
| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
divers
|
|
| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
sundry
|
|
| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |