His new companions were indeed so interesting to Meredith, that the new chapter of the “Voice from the Grave” was all about Lauderdale and Colin. They were described under the initials L. and C., with a heightening of all their valuable qualities, which was intended to make more and more apparent their want of “the one thing needful.” They were like the rich young man whom Jesus loved, but who had not the heart to give up all and follow Him—they were like “him who, through cowardice24, made the great refusal—” the sick man wrote without, however, quoting Dante; and he contrasted with their virtuous25 and thoughtful worldliness the condition of his convert, who knew nothing but the love of God, poor Meredith said. Perhaps it was true that the sick sailor knew the love of God, and certainly the prayers of the volunteer missionary26 were not less likely to reach the ear of the Divine Majesty27 for being uttered by the poor fellow’s bedside. But, though he wrote a{229} chapter in his book about them, Meredith still clung to his friends. The unseen and unknown were familiar to their thoughts—perhaps even too familiar, being considered by them as reasonably and naturally interesting; and poor Meredith was disposed to think that anything natural must be more or less wicked. But still he considered them interesting, and thought he might be able to do them good, and, for his own part, found all the human comfort he was capable of in their society. Thus it was that, with mutual28 compassions and sympathy, he sorry for them and they for him, and mutual good offices, the three grew into friendship hour by hour.
As for Alice, her brother was fond of her, but had never had his attention specially29 attracted to her, nor been led to think of her as a companion for himself. She was his tender little nurse and attendant—a creature with loving watchful30 eyes, and anxious little noiseless cares. He would have missed her terribly had she failed him, without quite knowing what it was he missed. But, though he was in the habit of instructing her now and then, it did not occur to him to talk to his sister. She was a creature of another species—an awakened31 soul, with few thoughts or feelings worth speaking of. At least such was the estimate her brother had formed of her, and in which Alice herself agreed to a great extent. It was not exactly humility32 that kept the anxious girl in this mind, but an undisturbed habit and custom, out of which no personal impulse had delivered her. The women of her kindred had never been remarkable33 one way or another. They were good women, perfectly34 virtuous and a little tiresome35, as even Alice was sensible; and it had not been the custom of the men of the house to consult or confide11 in their partners. Her mother and aunts had found quite enough to occupy them in housekeeping and needlework, and had accepted it as a matter of faith that men, except, perhaps, when in love, or in “a passion,” did not care to talk to women—a family creed36 from which so young and submissive a girl had not dreamt of enfranchising37 herself. Accordingly she accepted quite calmly Arthur’s low estimate of her powers of companionship, and was moved by no injured feeling when he sought the company of his new friends, and gave himself up to the pleasure of conversation. It was the most natural thing in the world to Alice. She kept by him, holding by his arm when he and his companions walked about the deck together, as long as there was room for her; and, when there was no room, she withdrew and sat down on the nearest seat, and took out{230} a little bit of needlework which never made any progress; for, though her intellect could not do Arthur any good, the anxious scrutiny38 of her eyes could, or at least so she seemed to think.
Very often, it was true, she was joined in her watch by Colin; of whom, however, it never occurred to her to think under any other possible aspect than that of Arthur’s friend. It might as well have been Lauderdale who shared her anxieties, so far as that went—for, notwithstanding a certain proclivity39 on the part of Colin to female friendship, Alice was too entirely unconscious, too utterly40 devoid41 of any sense or feeling of self, to be interesting to the young man. Perhaps a certain amount of self-regard is necessary to attract the regard of others. Alice was not conscious of herself at all, and her insensibility communicated itself to her companion. He sometimes even wondered if her intelligence was up to the ordinary level, and then felt ashamed of himself when by chance she lifted upon him her wistful eyes; not that those eyes were astonishingly bright, or conveyed any intimations of hidden power—but they looked, as they were, unawakened, suggestive eyes, which might wake up at any moment and develop unthought-of lights. But, on the whole, this twilight42 was too dim to interest Colin, except by moments; and it was incomprehensible and to some extent provoking and vexatious to the young man, to see by his side a creature so young, and with so many natural graces, who neutralized43 them all by her utter indifference44 to herself.
So that after all it came to be a very natural and reasonable step to accompany the Merediths, to whose knowledge of the country and language even Lauderdale found himself indebted when suddenly thrown without warning upon the tumultuous crowd of Leghorn boatmen, which was his first foreign experience. “They all understand French,” a benevolent45 fellow-passenger said, as he went on before them; which did not give the consolation46 it was intended to convey to the two Scotch travellers, who only looked at each other sheepishly, and laughed with a very mixed and doubtful sort of mirth, not liking47 to commit themselves. They had to give themselves up blindly into the hands of Meredith and his sister—for Alice felt herself of some importance in a country where she “knew the language”—and it was accordingly in the train of those two that Colin and Lauderdale were dragged along, like a pair of English captives, through the very gates of Rome itself, and across the solemn{231} Campagna to the little city set upon a hill, to which the sick man was bound. They made their way to it in a spring afternoon when the sun was inclining towards the west, throwing long shadows of those long, weird48, endless arches of the Claudian aqueduct across the green wastes, and shining full upon the white specks49 of scattered50 villages on the Alban hills. The landscape would have been impressive even had it conveyed no associations to the minds of the spectators. But, as the reluctant strangers left Rome, they saw unfold before them a noble semicircle of hills—the Sabines, blue and mysterious, on one side, the Latin range breaking bluntly into the centre of the ring, and towards the right hand the softer Alban heights with their lakes hidden in the hollows, and the sunshine falling full upon their crest51 of towns. When they had mounted the steep ascent52 to Frascati, it was still more wonderful to look back and see the sunset arranging itself over that great Campagna, falling into broad radiant bands of colour with inconceivable tints53 and shadings, betraying in a sudden flash the distant sea, and shining all misty54 and golden over the dwarfed55 dome56 of St. Peter’s, which rose up by itself upon the distant plain with a wonderful insignificance57 of grandeur—all Rome around being blotted58 into oblivion. That would have been a sight to linger over had not Meredith been weary and worn out, and eager to get to his journey’s end.
“You will see it often enough,” he said, with a little petulance59; “neither the sunset nor St. Peter’s can run away:” for it was to himself a sufficiently60 familiar sight. They went in accordingly to a large house, which, a little to the disappointment of Colin, was just as square and ugly as anything he could have found at home, though it stood all the days and nights gazing with many eyes over that Campagna which looked like a thing to dream over for ever. It was the third storey of this house—- the upper floor—to which Meredith and his sister directed their steps; Colin and Lauderdale following them—not without a little expectation, natural enough under the circumstances. It was cold, and they were tired, though not so much as the invalid; and they looked for a bright fire, a comfortable room, and a good meal—with a little curiosity, it is true, about the manner of it, but none as to the blazing hearth61 and spread board, and all the other items indispensable to comfort, according to English ideas. The room, when they got admittance, was very large, and full of windows, letting in a flood of light, which, as the sunshine was now too low to enter, was cold {232}light—white, colourless, and chilling. Not a vestige62 of carpet was on the tiled floor, except before the fire-place, where a square piece of a curious coarse fabric63 and wonderful pattern had been laid down. A few logs were burning on the wide hearth, and close by was a little stack of wood intended to replenish64 the fire. The great desert room contained a world of tables and hard uncushioned chairs, but the tired travellers looked in vain for the spread board which had pleased their imagination. If Colin had thought the house too like an ordinary ugly English house outside to satisfy him, he found this abundantly made up for now by the interior, so unlike anything English; for the walls were painted with a brilliant landscape set in a frame of still more brilliant scarlet65 curtains, which the simple-minded artist had looped across his sky without any hesitation66; and underneath67 this gorgeous bit of fresco68 was set a table against the wall, upon which were spread out a humble69 store of little brown rolls, a square slice of butter, a basin full of eggs, and a flask70 of oil—the humble provisions laid in by the attendant Maria, who had rushed forward to kiss the young lady’s hand when she opened the door. While the two inexperienced Scotch travellers stood horror-stricken, their companions, who were aware of what they were coming to, threw down their wraps and began to take possession, and to settle themselves in this extraordinary wilderness71.
Meredith for his part threw himself into a large primitive72 easy-chair which stood by the fire. “This is a comfort I did not look for,” he said; “and, thank heaven, here we are at last.” He drew a long breath of satisfaction as he stretched out his long meagre limbs before the fire. “Come in and make yourselves comfortable. Alice will attend to everything else,” he said, looking back at his amazed companions, who, finding themselves in some degree his guests, had to subdue73 their feelings. They came and sat by him, exchanging looks of dismay—looks which, perhaps, he perceived, for he drew in his long languid limbs, and made a little room for the others. “Many things, of course, that are necessary in our severe climate are unnecessary here,” he said, with a slight shiver; and, as he spoke74, he reached out his hand for one of the wraps he had thrown off, and drew it round his shoulders. This movement gave a climax75 to the universal discomfort76. Colin and Lauderdale once more looked at each other with mutual comments that could find no utterance77 in words—the only audible expression of their mutual sentiment being an exclamation78 of “Climate!{233}” from the latter in an undertone of unspeakable surprise and consternation79. This, then, was the Italy of which they had dreamed! The Mistress’s parlour on the Holy Loch was, words could not tell how much warmer and more genial23. The tired travellers turned towards the fire as the only possible gleam of consolation, and Meredith put out his long thin arm to seize another log and place it on the hearth; even he felt the difference. He had done nothing to help himself till he came here; but habits of indulgence dropped off on the threshold of this Spartan80 dwelling81. Colin repeated within himself Lauderdale’s exclamation, “Climate!” as he shivered in his chair. No doubt the invalid chair by the fire-side on the banks of the Holy Loch was a very different thing, so far as comfort was concerned.
In the meantime Alice found herself mistress of the position. Humble little woman as she was, there came by moments, even to her, a compassionate82 contempt for the male creatures who got hungry and sulky after this fashion, and could only sit down ill-tempered and disconsolate83 before the fire. Alice for her part sent off Maria to the trattoria, and cheerfully prepared to feed the creatures who did not know how to set about it for themselves. When she had done her utmost, however, there was still a look of dismay on Colin’s face. The dinner from the trattoria was a thing altogether foreign to the experiences of the two Scotchmen. They suspected it while they ate, making secret wry84 faces to each other across the equivocal board. This was the land of poets into which they had come—the land of the ideal, where, according to their inexperienced imagination, everything was to share the general refinement85! But, alas86, there was nothing refined about the dinner from the trattoria, which was altogether a native production, and with which the Merediths, being accustomed, and knowing what they had to expect, contented87 themselves well enough. When Lauderdale and his charge retired88, chilled to the bone, to their stony89, chilly90 bedrooms, where everything seemed to convey not warmth but a sensation of freezing, they looked at each other with amazement91 and disgust on their faces. “Callant, you would have been twenty times better at home,” said Lauderdale with a remorseful92 groan93; “and as for thae poor innocents, who have nobody to look after them—But they kent what they were coming to,” he continued, with a flash of momentary94 anger. Altogether it was as unsuccessful a beginning as could well be imagined of the ideal poetic95 Italian life.
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1
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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11
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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12
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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13
peccadilloes
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| n.轻罪，小过失( peccadillo的名词复数 ) | |
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14
stewardess
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| n.空中小姐，女乘务员 | |
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15
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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16
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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18
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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19
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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30
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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31
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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33
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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35
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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36
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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enfranchising
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| v.给予选举权( enfranchise的现在分词 )；（从奴隶制中）解放 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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proclivity
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| n.倾向，癖性 | |
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40
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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41
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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42
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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43
neutralized
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| v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
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44
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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45
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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46
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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47
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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48
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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49
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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50
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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51
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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52
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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53
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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54
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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55
dwarfed
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| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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56
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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57
insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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58
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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59
petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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60
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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61
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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62
vestige
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| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
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fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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64
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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65
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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66
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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67
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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fresco
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| n.壁画；vt.作壁画于 | |
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69
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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70
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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71
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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72
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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73
subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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74
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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75
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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76
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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77
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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78
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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80
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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81
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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82
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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83
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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84
wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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85
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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86
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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87
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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88
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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89
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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90
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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91
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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92
remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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93
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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94
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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95
poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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