If once it was safely under the patronage18 of the Church, he had nothing more to fear from it. No doubt, resolutions would be passed, but resolutions——— Mr. Chesney smiled. There were, of course, the impossible people connected with the Croppy. Mr. Chesney did not like them, and in the bottom of his heart was a little nervous about them. They seemed to be very little afraid of the authority of the Church, and he doubted if the authority of the state would frighten them at all. Still, there were very few of them, and their abominable19 spirit of independence was spreading slowly, if at all.
‘They won’t,’ he said to himself, ‘be of any importance for some years to come, at all events, and five years hence——’
In five years Mr. Chesney hoped to be Prime Minister, or perhaps to have migrated to the House of Lords, At least, he expected to be out of Ireland, Meanwhile, he lighted a fresh cigar. The condition of the country was extremely satisfactory, and his policy was working out better than he had hoped.
The other travellers by the special train were equally well pleased, Ireland, so they understood Mr. Chesney, was to be made happy and contented3, peaceful and prosperous. It followed that there must be Boards under the control of Dublin Castle—more and more Boards, an endless procession of them. There is no way devised by the wit of man for securing prosperity and contentment except the creation of Boards. If Boards, then necessarily officials—officials with salaries and travelling allowances. Nice gentlemanly men, with villas20 at Dalkey and Killiney, would perform duties not too arduous21 in connection with the Boards, and carry out the benevolent22 policy of the Government. There was not a man in the train, except the newspaper reporters, who did not believe in the regeneration of Ireland by Boards, and everyone hoped to take a share in the good work, with the prospect23 of a retiring pension afterwards.
The local magnates—with the exception of Sir Gerald Geoghegan, whose temper had been bad from the first—also went home content. The minds of great ladies work somewhat confusedly, for Providence24, no doubt wisely, has denied to most of them the faculty25 of reason. It was enough for them to feel that the nuns27 were ‘sweet women,’ and that in some way not very clear Mr. Chesney was getting the better of ‘those wretched agitators28.’
Only one of all whom the special train had brought down failed to return in it. Mary O’Dwyer slipped out of the convent before the speeches began, and wandered away towards the desolate29 stony30 hill where the stream which turns the factory mill took its rise. It grieved her to miss the cup of tea which a friendly nun26 had led her to expect; but even tea might be too dearly purchased, and Miss O’Dwyer had a strong dislike to listening to what Augusta Goold described as the ‘sugared hypocrisies31 of professional liars32.’ Besides, she had her cigarette-case in her pocket, and a smoke, unattainable for her in the convent or the train, was much to be desired. She left the road at the foot of the hill, and picked her way along the rough bohireen which led upwards33 along the course of the stream. After awhile even this track disappeared. The stream tumbled noisily over rocks and stones, the bog-stained water glowing auburn-coloured in the sunlight. The ling and heather were springy under her feet, and the air was sweet with the scent34 of the bog-myrtle. She spied round her for a rock which cast a shade upon the kind of heathery bed she had set her heart to find. Her eyes lit upon a little party—a young man and two girls—encamped with a kettle, a spirit-stove, and a store of bread-and-butter. Her renunciation of the convent tea had not been made without a pang35. She looked longingly36 at the steam which already spouted37 from the kettle. The young man said a few words to the girls, then stood up, raised his hat to her, and beckoned38. She approached him, wondering.
‘Surely it can’t be—I really believe it is——’
‘Yes, Miss O’Dwyer, it really is myself, Hyacinth Conneally.’
‘My dear boy, you are the last person I expected to meet, though of course I knew you were somewhere down in these parts.’
‘Come and have some tea,’ said Hyacinth. ‘And let me introduce you to Miss Beecher and Miss Elsie Beecher.’
Miss O’Dwyer took stock of the two girls. ‘They make their own clothes,’ she thought, ‘and apparently39 only see last year’s fashion-plates. The eldest40 isn’t bad-looking. How is it all West of Ireland girls have such glorious complexions41? Her figure wouldn’t be bad if her mother bought her a decent pair of stays. I wonder who they are, and what they are doing here with Hyacinth. They can’t be his sisters.’
While they drank their tea certain glances and smiles gave her an inkling of the truth. ‘I suppose Hyacinth is engaged to the elder one,’ she concluded. ‘That kind of girl wouldn’t dare to make eyes at a man unless she had some kind of right to him.’
After tea she produced her cigarette-case.
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ she said to Marion. ‘I know it’s very shocking, but I’ve had a tiring day and an excellent tea, and oh, this heather is delicious to lie on!’ She stretched herself at full length as she spoke42. ‘I really must smoke, just to arrive at perfect felicity for once in my life. How happy you people ought to be who always have in a place like this!’
‘Oh,’ said Marion, ‘it sometimes rains, you know.’
‘Ah! and then these sweet spots get boggy43, I suppose, and you have to wear thick, clumping44 boots.’
Her own were very neat and small, and she knew that they must obtrude45 themselves on the eye while she lay prone46. Elsie, whose shoes were patched as well as thick-soled, made an ineffectual attempt to cover them with her skirt.
‘Now,’ said Hyacinth, ‘tell us what you are doing down here. They haven’t made you an inspectress of boarded-out workhouse children, have they? or sent you down to improve the breed of hens?’
‘No,’ said Miss O’Dwyer; ‘I have spent the afternoon helping47 to govern Ireland.’
Marion and Elsie gazed at her in wonder. A lady who smoked cigarettes and bore the cares of State upon her shoulders was a novelty to them.
‘I have sat in the seats of the mighty,’ she said; ‘I have breathed the same air as Mr. Chesney and two members of the C.D.B. Think of that! Moreover, I might, if I liked, have drunk tea with a Duchess.’
‘Oh,’ said Hyacinth, ‘you were at the convent function, I suppose. I wonder I didn’t see you.’
‘What on earth were you doing there? I thought you hated the nuns and all their ways.’
‘Go on about yourself,’ said Hyacinth. ‘You are not employed by the Government to inspect infant industries, are you?’
‘Oh no; I was one of the representatives of the press. I have notes here of all the beautiful clothes worn by the wives and daughters of the West British aristocracy. Listen to this: “Lady Geoghegan was gowned in an important creation of saffron tweed, the product of the convent looms48. We are much mistaken if this fabric49 in just this shade is not destined50 to play a part in robing the élégantes who will shed a lustre51 on our house-parties during the autumn.” And this—you must just listen to this.’
‘I won’t,’ said Hyacinth; ‘you can if you like, Marion. I’ll shut my ears.’
‘Very well,’ said Miss O’Dwyer; ‘I’ll talk seriously. When are you coming up to Dublin? You know my brother has taken over the editorship of the Croppy. We are going to make it a great power in the country. We are coming out with a policy which will sweep the old set of political talkers out of existence, and clear the country of Mr. Chesney and the likes of him.’ She waved her hand towards the convent. ‘Oh, it is going to be great. It is great already. Why don’t you come and help us?’
Hyacinth looked at her. She had half risen and leaned upon her elbow. Her face was flushed and her eyes sparkled. There was no doubt about the genuineness of her enthusiasm. The words of her poem, long since, he supposed, blotted52 from his memory, suddenly returned to him:
‘O, desolate mother, O, Erin,
When shall the pulse of thy life which but flutters in Connacht
Throb53 through thy meadows and boglands and mountains and cities?’
Had it come at last, this revival54 of the nation’s vitality55? Had it come just too late for him to share it?
‘I shall not help you,’ he said sadly; ‘I do not suppose that I ever could have helped you much, but now I shall not even try.’
She looked at him quickly with a startled expression in her eyes. Then she turned to Marion.
‘Are you preventing him?’ she said.
‘No,’ said Hyacinth; ‘it is not Marion. But I am going away—going to England. I am going to be ordained56, to become an English curate. Do you understand? I came here to-day to see the man who is to be my Rector, and to make final arrangements with him.’
‘Oh, Hyacinth!’
For some minutes she said no more. He saw in her face a wondering sorrow, a pathetic submissiveness to an unexpected disappointment, like the look in the face of a dog struck suddenly by the hand of a friend. He felt that he could have borne her anger better. No doubt if he had made his confession57 to Augusta Goold he would have been overwhelmed with passionate58 wrath59 or withered60 by a superb contemptuous stare. Then he could have worked himself to anger in return. But this!
‘You will never speak to any of us again,’ she went on. You will be ashamed even to read the Croppy. You will wear a long black coat and gray gloves. You will learn to talk about the “Irish Problem” and the inestimable advantages of belonging to a world-wide Empire, and about the great heart of the English people. I see it all—all that will happen to you. Your hair will get quite smooth and sleek61. Then you will become a Vicar of a parish. You will live in a beautiful house, with Virginia creeper growing over it and plum-trees in the garden. You will have a nice clean village for a parish, with old women who drop curtsies to you, and men—such men! stupid as bullocks! I know it all. And you will be ashamed to call yourself an Irishman. Oh, Hyacinth!’
Miss O’Dwyer’s catalogue of catastrophes62 was curiously63 mixed. Perhaps the comedy in it tended to obscure the utter degradation64 of the ruin she described. But the freakish incongruity65 of the speech did not strike Hyacinth. He found in it only two notes—pity that such a fate awaited him, and contempt for the man who submitted to it.
‘I cannot help myself. Will you not make an effort to understand? I am trying to do what is right.’
She shook her head.
‘No,’ he said, ‘I know it is no use. You could not understand even if I told you all I felt.’
Her eyes filled suddenly with tears. He heard her sob66. Then she turned without a word and left them. He stood watching her till she reached the road and started on her walk to the railway-station. Then he took Marion’s two hands in his, and held them fast.
‘Will you understand?’ he asked her.
She looked up at him. Her face was all tenderness. Love shone on him—trusting, unquestioning, adoring love, love that would be loyal to the uttermost; but her eyes were full of a dumb wonder.
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收听单词发音
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1
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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muzzled
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| 给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的过去式和过去分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论 | |
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coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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6
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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7
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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hierarchy
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| n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层 | |
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9
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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taxpayer
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| n.纳税人 | |
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13
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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14
faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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16
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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17
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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19
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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21
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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25
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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nun
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| n.修女，尼姑 | |
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nuns
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| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
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28
agitators
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| n.（尤指政治变革的）鼓动者( agitator的名词复数 )；煽动者；搅拌器；搅拌机 | |
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29
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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30
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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31
hypocrisies
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| n.伪善，虚伪( hypocrisy的名词复数 ) | |
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32
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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33
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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35
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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36
longingly
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| adv. 渴望地 热望地 | |
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spouted
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| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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38
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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42
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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43
boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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44
clumping
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| v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的现在分词 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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45
obtrude
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| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
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46
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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47
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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48
looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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49
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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50
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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51
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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52
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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53
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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54
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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56
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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58
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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59
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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60
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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61
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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62
catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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63
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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64
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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65
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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66
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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