I.
From Miss Garth to Mr. Pendril.
“Westmoreland House, January 3d, 1848.
“DEAR MR. PENDRIL—I write, as you kindly1 requested, to report how Norah is going on, and to tell you what changes I see for the better in the state of her mind on the subject of her sister.
“I cannot say that she is becoming resigned to Magdalen’s continued silence—I know her faithful nature too well to say it. I can only tell you that she is beginning to find relief from the heavy pressure of sorrow and suspense2 in new thoughts and new hopes. I doubt if she has yet realized this in her own mind; but I see the result, although she is not conscious of it herself. I see her heart opening to the consolation3 of another interest and another love. She has not said a word to me on the subject, nor have I said a word to her. But as certainly as I know that Mr. George Bartram’s visits have lately grown more and more frequent to the family at Portland Place—so certainly I can assure you that Norah is finding a relief under her suspense, which is not of my bringing, and a hope in the future, which I have not taught her to feel.
“It is needless for me to say that I tell you this in the strictest confidence. God knows whether the happy prospect4 which seems to me to be just dawning will grow brighter or not as time goes on. The oftener I see Mr. George Bartram—and he has called on me more than once—the stronger my liking5 for him grows. To my poor judgment6 he seems to be a gentleman in the highest and truest sense of the word. If I could live to see Norah his wife, I should almost feel that I had lived long enough. But who can discern the future? We have suffered so much that I am afraid to hope.
“Have you heard anything of Magdalen? I don’t know why or how it is; but since I have known of her husband’s death, my old tenderness for her seems to cling to me more obstinately7 than ever. Always yours truly,
“HARRIET GARTH.” II
From Mr. Pendril to Miss Garth.
“Serle Street, January 4th, 1848.
“DEAR MISS GARTH—Of Mrs. Noel Vanstone herself I have heard nothing. But I have learned, since I saw you, that the report of the position in which she is left by the death of her husband may be depended upon as the truth. No legacy8 of any kind is bequeathed to her. Her name is not once mentioned in her husband’s will.
“Knowing what we know, it is not to be concealed9 that this circumstance threatens us with more embarrassment10, and perhaps with more distress11. Mrs. Noel Vanstone is not the woman to submit, without a desperate resistance, to the total overthrow12 of all her schemes and all her hopes. The mere13 fact that nothing whatever has been heard of her since her husband’s death is suggestive to my mind of serious mischief14 to come. In her situation, and with her temper, the quieter she is now, the more inveterately15 I, for one, distrust her in the future. It is impossible to say to what violent measures her present extremity16 may not drive her. It is impossible to feel sure that she may not be the cause of some public scandal this time, which may affect her innocent sister as well as herself.
“I know you will not misinterpret the motive17 which has led me to write these lines; I know you will not think that I am inconsiderate enough to cause you unnecessary alarm. My sincere anxiety to see that happy prospect realized to which your letter alludes18 has caused me to write far less reservedly than I might otherwise have written. I strongly urge you to use your influence, on every occasion when you can fairly exert it, to strengthen that growing attachment19, and to place it beyond the reach of any coming disasters, while you have the opportunity of doing so. When I tell you that the fortune of which Mrs. Noel Vanstone has been deprived is entirely20 bequeathed to Admiral Bartram; and when I add that Mr. George Bartram is generally understood to be his uncle’s heir—you will, I think, acknowledge that I am not warning you without a cause. Yours most truly,
“WILLIAM PENDRIL.” III.
From Admiral Bartram to Mrs. Drake (housekeeper at St. Crux21).
“St. Crux, January 10th, 1848.
“MRS. DRAKE—I have received your letter from London, stating that you have found me a new parlor-maid at last, and that the girl is ready to return with you to St. Crux when your other errands in town allow you to come back.
“This arrangement must be altered immediately, for a reason which I am heartily22 sorry to have to write.
“The illness of my niece, Mrs. Girdlestone—which appeared to be so slight as to alarm none of us, doctors included—has ended fatally. I received this morning the shocking news of her death. Her husband is said to be quite frantic23 with grief. Mr. George has already gone to his brother-in-law’s, to superintend the last melancholy24 duties and I must follow him before the funeral takes place. We propose to take Mr. Girdlestone away afterward25, and to try the effect on him of change of place and new scenes. Under these sad circumstances, I may be absent from St. Crux a month or six weeks at least; the house will be shut up, and the new servant will not be wanted until my return.
“You will therefore tell the girl, on receiving this letter, that a death in the family has caused a temporary change in our arrangements. If she is willing to wait, you may safely engage her to come here in six weeks’ time; I shall be back then, if Mr. George is not. If she refuses, pay her what compensation is right, and so have done with her. Yours,
“ARTHUR BARTRAM.” IV.
From Mrs. Drake to Admiral Bartram.
“January 11th.
“HONORED SIR—I hope to get my errands done, and to return to St. Crux to-morrow, but write to save you anxiety, in case of delay.
“The young woman whom I have engaged (Louisa by name) is willing to wait your time; and her present mistress, taking an interest in her welfare, will provide for her during the interval26. She understands that she is to enter on her new service in six weeks from the present date—namely, on the twenty-fifth of February next.
“Begging you will accept my respectful sympathy under the sad bereavement27 which has befallen the family,
“I remain, honored sir, your humble28 servant,
“SOPHIA DRAKE.”
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1
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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2
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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3
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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4
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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5
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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6
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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7
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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8
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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10
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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11
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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12
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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13
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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14
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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15
inveterately
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| adv.根深蒂固地，积习地 | |
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16
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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17
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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18
alludes
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| 提及，暗指( allude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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19
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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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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21
crux
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| adj.十字形；难事，关键，最重要点 | |
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22
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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23
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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24
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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25
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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26
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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27
bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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28
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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