Had he not been at this time absorbed in his own dreams, Gonji would have met half-way the pathetic advances of his mother; but he was oblivious7 to the change in her. He insisted politely that his health was excellent, begged to be excused, and wandered off by himself.
His father, whose mighty8 business interests were in Tokio, abandoned them for the time being and remained by his son’s side in Kioto, following the young man assiduously, seeking vainly to arouse him from the melancholy9 lethargy into which he had fallen. Deep in the heart of the elder Lord Saito was the acute knowledge of what troubled his son, for afflicted he undoubtedly10 was, as all the relatives unanimously and officiously averred11. Such a funereal12 countenance13 was unbefitting a bridegroom. One would think the unhappy youth was being driven to his tomb, rather than to the bridal bed!
The parents and relatives vied with each other in importuning14 the unfortunate Gonji, and sought to distract him from what were evidently his own morbid15 thoughts. Also they sought to entrap16 his confidence. Gonji kept his counsel, and from day to day he grew paler, thinner, more silent, and sad.
“Call in the services of the mightiest17 of honorable physicians and surgeons,” ordered the Lady Saito. “It may be an operation will relieve our son.”
Her husband, thoughtful, sad, a prey18 to an uneasy conscience, shook his head dumbly.
“It is not possible for the honorable knife to efface19 a cancer of the heart,” said he, sighing.
“Hasten the nuptials,” suggested the uncle of Ohano. “There is no medicine which acts with as drastic force as a wife.”
This time the Lord Saito Ichigo was even more emphatic20 in negativing the suggestion.
“There is time enough,” he asserted, gruffly. “I will not begrudge21 my son at least the short and precious time which should precede the ceremony. This is his period of diversion. It shall not be cut in half.”
The brusque words of the head of the Saito house aroused the ire of the nearest relative of the bride. He said complainingly:
“It does not seem as if the honorable bridegroom desires to avail himself of his prenuptial privileges. He does not seek the usual diversions of youth at this time. Is it not unnatural22 to prefer solitude23?”
“It is a matter of choice,” contended the father of Gonji, with curt24 pride.
“But if it injure his health, is it not the duty of the relatives to assist him?”
“The gates of the saito are wide open. My son is not a prisoner. He is at liberty to go whithersoever he pleases. It is apparent that his pleasures lie not outside the ancestral home of his fathers.”
“That,” said the uncle of Ohano, suavely25, “is because he still stumbles in the period of adolescence26. It is necessary he be instructed.”
The father of Gonji pondered the matter somberly, pulling with thumb and forefinger27 at his lower lip. After a moment he said, with sudden determination:
“You are right, Takedo Isami. Your superior suggestion is gratefully received. Since my son will not seek the pleasures of youth, let us bring them to our house. It is necessary immediately to arouse him from a youthful despair which may tend to injure his health.”
He looked up and met the cunning eye of his prospective28 kinsman29 regarding him with a peculiar30 expression. Ichigo added, gruffly but sturdily:
“It would be an excellent programme to secure the services of the honorable Spider of the House of Slender Pines. I pray you undertake the matter for me. See Matsuda, the master of the house. Spare no expense in the matter.”
The expression on Takedo’s face was now enigmatic. He emptied his pipe slowly and with deliberation, as if in thought. Then solemnly he bobbed his bald head, as if in assent31. The two old men then arose, shaking their skirts and hissing32 perfunctorily. Their bows were formal, and the words of parting the usual friendly and polite ones; but each met the eye of the other, and both understood; and, strangely, a sense of antagonism33 arose between them.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
afflicted
|
|
| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
malady
|
|
| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
repelling
|
|
| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
softening
|
|
| 变软，软化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
averred
|
|
| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
funereal
|
|
| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
importuning
|
|
| v.纠缠，向（某人）不断要求( importune的现在分词 )；（妓女）拉（客） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
morbid
|
|
| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
entrap
|
|
| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mightiest
|
|
| adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
efface
|
|
| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
emphatic
|
|
| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
begrudge
|
|
| vt.吝啬，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
curt
|
|
| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
suavely
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
adolescence
|
|
| n.青春期，青少年 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
prospective
|
|
| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
kinsman
|
|
| n.男亲属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
antagonism
|
|
| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |