Waldron’s triumph was complete. His lawyers drew the compromise measure which Congress was permitted to pass a few weeks later. It made provision for a modest increase of the Army, Navy and the National Guard.
The banker’s newspapers led the chorus of approval of this absurd program and the nation was congratulated on its happy deliverance from the threatened curse of militarism.
Waldron chartered two trains and took the entire delegation3 of five hundred women members of the Convention as his guests. He entertained them for a week at the best hotels and closed the celebration with a banquet at his palatial4 home in honor of Virginia Holland.
At the close of the dinner when the last speaker had finished a brilliant panegyric5 of praise for the modern Joan of Arc, the master of the feast whispered in her ear:
“Will you remain a few minutes when the others have gone? I’ve something to tell you.”
She nodded her consent and Waldron hurried their departure.
She wondered vaguely6 what new scheme his fertile brain had hatched, and followed him into the dimly lighted conservatory7 without a suspicion of the sensation he was about to spring. In his manner there was not the slightest trace of excitement. He found a seat overlooking an entrancing view of the cold, moonlit river below, and began the conversation in the most matter of fact way.
“I have a big announcement to make to you, Miss Holland,” he began evenly.
“Indeed?”
“My life work is rapidly reaching its consummation. You like this place?”
He adjusted his glasses and waved his hand comprehensively. The gesture took in the house, the grounds, the yacht, the river and possibly the city.
Virginia started to the apparently8 irrelevant9 question. In her surprise she forgot to answer.
“You like it?” he repeated.
“Your place,” she stammered10, “why, yes, of course, it’s beautiful, and I think the banquet a triumph of generosity11. Our leaders will never cease sounding your praises. I must say that you’re a master politician. I wonder that you became a banker—”
Waldron’s cold smile thawed12 into something like geniality13.
“I had good reasons for that choice, you may rest assured. The man who does things, Miss Holland, leaves nothing to chance which his will may determine. It was not by accident that I became a multi-millionaire. It was necessary—”
He stopped abruptly14 and fixed15 her with his steel-gray eyes.
“The triumph of my life work is in sight. I may breathe freely for the first time. I have chosen you to be the queen of this house. I offer you my hand in marriage—”
Virginia caught her breath in genuine amazement16. Never before had he even hinted that the thought of marriage had entered his imagination. He had made his proposal with a cocksure insolence17 which assumed that the honor was so high the girl had not been born who could refuse it.
A little angry laugh all but escaped before she repressed it. The situation was dramatic. She would play with him a moment—and test his sense of humor.
“You honor me beyond my deserts, Mr. Waldron,” she answered naively18.
“I must differ with you,” he answered briskly. “On the other hand I am sure there is not a woman in America who could grace these halls with your poise19, your brilliance20, your beauty. The home I have built is worthy21 of you—yes. That you will fill the high position to which I have called you with dignity and grace I am sure—”
She lifted her hand with a movement of impatience—a mischievous22 smile playing about her mouth.
“But you haven’t told me that you love me—“ she protested.
“You are a modern woman. You have outgrown23 the forms of the past—is it necessary to repeat the formula? Can’t you take that much for granted in the offer of my hand?”
Virginia shook her head.
“I’ve traveled pretty far from the old ways, I know,” she admitted. “I can’t give up all the past. I’ve an idea that a man and woman should love before marriage—”
“If the centuries have taught Europe anything,” he argued, “it is that reason, not passion, should determine marriage. I hold to the wisdom of the ages on the point. I ask you to be my wife. Don’t joke. You cannot refuse me.”
Virginia rose with decision.
“But I do refuse you.”
The banker was too surprised to speak for a moment. It was incredible. That a girl with a paltry24 dowry of a hundred thousand should refuse his offer of millions, his palace in New York, his estates in Europe—a feeling of blind rage choked him.
“You cannot mean it?” his cold voice clicked.
“Such high honor is not for me,” she firmly replied. “I do not intend to marry—”
He studied her with keen eyes, rubbed his glasses and readjusted them again.
“You will accept the position I offer without marriage?” he asked eagerly.
Her face went white and her body stiffened25.
“If you will call the car please—I will go—”
Waldron’s heels came together with a sharp military click, his big neck bent26 in the slightest bow, and he led the way into the hall without a word.
He made no pretense27 at politeness or apology. He left her to his servants and mounted the grand stairway in a tumult28 of blind rage.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
delegation
|
|
| n.代表团；派遣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
palatial
|
|
| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
panegyric
|
|
| n.颂词，颂扬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
conservatory
|
|
| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
irrelevant
|
|
| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
thawed
|
|
| 解冻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
geniality
|
|
| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
insolence
|
|
| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
naively
|
|
| adv. 天真地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
brilliance
|
|
| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
outgrown
|
|
| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
paltry
|
|
| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
stiffened
|
|
| 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
pretense
|
|
| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
tumult
|
|
| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |