It was this same intense virginity of soul that caused Joan to respond more deeply to the human refrain that had swept like strange music into her life. She had escaped the sentimentalisms, the erotic artificialities that mar12 so many women in the making. Vanity had no acknowledged niche13 within her heart. She was a spontaneous being, infinitely14 good by sheer beauty of instinct, unconsciously divine. She had never had the ego15 emphasized in its meaner characteristics by contact with individuals less generous than herself. Joan had served her father with a quiet patience, not from love, which was indeed impossible, but from a superabundant yet unconscious sense of duty. Her strength was a fine spiritual energy, not the mere16 forcefulness of the strenuous17 development of self, the arrogance18 of astute19 individualism insisting upon a recognition of rights from monads of like impulse.
It was this same bright sensitiveness of soul that rendered this single romance of hers the more tragic20 in its earlier season. Like some world-worn wanderer the man had parted the boughs21 of spring and fallen at her feet, weary of life, desirous only of some subtle Lethe. Her heart had gone out to him from the first hour, spontaneously and without forethought. She had ministered to him, giving him the waters of love for comfort, pointing him onward22 to a happier dawn.
Thus when she had constituted herself the priestess of the man’s ideals, her hidden oracle23 had condemned24 her to pronounce her own doom25. That day under the yews26 her fine self-abnegation had lifted her to queen it over the pleadings of her own heart. For the man’s sake she had understood the strong need of heroism27. The sacrificial fire had been quenched28 upon the altar. She had cast down her divining-rod, broken her magic ring in twain, and returned mutely to her pristine29 solitude.
What depths of gloom the renunciation meant to her she never comprehended till the first night came. Darkness, heavy, and without dawn! Never to behold30 the man’s face again; nay31, what was more, never to feel her spirit mount with his into the azure32 of that sympathy that had made earth heaven! There seemed a crass33 cruelty in the event, an illogical malice34 that stunned35 her reason. Yet never in her heart did she blame Gabriel for aught he had made her suffer.
Three successive phases possessed36 her during those dark hours of anguish37 and deep bitterness.
For two days she was like a dumb, dazed thing, helpless, wide-eyed, infinitely silent. She went about her duties like one whose soul had been turned to stone. The dull pageant38 of life about her was a mere shadow show, dusky, nebulous, and unreal. She felt like one dead, standing39 beyond the tide of time, gazing back upon a paradisic past streaked40 with the mysterious purple of romance.
The third day she broke down utterly41 and became even as a child. Her inspired strength ebbed43 from her. She wept often in secret, and talked to herself like one half-crazed by sorrow. Often she would crush roses to her lips, bury her face in the green and quiet foliage44 of the trees, cling to some rugged45 trunk as a child to a mother’s bosom. Apathy46 had passed, and the flood-gates of grief were open. It was her first great sorrow, her first vision of the infinite pathos47 of life, the first unbending of her soul before the Eternal Being whose face shines forth48 on those who suffer. She grew comforted by her own sorrow. Many hours she spent wandering in the woods, or lying hid in the deep June grass, watching the blood ebb42 from her soul’s side. Then an invisible hand seemed to touch the wound and stanch49 the flow. Her old vitality50 returned, a calm and quiet melancholy51 tinged52 with a wistful wisdom. At night she would lie by the window in her cushioned chair and stare at the sky for hours together. No season of sleep was it, but a solemn vigil, even beneath the hill of Calvary.
The third phase succeeded a mysterious and more subtle mood in every sense. She remembered Gabriel’s kiss upon her lips. Her yearning53 for the love he had given her kindled54 and increased. It was a mute and piteous stretching forth of hands, a great cry of the heart, a thirst of the soul for the wine of life. A strange hope leaped up within her, a passionate prophecy of comradeship that was to be. She had a dream that they would bear much anguish together, face the world and its perils55 hand-in-hand. She could have rejoiced with pale Francesca at that season, drifting through woes56 that were divine, when the arms of a lover circled her soul.
Meanwhile, with Gabriel the car of life rumbled57 upon rugged highways. From mere scorn had arisen sardonic58 bickerings and the like. It was soon plain to the man that the two women, wife and friend, were in league for the tempting59 of his anger. It was even as though they had plotted to goad60 him to some incriminating act of violence. A campaign seemed to have been conceived against his patience.
Torch was set to tinder at last one evening after dinner. Whether there had been conspiracy61 in the event or no Gabriel could never tell. Cynicisms had been exchanged during the meal. After dessert Gabriel had retired62 straightway to the library, and Ophelia had followed him, pale and stiff about the lips, a woman bent63 on battle. She had come by some excuse for an attack upon the man, and her tongue soon set the scene ablaze64. Hot words were exchanged, taunts65, recriminations, and the like. As a climax66 the woman overturned a writing-table with a crash at her husband’s feet, flung defiance67 in his face, and left him.
Ophelia had compassed the necessary finale. As she passed back up the passage towards the hall, she tore her dress at the neck, and, taking the substance of her left arm between her teeth, she bruised68 the flesh till purple blood showed under the skin. Meeting no witnesses upon the way, she disordered her hair as she climbed the oak stairway, and beat her mouth with her fist so that her lips bled.
By some foreordained coincidence Miss Mabel Saker was looking over the contents of her jewel-case in the “blue bedroom.” Moreover, this particular room was set directly above the library, and any occupant thereof could hear in measure what passed below. Hence, when Ophelia Strong entered to her friend, that lady received her with a shocked pity that was zealously69 dramatic.
“Dear, what has happened?”
By way of retort Gabriel’s wife displayed to her indignant confidante her bruised arm and bleeding mouth.
“The cad; the mean coward!” was Miss Saker’s cry. “I heard him storming at you. How did it happen?”
“He lost his temper,” said the wife.
“By Jove, if I were only a man!”
“I feel faint, Mab.”
“The brute70! Let me bathe your mouth.”
Angelic ministerings to misfortune ensued. Smelling-salts, eau-de-cologne, and much sympathy were forthcoming. Ophelia lay back in a lounge-chair breathing spasmodically, with certain hysteric symptoms, while Miss Saker hung over her and bathed her face.
Ophelia clasped her arm about her friend’s neck and drew her face down close to hers. Her disordered hair had fallen upon her shoulders, a pathetic web of gold.
“You will remember this, Mab,” she said, significantly.
“Should I forget it, dear! If James Maltravers only knew!”
The woman in the chair shuddered71 and hid her face in the other’s bosom.
“Can I stay here much longer?” she said.
“Good Heavens, no! He will be killing72 you next. There must be an end to this.”
It may easily be imagined that no apologies were forthcoming from Gabriel for the affair, seeing that he was ignorant of the incidents chronicled above. The quarrel in the library, a mere tumult73 of words, had arisen like a dust-storm in the desert, sudden and without warning. The man had lost his dignity for the moment under the lash74 of the woman’s tongue, though even his involuntary descent to her level had not justified76, in his estimation, her exhibition of feline77 spite. He was utterly innocent of the suspicion that she had deliberately78 tricked him into a display of violence. She was too subtle for the man with her glittering cleverness, perilous79 as a Spanish dagger80.
The following day Gabriel had political business in Rilchester and drove off early in his dog-cart, purposing to be home before the evening dinner-hour. Ophelia and Mabel Saker were breakfasting in the “blue room,” and Gabriel did not see his wife that morning. He was in a dismal81 mood enough, harassed82 by shapeless fancies, haunted by the pale face and the shimmering83 hair of the woman who held his heart. He had fathomed84 hour by hour the gulf85 of gloom she had left within his life. The world stood at June, the man’s mood at December.
It was even remarked that day by certain of his political confrères that he seemed depressed86 and burdened beyond his strength. He appeared, in fact, like a man overshadowed by some secret shame. His conversation had none of the subtle and half-cynical adroitness87 that had characterized it of old; it was limp and listless, a blunted weapon wielded88 by a weary hand. His intellect seemed out of gear, wayward, languid, masterless. Occasionally a sparkle of enthusiasm shone through the preoccupied89 mask of melancholy. It was the common dictum of his acquaintances that “young Strong was out of health.”
He drove homeward late in the afternoon, with the sky a peerless pavilion of gold above his head. A preternatural peace seemed to weigh upon the lids of the day. In the depths of her green valley the Mallan lay with her glittering coils torpid90 in the sun. The trees took no breath. The clouds stood statuesque upon the hills.
A prophetic sense of evil awoke in the man’s mind as he climbed the hill towards his home. He saw the gray chimneys rising above the green, the shrubberies dusky upon the hill-side, gardens gleaming like painted glass. The place looked peaceful as sleep, a home to love and to be loved in, a haunt for elfish children, a calm refuge from the world.
As he drove in by the gate the gardener’s children ran out from the lodge91 and stood staring at him with credulous92 blue eyes. He tossed them some coppers93 as he drove by, smiling to himself half bitterly. All about him were sun-kissed trees, flowers brilliant in the sun. The scent75 of new-mown hay came from the meadows. There were pigeons cooing on the great, white wooden columbary behind the house.
In the hall the butler met him, salver in hand. The man had a loose and inquisitive94 smirk95 upon his lips which he attempted to stiffen96. His small gray eyes stared into space and yet seemed to observe everything.
“Mrs. Strong and Miss Saker have left for Gabingly Castle, sir,” he said, snapping out his words with a clean-shaven gravity.
“When are they expected back, James?”
“Taken luggage with them, sir.”
“Luggage!”
“Madame desired me to hand you this letter.”
The man watched his master cross the hall and disappear in the direction of the library “The fur ’ill fly,” he remarked, depositing the salver on the hall table. With a significant clucking of his tongue he retired to the kitchen quarters and described how “the gov’ner had looked sick as a turnip97.”
In the library, with its gilded98 tiers of books, its panelling, and its archaic99 gentleness of atmosphere, a torn envelope lay at Gabriel’s feet. He was standing by the window holding the sheet of scented100 paper close to his eyes, like one whose sight is feeble.
The epistle ran as follows:
“After your gross disloyalty and your cruel insolence101 I can remain under your roof no longer. I have returned to my father.
Your Wife.”
When Gabriel had read the letter twice, he folded it up slowly and placed it in the breast-pocket of his coat. Walking to a rosewood cabinet, he chose a cigar with peculiar102 deliberation, lit it, and, seating himself in the window-seat, smoked with a vicious pensiveness103, puffing104 out smoke volubly and watching it die into the gloom of the room.
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1
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repression
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| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
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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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hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
squandered
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| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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12
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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ego
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| n.自我，自己，自尊 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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21
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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24
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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25
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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26
yews
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| n.紫杉( yew的名词复数 ) | |
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27
heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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28
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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29
pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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32
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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33
crass
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| adj.愚钝的，粗糙的；彻底的 | |
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34
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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35
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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36
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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39
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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40
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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41
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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43
ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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44
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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45
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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46
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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48
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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49
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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50
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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51
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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52
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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54
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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55
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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56
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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57
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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58
sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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60
goad
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| n.刺棒，刺痛物；激励；vt.激励，刺激 | |
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61
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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62
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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63
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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64
ablaze
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| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
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65
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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66
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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67
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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68
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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69
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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70
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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71
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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72
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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73
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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74
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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75
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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76
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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77
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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78
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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79
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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80
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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81
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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83
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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fathomed
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| 理解…的真意( fathom的过去式和过去分词 )； 彻底了解； 弄清真相 | |
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85
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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86
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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adroitness
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wielded
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的过去式和过去分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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89
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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90
torpid
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| adj.麻痹的，麻木的，迟钝的 | |
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91
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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92
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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93
coppers
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| 铜( copper的名词复数 )； 铜币 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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95
smirk
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| n.得意地笑；v.傻笑；假笑着说 | |
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96
stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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turnip
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| n.萝卜，芜菁 | |
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98
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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99
archaic
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| adj.(语言、词汇等)古代的，已不通用的 | |
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100
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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101
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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102
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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103
pensiveness
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| n.pensive（沉思的）的变形 | |
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104
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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