For the first season of his life Gabriel grew single and strong of purpose. Affectations, dreams fell away like the last rotting leaves from a tree in spring. He was the man at last, courageous8, uncringing, standing9 alone for simple truth and honor. Primitive10 tones inspired him, the deep, rich instincts of the heart. He had lived an indolent and facile visionary. Now there was need of manhood and the sword.
He sallied early for Gabingly that morning, riding his favorite black mare11, briskly breasting the hills. The sky was clear and vigorous; the green slopes stood out against the azure12 and the sunny bosoms13 of the clouds. Honeysuckle clambered in the hedgerows. A light breeze laughed through the rising corn, but could not stir the weightier passion of the woods.
Avoiding Saltire by the cross-roads, and casting a long, meditative14 stare at the hall, ruddy amid its trees, Gabriel took a grass-grown track that wound westward15 over the hills. Dense16 thickets17 of pines and larches18 hedged this antique roadway with primeval gloom. The sunlight filtered through in showers, staining the vivid grass with gold. At Beacon19 Point the man drew rein20, turned the mare that he might gaze over towards the sea. A cataract21 of foliage22 thundered at his feet. Far to the east Cambron Head towered purple over a shimmering23 sea. Beneath him the great valley with its woods and pastures stretched solemn and silent in the sun. Yonder the red roofs of Saltire lay like rusty24 shields amid the green. Farther still the Mallan streaked25 the lowlands. Even in the distance he could mark the blue hills above Rilchester, with their mist of tufted trees.
Gabriel held on again with brow furrowed26 and eyes at gaze. The quest was no idle venture, the issue no gay joust27 of sentiments. He rode to recover his own conscience and the peace of the woman whom he loved. Even as he brooded the Georgian shadows of Gabingly rose up amid the pines, looming28 to his tragic29 idealism like the sullen30 walls of some perilous31 hold. Therein sat this Brunhilde, this Icelandic woman of the cold, proud face, strong beyond the strength of men, beautiful, yet iron of soul. He wondered what would chance between them that morning, whether he would have speech with her or no.
The park gates stood open prosaicly enough, barriers of iron swinging upon pillars of brick, under the patronage34 of half a score of gigantic elms. The gravel35 drive wound primly36 through the home park with its austere37 trees standing in solemn isolation38, like proud Pharisees drawing the blue borders of their robes from chance defilement39. There were a few deer couched or grazing amid the green lagoons40 of bracken. As for the castle, its leaden eyes seemed to stare obtusely41 at creation; it was a purely42 plutocratic43 edifice44, a bovine45 building, dull and blank of face.
Gabriel dismounted on the gravel semilune before the castle, and buckled46 his mare’s bridle48 to a horse-post set beside an old stone mounting-block. His hand was on the iron bell-pull when Blanche Gusset, in sporting attire49, appeared in the porch. The meeting was mutually unexpected. The girl in the check skirt colored even more healthily than usual, and her fat fingers tightened50 on the riding-switch she carried in her hand. The terrier that followed her sniffed51 tentatively at the man’s leggings.
“You—here!”
Gabriel went to the core of the problem with the composure of a man utterly52 in earnest.
“I have ridden to see Ophelia.”
“So I observe.”
The pair eyed each other for a moment with the concentrated alertness of wrestlers watching for a “catch.” Blanche had speedily recovered from her temporary embarrassment53. Nervousness did not bulk largely amid her virtues54; nor was she a person who boasted a delicate tact55 in her methods of dealing56 with friends. It was she who went in boldly and opened the tussle57.
“Gabriel Strong,” she said, squaring her shoulders and looking him fairly in the face, “I never thought you would turn out a blackguard.”
The man winced58 but kept his temper.
“You have made up your mind somewhat hastily,” he said to her.
“By Jove! yes, we have that,” she retorted. “The whole tale has come out. Upon my soul, Gabriel, I never thought you would turn out such a cur.”
There was a species of hearty59 frankness even in her recriminations, a bluff60 and ruddy brevity that smacked61 of stall and stubble.
“May I ask you to tell my wife that I am here,” was the man’s reply.
“drop that polite bluff, then,” said the girl.
“You will not gainsay62 me the justice of being suffered to proclaim the truth.”
Blanche Gusset twisted her broad red mouth into a puckered63 expression of incredulity.
“Some one has poisoned the porridge,” she remarked, “or half the county’s a liar64. Pity the governor’s out; he would have had something to say on the matter,” and she smote65 her leg with her switch.
The man’s courage flashed out pathetically and appealed her pity.
“For God’s sake listen to reason,” he said; “what Ophelia has been told I cannot imagine. I can swear the whole is a wicked myth. You were a good friend to me once; let me see Ophelia now. I swear I have nothing to say that can hurt her heart.”
The girl in the check skirt scrutinized66 him with an air of pity and partial scorn. Her creed67 was more a man’s, florid and unimaginative. Life did not revolve68 for her, but hung, a mere69 sphere of prejudice, displaying one face alone to her uncompromising vision. After a moment’s thought she turned on her heel and offered to serve as herald70 in the parley71.
“I will turn in and see,” she said.
“Thank you.”
“Keep to the doorstep. You do not cross our threshold unless Phyl gives the word. Stand tight for ten minutes.”
Gabriel paced the gravel, morose72 and irritable73. Possibly he had not prophesied74 so prosaic33 a prologue75. Blanche Gusset was not a woman capable of moving to the rhythm of blank verse. The man realized from this one incident that the Cerberus of popular prejudice bayed to him from its kennel76. There was to be no splendid gloom in this descent into hades, but vulgar glare and debasing discords77.
Blanche Gusset came back to him very speedily. Her steel-tipped shoes clattered78 on the parquetry of the hall; she still carried her little switch. There was a compressed yet juvenile79 severity upon her florid face. It was evident that she felt strongly for her sister, and that her sympathies had ranged themselves against Gabriel in the moil.
“Listen,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Phyl will see you in the drawing-room; you know your way; but mind this—”
The man thrust back his pride and listened to her hectoring with a submissive calm.
“Well?”
“I shall wait in the gallery; if you try any blackguardism, my buck47, I’ll have our men up pretty briskly. I shall give them the tip to kick you out of the front door. See?”
Gabriel, white to the lips, bowed to her like an antique aristocrat80 and desired her to lead on.
“Even a lord’s daughter is not infallible,” he said.
“March,” was her retort.
“I wait for you.”
Man and wife were left alone together in the great salon81 of the castle, with its gilt82 panelling and many mirrors. Gabriel, standing by the door, saw Ophelia stretched at half length on a sofa by the open French window. She had a book in her hands, and a table beside her bearing flowers and a confectionery-box. Red cushions pillowed her opulent shoulders. She was dressed in black, with a red rose over her heart and a collar of Venetian lace about her throat.
She glanced up as the man entered, and closed the book in her lap with an affectation of languor83. If the sister’s virago-like methods had kindled84 the man’s temper, Ophelia’s mood chilled him into a pillar of intellect. It was easily discernible that Ophelia had petrified85 her mind for the ordeal86. There was to be no passionate87 rhetoric88, no pleading, no elevation89 of sentimentalism. The man read her temper as he gazed at her brilliant eyes and firm white face.
“Well?” she said, with a certain flippant hauteur90 that was admirably assumed.
“I have ridden over to see you.”
“Evidently.”
“I am your husband.”
“A platitude91.”
“I have a right to claim some explanation from you for this.”
She smiled very slightly, stretched out a white hand, and chose a chocolate from the box with purposeful deliberation.
“Do not pretend to be ingenuous,” she said; “there is no need for an exchange of confidences. The matter is simple enough; let us keep to crude facts. You have preferred a farm wench to your wife. I cannot see that any explanations are needed.”
Gabriel flushed for the moment, bit his lip, and relapsed into composure.
“I should be glad to know to whom you refer.”
“Please do not ape the simpleton.”
“Answer me this.”
“I believe her name is Gildersedge, or something of the sort.”
“An infamous92 lie.”
“Is it? My solicitors93 have advised me differently.”
There was silence a moment between them. The woman lay back on her cushions and watched the man with imperturbable94 curiosity, infinite satisfaction.
“Do you know what you are doing?” he asked, speaking with peculiar95 quietness.
“Probably.”
“Ruining the life of an innocent girl.”
“And you?”
“I am telling you the truth.”
“My dear coz, saintliness hardly suits the occasion.”
In the gallery they could hear Blanche pacing to and fro. There was a finer element of tragedy in this silence than any passionate bluster96 could have boasted. Through the open window the man could see Oriental poppies like a scarlet97 cloud in bloom at sunset. Their opulent color seemed in contrast to the woman’s pale, firm face.
“For the last time let me tell you,” he said, “that you are wronging the innocent and acting98 upon the evidence of liars99. We are as we ever were. Before God and man, I am your husband.”
For answer she jerked her hand suddenly, and three glittering circlets leaped and shimmered100 athwart the floor. One, a band of gold, curled and settled at his feet. They were the rings he had given her. He looked at them a moment as they glittered like basilisk eyes in the sun, and then turned to her with a half gesture of despair.
“This, then, is your answer?” he said.
“My answer.”
“For all time?”
“For all time.”
He picked up the marriage-ring, held it in his palm a moment, tossed it aside again with a twinge of scorn.
“Yours be the blame,” he said.
“You are generous, as ever.”
It was in Gabriel’s heart to cast the whole truth in her face even as she had flung the rings at his feet. Yet even in his angry irony101 he remembered Joan and the peril32 that was drawing about her name. The strongest faith to her lay in silence.
“Some day you may repent102 of this,” he said, “for they who believe liars tempt103 shame in turn. Be assured that I have told you the truth this morning.”
“Thanks,” she retorted as he left her, “let me give you a fragment of advice.”
He looked at her over his shoulder a moment and listened.
“Engage a smart K.C. You will need him. Do not forget it.”
点击
收听单词发音
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1
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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2
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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3
beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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sublimer
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| 使高尚者，纯化器 | |
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kindles
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的第三人称单数 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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7
clarion
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| n.尖音小号声；尖音小号 | |
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8
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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9
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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10
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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13
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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14
meditative
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| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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15
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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16
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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17
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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18
larches
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| n.落叶松（木材）( larch的名词复数 ) | |
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19
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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21
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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22
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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23
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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24
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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25
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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26
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
joust
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| v.马上长枪比武，竞争 | |
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28
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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29
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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30
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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31
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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32
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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33
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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34
patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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35
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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36
primly
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| adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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37
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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38
isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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39
defilement
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| n.弄脏，污辱，污秽 | |
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40
lagoons
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| n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 )；潟湖；（大湖或江河附近的）小而浅的淡水湖；温泉形成的池塘 | |
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41
obtusely
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| adv.钝地，圆头地 | |
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42
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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43
plutocratic
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| adj.富豪的，有钱的 | |
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44
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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bovine
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| adj.牛的；n.牛 | |
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46
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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48
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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49
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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50
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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51
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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52
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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54
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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55
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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56
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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57
tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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58
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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60
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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61
smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gainsay
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| v.否认，反驳 | |
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63
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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65
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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66
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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68
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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69
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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70
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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71
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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72
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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73
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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74
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
prologue
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| n.开场白，序言；开端，序幕 | |
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76
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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77
discords
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| 不和（discord的复数形式） | |
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78
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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79
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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80
aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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81
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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82
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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83
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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84
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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85
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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86
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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87
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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88
rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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89
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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90
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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91
platitude
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| n.老生常谈，陈词滥调 | |
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92
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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94
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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95
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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96
bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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97
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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98
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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99
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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100
shimmered
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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101
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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102
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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103
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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