Chapter XXI. My Cousin Oliver

 I slept towards morning, and did not wake until the sun was rising; the light came golden-green through the stained windows.  I rose from my bed, and, opening the casement¹, looked out over sunlit woods; afar, through the break in the trees, I could make out the glittering waters of the sea.  In the decaying garden I saw the colours of many flowers among weeds; a hawthorn² by an overgrown walk was a silver fount of blossom.  The gloom of the garden and the wood had passed with the darkness and the sea wind; only the pines and firs were sombre yet and sighing in the breeze.

 

I was still in my shirt when a rapping sounded on my door.  I hastened silently to pull away the chair, asking, “Who’s there?”

 

My cousin Oliver answered gruffly, “It’s I, cousin,” and I let him in.  He was in shabby riding-rig, his black hair tumbled over his nose; he stood awkwardly in the doorway³.  With the flush of drink off him he seemed not so ill a fellow, though his look was lowering and sullen⁴, and he p. 170possessed none of his father’s elegance⁵, but only a hard strength such as must have been my grandfather’s in his youth.  “Get into your breeches, cousin,” he muttered, “and ride with me.”

 

“Why, I’ll be happy,” said I.

 

“We’ll ride down to the sea and swim in it, if you’ve a mind for it.”

 

“I’ve a mind for it, yes.”

 

“Dress then.  I’ll wait for you,” and moved over to the window-seat and lounged there, till I had pulled on my clothes.  He sat sullenly⁶ regarding me; I could not estimate his disposition⁷ to me, believing that his father had instructed him to treat me with civility; from time to time I stole a glance at him reflected dully in the mirror, noting the health and strength of him, and could not find it in me to hate the fellow as with cause I hated his father.  Dressed at last, a towel about my neck, I said, “At your service, cousin,” and he, lurching up from his seat, strode before me down the gallery, and brought me by a dark stair out of the house into the courtyard.  I had a certain hesitation⁸ in accompanying him—with my escape from being shipped overseas with Blunt on the Black Wasp⁹ fresh in my mind; but reassured¹⁰ that I was safe now through my grandfather’s direction, I set my dread¹¹ aside.

 

p. 171He had anticipated my hesitation, it seemed, for he swung round, and demanded curtly¹², “Are you afraid to go with me, cousin?”

 

“No, I’m not afraid,” I answered.

 

He cast a look about him, shot out his hand and gripped my sleeve.  He said, in that harsh tone of his, “You’ve no need to be, whatever others may do.  D’ye understand me?”

 

“I’m happy to understand.”

 

“You saw me swilling¹³ last night.”

 

“Ay, I saw.”

 

He said simply, “Wouldn’t the house and the folk in it drive a man to the devil?”—and turned abruptly¹⁴ and crossed the courtyard with me at his heels.

 

The courtyard was deserted¹⁵.  Neglect and decay marked it; the moss¹⁶ grew green in crevices¹⁷ and cracks of the paving stones; the ivy¹⁸ held the out-buildings as it held the house.  The great stables were bare but for three horses in the stalls; a fellow ill of look, of middle-age, but seeming young by comparison with the old men about my grandfather, was plying¹⁹ a broom.

 

“Saddle the mare²⁰ for Mr. Craike, Nick,” Oliver ordered.  “I’ll get my horse out.”

 

Nick responding, “Ay, ay, sir,” set down his broom, and stared at me.  A seaman²¹ surely, he was as brown as the old rogues²³; the silver rings p. 172in his ears, and the tattoo-marks on his bare arms, accorded ill with his shabby rig of a groom²⁴.

 

I waited by the stable-door until Nick brought out the mare; Oliver followed, leading a powerful black horse; and making down to the gates, he leaped to saddle.  I, rejoicing at the prospect²⁵ of a better mount than ever it had been my lot to ride, disdained²⁶ Nick’s assistance into saddle, and rode out after Oliver.  I had already a hope of friendship with this strong, uncouth²⁷, young kinsman²⁸ of mine.  I thought to find him in his disposition no more a pattern of my uncle than he resembled the gentleman in his fashion and graces.  Yet I feared to confide²⁹ in any of the folk of the house, and I resolved to keep my own counsel until I knew more of my cousin.  Indeed, he gave me no opportunity for conversation.  He made off at a gallop³⁰ down the drive; and I had much ado to keep within sight of him.  He did not ride for the gates, but swerving³¹ off to the left, he rode down through the park to the wall, where it was crumbling³² and broken.  Setting his horse to the breach³³, he leaped it; and I following, he led me at a gallop down towards the sea.

 

The joy of the morn dispelled³⁴ for a time my thoughts of the gloomy house and its folk.  The sun was now clear; the breeze blew sweetly from the sea; little white clouds sailed over a blue p. 173heaven.  We came out of the wood into open country; we swept through green meadows and drained lands; he rode like the very devil, taking hedge and ditch; he did not pause till we were riding out through a break in the cliffs.  The shingly³⁵ beach of a little cove³⁶ was before us; the waters rolling in and the foam³⁷ scudding³⁸.  I saw the white gulls³⁹ wheel and dip; fishing boats were out at sea; no dwelling⁴⁰ was in sight; the beach was all our own.  Oliver, dismounting, secured his bridle⁴¹ to a stunted⁴² tree, and silently walked down with me over the rocks to the beach; drawing apart from me to strip.  I had no proper realisation of his strength till I saw him racing⁴³ out into the sea—it seemed to me to break with a dangerous wash upon the beach; he splashed out with the sunlight white upon him, and the waters foaming⁴⁴ against him; he swam far out then and rode back with the breakers.  I, being accustomed only to inland waters, was nigh drowned, when I attempted to follow him; I was no more his match as swimmer than as horseman.  I was dressed, and glowing with warmth and health, ere he desisted and pulled on his clothes.

 

“Faith, cousin,” said I, “I would I had your strength and courage.  Had I dared swim out as you, I’d have drowned for sure.”

 

p. 174He nodded, not ill-pleased, and said, grinning, “I should have wagered⁴⁵ you you’d not dare.  If you’d have drowned—” but broke off and turned from me.

 

“You mean, if I’d have drowned,” said I, “it would have been all to the advantage of other folk?”

 

“What does it matter what I meant?  Hark’ee, cousin, while you’re in the house, whatever’s done to get you out of it, I’m not for profiting by it.”

 

“You mean you’re my friend.”

 

“I didn’t say so,” he answered heavily.  “I’m saying that I’m not for profiting at your cost—d’ye understand me?”  He did not face me, but stood staring seawards.  I said nothing, but waited.  He burst out presently, “You’ve a notion by now how old Edward came by his money.  If he have money?  If all this talk among the rogues about him be more than the chattering⁴⁶ of old fools?  They talk of a secret store he keeps by him at the house.  They talk, when they fancy none’s listening to ’em, of gold and jewels.  They vow⁴⁷ he’s hid his store in the house, and none knows where save himself.  From their talk ’twas evilly come by.  There’s blood upon it—every coin and gew-gaw; there’s a curse upon it; they say no man’ll ever profit p. 175by it; and every rogue²² among them itches⁴⁸ to set his claws upon it, curse or no curse.”  He laughed and waved his hand seawards.  “We’re an ill race, we Craikes,” he muttered.  “We’ve been of the sea and the coasts year in, year out.  The sea calls every man of us down to it—you and I’ll be sailing yet, cousin; the sea calls us and the sea has us in the end.  Did you hear the beat of the sea like drums through the night, cousin?  Did you hear the wind crying?”

 

“Ay, as if the spirits of the dead were in it.  Ay, and I feared.”

 

He said slowly, “I’ve heard it, many a night about the old house.  I’ve heard the voices growing louder.  D’ye think old Edward lies awake, and listens and fears?  He’s near to death.  He’s turned eighty years.  And all the old rogues about him know him breaking and cease to fear him.  He was their captain once by the strength and the will of him.  He would have died at their hands but for his strength and will, and never have brought his ship and his treasure home.  He’s breaking.  What’s to be the end, cousin?”—he laughed savagely⁴⁹ to himself.  “D’ye think me mad, John Craike?”

 

“No, having passed a night in the house.”

 

“We’re like to see the end, you and I and my p. 176father,—he has wit enough to win.  But that fellow Blunt.”

 

“A damned rogue!”

 

“Blunt and his men of the Black Wasp, Thrale and old Mistress Barwise, will see to it yet there’s wild doings at the house.  She’s housekeeper⁵⁰, to be sure.  Blunt was ship’s boy with old Edward.  They think a treasure’s hid in the house.  What d’ye think of it all?”

 

“Think!  That I’d have you for my friend, cousin?”

 

“You’re like to be the heir of all this,” he said, laughing.  “Why should I be your friend?”

 

“Being what I think you,” I told him; “not what you’d have me think.  Your hand, cousin.”

 

He swung round, his brows scowling⁵¹, his face flushed.  He muttered, “D’ye mean it, John Craike?  After seeing me as I was last night?  You’ll see me so any night of the week.  You’ll see me a butt⁵² for my father.  You’ll find me a cross-grained, ill-mannered fellow.”

 

“I think you as you are,” I answered steadily⁵³.  “Your hand, cousin.”

1 casement   

n.竖铰链窗；窗扉

参考例句：

• A casement is a window that opens by means of hinges at the side.竖铰链窗是一种用边上的铰链开启的窗户。
• With the casement half open,a cold breeze rushed inside.窗扉半开，凉风袭来。

2 hawthorn   

山楂

参考例句：

• A cuckoo began calling from a hawthorn tree.一只布谷鸟开始在一株山楂树里咕咕地呼叫。
• Much of the track had become overgrown with hawthorn.小路上很多地方都长满了山楂树。

3 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

4 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

5 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

6 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

7 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

8 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

9 wasp   

n.黄蜂，蚂蜂

参考例句：

• A wasp stung me on the arm.黄蜂蜇了我的手臂。
• Through the glass we can see the wasp.透过玻璃我们可以看到黄蜂。

10 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

12 curtly   

adv.简短地

参考例句：

• He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 swilling   

v.冲洗( swill的现在分词 )；猛喝；大口喝；（使）液体流动

参考例句：

• They sat there swilling champagne. 他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were swilling down gin. 他们正在大喝杜松子酒。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

14 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

15 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

16 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

17 crevices   

n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It has bedded into the deepest crevices of the store. 它已钻进了店里最隐避的隙缝。 来自辞典例句
• The wind whistled through the crevices in the rock. 风呼啸着吹过岩石的缝隙。 来自辞典例句

18 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

19 plying   

v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. 形形色色的沿街小贩都在做着自己的买卖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was rather Mrs. Wang who led the conversation, plying Miss Liu with questions. 倒是汪太太谈锋甚健，向刘小姐问长问短。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

20 mare   

n.母马，母驴

参考例句：

• The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
• The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。

21 seaman   

n.海员，水手，水兵

参考例句：

• That young man is a experienced seaman.那个年轻人是一个经验丰富的水手。
• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。

22 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

23 rogues   

n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽

参考例句：

• 'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

24 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

25 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

26 disdained   

鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做

参考例句：

• I disdained to answer his rude remarks. 我不屑回答他的粗话。
• Jackie disdained the servants that her millions could buy. 杰姬鄙视那些她用钱就可以收买的奴仆。

27 uncouth   

adj.无教养的，粗鲁的

参考例句：

• She may embarrass you with her uncouth behavior.她的粗野行为可能会让你尴尬。
• His nephew is an uncouth young man.他的侄子是一个粗野的年轻人。

28 kinsman   

n.男亲属

参考例句：

• Tracing back our genealogies,I found he was a kinsman of mine.转弯抹角算起来他算是我的一个亲戚。
• A near friend is better than a far dwelling kinsman.近友胜过远亲。

29 confide   

v.向某人吐露秘密

参考例句：

• I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
• He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。

30 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。

31 swerving   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• It may stand as an example of the fitful swerving of his passion. 这是一个例子，说明他的情绪往往变化不定，忽冷忽热。 来自辞典例句
• Mrs Merkel would be foolish to placate her base by swerving right. 默克尔夫人如果为了安抚她的根基所在而转到右翼就太愚蠢了。 来自互联网

32 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

33 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

34 dispelled   

v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
• The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 shingly   

adj.小石子多的

参考例句：

• I prefer a sandy beach to a shingly one. 我喜欢沙滩，不喜欢遍布小圆石的海滩。 来自辞典例句

36 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

37 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

38 scudding   

n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clouds were scudding across the sky. 云飞越天空。 来自辞典例句
• China Advertising Photo Market-Like a Rising Wind and Scudding Clouds. 中国广告图片市场：风起云涌。 来自互联网

39 gulls   

n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句

40 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

41 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

42 stunted   

adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的

参考例句：

• the stunted lives of children deprived of education 未受教育的孩子所过的局限生活
• But the landed oligarchy had stunted the country's democratic development for generations. 但是好几代以来土地寡头的统治阻碍了这个国家民主的发展。

43 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

44 foaming   

adj.布满泡沫的；发泡

参考例句：

• He looked like a madman, foaming at the mouth. 他口吐白沫，看上去像个疯子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is foaming at the mouth about the committee's decision. 他正为委员会的决定大发其火。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 wagered   

v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的过去式和过去分词 )；保证，担保

参考例句：

• She always wagered on an outsider. 她总是把赌注押在不大可能获胜的马上。
• They wagered on the flesh, but knowing they were to lose. 他们把赌注下在肉体上，心里却明白必输无疑。 来自互联网

46 chattering   

n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

47 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

48 itches   

n.痒( itch的名词复数 )；渴望，热望v.发痒( itch的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• His wool shirt always itches him. 他的羊毛内衣总是使他发痒。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• This wool shirt itches my back. 这件羊毛衫使我背上发痒。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

49 savagely   

adv. 野蛮地，残酷地

参考例句：

• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
• He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。

50 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

51 scowling   

怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• There she was, grey-suited, sweet-faced, demure, but scowling. 她就在那里，穿着灰色的衣服，漂亮的脸上显得严肃而忧郁。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Scowling, Chueh-hui bit his lips. 他马上把眉毛竖起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

52 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

53 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。