This building, not without a degree of dignity, is what is technically8, and not very felicitously9, called a mill; always translated by the French in their accounts of our manufacturing riots, ‘moulin;’ and which really was the principal factory of Oswald Millbank, the father of that youth whom, we trust, our readers have not quite forgotten.
At some little distance, and rather withdrawn10 from the principal stream, were two other smaller structures of the same style. About a quarter of a mile further on, appeared a village of not inconsiderable size, and remarkable12 from the neatness and even picturesque13 character of its architecture, and the gay gardens that surrounded it. On a sunny knoll14 in the background rose a church, in the best style of Christian15 architecture, and near it was a clerical residence and a school-house of similar design. The village, too, could boast of another public building; an Institute where there were a library and a lecture-room; and a reading-hall, which any one might frequent at certain hours, and under reasonable regulations.
On the other side of the principal factory, but more remote, about half-a-mile up the valley, surrounded by beautiful meadows, and built on an agreeable and well-wooded elevation16, was the mansion17 of the mill-owner; apparently18 a commodious19 and not inconsiderable dwelling-house, built in what is called a villa11 style, with a variety of gardens and conservatories20. The atmosphere of this somewhat striking settlement was not disturbed and polluted by the dark vapour, which, to the shame of Manchester, still infests21 that great town, for Mr. Millbank, who liked nothing so much as an invention, unless it were an experiment, took care to consume his own smoke.
The sun was declining when Coningsby arrived at Millbank, and the gratification which he experienced on first beholding22 it, was not a little diminished, when, on enquiring23 at the village, he was informed that the hour was past for seeing the works. Determined24 not to relinquish25 his purpose without a struggle, he repaired to the principal mill, and entered the counting-house, which was situated26 in one of the wings of the building.
‘Your pleasure, sir?’ said one of three individuals sitting on high stools behind a high desk.
‘I wish, if possible, to see the works.’
‘Quite impossible, sir;’ and the clerk, withdrawing his glance, continued his writing. ‘No admission without an order, and no admission with an order after two o’clock.’
‘I am very unfortunate,’ said Coningsby.
‘I think Mr. Millbank would grant me permission,’ said Coningsby.
‘Very likely, sir; to-morrow. Mr. Millbank is there, sir, but very much engaged.’ He pointed28 to an inner counting-house, and the glass doors permitted Coningsby to observe several individuals in close converse29.
‘Perhaps his son, Mr. Oswald Millbank, is here?’ inquired Coningsby.
‘Mr. Oswald is in Belgium,’ said the clerk.
‘Would you give a message to Mr. Millbank, and say a friend of his son’s at Eton is here, and here only for a day, and wishes very much to see his works?’
‘Can’t possibly disturb Mr. Millbank now, sir; but, if you like to sit down, you can wait and see him yourself.’
Coningsby was content to sit down, though he grew very impatient at the end of a quarter of an hour. The ticking of the clock, the scratching of the pens of the three silent clerks, irritated him. At length, voices were heard, doors opened, and the clerk said, ‘Mr. Millbank is coming, sir,’ but nobody came; voices became hushed, doors were shut; again nothing was heard, save the ticking of the clock and the scratching of the pen.
At length there was a general stir, and they all did come forth30, Mr. Millbank among them, a well-proportioned, comely31 man, with a fair face inclining to ruddiness, a quick, glancing, hazel eye, the whitest teeth, and short, curly, chestnut32 hair, here and there slightly tinged33 with grey. It was a visage of energy and decision.
He was about to pass through the counting-house with his companions, with whom his affairs were not concluded, when he observed Coningsby, who had risen.
‘I shall be at your service, sir, the moment I have finished with these gentlemen.’
‘The gentleman wishes to see the works, sir,’ said the clerk.
‘He can see the works at proper times,’ said Mr. Millbank, somewhat pettishly35; ‘tell him the regulations;’ and he was about to go.
‘I beg your pardon, sir,’ said Coningsby, coming forward, and with an air of earnestness and grace that arrested the step of the manufacturer. ‘I am aware of the regulations, but would beg to be permitted to infringe36 them.’
‘It cannot be, sir,’ said Mr. Millbank, moving.
‘I thought, sir, being here only for a day, and as a friend of your son—’
Mr. Millbank stopped and said,
‘Oh! a friend of Oswald’s, eh? What, at Eton?’
‘Yes, sir, at Eton; and I had hoped perhaps to have found him here.’
‘I am very much engaged, sir, at this moment,’ said Mr. Millbank; ‘I am sorry I cannot pay you any personal attention, but my clerk will show you everything. Mr. Benson, let this gentleman see everything;’ and he withdrew.
‘Be pleased to write your name here, sir,’ said Mr. Benson, opening a book, and our friend wrote his name and the date of his visit to Millbank:
‘HARRY CONINGSBY, Sept. 2, 1836.’
Coningsby beheld37 in this great factory the last and the most refined inventions of mechanical genius. The building had been fitted up by a capitalist as anxious to raise a monument of the skill and power of his order, as to obtain a return for the great investment.
‘It is the glory of Lancashire!’ exclaimed the enthusiastic Mr. Benson.
The clerk spoke38 freely of his master, whom he evidently idolised, and his great achievements, and Coningsby encouraged him. He detailed39 to Coningsby the plans which Mr. Millbank had pursued, both for the moral and physical well-being40 of his people; how he had built churches, and schools, and institutes; houses and cottages on a new system of ventilation; how he had allotted41 gardens; established singing classes.
‘Here is Mr. Millbank,’ continued the clerk, as he and Coningsby, quitting the factory, re-entered the court.
Mr. Millbank was approaching the factory, and the moment that he observed them, he quickened his pace.
‘Mr. Coningsby?’ he said, when he reached them. His countenance42 was rather disturbed, and his voice a little trembled, and he looked on our friend with a glance scrutinising and serious. Coningsby bowed.
‘I am sorry that you should have been received at this place with so little ceremony, sir,’ said Mr. Millbank; ‘but had your name been mentioned, you would have found it cherished here.’ He nodded to the clerk, who disappeared.
Coningsby began to talk about the wonders of the factory, but Mr. Millbank recurred43 to other thoughts that were passing in his mind. He spoke of his son: he expressed a kind reproach that Coningsby should have thought of visiting this part of the world without giving them some notice of his intention, that he might have been their guest, that Oswald might have been there to receive him, that they might have made arrangements that he should see everything, and in the best manner; in short, that they might all have shown, however slightly, the deep sense of their obligations to him.
‘My visit to Manchester, which led to this, was quite accidental,’ said Coningsby. ‘I am bound for the other division of the county, to pay a visit to my grandfather, Lord Monmouth; but an irresistible44 desire came over me during my journey to view this famous district of industry. It is some days since I ought to have found myself at Coningsby, and this is the reason why I am so pressed.’
A cloud passed over the countenance of Millbank as the name of Lord Monmouth was mentioned, but he said nothing. Turning towards Coningsby, with an air of kindness:
‘At least,’ said he, ‘let not Oswald hear that you did not taste our salt. Pray dine with me to-day; there is yet an hour to dinner; and as you have seen the factory, suppose we stroll together through the village.’
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
margin
|
|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ornament
|
|
| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
monotonous
|
|
| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
masonry
|
|
| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dwarf
|
|
| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
surmounted
|
|
| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
technically
|
|
| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
felicitously
|
|
| adv.恰当地，适切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
villa
|
|
| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
knoll
|
|
| n.小山，小丘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
commodious
|
|
| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
conservatories
|
|
| n.（培植植物的）温室，暖房( conservatory的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
infests
|
|
| n.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的名词复数 )；遍布于v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的第三人称单数 )；遍布于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
beholding
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
enquiring
|
|
| a.爱打听的，显得好奇的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
relinquish
|
|
| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ledger
|
|
| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
converse
|
|
| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
chestnut
|
|
| n.栗树，栗子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
tinged
|
|
| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
pettishly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
infringe
|
|
| v.违反，触犯，侵害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
well-being
|
|
| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
allotted
|
|
| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
recurred
|
|
| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |