The animating12 principle of her career was her daughter, whom she educated with a solicitude13 which the most virtuous14 mother could not surpass. To preserve her from the stage, and to secure for her an independence, were the objects of her mother’s life; but nature whispered to her, that the days of that life were already numbered. The exertions16 of her profession had alarmingly developed an inherent tendency to pulmonary disease. Anxious that her child should not be left without some protector, Stella yielded to the repeated solicitations of one who from the first had been her silent admirer, and she married Villebecque, a clever actor, and an enterprising man who meant to be something more. Their union was not of long duration, though it was happy on the side of Villebecque, and serene17 on that of his wife. Stella was recalled from this world, where she had known much triumph and more suffering; and where she had exercised many virtues18, which elsewhere, though not here, may perhaps be accepted as some palliation of one great error.
Villebecque acted becomingly to the young charge which Stella had bequeathed to him. He was himself, as we have intimated, a man of enterprise, a restless spirit, not content to move for ever in the sphere in which he was born. Vicissitudes19 are the lot of such aspirants20. Villebecque became manager of a small theatre, and made money. If Villebecque without a sou had been a schemer, Villebecque with a small capital was the very Chevalier Law of theatrical21 managers. He took a larger theatre, and even that succeeded. Soon he was recognised as the lessee22 of more than one, and still he prospered23. Villebecque began to dabble24 in opera-houses. He enthroned himself at Paris; his envoys25 were heard of at Milan and Naples, at Berlin and St. Petersburg. His controversies26 with the Conservatoire at Paris ranked among state papers. Villebecque rolled in chariots and drove cabriolets; Villebecque gave refined suppers to great nobles, who were honoured by the invitation; Villebecque wore a red ribbon in the button-hole of his frock, and more than one cross in his gala dress.
All this time the daughter of Stella increased in years and stature27, and we must add in goodness: a mild, soft-hearted girl, as yet with no decided28 character, but one who loved calmness and seemed little fitted for the circle in which she found herself. In that circle, however, she ever experienced kindness and consideration. No enterprise however hazardous29, no management however complicated, no schemes however vast, ever for a moment induced Villebecque to forget ‘La Petite.’ If only for one breathless instant, hardly a day elapsed but he saw her; she was his companion in all his rapid movements, and he studied every comfort and convenience that could relieve her delicate frame in some degree from the inconvenience and exhaustion30 of travel. He was proud to surround her with luxury and refinement31; to supply her with the most celebrated masters; to gratify every wish that she could express.
But all this time Villebecque was dancing on a volcano. The catastrophe32 which inevitably33 occurs in the career of all great speculators, and especially theatrical ones, arrived to him. Flushed with his prosperity, and confident in his constant success, nothing would satisfy him but universal empire. He had established his despotism at Paris, his dynasties at Naples and at Milan; but the North was not to him, and he was determined34 to appropriate it. Berlin fell before a successful campaign, though a costly35 one; but St. Petersburg and London still remained. Resolute36 and reckless, nothing deterred37 Villebecque. One season all the opera-houses in Europe obeyed his nod, and at the end of it he was ruined. The crash was utter, universal, overwhelming; and under ordinary circumstances a French bed and a brasier of charcoal38 alone remained for Villebecque, who was equal to the occasion. But the thought of La Petite and the remembrance of his promise to Stella deterred him from the deed. He reviewed his position in a spirit becoming a practical philosopher. Was he worse off than before he commenced his career? Yes, because he was older; though to be sure he had his compensating39 reminiscences. But was he too old to do anything? At forty-five the game was not altogether up; and in a large theatre, not too much lighted, and with the artifices40 of a dramatic toilet, he might still be able successfully to reassume those characters of coxcombs and muscadins, in which he was once so celebrated. Luxury had perhaps a little too much enlarged his waist, but diet and rehearsals42 would set all right.
Villebecque in their adversity broke to La Petite, that the time had unfortunately arrived when it would be wise for her to consider the most effectual means for turning her talents and accomplishments44 to account. He himself suggested the stage, to which otherwise there were doubtless objections, because her occupation in any other pursuit would necessarily separate them; but he impartially45 placed before her the relative advantages and disadvantages of every course which seemed to lie open to them, and left the preferable one to her own decision. La Petite, who had wept very much over Villebecque’s misfortunes, and often assured him that she cared for them only for his sake, decided for the stage, solely46 because it would secure their not being parted; and yet, as she often assured him, she feared she had no predisposition for the career.
Villebecque had now not only to fill his own parts at the theatre at which he had obtained an engagement, but he had also to be the instructor47 of his ward48. It was a life of toil41; an addition of labour and effort that need scarcely have been made to the exciting exertion15 of performance, and the dull exercise of rehearsal43; but he bore it all without a murmur49; with a self-command and a gentle perseverance50 which the finest temper in the world could hardly account for; certainly not when we remember that its possessor, who had to make all these exertions and endure all this wearisome toil, had just experienced the most shattering vicissitudes of fortune, and been hurled51 from the possession of absolute power and illimitable self-gratification.
Lord Eskdale, who was always doing kind things to actors and actresses, had a great regard for Villebecque, with whom he had often supped. He had often been kind, too, to La Petite. Lord Eskdale had a plan for putting Villebecque, as he termed it, ‘on his legs again.’ It was to establish him with a French Company in London at some pretty theatre; Lord Eskdale to take a private box and to make all his friends do the same. Villebecque, who was as sanguine52 as he was good-tempered, was ravished by this friendly scheme. He immediately believed that he should recover his great fortunes as rapidly as he had lost them. He foresaw in La Petite a genius as distinguished53 as that of her mother, although as yet not developed, and he was boundless54 in his expressions of gratitude55 to his patron. And indeed of all friends, a friend in need is the most delightful56. Lord Eskdale had the talent of being a friend in need. Perhaps it was because he knew so many worthless persons. But it often happens that worthless persons are merely people who are worth nothing.
Lord Monmouth having written to Mr. Rigby of his intention to reside for some months at Coningsby, and having mentioned that he wished a troop of French comedians57 to be engaged for the summer, Mr. Rigby had immediately consulted Lord Eskdale on the subject, as the best current authority. Thinking this a good opportunity of giving a turn to poor Villebecque, and that it might serve as a capital introduction to their scheme of the London company, Lord Eskdale obtained for him the engagement.
Villebecque and his little troop had now been a month at Coningsby, and had hitherto performed three times a-week. Lord Monmouth was content; his guests much gratified; the company, on the whole, much approved of. It was, indeed, considering its limited numbers, a capital company. There was a young lady who played the old woman’s parts, nothing could be more garrulous58 and venerable; and a lady of maturer years who performed the heroines, gay and graceful59 as May. Villebecque himself was a celebrity60 in characters of airy insolence61 and careless frolic. Their old man, indeed, was rather hard, but handy; could take anything either in the high serious, or the low droll62. Their sentimental63 lover was rather too much bewigged, and spoke64 too much to the audience, a fault rare with the French; but this hero had a vague idea that he was ultimately destined65 to run off with a princess.
In this wise, affairs had gone on for a month; very well, but not too well. The enterprising genius of Villebecque, once more a manager, prompted him to action. He felt an itching66 desire to announce a novelty. He fancied Lord Monmouth had yawned once or twice when the heroine came on. Villebecque wanted to make a coup67. It was clear that La Petite must sooner or later begin. Could she find a more favourable68 audience, or a more fitting occasion, than were now offered? True it was she had a great repugnance69 to come out; but it certainly seemed more to her advantage that she should make her first appearance at a private theatre than at a public one; supported by all the encouraging patronage70 of Coningsby Castle, than subjected to all the cynical71 criticism of the stalls of St. James’.
These views and various considerations were urged and represented by Villebecque to La Petite, with all the practised powers of plausibility72 of which so much experience as a manager had made him master. La Petite looked infinitely73 distressed74, but yielded, as she ever did. And the night of Coningsby’s arrival at the Castle was to witness in its private theatre the first appearance of MADEMOISELLE FLORA75.
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1
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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extenuating
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| adj.使减轻的，情有可原的v.（用偏袒的辩解或借口）减轻( extenuate的现在分词 )；低估，藐视 | |
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enjoyments
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| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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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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stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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12
animating
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| v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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13
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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15
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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aspirants
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| n.有志向或渴望获得…的人( aspirant的名词复数 )v.渴望的，有抱负的，追求名誉或地位的( aspirant的第三人称单数 )；有志向或渴望获得…的人 | |
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21
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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lessee
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| n.（房地产的）租户 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dabble
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| v.涉足，浅赏 | |
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envoys
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| 使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份 | |
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26
controversies
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| 争论 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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30
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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31
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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34
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
charcoal
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| n.炭，木炭，生物炭 | |
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compensating
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| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
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40
artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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41
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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42
rehearsals
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| n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复 | |
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rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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44
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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45
impartially
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| adv.公平地，无私地 | |
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46
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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47
instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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48
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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49
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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50
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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51
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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52
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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53
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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54
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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55
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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56
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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57
comedians
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| n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 ) | |
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58
garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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59
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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celebrity
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| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
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61
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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62
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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64
spoke
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| 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 | |
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65
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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66
itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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68
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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71
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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plausibility
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| n. 似有道理, 能言善辩 | |
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73
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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74
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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