‘I must say he gained my heart from the first,’ said Lady Wallinger.
‘I wish the gardener would send us more roses,’ said Edith.
‘He is so very superior to any young man I ever met,’ continued Lady Wallinger.
‘I am fond of roses,’ said Lady Wallinger. ‘What beautiful bouquets6 Mr. Coningsby gave us at Paris, Edith!’
‘Beautiful!’
‘I must say, I was very happy when I met Mr. Coningsby again at Cambridge,’ said Lady Wallinger. ‘It gave me much greater pleasure than seeing any of the colleges.’
‘How delighted Oswald seems at having Mr. Coningsby for a companion again!’ said Edith.
‘And very naturally,’ said Lady Wallinger. ‘Oswald ought to deem himself fortunate in having such a friend. I am sure the kindness of Mr. Coningsby when we met him at Cambridge is what I never shall forget. But he always was my favourite from the first time I saw him at Paris. Do you know, Edith, I liked him best of all your admirers.’
‘Oh! no, aunt,’ said Edith, smiling, ‘not more than Lord Beaumanoir; you forget your great favourite, Lord Beaumanoir.’
‘But I did not know Mr. Coningsby at Rome,’ said Lady Wallinger; ‘I cannot agree that anybody is equal to Mr. Coningsby. I cannot tell you how pleased I am that he is our neighbour!’
As Lady Wallinger gave a finishing stroke to the jacket of her Andalusian, Edith, vividly7 blushing, yet speaking in a voice of affected8 calmness, said,
‘Here is Mr. Coningsby, aunt.’
And, truly, at this moment our hero might be discerned, approaching the hall by one of the avenues; and in a few minutes there was a ringing at the hall bell, and then, after a short pause, the servants announced Mr. Coningsby, and ushered9 him into the morning room.
Edith was embarrassed; the frankness and the gaiety of her manner had deserted10 her; Coningsby was rather earnest than self-possessed. Each felt at first that the presence of Lady Wallinger was a relief. The ordinary topics of conversation were in sufficient plenty; reminiscences of Paris, impressions of Hellingsley, his visit to Oxford11, Lady Wallinger’s visit to Cambridge. In ten minutes their voices seemed to sound to each other as they did in the Rue12 de Rivoli, and their mutual13 perplexity had in a great degree subsided14.
Oswald and Sir Joseph now entered the room, and the conversation became general. Hellingsley was the subject on which Coningsby dwelt; he was charmed with all that he had seen! wished to see more. Sir Joseph was quite prepared to accompany him; but Lady Wallinger, who seemed to read Coningsby’s wishes in his eyes, proposed that the inspection15 should be general; and in the course of half an hour Coningsby was walking by the side of Edith, and sympathising with all the natural charms to which her quick taste and lively expression called his notice and appreciation16. Few things more delightful17 than a country ramble18 with a sweet companion! Exploring woods, wandering over green commons, loitering in shady lanes, resting on rural stiles; the air full of perfume, the heart full of bliss19!
It seemed to Coningsby that he had never been happy before. A thrilling joy pervaded20 his being. He could have sung like a bird. His heart was as sunny as the summer scene. Past and Future were absorbed in the flowing hour; not an allusion21 to Paris, not a speculation22 on what might arrive; but infinite expressions of agreement, sympathy; a multitude of slight phrases, that, however couched, had but one meaning, congeniality. He felt each moment his voice becoming more tender; his heart gushing23 in soft expressions; each moment he was more fascinated; her step was grace, her glance was beauty. Now she touched him by some phrase of sweet simplicity24; or carried him spell-bound by her airy merriment.
Oswald assumed that Coningsby remained to dine with them. There was not even the ceremony of invitation. Coningsby could not but remember his dinner at Millbank, and the timid hostess whom he then addressed so often in vain, as he gazed upon the bewitching and accomplished25 woman whom he now passionately26 loved. It was a most agreeable dinner. Oswald, happy in his friend being his guest, under his own roof, indulged in unwonted gaiety.
The ladies withdrew; Sir Joseph began to talk politics, although the young men had threatened their fair companions immediately to follow them. This was the period of the Bed-Chamber Plot, when Sir Robert Peel accepted and resigned power in the course of three days. Sir Joseph, who had originally made up his mind to support a Conservative government when he deemed it inevitable27, had for the last month endeavoured to compensate28 for this trifling29 error by vindicating30 the conduct of his friends, and reprobating the behaviour of those who would deprive her Majesty31 of the ‘friends-of-her-youth.’ Sir Joseph was a most chivalrous32 champion of the ‘friends-of-her-youth’ principle. Sir Joseph, who was always moderate and conciliatory in his talk, though he would go, at any time, any lengths for his party, expressed himself to-day with extreme sobriety, as he was determined33 not to hurt the feelings of Mr. Coningsby, and he principally confined himself to urging temperate34 questions, somewhat in the following fashion:—
‘I admit that, on the whole, under ordinary circumstances, it would perhaps have been more convenient that these appointments should have remained with Sir Robert; but don’t you think that, under the peculiar35 circumstances, being friends of her Majesty’s youth?’ &c. &c.
Sir Joseph was extremely astonished when Coningsby replied that he thought, under no circumstances, should any appointment in the Royal Household be dependent on the voice of the House of Commons, though he was far from admiring the ‘friends-of-her-youth’ principle, which he looked upon as impertinent.
‘But surely,’ said Sir Joseph, ‘the Minister being responsible to Parliament, it must follow that all great offices of State should be filled at his discretion36.’
‘But where do you find this principle of Ministerial responsibility?’ inquired Coningsby.
‘And is not a Minister responsible to his Sovereign?’ inquired Millbank.
Sir Joseph seemed a little confused. He had always heard that Ministers were responsible to Parliament; and he had a vague conviction, notwithstanding the reanimating loyalty37 of the Bed-Chamber Plot, that the Sovereign of England was a nonentity38. He took refuge in indefinite expressions, and observed, ‘The Responsibility of Ministers is surely a constitutional doctrine39.’
‘The Ministers of the Crown are responsible to their master; they are not the Ministers of Parliament.’
‘But then you know virtually,’ said Sir Joseph, ‘the Parliament, that is, the House of Commons, governs the country.’
‘It did before 1832,’ said Coningsby; ‘but that is all past now. We got rid of that with the Venetian Constitution.’
‘The Venetian Constitution!’ said Sir Joseph.
‘To be sure,’ said Millbank. ‘We were governed in this country by the Venetian Constitution from the accession of the House of Hanover. But that yoke40 is past. And now I hope we are in a state of transition from the Italian Dogeship to the English Monarchy41.’
‘King, Lords, and Commons, the Venetian Constitution!’ exclaimed Sir Joseph.
‘But they were phrases,’ said Coningsby, ‘not facts. The King was a Doge; the Cabinet the Council of Ten. Your Parliament, that you call Lords and Commons, was nothing more than the Great Council of Nobles.’
‘The resemblance was complete,’ said Millbank, ‘and no wonder, for it was not accidental; the Venetian Constitution was intentionally42 copied.’
‘We should have had the Venetian Republic in 1640,’ said Coningsby, ‘had it not been for the Puritans. Geneva beat Venice.’
‘I am sure these ideas are not very generally known,’ said Sir Joseph, bewildered.
‘Because you have had your history written by the Venetian party,’ said Coningsby, ‘and it has been their interest to conceal43 them.’
‘I will venture to say that there are very few men on our side in the House of Commons,’ said Sir Joseph, ‘who are aware that they were born under a Venetian Constitution.’
‘Let us go to the ladies,’ said Millbank, smiling.
Edith was reading a letter as they entered.
‘A letter from papa,’ she exclaimed, looking up at her brother with great animation44. ‘We may expect him every day; and yet, alas45! he cannot fix one.’
They now all spoke46 of Millbank, and Coningsby was happy that he was familiar with the scene. At length he ventured to say to Edith, ‘You once made me a promise which you never fulfilled. I shall claim it to-night.’
‘And what can that be?’
‘The song that you promised me at Millbank more than three years ago.’
‘Your memory is good.’
‘It has dwelt upon the subject.’
Then they spoke for a while of other recollections, and then Coningsby appealing to Lady Wallinger for her influence, Edith rose and took up her guitar. Her voice was rich and sweet; the air she sang gay, even fantastically frolic, such as the girls of Granada chaunt trooping home from some country festival; her soft, dark eye brightened with joyous47 sympathy; and ever and anon, with an arch grace, she beat the guitar, in chorus, with her pretty hand.
The moon wanes48; and Coningsby must leave these enchanted49 halls. Oswald walked homeward with him until he reached the domain50 of his grandfather. Then mounting his horse, Coningsby bade his friend farewell till the morrow, and made his best way to the Castle.
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1
embroidering
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| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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3
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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6
bouquets
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| n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 )；（酒的）芳香 | |
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7
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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11
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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14
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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15
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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18
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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19
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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20
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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23
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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24
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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25
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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27
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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28
compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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29
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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30
vindicating
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的现在分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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31
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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32
chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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33
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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34
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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35
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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36
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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38
nonentity
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| n.无足轻重的人 | |
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39
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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40
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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41
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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42
intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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43
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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44
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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45
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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46
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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47
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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48
wanes
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| v.衰落( wane的第三人称单数 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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49
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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50
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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