Emily Murray had been a pretty child; had become a beautiful girl. There was no doubt about her; one look into those honest brown eyes would have convinced you that she was thorough. A plump rosy-rounded bud of woman; a thoroughly English girl, void of affectation, conceit14, and trickery; clean, clear, honest, wholesome15, and loving. As she talked to James Prescott of the old days at Havering, she spoke16 out freely, referring to bygone gambols and fun with frank laughter and many a humorous reminiscence; and when she suggested his joining their riding-party the next day, she looked him straight in the face without the smallest shadow of entanglement17 or guile18. To her own brother her manner had not been different, Prescott thought, as, after they had parted, he recalled every word, every glance; and he wished for a moment that there had been something different in it, a trifle more tenderness, a hand-pressure, a sly upward glance, or--and then he flung such nonsense behind him, and was delighted to remember the warmth of her recognition, the cheeriness of her chat. She was nothing to him, of course; his doom19 was fixed20; he had loved, and--and yet how pretty she was! how perfectly21 gloved! how charmingly dressed! what a pleasure it was to feel that you were talking to a lady! to know that no slanginess would offend the eye, no questionable22 argot23 grate upon the ear; to feel that--and then Mr. Prescott remembered how the idol24 of his soul had called him "Jim," ay, and "old buffer25;" how she had smoked cigars, and used maledictions towards refractory26 animals; how there had been all kinds of odd discussions about all kinds of odd people before her; and how he had seen men take wine without stint27, and smoke cigars in her face, and wear their bats before her, without the smallest self-restraint. And, smoking a final pipe before turning into bed, Mr. Prescott pondered on these things long and earnestly.
Mr. Prescott found a warm welcome awaiting him. Mrs. Wilmslow had been impressed with his manners and appearance, and old Mr. Murray had a yearning28 for the friend of his youth, and longed to receive that friend's son with open arms. A hale pleasant gentleman, Mr. Murray, with that wonderful cleanliness which is never seen out of England, with polished bald head fringed with iron-gray hair, ruddy complexion29, keen little blue eyes, and brilliant teeth. He wore a slipper30 on his right foot, but hobbled forward, nevertheless, and gave the young man a hearty31 shake of the hand.
"Glad to see you, Jim! Little Jim you were; but, by Jove! I should not like to carry you on my back now, as I have done many a time. Very glad to see you! Old times come again, by George! Trace every feature of your face, and can almost see Magdalen tower behind your back--you're so like your father. How's the Vicar, eh? I'll drag him out of that infernal spinning-jenny place yet, and give him a breather across the home-copse at Havering before next season's over."
Prescott said that his father was well and jolly, but scarcely up to shooting now, he had had so little practice lately.
"So much the more reason we should give it him, then! He used to be a crack shot; one of the few men I've seen shoot a brace32 of woodcock right and left! And walk! by George, he'd walk me into--has he had any gout?"
"Not yet, sir;--a threatening last year."
"Bravo!" roared the old gentleman; "I've got some 20-port that shall bring that threatening to real effect, if he'll only drink enough of it. And to think that Pussy33 should have found you out!"
"Pussy?" said Mr. Prescott.
"Emily, of course! a wayward gentle puss who never shows her claws!" and at that moment Emily entered the room, and advanced towards Prescott with frank smile and outstretched hand.
Luncheon34 passed off pleasantly enough. The old gentleman rattled35 on incessantly36, and availed himself of Prescott's presence, and Mrs. Wilmslow's distracted attention consequent thereupon, to take three bumpers37 of dry sherry, instead of that one half-glass to which, by doctor's orders, he was so strictly38 relegated39. Mrs. Wilmslow was thoroughly charmed with Prescott, led him on to talk of his home-life, of his office friends, and seemed to regard him with real interest. Emily was less talkative than she had been the previous evening, and seldom looked up from the table; but she joined readily in the conversation, and none were too pleased when the horses were announced.
"Got a horse, Jim?" asked the Squire. "That's right! hope it'll carry you all right, though one never knows any thing about these hired hacks41. You might have ridden the cob, if I'd known you'd been coming earlier! This is his third day's rest, and the cob will be about as fresh as paint when I get across him again. Not that I care much for your Rotten-Row riding--dull work that, up and down, up and down! The Vicar and I--we used to go to work in a little more business-like fashion than that! I suppose he never gets a day's run now? Ah! thought not! Those spinning-jenny locals would think it unprofessional for a parson to follow hounds, eh? There, bless you, pussy! good-by, child! and good-by to you, young Jim! Call here again in a day or two, and we'll settle about your coming to Havering in the vacation--and the Vicar too, d'ye hear?"
"I'm getting rather nervous about my responsibility, Miss Murray," said Prescott, as they passed through into the hall. "I don't think I've forgotten my old knack42 of mounting. You needn't fear my not lifting you high enough, or jerking you over the side, I mean; but I've never seen your amazonship yet, and if any thing should happen--"
"Oh, don't fear that, James--Mr. Prescott, I mean!" said Emily with a clear ringing laugh. "You'll mount me rightly enough, I know: and as for looking after me afterwards, I forgot to tell you my riding-mistress would be with us."
"Your riding-mistress!" but as he spoke, the footman threw open the street-door; and the first thing that met his glance was a well-known figure sitting erect43 on a black thoroughbred. Kate Mellon! no one else. James Prescott had watched too often the rounded outline of that compact figure, the fall of that dark-blue skirt, the pose of that neat little chimney-pot hat, under which the gold-shot hair was massed in a clump44 behind, not to recognise them all at the first glance. Kate Mellon, by all that was marvellous! Two young ladies, also mounted, were with her; and a groom45 was leading another horse, with a side-saddle on it for Emily Murray, and another groom was leading the very presentable hack40 which Prescott had engaged from Allen's. As she caught sight of Prescott, Kate gave one little scarcely-perceptible start, and then saluted46 Miss Murray with uplifted whip. Prescott swung Emily to her saddle, and the cavalcade47 started.
"You see I have brought a cavalier, Miss Mellon," said Emily, with a smile; "though I don't know whether such an encumbrance48 is permissible49; but this is Mr. Prescott, whom I have known for a very long time. James, this is Miss Mellon, who is good enough to superintend my clumsiness on horseback, and who is the very star of horsewomen herself."
Kate started a little at the "James," but merely repeated the whip salutation, and said, "Mr. Prescott and I have met before, Miss Murray. Besides, you're coming it too strong about yourself! you're quite able to take care of yourself now, and have no clumsiness left, whatever you might have had at first. This has relieved me of some of my charge; for these two young ladies will want all my eyes, and another to spare, if I had it. Perhaps you'll not mind my riding forward with them, and you and Mr. Prescott can follow us; you're both of you to be trusted--with your horses, I mean!" and she smiled shortly, and cantering on, joined the anonymous50 young ladies in front.
You see it is perfectly right to tell a man who is desperately51 smitten52 with you that he is on the wrong tack53; that though you have a great regard for him as a friend, you cannot reciprocate54 his love-passion; and that the whole affair is ill-judged, and should properly be put a stop to at once. But when you come upon him suddenly, within three weeks, evidently consoling himself by dangling55 at the heels of another woman--well, there is something provoking in it, to say the least! Kate Mellon was thoroughly honest during all that last interview with Prescott in Rotten Row, but she scarcely expected this.
So they rode on in two divisions; and the young ladies in front, who were the daughters of a picture-dealer who had recently risen from nothing, and who were in the greatest state of fright at the unaccustomed exercise, were surprised to find a tone of asperity56 at first tinging57 their mistress's instructions at being told of their rounded shoulders and their heavy hands, in far plainer terms than had been hitherto employed. But this severity gradually subsided58 as they went on, and as Kate thought to herself how all was for the best, and how, instead of being annoyed, she ought to do every thing she could to help the fortunes of one who had been so staunchly gallant59 to her, until he was repulsed60. As for the couple behind, they got on splendidly; Emily looked to the greatest advantage on horseback; and Prescott could scarcely take his eyes from her as he watched the graceful61 manner in which she sat her horse, and as he listened to the encomiastic remarks which her appearance extracted from the passers-by. He talked to her of the old days, and she answered without an ounce of coquetry or affectation; and she spoke of her father, of her happiness in her home, of the little simple duties and pleasures in their village, and of other little suchlike matters, in an honest way that touched James Prescott deeply, and sent purer, calmer thoughts into his heart than had found lodging62 there for many months.
After a couple of hours in the Row the party returned to Mrs. Wilmslow's, where Emily bade them farewell, and Prescott also alighted, giving up his horse to the groom waiting for it. Kate Mellon saw her other pupils to their home close by, and then turned into the Row again, intending to have one final gallop63 on her way to The Den12. She was at full speed when she heard the dull thud of a horse's hoofs64 close behind her, and turning saw Mr. Simnel. In a minute he was by her side.
"How d'ye do, Kate?" said he, reining-in his big hunter; "I came on the chance of seeing you here."
"How do, Simnel?" said Miss Mellon, shortly; "what do you want?"
"I want you to say when I can come up to The Den and have half-an-hour's chat with you, Kate."
"And I tell you, never! as I've told you before. Look here, Simnel," said she, pulling up short; "let's have this out now. I don't like you; I never did, and I never shall! and I don't want you at my place. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," said Simnel, with a hard smile; "and yet I think I must come. I want to say something specially65 particular to you."
"What about? What you've said before? About yourself?"
"No," said Simnel, smiling as before; "I never say things twice over. I want to talk to you about a friend of ours--Charles Beresford."
"Charles Beresford?--what of him?"
"That's just what I propose to come and tell you."
Their eyes met. The next instant Kate cast hers down as she said, "I shall be at home on Friday from two till six. You can come then."
"You may depend on me," said Simnel; "I'll not bore you any longer." He raised his hat with perfect politeness, turned his horse, and rode slowly away.
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收听单词发音
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1
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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2
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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suburban
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| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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8
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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bleakest
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| 阴冷的( bleak的最高级 )； （状况）无望的； 没有希望的； 光秃的 | |
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orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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13
buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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16
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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entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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20
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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21
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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argot
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| n.隐语，黑话 | |
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24
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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25
buffer
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| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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stint
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| v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事 | |
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28
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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31
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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32
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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33
pussy
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| n.(儿语)小猫，猫咪 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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bumpers
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| （汽车上的）保险杠，缓冲器( bumper的名词复数 ) | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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39
relegated
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| v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类 | |
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40
hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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41
hacks
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| 黑客 | |
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42
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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43
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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44
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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45
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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46
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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47
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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48
encumbrance
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| n.妨碍物，累赘 | |
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49
permissible
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| adj.可允许的，许可的 | |
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50
anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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51
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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52
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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53
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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54
reciprocate
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| v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答 | |
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55
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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56
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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57
tinging
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的现在分词 ) | |
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58
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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59
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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60
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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62
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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63
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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64
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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