So he sat before the cheerful fire in the cosey little room, the firelight glancing on the red-flock paper, and illumining the "Racing12 Cracks" and the "Coaching Recollections;" pictures which the Messrs. Fores furnished for the delectation of the sporting men of those days, and which are never seen in these. They were better and healthier in tone than the studies of French females now so prevalent, and infinitely13 more manly14 and national. The smoke from his pipe curled round his head, and as he lay back in his chair and watched it floating in its blue vapour, his thoughts filled him with inexpressible pleasure. He was thinking over what had happened the day before, and to him the picnic was as nothing. He only remembered the ride home. Yes; his thoughts were very, very pleasant; his vanity had been flattered, his fur had been stroked the right way. This was his first experience of flirtation15 since his marriage; and he stood higher than usual in his own opinion when he found that he had attracted the notice of--to say the least of it--a very pretty woman. Very pretty; no doubt about that! By Jove! she looked perfection in that tight-fitting robe. What a splendid figure she had,--so round and plump, and yet so graceful16; and her general turn-out was so good--such natty17 gloves and jolly little white collars and cuffs18, and such a neat riding-whip! And that lovely chestnut19 hair, gathered into that gleaming coil of braids under her chimney-pot hat! How beautifully she rode too! went at those posts and rails as calmly as though she had been cantering in the Row. He watched her as the mare20 rose at them; and but for a little tightening21 of the mouth, not a feature of her face was discomposed, while most women would have turned blue through sheer fright, even if they would have had pluck to face such a jump at all, which he doubted.
It was uncommonly22 pleasant to think that such a woman was interested in him; would look forward to his presence, would regret his absence, and would associate him with her thoughts and actions. What an earnest, impulsive23, sensitive creature she was! She had seen in an instant what had annoyed him yesterday! Not like Georgie--he felt a slight twinge of conscience as he thought of her--not like Georgie, who had supposed he was vexed24 at something she had said, poor child! No; that other woman was really wonderful--so appreciative25 and intelligent. How cleverly she had befooled that hard-headed old Winton for the sake of keeping things square! Winton was like a child in her hands; and though he could not bear ladies' society, and was supposed to be never happy except when shooting or smoking, had cantered by her side and tried to make civil little speeches, and bowed and smiled like a fellow just fresh from Eton. And how cleverly she had managed that business about their getting away when she wanted to speak to him! Poor little thing, how frightened she was too at the idea of his being angry, as though one could be angry with a creature like that! And how pretty she looked when her eyes filled with tears and her voice trembled! Gad26! she must feel something stronger than interest in him for her to show all that. Yes, by Jove!--there was no use in denying it to himself any longer,--this little woman was thoroughly27 fascinated. He recalled the events of that homeward ride--the talk, the looks, the long, long hand-clasp, the passionate28 manner in which, just before they reached the house, she had implored29 him to remember that she counted on him, and on him alone, for advice and aid in the troubles of her life. By the way what were the troubles of her life? She had dwelt very much upon them generally, but had never thought it necessary to go into detail. She spoke30 frequently of being tied to an invalid31 husband, of having been intended originally for something better than a sick man's nurse; but that could not prey32 upon her mind very much, as she was scarcely ever with her husband, or if it did, it was not a case in which any advice or any aid of his would be of much use to her. No; the advice and aid, and the intimate friendship, were devices by which she was endeavouring to blind herself and him to the real state of the case, to the fact that she was deeply, madly in love with him, and that he--well, he--What was that? a rustle33 of a dress in the passage outside, a low tap at the door. Can it be she?
The door opened, and a woman entered--not Mrs. Hammond, but Miss Gillespie. Sir Charles Mitford's heart had beat high with expectation; its palpitation continued when he recognized his visitor, though from a different cause. He had risen, and remained standing34 before the fire; but Miss Gillespie made herself comfortable in a velvet35 causeuse on the other side of the snug1 fireplace, and pointing to his chair, said:
"You had better sit down again. I shall be some time here."
As though involuntarily, Mitford re-seated himself. He had scarcely done so when she said:
"You did not expect me? You don't seem glad to see me?"
"Exactly; as we used to say in the old days, 'them's my sentiments.' I reciprocate37 your cordial feelings entirely38. And I can't conceive what adverse39 fate drove you to come with a pack of swaggering, sporting, vulgar people, into a part of the country where I happened to be quietly and comfortably settled; for, as I pointed40 out to you at our last interview, I was the original settler, and it is you who have intruded41 yourself into my territory."
"You did not come here to repeat that, I suppose?"
"Of course not; and that's exactly a point I want to impress upon you--that I never repeat. I hint, I suggest, I command, or I warn--once; after that I act."
"You act now, you're always acting42, you perpetually fancy yourself on the boards. But it does not amuse me, nor suit me either, and I won't have it. What did you come here for?"
"Not to amuse you, Sir Charles Mitford, you may be certain, nor to be amused myself; for a heavier specimen43 of our landed gentry44 than yourself is not, I should hope for the credit of the country, to be found. You were never much fun; and it was only your good looks, and a certain soft manner that you had, that made you get on at all in our camaraderie45. No; I came here on business."
"On business! Ah, it's not very difficult to imagine what kind of business. You want money, of course, like the rest of them."
"I want money, and come to you for it! No, Charles Mitford; you ought to know me better than that. You ought to know that if I were starving, I would steal a loaf from a child, or rob a church, rather than take, much more ask for, a single penny from you. Like the rest of them, did you say? So they have found you out and begun to bleed you!--the pitiful curs!"
"Well, what do you want, then? My time's precious."
"It is indeed, my friend; if you did but know all, you'd find it very precious indeed. But never mind that; now for my business. I want you to do something."
"And that is--"
"To give up making love to Mrs. Hammond. Now, be quiet; don't put yourself in a rage, and don't try those uplifted eyebrows46, and that general expression of injured astonishment47, on me, because it won't do. I was not born last week, and my capacity for gauging48 such matters is by no means small. Besides, I happened yesterday to be taking my walks abroad in a meadow not far from the western lodge49 of Redmoor Park, the seat of Sir Charles Mitford, Bart., and I happened to witness an interview of a very tender and touching50 kind, which took place between a lady and a gentleman both on horseback. I imagined something of the kind was going on. I saw something when you were leaving the house that night at Torquay which would have surprised any one who had not learned as much of Mrs. Hammond as I had during the time I had been with her. But since we have been here my suspicions have been confirmed, and yesterday's proceedings left no doubt upon my mind So I determined51 to speak to you at once, and to tell you that this must not and shall not be!"
Mitford's face grew very dark as he said:
"And suppose I were to ask you how the flirtation which you allege52 exists between me and--and the lady you have named,--which I utterly and entirely deny,--suppose I were to ask how this flirtation affects you, and, in short, what the devil business it is of yours?"
"How it affects me? Why--no, but that's too preposterous53. Not even you, with all your vanity, could possibly imagine that I have in my own mind consented to forget the past, that I have buried the hatchet54, that I have returned to my premier55 amour, and am consequently jealous of your attentions to Mrs. Hammond."
"You can't, and you never shall. I don't choose to tell you; perhaps I have taken compassion57 on your wife, who is very pretty--of her style--and seems very good and all that, and very fond of you, poor silly thing! and I don't choose her to be tormented58 by you. Perhaps I want that poor wretched invalid to die in peace, and not to have his life suddenly snuffed out by the scandal which is sure to arise if this goes on. Perhaps--but no matter! I don't intend to give my reasons, and I've told you what I want."
"And suppose I tell you--as I do tell you--I won't do what you want, and I defy you! What then?"
"Then I will compel you."
"Will you? Do you think I don't know the screw which you would put on me? You'd proclaim all about my former life, my connection with that rascally59 crew, of whom you were one--"
"Who brought me into it?"
"No matter;--of whom you were one! You'd rake up that story of the bill with my uncle's name to it. Well, suppose you did. What then? It would be news to nobody here--they all know of it."
"No, they don't all know of it. Lord Dollamore does, and so does that good-looking man with the beard, Colonel Alsager, and perhaps Captain Bligh. But I doubt if one of the others ever heard of it: these things blow over, and are so soon forgotten. And it would be very awkward to have the story revived here. Why, the county families who have called, and are inclined to be civil--I heard you boasting of it the other day--would drop you a like red-hot coal. The officers quartered in the barracks would cut you dead; the out-going regiment60 would tell the story to the in-coming regiment; you would never get a soul over here to dinner or to stop with you, and you would be bored to death. That's not a pleasant lookout61, is it?"
"But that is not nearly all. I have it in my power to injure your position as well as your reputation; to compel you to change that pretty velvet lounging-coat for a suit of hodden gray, that meerschaum-bowl for a lump of oakum, this very cheery room for--But there's no need to dilate63 on the difference: you'll do what I ask?"
"And suppose I were to deny all your story."
"Ah, now you're descending64 to mere65 childishness. How could you deny what all the men I have mentioned know thoroughly well? They are content to forget all about it now, and to receive you as a reclaimed66 man; but if they were asked as men of honour whether or not there had been such a scandal, of course they would tell the truth. Come, you'll do what I ask?"
She had won the day; there was no doubt about that. Any bystander, had one been there, could have told it in a moment; could have read it in his sullen67 dogged look of defeat, in her bright airy glance of triumph.
"You'll do what I ask?"
"You have me in your hands," he said in a low voice.
"I knew you would see it in the right light," she said, "You see, after all, it's very little to give up; the flirtation is only just commencing, so that even you, with your keen susceptibility, cannot be hard hit yet. And you have such a very nice wife, and it will be altogether so much better for you now you are rangé, as they say. You'll have to go to the village-church regularly when you're down here, and to become a magistrate68, and to go through all sorts of other respectabilities with which this style of thing would not fit at all. Now, goodbye;" and she turned to go.
"Stay!" he called out; "when may I expect a repetition of this threat for some new demand?"
"That rests entirely with yourself. As I have said from the first, I did not seek you; you intruded yourself into my circle. I like my present mode of life--for the present--and don't want to change it. Keep clear of me, and we shall never clash. Again, goodbye."
She made a pretty little bow and, undulating all over, left the room as quietly as she had entered it.
When she had closed the door Mitford rose from his chair with a long sigh of relief, loosened his cravat69, and shook his fist.
"Yours to-day, my lady--yours to-day; but my chance will come, and when it does, look out for yourself."
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收听单词发音
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1
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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3
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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4
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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5
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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6
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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7
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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8
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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9
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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10
prosaic
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| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
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11
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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12
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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13
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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14
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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15
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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16
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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17
natty
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| adj.整洁的，漂亮的 | |
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18
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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19
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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20
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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21
tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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22
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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23
impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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24
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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25
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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26
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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27
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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28
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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29
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
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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31
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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32
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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33
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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34
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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35
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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36
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
reciprocate
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| v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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40
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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41
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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42
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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43
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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44
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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45
camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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46
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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47
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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48
gauging
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| n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分 | |
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49
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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50
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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51
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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52
allege
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| vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言 | |
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53
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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54
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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55
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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56
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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57
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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58
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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59
rascally
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| adj. 无赖的，恶棍的 adv. 无赖地，卑鄙地 | |
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60
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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61
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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62
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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63
dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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64
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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65
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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66
reclaimed
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| adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救 | |
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67
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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68
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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69
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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