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CHAPTER XVIII—MORE BUSINESS
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 When Leonard tendered the eight hundred pounds in payment of his debt of five hundred, Mr. Cavendish at first refused to take it.  But when Leonard calmly but firmly refused to pay a single penny beyond the obligations already incurred1, including interest on the full sum for one day, he acquiesced2.  He knew the type of man fully3; and knew also that in all probability it would not be long before he would come to the Firm again on a borrowing errand.  When such time should come, he would put an extra clause into his Memorandum4 of Agreement which would allow the Firm full power to make whatever extra charge they might choose in case of the slightest default in making payment.
 
Leonard’s visits to town had not of late been many, and such as he had had were not accompanied with a plethora5 of cash.  He now felt that he had earned a holiday; and it was not till the third morning that he returned to Brindehow.  His father made no comment on his absence; his only allusion6 to the subject was:
 
‘Back all right!  Any news in town?’  There was, however, an unwonted suavity7 in his manner which made Leonard a little anxious.  He busied himself for the balance of the morning in getting together all his unpaid8 accounts and making a schedule of them.  The total at first amazed almost as much as it frightened him.  He feared what Stephen would say.  She had already commented unfavourably on the one amount she had seen.  When she was face to face with this she might refuse to pay altogether.  It would therefore be wise to propitiate9 her.  What could he do in this direction?  His thoughts naturally turned to the missing letter.  If he could get possession of it, it would either serve as a sop10 or a threat.  In the one case she would be so glad to have it back that she would not stick at a few pounds; in the other it would ‘bring her to her senses’ as he put in his own mind his intention of blackmail11.
 
He was getting so tightened12 up in situation that as yet he could only do as he was told, and keep his temper as well as he could.
 
Altogether it was in a chastened mood that he made his appearance at Normanstand later in the afternoon.  He was evidently expected, for he was shown into the study without a word.  Here Miss Rowly and Stephen joined him.  Both were very kind in manner.  After the usual greetings and commonplaces Stephen said in a brisk, businesslike way:
 
‘Have you the papers with you?’  He took the bundle of accounts from his pocket and handed them to her.  After his previous experience he would have suggested, had he dared, that he should see Stephen alone; but he feared the old lady.  He therefore merely said:
 
‘I am afraid you will find the amount very large.  But I have put down everything!’
 
So he had; and more than everything.  At the last an idea struck him that as he was getting so much he might as well have a little more.  He therefore added several good-sized amounts which he called ‘debts of honour.’  This would, he thought, appeal to the feminine mind.  Stephen did not look at the papers at once.  She stood up, holding them, and said to Miss Rowly:
 
‘Now, if you will talk to Mr. Everard I will go over these documents quietly by myself.  When I have been through them and understand them all I shall come back; and we will see what can be done.’  She moved gracefully13 out of the room, closing the door behind her.  As is usual with women, she had more than one motive14 for her action in going away.  In the first place, she wished to be alone whilst she went over the schedule of the debts.  She feared she might get angry; and in the present state of her mind towards Leonard the expression of any feeling, even contempt, would not be wise.  Her best protection from him would be a manifest kindly15 negation16 of any special interest.  In the second place, she believed that he would have her letter with the other papers, and she did not wish her aunt to see it, lest she should recognise the writing.  In her boudoir, with a beating heart, she untied17 the string and looked through the papers.
 
Her letter was not among them.
 
For a few seconds she stood stock still, thinking.  Then, with a sigh, she sat down and began to read the list of debts, turning to the originals now and again for details.  As she went on, her wonder and disgust grew; and even a sense of fear came into her thoughts.  A man who could be so wildly reckless and so selfishly unscrupulous was to be feared.  She knew his father was a comparatively poor man, who could not possibly meet such a burden.  If he were thus to his father, what might he be to her if he got a chance.
 
The thought of what he might have been to her, had he taken the chance she had given him, never occurred to her.  This possibility had already reached the historical stage in her mind.
 
She made a few pencil notes on the list; and went back to the study.  Her mind was made up.
 
She was quite businesslike and calm, did not manifest the slightest disapproval18, but seemed to simply accept everything as facts.  She asked Leonard a few questions on subjects regarding which she had made notes, such as discounts.  Then she held the paper out to him and without any preliminary remark said:
 
‘Will you please put the names to these?’
 
‘How do you mean?’ he asked, flushing.
 
‘The names of the persons to whom these sums marked “debt of honour” are due.’  His reply came quickly, and was a little aggressive; he thought this might be a good time to make a bluff19:
 
‘I do not see that that is necessary.  I can settle them when I have the money.’  Slowly and without either pause or flurry Stephen replied, looking him straight in the eyes as she handed him the papers:
 
‘Of course it is not necessary!  Few things in the world really are!  I only wanted to help you out of your troubles; but if you do not wish me to . . . !’  Leonard interrupted in alarm:
 
‘No! no!  I only spoke20 of these items.  You see, being “debts of honour” I ought not to give the names.’  Looking with a keen glance at her set face he saw she was obdurate21; and, recognising his defeat, said as calmly as he could, for he felt raging:
 
‘All right!  Give me the paper!’  Bending over the table he wrote.  When she took the paper, a look half surprised, half indignant, passed over her face.  Her watchful22 aunt saw it, and bending over looked also at the paper.  Then she too smiled bitterly.
 
Leonard had printed in the names!  The feminine keenness of both women had made his intention manifest.  He did not wish for the possibility of his handwriting being recognised.  His punishment came quickly.  With a dazzling smile Stephen said to him:
 
‘But, Leonard, you have forgotten to put the addresses!’
 
‘Is that necessary?’
 
‘Of course it is!  Why, you silly, how is the money to be paid if there are no addresses?’
 
Leonard felt like a rat in a trap; but he had no alternative.  So irritated was he, and so anxious to hide his irritation23 that, forgetting his own caution, he wrote, not in printing characters but in his own handwriting, addresses evolved from his own imagination.  Stephen’s eyes twinkled as he handed her the paper: he had given himself away all round.
 
Leonard having done all that as yet had been required of him, felt that he might now ask a further favour, so he said:
 
‘There is one of those bills which I have promised to pay by Monday.’
 
‘Promised?’ said Stephen with wide-opened eyes.  She had no idea of sparing him, she remembered the printed names.  ‘Why, Leonard, I thought you said you were unable to pay any of those debts?’
 
Again he had put himself in a false position.  He could not say that it was to his father he had made the promise; for he had already told Stephen that he had been afraid to tell him of his debts.  In his desperation, for Miss Rowly’s remorseless glasses were full on him, he said:
 
‘I thought I was justified24 in making the promise after what you said about the pleasure it would be to help me.  You remember, that day on the hilltop?’
 
If he had wished to disconcert her he was mistaken; she had already thought over and over again of every form of embarrassment25 her unhappy action might bring on her at his hands.  She now said sweetly and calmly, so sweetly and so calmly that he, with knowledge of her secret, was alarmed:
 
‘But that was not a promise to pay.  If you will remember it was only an offer, which is a very different thing.  You did not accept it then!’  She was herself somewhat desperate, or she would not have sailed so close to the wind.
 
‘Ah, but I accepted later!’ he said quickly, feeling in his satisfaction in an epigrammatic answer a certain measure of victory.  He felt his mistake when she went on calmly:
 
‘Offers like that are not repeated.  They are but phantoms26, after all.  They come at their own choice, when they do come; and they stay but the measure of a breath or two.  You cannot summon them!’  Leonard fell into the current of the metaphor27 and answered:
 
‘I don’t know that even that is impossible.  There are spells which call, and recall, even phantoms!’
 
‘Indeed!’  Stephen was anxious to find his purpose.
 
Leonard felt that he was getting on, that he was again acquiring the upper hand; so he pushed on the metaphor, more and more satisfied with himself:
 
‘And it is wonderful how simple some spells, and these the most powerful, can be.  A remembered phrase, the recollection of a pleasant meeting, the smell of a forgotten flower, or the sight of a forgotten letter; any or all of these can, through memory, bring back the past.  And it is often in the past that the secret of the future lies!’
 
Miss Rowly felt that something was going on before her which she could not understand.  Anything of this man’s saying which she could not fathom28 must be at least dangerous; so she determined29 to spoil his purpose, whatever it might be.
 
‘Dear me!  That is charmingly poetic30!  Past and future; memory and the smell of flowers; meetings and letters!  It is quite philosophy.  Do explain it all, Mr. Everard!’  Leonard was not prepared to go on under the circumstances.  His own mention of ‘letter,’ although he had deliberately31 used it with the intention of frightening Stephen, had frightened himself.  It reminded him that he had not brought, had not got, the letter; and that as yet he was not certain of getting the money.  Stephen also had noted32 the word, and determined not to pass the matter by.  She said gaily33:
 
‘If a letter is a spell, I think you have a spell of mine, which is a spell of my own weaving.  You were to show me the letter in which I asked you to come to see me.  It was in that, I think you said, that I mentioned your debts; but I don’t remember doing so.  Show it to me!’
 
‘I have not got it with me!’  This was said with mulish sullenness34.
 
‘Why not?’
 
‘I forgot.’
 
‘That is a pity!  It is always a pity to forget things in a business transaction; as this is.  I think, Auntie, we must wait till we have all the documents, before we can complete this transaction!’
 
Leonard was seriously alarmed.  If the matter of the loan were not gone on with at once the jeweller’s bill could not be paid by Monday, and the result would be another scene with his father.  He turned to Stephen and said as charmingly as he could, and he was all in earnest now:
 
‘I’m awfully35 sorry!  But these debts have been so worrying me that they put lots of things out of my head.  That bill to be paid on Monday, when I haven’t a feather to fly with, is enough to drive a fellow off his chump.  The moment I lay my hands on the letter I shall keep it with me so that I can’t forget it again.  Won’t you forgive me for this time?’
 
‘Forgive!’ she answered, with a laugh.  ‘Why it’s not worth forgiveness!  It is not worth a second thought!  All right!  Leonard, make your mind easy; the bill will be paid on Monday!’  Miss Rowly said quietly:
 
‘I have to be in London on Monday afternoon; I can pay it for you.’  This was a shock to Leonard; he said impulsively36:
 
‘Oh, I say!  Can’t I . . . ’  His words faded away as the old lady again raised her lorgnon and gazed at him calmly.  She went on:
 
‘You know, my dear, it won’t be even out of my way, as I have to call at Mr. Malpas’s office, and I can go there from the hotel in Regent Street.’  This was all news to Stephen.  She did not know that her aunt had intended going to London; and indeed she did not know of any business with Mr. Malpas, whose firm had been London solicitor37 to the Rowlys for several generations.  She had no doubt, however, as to the old lady’s intention.  It was plain to her that she wanted to help.  So she thanked her sweetly.  Leonard could say nothing.  He seemed to be left completely out of it.  When Stephen rose, as a hint to him that it was time for him to go, he said humbly38, as he left:
 
‘Would it be possible that I should have the receipt before Monday evening?  I want to show it to my father.’
 
‘Certainly!’ said the old lady, answering him.  ‘I shall be back by the two o’clock train; and if you happen to be at the railway station at Norcester when I arrive I can give it to you!’
 
He went away relieved, but vindictive39; determined in his own mind that when he had received the money for the rest of the debts he would see Stephen, when the old lady was not present, and have it out with her.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 incurred a782097e79bccb0f289640bab05f0f6c     
[医]招致的,遭受的; incur的过去式
参考例句:
  • She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚,使父亲震怒。
  • We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。
2 acquiesced 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b     
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
  • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
4 memorandum aCvx4     
n.备忘录,便笺
参考例句:
  • The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
  • The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。
5 plethora 02czH     
n.过量,过剩
参考例句:
  • Java comes with a plethora of ready-made types.Java配套提供了数量众多的现成类型。
  • A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market.大批新的运营商将获准进入该市场。
6 allusion CfnyW     
n.暗示,间接提示
参考例句:
  • He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
  • She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
7 suavity 0tGwJ     
n.温和;殷勤
参考例句:
  • He's got a surface flow of suavity,but he's rough as a rasp underneath.他表面看来和和气气的,其实是个粗野狂暴的恶棍。
  • But the well-bred,artificial smile,when he bent upon the guests,had its wonted steely suavity.但是他哈着腰向宾客招呼的那种彬彬有礼、故意装成的笑容里,却仍然具有它平时那种沉着的殷勤。
8 unpaid fjEwu     
adj.未付款的,无报酬的
参考例句:
  • Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
  • He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。
9 propitiate 1RNxa     
v.慰解,劝解
参考例句:
  • They offer a sacrifice to propitiate the god.他们供奉祭品以慰诸神。
  • I tried to propitiate gods and to dispel demons.我试著取悦神只,驱赶恶魔。
10 sop WFfyt     
n.湿透的东西,懦夫;v.浸,泡,浸湿
参考例句:
  • I used a mop to sop up the spilled water.我用拖把把泼出的水擦干。
  • The playground was a mere sop.操场很湿。
11 blackmail rRXyl     
n.讹诈,敲诈,勒索,胁迫,恫吓
参考例句:
  • She demanded $1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
  • The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。
12 tightened bd3d8363419d9ff838bae0ba51722ee9     
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧
参考例句:
  • The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
13 gracefully KfYxd     
ad.大大方方地;优美地
参考例句:
  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
14 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
15 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
16 negation q50zu     
n.否定;否认
参考例句:
  • No reasonable negation can be offered.没有合理的反对意见可以提出。
  • The author boxed the compass of negation in his article.该作者在文章中依次探讨了各种反面的意见。
17 untied d4a1dd1a28503840144e8098dbf9e40f     
松开,解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 ); 解除,使自由; 解决
参考例句:
  • Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来,我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
  • He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。
18 disapproval VuTx4     
n.反对,不赞成
参考例句:
  • The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
  • They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。
19 bluff ftZzB     
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗
参考例句:
  • His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
  • John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。
20 spoke XryyC     
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:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
21 obdurate N5Dz0     
adj.固执的,顽固的
参考例句:
  • He is obdurate in his convictions.他执着于自己所坚信的事。
  • He remained obdurate,refusing to alter his decision.他依然固执己见,拒不改变决定。
22 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
23 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒,恼怒,生气
参考例句:
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说,但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
24 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的,有理的
参考例句:
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
25 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
参考例句:
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
26 phantoms da058e0e11fdfb5165cb13d5ac01a2e8     
n.鬼怪,幽灵( phantom的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They vanished down the stairs like two phantoms. 他们像两个幽灵似的消失在了楼下。 来自辞典例句
  • The horrible night that he had passed had left phantoms behind it. 他刚才度过的恐布之夜留下了种种错觉。 来自辞典例句
27 metaphor o78zD     
n.隐喻,暗喻
参考例句:
  • Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方,我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
  • In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。
28 fathom w7wy3     
v.领悟,彻底了解
参考例句:
  • I really couldn't fathom what he was talking about.我真搞不懂他在说些什么。
  • What these people hoped to achieve is hard to fathom.这些人希望实现些什么目标难以揣测。
29 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
30 poetic b2PzT     
adj.富有诗意的,有诗人气质的,善于抒情的
参考例句:
  • His poetic idiom is stamped with expressions describing group feeling and thought.他的诗中的措辞往往带有描写群体感情和思想的印记。
  • His poetic novels have gone through three different historical stages.他的诗情小说创作经历了三个不同的历史阶段。
31 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
参考例句:
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
32 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
33 gaily lfPzC     
adv.欢乐地,高兴地
参考例句:
  • The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
  • She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。
34 sullenness 22d786707c82440912ef6d2c00489b1e     
n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉
参考例句:
  • His bluster sank to sullenness under her look. 在她目光逼视下,他蛮横的表情稍加收敛,显出一副阴沉的样子。
  • Marked by anger or sullenness. 怒气冲冲的,忿恨的。
35 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
36 impulsively 0596bdde6dedf8c46a693e7e1da5984c     
adv.冲动地
参考例句:
  • She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前,感情冲动地吻了他。
  • Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。
37 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师,事务律师
参考例句:
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
38 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地
参考例句:
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的,先生,”约翰恭顺地说道。
39 vindictive FL3zG     
adj.有报仇心的,怀恨的,惩罚的
参考例句:
  • I have no vindictive feelings about it.我对此没有恶意。
  • The vindictive little girl tore up her sister's papers.那个充满报复心的小女孩撕破了她姐姐的作业。


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