N any community in which a sensational1 crime has recently been committed, the feelings of the individuals who go to make up that community must of necessity vary somewhat sharply according to the degree in which the personal fortunes of each are affected2 by the outrage3. Vivid in their own way as may be the emotions of one who sees a fellow-citizen sandbagged in a quiet street, they differ in kind from those experienced by the victim himself. And so, though the theft of Lady Constance Keeble’s diamond necklace had stirred Blandings Castle to its depths, it had not affected all those present in quite the same way. It left the house-party divided into two distinct schools of thought—the one finding in the occurrence material for gloom and despondency, the other deriving4 from it nothing but joyful5 excitement.
To this latter section belonged those free young spirits who had chafed6 at the prospect7 of being herded8 into the drawing-room on the eventful night to listen to Psmith’s reading of Songs of Squalor. It made them tremble now to think of what they would have missed, had Lady Constance’s vigilance relaxed sufficiently9 to enable them to execute the quiet sneak10 for the billiard-room of which even at the eleventh hour they had thought so wistfully. As far as the Reggies, Berties, Claudes, and Archies at that moment[p. 271] enjoying Lord Emsworth’s hospitality were concerned the thing was top-hole, priceless, and indisputably what the doctor ordered. They spent a great deal of their time going from one country-house to another, and as a rule found the routine a little monotonous11. A happening like that of the previous night gave a splendid zip to rural life. And when they reflected that, right on top of this binge, there was coming the County Ball, it seemed to them that God was in His heaven and all right with the world. They stuck cigarettes in long holders12, and collected in groups, chattering13 like starlings.
The gloomy brigade, those with hearts bowed down, listened to their effervescent babbling15 with wan16 distaste. These last were a small body numerically, but very select. Lady Constance might have been described as their head and patroness. Morning found her still in a state bordering on collapse17. After breakfast, however, which she took in her room, and which was sweetened by an interview with Mr. Joseph Keeble, her husband, she brightened considerably18. Mr. Keeble, thought Lady Constance, behaved magnificently. She had always loved him dearly, but never so much as when, abstaining19 from the slightest reproach of her obstinacy20 in refusing to allow the jewels to be placed in the bank, he spaciously21 informed her that he would buy her another necklace, just as good and costing every penny as much as the old one. It was at this point that Lady Constance almost seceded22 from the ranks of gloom. She kissed Mr. Keeble gratefully, and attacked with something approaching animation23 the boiled egg at which she had been pecking when he came in.
But a few minutes later the average of despair was restored by the enrolment of Mr. Keeble in the ranks[p. 272] of the despondent24. He had gladsomely assumed overnight that one of his agents, either Eve or Freddie, had been responsible for the disappearance25 of the necklace. The fact that Freddie, interviewed by stealth in his room, gapingly26 disclaimed27 any share in the matter had not damped him. He had never expected results from Freddie. But when, after leaving Lady Constance, he encountered Eve and was given a short outline of history, beginning with her acquisition of the necklace, and ending—like a modern novel—on the sombre note of her finding the flower-pot gone, he too sat him down and mourned as deeply as anyone.
Passing with a brief mention over Freddie, whose morose28 bearing was the subject of considerable comment among the younger set; over Lord Emsworth, who woke at twelve o’clock disgusted to find that he had missed several hours among his beloved flower-beds; and over the Efficient Baxter, who was roused from sleep at twelve-fifteen by Thomas the footman knocking on his door in order to hand him a note from his employer enclosing a cheque, and dispensing29 with his services; we come to Miss Peavey.
At twenty minutes past eleven on this morning when so much was happening to so many people, Miss Peavey stood in the Yew30 Alley31 gazing belligerently32 at the stemless mushroom finial of a tree about half-way between the entrance and the point where the alley merged33 into the west wood. She appeared to be soliloquising. For, though words were proceeding34 from her with considerable rapidity, there seemed to be no one in sight to whom they were being addressed. Only an exceptionally keen observer would have noted35 a slight significant quivering among the tree’s tightly-woven branches.
“You poor bone-headed fish,” the poetess was[p. 273] saying with that strained tenseness which results from the churning up of a generous and emotional nature, “isn’t there anything in this world you can do without tumbling over your feet and making a mess of it? All I ask of you is to stroll under a window and pick up a few jewels, and now you come and tell me . . .”
“But, Liz!” said the tree plaintively36.
“I do all the difficult part of the job. All that there was left for you to handle was something a child of three could have done on its ear. And now . . .”
“But, Liz! I’m telling you I couldn’t find the stuff. I was down there all right, but I couldn’t find it.”
“You couldn’t find it!” Miss Peavey pawed restlessly at the soft turf with a shapely shoe. “You’re the sort of dumb Isaac that couldn’t find a bass-drum in a telephone-booth. You didn’t look.”
“I did look. Honest, I did.”
“Well, the stuff was there. I threw it down the moment the lights went out.”
“Somebody must have got there first, and swiped it.”
“Who could have got there first? Everybody was up in the room where I was.
“Am I sure? Am I . . .” The poetess’s voice trailed off. She was staring down the Yew Alley at a couple who had just entered. She hissed38 a warning in a sharp undertone. “Hsst! Cheese it, Ed. There’s someone coming.”
The two intruders who had caused Miss Peavey to suspend her remarks to her erring39 lieutenant40 were of opposite sexes—a tall girl with fair hair, and a taller young man irreproachably41 clad in white flannels42 who beamed down at his companion through a single eyeglass. Miss Peavey gazed at them searchingly as they approached. A sudden thought had come to her at the sight of them. Mistrusting Psmith as she had[p. 274] done ever since Mr. Cootes had unmasked him for the impostor that he was, the fact that they were so often together had led her to extend her suspicion to Eve. It might, of course, be nothing but a casual friendship, begun here at the castle; but Miss Peavey had always felt that Eve would bear watching. And now, seeing them together again this morning, it had suddenly come to her that she did not recall having observed Eve among the gathering43 in the drawing-room last night. True, there had been many people present, but Eve’s appearance was striking, and she was sure that she would have noticed her, if she had been there. And, if she had not been there, why should she not have been on the terrace? Somebody had been on the terrace last night, that was certain. For all her censorious attitude in their recent conversation, Miss Peavey had not really in her heart believed that even a dumb-bell like Eddie Cootes would not have found the necklace if it had been lying under the window on his arrival.
“Oh, good morning, Mr. McTodd,” she cooed. “I’m feeling so upset about this terrible affair. Aren’t you, Miss Halliday?”
Psmith, for his part, was in more debonair45 and cheerful mood even than was his wont46. He had examined the position of affairs and found life good. He was particularly pleased with the fact that he had persuaded Eve to stroll with him this morning and inspect his cottage in the woods. Buoyant as was his temperament47, he had been half afraid that last night’s interview on the terrace might have had disastrous48 effects on their intimacy49. He was now feeling full of kindliness50 and goodwill51 towards all mankind—even[p. 275] Miss Peavey; and he bestowed52 on the poetess a dazzling smile.
“We must always,” he said, “endeavour to look on the bright side. It was a pity, no doubt, that my reading last night had to be stopped at a cost of about twenty thousand pounds to the Keeble coffers, but let us not forget that but for that timely interruption I should have gone on for about another hour. I am like that. My friends have frequently told me that when once I start talking it requires something in the nature of a cataclysm53 to stop me. But, of course, there are drawbacks to everything, and last night’s rannygazoo perhaps shook your nervous system to some extent?”
“I was dreadfully frightened,” said Miss Peavey. She turned to Eve with a delicate shiver. “Weren’t you, Miss Halliday?”
“I wasn’t there,” said Eve absently.
“Miss Halliday,” explained Psmith, “has had in the last few days some little experience of myself as orator54, and with her usual good sense decided55 not to go out of her way to get more of me than was absolutely necessary. I was perhaps a trifle wounded at the moment, but on thinking it over came to the conclusion that she was perfectly56 justified57 in her attitude. I endeavour always in my conversation to instruct, elevate, and entertain, but there is no gainsaying58 the fact that a purist might consider enough of my chit-chat to be sufficient. Such, at any rate, was Miss Halliday’s view, and I honour her for it. But here I am, rambling59 on again just when I can see that you wish to be alone. We will leave you, therefore, to muse60. No doubt we have been interrupting a train of thought which would have resulted but for my arrival in a rondel or a ballade or some other poetic61 morceau. Come, Miss Halliday. A weird62 and repellent female,” he said to Eve as[p. 276] they drew out of hearing, “created for some purpose which I cannot fathom63. Everything in this world, I like to think, is placed there for some useful end: but why the authorities unleashed64 Miss Peavey on us is beyond me. It is not too much to say that she gives me a pain in the gizzard.”
Miss Peavey, unaware65 of these harsh views, had watched them out of sight, and now she turned excitedly to the tree which sheltered her ally.
“Ed!”
“Did you hear?”
“No.”
“Oh, my heavens!” cried his overwrought partner. “He’s gone deaf now! That girl—you didn’t hear what she was saying? She said that she wasn’t in the drawing-room when those lights went out. Ed, she was down below on the terrace, that’s where she was, picking up the stuff. And if it isn’t hidden somewheres in that McTodd’s shack67 down there in the woods I’ll eat my Sunday rubbers.”
Eve, with Psmith prattling68 amiably69 at her side, pursued her way through the wood. She was wondering why she had come. She ought, she felt, to have been very cold and distant to this young man after what had occurred between them last night. But somehow it was difficult to be cold and distant with Psmith. He cheered her stricken soul. By the time they reached the little clearing and came in sight of the squat70, shed-like building with its funny windows and stained door, her spirits, always mercurial71, had risen to a point where she found herself almost able to forget her troubles.
“What a horrible-looking place!” she exclaimed. “Whatever did you want it for?”
[p. 277]“Purely as a nook,” said Psmith, taking out his key. “You know how the man of sensibility and refinement72 needs a nook. In this rushing age it is imperative73 that the thinker shall have a place, however humble74, where he can be alone.”
“But you aren’t a thinker.”
“You wrong me. For the last few days I have been doing some extremely brisk thinking. And the strain has taken its toll75. The fierce whirl of life at Blandings is wearing me away. There are dark circles under my eyes and I see floating spots.” He opened the door. “Well, here we are. Will you pop in for a moment?”
Eve went in. The single sitting-room76 of the cottage certainly bore out the promise of the exterior77. It contained a table with a red cloth, a chair, three stuffed birds in a glass case on the wall, and a small horsehair sofa. A depressing musty scent14 pervaded78 the place, as if a cheese had recently died there in painful circumstances. Eve gave a little shiver of distaste.
“I understand your silent criticism,” said Psmith. “You are saying to yourself that plain living and high thinking is evidently the ideal of the gamekeepers on the Blandings estate. They are strong, rugged79 men who care little for the refinements80 of interior decoration. But shall we blame them? If I had to spend most of the day and night chivvying poachers and keeping an eye on the local rabbits, I imagine that in my off-hours practically anything with a roof would satisfy me. It was in the hope that you might be able to offer some hints and suggestions for small improvements here and there that I invited you to inspect my little place. There is no doubt that it wants doing up a bit, by a woman’s gentle hand. Will you take a look round and give out a few ideas? The wall-paper is, I fear,[p. 278] a fixture81, but in every other direction consider yourself untrammelled.”
Eve looked about her.
She stopped abruptly83, tingling84 all over. A second glance had shown her something which her first careless inspection85 had overlooked. Half hidden by a ragged86 curtain, there stood on the window-sill a large flower-pot containing a geranium. And across the surface of the flower-pot was a broad splash of white paint.
“You were saying . . . ?” said Psmith courteously87.
Eve did not reply. She hardly heard him. Her mind was in a confused whirl. A monstrous88 suspicion was forming itself in her brain.
“You are admiring the shrub89?” said Psmith. “I found it lying about up at the castle this morning and pinched it. I thought it would add a touch of colour to the place.”
Eve, looking at him keenly as his gaze shifted to the flower-pot, told herself that her suspicion had been absurd. Surely this blandness90 could not be a cloak for guilt91.
“Where did you find it?”
“By one of the windows in the hall, more or less wasting its sweetness. I am bound to say I am a little disappointed in the thing. I had a sort of idea it would turn the old homestead into a floral bower92, but it doesn’t seem to.”
“It’s a beautiful geranium.”
“There,” said Psmith, “I cannot agree with you. It seems to me to have the glanders or something.”
“It only wants watering.”
“And unfortunately this cosy93 little place appears to possess no water supply. I take it that the late proprietor94 when in residence used to trudge95 to the back[p. 279] door of the castle and fetch what he needed in a bucket. If this moribund96 plant fancies that I am going to spend my time racing97 to and fro with refreshments98, it is vastly mistaken. To-morrow it goes into the dustbin.”
Eve shut her eyes. She was awed37 by a sense of having arrived at a supreme99 moment. She had the sensations of a gambler who risks all on a single throw.
“What a shame!” she said, and her voice, though she tried to control it, shook. “You had better give it to me. I’ll take care of it. It’s just what I want for my room.”
“Pray take it,” said Psmith. “It isn’t mine, but pray take it. And very encouraging it is, let me add, that you should be accepting gifts from me in this hearty100 fashion; for it is well known that there is no surer sign of the dawning of the divine emotion—love,” he explained, “than this willingness to receive presents from the hands of the adorer. I make progress, I make progress.”
“You don’t do anything of the kind,” said Eve. Her eyes were sparkling and her heart sang within her. In the revulsion of feeling which had come to her on finding her suspicions unfounded she was aware of a warm friendliness101 towards this absurd young man.
“Pardon me,” said Psmith firmly. “I am quoting an established authority—Auntie Belle102 of Home Gossip.”
“I must be going,” said Eve. She took the flower-pot and hugged it to her. “I’ve got work to do.”
“Work, work, always work!” sighed Psmith. “The curse of the age. Well, I will escort you back to your cell.”
“No, you won’t,” said Eve. “I mean, thank you for your polite offer, but I want to be alone.”
“Alone?” Psmith looked at her, astonished.[p. 280] “When you have the chance of being with me? This is a strange attitude.”
“Good-bye,” said Eve. “Thank you for being so hospitable103 and lavish104. I’ll try to find some cushions and muslin and stuff to brighten up this place.”
“Your presence does that adequately,” said Psmith, accompanying her to the door. “By the way, returning to the subject we were discussing last night, I forgot to mention, when asking you to marry me, that I can do card-tricks.”
“Really?”
“And also a passable imitation of a cat calling to her young. Has this no weight with you? Think! These things come in very handy in the long winter evenings.”
“But I shan’t be there when you are imitating cats in the long winter evenings.”
“I think you are wrong. As I visualise my little home, I can see you there very clearly, sitting before the fire. Your maid has put you into something loose. The light of the flickering105 flames reflects itself in your lovely eyes. You are pleasantly tired after an afternoon’s shopping, but not so tired as to be unable to select a card—any card—from the pack which I offer . . .”
“Good-bye,” said Eve.
“If it must be so—good-bye. For the present. I shall see you anon?”
“I expect so.”
“Good! I will count the minutes.”
* * * * *
Eve walked rapidly away. As she snuggled the flower-pot under her arm she was feeling like a child about to open its Christmas stocking. Before she had[p. 281] gone far, a shout stopped her and she perceived Psmith galloping106 gracefully107 in her wake.
“Can you spare me a moment?” said Psmith.
“Certainly.”
“I should have added that I can also recite ‘Gunga-Din.’ Will you think that over?”
“I will.”
“Thank you,” said Psmith. “Thank you. I have a feeling that it may just turn the scale.”
* * * * *
Eve found herself unable to wait any longer. Psmith was out of sight now, and the wood was very still and empty. Birds twittered in the branches, and the sun made little pools of gold upon the ground. She cast a swift glance about her and crouched109 down in the shelter of a tree.
The birds stopped singing. The sun no longer shone. The wood had become cold and sinister110. For Eve, with a heart of lead, was staring blankly at a little pile of mould at her feet; mould which she had sifted111 again and again in a frenzied112, fruitless effort to find a necklace which was not there.
The empty flower-pot seemed to leer up at her in mockery.
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收听单词发音
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1
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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4
deriving
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| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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5
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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6
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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7
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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8
herded
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| 群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动 | |
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9
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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12
holders
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| 支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物 | |
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13
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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14
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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15
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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16
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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19
abstaining
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| 戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的现在分词 )； 弃权（不投票） | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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spaciously
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| adv.宽敞地；广博地 | |
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seceded
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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gapingly
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| adv.多洞穴地 | |
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disclaimed
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| v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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belligerently
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merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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irreproachably
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| adv.不可非难地，无过失地 | |
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42
flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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43
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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44
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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45
debonair
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| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
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46
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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47
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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48
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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49
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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50
kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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51
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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52
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
cataclysm
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| n.洪水，剧变，大灾难 | |
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54
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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gainsaying
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| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的现在分词 ) | |
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rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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unleashed
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| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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mercurial
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| adj.善变的，活泼的 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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fixture
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| n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款 | |
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dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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blandness
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| n.温柔，爽快 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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trudge
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| v.步履艰难地走；n.跋涉，费力艰难的步行 | |
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moribund
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| adj.即将结束的，垂死的 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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100
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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101
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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102
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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103
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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104
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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107
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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108
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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109
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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111
sifted
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| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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