Amanda went every morning to the hall, where she alternately played and read: in the evening she again returned to it: but instead of staying in the library, generally took a book from thence, and read at the foot of some old moss-covered tree, delighted to hear its branches gently rustling1 over her head, and myriads2 of summer flies buzzing in the sunny ray, from which she was sheltered. When she could no longer see to read, she deposited her book in the place she had taken it from, and rambled3 to the deepest recesses5 of the grove6: this was the time she loved to saunter carelessly along, while all the jarring passions that obtruding7 care excited were hushed to peace by the solemnity and silence of the hour, and the soul felt at once composed and elevated: this was the time she loved to think on days departed, and sketch8 those scenes of felicity which, she trusted, the days to come would realize. Sometimes she gave way to all the enthusiasm of a young and romantic fancy, and pictured to herself the time when the shades she wandered beneath were
——the haunts of meditation9,
Her health gradually grew better, as the tranquillity18 of her[Pg 38] mind increased: a faint blush again began to tinge19 her cheek, and her lovely eyes beamed a placid20 lustre21, through their long silken lashes22.
She returned one evening from her usual ramble4, with one of those unaccountable depressions on her spirits to which, in a greater or lesser23 degree, almost every one is subject. When she retired to bed, her sleeping thoughts took the tincture of her waking ones, and images of the most affecting nature arose in her mind: she went through the whole story of her mother’s sufferings, and suddenly dreamt she beheld24 her expiring under the greatest torture; and that while she wept her fate the clouds opened, and discovered her adorned25 with seraphic beauty, bending with a benignant look towards her child, as if to assure her of her present happiness. From this dream Amanda was roused by the softest, sweetest strains of music she had ever heard: she started with amazement26; she opened her eyes, and saw a light around her, far exceeding that of twilight27. Her dream had made a deep impression on her, and a solemn awe28 diffused29 itself over her mind; she trembled universally; but soon did the emotion of awe give way to that of surprise, when she heard on the outside of the window the following lines from Cowley, sung in a manly30 and exquisitely31 melodious32 voice, the music which awoke her being only a symphony to them:—
Awake, awake, my lyre,
In sounds that may prevail;
Sounds that gentle thoughts inspire.
And I so lowly be,
Tell her such different notes make all thy harmony.
And though the moving hand approach not near
Themselves with awful fear,
A kind of numerous trembling make.
Now all thy forces try,
Now all thy charms apply,
Revenge upon her ear the conquest of her eye.
Weak lyre, thy virtue sure
Is useless here, since thou art only found
To cure, but not to wound,
And she to wound, but not to cure.
My passion to remove.
Physic to other ills, thou’rt nourishment37 to love.
[Pg 39] Sleep, sleep again, my lyre,
For thou canst never tell my humble tale,
In sounds that will prevail,
Nor gentle thoughts in her inspire.
All thy vain mirth lay by,
Bid thy strings silent lie,
Sleep, sleep again, my lyre, and let thy master die.
Ere the voice ceased, Amanda had quite shaken off the effects of her dream; and when all again was silent, she drew back the curtain, and saw it was the moon, then at the full, which, beaming through the calico window-curtains, cast such a light around her. The remainder of the night was passed in ruminating38 on this strange incident; it was evident the serenade was addressed to her; but she had not seen any one since her arrival in the neighborhood from whom she could have expected such a compliment, or, indeed, believed capable of paying it; that the person who paid it was one of no mean accomplishments39, from his performance, she could not doubt. She resolved to conceal40 the incident, but to make such inquiries41 the next morning as might possibly lead to a discovery. From the answers those inquiries received, the clergyman was the only person whom, with any degree of probability, she could fix on. She had never seen him, and was at a loss to conceive how he knew anything of her, till it occurred he might have seen her going to Tudor Hall, or rambling42 about it.
From the moment this idea arose, Amanda deemed it imprudent to go to the hall; yet, so great was the pleasure she experienced there, she could not think of relinquishing44 it without the greatest reluctance45. She at last considered, if she had a companion, it would remove any appearance of impropriety. Ellen was generally employed at knitting; Amanda therefore saw, that going to the hall could not interfere46 with her employment, and accordingly asked her attendance thither47, which the other joyfully48 agreed to.
“While you look over the books,” said Ellen, as they entered the library, “I will just step away about a little business.” “I beg you may not be long absent,” cried Amanda. Ellen assured her that she would not, and flew off directly. She had in truth seen, in an enclosure near the hall, Tim Chip, the carpenter, at work, who was the rural Adonis of these shades. He had long selected Ellen for the fair nymph of his affection, which distinction excited not a little jealousy49 among the village girls, and considerably50 increased the vanity of Ellen, who triumphed in a conquest that at once gratified her love, and exalted her above her companions.
[Pg 40] Amanda entered the music-room. The melodious strains she had heard the preceding night dwelt upon her memory, and she sat down to the piano and attempted them; her ear soon informed her the attempt was successful; and her voice (as the words were familiar to her) then accompanied the instrument—“Heavenly sounds!” exclaimed some one behind her, as she concluded singing. Amanda started in terror and confusion from the chair, and beheld a tall and elegant young man standing51 by it. “Good heaven!” cried she, blushing and hastily moving to the door, scarcely knowing what she said, “where can Ellen be?” “And do you think,” said the stranger, springing forward and intercepting52 her passage, “I shall let you escape in this manner? No; really, my charming girl, I should be the most insensible of beings if I did not avail myself of the happy opportunity chance afforded of entreating53 leave to be introduced to you.” As he spoke54, he gently seized her hand and carried it to his lips. “Be assured, sir,” said Amanda, “the chance, as you call it, which brought us together, is to me most unpleasant, as I fear it has exposed me to greater freedom than I have been accustomed to.” “And is it possible,” said he, “you really feel an emotion of anger? Well, I will relinquish43 my lovely captive if she condescendingly promises to continue here a few minutes longer, and grants me permission to attend her home.” “I insist on being immediately released,” exclaimed Amanda. “I obey,” cried he, softly pressing her hand, and then resigning it—“you are free; would to Heaven I could say the same!”
Amanda hurried to the grove, but in her confusion took the wrong path, and vainly cast her eyes around in search of Ellen. The stranger followed, and his eyes wandered with hers in every direction they took. “And why,” cried he, “so unpropitious to my wish of introduction?—a wish it was impossible not to feel from the moment you were seen.” Amanda made no reply, but still hurried on, and her fatigue55 and agitation56 were soon too much for her present weak state of health, and, quite overpowered, she was at last compelled to stop, and lean against a tree for support. Exercise had diffused its softest bloom over her cheek; her hair fluttered in the breeze that played around her, and her eyes, with the beautiful embarrassment57 of modesty58, were bent to the ground to avoid the stranger’s ardent59 gaze. He watched her with looks of the most impassioned admiration60, and softly exclaimed, as if the involuntary exclamation61 of rapture62, “Good heavens, what an angel! Fatigue has made you ill,” he said; “and ’tis your haste to avoid me has[Pg 41] occasioned this disorder63. Could you look into my heart, you would then find there was no reason to fly me; the emotions that lovely face excites in a soul of sensibility could never be inimical to your safety.”
At this moment Amanda perceived Ellen leaping over a style; she had at last left Mr. Chip, after promising64 to meet him in the evening at the cottage, where the blind harper was to attend to give them a dance. She ran forward, but, on seeing the stranger, started back in the utmost amazement. “Bless me!” said Amanda, “I thought you would never come.” “You go, then,” said the stranger, “and give me no hope of a second interview. Oh say,” taking her hand, “will you not allow me to wait upon you?” “It is utterly65 impossible,” replied Amanda, “and I shall be quite distressed66 if longer detained.” “See, then,” said he, opening a gate which led from the grove into the road, “how like a courteous67 knight68 I release you from painful captivity69. But think not, thou beautiful though cruel fair one,” he continued gayly, “I shall resign my hopes of yet conquering thy obduracy70.”
“Oh, Lord!” cried Ellen, as they quitted the grove, “how did you meet with Lord Mortimer?” “Lord Mortimer?” repeated Amanda, “Yes, himself, inteed,” said Ellen; “and I think in all my porn days I was never more surprised than when I saw him with you, looking so soft and so sweet upon you; to be sure he is a beautiful man, and besides that, the young Lort of Tudor Hall.” Amanda’s spirits were greatly flurried when she heard he was the master of the mansion71, where he had found her seated with as much composure as if possessor of it.
As they were entering the cottage, Ellen, twitching72 Amanda’s sleeve, cried, “Look! look!” Amanda, hastily turning round, perceived Lord Mortimer, who had slowly followed them half way down the lane. On being observed, he smiled, and kissing his hand, retired.
Nurse was quite delighted at her child being seen by Lord Mortimer (which Ellen informed her of): her beauty, she was convinced, had excited his warmest admiration; and admiration might lead (she did not doubt) to something more important. Amanda’s heart fluttered with an agreeable sensation, as Ellen described to her mother the tender looks with which Lord Mortimer regarded her. She was at first inclined to believe, that in his lordship she had found the person whose melody so agreeably disturbed her slumbers73; but a minute’s reflection convinced her this belief must be erroneous: it was[Pg 42] evident (or she would have heard of it) that Lord Mortimer had only arrived that day at Tudor Hall: and even had he seen her before, upon consideration she thought it improbable that he should have taken the trouble of coming in such a manner to a person in a station, to all appearance, so infinitely74 beneath his own. Yes, it was plain, chance alone had led him to the apartment where she sat; and the commonplace gallantry fashionable men are accustomed to, had dictated75 the language he addressed to her. She half sighed, as she settled the matter thus in her mind, and again fixed76 on the curate as her serenader. Well, she was determined77, if ever he came in her way, and dropped a hint of an attachment78, she would immediately crush any hope she might have the vanity to entertain!
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1
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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3
rambled
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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5
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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6
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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7
obtruding
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| v.强行向前，强行，强迫( obtrude的现在分词 ) | |
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8
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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9
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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10
bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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11
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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12
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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13
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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16
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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17
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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18
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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19
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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20
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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21
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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22
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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23
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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24
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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25
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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26
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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27
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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28
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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29
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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30
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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31
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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32
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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33
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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34
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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35
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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36
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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37
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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38
ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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39
accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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40
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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41
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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42
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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43
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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44
relinquishing
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
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45
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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46
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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47
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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48
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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49
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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50
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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51
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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52
intercepting
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| 截取（技术），截接 | |
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53
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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54
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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55
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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56
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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57
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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58
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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59
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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60
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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61
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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62
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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63
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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64
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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65
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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66
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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67
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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68
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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69
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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70
obduracy
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| n.冷酷无情，顽固，执拗 | |
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71
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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72
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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73
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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74
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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75
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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76
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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77
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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