The sorrow of thy breast?”—Goldsmith.
The raptures1 of this meeting surpassed description: to Oscar they were heightened by surprise; he was unfortunately that day on guard at the Bank—therefore could only pay them a few short and stolen visits; but the next morning, the moment he was relieved, he came to them. Fitzalan had given Amanda money to purchase whatever she deemed necessary for her convenience and amusement, and Oscar attended her to the most celebrated2 shops to make her purchases: having supplied herself with a pretty fashionable assortment3 for her wardrobe, she procured4 a small collection of books, sufficient, however, from their excellence5, to form a little library in themselves, and every requisite6 for drawing; nor did she forget the little wants and vanities of Ellen; they returned about dinner time to the hotel, where they found their father, who had been transacting7 business for Lord Cherbury in different parts of the town. We may now suppose him in the possession of happiness, blessed as he was in the society of his children, and the certainty of a competence8; but, alas9! happiness has almost ever an attendant drawback, and he now experienced one of the most corroding10 kind from the alteration11 he witnessed in his son. Oscar was improved in his person, but his eyes no longer beamed with animation12, and the rose upon his cheek was pale; his cheerfulness no longer appeared spontaneous, but constrained13, as if assumed for the purpose of veiling deep and heartfelt sorrow.
Fitzalan, with all the anxiety and tenderness of a parent, delicately expressed his wish of learning the source of his uneasiness, that by so doing he might be better qualified14 to alleviate15 it, hinting at the same time, in indirect terms, that if occasioned by any of the imprudences which youth is sometimes inadvertently led into, he would readily excuse them, from a certainty that he who repented16 never would again commit them. Oscar started from the remotest hint of divulging17 his uneasiness: he begged his father, however, to believe (since he had unfortunately perceived it) that it was not derived18 from imprudence: he pretended to say it was but a slight chagrin,[Pg 86] which would soon wear away of itself if not renewed by inquiries19. Fitzalan, however, was too much affected20 by the subject to drop it as readily as Oscar wished. After regarding him for a few minutes with an attention as mournful as fixed21, while they sat round the table after dinner, he suddenly exclaimed, “Alas! my dear boy, I fear things are worse within than you will allow.” “Now, indeed, Oscar” cried Amanda, sweetly smiling on him, anxious to relieve him from the embarrassment22 these words had involved him in, and to dissipate the deep gloom of her father’s brow, “though never in the wars, I fancy you are not quite heart whole.” He answered her with affected gayety, but, as if wishing to change the discourse23, suddenly spoke24 of Colonel Belgrave, who, at present, he said, was absent of the regiment25; occupied by his own feelings, he observed not the glow which mantled26 the cheeks of his father and sister at that name.
“You know Mrs. Belgrave,” said Amanda, endeavoring to regain27 her composure. “Know her!” repeated he, with an involuntary sigh, “oh, yes!” Then, after the pause of a few minutes, turning to his father, “I believe I have already informed you, sir,” he said, “that she is the daughter of your brave old friend, General Honeywood, who, I assure you, paid me no little attention on your account; his house is quite the temple of hospitality, and she the little presiding goddess.” “She is happy, I hope,” said Amanda. “Oh, surely,” replied Oscar, little thinking of the secret motive28 his sister had for asking such a question, “she possesses what the world thinks necessary to constitute felicity.”
Fitzalan had accounted to his son for leaving Devonshire, by saying the air had disagreed with Amanda; he told him of the friendship of Lord Cherbury, from which he said he trusted shortly to be able to have him promoted. “Be assured, my dear Oscar,” he cried, “most willingly would I relinquish29 many of the comforts of life to attain30 the ability of hastening your advancement31, or adding to your happiness.” “My happiness!” Oscar mournfully repeated; tears filled his eyes; he could no longer restrain them; and starting up, hurried to a window. Amanda followed, unutterably affected at his emotion: “Oscar, my dear Oscar,” said she as she flung her arms round his neck, “you distress32 me beyond example.” He sat down, and leaning his head on her bosom33, as she stood before him, his tears fell through her handkerchief. “Oh, heavens!” exclaimed Fitzalan, clasping his hands together, “what a sight is this! Oh! my children, from your felicity alone could I ever derive[Pg 87] any; if the hope I entertained of that felicity is disappointed, the heart which cherished it must soon be silent.” He arose and went to them: “yet,” continued he, “amidst the anguish34 of this moment, I feel a ray of pleasure at perceiving an affection so strong and tender between you; it will be a mutual35 consolation36 and support when the feeble help and protection I can give is finally removed; oh! then, my Oscar,” he proceeded, while he folded their united hands in his, “become the soothing37 friend and guardian38 of this dear, this amiable39, this too lovely girl—let her not too severely40 feel—too bitterly mourn—the loss of an unhappy father!”
Amanda’s tears began to stream, and Oscar’s for a few minutes were increased. “Excuse me,” at last he said, making an effort to exert himself, to his father, “and be assured, to the utmost of my ability, I will ever obey your wishes, and fulfil your expectations; I am ashamed of the weakness I have betrayed—I will yield to it no more—forget therefore your having seen it, or at least remember it with pain, as I solemnly assure you, no effort on my part shall be untried to conquer it entirely41; and now let the short time we have to continue together be devoted42 to cheerfulness.”
Soon after this he mentioned Parker’s performance in Marlborough Green, and proposed, as it was now the hour, taking Amanda there; the proposal was not objected to, and Ellen, who they knew would particularly delight in such an amusement, was committed to the care of Oscar’s servant, a smart young soldier, who escorted her with much gallantry; the Green was extremely crowded, particularly with officers, whose wandering glances were soon attracted to Amanda, as one of the most elegant girls present. Oscar was soon surrounded by them, and compelled, not only to gratify their curiosity by discovering who she was, but their gallantry by introducing them to her. Their compliments soon diverted her attention from the exhibition, and Ellen, who sat behind her on a bench, afforded innocent mirth by her remarks. “Pless her soul and poty too,” she said, “it was the most comical and wonderfulest sight she had ever seen in her porn days.” A string of redcoats would have attended Amanda to the hotel had not Oscar prevented it.
The next day was devoted to visiting the public buildings, the park, and a few of the most beautiful places in its vicinage. On the ensuing morn Fitzalan and Amanda continued their journey to the north, where Oscar assured them he expected leave to visit them the following summer, after the reviews[Pg 88] were over: as he helped his sister in the carriage she put a pocket-book into his hand (given by her father for that purpose), which contained something to replenish43 his purse.
Ere we attend the travellers, or rather while they are journeying along, we shall endeavor to account for the dejection of Oscar.
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1
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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4
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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competence
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| n.能力，胜任，称职 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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corroding
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| 使腐蚀，侵蚀( corrode的现在分词 ) | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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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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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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divulging
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的现在分词 ) | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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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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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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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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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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mantled
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| 披着斗篷的，覆盖着的 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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40
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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41
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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42
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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43
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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