Solitude2 to Amanda was a luxury, as it afforded her opportunities of indulging the ideas on which her heart delighted to dwell; she yet believed she should see Lord Mortimer, and that Lord Cherbury’s sanctioning their attachment3 would remove the delicate scruples4 of her father. From soothing5 his passing hours, beguiling6 her own with the accomplishments7 she possessed8, and indulging the tender suggestions of hope, a pleasure arose she thought ill exchanged for the trifling9 gayety of the parties she was frequently invited to; she was never at a loss for amusement within Castle Carberry, or about its domain10; the garden became the object of her peculiar11 care; its situation was romantic, and long neglect had added to its natural wildness. Amanda in many places discovered vestiges12 of taste, and wished to restore all to primeval beauty. The fruit-trees were matted together, the alleys13 grass-grown, and the flowers choked with weeds; on one side lay a small wilderness14, which surrounded a gothic temple, and on the other green slopes with masses of naked rock projecting through them; a flight of rugged15 steps, cut in the living rock, led to a cave on the summit of one of the highest, a cross rudely carved upon the wall, and the remains16 of a matted couch, denoted this having formerly17 been a hermitage; it overhung the sea, and all[Pg 156] about it were tremendous crags, against which the waves beat with violence. Over a low-arched door was a smooth stone, with the following lines engraved18 upon it:—
“The pilgrim oft
At dead of night, amid his orisons hears
Aghast the voice of time—disparting towers
Tumbling all precipitate19 down, dashed
Under Amanda’s superintending care, the garden soon lost its rude appearance, a new couch was procured21 for the hermitage, which she ornamented22 with shells and sea-weeds, rendering23 it a most delightful24 recess25; the trees were pruned26, the alleys cleared of opposing brambles, and over the wall of the gothic temple she hung the flowers she had purchased at St. Catherine’s, in fanciful wreaths.
She often ascended28 the devious29 path of the mountain, which stretched beyond Castle Carberry, and beheld30 the waves glittering in the sunbeams, from which its foliage31 sheltered her. But no visionary pleasures, no delightful rambles27, no domestic avocations32 made her forgetful to the calls of benevolence33; she visited the haunts of poverty, and relieved its necessities to the utmost of her power; the wretchedness so often conspicuous34 among many of the lower rank, filled her not only with compassion35, but surprise, as she had imagined that liberty and a fruitful soil were generally attended with comfort and prosperity. Her father, to whom she communicated this idea, informed her that the indigence36 of the peasants proceeded in a great degree from the emigration of their land-lords. “Their wealth,” said he, “is spent in foreign lands, instead of enriching those from whence it was drawn37; policy should sometimes induce them to visit their estates; the revenue of half a year spent on them would necessarily benefit the poor wretches38 whose labors39 have contributed to raise it; and by exciting their gratitude41, add inclination42 to industry, and consequently augment43 their profits.
“The clouds which are formed by mists and exhalations, return to the places from whence they were drawn in fertilizing44 showers and refreshing45 dews, and almost every plant enriches the soil from which it sprung. Nature, indeed, in all her works, is a glorious precedent46 to man; but while enslaved by dissipation, he cannot follow her example, and what exquisite47 sources of enjoyment48 does he lose—to enlighten the toils49 of labor40, to cheer the child of poverty, to raise the drooping50 head[Pg 157] of merit—oh! how superior to the revels51 of dissipation, or the ostentation52 of wealth.
“Real happiness is forsaken53 for a gaudy54 phantom55 called pleasure; she is seldom grasped but for a moment—yet in that moment has power to fix envenomed stings within the breast. The heart which delights in domestic joys, which rises in pious56 gratitude to heaven, which melts at human woe57, can alone experience true pleasure. The fortitude58 with which the peasants bear their sufferings should cure discontent of its murmurs59; they support adversity without complaining, and those who possess a pile of turf against the severity of the winter, a small strip of ground planted with cabbage and potatoes, a cow, a pig, and some poultry60, think themselves completely happy, though one wretched hovel shelters all alike.”
Oh! how rapturous! thought Amanda—the idea of Lord Mortimer’s feeling recurring61 to her mind—to change such scenes; to see the clay-built hovel vanish, and a dwelling62 of neatness and convenience rise in its stead; to wander, continued she, with him whose soul is fraught63 with sensibility, and view the projects of benevolence realized by the hand of charity; see the faded cheek of misery64 regain65 the glow of health,
“The desert blossom as the rose,”
and content and cheerfulness sport beneath its shades.
From such an ecstatic reverie as this, Amanda was roused one morning by the entrance of the Kilcorbans and Lady Greystock into the dressing-room where she was working. “Oh! my dear!” cried the eldest66 of the young ladies, “we have such enchanting67 news to tell you. Only think, who is coming down here immediately—your uncle and aunt and cousin. An express came this morning from Dublin, where they now are, to the steward68 at Ulster Lodge69, to have everything prepared against next week for them.” “I declare,” said Miss Alicia, “I shall quite envy you the delightful amusement you will have with them.” Amanda blushed, and felt a little confused. “You will have no reason, then, I fancy,” replied she, “for I really do not know them.” “Oh, Lord!” exclaimed Mrs. Kilcorban, “well, that is very comical, not to know your own relations; but perhaps they always lived in Scotland, and you were afraid to cross the sea to pay them a visit.” “If that was the only fear she had,” said Lady Greystock, with a satirical smile, “she could easily have surmounted70 it: besides, would it not have held good with respect to one place as well as another?” “Well, I never thought of that,”[Pg 158] cried Mrs. Kilcorban: “but pray, miss, may I ask the reason why you do not know them by letter?” “It can be of very little consequence to you, madam,” replied Amanda, coolly, “to hear it.” “They say Lady Euphrasia Sutherland is very accomplished,” exclaimed Miss Kilcorban; “so a correspondence with her would have been delightful. I dare say you write sweetly yourself; so if ever you leave Castle Carberry, I beg you will favor me with letters, for of all things, I doat on a sentimental71 correspondence.” “No wonder,” said Lady Greystock, “you are so particularly well qualified72 to support one.” “But, my dear!” resumed Miss Kilcorban, “we are to give the most enchanting ball that ever was given in this world! Papa says we shall have full liberty to do as we please respecting it.” “It will be a troublesome affair, I am afraid,” said Mrs. Kilcorban. “We are to have confectioners and French cooks from Dublin,” continued her daughter, without minding this interruption. “Everything is to be quite in style and prepared against the third night of the marquis and marchioness’s arrival; so, my dear, you and your papa will hold yourselves in readiness for our summons.” Amanda bowed. “My sister and I are to have dancing dresses from town, but I will not give you an idea of the manner in which we have ordered them to be made. I assure you, you will be absolutely surprised and charmed when you see them. All the elegant men in the country will be at our entertainment. I dare say you will be vastly busy preparing for it.” “Nature,” said Lady Greystock, “has been too bounteous73 to Miss Fitzalan, to render such preparations necessary.” “Oh, Lord!” cried the young ladies, with a toss of their heads, “Miss Fitzalan is not such a fool, I suppose, as to wish to appear unlike every one else in her dress, but,” rising with their mamma, and saluting74 her much more formally than they had done at their entrance, “she is the best judge of that.”
Fitzalan had never seen the marchioness since his marriage, nor did he ever again wish to behold75 her. The inhumanity with which she had treated her lovely sister—the malice76 with which she had augmented77 her father’s resentment78 against the poor sufferer, had so strongly prepossessed his mind with ideas of the selfishness and implacability of hers, as to excite sentiments of distaste and aversion for her. He considered her as the usurper79 of his children’s rights—as accessory to the death of his adored Malvina, and consequently the author of the agonies he endured—agonies which time, aided by religion, could scarcely conquer.
点击收听单词发音
1 tenant | |
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 scruples | |
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 );顾虑,顾忌v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 beguiling | |
adj.欺骗的,诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 );使陶醉;使高兴;消磨(时间等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 accomplishments | |
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 domain | |
n.(活动等)领域,范围;领地,势力范围 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 vestiges | |
残余部分( vestige的名词复数 ); 遗迹; 痕迹; 毫不 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 alleys | |
胡同,小巷( alley的名词复数 ); 小径 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 engraved | |
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 precipitate | |
adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 rattling | |
adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 ornamented | |
adj.花式字体的v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 recess | |
n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 pruned | |
v.修剪(树木等)( prune的过去式和过去分词 );精简某事物,除去某事物多余的部分 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 rambles | |
(无目的地)漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 ); (喻)漫谈; 扯淡; 长篇大论 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 devious | |
adj.不坦率的,狡猾的;迂回的,曲折的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 beheld | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 avocations | |
n.业余爱好,嗜好( avocation的名词复数 );职业 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 benevolence | |
n.慈悲,捐助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 indigence | |
n.贫穷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 labors | |
v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 augment | |
vt.(使)增大,增加,增长,扩张 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 fertilizing | |
v.施肥( fertilize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 refreshing | |
adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 precedent | |
n.先例,前例;惯例;adj.在前的,在先的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 exquisite | |
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 toils | |
网 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 drooping | |
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 revels | |
n.作乐( revel的名词复数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 );狂欢;着迷;陶醉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 ostentation | |
n.夸耀,卖弄 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 Forsaken | |
adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 gaudy | |
adj.华而不实的;俗丽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 phantom | |
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 fortitude | |
n.坚忍不拔;刚毅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 murmurs | |
n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 );低语声;怨言;嘀咕 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 poultry | |
n.家禽,禽肉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 recurring | |
adj.往复的,再次发生的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 regain | |
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 steward | |
n.乘务员,服务员;看管人;膳食管理员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 qualified | |
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 bounteous | |
adj.丰富的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 saluting | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的现在分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 usurper | |
n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |