erry days those were in Richmond House, with the old halls resounding1 with music and laughter, and the hum of gay voices, from morning till night. Astonished and awed2 were the people of Burnfield by the glittering throng3 of city fashionables, who promenaded4 their streets and swept past them in the sweeping5 amplitude6 of flashing silks and rich velvets and furs. As for our city friends themselves, the ladies pronounced the place "horrid7 stupid;" but as the young gentlemen, with one or two exceptions, found the country girls exceedingly willing to be flirted8 with, they rather liked it than otherwise.
A proud man was the Reverend Mr. Barebones the first Sunday after their arrival, when the bewildering throng flashed into the meeting-house, and, with a great rustle9 of silks and satins, and an intoxicating10 odor of eau de Cologne, filled the two large front pews that from time immemorial had belonged to Richmond House. It was not religion altogether that brought them—at least, not all. Languid Miss Reid, for instance, went because the rest did, and it was less trouble to go than to form excuses for staying;[Pg 216] and that quintessence of exquisiteness11, Mr. Adolphus Lester, who was tender on that young lady, went because she did. Miss Harper went because Captain Arlingford was going, and Miss Freddy Richmond went because she was a very discreet12 young lady and it was "proper" to attend divine worship, and Miss Richmond never shocked the proprieties13. Georgia went because she had to, and Lieutenant14 Gleason and his father went to kill time, which always hung heavy on their hands, on Sunday. Of the whole party, only Master Henry Gleason and Mr. Curtis were absent; Master Henry, having pronounced the whole establishment of Christian15 churches on earth and their attendant Christian ministers "horrid old bores," declared his intention of staying at home and having a "jolly good snooze."
Every one seemed to have enjoyed themselves the last week at Richmond House but its young mistress. There were rides, and drives, and excursions during the day, and sailing parties on the river in Mr. Wildair's yacht; and there were dancing, and music, and acting16 charades17, and all sorts of amusements for the evening, into which all the young people entered with eager zest—all but Georgia.
Those days, few as they were, had wrought18 a marked change in her. The flush of her health and happiness had faded from her cheeks, leaving only two dark purple spots, that burned there like tongues of flame; her eye had lost its sparkle, her brow was worn and haggard, and her step was slow and weary. She lived in daily martyrdom, such as none but a spirit so morbidly19 proud and keenly sensitive can comprehend. Slights, insults, insolence21, and little galling22 acts of malice23, "making up in number what they wanted in weight," were daily to be borne now from her super[Pg 217]cilious mother-in-law and her malicious24, insolent25 shadow and echo, Miss Richmond. And these were offered openly, in the presence of all; not an opportunity was allowed to escape of mortifying26 her; until sometimes, wild and nearly maddened, she would fly up to her room, and, alone and frenzied28, struggle with the storm raging in her heart.
Richmond, absorbed in attending to the comfort and amusement of his guests, knew nothing of all this. It was not their policy to let him suspect their dislike—yes, hatred29 of his bride; and, as they well knew, the rest, who saw it all, would not venture to speak on so delicate a subject to their proud host. It is true, he saw the change in Georgia's face, and the freezing coldness her manners were assuming to all, even to him; but from some artfully dropped hints of immaculate Miss Freddy's, he set it down to stubborn sullenness30. And believing her to be incorrigible31 in her disagreeableness and insubordination, he grew markedly reserved and cold when alone in her society; and thus the misunderstanding between them daily widened.
Georgia was too proud to complain of what she herself suffered and endured—she was dumb; and indeed if she had been inclined, she would have found it hard to make out a list of her grievances32 and relate them, for Miss Freddy's insults were offered in such a way that, keenly as they struck home, they dwindled33 into nothing when related to a third party. Had he not been so absorbed in the duties of hospitality, and striving to atone34 for his wife's neglect, he might have seen for himself; but he was blind and deaf to all, and only saw her uncourteous treatment of his friends and her wifely disobedience. And before long—no one scarcely knew how—Georgia was pushed aside, and Mrs. Wildair and Freddy began to take the place of hostess, and[Pg 218] Richmond looked on and tacitly consented. All were consulted in their plans and amusements but Georgia; she was overlooked with the coolest and most insolent contempt; and if sometimes, as a matter of form, her opinion was asked by either of the ladies, it was worded in such a way or uttered in such a tone as made it even a more galling insult. And Georgia, with a swelling35 heart and with lips compressed in proud, bitter endurance, consented to bare her place usurped37, without a word or attempt to regain38 it. With a heart that underneath39 all her calmness seemed ready to burst at such times, she would refuse to accompany them, pleading indisposition, or sometimes giving no reason at all; and Mrs. Wildair would turn away with an indifferent, "Oh, very well, just as you please," and Richmond would say nothing at the time, until he would find her alone, and then he would coldly begin:
"Mrs. Wildair, may I beg to know the reason you will not honor us with your company to-morrow?"
"Because I do not wish to," she would flash, with all her old defiance40 flaming up in her dusky eyes.
"Because you do not wish to! Insolent! Madam, I insist upon your accompanying us to-morrow!"
"You find my society so brilliant and agreeable, no doubt, that my absence will destroy your pleasure," she would say, with a bitter laugh that jarred painfully on the ear.
"No, madam, I regret to say that your fixed41 determination to disobey me, and be uncourteous and disagreeable, is carried out in the very letter and spirit. Still, I cannot allow my guests to be treated with marked discourtesy. I have some regard for the laws of hospitality, if you have[Pg 219] not. Therefore, Mrs. Wildair, you will prepare to join our party to-morrow."
"And if I refuse?"
His eye flashed, and his mouth grew stern.
"You will be sorry for it! Do not attempt such a thing! You may disobey, but you shall not trifle with me."
She lifted her eyes, and he would see a face so haggard and utterly42 wretched that his heart would melt, and he would go over and put his arm around her, and say, gently:
"Come, Georgia, be reasonable. What evil spirit has got into you of late? Why will you persist in treating our friends in this way?"
"Our friends!—your friends, you mean."
"It is all the same; for my sake you ought to treat my friends differently."
Her heart swelled44 and her lip quivered. Yes, his friends might slight and insult her, but she was to put her head under their heels, and smile on those who crushed her.
"Well, Georgia, you do not speak," he would say, watching her closely.
"Mr. Wildair, I have nothing to say. Your mother and cousin are mistresses here; my part is to stand aside and obey them. If you command me to go to-morrow, I have no alternative. I am still capable of submitting to a great deal, sooner than willingly displease45 you."
"My mother and cousin undertook no authority here, Georgia, until you neglected all your duties as hostess, and they were obliged to do so. It is all your own fault, and you know it, Georgia."
She smiled bitterly.[Pg 220]
"We will not discuss the subject, if you please, Richmond. I make no complaint; they are welcome to do as they please, and all I ask for is the same privilege. I cannot have it, it appears, and—I will go to-morrow, since you insist; my absence or presence will make little difference to your friends."
"Georgia, why will you persist in this absurd nonsense?" he would exclaim, almost angrily. "Really you are enough to try the patience of a saint. I wish some of this foolish, morbid20 pride of yours had been kept where it came from, and a little plain, practical common sense put in its place. You have taken a most unaccountable prejudice to my mother and cousin, which, if you had that regard for me you profess46, you certainly would not pain me by displaying; in fact, you resolved from the first to dislike all I invited, and you have kept that promise wonderfully well I must say, except as regards the two Arlingfords, toward whom you evince a partiality that makes your neglect of the rest all the more glaring. It is certainly a pity you did not receive the education of a lady, Georgia, and then common politeness would teach you to act differently."
In silence, and with a curling lip and an unutterable depth of scorn in her beautiful eyes, Georgia would listen to this conjugal48 tirade49, but her lips would be sealed; and Richmond, indignant and deeply offended, would leave the room, and the next moment, all smiles and suavity50, rejoin his guests. And Georgia, left alone, would press her hand to her breast with that feeling of suffocation51 rising again until the very air of the perfumed room would seem to stifle52 her. And such scenes as this were of frequent occurrence[Pg 221] now, and one and all sank deep in her heart, to rankle53 there in anguish54 and bitterness untold55.
Perhaps it may seem strange that Mrs. Wildair and Miss Richmond should hate Georgia; but so it was. Mrs. Wildair was the haughtiest56, the most overbearing, and the most ambitious of women. Her sons were her pride and her boast, in public as well as in private, and she had often been heard to declare that they should marry among the highest in the land, and perpetuate57 the ancient glory of the Richmonds. When Charley had disappointed all this expectation, and had become an alien from her heart and home, the shock, given more to her ambition than to her affections, was terrible, and when she recovered from it, all her hopes centered in her first-born, Richmond.
There was an English lady of rank, the daughter of an earl, at that time visiting an acquaintance of Mrs. Wildair in New York, and to this high-born girl did she lift her eyes and determine upon as her future daughter-in-law. But before she had time to write to Richmond, and desire him to return home for that purpose, his letter came, and there she read the quiet announcement that, in a week or two, he was to be married in Burnfield to a young, penniless girl, "rich alone in beauty," he wrote.
Mrs. Wildair sat nearly stunned59 by the shock. Down came her gilded60 coroneted chateau61 d'Espagne with a crash, to rise no more. Her son was his own master; she knew his strong, determined62, unconquerable will of old, to combat which was like beating the air. Nothing remained for her but to consent, which she did with a bitter hatred against the unconscious object that had thwarted63 her burning in her heart, and a determination to make her pay dearly for what she had done, which resolution she pro[Pg 222]ceeded to carry into effect the moment she arrived in Richmond House.
"To think that she—a thing like that—sprang from the dregs of the city, for she is not even an honest farmer's daughter—should have dared to become my son's wife," she said, hissing64 the words through her clenched65 teeth; "a low wretch43, picked up out of the slime and slough66 of the city filth67, to come between me and my son. Oh! was Charley's act not degradation68 enough, that this must fall upon us too?"
"Let us hope, my dear aunt, that the place she has had the effrontery69 to usurp36 will not long be hers," murmured the dulcet70 voice of her niece, to whom she had spoken. "We have built up already a wall of brass72 between them, and I have a plan in my head that will transform it to one of fire. Recollect73, aunt, divorces are easily obtained, and then your son will be free once more, and our queenly pauper74 will be ignominiously75 cast back into the slime she rose from."
Miss Freddy's hatred came from pretty much the same cause as Mrs. Wildair's. In any case, she would have considered it her duty to follow that lady's lead: but now she had her own private reasons for hating her with all the bitter intensity76 of a mean little mind.
Miss Freddy was to have married Charley, and was quite ready and willing to do so at a moment's notice, but in her secret heart she would have far preferred his elder brother. Differing from the rest of the world, Richmond, even "from boyhood's hours," had been her favorite; but when she saw his mother's hopes aspire77 to a coronet and a title, she was overawed, and made up her mind to be cast into the shade. To be rivaled by a lady like this could be[Pg 223] borne, but that a peasant girl—a nameless, unknown girl—should win the prize for which she had sought in vain—oh! it was a humiliation78 not to be endured. So she entered heart and soul into all her aunt's plans, and won that lady's approbation79 for her dutiful conduct, while she carefully concealed80 her own motives81. And this, then, was the secret of Georgia's persecutions.
The "wall of fire" the amiable82 young lady had referred to was to make Richmond jealous. Now, jealousy83 was never a fault of his, but artful people can work wonders, and Miss Freddy went carefully, but surely, to work, with Mrs. Wildair for her stanch84 backer. And Georgia, all unconscious, walked headlong into the snare85 laid for her.
As her husband had said, the Arlingfords were the only ones in the house whom Georgia could at all endure. The frank, genial86, honest straightforwardness88 of brother and sister pleased her; and, indignant at the treatment so openly offered her, they devoted89 themselves in every way to interest and amuse her. And Miss Freddy seeing this, her little keen eyes fairly snapped with gratification, and by a thousand little devices and pretenses90 she would manage to dispose of the sister, and leave Georgia altogether to be entertained by the brother. And then the attention of the company would be artfully directed to the twain who were so much together, and Richmond would hear from one and another:
"What friends Mrs. Georgia" (so she was called to distinguish her from the other) "and captain Arlingford are!"
"How very intimate they are!"[Pg 224]
"Yes, indeed; just see how she smiles upon him—don't you think her handsome when she smiles?"
"Very much so. Captain Arlingford seems to think so, too. What a pity he is the only one she will honor by one of them."
"Well, it is fortunate she has met some one who can please her—she seems so dull, poor thing!"
"A handsome man like Captain Arlingford does not find it very hard to be agreeable, I fancy; he is decidedly the best-looking young man here."
"Mrs. Georgia's opinion exactly," said Miss Harper, sending a spiteful glance at the unconscious objects of these remarks, who sat conversing91 on a sofa at some distance. "I asked her, yesterday, and she said, 'Yes, she thought he most decidedly was.'"
"Poor, dear Georgia!" chimed in Miss Freddy, looking tenderly toward her; "I am so glad she likes him; she seems to like so few, and indeed nobody could help liking92 him, he is so charming. What a nice nose, and lovely mustache, and sweet curling hair he has, to be sure!"
"And, by George! he shows his good taste, too, in flirting93 with the prettiest woman among you," exclaimed Harry94 Gleason, bluntly. "Arlingford knows what's what, I tell you; he'll go in and win, I'll bet!"
Now these remarks, though at first he paid no attention to them beyond what the words conveyed, jarred disagreeably on Richmond's mind. But as days passed on and they grew more frequent and more meaning in tone, and he saw the curious smiles with which they were regarded, and the expression of his mother's face as she watched them, and saw his cousin look first at them and then at him with a sort of anxiety and tender pity, he felt a growing disagreeable[Pg 225] sensation of uneasiness for which he could hardly account. Even to himself, he was ashamed to own he was jealous of Georgia—his leal, true-hearted, straightforward87 Georgia, whom he had never known to be guilty of a dishonorable thought in her life. Fiery95, rash, high-spirited she was, but treacherous96, deceitful, wicked she was not. He could have staked his soul upon her truth, and yet—and yet by slow degrees the poison began to enter his mind, and he commenced to watch his wife with an angry, suspicious eye.
Oh, Richmond! Richmond! that you should fall so low as this! You, whom Georgia once regarded as a demi-god; you whom she still believes, in spite of your sorrowful misunderstanding, everything that is upright and true; you, whom, had heaven, and earth, and hades accused of infidelity, she would not have believed. And now, you are growing jealous of your rash but leal-hearted wife, whom you have completely neglected yourself, to attend to others. Oh, Richmond!
"Really, my dear, you are a jewel without price—worth a million in cash!" exclaimed Mrs. Wildair to Freddy, delighted at the success of her diabolical97 scheme. "Your plan has succeeded beyond all my expectations. I really did not think you could make Richmond jealous without alarming him, and putting him on his guard against us; but, positively98, he is growing as jealous as a Turk, and never suspects either of us in the least."
"Poor Richmond! What a hard time he is going to have of it with that green-eyed monster! And how delightfully100 unconscious Mrs. Georgia walks into the pit with her eyes open! Really, it is as good as a farce101! Oh! the stupidity of these earthworms!"[Pg 226]
"Poor Rich! he did look so deliciously miserable102 to-night when he saw those two sitting together in a corner by themselves, turning over those prints, just as innocent as a couple of angels."
And both ladies leaned back in their seats and laughed immoderately.
Poor Georgia! the sky was rapidly darkening around her, though this, the blackest cloud, was still invisible to her eyes. Sometimes, in her desolation, it seemed to her as if she had not a single friend in the world, for Emily never ventured near Richmond House now, and she had only seen Miss Jerusha once since her return. She could not dissimulate103. She had tried it in vain, and she would not bring her haggard face and anguished104 eyes to tell the tale her tongue was too proud to speak. So she did not visit the cottage, until at last Miss Jerusha grew seriously uneasy, and resolved to brave all obstacles, the impudent105 footman included, and go up to the house and see Georgia.
Until she was fairly gone, Miss Jerusha had never known how large a share of her heart her protegee had monopolized106; and so, worthy107 reader, behold108 her arrayed in that respected "kaliker geownd" you are acquainted with, for brown silk could not be worn on a week-day, with the faded shawl, and a pink calico sun-bonnet, a recent addition to her wardrobe, knocking at the hall door of Richmond House.
It was some time in the afternoon, and the household were dressing109 for dinner, and so the servant told her, respectfully enough, for her first visit had taught them a lesson they did not soon forget.
"Dinner! you git out!" said Miss Jerusha, indignantly, "and it nigh onto four o'clock. Don't tell me no such[Pg 227] stuff! Jist be off and tell Georgey I want to see her. Clear!"
The man hesitated; Miss Jerusha looked dangerous; he expected the dinner-bell to ring every moment, and his mistress was in her room; so while he stood hesitating, a rustling110 of silk was heard behind him, and the next moment Mrs. Wildair stood gazing in haughty111 surprise on the intruder.
Now, Mrs. Wildair knew well enough who Miss Jerusha was; her niece had pointed58 her out one day; but as this was an excellent opportunity for mortifying Georgia, she chose to be quite ignorant of the matter.
"What is this?" she said, stepping back haughtily112. "What does she want? Wilson, how dare you allow beggars to enter the hall-door?"
"She—she ain't no beggar, ma'am," said Wilson, casting an apprehensive113 glance at Miss Jerusha, "she's——"
"I don't care what she is. Persons of her class should go round to the kitchen door. Send her out, and let her go there if she wants anything," exclaimed Mrs. Wildair, sharply.
Up to this point Miss Jerusha had stood fairly stupefied. She mistaken for a beggar! She—Miss Jerusha Glory Ann Skamp—whose ward47 was lady of this great house! For an instant she was speechless, with the blood of all the Skamps boiling within her, and then she burst out:
"Why, you yeller old lantern-jawed be-frizzled be-flowered, impident old woman, to call me a beggar! Oh, my gracious! to think I should be called that in my old ages o' life? A beggar! My-y-y conscience! If you hev the impidence to call me that agin, I'll—I'll——"
"Turn her out, she is crazy! turn her out, I tell you,"[Pg 228] said Mrs. Wildair, white with passion. "Do you hear me, Wilson? Turn this old wretch out."
The noise had now brought a crowd down into the hall, who stood gazing in mingled114 curiosity and amusement on this scene between the lady and the beggar, as they supposed her to be.
"Do you hear me, sir? Am I to be obeyed? Turn this woman out," said Mrs. Wildair, stamping her foot.
"Touch her if you dare!" screamed a fierce voice; and Georgia, with blazing eyes and passionate116 face, rushed through the crowd, flashed past Mrs. Wildair, and stood, white, panting, and fierce, like a hunted stag at bay, beside Miss Jerusha. "Lay one finger on her at your peril117! How dare you, madam!" she almost screamed, facing round so suddenly on the startled lady that she recoiled118. "How dare you order her out—how dare you do it?"
"Really, young lady," said Mrs. Wildair, recovering her calm hauteur119, "this is most extraordinary language addressed to me. I was not aware that persons of her condition were ever received in my son's house."
"Then learn it now," said Georgia, fiercely; "while I am here, this house shall be free to her in spite of you all. Perhaps you are not aware, madam, who she is?"
"Some of your relations, most probably," said Mrs. Wildair, with a withering120 sneer121. "She looks like it."
"Mother! Georgia! What in the name of wonder is all this?" exclaimed a hurried, startled voice; and Richmond Wildair, pale and excited, made his way toward them.
"It means, sir, that I have been grossly insulted by your[Pg 229] wife," said Mrs. Wildair, her very lips white with anger; "insulted, too, in the presence of your guests; spoken to as I never was spoken to before in my life."
"Mother, for mercy's sake, hush122!" he said, in a fierce whisper, his face crimson123 with shame. "And, Georgia, if you ever loved me, retire to your room now, and make no exhibition before these people. Miss Jerusha, persuade her to go before I am eternally disgraced."
"Come, honey, come; I'll go with you," said Miss Jerusha, tremulously, quite nervous at this unexpected scene.
With heaving bosom124 and flashing eyes Georgia stood, terrible in her roused wrath125, as a priestess of doom126. Miss Jerusha put her arm around her and coaxingly127 drew her along, and passed with her into the empty breakfast parlor128 near. When she was gone, Richmond turned to his guests, who stood gazing at each other in consternation129, and forcing a smile, said:
"My friends, you must be surprised at this extraordinary scene, but it will not appear so extraordinary when explained. The singular-looking person who was the cause of all this was a sort of guardian130 of my wife, and upon her entrance here my mother, deceived by her singular dress, mistook her for a beggar, and ordered her out. An altercation131 ensued, which my wife overheard, and, indignant at what she supposed a direct intentional132 insult to her old friend, rushed down, and in the excitement of the moment, thoughtlessly uttered the hasty words you have all overheard. Mother, I beg you will think no more about it; no one will regret them more than Georgia herself when she cools down. And now, there goes the dinner-bell; so, my friends, we will forget this disagreeable little scene, and not let it spoil our appetites."[Pg 230]
With a faint smile he offered his arm to Mrs. Gleason and led the way to the dining-room, saying, as he did so:
"You will oblige me by presiding to-day, mother. Georgia, in her excitement, will not care to return to table, I fancy."
"Go to the parlor and request Mrs. Wildair, with my compliments, to retire to her own room, and say I wish her to remain there for the evening."
"My dear cousin," said a low voice, and the small, sallow hand of Freddy was laid on his arm, "allow me to go. It would mortify27 our proud Georgia to death to have such a message brought by a servant. Remember, she only spoke71 hastily, and we must have consideration for her feelings."
"My dear, kind little cousin," said Richmond, with emotion, as he pressed her hand, "she does not deserve this from you. But go, lest she should make another scene before the servants."
With her silky smile Freddy glided134 out and opened the parlor door without ceremony. Sitting on a sofa was Miss Jerusha, while Georgia crouched135 before her, her face hidden in her lap, her whole attitude so crushed, desolate136, and full of anguish, that it is no wonder Miss Jerusha was exclaiming between her sobs137:
"There, honey, there! don't feel it so. I wouldn't if I was you. Where's the good of minding of 'em at all? Don't, honey, don't! It's drefful to see you so."
The malicious smile deepened and brightened on Freddy's evil face at the sight.
Miss Jerusha looked sharply up as she entered, and[Pg 231] seeing her triumphant138 look, her tears seemed turned to sparks of fire.
"Well, what do you want?" she demanded.
Without noticing her by look or word, Freddy went over and laid her hand on Georgia's shoulder.
"Georgia," she said, authoritatively139.
With a bound Georgia leaped to her feet, and with eyes that shone like coals of fire in a face perfectly140 white, she confronted her mortal enemy.
Freddy, with all her meanness, was no coward, else she would have fled at sight of that fearful look. As it was she recoiled a step, and her smile faded away as she said:
"My cousin sent me here to tell you to go to your room and stay there until he comes."
Slowly and impressively Georgia lifted her head, and keeping her gleaming, burning eyes fixed on the sallow face before her, pointed to the door.
"Go!" she said, in a hollow voice, "Go!"
Freddy started, and her face flushed.
"I have delivered my message, and intend to. If you don't do as my cousin orders you—take care, that's all."
For the very first time in her life Freddy Richmond was terrified, and Miss Jerusha appalled142. Without a word, the former glided past, opened the door, and vanished.
For a moment Georgia stood stock-still, like one turned to stone, and then, throwing up her arms with a great cry, she would have fallen had not Miss Jerusha caught her.
"Oh, my heart! my heart!" she cried, pressing her hands over it as though it were breaking. "Oh, Miss Jerusha, they have killed me!"[Pg 232]
"Oh, Georgia!" began Miss Jerusha, but her voice choked, and she stopped.
"Oh, leave me! leave me! dear, best friend that ever was in this world, leave me, and never come to this dreadful house again. Oh, Miss Jerusha, why did you not leave me to die that night long ago!"
Miss Jerusha essayed to speak, but something rose in her throat and stopped her. Nothing broke the silence of the room but her sobs and that passionate, despairing voice.
"Go! leave me! I cannot bear you should stay here; and never, never come back again, Miss Jerusha. Oh, me! oh, me! that I were dead!"
There was such painful anguish in her tones that Miss Jerusha could not stay to listen. Throwing her arms around her neck in one passionate embrace, she hurried from the house, sobbing143 hysterically144, and startling the servant who opened the door.
Then Georgia reeled rather than walked from the room, up stairs, and into her own bedroom; and there, sinking down on the floor, she lay as still and motionless as if she were indeed dead. For hours she lay thus, as if frozen there, as if she would never rise again—crushed, humbled145, degraded to the dust. Sounds of laughter and music came wafted146 up the stairs; she heard the voice she hated most singing a gay Italian barcarole, and now another voice joins in—her husband's.
Oh, Georgia, your hour of anguish has come, and where is your help now? Heaven and earth are dark alike; you did not look up when life's sunshine shone on you, and now, in your utter misery147, there is no helper near.
Oh, Georgia, where, in your humiliation, is the pride,[Pg 233] the independence that has supported you hitherto? Gone—swept away, like a reed in the blast, and you lie there prostrate148 on the earth, prone149 in the dust, a living example of human helplessness, unsupported by divine grace.
Hour after hour passed, and still she lay there. The door opened at last, but she did not move. The footsteps she knew so well crossed the threshold, but she was motionless. A voice pronounced her name, and a shiver ran through her whole frame, but the collapsed150 form was still. A hand was laid on her arm, and she was lifted to her feet and borne to a chair, and then she raised her sunken eyes and saw the stern face of her husband bent151 upon her.
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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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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throng
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promenaded
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sweeping
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amplitude
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horrid
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flirted
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rustle
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intoxicating
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exquisiteness
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proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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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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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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16
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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charades
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| n.伪装( charade的名词复数 )；猜字游戏 | |
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18
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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19
morbidly
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| adv.病态地 | |
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20
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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21
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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22
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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23
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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24
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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25
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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26
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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27
mortify
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| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
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28
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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29
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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30
sullenness
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| n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉 | |
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31
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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32
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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33
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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35
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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36
usurp
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| vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位 | |
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37
usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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38
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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39
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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40
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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41
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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42
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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43
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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44
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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45
displease
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| vt.使不高兴，惹怒；n.不悦，不满，生气 | |
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46
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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47
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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48
conjugal
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| adj.婚姻的，婚姻性的 | |
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49
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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50
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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51
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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52
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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53
rankle
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| v.（怨恨，失望等）难以释怀 | |
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54
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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55
untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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56
haughtiest
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| haughty（傲慢的，骄傲的）的最高级形式 | |
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57
perpetuate
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| v.使永存，使永记不忘 | |
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58
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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59
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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60
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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61
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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62
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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63
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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64
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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65
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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67
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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68
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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69
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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70
dulcet
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| adj.悦耳的 | |
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71
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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72
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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73
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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74
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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75
ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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76
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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77
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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78
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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79
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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80
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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81
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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82
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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83
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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84
stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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85
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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86
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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87
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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88
straightforwardness
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| n.坦白，率直 | |
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89
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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90
pretenses
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| n.借口（pretense的复数形式） | |
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91
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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92
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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93
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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94
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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95
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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96
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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97
diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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98
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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99
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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100
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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101
farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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102
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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103
dissimulate
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| v.掩饰，隐藏 | |
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104
anguished
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| adj.极其痛苦的v.使极度痛苦(anguish的过去式) | |
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105
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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106
monopolized
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| v.垄断( monopolize的过去式和过去分词 )；独占；专卖；专营 | |
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107
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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108
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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109
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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110
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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111
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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112
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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113
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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114
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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115
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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116
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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117
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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118
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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119
hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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120
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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121
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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122
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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123
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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124
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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125
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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126
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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127
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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128
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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129
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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130
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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131
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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132
intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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133
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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134
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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135
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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136
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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137
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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138
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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139
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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140
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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141
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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142
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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143
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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144
hysterically
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| ad. 歇斯底里地 | |
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145
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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146
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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147
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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148
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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149
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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150
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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151
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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