But Lord Beauport would not have this. Treated as a lady, as a member of his own family in his house, or properly provided for out of it, should Annie Maurice be: my lady's companion, but my cousin always. No companionship with Mrs. Parkins, no set task or suggested assistance. Her own room, her invariable presence when the rest of the family meet together, if you please. Lady Beauport did not please at first; but Lord Beauport was firm, firm as George Brakespere used to be in the old days; and Lady Beauport succumbed16 with a good grace, and was glad of it ever after. For Annie Maurice not merely had the sweetest temper and the most winning ways,--not merely read in the softest voice, and had the taste to choose the most charming "bits," over which Lady Beauport would hum first with approval and then with sleep,--not merely played and sung delightfully17, without ever being hoarse19 or disinclined,--not merely could ride with her back to the horses, and dress for the Park exactly as Lady Beauport wished--neither dowdy20 nor swell,--but she brought old-fashioned receipts for quaint21 country dishes with which she won Mrs. Parkins's heart, and she taught Hodgson, Lady Beauport's maid, a new way of _gauffreing_ which broke down all that Abigail's icy spleen. Her bright eyes, her white teeth, her sunny smile, did all the rest for her throughout the household: the big footmen moved more quickly for her than for their mistress; the coachman, with whom she must have interchanged confidential22 communications, told the groom23 she "knowed the p'ints of an 'oss as well as he did--spotted them wind-galls in Jack's off 'ind leg, and says, 'a cold-water bandage for them,' she says;" the women-servants, more likely than any of the others to take offence, were won by the silence of her bell and her independence of toilette assistance.
Lord Caterham saw all this, and understood her popularity; but he saw too that with it all Annie Maurice was any thing but happy. Reiteration24 of conventionality,--the reception of the callers and the paying of the calls, the morning concerts and afternoon botanical promenades25, the occasional Opera-goings, and the set dinner-parties at home,--these weighed heavily on her. She felt that her life was artificial, that she had nothing in common with the people with whom it was passed, save when she escaped to Lord Caterham's room. He was at least natural; she need talk or act no conventionality with him; might read, or work, or chat with him as she liked. But she wanted some purpose in life--that Caterham saw, and saw almost with horror; for that purpose might tend to take her away; and if she left him, he felt as though the only bright portion of his life would leave him too.
Yes; he had begun to acknowledge this to himself. He had fought against the idea, tried to laugh it off, but it had always recurred26 to him. For the first time in his life, he had moments of happy expectancy27 of an interview that was to come, hours of happy reflection over an interview that was past. Of course the Carry-Chesterton times came up in his mind; but these were very different. Then he was in a wild state of excitement and tremor28, of flushed cheeks and beating heart and trembling lips; he thrilled at the sound of her voice; his blood, usually so calm, coursed through his veins29 at the touch of her hand; his passion was a delirium30 as alarming as it was intoxicating31. The love of to-day had nothing in common with that bygone time. There was no similarity between Carry Chesterton's dash and _aplomb_ and Annie Maurice's quiet domestic ways. The one scorched32 him with a glance; the other soothed33 him with a word. How sweet it was to lie back in his chair with half-shut eyes, as in a dream, and watch her moving quietly about, setting every thing in order, putting fresh flowers in his vases, dusting his writing-table, laughingly upbraiding34 the absent Algy Barford, and taxing him with the delinquency of a half-smoked cigar on the mantelpiece, and a pile of cigar-ash on the carpet. Then he would bid her finish her house-work, and she would wheel his chair to the table and read the newspapers to him, and listen to his quaint, shrewd, generally sarcastic35 comments on all she read. And he would sit, listening to the music of her voice, looking at the quiet charms of her simply-banded glossy36 dark-brown hair, at the play of feature illustrating37 every thing she read. It was a brother's love he told himself at first, and fully18 believed it; a brother's love for a favourite sister. He thought so until he pictured to himself her departure to some friend's or other, until he imagined the house without her, himself without her, and--and she with some one else. And then Lord Caterham confessed to himself that he loved Annie Maurice with all his soul, and simultaneously38 swore that by no act or word of his should she or any one else ever know it.
The Carry-Chesterton love-fever had been so sharp in its symptoms, and so prostrating39 in its results, that this second attack fell with comparative mildness on the sufferer. He had no night-watches now, no long feverish40 tossings to and fro waiting for the daylight, no wild remembrance of parting words and farewell hand-clasps. She was there; her "goodnight" had rung out sweetly and steadily41 without a break in the situation; her sweet smile had lit up her face; her last words had been of some projected reading or work for the morrow. It was all friend and friend or brother and sister to every one but him. The very first night after Miss Chesterton had been presented to Lady Beauport, the latter, seeing with a woman's quickness the position of affairs, had spoken of the young lady from Homersham as "that dreadful person," "that terribly-forward young woman," and thereby42 goaded43 Lord Caterham into worse love-madness. Now both father and mother were perpetually congratulating themselves and him on having found some one who seemed to be able to enter into and appreciate their eldest44 son's "odd ways." This immunity45 from parental46 worry and supervision47 was pleasant, doubtless; but did it not prove that to eyes that were not blinded by love-passion there was nothing in Miss Maurice's regard for her cousin more than was compatible with cousinly affection, and with pity for one so circumstanced? So Lord Caterham had it; and who shall say that his extreme sensitiveness had deceived him?
It was the height of the London season, and Lady Beauport was fairly in the whirl. So was Annie Maurice, whose position was already as clearly defined amongst the set as if she had been duly ticketed with birth, parentage, education, and present employment. Hitherto her experience had decidedly been pleasant, and she had found that all the companion-life, as set forth5 in fashionable novels, had been ridiculously exaggerated. From no one had she received any thing approaching a slight, any thing approaching an insult. The great ladies mostly ignored her, though some made a point of special politeness; the men received her as a gentlewoman, with whom flirtation49 might be possible on an emergency, though unremunerative as a rule. Her perpetual attendance on Lady Beauport had prevented her seeing as much as usual of Lord Caterham; and it was with a sense of relief that she found a morning at her disposal, and sent Stephens to intimate her coming to his master.
She found him as usual, sitting listlessly in his wheelchair, the newspaper folded ready to his hand, but unfolded and unread. He looked up, and smiled as she entered the room, and said: "At last, Annie at last! Ah, I knew such a nice little girl who came here from Ricksborough, and lightened my solitary50 hours; but we've had a fashionable lady here lately, who is always at concerts or operas, or eating ices at Gunter's, or crushing into horticultural marquees, or--"
"Arthur, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! You know, however, I won't stoop to argue with you, sir. I'll only say that the little girl from Ricksborough has come back again, and that the fashionable lady has got a holiday and gone away."
"That's good; but I say, just stand in the light, Annie."
"Well, what's the matter now?"
"What has the little girl from Ricksborough done with all her colour? Where's the brightness of her eyes?"
"Ah, you don't expect every thing at once, do you, sir? Her natural colour has gone; but she has ordered a box from Bond Street; and as for the brightness of her eyes--"
"O, there's enough left; there is indeed, especially when she fires up in that way. But you're not looking well, Annie. I'm afraid my lady's doing too much with you."
"She's very kind, and wishes me to be always with her."
"Yes; but she forgets that the vicarage of Ricksborough was scarcely good training-ground for the races in which she has entered you, however kindly51 you take to the running." He paused a minute as he caught Annie's upturned gaze, and said: "I don't mean that, dear Annie. I know well enough you hate it all; and I was only trying to put the best face on the matter. What else can I do?"
"I know that, Arthur; nor is it Lady Beauport's fault that she does not exactly comprehend how a series of gaieties can be any thing but agreeable to a country-bred young woman. There are hundreds of girls who would give any thing to be 'brought out' under such chaperonage and in such a manner."
"You are very sweet and good to say so, Annie, and to look at it in that light, but I would give any thing to get you more time to yourself."
"That proves more plainly than any thing, Arthur, that you don't consider me one of the aristocracy; for their greatest object in life appears to me to prevent their having any time to themselves."
"Miss Maurice," said Lord Caterham with an assumption of gravity, "these sentiments are really horrible. I thought I missed my _Mill on Liberty_ from the bookshelves. I am afraid, madame, you have been studying the doctrines52 of a man who has had the frightful53 audacity54 to think for himself."
"No, indeed, Arthur; nothing of the sort. I did take down the book--though of course you had never missed it; but it seemed a dreary55 old thing, and so I put it back again. No, I haven't a radical56 thought or feeling in me--except sometimes."
"When I see those footmen dressed up in that ridiculous costume, with powder in their heads, I confess then to being struck with wonder at a society which permits such monstrosity, and degrades its fellow-creatures to such a level."
"O, for a stump58!" cried Caterham, shaking in his chair and with the tears running down his cheeks; "this display of virtuous59 indignation is quite a new and hitherto undiscovered feature in the little girl from Ricksborough; though of course you are quite wrong in your logic60. Your fault should be found with the creatures who permit themselves to be so reduced. That 'dreary old thing,' Mr. Mill, would tell you that if the supply ceased, the demand would cease likewise. But don't let us talk about politics, for heaven's sake, even in fun. Let us revert61 to our original topic."
"What was that?"
"What was that! Why you, of course! Don't you recollect62 that we decided48 that you should have some drawing-lessons?"
"I recollect you were good enough to--"
"Annie! Annie! I thought it was fully understood that my goodness was a tabooed subject. No; you remember we arranged, on the private-view day of the Exhibition, with that man who had those two capital pictures--what's his name?--Ludlow, to give you some lessons."
"Yes; but Mr. Ludlow himself told us that he could not come for some little time; he was going out of town."
"Ive had a letter from him this morning, explaining the continuance of his absence. What do you think is the reason?"
"He was knocked up, and wanted rest?"
"N-no; apparently63 not."
"He's not ill? O, Arthur, he's not ill?"
"Not in the least, Annie,--there's not the least occasion for you to manifest any uneasiness." Lord Caterham's voice was becoming very hard and his face very rigid64. "Mr. Ludlow's return to town was delayed in order that he might enjoy the pleasures of his honeymoon65 in the Isle66 of Wight."
"His what?"
"His honeymoon; he informs me that he is just married."
"Married? Geoff married? Who to? What a very extraordinary thing! Who is he married to?"
"He has not reposed67 sufficient confidence in me to acquaint me with the lady's name, probably guessing rightly that I was not in the least curious upon the point, and that to know it would not have afforded me the slightest satisfaction."
"No, of course not; how very odd!" That was all Annie Maurice said, her chin resting on her hand, her eyes looking straight before her.
"What is very odd?" said Caterham, in a harsh voice. "That Mr. Ludlow should get married? Upon my honour I can't see the eccentricity68. It is not, surely, his extreme youth that should provoke astonishment, nor his advanced age, for the matter of that. He's not endowed with more wisdom than most of us to prevent his making a fool of himself. What there is odd about the fact of his marriage I cannot understand."
"No, Arthur," said Annie, very quietly, utterly69 ignoring the querulous tone of Caterham's remarks; "very likely you can't understand it, because Mr. Ludlow is a stranger to you, and you judge him as you would any other stranger. But if you'd known him in the old days when he used to come up to us at Willesden, and papa was always teasing him about being in love with the French teacher at Minerva House, a tall old lady with a moustache; or with the vicar's daughter, a sandy-haired girl in spectacles; and then poor papa would laugh,--O, how he would laugh!--and declare that Mr. Ludlow would be a bachelor to the end of his days. And now he's married, you say? How very, very strange!"
If Lord Caterham had been going to make any further unpleasant remark, he checked himself abruptly70, and looking into Annie's upturned pondering face, said, in his usual tone,
"Well, married or not married, he won't throw us over; he will hold to his engagement with us. His letter tells me he will be back in town at the end of the week, and will then settle times with us; so that we shall have our drawing-lessons after all."
But Annie, evidently thoroughly71 preoccupied72, only answered methodically, "Yes--of course--thank you--yes." So Lord Caterham was left to chew the cud of his own reflections, which, from the manner in which he frowned to himself, and sat blankly drumming with his fingers on the desk before him, was evidently no pleasant mental pabulum. So that he was not displeased73 when there came a sonorous74 tap at the door, to which, recognising it at once, he called out, "Come in!"
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1
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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domesticated
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| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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sculptors
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| 雕刻家，雕塑家( sculptor的名词复数 )； [天]玉夫座 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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aspiration
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| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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precocious
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| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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16
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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dowdy
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| adj.不整洁的；过旧的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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reiteration
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| n. 重覆, 反覆, 重说 | |
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promenades
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| n.人行道( promenade的名词复数 )；散步场所；闲逛v.兜风( promenade的第三人称单数 ) | |
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recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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32
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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upbraiding
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| adj.& n.谴责（的）v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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illustrating
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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prostrating
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的现在分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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43
goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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48
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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49
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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50
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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51
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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52
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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53
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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54
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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55
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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56
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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57
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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58
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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59
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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60
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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61
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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62
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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63
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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64
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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65
honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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66
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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67
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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69
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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70
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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71
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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72
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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73
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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74
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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