A certain pretty cousin at your side.
—Browning.
With a quick glance thrown on each of the four faces, shrewd Sir John had quickly appraised2 the mood of this small clique3. Stowmaries in sullen4 rage against the whole world because of this thwarting5 of his most cherished desire, Rochester and the Irishman, flippant and eager for sport, with Wykeham as the sobering influence, the self-constituted guardian6 of religious obligations.
It was also obvious to this keen observer of other people's moods that there would be no need for circumlocution7. Though silence reigned8 in the room, the subject of Stowmaries' marriage was uppermost in the minds of his friends.
Sir John therefore, having thrown aside his hat and cloak, went boldly up to the table and greeting the others with easy familiarity, he placed one fleshy hand on Stowmaries' shoulder and said abruptly9:
"Tush man! be not so downhearted. My faith on it! have I not seen worse plights10 even than yours? Yet from which a man of daring and resource soon found a means of extricating11 himself."
The interruption was a welcome one, for though Sir John Ayloffe was no longer very popular with the gilded12 clique of young and noble rakes, since he was known to be at his[71] last resources and was oft in sore straits to pay his gaming debts, nevertheless at this moment his lusty, cheery voice helped to dissipate the gloom which was such an unusual atmosphere for these ribald pleasure-seekers to breathe, and one or two voices with obvious signs of relief cordially invited the newcomer to sit.
"Then you, too, know our friend's melancholy13 story?" queried14 Lord Rochester as he pushed with hospitable15 intent a mug of wine in the direction of Ayloffe.
"Yes," replied the latter. "Mistress Julia Peyton is my kinswoman. 'Tis from her I heard the tale."
Stowmaries' frown grew even darker than before. He liked not the suggestion thus implied, the more than obvious hint of this second sentimental17 complication in his life.
Sir John, in the meanwhile, had selected a chair, which was less rickety than most, and sat down deliberately18 in such a position that not one of the flickering19 and uncertain rays of candle light touched his face or illumined its expression.
He took the cup of wine offered him by my lord Rochester and drank it down slowly and at one draught20, the while a few ribald remarks flew across the table. Ayloffe's advent21 seemed certainly to have brought a new atmosphere into the room. Despite Stowmaries' frown and Wykeham's protests, Rochester and Sir Knaith took up the lighter22 side of the past events; they refused to appreciate the solemnity of the subject or the serious obligations resulting from that solemn sacrament of matrimony performed between children over eighteen years ago.
Sir John waited patiently whilst a volley of somewhat coarse jests was fired at the gloomy hero of the romantic adventure, and until he saw that Stowmaries was on the[72] verge23 of losing his temper, and Wykeham on the point of quarrelling with Bullock.
Then he pushed the empty cup away from him and leaning forward across the table, he broke in quietly: "Nay24 Sir Anthony," he said with pleasing urbanity, "we all know what you would say. 'Sdeath! an I mistake not you have harped25 on that string passing often in the last hour or so, and we all know too that Lord Stowmaries is not desirous of seeing it snap. But I maintain that if a gentleman is placed in so terrible a predicament as is my lord, then it is the duty of all his friends to try and effect an honourable26 rescue."
The earnestness with which he spoke27 had silenced the jocose28 as well as the moody29 tongues. But Sir Anthony Wykeham now protested hotly.
"That is impossible," he said. "The sacrament of marriage cannot be set aside."
"Only under certain conditions," corrected Sir John.
"Methinks this is braggart's talk," muttered young Bullock who had no love for the older man.
"How will you do it?" queried Stowmaries with moody hopelessness.
But Ayloffe seemed in no way abashed32 by the hostility33, which his statement had evoked34; he returned the sarcastic35 or angry glances levelled at him with a stare of assurance.
Leaning heavily upon the table, his prominent eyes fixed36 boldly on the over-excited faces before him, he looked a strange contrast to the small, chattering37 crowd which was grouped around him. Unlike the others, he had supped soberly at home and drunk little or no wine; his head was clear, his tongue glib38, and the only uncertainty39 apparent in his demeanour was that with which from time to time he[73] seemed to be listening to the noise in the next room; then a look of vague doubt would suddenly overshadow his steady gaze and cause a more furtive40, more anxious look to creep into his eyes.
"Nay, gentlemen," he resumed after a slight pause vaguely41 smiling in a condescending42 manner like one who tells an obvious fact to a child, "'tis no braggart's talk to speak of saving a friend from the most dire16 calamity43 that can befall any man. I repeat most emphatically that this can be done, effectually and easily and without interfering44 with any of those religious scruples45 which do my lord of Stowmaries and his friend here so much honour."
He spoke so quietly, so confidently and with such an air of certitude that instinctively46 the sneering47 tongues ceased to aim their shafts48 at him and four pairs of eyes were now fixed upon the speaker, who with a calm gesture of indifference49 was readjusting the lace of his cravat50.
He waited thus for awhile like the true entertainer who husbands his effects; he waited until the circle round him drew closer and closer, until four pairs of elbows rested on the table and flagons and mugs were impatiently pushed aside.
Sir Anthony Wykeham was the last to hold aloof51, but even he said at last with a distinct ring of excitement in his voice:
"Tell us more fully52 what you mean, man! Cannot you see that Stowmaries is devoured53 with impatience54?"
"An impatience which I am over-anxious to relieve," rejoined Ayloffe imperturbably55, "but firstly let me ask Lord Stowmaries himself—who I assert is a wealthy man—whether he would not give a good tenth of his fortune to be conveniently rid of an unwelcome wife, without hindrance56 to his belief or conscience."
[74]
"I would give half my fortune, good Sir John," sighed Stowmaries dolefully.
"Half is too much, good my lord," responded Sir John blandly57. "Popular rumour58 deems your lordship worth some four hundred thousand pounds in solid cash, besides the rent rolls of half Hertfordshire. Methinks one fourth of that should purchase the freedom which you seek."
"Nay, my lord, I am neither young enough, nor sufficiently59 well-favoured for that desirable task," retorted Sir John imperturbably.
"What have looks or favours to do with it all? Odd's fish!" growled60 Stowmaries more vehemently61, and bringing a clenched62 fist crashing down upon the table so that mugs and bottles rattled63, "meseems that you, Sir John, are trying to fool me, God help me! are even trying to bring ridicule64 upon my sorrow! By the Mass, sir, if that be so, you'll not find me in a mood to be trifled with."
"Good my lord, I pray you to calm your temper. Am I a man to trifle with your feelings? Have I not professed65 myself to be your friend? am I not the kinsman66 of the lady whom you have honoured with your addresses? On mine honour I have her welfare at heart even more so than yours. Can you wonder that I should wish to see you wed67 her?"
Shrewd Sir John had played a trump68 card. There was no denying the logic69 of his statement. He had owned to having much at stake, yet had done so with no lack of dignity. With a certain graciousness not altogether free as yet from his original surliness, Lord Stowmaries owned himself in the wrong.
"You must pardon my evil temper, Sir John," he said with a self-deprecating sigh, "for I am vastly troubled."
[75]
This brief interlude had but whetted70 the curiosity of the others. From Sir John's manner and mode of speech it was fully evident now that his was no empty talk, but that he had assuredly come here this night, with some definite plan for what he termed the welfare of his kinswoman, which no doubt he had much at heart.
The idea pleased these young pleasure-seekers more and more; they cared of a truth but little for the troubles of their friends, but there was now a twinkle in Ayloffe's eyes which vaguely suggested to them the thought of intrigue71, mayhap of some adventure, quite unavowable, possibly highly scandalous, which would have that unknown tailor's daughter for its victim.
Such adventures were the delight of the merry monarch72 who now sat upon the English throne, whose advent had been so earnestly desired, whose personality had been so ardently73 worshipped. He it was who set the fashion for those gallant74 episodes which were the boast and delectation of men and the shame and the sorrow of women. But for him and the example set by him I doubt if Sir John Ayloffe would ever have thought of formulating75 proposals which should have put his present companions to the blush, and which carried subsequently in their train agonies of remorse76 and of disgrace, wounded honour and more than one broken heart.
点击收听单词发音
1 proffer | |
v.献出,赠送;n.提议,建议 | |
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2 appraised | |
v.估价( appraise的过去式和过去分词 );估计;估量;评价 | |
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3 clique | |
n.朋党派系,小集团 | |
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4 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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5 thwarting | |
阻挠( thwart的现在分词 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过 | |
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6 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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7 circumlocution | |
n. 绕圈子的话,迂回累赘的陈述 | |
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8 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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9 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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10 plights | |
n.境况,困境( plight的名词复数 ) | |
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11 extricating | |
v.使摆脱困难,脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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12 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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13 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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14 queried | |
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问 | |
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15 hospitable | |
adj.好客的;宽容的;有利的,适宜的 | |
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16 dire | |
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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17 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
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18 deliberately | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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19 flickering | |
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
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20 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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21 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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22 lighter | |
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级 | |
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23 verge | |
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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24 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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25 harped | |
vi.弹竖琴(harp的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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26 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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27 spoke | |
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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28 jocose | |
adj.开玩笑的,滑稽的 | |
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29 moody | |
adj.心情不稳的,易怒的,喜怒无常的 | |
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30 sneer | |
v.轻蔑;嘲笑;n.嘲笑,讥讽的言语 | |
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31 sneered | |
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32 abashed | |
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33 hostility | |
n.敌对,敌意;抵制[pl.]交战,战争 | |
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34 evoked | |
[医]诱发的 | |
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35 sarcastic | |
adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的 | |
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36 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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37 chattering | |
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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38 glib | |
adj.圆滑的,油嘴滑舌的 | |
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39 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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40 furtive | |
adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的 | |
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41 vaguely | |
adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
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42 condescending | |
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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43 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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44 interfering | |
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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45 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 ) | |
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46 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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47 sneering | |
嘲笑的,轻蔑的 | |
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48 shafts | |
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 );(箭、高尔夫球棒等的)杆;通风井;一阵(疼痛、害怕等) | |
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49 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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50 cravat | |
n.领巾,领结;v.使穿有领结的服装,使结领结 | |
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51 aloof | |
adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 | |
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52 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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53 devoured | |
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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54 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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55 imperturbably | |
adv.泰然地,镇静地,平静地 | |
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56 hindrance | |
n.妨碍,障碍 | |
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57 blandly | |
adv.温和地,殷勤地 | |
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58 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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59 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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60 growled | |
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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61 vehemently | |
adv. 热烈地 | |
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62 clenched | |
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63 rattled | |
慌乱的,恼火的 | |
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64 ridicule | |
v.讥讽,挖苦;n.嘲弄 | |
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65 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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66 kinsman | |
n.男亲属 | |
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67 wed | |
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚 | |
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68 trump | |
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭 | |
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69 logic | |
n.逻辑(学);逻辑性 | |
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70 whetted | |
v.(在石头上)磨(刀、斧等)( whet的过去式和过去分词 );引起,刺激(食欲、欲望、兴趣等) | |
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71 intrigue | |
vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋 | |
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72 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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73 ardently | |
adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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74 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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75 formulating | |
v.构想出( formulate的现在分词 );规划;确切地阐述;用公式表示 | |
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76 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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