Of waters still at even:
She had three lilies in her hand,
And the stars in her hair were seven.
—Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
"No, no, my cabbage, I do not find that plain gown becoming, of a verity1 thou must remember that thou art an English Countess and must henceforth adorn2 thy person with proper grandeur3."
And worthy4 Mme. Legros, whilst vainly trying to express disapproval5, gazed with obvious admiration6 at the dainty apparition7 before her.
"Let be, Maman, let be!" interposed Papa Legros soothingly9, "the chit is well enough as she is. When she is over there in England, she may well look grand and stately; for the present she is still a tailor's daughter and I'll challenge the world to produce a daintier bale of goods. Par8 ma foi! were I not thy father, my pigeon, I were tempted10 to envy that profligate11 young scoundrel, thy noble lord and husband. 'Tis a mightily12 succulent morsel13 he will bite into the nonce."
Rose Marie striving to hide the confusion, which her kind father's broad allusion14 caused in her sensitive young heart, buried her face in the bouquet15 of snowdrops which she held in her hand.
No wonder that her adoring parents were proud of her.[144] She looked a picture on this cold winter's morning, standing16 there in her little room beneath the eaves, clad in pure white like the snow which lay thick on the narrow window sill and along the streets of Paris.
She had fashioned her gown herself, of white grogram with a beautiful openwork lace pinner and delicate kerchief demurely17 folded across her young bosom18. Her fair hair was dressed in small curls all over her small head, her neck was bare, as were her arms and hands, and in colour as delicate as the snowdrops which she carried.
The spring was still in its infancy19 and snowdrops were very scarce; worthy M. Legros had paid a vast sum of money in order that Rose Marie should carry a bouquet when first she met her lord.
All white she looked—almost like a little snow image, only that her cheeks glowed with the excitement in her blood, and her bosom rose and fell with unwonted rapidity beneath the filmy folds of her muslin kerchief.
My lord of Stowmaries had arrived in Paris the evening before, and had sent one of his serving-men round to say that he would come and pay his respects before midday.
Oh! there seemed no laggardness20 about him now. The influence of Monseigneur the Archbishop and no doubt his own better nature had prevailed at last, and since a fortnight ago when his letter arrived announcing his coming, he seemed to have lost no time in useless preparations.
Now he was here in Paris and Rose Marie had put on her pretty gown in order to receive him. She did so mightily desire to please him, for she on her side was quite ready to give him that respectful love which husbands demand of their wives. Mme. Legros had fussed round the child all the morning, and though she grumbled22 at the simplicity[145] of the gown, she could not help but admire the exquisite23 picture of innocent girlhood which her daughter presented with such charming unconsciousness.
Rose Marie had been singularly silent all the while that she dressed. She was very anxious to be beautiful, and thought that this could not be accomplished24 without much care and trouble. This she bestowed25 ungrudgingly on every curl as she twisted and pinned it up, on every fold of her kerchief, on the tying of her shoe.
She had taken over two hours in completing her toilet, selecting with scrupulous26 care each article of dainty underlinen, which her own fingers had embroidered27 months ago, in anticipation28 of this great day: the white stockings, the silken garters, the beribboned shift and petticoat.
When she was ready, she called to maman to come and inspect, and oh! to criticise29 if there were any fault to find, which maman of a surety would detect. Mme. Legros determined30 not to let affection blind her, had turned the snow-white apparition round and round, seeking for defects, where none existed, readjusting a curl here, a ribbon there, and finally calling to good M. Legros to come and give his verdict on the picture.
But good M. Legros was far too adoring to do aught but admire. So now Rose Marie, if not quite free from doubt, was at any rate satisfied that everything which could be done to render her beautiful and desirable, had of a truth been done.
"We had best go down, Maman," said Legros at last, when he had finished feasting his eyes on the beauty of his daughter, "and make ready to receive milor. The child had best remain up here, and not enter the parlour until her lord is there, ready to greet her as she advances."
The worthy tailor was more agitated31 than he cared to[146] own. He felt fussy32 and could not manage to sit still. It still lacked nearly an hour to midday, and he was ready and over-ready to receive milor. He bustled33 maman out of the room, then ran back to have a final look at Rose Marie.
"Keep calm, my treasure," he said agitatedly34, "par Dieu! There's no need for excitement. Thou art not the first and only bride who has ever been claimed by an unknown husband. 'Tis milor, no doubt, who feels flustered35. He has been in the wrong and comes to make amends36. Not a very pleasant position for a proud English lord, eh, my pigeon? But thou art within thy rights, and wilt37 receive him with becoming dignity."
With gentle, insinuating38 gestures Rose Marie contrived39 to lead her father out of the room, and finally to close the door behind him.
Time was hurrying on and she did so want to be alone and to think. This was the end of the old life, the beginning of the new: the new with all its hopes, its fears, its mysteries. She had put it very pertinently40 to her mother when she said that nothing, nothing would ever be quite the same again.
Now that dear Papa Legros' heavy footsteps had died down the steep staircase, Rose Marie could sit by the open window and just think of it all, for the last time, before these mysteries of the new life were revealed to her.
I think that what struck her as most curious in the future was the idea that she would never be quite alone again. For she had—despite the loving care of adoring parents—been very much alone. We must remember that there is never complete harmony between the young and the old. The former live for the future, the latter for the present, oft times only for the past. Papa and Maman Legros found their joy in seeing Rose Marie grow up and live, like some[147] beautiful flower, carefully tended, guarded against the tearing winds of life, nourished, fed and caressed41. But Rose Marie thought she cherished her parents, dreamed of the time when she would be a woman with another home, with other affections, with other kindred. Therefore she was lonely even in the midst of her happy home. There was a great deal that Rose Marie did not understand in life, but there was an infinity42 which maman would never comprehend.
Would this newcomer, this stranger understand better than maman, she wondered. Would he know what ailed21 her when in the very midst of joy she suddenly felt inclined to cry? Would he then know just the right word to say, the right word to soothe43 her, and to fit in with her mood?
There were other thoughts that flew through Rose Marie's mind during this, the last lonely hour of her girlhood, but these she would not allow to linger in her mind, for they caused her cheeks to blush, and her heart to beat with sudden, nameless fear. She had seen the girls and boys of Paris wandering arm in arm in the woods of Fontainebleau, she had seen a fair head leaning against a dark head, and lips meeting lips in a furtive44 kiss, and now in her innocent heart she wondered what it felt like thus to be kissed.
Hush45!—sh!—sh!—No, no! Maman was not there to see the quick blush which at the thought rose to the girlish cheek. Maman would not understand. She would say gaily46: "Pardi my cabbage! but thy husband shall kiss thee of a truth and right lustily on thy fresh cheeks or thy budding mouth. A good, round, sounding kiss an he loves thee, which of course he will!" And the girls, too, in the woods at Fontainebleau, they usually laughed after that[148] furtive kiss snatched behind some tree, when they thought that no one was looking.
But Rose Marie did not think that she would laugh when my lord kissed her. It seemed to her so strange that girls should make light of such wondrous47 moments in their lives. Rose Marie thought that when my lord kissed her she would probably cry, not in grief, oh, no! but with a strange exultant48 joy because of his love for her.
And that was what she hoped that he would understand.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
verity
|
|
| n.真实性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
adorn
|
|
| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
grandeur
|
|
| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
disapproval
|
|
| n.反对，不赞成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
apparition
|
|
| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
par
|
|
| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
soothingly
|
|
| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
profligate
|
|
| adj.行为不检的；n.放荡的人，浪子，肆意挥霍者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mightily
|
|
| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
allusion
|
|
| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bouquet
|
|
| n.花束，酒香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
demurely
|
|
| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
infancy
|
|
| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
laggardness
|
|
| n.憔悴，野性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
21
ailed
|
|
| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
scrupulous
|
|
| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
anticipation
|
|
| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
criticise
|
|
| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
fussy
|
|
| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bustled
|
|
| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
agitatedly
|
|
| 动摇，兴奋； 勃然 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
flustered
|
|
| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
amends
|
|
| n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
wilt
|
|
| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
insinuating
|
|
| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
pertinently
|
|
| 适切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
caressed
|
|
| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
infinity
|
|
| n.无限，无穷，大量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
furtive
|
|
| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
exultant
|
|
| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |