“I’ll go with you,” said Louisa; “I’m sick to death of both books and work. Belgrave Square is as dull as a city of the dead; I want to go where a little life is stirring!”
“Pray, on no account venture on the ice,” cried Clemence; “the weather is so much milder to-day, that I feel sure that there must be a thaw2.”
“I suppose,” said Louisa very pertly, “that I may use my own judgment3 in the matter. I happen to possess a little common sense, and have not the slightest wish to be drowned.”
“I am sure that you are greatly indebted to Mrs. Effingham for her tender anxiety on your account,” said Lady Selina very ironically, glancing up from the last number of Punch.
“That old mischief-maker!” thought Captain Thistlewood; “we should all get on well enough but for her! What a blessing4 it would be to Clemence if the proud dame5 could once be got out of the house.—Well, young folk!” he said aloud, “if you want some one to see that you don’t make ducks and drakes of yourselves, I’m your man; I’ll go to the park with you myself!”
“We don’t want your company,” said the schoolboy rudely; “I can take care of my sister.”
“A footman will follow us,” added Louisa superciliously6; “I may meet friends in the park, and it would cause too great a sensation amongst them if I were to be seen escorted by Captain Thistlewood!” and so saying, with a mock reverence7 she quitted the room, and was followed by Vincent whistling.
The old sailor did not appear to understand the implied satire8, or to be aware that an earl’s granddaughter could possibly be ashamed to be seen with an unfashionable companion. But if his simplicity9 warded10 the insult from himself, it glanced off from him to wound the more sensitive spirit of his niece.
“You will escort me, dear uncle,” said Clemence; “it will be such a pleasure to walk with you again!”
“Presently, my dear,” replied the captain, seating himself on the sofa, of which the greater part was occupied by the stiff silk flounces of Lady Selina.
“I will put on my bonnet—”
“Do not hurry yourself,” was the sailor’s quiet reply. The truth is, that he had resolved upon having a tête-à-tête with Clemence’s arch tormentor11, and was revolving12 in his honest mind how best to make it clear to her apprehension13, without showing discourtesy to a lady, that as two suns cannot shine in one sphere, no more can two mistresses bear rule in one dwelling14. Captain Thistlewood had sufficient observation to perceive that Lady Selina’s influence lay at the root of all the bitterness and unkindness which Clemence was called on to endure, and he considered that it would be a master-stroke of diplomacy15, could he induce the grand lady voluntarily to resign a position which he could not think that she had any right to hold in the house of his niece.
Lady Selina was also meditating16, though her eyes appeared to be riveted17 upon Punch. She was pondering how Mrs. Effingham’s new and strange ally, formidable from the straightforward18 vehemence19 of his manner, and his invulnerability to personal insult, could best be coaxed20, since he could not be chased from the field. These were strange opponents left to face each other alone,—Simplicity versus21 Art—the warm-hearted, honest old sailor, versus the cold, calculating woman of the world!
Lady Selina was the first to commence the conversation. She laid her paper down upon the cushion beside her, and turning towards her auditor22, observed with an air of affected23 indifference24, as if merely fulfilling an office of common courtesy to a guest, “You must greatly miss, Captain Thistlewood, the delightful25 serenity26 of the country. I dare say that, after a life spent in charming seclusion27, you find London a sad, noisy, bustling28 place.”
“I like it—I like it,” replied the old sailor good-humouredly; “there was never anything of the hermit29 about me. I was knocked about the world for many a long year, and rather like to live in a bustle30, and see plenty of my fellow-creatures about me. No babbling31 stream pleases my old eyes so much as the stream of people down Oxford32 Street.”
Lady Selina was instantly upon another tack33. “I perfectly34 agree with you,” she said; “and I must own” (here she lowered her voice confidentially) “that Belgrave Square is a great deal too dull and out of the way for my taste.”
“Is it?” cried the captain eagerly.
“So far from the best shops, all the exhibitions—from everything, in short, that gives its charm to the great metropolis35.”
“So it is—the dullest spot in all London,” was the hearty36 rejoinder. “She’s really preparing for a removal,” thought the exulting37 captain.
“Now, there are a great many excellent lodgings38 a great deal nearer to the centre of the city—reasonable, too,” pursued Lady Selina, imagining that her fish was approaching the bait, and that, by a little delicate management, she could land him in some convenient spot well removed from the Effingham mansion39. “I should say, now, that Bloomsbury Square is a very centrical situation.”
“I’ve no doubt of it—no doubt of it at all!” cried the captain, who had not the faintest idea of the locality, but caught something rural in the sound of the name.
“And you see, Captain Thistlewood,” continued Lady Selina, feeling her line with dexterity40 and caution,—“you see that there is a freedom to be enjoyed in a life of independence, which must necessarily be resigned by any one forming a member of a large establishment. One is not tied down to hours—one can indulge little fancies and tastes without encroaching upon the comfort of others.” She paused and glanced at her auditor, to see whether she might venture on a little stronger pull.
The face of the captain was becoming quite radiant. “You feel and think exactly as I do, ma’am,” he exclaimed.
“It must be so painful to a refined mind,” pursued the lady, “to contemplate41 the possibility of being a little in the way of causing any inconvenience,—any disturbance42 of arrangements,—any—”
“Any bickerings in the family, you would say,” eagerly joined in the captain; “yes, yes, you express my very thoughts. It does not do to have many wills in one house,—one pulling this way, another that. It is far better to meet now and then as good friends, than to live under one roof with perpetual jarring.”
“Then, perhaps, you perceive the advisability of soon looking out—”
“Looking out for lodgings?” interrupted the old gentleman. “I’ll do so with the greatest pleasure in life! I’m quite at your ladyship’s service. I’ll hunt half London over, but I will get a place to suit you!”
“To suit me!” exclaimed the astonished lady. As the words were upon her lips Clemence re-entered the room, and her uncle, too full of his success to keep it to himself, cried out as he got up to meet her, “Had we not better put off our walk, Clemence? I’m going off at once to look for lodgings for Lady Selina in Bloomsbury Square.”
Clemence’s blue eyes opened wide in astonishment43; she turned them inquiringly towards Lady Selina, who rose from her seat with the dignity of which even surprise and anger could not deprive her. “There are some people,” she said bitterly, “who mistake impertinence for wit, and pride themselves on their talent for raising a laugh, even if it be at their own expense. Captain Thistlewood is an adept44 in the art; but he may learn that under my brother-in-law’s roof such jesting may be carried too far;” and she swept out of the room without vouchsafing45 a single word of explanation to the wondering Clemence.
The captain remained perfectly silent until the rustle46 of the lady’s silk was heard no more on the staircase, and then burst into a loud fit of uncontrollable mirth. “A regular Irish blunder!” he exclaimed, as soon as he could command his voice; “Politeness and Policy bowing each other so ceremoniously out of the house, that they knocked their heads together at the door!” and he laughed and chuckled47 over his own mistake, and that of the astute48 Lady Selina, long after he and Clemence had quitted Belgrave Square on their way to the scene of the skating.
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1
serpentine
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| adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的 | |
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thaw
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| v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和 | |
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3
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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superciliously
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| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
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7
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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8
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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warded
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| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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12
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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18
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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versus
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| prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下 | |
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auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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31
babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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34
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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36
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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37
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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40
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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41
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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42
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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43
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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44
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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45
vouchsafing
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的现在分词 )；允诺 | |
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46
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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47
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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