The world, from which the young girl had for a time been separated by her illness, like a magnet possessed12 more and more attraction the nearer she approached to it again. The Bible, though not entirely13 neglected, was often laid aside for the novel; and gossip about the fashions, a new dress, or a new acquaintance, was readily welcomed by Louisa as a substitute for serious thought. Her conscience was no longer dead, but its voice was drowned in other sounds; the terrors which had oppressed her were melting away like a dark, dissolving view, into new bright tints14; and when the sick-room was exchanged for the drawing-room, Louisa seemed to have left behind her most of the serious resolves and solemn impressions which had owed their birth only to fear.
Not contented15 with her insidious16 endeavours to alienate17 from Clemence the affection which she had won, Lady Selina employed all her art in throwing difficulties in the way of replacing Mademoiselle Lafleur. Her own education, though not more solid, had been conducted on more fashionable principles than that of Mrs. Effingham; and Lady Selina had little difficulty in making it appear even to her brother-in-law that she was far better qualified18 than the youthful step-mother to choose an instructress for his children. If Clemence deemed that she had met with a lady whose high character, experience, and knowledge were likely to render her services valuable, Lady Selina at once detected some defect of manner, education, or age, which would render it perfectly19 out of the question to receive her as governess in Belgrave Square. The earl’s daughter appeared, by Mr. Effingham’s tacit consent, to reserve to herself a power of negativing every proposition which did not please her; and it was evident to Clemence that this power would never lie dormant20 in her hands. The young wife, too timid to court opposition21, too diffident to maintain her own opinion boldly, except in cases where conscience was concerned, gave great advantage to an adversary22 well versed23 in the tactics of the world, and by no means scrupulous24 in making use of its weapons.
The small property of Captain Thistlewood, amounting, clear of needful expenses, to less than a hundred pounds per annum, had by his death reverted25 to his niece; but the money would not for some months be available, and in the meantime Clemence, the wife of the opulent banker, was annoyed by petty pecuniary26 embarrassments27. Her expenses had been regulated with the strictest economy since her first and only visit to Madame La Voye; but necessary expenditure28 on mourning, however simple, had involved her again in difficulties, which harassed29 without seriously distressing. Clemence shrank with invincible30 reluctance31 from applying for money to her husband, who had so recently generously taken upon himself the debt which she had so thoughtlessly incurred32. Nor could Clemence conscientiously33 apply to her own private use even a fraction of the large sums appropriated to household expenses; she looked upon herself as her husband’s steward34, and scrupulously35 acted as such. It thus happened that, in the midst of luxury and plenty, the young mistress of that superb mansion36 found her purse drained of its last shilling. The consequences of her excessive liberality and thoughtless expenditure on first coming to London clung to her still; and it did not lessen37 her chagrin38 to suspect that Lady Selina was aware of her little difficulties, and secretly rejoiced in the embarrassments into which she herself had helped to lead an inexperienced girl.
One afternoon towards the end of January, Mr. Marsden, the clergyman of the parish, paid a visit in Belgrave Square. He was a man who laboured faithfully in his vocation39; and though his manner might be ridiculed40, and his sermons criticised, his character always commanded respect. Lady Selina usually brought out for his benefit her most choice religious phrases. When he feelingly congratulated the pale Louisa on her deliverance from danger and her recovery from illness, her aunt chimed in with such admirable observations on the uncertainty41 of life and the necessity for constant readiness for death, as raised the lady in the eyes of the clergyman. He was proportionately disappointed to mark Clemence’s apparent coldness on the subject; for her truthful42 nature could not show approval of sentiments, however true, which she knew to be uttered by the lip of hypocrisy43.
The object of Mr. Marsden’s visit was to lay before his rich parishioners the pressing necessities of his poor. The winter was a very severe one. Behind the magnificent mansions44 of the aristocracy, want pined and sickness languished45. He had come from the garret of the widow, the loathsome46 crowded dwellings47 of the indigent48; he pleaded the cause of the orphan49, and of those who had no certain shelter from the piercing cold, even in a season so inclement50.
Lady Selina shook her head mournfully at the clergyman’s description of prevailing51 poverty, sighed, drew forth52 her purse, and taking from it the smallest gold coin of the realm, gave it with some excellent comments on the privilege of assisting the poor, and the necessity of supporting all the numerous valuable institutions springing up on all sides for their relief!
Mr. Marsden bowed, and turned towards Mrs. Effingham. Clemence’s sympathy for her suffering brethren had been strongly called forth by his appeal; but what could she do to prove it? The mistress of that stately mansion, in her own luxurious53 apartment, could plead no disability to give. Young Vincent’s eyes were fastened upon her; Clemence knew that he expected that the liberality of one who had often spoken to him of the poor, and of the duties of the rich in regard to them, should be in accordance with her principles. There was a short, awkward pause, and Clemence was about to promise to lay the appeal before Mr. Effingham, when Lady Selina drew forth a bank-note from the porte-monnaie which she still held in her hand.
“If your purse is not here, Mrs. Effingham, I shall be most happy to accommodate you,” she said with a smile; and there being no time for reflection, the note was hesitatingly received by Clemence, and transferred to the clergyman, who shortly afterwards quitted the house, leaving the young wife the consciousness of having performed not a liberal, but a foolish act—of being, not the benefactress of the poor, but a plaything in the hands of Lady Selina.
“Shall I never acquire the power of saying ‘No,’ and lose my childish fear of offending or disappointing?” thought Clemence, greatly discontented with herself. “I am actually in debt to Lady Selina; but I will not be so beyond this evening. I will speak to my husband frankly54, and ask him to advance me some of the interest that will be due to me in June. I will try to be much more prudent55 and watchful56 over my expenditure in future, divide my several items of expense, and appropriate a fixed57 sum to each, so that vanity may never encroach on benevolence58, or thoughtless folly59 leave me again without the means of assisting the poor. I see that economy is not required alone by those whose means are narrow; true is the saying, that every man, whatever be his wealth, is poor, if he spend a shilling more than he possesses!”
ILL NEWS.
More impatiently than usual Clemence on this evening awaited her husband’s return from the city. That return was delayed far beyond the usual hour. Clemence felt, however, at first no uneasiness at his absence. He had had some unusual press of business, or had been delayed by seeing some friend. Twilight60 deepened into night, the shutters61 were closed, the lamp was lighted on the table, and many observations were exchanged as to the cause of Mr. Effingham’s lateness.
“Papa’s watch must have gone backwards,” observed Louisa, who, wrapped up in shawl and fur cloak, occupied an invalid’s place on the sofa.
“If he were as hungry as I am,” cried Vincent, “he’d have no need of a watch! Well, there’s no use in watching and waiting; who’ll have a game of draughts62 with me to while away the time?”
“Not I,” said Louisa wearily; “there is no use in commencing anything which we may have to leave off in a minute.”
“Set the pieces, Vincent, and I’ll try if I cannot beat you,” said Clemence, putting aside her work. Vincent readily obeyed, and a game was commenced. Lady Selina took out her watch.
“Really I am becoming uneasy,” she said, resolved that Clemence at least should be so. “Mr. Effingham is always so punctual; I trust that nothing serious is the matter!”
“How ill papa has been looking lately,” observed Arabella.
Vincent found that his partner was paying very little attention to her game.
“This is the third time that you have been huffed!” he exclaimed; “if you do not take care I shall carry off every one of your men!”
“Mr. Effingham is very much changed; I am distressed64 to perceive it,” pursued Lady Selina. “Six months ago he was the youngest man of his age that ever I saw,—you might have really taken him for thirty,—and now!”
“I was noticing yesterday a streak65 of grey in his hair,” observed Arabella, glancing maliciously66 towards Mrs. Effingham.
“Won’t you move?” cried Vincent rather impatiently to his abstracted partner. Clemence mechanically placed her piece.
“I dare say that papa is worried by business,” said Lousia, resuming the thread of the conversation.
“There’s a carriage at last!” exclaimed Vincent; but the quick, listening ear of Clemence had caught the sound before he could hear it, and hastily rising, she quitted the room.
“The game’s up!” cried Vincent, making a clean sweep of the board, and tossing black and white promiscuously67 into the box; “it’s a shame, for I had much the best of it.”
“Papa must have been taking a long drive,” observed Louisa.
“One can judge of that in a minute by the horses,” cried Vincent, sauntering up to a window, and opening a leaf of the shutters that he might look out into the night. “Why, that’s not our carriage at all, it has only one horse; I know whose it is, it’s Mr. Mark’s,—papa’s man of business; what on earth brings him here at this hour?”
“That’s not papa’s voice in the hall,” said Arabella.
“I fear that something is indeed the matter!” exclaimed Louisa, starting from her seat.
Her suspicion was soon confirmed by the sound of the study-bell violently rung; then they heard the door open, and Mr. Mark’s voice below, calling for water for Mrs. Effingham.
“Something terrible has happened,” cried Lady Selina, and the next moment the drawing-room was vacated by all.
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1
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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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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7
depreciated
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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9
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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12
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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13
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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14
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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15
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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16
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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17
alienate
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| vt.使疏远，离间；转让(财产等) | |
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18
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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20
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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21
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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24
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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25
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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26
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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embarrassments
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| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
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28
expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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29
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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30
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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31
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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32
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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33
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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34
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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35
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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36
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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38
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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39
vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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40
ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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42
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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43
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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44
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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45
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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46
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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47
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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48
indigent
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的 | |
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49
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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50
inclement
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| adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的 | |
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51
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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52
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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53
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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54
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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55
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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56
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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57
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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58
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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59
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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60
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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61
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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62
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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63
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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64
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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65
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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66
maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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67
promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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