The clergyman’s letter was a very tender one, full of pious6 consolation7, and concluded by offering to the bankrupt’s wife a home in the vicarage, where his dear partner, as well as himself, would ever regard her as a cherished daughter.
The good man’s words were as balm to Clemence’s wounded spirit, though she felt that her duty to her husband’s family might render it impossible to accept an invitation which would otherwise have opened a harbour of refuge to her weary, storm-tossed soul. Clemence, without further delay, wrote her final decision to Mr. Mark. Never had she more impatiently despatched a letter than that which stripped her at once of the wealth which lay like a mountain’s weight upon her conscience. Then, ringing the bell of the study—the room which she now almost exclusively occupied—Mrs. Effingham summoned, one after another, every member of her numerous household, and gave warning to all, without exception. It was a painful duty to the young mistress, but Clemence had nerved herself to its performance, and uttered a sigh of relief as the last of the servants quitted her presence. After all, it was easier to act than to think; the necessity for exertion8 was perhaps in itself a blessing9.
Clemence, since reading the article in the Times, had secluded10 herself much from the family; she could not, in the first hours of her anguish11, have endured the sight of familiar faces—the torture of being harassed12 with questions; she shrank even from the idea of sympathy, and could scarcely bear to look upon Vincent, the breathing image of one whom she thought of with grief, only exceeded by her love. Clemence felt it now, however, necessary to communicate with those whose interests were closely linked with her own, and to ascertain13 the views and feelings of her step-children before replying to the letter of Mr. Gray. With this view, mastering a strong sensation of repugnance14, she ascended15 to the drawing-room, and found herself, on opening the door, in the presence of the assembled family.
Lady Selina was standing17 near the fire-place in earnest conference with Arabella; Vincent had stretched himself on the velvet18 rug, leaning upon his crossed arms in an attitude of thought, but he started up on his step-mother’s entrance; Louisa lay on the sofa, her hand pressed over her eyes. There was a sudden break in the conversation when Clemence’s form appeared, and Lady Selina, with a slow and stately air, advanced forward a few steps to meet her.
“Mrs. Effingham,” she commenced, in tones even more cold and formal than usual, “I have been much surprised, greatly astonished to find that you have at once, without consulting any one, dismissed the whole of your husband’s establishment! May I presume to ask your reason for so extraordinary a step?”
“I cannot now afford to keep any such servants,” replied Clemence, gently but firmly.
“Not afford!—really, Mrs. Effingham, your language is incomprehensible! Not afford, with sixty thousand pounds of your own in the funds!”
Clemence leaned on the table for support as she answered, “I will never touch a farthing of that money. I have given up all to the creditors19, without reserve.”
“That’s right!” was the hearty20 exclamation21 of Vincent. Lady Selina stood for a moment actually speechless! Had she seen Clemence deliberately22 put an end to her own existence, the lady’s amazement23 and horror could not have been greater.
“You have done such an insane thing!” she exclaimed at length.
“I have done it!” was the reply of Clemence.
“Then, madam, you have qualified24 yourself for Bedlam25!” cried Lady Selina, condensed fury flashing from her eyes, all sense of what is due from one lady to another lost in the torrent26 of furious passion. “You have reduced your family to beggary; you have subscribed27 to the condemnation28 of your own husband; you have confirmed the opinion which I formed of you from the day when Mr. Effingham had the infatuation to throw himself away on a child—an idiot such as you!”
“Aunt, you must not, you shall not—” cried Vincent; but there was no staying the rushing flow of bitter words. Clemence endured them as the tree, whose leafy honours have been struck down by the woodman’s axe29, endures the pelting30 rain upon its prostrate31 form. It has felt the cold steel dividing its very core; the sharp blow, the heavy fall, have been its fate; the furious shower may now do its worst, it cannot lay it lower, any more than it has power to restore life to the withered32 foliage33! But when Lady Selina paused at length, mortified34, perhaps, to find that her fiercest invectives could awake no answering flash of angry retort, Clemence quietly expressed her hope that she might be enabled so to economize35 as to live upon her limited resources without incurring36 debt.
“Resources!” exclaimed Lady Selina with ineffable37 contempt; “the paltry38 interest of two or three thousand pounds, of which an hospital has the reversion! If you can reduce yourself, madam, to such pauper39 allowance for the future, how extricate40 yourself from the meshes41 of present difficulties? You speak of avoiding debt—you are in debt at the present moment to myself!”
Clemence unclasped the massive bracelet42 on her arm, and silently laid it on the table. It was her only reply. She then turned and quitted the apartment.
“I wish that she had flung it at aunt’s head!” was Vincent’s muttered comment on the scene.
A servant met Clemence as she was about to ascend16 the staircase. “Please, ma’am, Madame La Voye is at the door, and says that she must see you directly.”
“Send her away,” began Clemence, who felt as though her patience had already been tried to its utmost power of endurance; but as the man hesitated before again attempting a task in which he had already failed, she altered her resolution. “No; let her be shown into my room. Better meet this difficulty at once, and end it,” murmured Clemence to herself, as the footman turned to obey.
Madame La Voye had, like all the rest of the world, heard of the bankruptcy43 of Mr. Effingham, and trembled for her unpaid44 bill. Her indignation had been inflamed45 to a high pitch by the article in the Times. Mr. Effingham she had denounced, and loudly, as a swindler, a cheat, and a felon46; and she resolved, come what might, to have justice done to herself. She called at his house on Monday, and heard that Mrs. Effingham refused to see any one. Driven with difficulty from the door, the dressmaker repeated her call on the next day, with yet more fixed47 resolution to assert her claim. She would not be one of the miserable48 creditors who suffered themselves to be quietly robbed; she would not leave the house till she had received her money! Madame La Voye had worked herself up to an effervescence of indignation very unlike, indeed, to the smooth-tongued politeness with which she had received Mrs. Effingham into her show-apartments.
The Frenchwoman entered the house prepared to do battle for her rights, and the first words which she addressed to Clemence were abrupt49 almost to rudeness; but even she was in some degree awed50 by that pale, meek51 face, stamped with such deep impression of sorrow, and the first gentle tones of the silvery voice stilled her anger as if by a charm.
Clemence owned her debt and her inability to pay it (“Was all false, then, about the fortune?” thought La Voye); “But”—the lady hesitated and glanced at her wardrobe—“perhaps;” the Frenchwoman was not slow in comprehension—she spared the lady the humiliation52 of an explanation.
Pride was not Mrs. Effingham’s besetting53 sin; but, in one form or other, perhaps no human heart is entirely54 free from it. It was painful to the lady to hear the value of her wardrobe estimated in her presence—repugnant to her feelings to hear this mantle55 depreciated56 as no longer à la mode—that dress, because the folds of the velvet had been slightly ruffled57 in wearing. Madame La Voye was not without a heart, and her anger had subsided58 into pity; but the coarseness of her nature appeared even in what she intended for kindness, and in her compassion59 for the reduced lady she never for an instant forgot self-interest. Balancing, doubting, chaffering, making a parade of “a wish to oblige,” forming a shrewd calculation that a beautiful Indian shawl, “thrown into the lot, would make all even between them,” for almost an hour Madame La Voye made her victim do bitter penance60 for a day’s extravagance. The mortifying61 interview, however, ended at last; the Frenchwoman, well satisfied with her bargain, quitted the house, and Clemence held in her hand, receipted, that bill which had been the cause of so much annoyance62.
A sleepless63 night was passed in forming plans for the future. There had been only too much truth in Lady Selina’s words—how could the bankrupt’s wife find means to extricate herself from present difficulties? Clemence’s purse was empty. The first instalment of her income, miserable pittance64 as it appeared, was not due to her for months; she had none to whom to apply for assistance—none from whom she could hope for relief. Again and again Clemence thought of her jewels, but they were all, with the exception of her watch, and a few trifles of little or no intrinsic worth, the gifts of her husband, and she regarded them almost as one in the Dark Ages might have regarded precious relics,—things far too valuable to be parted with, except with life. Yet there seemed to be no other resource, and Clemence now felt that in resigning all her fortune she had made a sacrifice indeed.
She rose sad and unrefreshed from her sleepless pillow, and yet a spirit of submission65 was shed into her heart. The iron had entered into her soul, but the wound was not poisoned by rebellious66 unbelief. Clemence was able to pray hopefully for her husband, and to trust that even the trials of his condition might be a means of drawing him nearer to his God. Surely the Almighty67 had judged his errors less severely68 than the harsh, unfeeling world? Had not those errors arisen from the very tenderness of his affection towards his wife? The temptations of prosperity had raised a mist around him; the blast of misfortune had dispersed69 that mist, and the blue heaven would again smile above him! Thus mused70 the young wife, her mind ever recurring71 to her absent lord as the centre of all its earthly thoughts. She could not see him, write to him, cheer him; but she could still pour out her soul for him in prayer, and was there not sweet comfort in that?
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
relinquishing
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
pastor
|
|
| n.牧师，牧人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
maxims
|
|
| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
imbibed
|
|
| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
secluded
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
harassed
|
|
| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ascend
|
|
| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
creditors
|
|
| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
qualified
|
|
| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bedlam
|
|
| n.混乱，骚乱；疯人院 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
subscribed
|
|
| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
condemnation
|
|
| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
axe
|
|
| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
pelting
|
|
| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
mortified
|
|
| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
economize
|
|
| v.节约，节省 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
incurring
|
|
| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
ineffable
|
|
| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
paltry
|
|
| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
pauper
|
|
| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
extricate
|
|
| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
meshes
|
|
| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
bracelet
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
bankruptcy
|
|
| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
unpaid
|
|
| adj.未付款的，无报酬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
inflamed
|
|
| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
felon
|
|
| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
abrupt
|
|
| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
awed
|
|
| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
humiliation
|
|
| n.羞辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
besetting
|
|
| adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
depreciated
|
|
| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ruffled
|
|
| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
subsided
|
|
| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
penance
|
|
| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
mortifying
|
|
| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
sleepless
|
|
| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
pittance
|
|
| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
rebellious
|
|
| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
recurring
|
|
| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |