“Looks as though he might be in earnest, anyway,” suggested the senior. “Apparently3 not afraid of work, eh?”
“Something funny about it,” replied the junior, who was a bit of a pessimist4. “It isn’t like a fellow of his sort to give up his summer and buckle5 down to reading law in July.” He shook his head with misgivings6. “It won’t last, mark my word.”
But it did. Business was slack[163] throughout the hot weather and Ethan had plenty of time for reading; and he made the most of it. Several letters came from Vincent reminding him of his promise and urging him to come down to Stillhaven for a while. But always Ethan pleaded press of duties, until Vincent, whose own law shingle7 had been hanging out for a year and who had yet to find business pressing, felt more convinced than ever that his friend had, to use his own expression, “come a cropper somehow!”
the pool
In September Vincent ran down and spent Sunday. Ethan didn’t press him to come again, for his conversation was not of a sort calculated to reconcile a disappointed lover to his lot. The Devereuxs were still at Riverdell, but were returning to their Boston apartments the last of the month.
[164]
“She hasn’t forgiven you for not calling,” warned Vincent, “and you’ll have to eat dirt when you do see her, old chap.”
Ethan expressed entire willingness to grovel9, but flatly refused to set a date for the proceedings10. Vincent departed somewhat huffed, and for some time there was a perceptible coolness between them. Ethan regretted it, but he wasn’t ready yet to trust himself in the r?le of Vincent’s friend.
His first vacation since he had gone to work came early in October. Then a letter from a real estate agent who had the renting of his property made a journey to Riverdell advisable. He left Providence, with Farrell, in the car one Friday morning, intending to stay in Riverdell over Saturday, and at two o’clock swung the machine in[165] through the big gate of The Larches11. It had been a glorious brisk day, they had made record time and Ethan’s spirits had been high. But now, as they rumbled12 slowly up the circling driveway, old memories were asserting themselves and buoyancy gave place to depression. The maples13 were aflame in the afternoon sunlight, the Virginia creeper about the porches was radiantly crimson14, and along the gleaming white pergola bunches of purple grapes were still aglow15. But for all this The Larches had a lonesome look. The windows on the lower floor were shuttered and told eloquently16 of desertion.
a well-kept driveway
Ethan’s summons at the bell went unanswered for a time. Then footsteps sounded on the marble tiles inside and the big door swung open, revealing a comfortably stout17, double-chinned[166] woman who wiped her damp, red hands on her blue calico apron18.
“Why, Mr. Ethan!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, it’s I, Mrs. Billings,” he replied. “Farrell, take the car around to the stable and I’ll have William open up for you.”
big blue touring car
He stepped into the dimly lighted hall, already filled with the chill of approaching winter, and looked about him. Everything was apparently the same in spite of its recent occupancy. The house had been rented furnished, and plainly the Devereuxs had been satisfied to leave things as they had found them. He took off his coat and tossed it on to the big old-fashioned mahogany couch. Mrs. Billings, the housekeeper19, was still chattering20 volubly.
“If we’d known you was coming,[167] sir, we’d have had the blinds open and the fires lighted.”
“Never mind,” answered Ethan. “Have your husband build a fire in the library and in my room. I shan’t be here beyond Sunday morning. You can give me my meals in the library. I had a letter from Stearns a day or so ago telling me that the Devereuxs had left and asking whether I wanted to rent for the winter. I don’t believe I do. I don’t think I shall rent again at all. Well how have you been, you and that good-for-nothing husband of yours?”
“Nicely, sir, for myself, thank you. And Jonas, he isn’t one of the complaining sort, sir, but he do have the rheumatism21 something awful in wet weather. And how has your health been, Mr. Ethan?”
[168]
“I’ve been frightfully healthy, thank you. Where’s your husband?”
“I’ll call him, sir, at once. He’s out somewheres on the grounds, sir. And I’ll have a fire lit in no time, sir. He’ll be very pleased to see you, sir, will Jonas.” She stopped at the end of the hall and sank her voice to a hoarse22 whisper. “I fear he’s getting old and failing, Mr. Ethan,” she said despondently23. “It—it’s his head sir.”
“Eh?”
“Yes, sir. Along in June it was, Mr. Ethan, or maybe early in the month following, sir, that he came in quite excited like and wild, saying as he had seen you with his own eyes over toward the grove8 there. Yes, sir. ‘Jonas,’ says I, ‘it’s the sun.’ ‘No, ’taint,’ says he. ‘I saw him with my own eyes,’ says he, ‘a-standing under the trees. And when I looked[169] again he was gone,’ he says. It gave me quite a shock, sir, as you might say.”
lakeside lakeside
“Naturally. And since then you have observed no other symptoms?”
“No, sir, not particular, but he do seem a heap fonder of his victuals24 than he used to, and I’ve heard tell as that’s a sure sign of a failing intellect, Mr. Ethan.”
“In the case of your victuals, Mrs. Billings,” replied Ethan, “I’d say it was an indication of wisdom.”
“But, really,” continued Ethan, smiling, “I wouldn’t worry about Billings. The fact is, I was down here for a day or so about the time you speak of.”
“Here, sir? And you never came to see us, sir?”
[170]
“There—er—there were reasons, Mrs. Billings. And now how about that fire? And send your husband out to unlock the carriage house, please.”
“Yes, sir, directly, sir. And Jonas really saw you, Mr. Ethan, same as he said he did?”
“I think it more than likely, Mrs. Billings.”
Later, just at dusk, Ethan emerged from the library on to the broad cement-paved porch at the side of the house. Pausing to light a cigarette, he passed down the stone steps to the pergola and traversed its length. Fallen leaves rustled27 softly under his feet and the purple clusters showed the effects of the frost. Once out of the arbor28, his steps led him almost[171] unconsciously across the open lawn, russet now and streaked29 with the long sombre shadows of the trees. He found himself swayed by two desires; one to see the lotus pool again, the other to avoid it. He went on through the twilight30 grove, filled with a gentle—I had almost said pleasant—sadness. Underfoot the ground was carpeted with the red leaves of the maples. Here and there a white birch stood like a pale gold flame in the dying sunlight. The dark green larches alone held themselves unchanged.
The pool was sadly different. Yellowing lily-pads floated upon the surface, but no blossoms caught the slanting31 rays of the sun. Ethan sat down under the willow32, took his knees into his arms and puffed33 blue smoke-wreaths into the amber34 light. Presently[172] a shadow presence came and sat beside him. The presence had violet eyes and red, red lips that smiled wistfully. He didn’t turn his head, for he knew that if he did he would find himself again alone. And presently they talked.
Clytie
“You were very cruel,” he said sadly.
“I didn’t mean to be,” she answered.
“No, I don’t think you did. You—you just didn’t think, I suppose. It was all a bit of good fun with you. But—it played the deuce with me.”
“Did it?” she asked regretfully.
“But I’m not blaming you—now,” he went on. “I did at first. It seemed needlessly cruel and heartless. But I understand now that it was all my fault. You see, dear, I took it for[173] granted, I thought, that you—cared—the way I did. It was my silly conceit35.”
“If only there hadn’t been that kiss,” he continued dreamily. “That—I’ve never quite understood that. Sometimes—I dare say it’s my conceit again—but sometimes I can’t help thinking that you did care—a little—just then! That is the hardest to forgive, dear,—and forget, that kiss. If it wasn’t for the memory of that I think I could stand it better. Why did you do it? Why?”
There was no answer save the sighing of a little breeze which crept down the slope in a floating shower of dead leaves.
“Ah, but I want to know!” he insisted doggedly37. “Was it just in[174] fun? Was it merely in pity? It couldn’t have been, I tell you! You never kissed me like that for pity, dear! There was love in your eyes, sweetheart; I saw it; fathoms38 deep in that purple twilight! Love, do you hear? You can’t deny it, you can’t! And you trembled in my arms! Why did you do it?” he asked sharply.
He turned impetuously,—and sighed. He was all alone. The presence had fled.
the pool
He tossed aside the dead cigarette in his hand and shivered. The breeze was growing as the day passed, a chill October breeze laden39 with the heavy, melancholy40 aroma41 of dying leaves. He arose and retraced42 his steps to the house.
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1
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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3
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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4
pessimist
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| n.悲观者；悲观主义者；厌世 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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6
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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7
shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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8
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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grovel
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| vi.卑躬屈膝，奴颜婢膝 | |
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10
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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11
larches
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| n.落叶松（木材）( larch的名词复数 ) | |
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12
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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13
maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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14
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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15
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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16
eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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19
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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20
chattering
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| 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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21
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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22
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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23
despondently
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| adv.沮丧地，意志消沉地 | |
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24
victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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25
bridled
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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26
softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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27
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
arbor
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| n.凉亭；树木 | |
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29
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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30
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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31
slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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32
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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33
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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34
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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35
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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36
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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37
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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38
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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39
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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40
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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41
aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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42
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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