“But your criticisms are too full of brotherly partiality to be depended on, Washington. Other people will judge differently.”
“Indeed they won’t. You’ll see. There will never be a woman in Washington that can compare with you. You’ll be famous within a fortnight, Laura. Everybody will want to know you. You wait—you’ll see.”
Laura wished in her heart that the prophecy might come true; and privately4 she even believed it might—for she had brought all the women whom she had seen since she left home under sharp inspection5, and the result had not been unsatisfactory to her.
During a week or two Washington drove about the city every day with her and familiarized her with all of its salient features. She was beginning to feel very much at home with the town itself, and she was also fast acquiring ease with the distinguished6 people she met at the Dilworthy table, and losing what little of country timidity she had brought with her from Hawkeye. She noticed with secret pleasure the little start of admiration8 that always manifested itself in the faces of the guests when she entered the drawing-room arrayed in evening costume: she took comforting note of the fact that these guests directed a very liberal share of their conversation toward her; she observed with surprise, that famous statesmen and soldiers did not talk like gods, as a general thing, but said rather commonplace things for the most part; and she was filled with gratification to discover that she, on the contrary, was making a good many shrewd speeches and now and then a really brilliant one, and furthermore, that they were beginning to be repeated in social circles about the town.
Congress began its sittings, and every day or two Washington escorted her to the galleries set apart for lady members of the households of Senators and Representatives. Here was a larger field and a wider competition, but still she saw that many eyes were uplifted toward her face, and that first one person and then another called a neighbor’s attention to her; she was not too dull to perceive that the speeches of some of the younger statesmen were delivered about as much and perhaps more at her than to the presiding officer; and she was not sorry to see that the dapper young Senator from Iowa came at once and stood in the open space before the president’s desk to exhibit his feet as soon as she entered the gallery, whereas she had early learned from common report that his usual custom was to prop3 them on his desk and enjoy them himself with a selfish disregard of other people’s longings9.
Invitations began to flow in upon her and soon she was fairly “in society.” “The season” was now in full bloom, and the first select reception was at hand—that is to say, a reception confined to invited guests. Senator Dilworthy had become well convinced, by this time, that his judgment10 of the country-bred Missouri girl had not deceived him—it was plain that she was going to be a peerless missionary11 in the field of labor12 he designed her for, and therefore it would be perfectly13 safe and likewise judicious14 to send her forth15 well panoplied16 for her work.—So he had added new and still richer costumes to her wardrobe, and assisted their attractions with costly17 jewelry—loans on the future land sale.
This first select reception took place at a cabinet minister’s—or rather a cabinet secretary’s mansion18. When Laura and the Senator arrived, about half past nine or ten in the evening, the place was already pretty well crowded, and the white-gloved negro servant at the door was still receiving streams of guests.—The drawing-rooms were brilliant with gaslight, and as hot as ovens. The host and hostess stood just within the door of entrance; Laura was presented, and then she passed on into the maelstrom19 of be-jeweled and richly attired20 low-necked ladies and white-kid-gloved and steel pen-coated gentlemen and wherever she moved she was followed by a buzz of admiration that was grateful to all her senses—so grateful, indeed, that her white face was tinged21 and its beauty heightened by a perceptible suffusion22 of color. She caught such remarks as, “Who is she?” “Superb woman!” “That is the new beauty from the west,” etc., etc.
Whenever she halted, she was presently surrounded by Ministers, Generals, Congressmen, and all manner of aristocratic people. Introductions followed, and then the usual original question, “How do you like Washington, Miss Hawkins?” supplemented by that other usual original question, “Is this your first visit?”
These two exciting topics being exhausted23, conversation generally drifted into calmer channels, only to be interrupted at frequent intervals24 by new introductions and new inquiries25 as to how Laura liked the capital and whether it was her first visit or not. And thus for an hour or more the Duchess moved through the crush in a rapture26 of happiness, for her doubts were dead and gone, now she knew she could conquer here. A familiar face appeared in the midst of the multitude and Harry27 Brierly fought his difficult way to her side, his eyes shouting their gratification, so to speak:
“Oh, this is a happiness! Tell me, my dear Miss Hawkins—”
“Sh! I know what you are going to ask. I do like Washington—I like it ever so much!”
“No, but I was going to ask—”
“Yes, I am coming to it, coming to it as fast as I can. It is my first visit. I think you should know that yourself.”
And straightway a wave of the crowd swept her beyond his reach.
“Now what can the girl mean? Of course she likes Washington—I’m not such a dummy28 as to have to ask her that. And as to its being her first visit, why bang it, she knows that I knew it was. Does she think I have turned idiot? Curious girl, anyway. But how they do swarm29 about her! She is the reigning30 belle31 of Washington after this night. She’ll know five hundred of the heaviest guns in the town before this night’s nonsense is over. And this isn’t even the beginning. Just as I used to say—she’ll be a card in the matter of—yes sir! She shall turn the men’s heads and I’ll turn the women’s! What a team that will be in politics here. I wouldn’t take a quarter of a million for what I can do in this present session—no indeed I wouldn’t. Now, here—I don’t altogether like this. That insignificant32 secretary of legation is—why, she’s smiling on him as if he—and now on the Admiral! Now she’s illuminating33 that stuffy34 Congressman35 from Massachusetts—vulgar ungrammatcal shovel-maker—greasy knave36 of spades. I don’t like this sort of thing. She doesn’t appear to be much distressed37 about me—she hasn’t looked this way once. All right, my bird of Paradise, if it suits you, go on. But I think I know your sex. I’ll go to smiling around a little, too, and see what effect that will have on you.”
And he did “smile around a little,” and got as near to her as he could to watch the effect, but the scheme was a failure—he could not get her attention. She seemed wholly unconscious of him, and so he could not flirt38 with any spirit; he could only talk disjointedly; he could not keep his eyes on the charmers he talked to; he grew irritable39, jealous, and very unhappy. He gave up his enterprise, leaned his shoulder against a fluted40 pilaster and pouted41 while he kept watch upon Laura’s every movement. His other shoulder stole the bloom from many a lovely cheek that brushed him in the surging crush, but he noted42 it not. He was too busy cursing himself inwardly for being an egotistical imbecile. An hour ago he had thought to take this country lass under his protection and show her “life” and enjoy her wonder and delight—and here she was, immersed in the marvel43 up to her eyes, and just a trifle more at home in it than he was himself. And now his angry comments ran on again:
“Now she’s sweetening old Brother Balaam; and he—well he is inviting44 her to the Congressional prayer-meeting, no doubt—better let old Dilworthy alone to see that she doesn’t overlook that. And now its Splurge, of New York; and now its Batters45 of New Hampshire—and now the Vice46 President! Well I may as well adjourn47. I’ve got enough.”
But he hadn’t. He got as far as the door—and then struggled back to take one more look, hating himself all the while for his weakness.
Toward midnight, when supper was announced, the crowd thronged48 to the supper room where a long table was decked out with what seemed a rare repast, but which consisted of things better calculated to feast the eye than the appetite. The ladies were soon seated in files along the wall, and in groups here and there, and the colored waiters filled the plates and glasses and the male guests moved hither and thither49 conveying them to the privileged sex.
Harry took an ice and stood up by the table with other gentlemen, and listened to the buzz of conversation while he ate.
From these remarks he learned a good deal about Laura that was news to him. For instance, that she was of a distinguished western family; that she was highly educated; that she was very rich and a great landed heiress; that she was not a professor of religion, and yet was a Christian50 in the truest and best sense of the word, for her whole heart was devoted51 to the accomplishment52 of a great and noble enterprise—none other than the sacrificing of her landed estates to the uplifting of the down-trodden negro and the turning of his erring53 feet into the way of light and righteousness. Harry observed that as soon as one listener had absorbed the story, he turned about and delivered it to his next neighbor and the latter individual straightway passed it on. And thus he saw it travel the round of the gentlemen and overflow54 rearward among the ladies. He could not trace it backward to its fountain head, and so he could not tell who it was that started it.
One thing annoyed Harry a great deal; and that was the reflection that he might have been in Washington days and days ago and thrown his fascinations55 about Laura with permanent effect while she was new and strange to the capital, instead of dawdling56 in Philadelphia to no purpose. He feared he had “missed a trick,” as he expressed it.
He only found one little opportunity of speaking again with Laura before the evening’s festivities ended, and then, for the first time in years, his airy self-complacency failed him, his tongue’s easy confidence forsook57 it in a great measure, and he was conscious of an unheroic timidity. He was glad to get away and find a place where he could despise himself in private and try to grow his clipped plumes58 again.
When Laura reached home she was tired but exultant59, and Senator Dilworthy was pleased and satisfied. He called Laura “my daughter,” next morning, and gave her some “pin money,” as he termed it, and she sent a hundred and fifty dollars of it to her mother and loaned a trifle to Col. Sellers. Then the Senator had a long private conference with Laura, and unfolded certain plans of his for the good of the country, and religion, and the poor, and temperance, and showed her how she could assist him in developing these worthy7 and noble enterprises.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
attire
|
|
| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
prop
|
|
| vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
privately
|
|
| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
inspection
|
|
| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
longings
|
|
| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
judicious
|
|
| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
panoplied
|
|
| adj.全套披甲的，装饰漂亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
17
costly
|
|
| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
maelstrom
|
|
| n.大乱动；大漩涡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
tinged
|
|
| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
suffusion
|
|
| n.充满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
rapture
|
|
| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
dummy
|
|
| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
swarm
|
|
| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
reigning
|
|
| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
belle
|
|
| n.靓女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
illuminating
|
|
| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
stuffy
|
|
| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
Congressman
|
|
| n.（美）国会议员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
knave
|
|
| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
flirt
|
|
| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
irritable
|
|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fluted
|
|
| a.有凹槽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
pouted
|
|
| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
marvel
|
|
| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
inviting
|
|
| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
batters
|
|
| n.面糊（煎料）( batter的名词复数 )；面糊（用于做糕饼）；（ 棒球） 正在击球的球员；击球员v.连续猛击( batter的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
adjourn
|
|
| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
erring
|
|
| 做错事的，错误的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
overflow
|
|
| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
fascinations
|
|
| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
dawdling
|
|
| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
forsook
|
|
| forsake的过去式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
plumes
|
|
| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
exultant
|
|
| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |