It seemed to Harry that it was a situation requiring some active measures. He couldn’t realize that he had fallen hopelessly in love without some rights accruing2 to him for the possession of the object of his passion. Quiet resignation under relinquishment3 of any thing he wanted was not in his line. And when it appeared to him that his surrender of Laura would be the withdrawal4 of the one barrier that kept her from ruin, it was unreasonable5 to expect that he could see how to give her up.
Harry had the most buoyant confidence in his own projects always; he saw everything connected with himself in a large way and in rosy6 lines. This predominance of the imagination over the judgment7 gave that appearance of exaggeration to his conversation and to his communications with regard to himself, which sometimes conveyed the impression that he was not speaking the truth. His acquaintances had been known to say that they invariably allowed a half for shrinkage in his statements, and held the other half under advisement for confirmation8.
Philip in this case could not tell from Harry’s story exactly how much encouragement Laura had given him, nor what hopes he might justly have of winning her. He had never seen him desponding before. The “brag” appeared to be all taken out of him, and his airy manner only asserted itself now and then in a comical imitation of its old self.
Philip wanted time to look about him before he decided9 what to do. He was not familiar with Washington, and it was difficult to adjust his feelings and perceptions to its peculiarities10. Coming out of the sweet sanity11 of the Bolton household, this was by contrast the maddest Vanity Fair one could conceive. It seemed to him a feverish12, unhealthy atmosphere in which lunacy would be easily developed. He fancied that everybody attached to himself an exaggerated importance, from the fact of being at the national capital, the center of political influence, the fountain of patronage13, preferment, jobs and opportunities.
People were introduced to each other as from this or that state, not from cities or towns, and this gave a largeness to their representative feeling. All the women talked politics as naturally and glibly14 as they talk fashion or literature elsewhere. There was always some exciting topic at the Capitol, or some huge slander15 was rising up like a miasmatic16 exhalation from the Potomac, threatening to settle no one knew exactly where. Every other person was an aspirant17 for a place, or, if he had one, for a better place, or more pay; almost every other one had some claim or interest or remedy to urge; even the women were all advocates for the advancement18 of some person, and they violently espoused19 or denounced this or that measure as it would affect some relative, acquaintance or friend.
Love, travel, even death itself, waited on the chances of the dies daily thrown in the two Houses, and the committee rooms there. If the measure went through, love could afford to ripen20 into marriage, and longing21 for foreign travel would have fruition; and it must have been only eternal hope springing in the breast that kept alive numerous old claimants who for years and years had besieged22 the doors of Congress, and who looked as if they needed not so much an appropriation23 of money as six feet of ground. And those who stood so long waiting for success to bring them death were usually those who had a just claim.
Representing states and talking of national and even international affairs, as familiarly as neighbors at home talk of poor crops and the extravagance of their ministers, was likely at first to impose upon Philip as to the importance of the people gathered here.
There was a little newspaper editor from Phil’s native town, the assistant on a Peddletonian weekly, who made his little annual joke about the “first egg laid on our table,” and who was the menial of every tradesman in the village and under bonds to him for frequent “puffs,” except the undertaker, about whose employment he was recklessly facetious24. In Washington he was an important man, correspondent, and clerk of two house committees, a “worker” in politics, and a confident critic of every woman and every man in Washington. He would be a consul25 no doubt by and by, at some foreign port, of the language of which he was ignorant—though if ignorance of language were a qualification he might have been a consul at home. His easy familiarity with great men was beautiful to see, and when Philip learned what a tremendous underground influence this little ignoramus had, he no longer wondered at the queer appointments and the queerer legislation.
Philip was not long in discovering that people in Washington did not differ much from other people; they had the same meannesses, generosities26, and tastes: A Washington boarding house had the odor of a boarding house the world over.
Col. Sellers was as unchanged as any one Philip saw whom he had known elsewhere. Washington appeared to be the native element of this man. His pretentions were equal to any he encountered there. He saw nothing in its society that equalled that of Hawkeye, he sat down to no table that could not be unfavorably contrasted with his own at home; the most airy scheme inflated27 in the hot air of the capital only reached in magnitude some of his lesser28 fancies, the by-play of his constructive29 imagination.
“The country is getting along very well,” he said to Philip, “but our public men are too timid. What we want is more money. I’ve told Boutwell so. Talk about basing the currency on gold; you might as well base it on pork. Gold is only one product. Base it on everything! You’ve got to do something for the West. How am I to move my crops? We must have improvements. Grant’s got the idea. We want a canal from the James River to the Mississippi. Government ought to build it.”
It was difficult to get the Colonel off from these large themes when he was once started, but Philip brought the conversation round to Laura and her reputation in the City.
“No,” he said, “I haven’t noticed much. We’ve been so busy about this University. It will make Laura rich with the rest of us, and she has done nearly as much as if she were a man. She has great talent, and will make a big match. I see the foreign ministers and that sort after her. Yes, there is talk, always will be about a pretty woman so much in public as she is. Tough stories come to me, but I put’em away. ’Taint likely one of Si Hawkins’s children would do that—for she is the same as a child of his. I told her, though, to go slow,” added the Colonel, as if that mysterious admonition from him would set everything right.
“Do you know anything about a Col. Selby?”
“Know all about him. Fine fellow. But he’s got a wife; and I told him, as a friend, he’d better sheer off from Laura. I reckon he thought better of it and did.”
But Philip was not long in learning the truth. Courted as Laura was by a certain class and still admitted into society, that, nevertheless, buzzed with disreputable stories about her, she had lost character with the best people. Her intimacy30 with Selby was open gossip, and there were winks31 and thrustings of the tongue in any group of men when she passed by. It was clear enough that Harry’s delusion32 must be broken up, and that no such feeble obstacle as his passion could interpose would turn Laura from her fate. Philip determined33 to see her, and put himself in possession of the truth, as he suspected it, in order to show Harry his folly34.
Laura, after her last conversation with Harry, had a new sense of her position. She had noticed before the signs of a change in manner towards her, a little less respect perhaps from men, and an avoidance by women. She had attributed this latter partly to jealousy35 of her, for no one is willing to acknowledge a fault in himself when a more agreeable motive36 can be found for the estrangement37 of his acquaintances. But now, if society had turned on her, she would defy it. It was not in her nature to shrink. She knew she had been wronged, and she knew that she had no remedy.
What she heard of Col. Selby’s proposed departure alarmed her more than anything else, and she calmly determined that if he was deceiving her the second time it should be the last. Let society finish the tragedy if it liked; she was indifferent what came after. At the first opportunity, she charged Selby with his intention to abandon her. He unblushingly denied it.
He had not thought of going to Europe. He had only been amusing himself with Sellers’ schemes. He swore that as soon as she succeeded with her bill, he would fly with her to any part of the world.
She did not quite believe him, for she saw that he feared her, and she began to suspect that his were the protestations of a coward to gain time. But she showed him no doubts.
When Philip came into the presence of this attractive woman, he could not realize that she was the subject of all the scandal he had heard. She received him with quite the old Hawkeye openness and cordiality, and fell to talking at once of their little acquaintance there; and it seemed impossible that he could ever say to her what he had come determined to say. Such a man as Philip has only one standard by which to judge women.
Laura recognized that fact no doubt. The better part of her woman’s nature saw it. Such a man might, years ago, not now, have changed her nature, and made the issue of her life so different, even after her cruel abandonment. She had a dim feeling of this, and she would like now to stand well with him. The spark of truth and honor that was left in her was elicited39 by his presence. It was this influence that governed her conduct in this interview.
“I have come,” said Philip in his direct manner, “from my friend Mr. Brierly. You are not ignorant of his feeling towards you?”
“Perhaps not.”
“But perhaps you do not know, you who have so much admiration40, how sincere and overmastering his love is for you?” Philip would not have spoken so plainly, if he had in mind anything except to draw from Laura something that would end Harry’s passion.
“And is sincere love so rare, Mr. Sterling42?” asked Laura, moving her foot a little, and speaking with a shade of sarcasm43.
“Perhaps not in Washington,” replied Philip,—tempted into a similar tone. “Excuse my bluntness,” he continued, “but would the knowledge of his love; would his devotion, make any difference to you in your Washington life?”
“In respect to what?” asked Laura quickly.
“Well, to others. I won’t equivocate—to Col. Selby?”
“By what right, sir,—”
“By the right of friendship,” interrupted Philip stoutly45. “It may matter little to you. It is everything to him. He has a Quixotic notion that you would turn back from what is before you for his sake. You cannot be ignorant of what all the city is talking of.” Philip said this determinedly46 and with some bitterness.
It was a full minute before Laura spoke41. Both had risen, Philip as if to go, and Laura in suppressed excitement. When she spoke her voice was very unsteady, and she looked down.
“Yes, I know. I perfectly47 understand what you mean. Mr. Brierly is nothing—simply nothing. He is a moth48 singed49, that is all—the trifler with women thought he was a wasp50. I have no pity for him, not the least. You may tell him not to make a fool of himself, and to keep away. I say this on your account, not his. You are not like him. It is enough for me that you want it so. Mr. Sterling,” she continued, looking up; and there were tears in her eyes that contradicted the hardness of her language, “you might not pity him if you knew my history; perhaps you would not wonder at some things you hear. No; it is useless to ask me why it must be so. You can’t make a life over—society wouldn’t let you if you would—and mine must be lived as it is. There, sir, I’m not offended; but it is useless for you to say anything more.”
Philip went away with his heart lightened about Harry, but profoundly saddened by the glimpse of what this woman might have been. He told Harry all that was necessary of the conversation—she was bent51 on going her own way, he had not the ghost of a chance—he was a fool, she had said, for thinking he had.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
accruing
|
|
| v.增加( accrue的现在分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
relinquishment
|
|
| n.放弃；撤回；停止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
withdrawal
|
|
| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
confirmation
|
|
| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
sanity
|
|
| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
patronage
|
|
| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
glibly
|
|
| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
slander
|
|
| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
miasmatic
|
|
| adj.毒气的，沼气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
17
aspirant
|
|
| n.热望者；adj.渴望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
advancement
|
|
| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
espoused
|
|
| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ripen
|
|
| vt.使成熟；vi.成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
besieged
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
appropriation
|
|
| n.拨款，批准支出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
facetious
|
|
| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
consul
|
|
| n.领事；执政官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
generosities
|
|
| n.慷慨( generosity的名词复数 )；大方；宽容；慷慨或宽容的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
inflated
|
|
| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
lesser
|
|
| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
constructive
|
|
| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
winks
|
|
| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
delusion
|
|
| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
estrangement
|
|
| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
elicited
|
|
| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
sarcasm
|
|
| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
stoutly
|
|
| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
determinedly
|
|
| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
moth
|
|
| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
singed
|
|
| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
wasp
|
|
| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |