But Bertrand did not know that it was in truth Jaume Deydier who, during those trying years at St. Cyr, had generously paid the debts which the young cadet had thoughtlessly contracted—dragged as he had been into a vortex of fashionable life where every one of his comrades was richer than he. Bertrand, driven to distraction3 by the pressure of monetary4 difficulties, had confessed to Micheline,
87
and Micheline had quite naturally gone with the sad story to her bosom5 friend, Nicolette. She had wept, and Nicolette had wept, and the two girls fell into one another’s arms and then thought and planned how best Bertrand could be got out of his difficulties without reference to grandmama. And lo! and behold6, Bertrand presently received five thousand francs from his dear sister Micheline. They were, she darkly hinted, the proceeds of certain rigid7 economies which she had effected in the management of her pin money. Bertrand accepted both money and explanation without much compunction, but unfortunately through his own indiscretion, grandmama got to hear of his debts and of the five thousand francs. It was, of course, impossible to deceive grandmama for long. Within half an hour the true secret of Bertrand’s benefactor8 was wrung9 out of the unwilling10 Micheline.
That a young Comte de Ventadour should make debts whilst he was at St. Cyr was a perfectly11 proper and natural state of things; avarice12 or thrift13 would have been a far greater crime in the eyes of the old Comtesse, than the borrowing of a few thousands from bourgeois14 tradesmen who could well afford it, without much knowledge as to how those thousands
88
would be repaid. Therefore she never thought of blaming Bertrand. On the other hand, she was very severe with Micheline, not so much for having aroused Nicolette’s sympathy on behalf of Bertrand, as for continuing this friendship with the people at the mas, which she—grandmama—thought degrading. And there the matter ended.
Jaume Deydier was passing rich—was the old Comtesse’s argument—he and his forbears had enriched themselves at the expense of their feudal15 lords, grabbing their lands whenever opportunity arose. No doubt the present owner of those splendid estates which once had belonged to the Comtes de Ventadour, felt some compunction in knowing that the present scion16 of that ancient race was in financial difficulties, and no doubt, too, that his compunction led to a tardy17 liberality. It all was perfectly right and just. Margarita de Ventadour’s own arguments completely eased her conscience. But she did not enlighten Bertrand. The boy was hot-headed, he might do something foolish and humiliating. The money must be accepted as a matter of course: grandmama outwardly must know nothing about it. Nor Bertrand.
And so Bertrand was kept in the dark as
89
to this and other matters which were far more important.
Even to-day he had been told nothing: he had only guessed. A word from Micheline about St. Cyr, one from his mother about the kind friend who had saved the old château from the hands of the creditors18 had set his young mind speculating, but that was all.
There was much of his grandmother’s temperament19 in Bertrand; much of that racial pride of family and arrogance20 of caste, which not even the horrors of the Revolution had wholly eradicated21. But underlying22 that pride and arrogance there were in Bertrand de Ventadour some fine aspirations23 and impulses of manhood and chivalry24, such as the one which caused him to declare his intention of visiting Jaume Deydier immediately.
Micheline was now quite happy: for a little while she had almost thought the beloved brother vain and ungrateful. Now her heart was already full of excuses for him. He was coming on the morrow with her to see Nicolette. It was perhaps a little late to-day. They had their dinner early at the mas, and it would not do to interrupt them all at their meal. But to-morrow she and Bertrand would go over in the morning, and spend a
90
long, happy day in the dear old house, or in the garden under the shade of the wild vine just as they used to do in the past.
The evening was a glorious one. It seemed as if summer, in these her declining days, was donning her most gorgeous garb25 to dazzle the eyes of mortals, ere she sank, dying into the arms of autumn. One or two early frosts had touched the leaves of the mountain ash with gold and the hips26 and haws on the wild rose-bushes were of a dazzling crimson27. And so good to eat!
Micheline who was quite happy now, was picking them in big baskets full to take over to Margaï, who made such delicious preserves from them. Overhead the starlings were making a deafening28 noise; the olives were plentiful29 this year and very nearly ripe, and a flock of these chattering30 birds had descended31 upon the woods around the château and were eating their fill. The evening was drawing in rapidly, in this land where twilight32 is always short. Luberon frowning and majestic33 had long since hidden the glory of the setting sun, and way out to the east the moon, looking no more substantial than a small round fluffy34 cloud, gave promise of a wonderful night. Looking straight across the valley Micheline
91
could glimpse the whitewashed35 walls of the old mas gleaming, rose-tinted by the afterglow, above the terraced gradients, and through the curtains of dwarf36 olive trees. She knew that at a certain window into which a climbing crimson rose peeped in, blossom-laden, Nicolette would be sitting at this hour, gazing across the valley to the towers of the old château where she had spent so many happy days in the past. It almost seemed to Micheline that despite the distance she could see, in a framework of tangled37 roses, Nicolette’s brown curls turned to gold by the last kiss of the setting sun, and down in the garden the arbour draped in a mantle38 of disorderly vine, which flaunted39 its riotous40 colours, its purples and chromes and crimsons41, in the midst of the cool grey-greens of stately pine and feathery mimosa. Anon, scared by the sudden sharp report of a distant gun, the host of starlings rose with strident cries and like a thin black cloud spread itself over the mountain-side, united and disintegrated42 and united again, then vanished up the valley. After which all was still.
Micheline put down her basket and throwing out her frail43, flat chest she breathed into her lungs the perfumed evening air, fragrant44
92
with the scent45 of lavender and wild thyme: and with a gesture of tenderness and longing46, she spread out her arms, as if she would enfold in a huge embrace all that was beautiful and loving, and tender in this world that, hitherto, had held so few joys for her. And while she stood, thus silent and entranced, there descended upon the wide solitude47 around the perfect mysterious hush48 of evening, that hush which seems most absolute at this hour when the crackling, tiny twigs49 on dead branches shiver at touch of the breeze, and the hum of cockchafers fills the air with its drowsy50 buzz.
Suddenly Micheline’s attention was arrested by strange happenings on the road, way down below. A horseman had come in sight. When Micheline first caught sight of him, he was riding at full speed, but presently he checked his horse and looked about him, after which he deliberately51 turned up the rough road which led, winding52 up the mountain-side, to the gate of the château.
The man was dressed in a bottle-green coat which had some gold lace about it; he wore drab breeches and his boots and coat were powdered with dust as if he had come a long way. Micheline also noted53 that he had a leather wallet slung54 by a strap55 around his
93
shoulders. Anon a sharp turn in the road hid the horseman from view.
The young girl was conscious of a pleasant thrill of expectation. Visitors at the old château were a rare occurrence, and the lonely rider was obviously coming here, as the rough road led nowhere else. Though she could no longer see him, she could hear the thud of the horse’s hoofs56 drawing nearer every moment.
The main entrance of the château was through a monumental door in the square tower, contiguous to the wing that held the habitable rooms. This tower and door being on the other side of the building from where Micheline was standing57, she could not possibly hope to see what would happen, when presently the visitor would request admittance. This being a quite unendurable proposition, Micheline, forgetting the hips and haws, as well as her own dignity, hurried round the château and was just in time to see Jasmin shuffling58 across the court-yard and the rider drawing rein59, and turning in the saddle in order to ask him a question with the air of a man who had never been accustomed to wait.
Micheline caught the sound of her brother’s name.
“M. le Comte de Ventadour,” the visitor
94
was saying to Jasmin, “lieutenant60 in the first company of His Majesty’s bodyguard61.”
“It is here, monsieur,” Jasmin replied, “but M. le Comte——”
“M. le Comte de Ventadour,” Micheline broke in eagerly, as the new-comer himself rapidly jumped out of the saddle, “is within. Would you wish, monsieur, to speak with him?”
The man saluted62 in correct military style.
“I am,” he said, “the bearer of an urgent despatch63 to M. le Comte.”
“Ah?”
All at once Micheline felt her excitement give way to prosaic64 anxiety. An urgent despatch? What could it mean?
“Give yourself the trouble to enter, monsieur,” she said.
The big front door was always on the latch65 (there was nothing to tempt66 the foot-pad or the housebreaker in the château de Ventadour) and Micheline herself pushed it open. The mysterious visitor having carefully fastened his horse to the iron ring in the outside wall, followed the young girl into the vast, bare hall. She was beginning to feel a little frightened.
“Will you be pleased to walk up, monsieur?”
95
she asked. “Jasmin will go and call M. le Comte.”
“By your leave, Mademoiselle,” the messenger replied, “I will wait here for M. le Comte’s pleasure.”
There was nothing for it but to send Jasmin upstairs to go and tell Bertrand; and alas67! there was no excuse for Micheline to wait and hear what the urgent despatch might be about. She certainly felt anxious, as such a thing had never occurred before. No one at the old owl’s nest ever received urgent despatches from anywhere. Dragging her lame68 leg slowly across the hall, Micheline went, hoping against hope that Bertrand would be down soon before she had reached the top of the stairs, so that she could hear the visitor deliver his message. But Jasmin was slow, or Bertrand difficult to find. However slowly Micheline moved along, she was across the hall and up the stairs at one end of the gallery before Bertrand appeared at the other. Jasmin preceded him, carrying a candle. It was now quite dark, only through the tall oriel window at the top of the stairs the moon sent a pale, wan69 ray of light. Micheline could no longer see the mysterious messenger: the gloom had swallowed him up completely, but
96
she could hear Bertrand’s footsteps descending70 the stone stairs and Jasmin shuffling along in front of him. She could see the flicker71 of candlelight on the great bare walls, the forged iron banister, the tattered72 matting on the floor, which had long since replaced the magnificent Aubusson carpet of the past.
The whole scene had become like a dream. Micheline leaning against the balustrade of the gallery, strained her ears to listen. She only caught snatches of what the man was saying because he spoke73 in whispers. Jasmin had put the candle down upon the table, and then had shuffled74 quietly away. At one time Micheline heard the rustle75 of paper, at another an exclamation76 from Bertrand. In the end Bertrand said formally:
“And where do you go after this?”
“Straight back to Avignon, mon lieutenant,” the man replied, “to report.”
“You can say I will start in the morning.”
“At your service, mon lieutenant.”
A moment or two later Micheline heard the click of the man’s spurs as he saluted and turned to go, then the ring of his footsteps upon the flagged floor: finally the opening and closing of the great entrance door, Bertrand calling to Jasmin, the clink of metal and
97
creaking of leather, the champing of bit and clang of iron hoofs. The messenger had gone, and Bertrand was still lingering in the hall. Micheline craned her neck and saw him standing beside the heavy oak table. The light of the candle flickered77 about him, throwing a warm fantastic glow and weird78 distorting shadows upon his face, his hands, the paper which he held between his fingers, and in which he seemed wholly absorbed. After a few moments which appeared like an eternity79 to the watching girl, he folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket. Then he turned to cross the hall. Micheline met him at the top of the stairs.
“What is it, Bertrand?” she asked breathlessly. “I am so anxious.”
He did not know she was there, and started when he heard her voice. But at once he took hold of her hand and patted it reassuringly80.
“There is nothing to be anxious about, little sister,” he said, “but I shall have to leave here to-morrow.”
“Yes,” she said, “but why?”
“A message came through by the new aerial telegraph to Avignon. More troops have left for Spain. All leaves are cancelled. I have to rejoin my regiment81 at once.”
98
“But,” she exclaimed, “you are not going to the war?”
“I am afraid not,” he replied with a touch of bitterness. “If the King’s bodyguard was to be sent to the front it would mean that France was once more at her last gasp82.”
“There is no fear of that?”
“None whatever.”
“Then why should you say that you are afraid that you are not going to the war?” Micheline asked, and her eyes, the great pathetic eyes of a hopeless cripple, fastened on the brother’s face a look of yearning83 anxiety. The ghostly light of the moon came shyly peeping in through the tall, open window: it fell full upon his handsome young face, which wore a perturbed84, spiritless look.
“Well, little sister,” he said dejectedly, “life does not hold such allurements85 for me, does it, that I should cling desperately86 to it?”
“How can you say that, Bertrand?” the girl retorted. “You love Rixende, do you not?”
“With all my soul,” he replied fervently87.
“And she loves you?”
“I believe so,” he said with a strange unaccountable sigh; “I do firmly believe,” he added slowly, “that Rixende loves me.”
99
“Well then?”
To this he made no reply, and anon passed his hand across his forehead.
“You are right, Micheline, I have no right to talk as I do—to feel as I feel to-night—dispirited and discouraged. All the world smiles to me,” he added with a sudden outburst of liveliness, which may perhaps not have rung quite true in the anxious sister’s ears. “I love Rixende, Rixende loves me; I am going to inherit tante Sybille’s millions, and dejection is a crime. So now let us go to mother and break the news of my departure to her. I shall have to leave early in the morning, little sister. We’ll have to say good-bye to-night.”
“And not say good-bye to Nicolette after all,” Micheline murmured under her breath.
But this Bertrand did not hear.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
tottered
|
|
| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
distraction
|
|
| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
monetary
|
|
| adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
benefactor
|
|
| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
wrung
|
|
| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
avarice
|
|
| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
thrift
|
|
| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
bourgeois
|
|
| adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
feudal
|
|
| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
scion
|
|
| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
tardy
|
|
| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
creditors
|
|
| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
arrogance
|
|
| n.傲慢，自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
eradicated
|
|
| 画着根的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
underlying
|
|
| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
aspirations
|
|
| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
chivalry
|
|
| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hips
|
|
| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
plentiful
|
|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
chattering
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
fluffy
|
|
| adj.有绒毛的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
whitewashed
|
|
| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
dwarf
|
|
| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
flaunted
|
|
| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
riotous
|
|
| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
crimsons
|
|
| 变为深红色（crimson的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
42
disintegrated
|
|
| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
twigs
|
|
| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
drowsy
|
|
| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
strap
|
|
| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
hoofs
|
|
| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
shuffling
|
|
| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
bodyguard
|
|
| n.护卫，保镖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
despatch
|
|
| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
prosaic
|
|
| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
latch
|
|
| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tempt
|
|
| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
wan
|
|
| (wide area network)广域网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
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： |
|
|
|
|
74
shuffled
|
|
| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
rustle
|
|
| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
flickered
|
|
| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
eternity
|
|
| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
reassuringly
|
|
| ad.安心，可靠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
yearning
|
|
| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
allurements
|
|
| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
fervently
|
|
| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |