We had reached the middle and were right in the vortex, when suddenly she reeled in her saddle.
“I feel ill!” she said in a faint voice.
I bent7 over to her rapidly and threw my arm around her supple8 waist.
“Look up!” I whispered. “It is nothing; just be brave! I am with you.”
She grew better; she was about to disengage herself from my arm, but I clasped her tender, soft figure in a still closer embrace; my cheek almost touched hers, from which was wafted9 flame.
“What are you doing to me?... Oh, Heaven!”...
I paid no attention to her alarm and confusion, and my lips touched her tender cheek. She shuddered10, but said nothing. We were riding behind the others: nobody saw us.
When we made our way out on the bank, the horses were all put to the trot11. Princess Mary kept hers back; I remained beside her. It was evident that my silence was making her uneasy, but I swore to myself that I would not speak a single word—out of curiosity. I wanted to see how she would extricate12 herself from that embarrassing position.
“Either you despise me, or you love me very much!” she said at length, and there were tears in her voice. “Perhaps you want to laugh at me, to excite my soul and then to abandon me... That would be so base, so vile13, that the mere14 supposition... Oh, no!” she added, in a voice of tender trustfulness; “there is nothing in me which would preclude15 respect; is it not so? Your presumptuous16 action... I must, I must forgive you for it, because I permitted it... Answer, speak, I want to hear your voice!”...
There was such womanly impatience17 in her last words that, involuntarily, I smiled; happily it was beginning to grow dusk... I made no answer.
“You are silent!” she continued; “you wish, perhaps, that I should be the first to tell you that I love you.”...
I remained silent.
“Is that what you wish?” she continued, turning rapidly towards me.... There was something terrible in the determination of her glance and voice.
“Why?” I answered, shrugging my shoulders.
She struck her horse with her riding-whip and set off at full gallop18 along the narrow, dangerous road. It all happened so quickly that I was scarcely able to overtake her, and then only by the time she had joined the rest of the company.
All the way home she was continually talking and laughing. There was something feverish19 in her movements; not once did she look in my direction. Everybody observed her unusual gaiety. Princess Ligovski rejoiced inwardly as she looked at her daughter. However, the latter simply has a fit of nerves: she will spend a sleepless20 night, and will weep.
This thought affords me measureless delight: there are moments when I understand the Vampire21... And yet I am reputed to be a good fellow, and I strive to earn that designation!
On dismounting, the ladies went into Princess Ligovski’s house. I was excited, and I galloped22 to the mountains in order to dispel23 the thoughts which had thronged24 into my head. The dewy evening breathed an intoxicating25 coolness. The moon was rising from behind the dark summits. Each step of my unshod horse resounded26 hollowly in the silence of the gorges27. I watered the horse at the waterfall, and then, after greedily inhaling28 once or twice the fresh air of the southern night.
I set off on my way back.
I rode through the village. The lights in the windows were beginning to go out; the sentries29 on the fortress-rampart and the Cossacks in the surrounding pickets30 were calling out in drawling tones to one another.
In one of the village houses, built at the edge of a ravine, I noticed an extraordinary illumination. At times, discordant31 murmurs32 and shouting could be heard, proving that a military carouse33 was in full swing. I dismounted and crept up to the window. The shutter34 had not been made fast, and I could see the banqueters and catch what they were saying. They were talking about me.
The captain of dragoons, flushed with wine, struck the table with his fist, demanding attention.
“Gentlemen!” he said, “this won’t do! Pechorin must be taught a lesson! These Petersburg fledglings always carry their heads high until they get a slap in the face! He thinks that because he always wears clean gloves and polished boots he is the only one who has ever lived in society. And what a haughty35 smile! All the same, I am convinced that he is a coward—yes, a coward!”
“I think so too,” said Grushnitski. “He is fond of getting himself out of trouble by pretending to be only having a joke. I once gave him such a talking to that anyone else in his place would have cut me to pieces on the spot. But Pechorin turned it all to the ridiculous side. I, of course, did not call him out because that was his business, but he did not care to have anything more to do with it.”
“Grushnitski is angry with him for having captured Princess Mary from him,” somebody said.
“That’s a new idea! It is true I did run after Princess Mary a little, but I left off at once because I do not want to get married; and it is against my rules to compromise a girl.”
“Yes, I assure you that he is a coward of the first water, I mean Pechorin, not Grushnitski—but Grushnitski is a fine fellow, and, besides, he is my true friend!” the captain of dragoons went on.
“Gentlemen! Nobody here stands up for him? Nobody? So much the better! Would you like to put his courage to the test? It would be amusing”...
“We would; but how?”
“Listen here, then: Grushnitski in particular is angry with him—therefore to Grushnitski falls the chief part. He will pick a quarrel over some silly trifle or other, and will challenge Pechorin to a duel36... Wait a bit; here is where the joke comes in... He will challenge him to a duel; very well! The whole proceeding—challenge, preparations, conditions—will be as solemn and awe-inspiring as possible—I will see to that. I will be your second, my poor friend! Very well! Only here is the rub; we will put no bullets in the pistols. I can answer for it that Pechorin will turn coward—I will place them six paces apart, devil take it! Are you agreed, gentlemen?”
“Splendid idea!... Agreed!... And why not?”... came from all sides.
“And you, Grushnitski?”
Tremblingly I awaited Grushnitski’s answer. I was filled with cold rage at the thought that, but for an accident, I might have made myself the laughing-stock of those fools. If Grushnitski had not agreed, I should have thrown myself upon his neck; but, after an interval37 of silence, he rose from his place, extended his hand to the captain, and said very gravely:
“Very well, I agree!”
It would be difficult to describe the enthusiasm of that honourable38 company.
I returned home, agitated39 by two different feelings. The first was sorrow.
“Why do they all hate me?” I thought—“why? Have I affronted40 anyone? No. Can it be that I am one of those men the mere sight of whom is enough to create animosity?”
And I felt a venomous rage gradually filling my soul.
“Have a care, Mr. Grushnitski!” I said, walking up and down the room: “I am not to be jested with like this! You may pay dearly for the approbation41 of your foolish comrades. I am not your toy!”...
I got no sleep that night. By daybreak I was as yellow as an orange.
In the morning I met Princess Mary at the well.
“You are ill?” she said, looking intently at me.
“I did not sleep last night.”
“Nor I either... I was accusing you... perhaps groundlessly. But explain yourself, I can forgive you everything”...
“Everything?”...
“Everything... only speak the truth... and be quick... You see, I have been thinking a good deal, trying to explain, to justify42, your behaviour. Perhaps you are afraid of opposition43 on the part of my relations... that will not matter. When they learn”...
Her voice shook.
“I will win them over by entreaties44. Or, is it your own position?... But you know that I can sacrifice everything for the sake of the man I love... Oh, answer quickly—have pity... You do not despise me—do you?”
She seized my hand.
Princess Ligovski was walking in front of us with Vera’s husband, and had not seen anything; but we might have been observed by some of the invalids45 who were strolling about—the most inquisitive46 gossips of all inquisitive folk—and I rapidly disengaged my hand from her passionate47 pressure.
“I will tell you the whole truth,” I answered. “I will not justify myself, nor explain my actions: I do not love you.”
Her lips grew slightly pale.
“Leave me,” she said, in a scarcely audible voice.
I shrugged48 my shoulders, turned round, and walked away.
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收听单词发音
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1
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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26
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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27
gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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28
inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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carouse
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| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
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shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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40
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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41
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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42
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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43
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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45
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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46
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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47
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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48
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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