Mrs. Bernard Temple was taking a walk by herself round one of the lawns when Antonia swept up to her and made this remark.
"I thought you would be saying something erratic1 of this sort," replied her parent, a good deal of annoyance2 in her tone. "We have not been at the Grange a week yet and, as it is to be the future home of both of us, it does not seem at all inconsistent to spend a fortnight here now, particularly when we are enjoying ourselves so much."
"Pray speak for yourself with regard to the enjoyment3, mother," responded Miss Bernard Temple. "I must say that dreariness4 is no word for this place as far as I am concerned. These trim parterres, those undulating velvet5 lawns are abhorrence6 to me; but I am not thinking of myself at all when I say that I think it would be well for us to return to our rooms in town. I wish to do so for quite another motive7. In the first place, I have got to take care of you, mother; you must not make yourself too cheap."
"Oh, my dear Antonia, what a horrid8 expression! I hope I understand what is due to my own dignity."
"Frankly9, mother, you don't—not on all occasions; but now to revert10 to the more important business. I am anxious to be back in town because I want this [Pg 246]matter with regard to the Towers to be carried into effect as soon as possible. By the way, have you spoken to Sir John Thornton on the subject?"
"Of course I won't if you have done your duty. What did you say?"
"Oh, just what I thought necessary! I think I made up quite a moving story. Sir John listened attentively12. Said he had the greatest possible respect for Squire13 Lorrimer; that it gave him considerable pain to feel that parvenus14, like the Drummonds should reside at the Towers; but he said, further, that he could not quite tell how he was to interfere."
"Oh, I dare say!" answered Antonia. "I know enough of him to be certain that every step of the path to the rescue must be made clear by others. Did he give you to understand, mother, that he would be willing to help Squire Lorrimer if the occasion arose?"
"Well, my dear, I gathered that he would not be averse16 to doing so; but, really, the matter is one of extreme delicacy17, and one which it is quite impossible for me to say much about."
"But I have not the least objection to talking about it," said Antonia. "It is one of my failings not to feel delicacy except with regard to art. I can talk to him if you like. I should recommend extreme bluntness. These obtuse18 people never see things unless they are put right up in front of their eyes."
"Really, Antonia, in addition to being eccentric, you are now becoming positively19 vulgar. What have I done to be afflicted20 with a daughter like you? I [Pg 247]beg and beseech21 of you not to say a word to Sir John on the subject."
"All right, mother, I won't, if you will promise without fail to return to London to-morrow."
"Oh, dear, dear, it will be most inconvenient22."
"But you'll come?"
"I—really——"
"I see Sir John in the distance; he is smoking a cigarette, which will soothe23 him while I talk. If I talk to him, you needn't go to London so soon. Which shall it be?"
"Oh, London, London—anything better than that you should worry poor Sir John. Was there ever a woman so worried? You had better send Pinkerton to me."
"That's a good mother," said Antonia, bestowing24 one of her rare and wonderfully sweet smiles upon her parent. She rushed away to the house in her headlong style; met Hester in one of the corridors; stopped her to exclaim, "Cheer up, Hetty, the incubus25 is leaving by the first train in the morning," and then finding Pinkerton, despatched her for orders to Mrs. Bernard Temple.
A few moments later, Antonia had forced her way into Susy's presence.
"Mother and I leave to-morrow," she said. "I don't know if you feel inclined to stay here much longer?"
"I? No, I'm sure I don't," answered Susy. "I am sick of the place; they are all such a lot of slow coaches."
"County people, you know," said Antonia with a slight sneer26, "are always a little slow to us parvenus; we're so wonderfully fresh, you know; not worn out like the poor county folk."
[Pg 248]
"You can call yourself a parvenu15 if you like," said Susy in a rage, "but I decline to allow the name to be applied27 to me; however, I think I'll go back to father to-morrow, and I may as well take advantage of your escort."
"That's what I thought. Get your maid to pack your things, for we shall be off by the first train, remember. By the way, did you hear from your father with regard to your letter?"
"Yes, I heard this morning."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He says he is sorry I don't like the Towers, but he doesn't see how he is to get out of the purchase now. He is to take possession in a little over a month."
"What a horrible future for you," said Antonia. "That musty old place—the ghost in the tower—the family feud28——"
"What do you mean by the family feud?"
"Oh, a little arrangement lately entered into by the younger Lorrimers for your benefit. I'm not bound to repeat it, but I can truly say I shouldn't like the little formula they have made up to be chanted nightly about me. Frankly, Susy, I pity you. You must hate the idea of going to the Towers."
"The best thing you can do is to see your father, and have a very serious talk. Its settled that you come back with us to-morrow. That's right. Ta-ta for the present."
Antonia left the room.
She stood for a moment by herself in one of the passages.
[Pg 249]
"Who would have thought," she murmured to herself, "that I, Antonia Bernard Temple, would devote myself to anything except the services of high Art. Here am I absolutely wearing myself out and devising the most horrible plots and stratagems30, all for the sake of an ugly duckling. Shall I succeed? Yes, I think so. Matters move in the right direction. Susy hates going to the Towers; the Lorrimers hate leaving the Towers. Sir John Thornton has more money than he knows what to do with. Surely some scheme can be suggested to keep the old family in the old place. When we are in town, we can soon get to know Squire Lorrimer. Hurrah31! I have an idea. Annie Forest and Nora shall both come up to town with us to-morrow. Annie is a capital kind of girl, although she did behave with want of fidelity32 as regards that ring. I must get it back for her somehow before we leave. Annie we must have, for she's a perfect jewel of tact33, and so sweetly pretty, just like a red rose, while I'm a fierce—very fierce—tiger lily. Nora must come, too, because, of course, Squire Lorrimer will visit us for the sake of seeing his child. Mother shall propose to Sir John Thornton, and he will further suggest to Mrs. Lorrimer, that Nora would be the better for the best surgical34 advice. Hey presto35! the thing is delightfully36 managed. Antonia, my dear, you begin to see daylight, don't you?"
Antonia skipped away in high good humour, and, wonderful to relate, her different little schemes for collecting a party to accompany her mother and herself to town were all carried out without hitch37 or difficulty. Annie, of course, was only too delighted to spend her last few days of holiday in London, and Nora, who had never been there, quite forgave Mrs. [Pg 250]Bernard Temple for becoming Hester's stepmother when she heard that she was going to take her to the "Heart of the World," as she termed the great metropolis38.
On the evening of that same day Antonia, having concluded, as she considered, an arduous39 campaign, stood for a moment in earnest contemplation. "There's only the ring," she said to herself. "I must get the ring for poor Annie before I go. Now, who will lend me thirty shillings? I'll try Pinkerton first."
She swept into the room where the tired maid was completing her somewhat laborious40 packing, for Mrs. Bernard Temple invariably carried nearly a houseful of dresses about with her.
"Well, Miss Antonia, what now?" said the maid. "I wish you'd take off that evening dress, miss, and let me lay it just over the others here in in this box."
"I can stuff it into my Gladstone bag," said Antonia; "don't trouble about it. Pinkerton, when were you paid your wages last?"
"Oh, wages, indeed!" said Pinkerton, with a sniff41. "Don't talk of em, Miss Antonia. It's months and months I'm owed, but I suppose it will be all right when your ma is married to this rich gentleman."
"You haven't got about thirty-two shillings you could spare me?" said Antonia.
"I couldn't oblige you with thirty-two pence, miss."
Antonia drummed with her fingers on a chest of drawers near which she was leaning. "And it's such a paltry42 sum," she muttered—"not worth a fuss. You ought to have your wages, Pinkerton—it's a shame! I must speak to mother about them when my mind is [Pg 251]a little less burdened. I have a good deal to think of just now, so good-night!"
"What about that dress, miss?"
"I can't give it to you at present. I'll stow it away somewhere. Good-night!"
Antonia closed the door behind her and ran downstairs. She must get the thirty-two shillings from somewhere. To whom could she apply? She suddenly found herself face to face with Sir John Thornton. An inspiration seized her. She rushed up to him and took one of his hands. He shuddered43, but had the strength of mind to remain perfectly44 still.
"Can you lend me thirty-two shillings?" said Antonia. "You're as rich as Crœsus, so you won't mind. I'll pay it back to you a shilling a week out of my dress allowance. Will you lend it? Say yes or no in a hurry, please."
"Yes," said Sir John, "... with pleasure." He moved back a step or two. "Here are two sovereigns," he said. "Pray don't mind the change. The change doesn't matter, I assure you. Oh, any time, of course, as regards repayment45. I am happy to oblige you." He dropped the sovereigns into Antonia's large palm and prepared to fly.
"You are happy to oblige me?" she said with a sort of gasp46. "Oh, do stay just a single moment. You have made me very happy. Thirty-two shillings must go for a special purpose, but eight blessed shillings remain. Don't you really want the change? May I really borrow the change?"
"Most certainly. I am rather in a hurry."
"I'd kiss you, but you wouldn't like it," said Antonia. "These eight shillings mean—do you know what they mean?"
[Pg 252]
"If they make you happy, my dear young lady, that is enough for me."
"They do, they do! Cobalt ... Indian red ... rose madder ... burnt sienna ... canvasses47 ... a new flat brush for the skies ... some drawing pins—Oh, he's gone! Dear old man. What an affliction I was to him; but how triumphant48 I feel!"
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1
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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2
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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3
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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dreariness
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| 沉寂，可怕，凄凉 | |
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5
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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6
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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7
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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8
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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9
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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12
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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13
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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14
parvenus
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| n.暴富者( parvenu的名词复数 )；暴发户；新贵；傲慢自负的人 | |
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parvenu
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| n.暴发户，新贵 | |
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16
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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17
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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obtuse
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| adj.钝的；愚钝的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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20
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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23
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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29
loathe
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| v.厌恶，嫌恶 | |
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30
stratagems
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| n.诡计，计谋( stratagem的名词复数 )；花招 | |
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31
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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32
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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33
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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34
surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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35
presto
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| adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的 | |
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36
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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37
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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38
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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39
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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40
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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41
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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42
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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43
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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44
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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45
repayment
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| n.偿还，偿还款；报酬 | |
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46
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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47
canvasses
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| n.检票员，游说者，推销员( canvass的名词复数 )v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的第三人称单数 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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48
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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