Very calmly, Mrs. Pendomer opened a window, letting in a flood of fresh air and sunshine; very calmly, she drew a chair—a substantial arm-chair—to the bedside, and, very calmly, she began:
"My dear, Rudolph has told me of this ridiculous affair, and—oh, you equally ridiculous girl!"
She removed, with deft5 fingers, a damp and clinging bandage from about Patricia's head, and patted the back of Patricia's hand, placidly6. Patricia was by this time sitting erect7 in bed, and her coppery hair was thick about her face, which was colorless; and, altogether, she was very rigid8 and very indignant and very pretty, and very, very young.
"How dare he tell you—or anybody else!" she cried.
"We are such old friends, remember," Mrs. Pendomer pleaded, and rearranged the pillows, soothingly9, about her hostess; "and I want to talk to you quietly and sensibly."
Patricia sank back among the pillows, and inhaled10 the fresh air, which, in spite of herself, she found agreeable. "I—somehow, I don't feel very sensible," she murmured, half sulky and half shame-faced.
Mrs. Pendomer hesitated for a moment, and then plunged11 into the heart of things. "You are a woman, dear," she said, gently, "though heaven knows it must have been only yesterday you were playing about the nursery—and one of the facts we women must face, eventually, is that man is a polygamous animal. It is unfortunate, perhaps, but it is true. Civilization may veneer12 the fact, but nothing will ever override13 it, not even in these new horseless carriages. A man may give his wife the best that is in him—his love, his trust, his life's work—but it is only the best there is left. We give our hearts; men dole14 out theirs, as people feed bread to birds, with a crumb15 for everyone. His wife has the remnant. And the best we women can do is to remember we are credibly16 informed that half a loaf is preferable to no bread at all."
Her face sobered, and she added, pensively17: "We might contrive18 a better universe, we sister women, but this is not permitted us. So we must take it as it is."
Patricia stirred, as talking died away. "I don't believe it," said she; and she added, with emphasis: "And, anyhow, I hate that nasty trollop!"
"Ah, but you do believe it." Mrs. Pendomer's voice was insistent19. "You knew it years before you went into long frocks. That knowledge is, I suppose, a legacy20 from our mothers."
Patricia frowned, petulantly21, and then burst into choking sobs22. "Oh!" she cried, "it's damnable! Some other woman has had what I can never have. And I wanted it so!—that first love that means everything—the love he gave her when I was only a messy little girl, with pig-tails and too many hands and feet! Oh, that—that hell-cat! She's had everything!"
Pendomer lifted the packet of letters lying on the bed, and cleared her
throat.
"H'm!" said she; "so this is what caused all the trouble? You don't mind?"
And, considering silence as equivalent to acquiescence27, she drew out a letter at hazard, and read aloud:
"'Just a line, woman of all the world, to tell you … but what have I to tell you, after all? Only the old, old message, so often told that it seems scarcely worth while to bother the postman about it. Just three words that innumerable dead lips have whispered, while life was yet good and old people were unreasonable28 and skies were blue—three words that our unborn children's children will whisper to one another when we too have gone to help the grasses in their growing or to nourish the victorious29, swaying hosts of some field of daffodils. Just three words—that is my message to you, my lady…. Ah, it is weary waiting for a sight of your dear face through these long days that are so much alike and all so empty and colorless! My heart grows hungry as I think of your great, green eyes and of the mouth that is like a little wound. I want you so, O dearest girl in all the world! I want you…. Ah, time travels very slowly that brings you back to me, and, meanwhile, I can but dream of you and send you impotent scrawls30 that only vex31 me with their futility32. For my desire of you—'
"The remainder," said Mrs. Pendomer, clearing her throat once more, "appears to consist of insanity33 and heretical sentiments, in about equal proportions, all written at the top of a boy's breaking voice. It isn't Colonel Musgrave's voice—quite—is it?"
During the reading, Patricia, leaning on one elbow, had regarded her companion with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. "Now, you see!" she cried indignantly; "he loved her! He was simply crazy about her."
"Why, yes." Mrs. Pendomer replaced the letter, carefully, almost caressingly34, among its companions. "My dear, it was years ago. I think time has by this wreaked35 a vengeance36 far more bitter than you could ever plan on the woman who, after all, never thought to wrong you. For the bitterest of all bitter things to a woman—to some women, at least—is to grow old."
"Ah, who will write the tragedy of us women who were 'famous Southern beauties' once? We were queens of men while our youth lasted, and diarists still prattle38 charmingly concerning us. But nothing was expected of us save to be beautiful and to condescend39 to be made much of, and that is our tragedy. For very few things, my dear, are more pitiable than the middle-age of the pitiful butterfly woman, whose mind cannot—cannot, because of its very nature—reach to anything higher! Middle-age strips her of everything—the admiration40, the flattery, the shallow merriment—all the little things that her little mind longs for—and other women take her place, in spite of her futile41, pitiful efforts to remain young. And the world goes on as before, and there is a whispering in the moonlit garden, and young people steal off for wholly superfluous42 glasses of water, and the men give her duty dances, and she is old—ah, so old!—under the rouge43 and inane44 smiles and dainty fripperies that caricature her lost youth! No, my dear, you needn't envy this woman! Pity her, my dear!" pleaded Clarice Pendomer, and with a note of earnestness in her voice.
"Such a woman," said Patricia, with distinctness, "deserves no pity."
"Well," Mrs. Pendomer conceded, drily, "she doesn't get it. Probably, because she always grows fat, from sheer lack of will-power to resist sloth45 and gluttony—the only agreeable vices46 left her; and by no stretch of the imagination can a fat woman be converted into either a pleasing or heroic figure."
Mrs. Pendomer paused for a breathing-space, and smiled, though not very pleasantly.
"It is, doubtless," said she, "a sight for gods—and quite certainly for men—to laugh at, this silly woman striving to regain47 a vanished frugality48 of waist. Yes, I suppose it is amusing—but it is also pitiful. And it is more pitiful still if she has ever loved a man in the unreasoning way these shallow women sometimes do. Men age so slowly; the men a girl first knows are young long after she has reached middle-age—yes, they go on dancing cotillions and talking nonsense in the garden, long after she has taken to common-sense shoes. And the man is still young—and he cares for some other woman, who is young and has all that she has lost—and it seems so unfair!" said Mrs. Pendomer.
Patricia regarded her for a moment. The purple eyes were alert, their glance was hard. "You seem to know all about this woman," Patricia began, in a level voice. "I have heard, of course, what everyone in Lichfield whispers about you and Rudolph. I have even teased Rudolph about it, but until to-day I had believed it was a lie."
"It is often a mistake to indulge in uncommon49 opinions," said Mrs. Pendomer. "You get more fun and interest out of it, I don't deny, but the bill, my dear, is unconscionable."
"So! you confess it!"
"My dear, and who am I to stand aside like a coward and see you make a mountain of this boy-and-girl affair—an affair which Rudolph and I had practically forgotten—oh, years ago!—until to-day? Why—why, you can't be jealous of me!" Mrs. Pendomer concluded, half-mockingly.
Patricia regarded her with deliberation.
In the windy sunlight, Mrs. Pendomer was a well-preserved woman, but, unmistakably, preserved; moreover, there was a great deal of her, and her nose was in need of a judicious50 application of powder, of which there was a superfluity behind her ears. Was this the siren Patricia had dreaded51? Patricia clearly perceived that, whatever had been her husband's relations with this woman, he had been manifestly entrapped52 into the imbroglio—a victim to Mrs. Pendomer's inordinate53 love of attention, which was, indeed, tolerably notorious; and Patricia's anger against Rudolph Musgrave gave way to a rather contemptuous pity and a half-maternal remorse54 for not having taken better care of him.
"No," answered Mrs. Pendomer, to her unspoken thought; "no woman could be seriously jealous of me. Yes, I dare say, I am passée and vain and frivolous56 and—harmless. But," she added, meditatively57, "you hate me, just the same."
"My dear Mrs. Pendomer——" Patricia began, with cool courtesy; then hesitated. "Yes," she conceded; "I dare say, it is unreasonable—but I do hate you like the very old Nick."
"Why, then," spoke55 Mrs. Pendomer, with cheerfulness, "everything is as it should be." She rose and smiled. "I am sorry to say I must be leaving Matocton to-day; the Ullwethers are very pressing, and I really don't know how to get out of paying them a visit——"
"So sorry to lose you," cooed Patricia; "but, of course, you know best.
I believe some very good people are visiting the Ullwethers nowadays?"
"Thanks!" Clarice Pendomer took them, and kissed her hostess, not without tenderness, on the brow. "My dear, be kind to Rudolph. He—he is rather an attractive man, you know,—and other women are kind to him. We of Lichfield have always said that he and Jack60 Charteris were the most dangerous men that even Lichfield has ever produced——"
"Why, do people really find Mr. Charteris particularly attractive?" Patricia demanded, so quickly and so innocently that Mrs. Pendomer could not deny herself the glance of a charlatan61 who applauds his fellow's legerdemain62.
And Patricia colored.
"Oh, well—! You know how Lichfield gossips," said Mrs. Pendomer.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
meditative
|
|
| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
deft
|
|
| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
placidly
|
|
| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
soothingly
|
|
| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
inhaled
|
|
| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
veneer
|
|
| n.(墙上的)饰面，虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
override
|
|
| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
dole
|
|
| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
crumb
|
|
| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
credibly
|
|
| ad.可信地；可靠地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pensively
|
|
| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
contrive
|
|
| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
insistent
|
|
| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
legacy
|
|
| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
petulantly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
sobs
|
|
| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
crookedly
|
|
| adv. 弯曲地，不诚实地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lengthening
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
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： |
|
|
|
|
27
acquiescence
|
|
| n.默许；顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
scrawls
|
|
| 潦草的笔迹( scrawl的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
vex
|
|
| vt.使烦恼，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
futility
|
|
| n.无用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
insanity
|
|
| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
caressingly
|
|
| 爱抚地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wreaked
|
|
| 诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
fretted
|
|
| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
prattle
|
|
| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
condescend
|
|
| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
rouge
|
|
| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
inane
|
|
| adj.空虚的，愚蠢的，空洞的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
sloth
|
|
| n.[动]树懒；懒惰，懒散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
vices
|
|
| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
frugality
|
|
| n.节约，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
judicious
|
|
| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
entrapped
|
|
| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
inordinate
|
|
| adj.无节制的；过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
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： |
|
|
|
|
56
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
meditatively
|
|
| adv.冥想地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
blandly
|
|
| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
charlatan
|
|
| n.骗子；江湖医生；假内行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
legerdemain
|
|
| n.戏法，诈术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |