Whoever cares only for incident and action in a book had better skip this chapter and read on; but those who take an interest in the delineation1 of character will find the key to Sylvia's here.
John Yule might have been a poet, painter, or philanthropist, for Heaven had endowed him with fine gifts; he was a prosperous merchant with no ambition but to leave a fortune to his children and live down the memory of a bitter past. On the threshold of his life he stumbled and fell; for as he paused there, waiting for the first step to appear, Providence2 tested and found him wanting. On one side, Poverty offered the aspiring3 youth her meagre hand; but he was not wise enough to see the virtues4 hidden under her hard aspect, nor brave enough to learn the stern yet salutary lessons which labor6, necessity, and patience teach, giving to those who serve and suffer the true success. On the other hand Opulence7 allured8 him with her many baits, and, silencing the voice of conscience, he yielded to temptation and wrecked9 his nobler self.
A loveless marriage was the price he paid for his ambition; not a costly10 one, he thought, till time taught him that whosoever mars the integrity of his own soul by transgressing11 the great laws of life, even by so much as a hair's breadth, entails12 upon himself and heirs the inevitable13 retribution which proves their worth and keeps them sacred. The tie that bound and burdened the unhappy twain, worn thin by constant friction14, snapped at last, and in the solemn pause death made in his busy life, there rose before him those two ghosts who sooner or later haunt us all, saying with reproachful voices,--"This I might have been," and "This I am." Then he saw the failure of his life. At fifty he found himself poorer than when he made his momentous15 choice; for the years that had given him wealth, position, children, had also taken from him youth, self-respect, and many a gift whose worth was magnified by loss. He endeavored to repair the fault so tardily16 acknowledged, but found it impossible to cancel it when remorse17, embittered18 effort, and age left him powerless to redeem19 the rich inheritance squandered20 in his prime.
If ever man received punishment for a self-inflicted wrong it was John Yule. A punishment as subtle as the sin; for in the children growing up about him every relinquished21 hope, neglected gift, lost aspiration22, seemed to live again; yet on each and all was set the direful stamp of imperfection, which made them visible illustrations of the great law broken in his youth.
In Prudence23, as she grew to womanhood, he saw his own practical tact24 and talent, nothing more. She seemed the living representative of the years spent in strife25 for profit, power, and place; the petty cares that fret26 the soul, the mercenary schemes that waste a life, the worldly formalities, frivolities, and fears, that so belittle27 character. All these he saw in this daughter's shape; and with pathetic patience bore the daily trial of an over active, over anxious, affectionate but most prosaic28 child.
In Mark he saw his ardor29 for the beautiful, his love of the poetic30, his reverence31 for genius, virtue5, heroism32. But here too the subtle blight33 had fallen. This son, though strong in purpose was feeble in performance; for some hidden spring of power was wanting, and the shadow of that earlier defeat chilled in his nature the energy which is the first attribute of all success. Mark loved poetry, and "wrote in numbers for the numbers came;" but, whether tragic34, tender, or devout35, in each attempt there was enough of the divine fire to warm them into life, yet not enough to gift them with the fervor36 that can make a line immortal37, and every song was a sweet lament38 for the loftier lays that might have been. He loved art and gave himself to it; but though studying all forms of beauty he never reached its soul, and every effort tantalized39 him with fresh glimpses of the fair ideal which he could not reach. He loved the true, but high thoughts seldom blossomed into noble deeds; for when the hour came the man was never ready, and disappointment was his daily portion. A sad fate for the son, a far sadder one for the father who had bequeathed it to him from the irrecoverable past.
In Sylvia he saw, mysteriously blended, the two natures that had given her life, although she was born when the gulf40 between regretful husband and sad wife was widest. As if indignant Nature rebelled against the outrage41 done her holiest ties, adverse42 temperaments43 gifted the child with the good and ill of each. From her father she received pride, intellect, and will; from her mother passion, imagination, and the fateful melancholy44 of a woman defrauded45 of her dearest hope. These conflicting temperaments, with all their aspirations46, attributes, and inconsistencies, were woven into a nature fair and faulty; ambitious, yet not self-reliant; sensitive, yet not keen-sighted. These two masters ruled soul and body, warring against each other, making Sylvia an enigma47 to herself and her life a train of moods.
A wise and tender mother would have divined her nameless needs, answered her vague desires, and through the medium of the most omnipotent48 affection given to humanity, have made her what she might have been. But Sylvia had never known mother-love, for her life came through death; and the only legacy49 bequeathed her was a slight hold upon existence, a ceaseless craving50 for affection, and the shadow of a tragedy that wrung51 from the pale lips, that grew cold against her baby cheek, the cry, "Free at last, thank God for that!"
Prudence could not fill the empty place, though the good-hearted housewife did her best. Neither sister understood the other, and each tormented52 the other through her very love. Prue unconsciously exasperated53 Sylvia, Sylvia unconsciously shocked Prue, and they hitched54 along together each trying to do well and each taking diametrically opposite measures to effect her purpose. Mark briefly55 but truly described them when he said, "Sylvia trims the house with flowers, but Prudence dogs her with a dust-pan."
Mr. Yule was now a studious, melancholy man, who, having said one fatal "No" to himself, made it the satisfaction of his life to say a never varying "Yes" to his children. But though he left no wish of theirs ungratified, he seemed to have forfeited56 his power to draw and hold them to himself. He was more like an unobtrusive guest than a master in his house. His children loved, but never clung to him, because unseen, yet impassible, rose the barrier of an instinctive57 protest against the wrong done their dead mother, unconscious on their part but terribly significant to him.
Mark had been years away; and though the brother and sister were tenderly attached, sex, tastes, and pursuits kept them too far apart, and Sylvia was solitary58 even in this social seeming home. Dissatisfied with herself, she endeavored to make her life what it should be with the energy of an ardent59, aspiring nature; and through all experiences, sweet or bitter, all varying moods, successes and defeats, a sincere desire for happiness the best and highest, was the little rushlight of her soul that never wavered or went out.
She never had known friendship in its truest sense, for next to love it is the most abused of words. She had called many "friend," but was still ignorant of that sentiment, cooler than passion, warmer than respect, more just and generous than either, which recognizes a kindred spirit in another, and claiming its right, keeps it sacred by the wise reserve that is to friendship what the purple bloom is to the grape, a charm which once destroyed can never be restored. Love she had desired, yet dreaded60, knowing her own passionate61 nature, and when it came to her, making that brief holiday the fateful point of her life, she gave herself to it wholly. Before that time she had rejoiced over a more tranquil62 pleasure, and believed that she had found her friend in the neighbor who after long absence had returned to his old place.
Nature had done much for Geoffrey Moor63, but the wise mother also gave him those teachers to whose hard lessons she often leaves her dearest children. Five years spent in the service of a sister, who, through the sharp discipline of pain was fitting her meek64 soul for heaven, had given him an experience such as few young men receive. This fraternal devotion proved a blessing65 in disguise; it preserved him from any profanation66 of his youth, and the companionship of the helpless creature whom he loved had proved an ever present stimulant67 to all that was best and sweetest in the man. A single duty faithfully performed had set the seal of integrity upon his character, and given him grace to see at thirty the rich compensation he had received for the ambitions silently sacrificed at twenty-five. When his long vigil was over he looked into the world to find his place again. But the old desires were dead, the old allurements68 had lost their charm, and while he waited for time to show him what good work he should espouse69, no longing70 was so strong as that for a home, where he might bless and be blessed in writing that immortal poem a virtuous71 and happy life.
Sylvia soon felt the power and beauty of this nature, and remembering how well he had ministered to a physical affliction, often looked into the face whose serenity72 was a perpetual rebuke73, longing to ask him to help and heal the mental ills that perplexed74 and burdened her. Moor soon divined the real isolation75 of the girl, read the language of her wistful eyes, felt that he could serve her, and invited confidence by the cordial alacrity76 with which he met her least advance.
But while he served he learned to love her, for Sylvia, humble77 in her own conceit78, and guarded by the secret passion that possessed79 her, freely showed the regard she felt, with no thought of misapprehension, no fear of consequences. Unconscious that such impulsive80 demonstration81 made her only more attractive, that every manifestation82 of her frank esteem83 was cherished in her friend's heart of hearts, and that through her he was enjoying the blossom time of life. So peacefully and pleasantly the summer ripened84 into autumn and Sylvia's interest into an enduring friendship.
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1 delineation | |
n.记述;描写 | |
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2 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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3 aspiring | |
adj.有志气的;有抱负的;高耸的v.渴望;追求 | |
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4 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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5 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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6 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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7 opulence | |
n.财富,富裕 | |
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8 allured | |
诱引,吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 wrecked | |
adj.失事的,遇难的 | |
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10 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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11 transgressing | |
v.超越( transgress的现在分词 );越过;违反;违背 | |
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12 entails | |
使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 ); 需要; 限定继承; 使必需 | |
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13 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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14 friction | |
n.摩擦,摩擦力 | |
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15 momentous | |
adj.重要的,重大的 | |
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16 tardily | |
adv.缓慢 | |
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17 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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18 embittered | |
v.使怨恨,激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 redeem | |
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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20 squandered | |
v.(指钱,财产等)浪费,乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21 relinquished | |
交出,让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 ); 放弃 | |
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22 aspiration | |
n.志向,志趣抱负;渴望;(语)送气音;吸出 | |
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23 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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24 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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25 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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26 fret | |
v.(使)烦恼;(使)焦急;(使)腐蚀,(使)磨损 | |
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27 belittle | |
v.轻视,小看,贬低 | |
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28 prosaic | |
adj.单调的,无趣的 | |
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29 ardor | |
n.热情,狂热 | |
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30 poetic | |
adj.富有诗意的,有诗人气质的,善于抒情的 | |
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31 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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32 heroism | |
n.大无畏精神,英勇 | |
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33 blight | |
n.枯萎病;造成破坏的因素;vt.破坏,摧残 | |
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34 tragic | |
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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35 devout | |
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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36 fervor | |
n.热诚;热心;炽热 | |
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37 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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38 lament | |
n.悲叹,悔恨,恸哭;v.哀悼,悔恨,悲叹 | |
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39 tantalized | |
v.逗弄,引诱,折磨( tantalize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 gulf | |
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂 | |
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41 outrage | |
n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒 | |
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42 adverse | |
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 | |
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43 temperaments | |
性格( temperament的名词复数 ); (人或动物的)气质; 易冲动; (性情)暴躁 | |
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44 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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45 defrauded | |
v.诈取,骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 aspirations | |
强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 ); 志向; 发送气音; 发 h 音 | |
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47 enigma | |
n.谜,谜一样的人或事 | |
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48 omnipotent | |
adj.全能的,万能的 | |
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49 legacy | |
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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50 craving | |
n.渴望,热望 | |
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51 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) | |
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52 tormented | |
饱受折磨的 | |
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53 exasperated | |
adj.恼怒的 | |
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54 hitched | |
(免费)搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 ); 搭便车; 攀上; 跃上 | |
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55 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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56 forfeited | |
(因违反协议、犯规、受罚等)丧失,失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57 instinctive | |
adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 | |
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58 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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59 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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60 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) | |
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61 passionate | |
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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62 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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63 moor | |
n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊 | |
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64 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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65 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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66 profanation | |
n.亵渎 | |
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67 stimulant | |
n.刺激物,兴奋剂 | |
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68 allurements | |
n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 );吸引;诱惑物;有诱惑力的事物 | |
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69 espouse | |
v.支持,赞成,嫁娶 | |
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70 longing | |
n.(for)渴望 | |
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71 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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72 serenity | |
n.宁静,沉着,晴朗 | |
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73 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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74 perplexed | |
adj.不知所措的 | |
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75 isolation | |
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离 | |
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76 alacrity | |
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意 | |
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77 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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78 conceit | |
n.自负,自高自大 | |
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79 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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80 impulsive | |
adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的 | |
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81 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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82 manifestation | |
n.表现形式;表明;现象 | |
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83 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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84 ripened | |
v.成熟,使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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