Chapter 18

    T. X. sat at his desk, his chin in his hands, his mind remarkablybusy. Grave as the matter was which he was considering, he rosewith alacrity¹ to meet the smiling girl who was ushered² through thedoor by Mansus, preternaturally solemn and mysterious.

　　She was radiant that day. Her eyes were sparkling with an unusualbrightness.

　　"I've got the most wonderful thing to tell you," she said, "and Ican't tell you.""That's a very good beginning," said T. X., taking her muff fromher hand.

　　"Oh, but it's really wonderful," she cried eagerly, "morewonderful than anything you have ever heard about.""We are interested," said T. X. blandly³.

　　"No, no, you mustn't make fun," she begged, "I can't tell you now,but it is something that will make you simply - "she was at a lossfor a simile⁴.

　　"Jump out of my skin?" suggested T. X.

　　"I shall astonish you," she nodded her head solemnly.

　　"I take a lot of astonishing, I warn you," he smiled; "to know youis to exhaust one's capacity for surprise.""That can be either very, very nice or very, very nasty," she saidcautiously.

　　"But accept it as being very, very nice," he laughed. "Now come,out with this tale of yours."She shook her head very vigorously.

　　"I can't possibly tell you anything," she said.

　　"Then why the dickens do you begin telling anything for?" hecomplained, not without reason.

　　"Because I just want you to know that I do know something.""Oh, Lord!" he groaned⁵. "Of course you know everything. BelindaMary, you're really the most wonderful child."He sat on the edge of her arm-chair and laid his hand on hershoulder.

　　"And you've come to take me out to lunch!""What were you worrying about when I came in?" she asked.

　　He made a little gesture as if to dismiss the subject.

　　"Nothing very much. You've heard me speak of John Lexman?"She bent⁶ her head.

　　"Lexman's the writer of a great many mystery stories, but you'veprobably read his books."She nodded again, and again T. X. noticed the suppressed eagernessin her eyes.

　　"You're not ill or sickening for anything, are you?" he askedanxiously; "measles⁷, or mumps⁸ or something?""Don't be silly," she said; "go on and tell me something about Mr.

　　Lexman.""He's going to America," said T. X., "and before he goes he wantsto give a little lecture.""A lecture 7""It sounds rum, doesn't it, but that's just what he wants to do.""Why is he doing it!" she asked.

　　T. X. made a gesture of despair.

　　"That is one of the mysteries which may never be revealed to me,except " he pursed his lips and looked thoughtfully at the girl.

　　"There are times," he said, "when there is a great struggle goingon inside a man between all the human and better part of him andthe baser professional part of him. One side of me wants to hearthis lecture of John Lexman's very much, the other shrinks fromthe ordeal⁹.""Let us talk it over at lunch," she said practically, and carriedhim off.

1 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

2 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 blandly   

adv.温和地，殷勤地

参考例句：

• There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. 布里斯托尔有那么一帮人为此恨透了布兰德利。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• \"Maybe you could get something in the stage line?\" he blandly suggested. “也许你能在戏剧这一行里找些事做，\"他和蔼地提议道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 simile   

n.直喻，明喻

参考例句：

• I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.我相信这种比拟在很大程度上道出了真实。
• It is a trite simile to compare her teeth to pearls.把她的牙齿比做珍珠是陈腐的比喻。

5 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

7 measles   

n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子

参考例句：

• The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles.医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。
• The doctor told her to watch out for symptoms of measles.医生叫她注意麻疹出现的症状。

8 mumps   

n.腮腺炎

参考例句：

• Sarah got mumps from her brother.萨拉的弟弟患腮腺炎，传染给她了。
• I was told not go near Charles. He is sickening for mumps.别人告诉我不要走近查尔斯， 他染上了流行性腮腺炎。

9 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。