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CHAPTER IV. FLORENCE.
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 Florence Linden sat in the library the following evening in an attitude of depression. Her eyelids1 were swollen2, and it was evident she had been weeping. During the day she had had an interview with her uncle, in which he harshly insisted upon her yielding to his wishes, and marrying her cousin, Curtis.
 
“But, uncle,” she objected, “I do not love him.”
 
“Marry him, and love will come.”
 
“Never!” she said, vehemently3.
 
“You speak confidently, miss,” said Mr. Linden, with irritation4.
 
“Listen, Uncle John. It is not alone that I do not love him. I dislike him—I loathe—him.”
 
“Nonsense! that is a young girl’s extravagant5 nonsense.”
 
“No, uncle.”
 
“There can be no reason for such a foolish dislike. What can you have against him?”
 
“It is impressed upon me, uncle, that Curtis is a bad man. There is something false—treacherous—about him.”
 
“Pooh! child! you are more foolish than I thought. I don’t say Curtis is an angel. No man is; at least, I never met any such. But he is no worse than the generality of men. In marrying him you will carry out my cherished wish. Florence, I have not long to live. I shall be glad to see you well established in life before I leave you. As the wife of Curtis you will have a recognized position. You will go on living in this house, and the old home will be maintained.”
 
“But why is it necessary for me to marry at all, Uncle John?”
 
“You will be sure to marry some one. Should I divide my fortune between you and Curtis, you would become the prey6 of some unscrupulous fortune hunter.”
 
“Better that than become the wife of Curtis Waring——”
 
“I see, you are incorrigible,” said her uncle, angrily. “Do you refuse obedience7 to my wishes?”
 
“Command me in anything else, Uncle John, and I will obey,” pleaded Florence.
 
“Indeed! You only thwart8 me in my cherished wish, but are willing to obey me in unimportant matters. You forget the debt you owe me.”
 
“I forget nothing, dear uncle. I do not forget that, when I was a poor little child, helpless and destitute9, you took me in your arms, gave me a home, and have cared for me from that time to this as only a parent could.”
 
“You remember that, then?”
 
“Yes, uncle. I hope you will not consider me wholly ungrateful.”
 
“It only makes matters worse. You own your obligations, yet refuse to make the only return I desire. You refuse to comfort me in the closing days of my life by marrying your cousin.”
 
“Because that so nearly concerns my happiness that no one has a right to ask me to sacrifice all I hold dear.”
 
“I see you are incorrigible,” said John Linden, stormily. “Do you know what will be the consequences?”
 
“I am prepared for all.”
 
“Then listen! If you persist in balking10 me, I shall leave the entire estate to Curtis.”
 
“Do with your money as you will, uncle. I have no claim to more than I have received.”
 
“You are right there; but that is not all.”
 
Florence fixed11 upon him a mute look of inquiry12.
 
“I will give you twenty-four hours more to come to your senses. Then, if you persist in your ingratitude13 and disobedience, you must find another home.”
 
“Oh, uncle, you do not mean that?” exclaimed Florence, deeply moved.
 
“I do mean it, and I shall not allow your tears to move me. Not another word, for I will not hear it. Take twenty-four hours to think over what I have said.”
 
Florence bowed her head on her hands, and gave herself up to sorrowful thoughts. But she was interrupted by the entrance of the servant, who announced:
 
“Mr. Percy de Brabazon.”
 
An effeminate-looking young man, foppishly dressed, followed the servant into the room, and made it impossible for Florence to deny herself, as she wished to do.
 
“I hope I see you well, Miss Florence,” he simpered.
 
“Thank you, Mr. de Brabazon,” said Florence, coldly. “I have a slight headache.”
 
“I am awfully14 sorry, I am, upon my word, Miss Florence. My doctor tells me it is only those whose bwains are vewy active that are troubled with headaches.”
 
“Then, I presume, Mr. de Brabazon,” said Florence, with intentional15 sarcasm16, “that you never have a headache.”
 
“Weally, Miss Florence, that is vewy clevah. You will have your joke.”
 
“It was no joke, I assure you, Mr. de Brabazon.”
 
“I—I thought it might be. Didn’t I see you at the opewa last evening?”
 
“Possibly. I was there.”
 
“I often go to the opewa. It’s so—so fashionable, don’t you know?”
 
“Then you don’t go to hear the music?”
 
“Oh, of course, but one can’t always be listening to the music, don’t you know. I had a fwiend with me last evening—an Englishman—a charming fellow, I assure you. He’s the second cousin of a lord, and yet—you’ll hardly credit it—we’re weally vewy intimate. He tells me, Miss Florence, that I’m the perfect image of his cousin, Lord Fitz Noodle.”
 
“I am not at all surprised.”
 
“Weally, you are vewy kind, Miss Florence. I thought it a great compliment. I don’t know how it is, but evewybody takes me for an Englishman. Strange, isn’t it?”
 
“I am very glad.”
 
“May I ask why, Miss Florence?”
 
“Because—— Well, perhaps I had better not explain. It seems to give you pleasure. You would, probably, prefer to be an Englishman.”
 
“I admit that I have a great admiration17 for the English character. It’s a gweat pity we have no lords in America. Now, if you would only allow me to bring my English fwiend here——
 
“I don’t care to make any new acquaintances. Even if I did, I prefer my own countrymen. Don’t you like America, Mr. de Brabazon?”
 
“Oh, of courth, if we only had some lords here.”
 
“We have plenty of flunkeys.”
 
“That’s awfully clevah, ’pon my word.”
 
“Is it? I am afraid you are too complimentary18. You are very good-natured.”
 
“I always feel good-natured in your company, Miss Florence. I—wish I could always be with you.”
 
“Really! Wouldn’t that be a trifle monotonous19?” asked Florence, sarcastically20.
 
“Not if we were married,” said Percy, boldly breaking the ice.
 
“What do you mean, Mr. de Brabazon?”
 
“I hope you will excuse me, Miss Florence—Miss Linden, I mean; but I’m awfully in love with you, and have been ever so long—but I never dared to tell you so. I felt so nervous, don’t you know? Will you marry me? I’ll be awfully obliged if you will.”
 
Mr. de Brabazon rather awkwardly slipped from his chair, and sank on one knee before Florence.
 
“Please arise, Mr. de Brabazon,” said Florence, hurriedly. “It is quite out of the question—what you ask—I assure you.”
 
“Ah! I see how it is,” said Percy, clasping his hands sadly. “You love another.”
 
“Not that I am aware of.”
 
“Then I may still hope?”
 
“I cannot encourage you, Mr. de Brabazon. My heart is free, but it can never be yours.”
 
“Then,” said Percy, gloomily, “there is only one thing for me to do.”
 
“What is that?”
 
“I shall go to the Bwooklyn Bwidge, climb to the parapet, jump into the water, and end my misewable life.”
 
“You had better think twice before adopting such a desperate resolution, Mr. de Brabazon. You will meet others who will be kinder to you than I have been——”
 
“I can never love another. My heart is broken. Farewell, cruel girl. When you read the papers tomorrow morning, think of the unhappy Percy de Brabazon!”
 
Mr. de Brabazon folded his arms gloomily, and stalked out of the room.
 
“If my position were not so sad, I should be tempted21 to smile,” said Florence. “Mr. de Brabazon will not do this thing. His emotions are as strong as those of a butterfly.”
 
After a brief pause Florence seated herself at the table, and drew toward her writing materials.
 
“It is I whose heart should be broken!” she murmured; “I who am driven from the only home I have ever known. What can have turned against me my uncle, usually so kind and considerate? It must be that Curtis has exerted a baneful22 influence upon him. I cannot leave him without one word of farewell.”
 
She took up a sheet of paper, and wrote, rapidly:
 
“Dear Uncle: You have told me to leave your house, and I obey. I cannot tell you how sad I feel, when I reflect that I have lost your love, and must go forth23 among strangers—I know not where. I was but a little girl when you gave me a home. I have grown up in an atmosphere of love, and I have felt very grateful to you for all you have done for me. I have tried to conform to your wishes, and I would obey you in all else—but I cannot marry Curtis; I think I would rather die. Let me still live with you as I have done. I do not care for any part of your money—leave it all to him, if you think best—but give me back my place in your heart. You are angry now, but you will some time pity and forgive your poor Florence, who will never cease to bless and pray for you. Good-bye!
 
“Florence.”
 
She was about to sign herself Florence Linden, but reflected that she was no longer entitled to use a name which would seem to carry with it a claim upon her uncle.
 
The tears fell upon the paper as she was writing, but she heeded24 them not. It was the saddest hour of her life. Hitherto she had been shielded from all sorrow, and secure in the affection of her uncle, had never dreamed that there would come a time when she would feel obliged to leave all behind her, and go out into the world, friendless and penniless, but poorest of all in the loss of that love which she had hitherto enjoyed.
 
After completing the note, Florence let her head fall upon the table, and sobbed25 herself to sleep.
 
An hour and a half passed, the servant looked in, but noticing that her mistress was sleeping, contented26 herself with lowering the gas, but refrained from waking her.
 
And so she slept on till the French clock upon the mantle27 struck eleven.
 
Five minutes later and the door of the room slowly opened, and a boy entered on tiptoe. He was roughly dressed. His figure was manly28 and vigorous, and despite his stealthy step and suspicious movements his face was prepossessing.
 
He started when he saw Florence.
 
“What, a sleeping gal29!” he said to himself. “Tim told me I’d find the coast clear, but I guess she’s sound asleep, and won’t hear nothing. I don’t half like this job, but I’ve got to do as Tim told me. He says he’s my father, so I s’pose it’s all right. All the same, I shall be nabbed some day, and then the family’ll be disgraced. It’s a queer life I’ve led ever since I can remember. Sometimes I feel like leaving Tim, and settin’ up for myself. I wonder how ’twould seem to be respectable.”
 
The boy approached the secretary, and with some tools he had brought essayed to open it. After a brief delay he succeeded, and lifted the cover. He was about to explore it, according to Tim’s directions, when he heard a cry of fear, and turning swiftly saw Florence, her eyes dilated30 with terror, gazing at him.
 
“Who are you?” she asked in alarm, “and what are you doing there?”
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 eyelids 86ece0ca18a95664f58bda5de252f4e7     
n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 );眼睛也不眨一下;不露声色;面不改色
参考例句:
  • She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了,眼睑开始往下垂。
  • Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 swollen DrcwL     
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀
参考例句:
  • Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
  • A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
3 vehemently vehemently     
adv. 热烈地
参考例句:
  • He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈,以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
  • Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。
4 irritation la9zf     
n.激怒,恼怒,生气
参考例句:
  • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
  • Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说,但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
5 extravagant M7zya     
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的
参考例句:
  • They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
  • He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
6 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨
参考例句:
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
7 obedience 8vryb     
n.服从,顺从
参考例句:
  • Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
  • Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
8 thwart wIRzZ     
v.阻挠,妨碍,反对;adj.横(断的)
参考例句:
  • We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
  • I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我认为那不会使我们的目的受到挫折。
9 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
10 balking f40e29421fe8a42e11ac30e160a93623     
n.慢行,阻行v.畏缩不前,犹豫( balk的现在分词 );(指马)不肯跑
参考例句:
  • He picked up a stone and let fly at the balking dog. 他捡起一块石头朝那狂吠的狗扔去。 来自互联网
  • Democrats won't pass the plan without votes from rank-and-file Republicans andof-and-file Republicans were reportedly balking. 没有普通共和党议员的支持,民主党人无法通过这项方案——到周四晚间,据悉那些普通共和党人在阻挡(该计划)。 来自互联网
11 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
12 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
13 ingratitude O4TyG     
n.忘恩负义
参考例句:
  • Tim's parents were rather hurt by his ingratitude.蒂姆的父母对他的忘恩负义很痛心。
  • His friends were shocked by his ingratitude to his parents.他对父母不孝,令他的朋友们大为吃惊。
14 awfully MPkym     
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
参考例句:
  • Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
  • I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
15 intentional 65Axb     
adj.故意的,有意(识)的
参考例句:
  • Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
  • His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。
16 sarcasm 1CLzI     
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
参考例句:
  • His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
  • She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
17 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
18 complimentary opqzw     
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的
参考例句:
  • She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
  • The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。
19 monotonous FwQyJ     
adj.单调的,一成不变的,使人厌倦的
参考例句:
  • She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
  • His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律,一个调调儿。
20 sarcastically sarcastically     
adv.挖苦地,讽刺地
参考例句:
  • 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
  • Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她,讽刺地鞠了一躬。
21 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
22 baneful EuBzC     
adj.有害的
参考例句:
  • His baneful influence was feared by all.人们都担心他所造成的有害影响。
  • Lower share prices have baneful effect for companies too.更低的股价同样会有损各企业。
23 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
24 heeded 718cd60e0e96997caf544d951e35597a     
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She countered that her advice had not been heeded. 她反驳说她的建议未被重视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I heeded my doctor's advice and stopped smoking. 我听从医生的劝告,把烟戒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
26 contented Gvxzof     
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的
参考例句:
  • He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
  • The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
27 mantle Y7tzs     
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红
参考例句:
  • The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
  • The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。
28 manly fBexr     
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地
参考例句:
  • The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
  • He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务,并希望别人效之。
29 gal 56Zy9     
n.姑娘,少女
参考例句:
  • We decided to go with the gal from Merrill.我们决定和那个从梅里尔来的女孩合作。
  • What's the name of the gal? 这个妞叫什么?
30 dilated 1f1ba799c1de4fc8b7c6c2167ba67407     
adj.加宽的,扩大的v.(使某物)扩大,膨胀,张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyes dilated with fear. 她吓得瞪大了眼睛。
  • The cat dilated its eyes. 猫瞪大了双眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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