By accident he found himself seated next to Mary Somers, the poor cousin. The two conversed2 quite socially, rather to the disgust of Imogene, who, hearing that Tom was rich, wished to monopolize4 him herself. She was vexed5 to find that he was considerably6 more attentive7 to her penniless cousin than he had been to herself.
If Mary had been homely8, and she herself handsome, she could have been quite friendly, but Mary’s fresh color and bright eyes showed to such advantage compared with her own sallow complexion9 and dull eyes that she envied and hated her.
“Did you have a pleasant afternoon, Mr. Temple?” asked Mary.
“Very pleasant,” said Tom. “We had an adventure, too.”
“What was it?”
“We saved a little Irish boy from drowning.”
“That is new business for Cousin James,” said Mary, smiling.
“You speak as if it were discreditable,” said Tom. “I’ll stand the blame.”
“It is always well to be humane,” said Lawyer Davenport. “I am glad that my boy was instrumental in preserving the life of a fellow-being.”
Mary and Tom continued their conversation, while Imogene grew more and more vexed with her cousin, till she had the ill-breeding to say, in an ill-natured tone:
“Really, Mary, you talk so much that nobody else gets a chance.”
“I am sorry,” said Mary blushing.
“I am just as much to blame,” said Tom good-naturedly. “I’ve been asking your cousin questions.”
“I hate to see girls so forward,” said Imogene spitefully.
Mary looked pained, and there was some spirit in her answer.
“I didn’t think it would be polite to refuse answering Mr. Temple,” she said.
“Imogene is right,” said Mrs. Davenport, who thoroughly12 sympathized with her daughter. “You are too forward.”
Mary’s mouth quivered with mortification13, but she said nothing. Neither did Tom. He was indignant at the petty malice14 of Imogene, and determined15, if he could not speak to Mary, he would not speak at all. He only answered the questions of the rest in monosyllables during the remainder of the meal.
When supper was over, Mrs. Davenport said:
“Do you like music, Mr. Temple?” asked Imogene.
“Pretty well,” said Tom, “but I am not much of a judge of it.”
“I have taken lessons for three years,” said Imogene complacently17.
“Have you? Do you like it?”
“I am passionately18 fond of it,” said the young lady.
“Does your cousin play, too?”
“A little,” said Imogene ungraciously. “She hasn’t much taste for it, but it is really necessary for her to learn.”
“Why?”
“Because she is to be a governess,” said Imogene. “She is very poor—in fact she has nothing of her own. Pa kindly19 agreed to take her and give her an education, so as to qualify her to earn her own living. She’ll be a governess, or teach school, or something of the kind, when she’s old enough.”
“Perhaps she won’t have to,” said Tom, who liked to annoy his companion.
“She has got to earn her living.”
“I mean she may get married.”
“Yes,” said Imogene, “but, of course, she can’t expect to make much of a match. She may get a farmer, or mechanic, perhaps.”
“I suppose,” said Tom, “you would not marry a farmer or mechanic?”
“I should think not,” said Imogene, tossing her head. “I have a right to look higher. I may marry a lawyer like pa. What do you expect to be, Mr. Temple?”
“I haven’t thought about it,” said Tom.
“I suppose you won’t have to do anything. You are rich, are you not?”
“I suppose so,” said Tom, who was not inclined to boast of his wealth, “but I shouldn’t be willing to be idle.”
“You might buy an estate and take care of it, and live on your income.”
“Then I should be a farmer.”
“Oh, that’s different. You wouldn’t have to work yourself. What shall I play for you?” asked the young lady, who was now seated at the piano.
“I’m not particular. I like songs best.”
Imogene sang a fashionable song, but her voice was thin and shrill20, and Tom could not in conscience praise the performance. He thanked her, but did not ask for another. Imogene, however, played two other pieces, and then rose from the piano.
“Miss Mary,” said Tom, “won’t you play something?”
“Shall I aunt?” asked Mary.
“If Mr. Temple wishes to hear you,” said Mrs. Davenport ungraciously. “He will make allowances, as he can hardly expect you to perform as well as Imogene.”
So Mary took her place at the piano.
“I do not play very much,” she said apologetically.
“I’m not a critic,” said Tom. “I sha’n’t find fault. Do you sing?”
“A few common songs, such as ‘Sweet Home.’”
“That’s just what I like.”
So Mary played and sang “Sweet Home.” Her voice was sweet and fresh, far superior to her cousin’s, and her performance was wholly free from affectation.
“Thank you,” said Tom, at the conclusion of the song. “I enjoyed it very much.”
He was about to ask for another song, when Imogene said:
“Don’t bang away on the piano any more, Mary, I am sure Mr. Temple will gladly excuse you.”
“You are mistaken,” said Tom, “I particularly enjoy your cousin’s singing.”
“I want to show you some engravings,” said Imogene, determined to separate the two.
Mary rose from the piano. It would be impossible to continue after such a broad hint.
“I shall hope to hear you again,” said Tom, as he led her to a seat.
“Some other time I will sing to you, if you wish,” said Mary. “Imogene doesn’t want me to now.”
“What a spiteful girl her cousin is!” thought Tom. “She’s a little more disagreeable than James, if possible. If she expects to make any impression on me, she’s very much mistaken.”
Tom had no further opportunity to converse3 with Mary Somers that evening. Imogene laid herself out to entertain him, and at all events succeeded in monopolizing21 his attention. Tom was not unaccustomed to society, and although he was weary of his companion, he was too polite to say so. He permitted her to show him several collections of engravings, and forced himself to converse, though his eyes frequently wandered to Mary, who was sitting at the other end of the room, wholly neglected. Neither James nor Edwin thought it necessary to go near her, but were playing a game of checkers, while Mr. Davenport was nodding over his newspaper, and Mrs. Davenport was attending to some feminine work.
Our hero was glad when the time came to go. He found the Middletons curious to hear the particulars of his reception by the great man of the place.
“What do you think of Miss Imogene?” asked Nathan.
“She’s thin and bony,” said Tom; “not at all good-looking.”
“Really,” said Nathan, rather shocked, “I think you are unjust. She is considered a very stylish22 young lady.”
“Her cousin Mary is pretty,” said Tom.
“I suppose you know she is only a poor relation.”
“I know all about that,” said Tom, laughing. “Imogene told me. She thought I was paying her too much attention.”
Mr. and Mrs. Middleton exchanged glances. They understood that the great man’s daughter was pleased with Tom, and thought more of him accordingly.
“Will you have some refreshments23 before you retire?” asked Mrs. Middleton.
“No, thank you. I had a jolly supper at Mr. Davenport’s.”
Mrs. Middleton was relieved to hear this, and did not press her invitation.
The next day Tom went on an exploring expedition. He was returning about the middle of the afternoon, when he was startled by a young girl’s shriek24. Turning his head he saw a terrified figure pursued by a fierce dog. A moment’s glance revealed to him that it was Mary Somers.
She recognized him at the same moment.
“Oh, save me, Mr. Temple!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands.
“I will,” said Tom resolutely25.
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1
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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2
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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3
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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4
monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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6
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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7
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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8
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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9
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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10
brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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11
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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12
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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13
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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14
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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15
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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16
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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17
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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18
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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19
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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20
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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21
monopolizing
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| v.垄断( monopolize的现在分词 )；独占；专卖；专营 | |
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22
stylish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的 | |
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23
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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24
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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25
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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