"Don't mention it, sir, unless you mean to tempt1 me to commit murder next."
The speakers in the old drawing-room of Newton-le-Moor, in the south country, thirty years ago, were Mr. Baring and his daughter Diana. He was a worn and dissipated-looking man, with a half-arrogant, half-base air—implying a whole old man of the world of a bad day gone by. He was flawless in his carving4, his card-dealing, his frock-coat and tie: corrupt5 to the core in almost everything else. She was a tall, full-formed woman, in her flower and prime, with a fine carriage and gait, which rendered it a matter of indifference6 that she wore as plain and simple a muslin gown as a lady could wear. Her hair was of the pale, delicate, neutral tint7 which the French call blond-cendré, a little too ashen-hued for most complexions10. It was not wavy11 hair, but very soft and pure, [Page 303]as if no atmosphere of turmoil12 and taint13 had ruffled14 or soiled it. It made Miss Baring's fresh, clear complexion9 a shade too bright in the carmine15, which took off the greyness of the flaxen hue8 and relieved the cold and steel-like gleam in her grey-blue eyes. The features of the face were fine and regular, like Mr. Baring's; but instead of the handsome, aristocratic, relentless16 aquiline17 nose, which was the most striking feature in the gentleman's face, the lady's was a modified Greek nose, broad enough at the base slightly to spoil its beauty but largely to increase its intellectual significance.
The "he" of the conversation, who was not to last ten years, was Gervase Norgate of Ashpound—a poor, impulsive18, weak-willed, fast-living young neighbouring squire19. Unluckily for himself, he had been early left his own master, and had ridden post-haste to the dogs ever since. Suddenly he had taken it into his muddled20 head to pull up in his career, and, if need be, to chain and padlock, hedge and barricade21 himself with a wife and family, before Ashpound should be swallowed up by hungry creditors22, and he had hurried himself into a forlorn grave.
Mr. Baring was willing to let him off as a pigeon to be plucked, and to use him instead as an unconscious decoy-duck in getting rid of Die; not that Mr. Baring had an unnatural23 aversion to his daughter, but that she was a drag upon him both for the present and the future. But Die, after one night's reflection, accepted Gervase Norgate to escape worse evil, having neither brother nor sister nor friend who would aid her. What Die did on that night; whether she merely "slept on the proposal," like a wise, [Page 304]well-in-hand, self-controlled woman; whether she outwatched the moon, plying3 herself with arguments, forcing herself to overcome her deadly sick loathing24 at the leap, nobody knows. If Die had learned anything worth retaining, in the shifts and shams25 of her life, it was perfect reticence26. The result was that Gervase Norgate was coming to woo as an accepted wooer at Newton-le-Moor on the evening of the summer day when Mr. Baring confidentially27 assured the bride that the bridegroom would not last ten years.
Newton-le-Moor was what its name suggested, an estate won from the southern moors28 by other and worthier29 adventurers than John Fitzwilliam Baring. In his hands the place was drifting back to the original moorland. Everything, except the stables and kennels30, had been suffered to go to wreck31. The house was of weather-streaked white stone, in part staring and pretentious32, in part prodigal33 and vagabondish. The drawing-room of Newton-le-Moor, like most drawing-rooms, was a commentary—more or less complete—on the life and character of its owner. If it did not represent all his practices and pursuits—his repudiation34 of just claims and obligations; his sleeping till noon and waking till morning, and faring sumptuously35 at his neighbours' expense; his fleecing of every victim who crossed his false door by borrowing, bill-discounting, horse-dealing, betting, billiards36, long and short whist, and brandy-drinking—at least it painted one little peculiarity37 of John Fitzwilliam Baring very fairly. Not one accessory which could contribute to his comfort and enjoyment38 was wanting, from the exceedingly easy chair for his back, [Page 305]to the alabaster39 lamp for his eyes, and the silver pastile-burner for his nose. On the other hand, there was scarcely an article that had no special reference to John Fitzwilliam Baring which was not in the last stages of decay.
On this evening, before Gervase Norgate came up with her father from the dining-room, where he might sit too long, considering who was waiting him, Diana had her tea-table arranged, and sat down behind it as if to do its honours. She showed no symptoms of discomposure, unless that her rose-colour flickered40 and flushed in a manner that was not natural to it; yet she had so entrenched41 herself, that when Gervase Norgate entered, with an irregular, unsteady step, although as nearly sober as he ever was, she could not be touched except at arm's length, and by the tips of the fingers, over which he bowed.
Mr. Norgate was not in his flower and prime. He was not above a year or two Miss Baring's senior; but his whole being had suffered eclipse before it reached maturity42, though he still showed some remains43 of what might have been worth preserving. His physique had been what no word interprets so fitly as the Scotch44 word "braw,"—not huge and unwieldy in size and strength, but manly45 and comely46. His shoulders were still broad, though they slouched. His hand and arm were still a model, somewhat wasted and shaken, of what in muscular power and lightness a hand and arm should be. His dark brown hair, dry and scanty47 at five-and-twenty, still fell in waves. His eyes, dulled and dimmed, were still the kindly48, magnanimous, forgiving blue eyes. His mouth had always been a [Page 306]heavy mouth (better at all events than a mean mouth); it was coarse now, but with strange lines of gentleness breaking in upon its tendency to violence. But his carriage, though he was pre-eminently a well-made man, was the attribute most spoilt about him. He had the blustering49 yet shuffling50 bearing of a man who is fully51 convinced that he has gone to the dogs, and it did not alter its expression that he was making an effort to quit his canine52 associates. Perhaps the effort required to be confirmed before its effects could be seen; perhaps he was not setting about the right way of redeeming53 himself, after all.
Mr. Baring was pompous54 in his high breeding—the first gentleman in Europe was pompous also. Mr. Baring brought forward his intended son-in-law as his young friend, and alluded55 pointedly56 to the summer evening and its event as an "auspicious57 occasion." But he was cut short by a frosty glance from Die, and a brief remark that she was not sure that this evening and its party were more auspicious than usual.
Although Miss Baring was a person of very little consequence in her father's house, she acted on Mr. Baring as a drag. Her cold looks inadvertently damped him; and she had a way, which he could not account for in his daughter, of making blunt speeches, like that on the auspicious occasion and on her being left a rich young widow, if Gervase Norgate did for himself smartly. This was discomfiting58 even to a man who piqued59 himself on his resources in conversation. Die had uttered twice as many of these abrupt60, unamiable, unanswerable rejoinders within [Page 307]these twenty-four hours, since she had accepted Gervase Norgate's hand.
Whatever Mr. Baring thought of the rebuff, he was above exhibiting any sign of his feelings, and no one could have refused him the tribute of consideration for the position of his companions, as he blandly61 announced that he had the day's 'Chronicle' to read, and begged to be excused for accomplishing the task before post-time. He retired62 to sip2 his tea and disappear behind the folds of his newspaper. It was the first evening for a dozen years that he had not handled cue or fingered cards.
Gervase Norgate, assuming his character of a man about to amend63 his ways, marry, and settle, sat by Die Baring. He noted64 and summed up the girl's good points, as no man in love ever yet did. She was a finer-looking woman than he had supposed,—one to be proud of as he presented her to his friends as his wife; pity that he had so few creditable friends left now! He could think of none at that moment except his strong-minded old Aunt Tabby, who had some sneaking65 kindness for him in the middle of her scorn, and his old man, Miles. Die Baring would not tolerate his boon66 companions—not that he wanted her to tolerate them; she would not suit for his mistress and manager if she did; though where she got her niceness—seeing what her father was up to in cool, barefaced67 scampishness, in horse-flesh, bones, and pasteboard—he could not tell.—She was a capable woman he was certain, if she got a fair field for her capability68. She was clever: anybody with half an eye or an ear might recognize that. And she would want all her cleverness—ay, and her will and tem[Page 308]per—for what she would have to do. But she had undertaken the task, and it was not much to the purpose that if she had not been the daughter of a disreputable spendthrift she would doubtless as lief have touched live coals as have submitted to be his wife. Ah, well, it was his luck in his last toss-up, and he had never been lucky before; yet he had never felt so great a reluctance69 to conclude his engagement of twenty-four hours, and clinch70 his repentance71, as he did at this moment. It was good for him that he stood committed. But why had he not sought out some humble72, meek73 lass, who would still have looked up to him and reckoned him not quite such a reprobate74, but believed that there was some good left in him, and liked him a little for himself—not married him to suit her own book and save him for her own sake, if it were possible? Why had he not chosen a simple pet lamb, in place of a proud heifer who scarcely took the trouble to conceal75 from him how it galled76 her neck to put it into his yoke77? Psha! he would break any poor heart with his incorrigible78 wildness and beastly sottishness in a month's time. A woman without a heart; a good, hard-mouthed, strong-pulling, well-wearing woman,—honest, and a lady; a handsome, superior woman, and far beyond his deserts, was the wife for him.
Gervase pursued this line of thought; but he spoke79 to Miss Baring, after a little introductory flourish about the weather, his ride from Ashpound, and the embroidery80 which she had taken up, in a different strain.
"You have shown a great, I must say an unmerited, trust in me, Miss Baring—Diana: but I mean—I swear I [Page 309]mean to do the best I can for you and myself. I have thought better of the life I have been leading; I shall turn over a new leaf, and be another man if you will help me."
The confession81 was fatally facile, like most confessions82, but it was sincere, and not without its touching83 element, which, however, did not reach her.
She replied, without being greatly moved, and corrected what might be a slight misconception on his part: "I am quite aware, Mr. Norgate, that you have been rather wild; but since you mean to do better, I am willing to try you and to be your wife."
Diana's candid84 acquiescence85 had the same disconcerting influence upon Gervase that her speeches had on her father, unlike as the men were: it struck him dumb when he should have overwhelmed her with thanks. After a while he recovered himself, took heart of grace, and blundered out that he was grateful,—a happy man; would she not say Gervase, when she was having him altogether?
"I suppose I may," acceded86 Diana, with a hard smile. "There, Gervase—it is not hard to say," as if she were humouring him.
He did not ask for any more favours or rights, but maundered a little on nobody calling him Gervase for many a day except his aunt Tabby, and she contracted it to Jarvie, which had a stage-coach flavour.
"Tell me something about your aunt Tabby. Do you know, I have not visited an aunt since I was a little girl of ten?" This afforded him an opening more naturally and pleasantly, and the two went off on Aunt Tabby in[Page 310]stead of accomplishing more courtship, and got on a little better. Diverging87 from Aunt Tabby to her place, and from her place to Ashpound, they went on with mention of Gervase's factotum88, Miles, and discussed capabilities89 and future arrangements with wonderful common sense.
Mr. Baring swallowed his last gape90 over his 'Chronicle,' concluded that the couple had surely had their swing of private conversation for one night, and resolved to curtail91 the courtship to the shortest decorous bounds. So Mr. Baring looked at his watch, and said quite lovingly to Gervase: "My boy, when I do act the family man, I do the thing thoroughly92, by supping in my dressing-room at eleven. What! you are off? A pleasant ride to you. You will receive your orders from Die, I fancy, when to report yourself in attendance. To-morrow is it, or next day? Make yourself at home, my dear fellow. Happy to think that you are going to be one of us—a son for me to be proud of. Good-night. God bless you."
Thus the preliminaries to the alliance ended with Gervase bowing again over the tips of Die's fingers. He had not the smallest inclination93 to raise them to his lips.
"I will do my duty by him," said Diana to herself, when she was in the sanctuary94 of her own bare room. And what a poor sanctuary it had been! "It may be bad in me to have him, but what can I do? and what can he do, for that matter? If I do my duty by him, surely some good will come of it." Perhaps her imagination was haunted by a garbled95 version of the text about him who turns a sinner from the error of his ways and covers a multitude of sin.
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收听单词发音
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1
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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3
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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carmine
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| n.深红色，洋红色 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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shams
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| 假象( sham的名词复数 )； 假货； 虚假的行为（或感情、言语等）； 假装…的人 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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worthier
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| 应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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pretentious
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| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
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prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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repudiation
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| n.拒绝；否认；断绝关系；抛弃 | |
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sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entrenched
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| adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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44
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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46
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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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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49
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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50
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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51
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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54
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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55
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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discomfiting
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| v.使为难( discomfit的现在分词 )；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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amend
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| vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿 | |
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64
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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66
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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barefaced
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| adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的 | |
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68
capability
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| n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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70
clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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71
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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75
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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79
spoke
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| 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 | |
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80
embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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81
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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82
confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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83
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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84
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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85
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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86
acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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87
diverging
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| 分开( diverge的现在分词 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
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factotum
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| n.杂役；听差 | |
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89
capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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90
gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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91
curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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garbled
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| adj.（指信息）混乱的，引起误解的v.对（事实）歪曲，对（文章等）断章取义，窜改( garble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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