[1] Kinglake in his History of the Crimean War, vol. vi. p. 436.
[258]
Rose felt as if she had never sufficiently4 appreciated Annie before. She was very proud of her sister now when she came to Welby Square, and everybody, whether in Mrs. Jennings's set or in Hester's, was struck with Annie's beauty and brightness.
Even Hester Jennings saw nothing to find fault with on the ornamental5 side of a girl who had gone in so heartily6 for the serious business of life, nine-tenths of whose hours were occupied with grave tasks, to which Hester owned honestly that she with all her public spirit was not equal.
Annie's face was not only the most unclouded, her laugh the merriest of all the faces and laughs which appeared and were heard in Welby Square. She became almost as much of a peacemaker, a smoother-down of rough interludes, an allayer of irritating ebullitions, as Dora was wont7 to be at home.
"Annie is so much improved," Rose wrote to May, "I never saw her looking prettier. She is just splendid when she comes out of St. Ebbe's for an afternoon and evening. Everybody is delighted to see her, and wants to have her for his or her particular friend. She and I have such jolly walks and talks; she hardly ever calls me back or puts me down now."
After pronouncing this high encomium8 it was
[259]
rather a shock to Rose not only to incur9 Annie's righteous displeasure, but to discover that on occasions Annie could be as severe and relentless10 in her sentences as ever.
Rose, like most middle-class girls not fairly out of their teens, and committed to their own discretion11 in the huge motley world of London, had been solemnly charged to behave with the greatest wariness12. She was to treat every man or woman she encountered well-nigh as a dangerous enemy in disguise till her suspicions were proved to be misplaced, and the stranger shown to Rose's satisfaction and that of her seniors and guardians13 to be a harmless friend.
To do Rose justice, she remembered for the most part what had been told her, and was careful not to expose herself to the slightest chance of misapprehension—not to say rudeness, such as would have frightened her mother and incensed15 her father. Rose would not be tempted16 by the fearless independence of Hester Jennings and her cronies. They maintained, in theory at least, that though there might be dens17 of vice2 and dark places of cruelty in the great city, for those whose feet trod the downward path, yet its crowded thoroughfares, to those who honestly went about their own business, or to the messengers of divine charity and mercy, were as safe, and safer, than any quiet
[260]
country road. Womanhood in the strength and confidence of its purity and fearlessness might traverse them alone at any hour of the day or night.
But Rose submitted to the ordinary if antiquated18 code, which implies the timidity and defencelessness of young women whenever and wherever assailed19. She had not gone far enough in her emancipation20 to reckon as part of it, immunity21 from apprehension14 of every kind, including the strife22 of evil tongues.
However, one day in the beginning of May, Rose went to Covent Garden in pursuit of a pot of tulips, which she suddenly felt she must have, without delay, as an accessory in one of her sketches23. She was coming home laden24 with her spoil by way of Burnet's, where there was an equal necessity for her to procure25, on the instant, a yard or two of gauzy stuff of a certain uncertain hue26, when a thunder-storm unexpectedly broke over the haunt of artists. Torrents27 of rain followed, enough to wash away whole pyramids of flowers and piles of art-materials. If the downpour did nothing else it cleared the crowded street, with the celerity of magic only seen in such circumstances, and left Rose cowering28 in a doorway29, alone as it seemed to her, but for a cab-driver who took refuge in his cab, drawn30 up before one of the opposite houses. The rain looked as if it meant to continue, while, laden as Rose was, she
[261]
could not have held up an umbrella even if she had found one ready to her hand.
Her slender funds did not set her up in cabs, as she had told herself on many a weary trudge31 in fog and drizzle32 between Mr. Foy's class-rooms and Welby Square. Besides she would like to see Hester Jennings's face when she (Rose Millar) proposed to indulge in such a luxury. But there would be more lost than gained if she stood shivering in that doorway till her best spring frock was ruined, waiting for an omnibus which was sure to arrive with every available inch of space occupied. She would catch a chill or an influenza33 with no kind father near to save her a doctor's bill, and cure her simply for the pleasure of doing it. She would brave Hester's eagle eye, supposing it could scan Rose's misdeeds from some coigne of vantage commanding this end of the street. She signalled to the cab-driver opposite, who put his head out of the cab window and signalled back that he had a fare besides himself at present ensconced in one of the inhospitable-looking houses.
Should she bid the thunder, lightning, and rain do their worst, and set out to walk home in defiance34 of them? While she still paused irresolute35, peeping out disconsolately36 at the inky sky from which the downpour fell, a young man in the conscious superiority of a waterproof37 and an ample
[262]
umbrella, walked leisurely38 along the sloppy39, deserted40 pavement. He looked at her, seemed arrested by something which struck him in her appearance, hesitated a little undecidedly, stopped short, and addressed her, colouring up to his frank, honest blue eyes as he did so.
"I am afraid you have been caught in this tremendous shower. Can I do nothing to help you—call a cab, for instance?"
"Oh! thank you very much," she said gratefully, forgetting all about the cunning enemy in disguise for whom she was to be always looking out. Indeed she had felt so lonely a minute before that she was rather disposed to welcome a comrade in misfortune. "The cabman in the cab opposite tells me he is engaged, and I do not remember any cab-stand near this."
"There is one round the corner, which I passed a minute ago, but it was vacant; all the world is wanting cabs in such weather. However, I can shelter you a little, if you will allow me," and he held the umbrella in front of her.
"No, please; I am keeping you here in the wet, and you are exposing yourself to the rain," protested Rose, remorsefully41. "I was just thinking of walking on, sooner than stand any longer getting gradually soaked," she confided42 to him with pleasant inconsiderateness.
[263]
"Then will you take the use of my umbrella?" he asked promptly43; "and perhaps you will let me carry your parcels for you," he suggested in the humblest manner possible, eyeing covetously44 her flower-pot, and the paper wisp from "Burnet's."
"Oh dear, no," said Rose, pulling herself together when it was too late, and with an adorable frankness, which was another mistake so far as an unauthorized acquaintance's being nipped in the bud went. "I should be taking you out of your way; you must want your own umbrella, and I can manage perfectly45 well. I am accustomed to go about by myself"—the last piece of information given with a proud inflection of the voice which told its own tale.
"In storm and shine?" he took it upon him to question her, with the slightest rallying tone, and a twinkle in his blue eyes, but still with the greatest respect in his attitude and manner—"not in storm, surely. I shall not be going out of my way. I am only taking a stroll—that is, I generally do take a stroll in some direction on my way back to my lodgings46. You may not think the weather nice for strolling, but I don't mind it. I am as strong as a horse, and I certainly don't want an umbrella. I have this waterproof affair, which, like the umbrella, is rather a nuisance than otherwise."
She could see at a glance that he was a broad
[264]
-shouldered young fellow, over six feet, and that his kindly47, deferential48 face, seen through the steaming atmosphere, was as ruddy as youth and a vigorous constitution could make it. He was evidently speaking the truth, and she could not resist the temptation of the friendly aid arriving thus opportunely49, and so obligingly pressed upon her.
"Only for a little way," she bargained cheerfully. "The rain may stop in a minute, though I must say it does not look like it, or we may come on a return cab; anyhow, it cannot be long till an omnibus overtakes us."
She would have demurred50 at his ridding her of her flowers and parcel, which he disposed of easily under his arm and in his disengaged hand, as if he were well accustomed to being cumbered with such small impediments, had not a comical idea crossed her mind. He might think that she did not trust his honesty, and was beset51 by a fear that he would rush down a side street and disappear with her goods before she could cry, "Stop, thief!" and arouse the scanty52 passers-by.
Then Rose felt impelled53 to explain why she walked about London burdened with flower-pots and rolls of gauze. "I have just been to Covent Garden," she said. "I wished to get this pot of tulips—parrot tulips—yellow and scarlet54, you know, to harmonize with a Chinese screen in a little
[265]
picture I am painting. Then I had to go into 'Burnet's,' for 'Liberty's' is too far away, for some blue stuff of the right shade which I could drape into a frock for the little girl who is my model."
"Are you fond of painting?" he caught her up, being to the full as willing to speak as she was. "So is my sister, and she also goes to 'Liberty's' for queer rags and tags. I suppose they are part of the amateur's stock-in-trade."
"I am going to be a professional artist," said Rose again, with that proud little inflection of the voice. But all the effect which her communication had upon him was that he took it as an invitation, or at least as a warrant, for responsive confidences on his own part.
"I am a doctor," he announced. "I have been entitled to write myself one for the last two months. I have just passed my final exams, and got my degree—stiffish work for a fellow who does not take to sapping as easily as to the air he breathes."
"My father is a doctor," said Rose, brightly, with her tongue fairly loosened. "I forget whether he says examinations were easier or more difficult when he was young. He is Dr. Millar of Redcross."
"Millar!" exclaimed the tall young man so excitedly, that he stopped short for an instant, in the middle of the dismally55 lashing56 rain, and looked at
[266]
her with a gleam of delight in his blue eyes. "I thought so, I saw it at the first glance. You have a sister among the lady probationers at St. Ebbe's."
"Yes—Annie," cried Rose, with equal ecstasy57 in the acquiescence58; and she, too, stood still for a second in the rain. "Do you know St. Ebbe's? Have you seen Annie?"
"I should think I do, I should think I have," he answered her fervently59. "St. Ebbe's is my hospital. I have been 'walking it' for a year past. I was there to-day, and Miss Millar is well known all over the place. She is a great favourite with the matron, Mrs. Hull60, and the house surgeon, and especially with the operating surgeon. He is always asking to have Miss Millar in his cases since that boy had his leg cut off."
"I know, I know," chimed in Rose, "the little boy who begged you to wait till he had said his prayers, and when he could not do it for himself, Annie was able to do it for him. Now he is hopping61 about on his crutches62 quite actively63 and happily; and she has got him an engagement, to clean the knives and boots at Mrs. Jennings, the boarding-house in Welby Square where I stay. Isn't it too funny and nice that you should happen to have to do with St. Ebbe's and Annie?"
"It has been a great pleasure to me—well, these are not the right words," said the young fellow
[267]
with sudden gravity and a shade of agitation64 in his manner. "I count it the greatest piece of good fortune which ever befell me that I took St. Ebbe's for my hospital. But I ought not to presume on my acquaintance with Miss Millar," he began again immediately, with an infusion65 of cautious reserve and something like vexation creeping into his tone; "it is purely66 professional. We are far too busy people at St. Ebbe's to know each other as private persons. Very likely if you ask her, she will deny all knowledge of me as an individual; she may not even be able to recall the fact of my existence apart from a circle of big uncouth67 medical students in the train of the doctors—all alike to her. At the same time I have drunk tea in her company both in the matron's room and in Dr. Moss's, and I have often sat near her in the services at the hospital chapel," he ended a little defiantly68.
The speech, save for its ring of half-boyish mortification69, was suspicious, as if he were providing a loophole for escape in case Annie refused to indorse his assertion of mutual70 acquaintance. But Rose, in spite of her spirit and quickness, was hardly more given to suspicion than her sister May showed herself, and saw nothing dubious71 in his remark. She was carried away with the agreeable surprise of having stumbled on somebody connected with St. Ebbe's who knew all about Annie. She
[268]
chatted on in the frankest, friendliest way, plying72 him with girlish questions, and supplying free comments on his answers; and he was an auditor73 who was nothing loth to be so treated, and to be furnished with stores of information on points which had aroused his ardent74 curiosity. She forgot all about taking him out of his way, and when they reached Welby Square she crowned her unbounded faith in him by inviting75 him into the house. On his acceptance of her invitation, after a moment's hesitation76, she presented him to Mrs. Jennings as a friend of Annie's from St. Ebbe's.
The young man had the grace to feel his ears tingle77 while Mrs. Jennings, looking a little astonished, took him on Rose's word, bowed her welcome, begged him to sit down with her usual gracious, languid good-breeding, and said she was glad to see any friend of Miss Annie Millar's.
He did his best, with a flushed face, to remedy his and Rose's rashness. He put down his card, with Harry78 Ironside, M.D., engraved79 on it, at Mrs. Jennings's elbow. He set himself with a strenuous80 and sincere effort to talk to her, and so to conduct himself as to do credit to Rose's voucher81.
Mrs. Jennings was easily propitiated82 on receiving the attention which was due to her. She thought the young man's manners perfectly good; they had well-bred ease, and at the same time the modesty83
[269]
which ought to accompany youth, though his introduction to her had been somewhat informal.
Irregularity and singularity were among the fashions of the day. She would have been glad if her daughter Hester, in carrying out these fashions, had brought forward no rougher, or commoner-looking, or more eccentric satellites and protégés—secretaries of those horrid84 women's unions and clubs—than this friend of Rose and Annie Millar's.
Mrs. Jennings never forgot a name and its social connection. "Ironside?" she repeated tentatively, but with an air of agreeable expectation. "I am familiar with the name. One of my sons, Captain Lawrence Jennings, when his regiment85 was at Manchester, knew and received much kindness from a family named Ironside."
"It must have been the family of one of my uncles," said Dr. Harry Ironside, eagerly. "My Uncle John, and my Uncle Charles too, for that matter, stay in Manchester. Both are married men with families. My Uncle John was mayor a few years ago."
"The same," cried Mrs. Jennings with bland86 satisfaction. "Lawrie's Ironsides were the family of the mayor, I remember perfectly when you mention it;" and she added the mental note, "They were among the richest cotton-brokers in the place—well-nigh millionaires."
[270]
"Were you all named from Cromwell's Ironsides?" inquired Rose, lightly, inclined to laugh and colour at the absurd recollection that, though she had seemed to know all about him from the moment he spoke87 of St. Ebbe's and Annie, she had been ignorant of his very name till he put down his card. If he had not done so, she would have had to describe him to Annie as the big, fair-haired young doctor with the Roman nose, or by some other nonsensical item, such as the signet-ring on his left hand, or the trick of putting his hand to his chin.
"I am sure I cannot tell"—he met her question with an answering laugh—"except that, so far as I know, we have had more to do with cotton than with cannon-balls. My father was a Manchester man, like my uncles. I have struck out a new line in handling—not to say a sword, but a lancet."
"Ah!" said Mrs. Jennings with mild superiority, "all my sons are in the services—I have given them to their Queen and country. Two of my sons-in-law are also in the army, and I often say of the third—a clergyman in a sadly heathen part of the Black Country—that, engaged as he is in the Church militant88, he is as much a fighter as the rest of them." Having thus in the mildest, most ladylike manner, established her social supremacy89, Mrs. Jennings was doubly gracious to the visitor.
点击收听单词发音
1 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 toiling | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 ornamental | |
adj.装饰的;作装饰用的;n.装饰品;观赏植物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 encomium | |
n.赞颂;颂词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 incur | |
vt.招致,蒙受,遭遇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 relentless | |
adj.残酷的,不留情的,无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 wariness | |
n. 注意,小心 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 guardians | |
监护人( guardian的名词复数 ); 保护者,维护者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 incensed | |
盛怒的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 dens | |
n.牙齿,齿状部分;兽窝( den的名词复数 );窝点;休息室;书斋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 antiquated | |
adj.陈旧的,过时的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 emancipation | |
n.(从束缚、支配下)解放 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 immunity | |
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 sketches | |
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 torrents | |
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 cowering | |
v.畏缩,抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 trudge | |
v.步履艰难地走;n.跋涉,费力艰难的步行 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 drizzle | |
v.下毛毛雨;n.毛毛雨,蒙蒙细雨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 influenza | |
n.流行性感冒,流感 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 irresolute | |
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 disconsolately | |
adv.悲伤地,愁闷地;哭丧着脸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 waterproof | |
n.防水材料;adj.防水的;v.使...能防水 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 leisurely | |
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 sloppy | |
adj.邋遢的,不整洁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 remorsefully | |
adv.极为懊悔地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 confided | |
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 covetously | |
adv.妄想地,贪心地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 deferential | |
adj. 敬意的,恭敬的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 opportunely | |
adv.恰好地,适时地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 demurred | |
v.表示异议,反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 beset | |
v.镶嵌;困扰,包围 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 impelled | |
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 dismally | |
adv.阴暗地,沉闷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 lashing | |
n.鞭打;痛斥;大量;许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 ecstasy | |
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 acquiescence | |
n.默许;顺从 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 fervently | |
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 hull | |
n.船身;(果、实等的)外壳;vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 hopping | |
n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 crutches | |
n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 infusion | |
n.灌输 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 uncouth | |
adj.无教养的,粗鲁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 defiantly | |
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 dubious | |
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 plying | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 auditor | |
n.审计员,旁听着 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 inviting | |
adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 tingle | |
vi.感到刺痛,感到激动;n.刺痛,激动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 harry | |
vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 engraved | |
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80 strenuous | |
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
81 voucher | |
n.收据;传票;凭单,凭证 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82 propitiated | |
v.劝解,抚慰,使息怒( propitiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83 modesty | |
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86 bland | |
adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
87 spoke | |
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 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
88 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
89 supremacy | |
n.至上;至高权力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |