“Oh that the desert were my dwelling1-place,
With one fair spirit for my monitor!
That I might all forget the human race,
And, hating no one, love but only her.
Ye elements, in whose ennobling stir
I feel myself exalted2, can ye not
Accord me such a being? Do I err3
In deeming such inhabit many a spot—
Though with them to converse4 can rarely be our lot.”
Oft during his sojourn5 in the sequestered6 valley do these lines occur to the young prairie merchant. And vividly7; for, in very truth, he has realised the aspiration8 of the poet.
But, though dwelling in a desert, far different is the scene habitually9 before his eyes. From the front of the humble10 chalet that has so opportunely11 afforded him a shelter, seated under the spreading branches of a pecan-tree, he can look on a landscape lovely as ever opened to the eyes of man—almost as that closed against our first parents when expelled from Paradise. Above he beholds12 a sapphire13 sky, scarce ever shadowed by a cloud; a sun whose fierce, fervid14 beams become softened15 as they fall amid the foliage16 of evergreen17 oaks; among clustering groves18 that show all the varied19 tints20 of verdure, disporting21 upon green glassy glades22, and glinting into arbours overshadowed by the sassafras laurel, the Osage orange, and the wild China-tree, laced together by a trellis of grape vines. A lake in the centre of this luxurious23 vegetation, placid24 as sleep itself, only stirred by the webbed feet of waterfowl, or the wings of dipping swallows, with above and below a brawling25 rivulet26, here and there showing cascades27 like the tails of white horses, or the skirts of ballroom28 belles29 floating through waltz or gallopade.
In correspondence with these fair sights are the sounds heard. By day the cooing of doves, the soft tones of the golden oriole, and the lively chatter30 of the red cardinal31; by night the booming note of the bull-bat, the sonorous32 call of the trumpeter swan, and that lay far excelling all—the clear song of the polyglot33 thrush, the famed mocking-bird of America.
No wonder the invalid34, recovering from his illness, after the long dark spell that has obscured his intellect, wrapping his soul, as it were, in a shroud—no wonder he fancies the scene to be a sort of Paradise, worthy35 of being inhabited by Peris. One is there he deems fair as Houri or Peri, unsurpassed by any ideal of Hindoo or Persian fable—Adela Miranda. In her he beholds beauty of a type striking as rare; not common anywhere, and only seen among women in whose veins37 courses the blue blood of Andalusia—a beauty perhaps not in accordance with the standard of taste acknowledged in the icy northland. The vigolite upon her upper lip might look a little bizarre in an assemblage of Saxon dames38, just as her sprightly39 spirit would offend the sentiment of a strait-laced Puritanism.
It has no such effect upon Frank Hamersley. The child of a land above all others free from conventionalism, with a nature attuned40 to the picturesque41, these peculiarities42, while piquing43 his fancy, have fixed44 his admiration45. Long before leaving his sick couch there has been but one world for him—that where dwells Adela Miranda; but one being in it—herself.
Surely it was decreed by fate that these two should love one another! Surely for them was there a marriage in heaven! Else why brought together in such a strange place and by such a singular chain of circumstances?
For himself, Hamersley thinks of this—builds hopes upon it deeming it an omen36.
Another often occurs to him, also looking like fate. He remembers that portrait on the wall at Albuquerque, and how it had predisposed him in favour of the original. The features of Spano-Mexican type—so unlike those he had been accustomed to in his own country—had vividly impressed him. Gazing upon it he had almost felt love for the likeness46. Then the description of the young girl given by her brother, with the incidents that led to friendly relations between him and Colonel Miranda, all had contributed to sow the seed of a tender sentiment in the heart of the young Kentuckian. It had not died out. Neither time nor absence had obliterated47 it. Far off—even when occupied with the pressing claims of business—that portrait-face had often appeared upon the retina of his memory, and often also in the visions of dreamland. Now that he has looked upon it in reality—sees it in all its blazing beauty, surrounded by scenes picturesque as its own expression, amid incidents romantic as his fancy could conjure48 up—now that he knows it as the face of her who has saved his life, is it any wonder the slight, tender sentiment first kindled49 by the painted picture should become stronger at the sight of the living original?
It has done this—become a passion that pervade50 his soul, filling his whole heart. All the more from its being the first he has ever felt—the first love of his life. And for this also all the more does he tremble as he thinks of the possibility of its being unreciprocated.
He has been calculating the chances in his favour every hour since consciousness returned to him. And from some words heard in that very hour has he derived51 greater pleasure, and draws more hope than from aught that has occurred since. Constantly does he recall that soliloquy, speech spoken under the impression that it did not reach his ears.
There has been nothing afterwards—neither word nor deed—to give him proof he is beloved. The lady has been a tender nurse—a hostess apparently52 solicitous53 for the happiness of her guest—nothing more. Were the words she had so thoughtlessly spoken unfelt, and without any particular meaning? Or was the speech but an allusion54, born from the still lingering distemper of his brain?
He yearns55 to know the truth. Every hour that he remains56 ignorant of it, he is in torture equalling that of Tantalus. Yet he fears to ask, lest in the answer he may have a painful revelation.
He almost envies Walt Wilder his commonplace love, its easy conquest, and somewhat grotesque57 declaration. He wishes he could propose with like freedom, and receive a similar response. His comrade’s success should embolden58 him; but does not. There is no parallelism between the parties.
Thus he delays seeking the knowledge he most desires to possess, through fear it may afflict59 him. Not from any lack of opportunity. Since almost all the time is he left alone with her he so worships. Nothing stands in his way—no zealous60 watchfulness61 of a brother. Don Valerian neglects every step of fraternal duty—if to take such ever occurred to him. His time is fully62 occupied in roving around the valley, or making more distant excursions, in the companionship of the ci-devant Ranger63, who narrates64 to him a strange chapter in the life-lore of the prairies.
When Walt chances to be indoors, he has companion of his own, which hinder him from too frequently intruding65 upon his comrade. Enough for him the company of Conchita.
Hamersley has equally as little to dread66 the intrusion of Don Prospero. Absorbed in his favourite study of Nature, the ex-army surgeon passes most of his hours in communion with her. More than half the day is he out of doors, chasing lizards67 into their crevices68 among the rocks, impaling69 insects on the spikes70 of the wild maguey plant, or plucking such flowers as seem new to the classified list of the botanist71. In these tranquil72 pursuits he is perhaps happier than all around—even those whose hearts throb73 with that supreme74 passion, full of sweetness, but too often bringing bitterness.
So ever near the shrine75 of his adoration76, having it all to himself, Hamersley worships on, but in silence.
点击收听单词发音
1 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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2 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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3 err | |
vi.犯错误,出差错 | |
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4 converse | |
vi.谈话,谈天,闲聊;adv.相反的,相反 | |
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5 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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6 sequestered | |
adj.扣押的;隐退的;幽静的;偏僻的v.使隔绝,使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 );扣押 | |
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7 vividly | |
adv.清楚地,鲜明地,生动地 | |
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8 aspiration | |
n.志向,志趣抱负;渴望;(语)送气音;吸出 | |
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9 habitually | |
ad.习惯地,通常地 | |
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10 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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11 opportunely | |
adv.恰好地,适时地 | |
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12 beholds | |
v.看,注视( behold的第三人称单数 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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13 sapphire | |
n.青玉,蓝宝石;adj.天蓝色的 | |
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14 fervid | |
adj.热情的;炽热的 | |
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15 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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16 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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17 evergreen | |
n.常青树;adj.四季常青的 | |
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18 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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19 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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20 tints | |
色彩( tint的名词复数 ); 带白的颜色; (淡色)染发剂; 痕迹 | |
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21 disporting | |
v.嬉戏,玩乐,自娱( disport的现在分词 ) | |
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22 glades | |
n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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23 luxurious | |
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 | |
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24 placid | |
adj.安静的,平和的 | |
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25 brawling | |
n.争吵,喧嚷 | |
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26 rivulet | |
n.小溪,小河 | |
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27 cascades | |
倾泻( cascade的名词复数 ); 小瀑布(尤指一连串瀑布中的一支); 瀑布状物; 倾泻(或涌出)的东西 | |
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28 ballroom | |
n.舞厅 | |
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29 belles | |
n.美女( belle的名词复数 );最美的美女 | |
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30 chatter | |
vi./n.喋喋不休;短促尖叫;(牙齿)打战 | |
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31 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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32 sonorous | |
adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 | |
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33 polyglot | |
adj.通晓数种语言的;n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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34 invalid | |
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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35 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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36 omen | |
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
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37 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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38 dames | |
n.(在英国)夫人(一种封号),夫人(爵士妻子的称号)( dame的名词复数 );女人 | |
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39 sprightly | |
adj.愉快的,活泼的 | |
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40 attuned | |
v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 );调音 | |
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41 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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42 peculiarities | |
n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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43 piquing | |
v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的现在分词 );激起(好奇心) | |
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44 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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45 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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46 likeness | |
n.相像,相似(之处) | |
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47 obliterated | |
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 );涂去;擦掉;彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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48 conjure | |
v.恳求,祈求;变魔术,变戏法 | |
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49 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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50 pervade | |
v.弥漫,遍及,充满,渗透,漫延 | |
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51 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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52 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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53 solicitous | |
adj.热切的,挂念的 | |
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54 allusion | |
n.暗示,间接提示 | |
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55 yearns | |
渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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57 grotesque | |
adj.怪诞的,丑陋的;n.怪诞的图案,怪人(物) | |
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58 embolden | |
v.给…壮胆,鼓励 | |
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59 afflict | |
vt.使身体或精神受痛苦,折磨 | |
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60 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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61 watchfulness | |
警惕,留心; 警觉(性) | |
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62 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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63 ranger | |
n.国家公园管理员,护林员;骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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64 narrates | |
v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65 intruding | |
v.侵入,侵扰,打扰( intrude的现在分词);把…强加于 | |
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66 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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67 lizards | |
n.蜥蜴( lizard的名词复数 ) | |
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68 crevices | |
n.(尤指岩石的)裂缝,缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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69 impaling | |
钉在尖桩上( impale的现在分词 ) | |
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70 spikes | |
n.穗( spike的名词复数 );跑鞋;(防滑)鞋钉;尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划 | |
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71 botanist | |
n.植物学家 | |
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72 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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73 throb | |
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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74 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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75 shrine | |
n.圣地,神龛,庙;v.将...置于神龛内,把...奉为神圣 | |
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76 adoration | |
n.爱慕,崇拜 | |
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