chapter 17

‘A few days after the sale, I was in the consulting-room. The servant must have left the folding-doors a little ajar, I think. Mrs. Munton came to call on Mrs. Rose; and the former being deaf, I heard all the speeches of the latter lady, as she was obliged to speak very loud in order to be heard. She began:

‘“This is a great pleasure, Mrs. Munton, so seldom as you are well enough to go out.”

‘Mumble¹, mumble, mumble, through the door.

‘“Oh, very well, thank you. Take this seat, and then you can admire my new work-table, ma’am; a present from Mr. Harrison.”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“Who could have told you, ma’am? Miss Horsman? Oh, yes, I showed it Miss Horsman.”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“I don’t quite understand you, ma’am.”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“I’m not blushing, I believe. I really am quite in the dark as to what you mean.”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“Oh, yes, Mr. Harrison and I are most comfortable together. He reminds me so of my dear Mr. Rose — just as fidgety and anxious in his profession.”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“I’m sure you are joking now, ma’am” Then I heard a pretty loud:

‘“Oh, no;” mumble, mumble, mumble, for a long time.

‘“Did he really? Well, I’m sure I don’t know. I should be sorry to think he was doomed² to be unfortunate in so serious an affair; but you know my undying regard for the late Mr. Rose.”

‘Another long mumble.

‘“You’re very kind, I’m sure. Mr. Rose always thought more of my happiness than his own” — a little crying — “but the turtle-dove has always been my ideal, ma’am”

‘Mumble, mumble.

‘“No one could have been happier than I. As you say, it is a compliment to matrimony.”

‘Mumble.

‘“Oh, but you must not repeat such a thing! Mr. Harrison would not like it. He can’t bear to have his affairs spoken about.”

‘Then there was a change of subject; an inquiry⁴ after some poor person, I imagine. I heard Mrs. Rose say:

‘“She has got a mucous⁵ membrane⁶, I’m afraid, ma’am.”

‘A commiserating⁷ mumble.

‘“Not always fatal. I believe Mr. Rose knew some cases that lived for years after it was discovered that they had a mucous membrane.” A pause. Then Mrs. Rose spoke³ in a different tone.

‘“Are you sure, ma’am, there is no mistake about what he said?”

‘Mumble,

‘“Pray don’t be so observant, Mrs. Munton; you find out too much. One can have no little secrets.”

‘The call broke up; and I heard Mrs. Munton say in the passage, “I wish you joy, ma’am, with all my heart. There’s no use denying it; for I’ve seen all along what would happen.”

‘When I went in to dinner, I said to Mrs. Rose:

‘“You’ve had Mrs. Munton here, I think. Did she bring any news?” To my surprise, she bridled⁸ and simpered, and replied, “Oh, you must not ask, Mr. Harrison; such foolish reports.”

‘I did not ask, as she seemed to wish me not, and I knew there were silly reports always about. Then I think she was vexed⁹ that I did not ask. Altogether she went on so strangely that I could not help looking at her; and then she took up a hand-screen, and held it between me and her. I really felt rather anxious.

‘“Are you not feeling well?” said I innocently.

‘“Oh, thank you, I believe I’m quite well; only the room is rather warm, is it not?”

‘“Let me put the blinds down for you? the sun begins to have a good deal of power.” I drew down the blinds.

‘“You are so attentive¹⁰, Mr. Harrison. Mr. Rose himself never did more for my little wishes than you do.”

‘“I wish I could do more — I wish I could show you how much I feel” — her kindness to John Brouncker, I was going on to say; but I was just then called out to a patient. Before I went I turned back, and said:

‘“Take care of yourself, my dear Mrs. Rose; you had better rest a little.”

‘“For your sake, I will,” said she tenderly.

‘I did not care for whose sake she did it. Only I really thought she was not quite well, and required rest. I thought she was more affected¹¹ than usual at tea-time; and could have been angry with her nonsensical ways once or twice, but that I knew the real goodness of her heart. She said she wished she had the power to sweeten my life as she could my tea. I told her what a comfort she had been during my late time of anxiety; and then I stole out to try if I could hear the evening singing at the vicarage, by standing¹² close to the garden-wall.

1 mumble   

n./v.喃喃而语，咕哝

参考例句：

• Her grandmother mumbled in her sleep.她祖母含混不清地说着梦话。
• He could hear the low mumble of Navarro's voice.他能听到纳瓦罗在小声咕哝。

2 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

3 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 inquiry   

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。

5 mucous   

adj. 黏液的，似黏液的

参考例句：

• Healthy,skin,mucous membranes,and cilia are natural barriers to many viruses.健康的皮肤，粘膜和纤毛是许多病毒的天然屏障。
• Seromucous glands contain both mucous and serous cells.浆粘液腺既含有粘液性细胞，又含有浆液性细胞。

6 membrane   

n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸

参考例句：

• A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
• A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。

7 commiserating   

v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Tigress, far from commiserating, offered her a loan (repayable later on) to make herself more presentable. 虎妞不但不安慰小福子，反倒愿意帮她的忙：虎妞愿意拿出点资本，教她打扮齐整，挣来钱再还给她。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• Were they commiserating or comparing notes? 他们是在同病相怜还是在合对口供？ 来自电影对白

8 bridled   

给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气

参考例句：

• She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying. 她对暗示她在说谎的言论嗤之以鼻。
• He bridled his horse. 他给他的马套上笼头。

9 vexed   

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

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 attentive   

adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的

参考例句：

• She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
• The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。