Would that Fortune had sent them, Cleve thought, some enchanted1 horse, other than that beast, to fly them into the fairy-land of their long-deferred ambition! Would that she had sent them a Rarey, to lead him by a metaphoric2 halter, and quell3, by his art, the devil within him — the evil spirit before which something in Cleve’s nature quailed4, because it seemed to know nothing but appetite, and was destitute5 of sympathy and foresight6.
Dingwell was beset7 with dangers and devils of his own; but he stood in his magic circle, making mouths and shaking his fist, and cursing at them. He seemed to have no imagination to awe8, or prudence9 to restrain him. He was aware, and so was Cleve, that Larkin knew all about his old bankruptcy10, the judgments11 against him, the impounded forgeries12 on which he had been on the brink13 of indictment14, and his escape from prison; and yet he railed at Larkin, and defied the powerful Verneys, as if he had been an angel sent to illuminate15, to lecture, and to rule them.
Mr. Larkin was usually an adroit16 and effectual tamer of evil beasts, in such case as this Mr. Dingwell. He waved his thin wand of red-hot iron with a light and firm hand, and made every raw smoke in turn, till the lion was fit to lie down with the lamb. But this Dingwell was an eccentric brute17; he had no awe for the superior nature, no respect for the imposing18 airs of the tamer — not the slightest appreciation19 even of his cautery. On the contrary, he seemed to like the sensation, and amuse himself with the exposure of his sores to the inspection20 of Mr. Larkin, who began to feel himself drawn21 into an embarrassing and highly disreputable confidence.
Mr. Larkin had latterly quite given up the idea of frightening Mr. Dingwell, for when he tried that method, Mr. Dingwell had grown uncomfortably lively and skittish22, and, in fact, frightened the exemplary Mr. Larkin confoundedly. He had recapitulated23 his own enormities with an elation24 and frightful25 merriment worthy26 of a scandalous corner at a Walpurges ball; had demonstrated that he perfectly27 understood the game of the serious attorney, and showed himself so curiously28 thick of skin, and withal so sportive and formidable a rhinoceros29, that Mr. Larkin then and there learned a lesson, and vowed30 no more to try the mesmerism that succeeded with others, or the hot rod of iron under which they winced31 and gasped32 and succumbed33.
Such a systematic34, and even dangerous defiance35 of everything good, he had never encountered before. Such a person exactly as this Mr. Dingwell he could not have imagined. There was, he feared, a vein36 of insanity37 in that unfortunate man.
He had seen quite enough of the horrid38 adroitness39 of Mr. Dingwell’s horse-play, and felt such qualms40 whenever that animal capered41 and snorted, that he contented42 himself with musing43 and wondering over his idiosyncrasies, and adopted a soothing44 treatment with him — talked to him in a friendly, and even tender way — and had some vague plans of getting him ultimately into a mad-house.
But Mr. Dingwell was by this time getting into his cab, with a drapery of mufflers round him, and telling the man through the front window to drive to Rosemary Court; he threw himself back into a corner, and chuckled45 and snorted in a conceited46 ecstasy47 over his victory, and the money which was coming to minister to no good in this evil world.
Cleve Verney leaned back in his chair, and there rose before him a view of a moonlighted wood, an old chateau48, with its many peaked turrets49, and steep roofs, showing silvery against the deep, liquid sky of night, and with a sigh, he saw on the white worn steps, that beautiful, wonderful shape that was his hope and his fate; and as he leaned on his hand, the Reverend Isaac Dixie, whose name had strangely summoned this picture from the deep sea of his fancy, entered the room, smiling rosily51, after his wont52, and extending his broad hand, as he marched with deliberate strides across the floor, as much as to say —“Here I am, your old tutor and admirer, who always predicted great things for you; I know you are charmed, as I am; I know how you will greet me.”
“Ha! old Dixie,” and Cleve got up, with a kind of effort, and not advancing very far, shook hands.
“So you have got your leave — a week — or how long?”
“I’ve arranged for next Sunday, that’s all, my dear Mr. Verney; some little inconvenience, but very happy — always happy.”
“Come, I want to have a talk with you,” said Cleve, drawing the clergyman to a chair. “Don’t you remember — you ought, you know — what Lord Sparkish (isn’t it?) says in Swift’s Polite Conversations —”Tis as cheap sitting as standing53.’”
The clergyman took the chair, simpering bashfully, for the allusion54 was cruel, and referred to a time when the Reverend Isaac Dixie, being as yet young in the ways of the world, and somewhat slow in apprehending56 literary ironies57, had actually put his pupil through a grave course of “Polite Conversation,” which he picked up among some odd volumes of the works of the great Dean of St. Patrick’s, on the school-room shelf at Malory.
“And for my accomplishment58 of saying smart things in a polite way, I am entirely59 obliged to you and Dean Swift,” said Cleve, mischievously60.
“Ah! ah! you were always fond of a jest, my dear Mr. Verney; you liked poking61 fun, you did, at your old tutor; but you know how that really was — I have explained it so often; still, I do allow, the jest is not a bad one.”
But Cleve’s mind was already on quite another subject.
“And now, Dixie,” said he, with a sharp glance into the clergyman’s eyes, “you know, or at least you guess, what it is I want you to do for me?”
The clergyman looked down by his gaiter, with his head a little a-one-side, and his mouth a little pursed; and said he, after a momentary62 silence —
“I really, I may say, unaffectedly, assure you that I do not.”
“You’re a queer fellow, old Dixie,” said Cleve; “you won’t be vexed63, but you are always a little bit too clever. I did not tell you exactly, but I told you enough to enable you to guess it. Don’t you remember our last talk? Come now, Dixie, you’re no muff.”
“I hope not, my dear Cleve; I may be, but I don’t pretend to that character, though I have still, I apprehend55, much to learn in the world’s ways.”
“Yes, of course,” said the young man; and tapped his small teeth that glittered under his moustache, with the end of his pencil-case, while he lazily watched the face of the clergyman from under his long lashes64.
“And I assure you,” continued the clergyman, “if I were to pretend that I did apprehend your intentions, I should be guilty of an inaccuracy amounting, in fact, to an untruth.”
He thought he detected something a little mocking in the handsome face of the young gentleman, and could not tell, in the shadow of the window-curtain, whether those even white teeth were not smiling at him outright65; and a little nettled66, but not forgetting himself, he went on —
“You know, my dear Cleve, it is nothing on earth to me— absolutely; I act merely to oblige — merely, I mean, to be useful — if in my power, consistently with all other considerations, and I speak, I humbly67, but confidently hope, habitually68 the truth”——
“Of course you do,” said the young gentleman, with emphasis, and growing quite serious again. “It is very kind, I know, your coming all this way, and managing your week’s absence; and you may for the present know just as little or as much of the matter as you please; only mind, this is — not of course in any wrong sense — a dark business — awfully69 quiet. They say that, in England, a talent for speaking may raise a man to anything, but I think a talent for holding one’s tongue is sometimes a better one. And — I’m quite serious, old Dixie — I’ll not forget your fidelity70 to me, upon my honour — really, never; and as you know, I may yet have the power of proving it.”
The Rev50. Isaac Dixie folded his hands, and hung his head sideways in a meek71 modesty72, and withal smiled so rosily and gloriously, as he sate73 in front of the window, that had it happened an hour before sunrise, the sparrows in the ivy74 all along the stable walls, would undoubtedly75 have mistaken it for the glow of Aurora76, and commenced their chirping77 and twittering salutations to the dawn an hour too soon.
“It is very gratifying, very, you cannot readily estimate, my dear, and — may I not say? — my illustrious pupil, how gratifying to me, quite irrespective of all those substantially kind intentions which you are pleased to avow78 in my behalf, to hear from your lips so frank and — may I say — almost affectionate a declaration; so just an estimate of my devotion to your interests, and I may say, I hope, of my character generally?”
The Rector of Clay was smiling with a huge bashfulness, and slowly folding and rubbing one hand over the other, with his head gently inclined, and his great blue chin upon his guileless, single-breasted, black silk bosom79, as he spoke80 all this in mellow81 effusion.
“Now, Dixie,” said the young man, while a very anxious expression for the first time showed itself in his face, “I want you to do me a kindness — a kindness that will tie me to you all the days of my life. It is something, but not much; chiefly that you will have to keep a secret, and take some little trouble, which I know you don’t mind; but nothing serious, not the slightest irregularity, a trifle, I assure you, and chiefly, as I said, that you will have to keep a secret for me.”
Dixie also looked a good deal graver as he bowed his acquiescence82, trying to smile on, and still sliding his hands softly, one over the other.
“I know you guess what it is — no matter — we’ll not discuss it, dear Dixie; it’s quite past that now. You’ll have to make a little trip for me — you’ll not mind it; only across what you used to call the herring-pond; and you must wait at the Silver Lion at Caen; it is the best place there — I wish it was better — not a soul will you see — I mean English, no one but quite French people; and there is quite amusement, for a day or so, in looking over the old town. Just wait there, and I’ll let you know everything before you have been two days there. I’ve got your passport; you shall have no trouble. And you need not go to a bank; there’s gold here; and you’ll keep it, and spend it for me till I see you; and you must go today.”
“And, of course, I know it is nothing wrong, my dear Cleve; but we are told to avoid even the appearance of evil. And in any case, I should not, of course, for the world offend your uncle — Lord Verney, I may call him now — the head of the family, and my very kind patron; for I trust I never forget a kindness; and if it should turn out to be anything which by any chance he might misinterpret, I may reckon upon your religious silence, my dear Cleve, as respects my name?”
“Silence! of course — I’d die before I should tell, under any pressure. I think you know I can keep a secret, and my own especially. And never trust my honour more if your name is ever breathed in connexion with any little service you may render me.”
He pressed the Rev. Isaac Dixie’s hand very earnestly as he spoke.
“And now, will you kindly83 take charge of this for me, and do as I said?” continued Cleve, placing the gold in Dixie’s not unwilling84 hand. “And on this paper I have made a note of the best way — all about the boat and the rest; and God bless you, my dear Dixie, good-bye.”
“And God bless you, my dear Cleve,” reciprocated85 the clergyman, and they shook hands again, and the clergyman smiled blandly86 and tenderly; and as he closed the door, and crossed the hall, grew very thoughtful, and looked as if he were getting into a possible mess.
Cleve, too, was very pale as he stood by the window, looking into the sooty garden at the back of Verney House.
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收听单词发音
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1
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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2
metaphoric
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| adj. 使用隐喻的；比喻的；比喻意义的 | |
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quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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6
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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7
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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8
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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11
judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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12
forgeries
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| 伪造( forgery的名词复数 )； 伪造的文件、签名等 | |
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13
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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illuminate
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| vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释 | |
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16
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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17
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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18
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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19
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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20
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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21
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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22
skittish
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| adj.易激动的，轻佻的 | |
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23
recapitulated
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| v.总结，扼要重述( recapitulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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25
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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29
rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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30
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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31
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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33
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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34
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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35
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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36
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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37
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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38
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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39
adroitness
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40
qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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41
capered
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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43
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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44
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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45
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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47
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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48
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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49
turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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50
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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51
rosily
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| adv.带玫瑰色地，乐观地 | |
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52
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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53
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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54
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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55
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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56
apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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57
ironies
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| n.反语( irony的名词复数 )；冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事；嘲弄 | |
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58
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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59
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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60
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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61
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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62
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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63
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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64
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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65
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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66
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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67
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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68
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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69
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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70
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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71
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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72
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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73
sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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74
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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75
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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76
aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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77
chirping
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的现在分词 ) | |
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78
avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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79
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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80
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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81
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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82
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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83
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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84
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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85
reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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86
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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