“Come, dear Maud, it is late; you ought to have been in your bed an hour ago.”
Up I stood, and so soon as I had begun to hear and see aright, it struck me that Cousin Monica was more grave and subdued6 than I had seen her.
“Come, let us light our candles and go together.”
Holding hands, we ascended7, I sleepy, she silent; and not a word was spoken until we reached my room. Mary Quince was in waiting, and tea made.
“Tell her to come back in a few minutes; I wish to say a word to you,” said Lady Knollys.
The maid accordingly withdrew.
Lady Knollys’ eyes followed her till she closed the door behind her.
“I’m going in the morning.”
“So soon!”
“Yes, dear; I could not stay; in fact, I should have gone to-night, but it was too late, and I leave instead in the morning.”
“I am so sorry — so very sorry,” I exclaimed, I honest disappointment, and the walls seemed to darken round me, and the monotony of the old routine loomed8 more terrible in prospect9.
“So am I, dear Maud.”
“But can’t you stay a little longer; won’t you?”
“No, Maud; I’m vexed10 with Austin — very much vexed with your father; in short, I can’t conceive anything so entirely11 preposterous12, and dangerous, and insane as his conduct, now that his eyes are quite opened, and I must say a word to you before I go, and it is just this:— you must cease to be a mere13 child, you must try and be a woman, Maud: don’t be frightened or foolish, but hear me out. That woman — what does she call herself — Rougierre? I have reason to believe is — in fact, from circumstances, must be your enemy; you will find her very deep, daring, and unscrupulous, I venture to say, and you can’t be too much on your guard. Do you quite understand me, Maud?”
“I do,” said I, with a gasp14, and my eyes fixed15 on her with a terrified interest, as if on a warning ghost.
“You must bridle16 your tongue, mind, and govern your conduct, and command even your features. It is hard to practise reserve; but you must — you must be secret and vigilant17. Try and be in appearance just as usual; don’t quarrel; tell her nothing, if you do happen to know anything, of your father’s business; be always on your guard when with her, and keep your eye upon her everywhere. Observe everything, disclose nothing — do you see?”
“Yes,” again I whispered.
“You have good, honest servants about you, and, thank God, they don’t like her. But you must not repeat to them one word I am now saying to you. Servants are fond of dropping hints, and letting things ooze18 out in that way, and in their quarrels with her would compromise you — you understand me?”
“I do,” I sighed, with a wild stare.
“And — and, Maud, don’t let her meddle19 with your food.”
Cousin Monica gave me a pale little nod, and looked away.
I could only stare at her; and under my breath I uttered an ejaculation of terror.
“Don’t be frightened; you must not be foolish; I only wish you to be upon your guard. I have my suspicions, but I may be quite wrong; your father thinks I am a fool; perhaps I am — perhaps not; maybe he may come to think as I do. But you must not speak to him on the subject; he’s an odd man, and never did and never will act wisely, when his passions and prejudices are engaged.”
“Has she every committed any great crime?” I asked, feeling as if I were on the point of fainting.
“No, dear Maud, I never said anything of the kind; don’t be so frightened: I only said I have formed, from something I know, an ill opinion of her; and an unprincipled person, under temptation, is capable of a great deal. But no matter how wicked she may be, you may defy her, simply by assuming her to be so, and acting20 with caution; she is cunning and selfish, and she’ll do nothing desperate. But I would give her no opportunity.”
“Oh, dear! Oh, Cousin Monica, don’t leave me.”
“My dear, I can’t stay; your papa and I— we’ve had a quarrel. I know I’m right, and he’s wrong, and he’ll come to see it soon, if he’s left to himself, and then all will be right. But just now he misunderstands me, and we’ve not been civil to one another. I could not think of staying, and he would not allow you to come away with me for a short visit, which I wished. It won’t last, though; and I do assure you, my dear Maud, I am quite happy about you now that you are quite on your guard. Just act respecting that person as if she were capable of any treachery, without showing distrust or dislike in your manner, and nothing will remain in her power; and write to me whenever you wish to hear from me, and if I can be of any real use, I don’t care, I’ll come: so there’s a wise little woman; do as I’ve said, and depend upon it everything will go well, and I’ll contrive21 before long to get that nasty creature away.”
Except a kiss and a few hurried words in the morning when she was leaving, and a pencilled farewell for papa, thee was nothing more from Cousin Monica for some time.
Knowl was dark again — darker than ever. My father, gentle always to me, was now — perhaps it was contrast with his fitful return to something like the world’s ways, during Lady Knollys’ stay — more silent, sad, and isolated23 than before. Of Madame de la Rougierre I had nothing at first particular to remark. Only, reader, if you happen to be a rather nervous and very young girl, I ask you to conceive my fears and imaginings, and the kind of misery24 which I was suffering. Its intensity25 I cannot now even myself recall. But it overshadowed me perpetually — a care, an alarm. It lay down with me at night and got up with me in the morning, tinting26 and disturbing my dreams, and making my daily life terrible. I wonder now that I lived through the ordeal28. The torment29 was secret and incessant30, and kept my mind in unintermitting activity.
Externally things went on at Knowl for some weeks in the usual routine. Madame was, so far as her unpleasant ways were concerned, less tormenting31 than before, and constantly reminded me of “our leetle vow32 of friendship, you remember, dearest Maud!” and she would stand beside me, and looked from the window with her bony arm round my waist, and my reluctant hand drawn33 round in hers; and thus she would smile, and talk affectionately and even playfully; for at times she would grow quite girlish, and smile with her great carious teeth, and begin to quiz and babble34 about the young “faylows,” and tell bragging35 tales of her loves, all of which were dreadful to me.
She was perpetually recurring36, too, to the charming walk we had had together to Church Scarsdale, and proposing a repetition of that delightful37 excursion, which, you may be sure, I evaded38, having by no means so agreeable a recollection of our visit.
One day, as I was dressing39 to go out for a walk, in came good Mrs. Rusk, the housekeeper40, to my room.
“Miss Maud, dear, is not that too far for you? It is a long walk to Church Scarsdale, and you are not looking very well.”
“To Church Scarsdale?” I repeated; “I’m not going to Church Scarsdale; who said I was going to Church Scarsdale? There is nothing I should so much dislike.”
“Well, I never!” exclaimed she. “Why, there’s old Madame’s been down-stairs with me for fruit and sandwiches, telling me you were longing41 to go to Church Scarsdale ——”
“It’s quite untrue,” I interrupted. “She knows I hate it.”
“She does?” said Mrs. Rusk, quietly; “and you did not tell her nothing about the basket? Well — if there isn’t a story! Now what may she be after — what is it — what is she driving at?”
“I can’t tell, but I won’t go.”
“No, of course, dear, you won’t go. But you may be sure there’s some scheme in her old head. Tom Fowkes says she’s bin27 two or three times to drink tea at Farmer Gray’s — now, could be she’s thinking to marry him?” And Mrs. Rusk sat down and laughed heartily42, ending with a crow of derision.
“To think of a young fellow like that, and his wife, poor thing, not dead a year — maybe she’s got money?”
“I don’t know — I don’t care — perhaps, Mrs. Rusk, you mistook Madame. I will go down; I am going out.”
Madame had a basket in her hand. She held it quietly by her capacious skirt, at the far side, and made no allusion43 to the preparation, neither to the direction in which she proposed walking, and prattling44 artlessly and affectionately she marched by my side.
Thus we reached the stile at the sheep-walk, and then I paused.
“Now, Madame, have not we gone far enough in this direction? — suppose we visit the pigeon-house in the park?”
“Wat folly45! my dear a Maud — you cannot walk so far.”
“Well, towards home, then.”
“And wy not a this way? We ave not walk enough, and Mr. Ruthyn he will not be pleased if you do not take proper exercise. Let us walk on by the path, and stop when you like.”
“Where do you wish to go, Madame?”
“Nowhere particular — come along; don’t be fool, Maud.”
“This leads to Church Scarsdale.”
“A yes indeed! wat sweet place! bote we need not a walk all the way to there.”
“I’d rather not walk outside the grounds to-day, Madame.”
“Come, Maud, you shall not be fool — wat you mean, Mademoiselle?” said the stalworth lady, growing yellow and greenish with an angry mottling, and accosting46 me very gruffly.
“I don’t care to cross the stile, thank you, Madame. I shall remain at this side.”
“You shall do wat I tell you!” exclaimed she.
“Let go my arm, Madame, you hurt me,” I cried.
She had gripped my arm very firmly in her great bony hand, and seemed preparing to drag me over by main force.
“Let me go,” I repeated shrilly47, for the pain increased.
“La!” she cried with a smile of rage and a laugh, letting me go and shoving me backward at the same time, so that I had a rather dangerous tumble.
I stood up, a good deal hurt, and very angry, notwithstanding my fear of her.
“I’ll ask papa if I am to be so ill-used.”
“Wat av I done?” cried Madame, laughing grimly from her hollow jaws48; “I did all I could to help you over —‘ow could I prevent you to pull back and tumble if you would do so? That is the way wen you petites Mademoiselles are naughty and hurt yourself they always try to make blame other people. Tell a wat you like — you think I care?”
“Very well, Madame.”
“Are a you coming?”
“No.”
She looked steadily49 in my face and very wickedly. I gazed at her as with dazzled eyes — I suppose as the feathered prey50 do at the owl22 that glares on them by night. I neither moved back nor forward, but stared at her quite helplessly.
“You are nice pupil — charming young person! So polite, so obedient, so amiable51! I will walk towards Church Scarsdale,” she continued, suddenly, breaking through the conventionalism of her irony52, and accosting me in savage53 accents. “You weel stay behind if you dare. I tell you to accompany — do you hear?”
More than ever resolved against following her, I remained where I was, watching her as she marched fiercely away, swinging her basket as though in imagination knocking my head off with it.
She soon cooled, however, and looking over her shoulder, and seeing me still at the other side of the stile, she paused, and beckoned54 me grimly to follow her. Seeing me resolutely55 maintain my position, she faced about, tossed her head, like an angry beast, and seemed uncertain for a while what course to take with me.
She stamped and beckoned furiously again. I stood firm. I was very much frightened, and could not tell to what violence she might resort in her exasperation56. She walked towards me with an inflamed57 countenance58, and a slight angry wagging of the head; my heart fluttered, and I awaited the crisis in extreme trepidation59. She came close, the stile only separating us, and stopped short, glaring and grinning at me like a French grenadier who has crossed bayonets, but hesitates to close.
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收听单词发音
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1
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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10
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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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18
ooze
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| n.软泥，渗出物；vi.渗出，泄漏；vt.慢慢渗出，流露 | |
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19
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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tinting
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| 着色，染色（的阶段或过程） | |
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27
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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29
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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babble
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| v.含糊不清地说，胡言乱语地说，儿语 | |
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35
bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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36
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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38
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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39
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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40
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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41
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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42
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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43
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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44
prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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45
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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46
accosting
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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47
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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48
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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49
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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50
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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51
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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52
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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53
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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54
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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56
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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57
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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59
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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