And again, when of moonlight nights, on waking, I beheld7 her figure, white and conspicuous8 in its night-dress, kneeling upright in bed, and praying like some Catholic or Methodist enthusiast9 — some precocious10 fanatic11 or untimely saint — I scarcely know what thoughts I had; but they ran risk of being hardly more rational and healthy than that child’s mind must have been.
I seldom caught a word of her prayers, for they were whispered low: sometimes, indeed, they were not whispered at all, but put up unuttered; such rare sentences as reached my ear still bore the burden, “Papa; my dear papa!” This, I perceived, was a one-idea’d nature; betraying that monomaniac tendency I have ever thought the most unfortunate with which man or woman can be cursed.
What might have been the end of this fretting12, had it continued unchecked, can only be conjectured13: it received, however, a sudden turn.
One afternoon, Mrs. Bretton, coaxing14 her from her usual station in a corner, had lifted her into the window-seat, and, by way of occupying her attention, told her to watch the passengers and count how many ladies should go down the street in a given time. She had sat listlessly, hardly looking, and not counting, when — my eye being fixed15 on hers — I witnessed in its iris16 and pupil a startling transfiguration. These sudden, dangerous natures — sensitive as they are called — offer many a curious spectacle to those whom a cooler temperament17 has secured from participation18 in their angular vagaries19. The fixed and heavy gaze swum, trembled, then glittered in fire; the small, overcast20 brow cleared; the trivial and dejected features lit up; the sad countenance21 vanished, and in its place appeared a sudden eagerness, an intense expectancy22. “It is!” were her words.
Like a bird or a shaft23, or any other swift thing, she was gone from the room, How she got the house-door open I cannot tell; probably it might be ajar; perhaps Warren was in the way and obeyed her behest, which would be impetuous enough. I— watching calmly from the window — saw her, in her black frock and tiny braided apron24 (to pinafores she had an antipathy), dart25 half the length of the street; and, as I was on the point of turning, and quietly announcing to Mrs. Bretton that the child was run out mad, and ought instantly to be pursued, I saw her caught up, and rapt at once from my cool observation, and from the wondering stare of the passengers. A gentleman had done this good turn, and now, covering her with his cloak, advanced to restore her to the house whence he had seen her issue.
I concluded he would leave her in a servant’s charge and withdraw; but he entered: having tarried a little while below, he came up-stairs.
His reception immediately explained that he was known to Mrs. Bretton. She recognised him; she greeted him, and yet she was fluttered, surprised, taken unawares. Her look and manner were even expostulatory; and in reply to these, rather than her words, he said, —“I could not help it, madam: I found it impossible to leave the country without seeing with my own eyes how she settled.”
“But you will unsettle her.”
“I hope not. And how is papa’s little Polly?”
This question he addressed to Paulina, as he sat down and placed her gently on the ground before him.
“How is Polly’s papa?” was the reply, as she leaned on his knee, and gazed up into his face.
It was not a noisy, not a wordy scene: for that I was thankful; but it was a scene of feeling too brimful, and which, because the cup did not foam26 up high or furiously overflow27, only oppressed one the more. On all occasions of vehement28, unrestrained expansion, a sense of disdain30 or ridicule31 comes to the weary spectator’s relief; whereas I have ever felt most burdensome that sort of sensibility which bends of its own will, a giant slave under the sway of good sense.
Mr. Home was a stern-featured — perhaps I should rather say, a hard-featured man: his forehead was knotty32, and his cheekbones were marked and prominent. The character of his face was quite Scotch33; but there was feeling in his eye, and emotion in his now agitated34 countenance. His northern accent in speaking harmonised with his physiognomy. He was at once proud-looking and homely-looking. He laid his hand on the child’s uplifted head. She said —“Kiss Polly.”
He kissed her. I wished she would utter some hysterical35 cry, so that I might get relief and be at ease. She made wonderfully little noise: she seemed to have got what she wanted — all she wanted, and to be in a trance of content. Neither in mien36 nor in features was this creature like her sire, and yet she was of his strain: her mind had been filled from his, as the cup from the flagon.
Indisputably, Mr. Home owned manly37 self-control, however he might secretly feel on some matters. “Polly,” he said, looking down on his little girl, “go into the hall; you will see papa’s great-coat lying on a chair; put your hand into the pockets, you will find a pocket-handkerchief there; bring it to me.”
She obeyed; went and returned deftly38 and nimbly. He was talking to Mrs. Bretton when she came back, and she waited with the handkerchief in her hand. It was a picture, in its way, to see her, with her tiny stature39, and trim, neat shape, standing40 at his knee. Seeing that he continued to talk, apparently41 unconscious of her return, she took his hand, opened the unresisting fingers, insinuated42 into them the handkerchief, and closed them upon it one by one. He still seemed not to see or to feel her; but by-and-by, he lifted her to his knee; she nestled against him, and though neither looked at nor spoke43 to the other for an hour following, I suppose both were satisfied.
During tea, the minute thing’s movements and behaviour gave, as usual, full occupation to the eye. First she directed Warren, as he placed the chairs.
“Put papa’s chair here, and mine near it, between papa and Mrs. Bretton: I must hand his tea.”
She took her own seat, and beckoned44 with her hand to her father.
“Be near me, as if we were at home, papa.”
And again, as she intercepted45 his cup in passing, and would stir the sugar, and put in the cream herself, “I always did it for you at home; papa: nobody could do it as well, not even your own self.”
Throughout the meal she continued her attentions: rather absurd they were. The sugar-tongs were too wide for one of her hands, and she had to use both in wielding46 them; the weight of the silver cream-ewer, the bread-and-butter plates, the very cup and saucer, tasked her insufficient48 strength and dexterity49; but she would lift this, hand that, and luckily contrived50 through it all to break nothing. Candidly51 speaking, I thought her a little busy-body; but her father, blind like other parents, seemed perfectly52 content to let her wait on him, and even wonderfully soothed53 by her offices.
“She is my comfort!” he could not help saying to Mrs. Bretton. That lady had her own “comfort” and nonpareil on a much larger scale, and, for the moment, absent; so she sympathised with his foible.
This second “comfort” came on the stage in the course of the evening. I knew this day had been fixed for his return, and was aware that Mrs. Bretton had been expecting him through all its hours. We were seated round the fire, after tea, when Graham joined our circle: I should rather say, broke it up — for, of course, his arrival made a bustle54; and then, as Mr. Graham was fasting, there was refreshment55 to be provided. He and Mr. Home met as old acquaintance; of the little girl he took no notice for a time.
His meal over, and numerous questions from his mother answered, he turned from the table to the hearth56. Opposite where he had placed himself was seated Mr. Home, and at his elbow, the child. When I say child I use an inappropriate and undescriptive term — a term suggesting any picture rather than that of the demure57 little person in a mourning frock and white chemisette, that might just have fitted a good-sized doll — perched now on a high chair beside a stand, whereon was her toy work-box of white varnished59 wood, and holding in her hands a shred60 of a handkerchief, which she was professing61 to hem29, and at which she bored perseveringly62 with a needle, that in her fingers seemed almost a skewer63, pricking64 herself ever and anon, marking the cambric with a track of minute red dots; occasionally starting when the perverse65 weapon — swerving66 from her control — inflicted67 a deeper stab than usual; but still silent, diligent68, absorbed, womanly.
Graham was at that time a handsome, faithless-looking youth of sixteen. I say faithless-looking, not because he was really of a very perfidious69 disposition70, but because the epithet71 strikes me as proper to describe the fair, Celtic (not Saxon) character of his good looks; his waved light auburn hair, his supple72 symmetry, his smile frequent, and destitute73 neither of fascination74 nor of subtlety75 (in no bad sense). A spoiled, whimsical boy he was in those days.
“Mother,” he said, after eyeing the little figure before him in silence for some time, and when the temporary absence of Mr. Home from the room relieved him from the half-laughing bashfulness, which was all he knew of timidity —-“Mother, I see a young lady in the present society to whom I have not been introduced.”
“Mr. Home’s little girl, I suppose you mean,” said his mother.
“Indeed, ma’am,” replied her son, “I consider your expression of the least ceremonious: Miss Home I should certainly have said, in venturing to speak of the gentlewoman to whom I allude76.”
“Now, Graham, I will not have that child teased. Don’t flatter yourself that I shall suffer you to make her your butt47.”
“Miss Home,” pursued Graham, undeterred by his mother’s remonstrance77, “might I have the honour to introduce myself, since no one else seems willing to render you and me that service? Your slave, John Graham Bretton.”
She looked at him; he rose and bowed quite gravely. She deliberately78 put down thimble, scissors, work; descended79 with precaution from her perch58, and curtsying with unspeakable seriousness, said, “How do you do?”
“I have the honour to be in fair health, only in some measure fatigued80 with a hurried journey. I hope, ma’am, I see you well?”
“Tor-rer-ably well,” was the ambitious reply of the little woman and she now essayed to regain81 her former elevation82, but finding this could not be done without some climbing and straining — a sacrifice of decorum not to be thought of — and being utterly83 disdainful of aid in the presence of a strange young gentleman, she relinquished84 the high chair for a low stool: towards that low stool Graham drew in his chair.
“I hope, ma’am, the present residence, my mother’s house, appears to you a convenient place of abode85?”
“Not par-tic-er-er-ly; I want to go home.”
“A natural and laudable desire, ma’am; but one which, notwithstanding, I shall do my best to oppose. I reckon on being able to get out of you a little of that precious commodity called amusement, which mamma and Mistress Snowe there fail to yield me.”
“I shall have to go with papa soon: I shall not stay long at your mother’s.”
“Yes, yes; you will stay with me, I am sure. I have a pony86 on which you shall ride, and no end of books with pictures to show you.”
“Are you going to live here now?”
“I am. Does that please you? Do you like me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I think you queer.”
“My face, ma’am?”
“Your face and all about you: You have long red hair.”
“Auburn hair, if you please: mamma, calls it auburn, or golden, and so do all her friends. But even with my ‘long red hair’” (and he waved his mane with a sort of triumph — tawny87 he himself well knew that it was, and he was proud of the leonine hue), “I cannot possibly be queerer than is your ladyship.”
“You call me queer?”
“Certainly.”
(After a pause), “I think I shall go to bed.”
“A little thing like you ought to have been in bed many hours since; but you probably sat up in the expectation of seeing me?”
“No, indeed.”
“You certainly wished to enjoy the pleasure of my society. You knew I was coming home, and would wait to have a look at me.”
“I sat up for papa, and not for you.”
“Very good, Miss Home. I am going to be a favourite: preferred before papa soon, I daresay.”
She wished Mrs. Bretton and myself good-night; she seemed hesitating whether Graham’s deserts entitled him to the same attention, when he caught her up with one hand, and with that one hand held her poised88 aloft above his head. She saw herself thus lifted up on high, in the glass over the fireplace. The suddenness, the freedom, the disrespect of the action were too much.
“For shame, Mr. Graham!” was her indignant cry, “put me down!”— and when again on her feet, “I wonder what you would think of me if I were to treat you in that way, lifting you with my hand” (raising that mighty89 member) “as Warren lifts the little cat.”
So saying, she departed.
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收听单词发音
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1
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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discursive
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| adj.离题的，无层次的 | |
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7
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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8
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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precocious
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| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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13
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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15
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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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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overflow
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| v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出 | |
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28
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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30
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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33
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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34
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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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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41
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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42
insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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43
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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44
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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45
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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46
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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47
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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48
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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49
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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50
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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51
candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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52
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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53
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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54
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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55
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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56
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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57
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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58
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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61
professing
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| 声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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63
skewer
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| n.（烤肉用的）串肉杆；v.用杆串好 | |
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pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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67
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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perfidious
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| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
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70
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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71
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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72
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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73
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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74
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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76
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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77
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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78
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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79
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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80
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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81
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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82
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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83
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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84
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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85
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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86
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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87
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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