And he also vowed2 that he would wait no longer for the inestimable treasure, the exquisite3 happiness that lay within his grasp.
His great wealth, his time honored title seemed as nothing to him compared with the thought of possessing the first real love of his life.
He smiled rather seriously as he pictured his father's anger, his mother's dismay and despair, and Lil's, dear Lilian's, grief; but it was a smile, though a serious one.
"They will get over it when it has once been done. After all, barring that she has no title and no money—neither of which are wanted, by the way—she is as delightful4 a daughter-in-law as any mother or father could wish for. Yes; I'll do it!"
But how? that was the question.
"There is no Gretna Green nowadays," he pondered, regretfully. "I wish there were! A ride to the border, with my darling by my side, nestling close to me all the way with mingled6 love and alarm, would be worth taking. A man can't very well put up the banns in any out-of-the-way place, because there are few out-of-the-way places where they haven't heard of us Wyndwards. By Jove!" he muttered, with a little start—"there is a special license7. I was almost forgetting that! That comes of not being used to being married. A special license!" and pondering deeply he reached the house.
The party at the hall was very small indeed now, but Lady Lenore and Lord Charles still remained. Lenore had once or twice declared that she must go, but Lady Wyndward had entreated8 her to stay.
"Do not go, Lenore," she had said, with gentle significance. "You know—you must know that we count upon you."
[164]
She did not say for what purpose she counted upon her, but Lenore had understood, and had smiled with that faint, sweet smile which constituted one of her charms.
Lord Charles stayed because Leycester was still there.
"Of course I ought to go, Lady Wyndward," he said; "you must be heartily9 tired of me, but who is to play billiards10 with Leycester if I go, or who is to keep him in order, don't you see?" and so he had stayed, with one or two others who were only too glad to remain at the Hall out of the London dust and turmoil11.
By all it was quite understood that Lord Leycester should be considered as quite a free agent, free to come and go as he chose, and never to be counted on; they were as surprised as they were gratified if he joined them in a drive or a walk, and were never astonished when he disappeared without furnishing any clew to his intentions.
Lady Wyndward bore it all very patiently; she knew that what Lady Longford had said was quite true, that it was useless to attempt to drive him; but she did say a word to the old countess.
"There is something amiss!" she said, with a sigh, and the old countess had smiled and shown her teeth.
"Of course there is, my dear Ethel," she retorted; "there always is where he is concerned. He is about some mischief12, I am as convinced as you are. But it does not matter, it will come all right in time."
"But will it?" asked Lady Wyndward with a sigh.
"Yes, I think so," said the old countess, "and Lenore agrees with me, or she would not stay."
"It is very good of her to stay," said Lady Wyndward, with a sigh.
"Very!" assented13 the old lady, with a smile. "It is encouraging. I am sure she would not stay if she did not see excuse. Yes, Ethel it will all come right; he will marry Lenore, or rather, she will marry him, and they will settle down, and—I don't know whether you have asked me to stand god-mother to the first child."
Lady Wyndward tried to feel encouraged and confident, but she felt uneasy. She was surprised that Lenore still remained. She knew nothing of that meeting between the proud beauty and Jasper Adelstone.
And Lenore! A great change had come over her. She herself could scarcely understand it.
At night—as she sat before her glass while her maid brushed out the long tresses that fell over the white shoulders like a stream of liquid gold—she asked herself what it meant? Was it really true that she was in love with Lord Leycester? She had not been in love with him when she first came to the Hall—she would have smiled away the suggestion if anyone had made it; but now—how was it with her now? And as she asked herself the question, a crimson14 flush would stain the beautiful face, and the violet eyes would gleam with mingled[165] shame and self-scorn, so that the maid would eye her wonderingly under respectfully lowered lids.
Yes, she was forced to admit that she did love him—love him with a passion which was a torture rather than a joy. She had not known the full extent of that passion until the hour when she had stood concealed15 between the trees at the river, and heard Leycester's voice murmuring words of love to another.
And that other! An unknown, miserable17, painter's niece! Often, at night, when the great Hall was hushed and still, she lay tossing to and fro with miserable longing18 and intolerable shame, as she recalled that hour when she had been discovered by Jasper Adelstone and forced to become his confederate.
She, the great beauty—before whom princes had bent19 in homage—to be love-smitten by a man whose heart was given to another—she to be the confederate and accomplice20 of a scheming, under-bred lawyer.
It was intolerable, unbearable21, but it was true—it was true; and in the very keenest paroxysm of her shame she would confess that she would do all that she had done, would conspire22 with even a baser one than Jasper Adelstone to gain her end.
"She!" she would murmur16 in the still watches of the night—"she to marry the man to whom I have given my love! It is impossible—it shall not be! Though I have to move heaven and earth, it shall not be."
And then, after a sleepless23 night, she would come down to breakfast—fair, and sweet, and smiling—a little pale, perhaps, but looking all the lovelier for such paleness, without the shadow of a care in the deep violet eyes.
Toward Leycester her bearing was simply perfection. She did not wish to alarm him; she knew that a hint of what she felt would put him on his guard, and she held herself in severe restraint.
Her manner to him was simply what it was to anyone else—exquisitely refined and charming. If anything, she adopted a lighter24 tone, and sought to and succeeded in calling forth25 his rare laughter.
She deceived him completely.
"Lenore in love with me!" he said to himself more than once; "the idea is ridiculous! What could have made the mother imagine such a thing?"
And so they met freely and frankly26, and he talked and laughed with her at his ease, little dreaming that she was watching him as a cat watches a mouse, and that not a thing he said or did escaped her.
She knew by instinct where he spent the times in which he was missing from the Hall, and pictured to herself the meetings between him and the girl who had robbed her of his love. And as the jealousy27 increased, so did the love which created it. Day by day she realized still more fully5 that he had won her heart—that it was gone to him forever—that her whole future happiness depended upon him.
The very tone of his voice, so deep and musical—his rare[166] laugh—the smile that made his face so gay and bright—yes, even the bursts of the passionate28 temper which lit up the dark eyes with sudden fire, were precious to her.
"Yes, I love him," she murmured to herself—"it is all summed up in that. I love him."
And Leycester, still smiling to himself over his mother's "amusing mistake," was all unsuspecting. All his thoughts were of Stella.
Now as he came toward the terrace, she stood with Lady Longford and Lord Charles looking down at him.
She watched him, her cheek resting on her white hand, her face hidden from the rest by the sunshade, whose lining29 of hearty30 blue harmonized with the golden hair, and "her heart hungered," as Victor Hugo says.
"Here's Leycester," said Lord Charles.
Lady Longford looked over the balustrade.
"What has he been doing? Rowing—fishing?"
"He went out with a fishing rod," said Lord Charles, with a grin, "but the fish appear to have devoured31 it; at any rate Leycester hasn't got it now. Hullo, old man, where have you been? Come up here!"
Leycester sprang up the steps and stood beside Lenore. It was the first time she had seen him that morning, and she inclined her head and held out her hand with a smile.
He took her hand; it was warm and soft, his own was still cold from his bath, and she opened her eyes widely.
"Your hand is quite cold," she said, then she touched his sleeve, "and you are wet. Where have you been?"
Leycester laughed carelessly.
"I have met with a slight accident, and gained a pleasant bath."
"An accident?" she repeated, not curiously33, but with calm, serene34 interest.
"Yes," he said, shortly, "a young friend of mine fell into the river, and I joined company, just for company's sake."
"I understand," she said with a smile, "you went in to save him."
"Well, that's putting rather a fine point to it," he said, smilingly.
"But it's true. May one ask his name?"
Leycester flicked35 a piece of moss36 from the stone coping and hesitated for a moment:
"His name is Frank," he said; "Frank Etheridge."
Lady Lenore nodded.
"A pretty name; I don't remember it. I hope he is grateful."
"I hope so," said Leycester. "I am sure he is more grateful than the occasion merits."
The old countess looked round at him.
"What is it you say?" she said. "You have been in the river after some boy, and you stand there lounging about in your wet clothes? Well, the lad ought to be grateful, for though you will not catch your death, you will in all probability catch a chronic37 influenza38 cold, and that's worse than death; it's life with[167] a pocket-handkerchief to your nose. Go and change your things at once."
"I think I had better, after that fearful prognostication," said Leycester, with a smile, and he sauntered off.
"Etheridge," said Lady Longford, "that is the name of that pretty girl with the dark eyes who dined here the other night."
"Yes," said Lenore, indifferently, for the old countess looked at her; she knew that the indifference39 was assumed.
"If Leycester doesn't take care, he will find himself in danger with those dark eyes. Girls are apt to be grateful toward men who rescue their cousins from a watery40 grave."
Lady Lenore shifted her sunshade and smiled serenely41.
"No doubt she is very grateful. Why should she not be? Do you think Lord Leycester is in danger? I do not." And she strolled away.
The old lady glanced at Lord Charles.
"That is a wonderful girl, Charles," she said, with earnest admiration42.
"What, Lenore?" he said. "Rather. Just found it out, Lady Longford?"
"No, Mr. Impertinence. I have known it all along; but she astonishes me afresh every day. What a great name she would have won on the stage. But she will do better as Lady Wyndward."
Lord Charles shook his head, and whistled softly.
"Rather premature43 that, isn't it?" he said. "Leycester doesn't seem very keen in that quarter, does he?"
Lady Longford smiled at him and showed her teeth.
"What does it matter how he seems?" she said. "It rests with her—with her. You are a nice boy, Charles, but you are not clever."
"Just exactly what my old schoolmaster used to say before he birched me," said Lord Charles.
"If you were clever, if you were anything else than unutterably stupid, you would go and see that Leycester changes his clothes," snapped the old lady. "I'll be bound he is sitting or lounging about in those wet things still!"
"A nod's as good as a wink44 to a blind horse," said Lord Charles, laughing. "I'll go and do as I am bidden. He will probably tell me to go and mind my own business, but here goes," and he walked off toward the house.
He found Leycester in the hands of his valet, being rapidly transferred from wet flannels45 to orthodox morning attire46, and apparently47 the valet was not having a particularly easy time of it.
Lord Charles sank into a chair, and watched the performance with amused interest.
"What's the matter Ley?" he asked, when the man left the room for a moment. "You'll drive that poor devil into a lunatic asylum48."
"He's so confoundedly slow," answered Leycester, brushing away at his hair, which the valet had already arranged, and tugging49 at a refractory50 scarf. "I haven't a moment to lose."
[168]
"May one ask whence this haste?" said Lord Charles, with a smile.
Leycester colored slightly.
"I've half a mind to tell you, Charlie," he said, "but I can't. I'd better keep it to myself."
"I'm glad of it," retorted Lord Charles. "I'm sure it's some piece of madness, and if you told me, you'd want me to take a hand in it."
"But that's just it," said Leycester, with a laugh. "You've got to take a hand in it, old fellow."
"Oh!"
Leycester nodded and clapped him on the shoulder, with a musical laugh.
"The best of you, Charlie," he said, "is, that one can always rely on you."
Lord Charles groaned51.
"Don't—don't, Ley!" he implored52. "I know that phrase so well; you always were wont53 to use it when there was some particularly evil piece of business to be done in the old days. Frankly, I'm a reformed character, and I decline to aid and abet54 you in any further madness."
"This isn't madness," said Leycester;—"oh, keep outside a moment, Oliver, I don't want you;—this is not madness, Charlie; it's the sanest55 thing I've ever done in my life."
"I dare say."
"It is indeed. Look here! I am going up to London."
"I guessed that. Poor London!"
"Do stop and listen to me—I haven't a moment to spare. I want you to do a little delicate service for me."
"I decline. What is it?" retorts Lord Charles, inconsistently.
"It is very simple. I want you to deliver a note for me."
"Oh, come, you know! Won't one of the army of servants, who devour32 the land like locusts56, serve your turn?"
"No; no none will do but yourself. I want this note delivered, at once. And I don't want anyone but our two selves to know anything about it; I don't want it to be carried about in one of the servant's pockets for an hour or two."
Lord Charles stretched his legs and shook his head.
"Look here, Ley, isn't this rather too 'thin?'" he remonstrated57. "Of course it's to someone of the gentler sex!"
Leycester smiled.
"You are wrong," he said, with a smile. "Where's the Bradshaw, Oliver!" and he opened the door. "Put out the note-paper, and then tell them to get a dogcart to take me to the station."
"You will want me, my lord?"
"No, I am going alone. Look sharp!"
Oliver put out the writing materials and departed, and Leycester sat down and stared for a moment at the crested58 paper.
"Shall I go?" asked Lord Charles, ironically.
"No, I don't mean to lose sight of you, old fellow," replied Leycester. "Sit where you are."
[169]
"Can I help you? I am rather good at amorous59 epistles, especially other people's."
"Be quiet."
Then he seized the pen and wrote:—
"My Dear Frank—I have inclosed a note for Stella. Will you give it to her when she is alone, and with your own hand! She will tell you that I have asked her to come with you by the eleven o'clock train to-morrow. Will you bring her to 24 Bruton Street? I shall meet you there instead of meeting you at the station. You see I put it quite simply, and am quite confident that you will help us. You know our secret, and will stand by us, will you not? Of course you will come without any luggage, and without letting anyone divine your intentions."
"Yours, my dear Frank,
"Leycester."
This was all very well. It was easy enough to write to the boy, because he, Leycester, knew that if he had asked Frank to walk through fire, Frank would do it! But Stella?
A sharp pang60 of doubt assailed61 him as he took up the second sheet of paper. Suppose she should not come!
He got up and strode to and fro the room, his brows knit, the old look of determination on his face.
"drop it, Ley," said Lord Charles, quietly.
Leycester stopped, and smiled down at him.
"You don't know what that would mean, Charlie," he said.
"Perhaps I do to—her, whomsoever it should be."
Then Leycester laughed outright62.
"You are on the wrong track this time, altogether," he said, "quite wrong."
And he sat down and plunged63 into his letter.
Like the first, it was very short.
"My Darling,—Do not be frightened when you read what follows, and do not hesitate. Think, as you read, that our happiness depends upon your decision. I want you to come, with Frank, by the eleven o'clock train to London, whither I am going now. I want you to take a cab and go to 24 Bruton Street, where I shall be waiting for you. You know what will happen, my darling! Before the morrow you and I will have set out on that long journey through life, hand-in-hand, man and wife. My pen trembles as I write the words. You will come, Stella? Think! I know what you will feel—I know as if I were standing1 beside you, how you will tremble, and hesitate, and dread64 the step; but you must take it, dearest! Once we are married all will go well and pleasantly. I cannot wait any longer: why should I? I have written to Frank, and confided65 him to your care. Trust yourself to him, throw all your doubts and fears to the winds. Think only of my love, and, may I add, your own?"
"Yours ever,
"Leycester."
He inclosed Stella's letter in a small envelope, and that, with Frank's letter, in a larger one, which he addressed to Frank.
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收听单词发音
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1
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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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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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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4
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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5
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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6
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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8
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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28
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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31
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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32
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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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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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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35
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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influenza
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| n.流行性感冒，流感 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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40
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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41
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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42
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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43
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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44
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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45
flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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46
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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47
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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48
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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49
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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50
refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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51
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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52
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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54
abet
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| v.教唆，鼓励帮助 | |
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55
sanest
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| adj.心智健全的( sane的最高级 )；神志正常的；明智的；稳健的 | |
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56
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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60
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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61
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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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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63
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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64
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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