Oh, that unjustly ignored member, the nose! How subtle and indestructible are its memories! They know the swiftest way to the sources of joy and tears. The eye, the ear, the nice nerves of the finger tip,—these have no such sway over the mysteries of remembrance. They have never been quite so intimate, for a sweet smell duly apprehended16 becomes a part of the very brain and blood. I have a little cream-yellow kerchief of silk laid away in many folds of scentless17 paper. Sometimes I untie18 it and look at it. How well I remember it as once it clung about the fair hair of 68my young mother! I see myself, a thin, dark, grave-faced little boy, leaning against her knee and looking up with love into her face. The memory moves me—but as a picture. “Was it I?” I am able to wonder. “And did I, that dark boy, have a mother like that?” But when I bury my face in the kerchief, and inhale20 the faint savour it still wonderfully holds, I know, I feel it all. Once more I am in her arms, strained to her breast, my small face pressed close to her smooth neck where the tiny ripples21 of silken gold began; and I smell the delicate, intimate sweetness that seemed to be her very self; and my eyes run over with hot tears of longing22 for her kiss. I have a skirt of hers, too, laid away, and an apron23; but these do not so much move me, for as a child I spoiled them with weeping into them, I think. The kerchief was not then large enough to attract the childish vehemence24 of my sorrow, so it was spared, till by and by I came to know and guard the priceless talisman25 of memory which it held.
For some minutes I stood at the street-foot, looking down the river-bank to the wharf and the boats, steeping my brain in those pleasant smells of Grand Pré. Then I turned up the street. It was all as I had left it two years before, save that then the apple-trees were green like the willows26 by the marsh27 edge; while now they were white and pink, a foam28 of bee-thronged sweetness surging 69close about the village roofs. The cottages on either side the street were low, and dazzling white with lime-wash from the Piziquid quarries30. Their wide-flaring gables were presented with great regularity31 to the street. The roofs of the larger cottages were broken by narrow dormer windows; and all, large and small alike, were stained to a dark purplish-slate color with a wash which is made, I understand, by mixing the lime with a quantity of slaked32 hard-wood ash. The houses stood each with a little space before it, now neatly33 tilled and deeply tufted with young green, but presently to become a mass of colour when the scarlet34 lychnis, blue larkspur, lavender, marigolds, and other summer-blooming plants should break into flower. Far up the street, at the point where a crossroad led out over the marshes35 to the low, dark-wooded ridge36 of the island, stood the forge; and as I drew nearer the warm, friendly breath of the fire purred under the anvil37’s clinking. Back of the forge, along the brink38 of the open green levels, stood a grove39 of rounded willow-trees. Further on, a lane bordered with smaller cabins ran in a careless, winding40 fashion up the hillside; and a little way from the corner, dwarfing41 the roofs, loftily overpeering the most venerable apple-trees, and wearing a conscious air of benignant supervision42, rose the church of Grand Pré, somewhat squatly43 capacious in the body, but with a spire44 70that soared very graciously. Just beyond, but hidden by the church, I could see in my mind’s eye the curé’s cottage. My footsteps hastened at the thought of Father Fafard and his greeting.
The men of the village were at that hour mostly away in the fields; but there were enough at home about belated barnyard business to halt me many times with their welcomes before I got to the forge. These greetings, in the main, had the old-time heartiness45, making me feel my citizenship46 in Grand Pré. But there was much eager interrogation as to the cause of my presence, and a something of suspicion, at times, in the acceptance of my simple answer, which puzzled and vexed47 me. It was borne in upon me that I was thought to be commissioned with great matters, and my frankness but a mask for grave and dubious48 affairs.
Outside the forge, when at last I came to it, stood waiting two horses, while another was inside being shod. The acrid49 smell of the searing iron upon the hoof50 awoke in my breast a throng29 of boyish memories, which, however, I had not time to note and discriminate51 between; for the owners of the two horses hailed and stopped me. They were men of the out-settlements, whom I knew but well enough to pass the weather with. Yet I saw it in their eyes that they had heard something of my arrival. Question hung upon their lips. I gave them no time for it, but with as little patience as 71consisted with civility I hastened into the forge and seized the hand of the smith, my old friend and my true friend, Nicole Brun.
“Master Paul!” he cried, in a voice which meant a thousand welcomes; and stood gripping my fingers, and searching me with his eyes, while the iron in his other hand slowly faded from pink to purple.
“Well,” I laughed presently, “there is one man in Grand Pré, I perceive, who is merely glad to greet me home, and not too deeply troubled over the reasons for my coming.”
“Hein! You’ve seen it and heard it already,” said Nicole, releasing my fingers from his knotty52 grasp, and throwing back his thick shoulders with a significant shrug53. “Mother Pêche told me last night of your coming; and last night, too, the Black Abbé passed this way. The town is all of a buzz with reasons, this way and that. And some there be that are for you, but more that fear you, Master Paul.”
“Fear me?” I asked, incredulous.
“Along of the Black Abbé and Vaurin!” answered Nicole, as if explaining everything.
“That Vaurin—curse him!” I exclaimed angrily. “But what say you, Nicole? I give you my word, as I have told every one, I come to Grand Pré on my own private business, and mix not at all with public matters.”
72“So?” said he, lifting his shaggy eyebrows54 in plain surprise. “But in any case it had been all the same to me. I’m a quiet man, and bide55 me here, taking no part but to forge an honest shoe for the beast of friend or foe56; but I’m your man, Master Paul, through thick and thin, as my father was your father’s. ‘Tis a hard thing to decide, these days, what with Halifax and the English governor pulling one way, Quebec and the Black Abbé pulling the other, and his reverence’s red devils up to Lord knows what! But I follow you, Master Paul, come what may! I’m ready.”
I laid my hand laughingly on his shoulder, and thanked him.
“I believe you, my friend,” said I. “And there’s no man I trust more. But I’ve no lead to set you just now. Be true to France, in all openness, and lend no ear to treachery, is all I say. I am the king’s man, heart and soul; but the English are a fair foe, and to be fought with fair weapons, say I, or not at all.”
“Right you are, Master Paul,” grunted57 Nicole in hearty58 approval. There was a triumphant59 grin on his square and sooty face, which I marked with a passing wonder.
“And as for this Vaurin,” I continued, “I spit on all such sneaking60 fire-in-the-night, throat-slitting, scalp-lifting rabble61, who bring a good cause to bitter shame!”
73I spoke62 with unwonted heat; for I was yet wroth at the commandant for his misuse63 of my ignorance, and smarting raw at the notion of being classed in with Vaurin.
I observed that at my words Nicole’s triumphant grin was shot across with a sort of apprehension64; and at the same moment I observed, too, a sturdy stranger, apparently65 the owner of the horse now being shod. He sat to the right of the forge fire, far back against the wall; but as I finished he sprang to his feet and came briskly forward.
“Blood of God,” he snarled66 blasphemously67, “but this is carrying the joke too far! You play your part a trifle too well, young man. Let me counsel you to keep a respectful tongue in your head when you speak of your betters.”
“Faith, and I do that!” said I pleasantly, taking note of him with care. From his speech I read him to be a Gascon of the lower sort; while from his dress I judged that he played the gentleman adventurer. But I set him down for a hardy68 rogue69.
“But from whom do I receive in such ill language such excellent good advice?” I went on.
“One who can enforce it!” he cried roughly, misled by my civil air. “I’m a friend of Captain Vaurin, whom I have the honour to serve. It seems to suit some purpose of yours just now to deny it, but you were with him yesterday, in counsel 74with him, a messenger from Colonel Vergor to him; and you came on here at his orders.”
“That is a lie!” said I very gently, smiling upon him. “The other rascal70, Vergor, tricked me with his letter; and he shall pay for it!”
Thus given the lie, but so softly, the fellow uttered a choking gurgle betwixt astonishment71 and rage, and I calculated the chance of his rushing upon me without warning. He was, as I think I said, a very sturdy figure of a man, though not tall; and he gave sign of courage enough in his angry little eyes and jutting72 chin. A side glance at Nicole showed me that he was pleased with the turn of affairs, and had small love for the stranger. I caught at the doorway73 the faces of the two men from the out-settlements, with eyes and ears all agog74.
The stranger gulped75 down his rage and set himself to ape my coolness.
“Whatever your business with my captain,” said he, “we are here now as private gentlemen, and you must give me satisfaction. Be good enough to draw, monsieur.”
Now, I was embarrassed and annoyed by this encounter, for I certainly could not fight one of Vaurin’s crew, and I was in haste to see Father Fafard. I cursed my folly76 in having been led into such an unworthy altercation77. How most quickly should I get out of it?
75“I am a captain in the king’s service,” said I abruptly78, “and I cannot cross swords but with a gentleman.”
The fellow spluttered in a fine fury, more or less assumed, I must believe. His oaths were of a sort which grated me, but having delivered himself of them he said:
“I too serve the king. And I too, I’d have you know, am a gentleman. None of your Canadian half-breed seigneurs, but a gentleman of Gascony. Out with your sword, or I spit you!”
“I’m very sorry,” I answered smoothly79, “that I cannot fight with one of Vaurin’s cut-throats, for I perceive you to be a stout-hearted rascal who might give me a good bout19. But as for the gentleman of Gascony, faith, my credulity will not stand so great a tax. From your accents, Monsieur, I could almost name the particular sty by the Bordeaux waterside which must claim the distinction of your birth.”
As I had calculated, this insult brought it. My prod80 had struck the raw. With a choking curse the fellow sprang at me, naked handed, blind in his bull strength.
I dropped one foot to the rear, met and stopped the rush by planting my left fist in his face, then gave him my right under his jaw81, with the full thrust of my body, from the foot up. It was a beautiful trick, learned of an English prisoner at 76Montreal, who had trained me all one winter in the fistic art of his countrymen. My impetuous antagonist82 went backward over the anvil, and seemed in small haste to pick himself up. The spectators gaped83 at the strange tactics; and Nicole, as I bade him good-by, chuckled84:
“There’ll be trouble for this somewhere, Master Paul! Watch out sharp—and don’t go ‘round o’ nights without taking me along. Le F?ret is not nicknamed ‘The Ferret’ for nothing!”
“All right, my friend,” said I; “when I want a guard I’ll send for you.”
I went off toward Father Fafard’s, pleased with myself, pleased with the English captain who had taught me such a useful accomplishment85, and pleased, I confess, with Vaurin’s minion86 for having afforded me such a fair chance to display it.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
superstitious
|
|
| adj.迷信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ebb
|
|
| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
mellow
|
|
| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tangle
|
|
| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dyke
|
|
| n.堤，水坝，排水沟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
tar
|
|
| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
pungent
|
|
| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
apprehended
|
|
| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scentless
|
|
| adj.无气味的，遗臭已消失的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
18
untie
|
|
| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bout
|
|
| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
inhale
|
|
| v.吸入(气体等)，吸(烟) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ripples
|
|
| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
vehemence
|
|
| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
talisman
|
|
| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
willows
|
|
| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
marsh
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
foam
|
|
| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
quarries
|
|
| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
regularity
|
|
| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
slaked
|
|
| v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
marshes
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
anvil
|
|
| n.铁钻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
brink
|
|
| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dwarfing
|
|
| n.矮化病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
supervision
|
|
| n.监督，管理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
squatly
|
|
| vi.蹲，蹲伏；擅自占用土地；依法在政府公地上定居；〈口〉坐vt.使蹲坐；使蹲下；擅自占用n.蹲坐，蹲姿；擅自占用的土地；[体]蹲举式举重；动物的窝adj.矮胖的；蹲着的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
spire
|
|
| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
heartiness
|
|
| 诚实，热心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
citizenship
|
|
| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
acrid
|
|
| adj.辛辣的，尖刻的，刻薄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
hoof
|
|
| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
discriminate
|
|
| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
knotty
|
|
| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bide
|
|
| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
sneaking
|
|
| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
rabble
|
|
| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
misuse
|
|
| n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
snarled
|
|
| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
blasphemously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
hardy
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
rogue
|
|
| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
agog
|
|
| adj.兴奋的，有强烈兴趣的； adv.渴望地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
gulped
|
|
| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
altercation
|
|
| n.争吵，争论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
smoothly
|
|
| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
prod
|
|
| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
antagonist
|
|
| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
minion
|
|
| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |