Superb as her toilettes were at all times, she seemed to make little Babette Pompon take extra pains with them now, and I felt delighted accordingly, for such infinite care seemed to express a desire to please me. Our next departure from the Court was Mr. Hawkesby Guilfoyle, whom Sir Madoc and all his visitors had begun to view with a coolness and disfavour of which the party in question found it convenient to seem quite oblivious14; but it reached its culminating point through a very small matter. One day after luncheon15 we had gone so far as Penmaen Mawr. The four ladies were in the open carriage; I occupied the rumble16; Sir Madoc, Lord Pottersleigh, and Guilfoyle were mounted, and we were all enjoying to the fullest extent that glorious combination of marine17 and mountain scenery peculiar18 to the Welsh coast; the air was full of ozone19 and the sky was full of sunshine. We were all happy, and even Winifred seemed in unusually high spirits; as for Dora, she was never otherwise. The well-hung carriage rolled pleasantly along, between the beautiful green hills, past quiet villages and ancient churches, vast yawning slate20 quarries21, green mounds22 and gray stones that marked where battles had been, with occasional glimpses of the Irish Sea, that stretched away to the dim horizon like a sheet of glittering glass. Estelle, by arrangement, sat with her back to the horses, so that she and I could freely converse23 with our eyes, from time to time, under the shade of her skilfully-managed parasol.
Sir Madoc on this day was peculiarly enthusiastic, and having mounted what the girls called his "Welsh hobby," was disposed to give it full rein24. We halted in a little sequestered25 glen, a lovely spot embosomed among trees, on the southern slope of the hill. The horses were unbitted; Owen Gwyllim had put the champagne26' bottles to cool in a runnel, where their long gilded27 necks and swollen28 corks29 stood invitingly30 up amid the rich green grass that almost hid the murmuring water. We had come by Caerhun, through an old and little-frequented road, where Sir Madoc insisted on pointing out to us all the many erect31 old battle-stones by the wayside; for his mind was now full of quaint32 stories, and the memory of heroes with barbarous names. Thus when Owen uncorked the Cliquot, he drank more than one guttural Welsh toast, and told us how, often in his boyhood, the road had been obstructed33 for weeks by masses of rock that fell thundering from the mountain above; and in his love of the olden time or detestation of change, I believe he would have preferred such barriers to progress still, rather than have seen the lines of road and rail that now sweep between the mountain and the sea on the way to Holyhead.
"It was in this dell or glyn," said Sir Madoc, as he seated his sturdy figure on the grass, though the ladies did not leave the carriage, "that Llewellyn ap Jorwerth took prisoner the luckless William de Breas, whom he hanged at Aber, in the time of Henry III."
"Why did he hang him?" asked Guilfoyle, holding his glass for Owen to refill it.
"Because he was a handsome fellow, and found too much favour in the eyes of his princess, whom he dragged to the window that she might see his body hanging lifeless on the gibbet."
"Deuced hard lines," said Guilfoyle, laughing. "I thought he might have been hung because he hadn't a pedigree, or some other enormity in Welsh eyes." As Sir Madoc looked at the speaker his eyes sparkled, for the remark was a singularly gratuitous34 one.
"You English," said he, "laugh at what you are pleased to consider our little weakness in that respect; and yet the best names in the peerage are apt to be deduced from some corporal or sergeant35 of William's Norman rabble36."
"Heavens, papa! when I change my name of Lloyd, I hope it won't be for that of Mrs. John Smith or Robinson?" said Dora, merrily, as she heard that Sir Madoc's tone was sharp.
"Well, but you must admit that these fortuitous circumstances are deemed of small account now; for as Dick Cypher sings,
"'A peer and a 'prentice now dress much the same, And you can't tell the difference excepting by name.'"
"I don't know who your friend Dick Cypher may be," replied Sir Madoc, quietly, though evidently greatly ruffled37, "but Burke and Debrett record as ancient, names we deem but those of yesterday, and when compared with ours are as the stunted38 gorsebush to pine or oak--yes, sir! or as the donkey that crops thistles by the wayside when compared to the Arab horse!"
"God bless my soul!" exclaimed Pottersleigh, letting his hat sink farther on the nape of his neck, as he placed his gold glasses on his long thin nose and gazed at Sir Madoc, who tossed an empty bottle into the runnel, and continued:--"In Wales we have the lines of Kynaston, who descend39 from Rhodric Mawr, King of all Wales, and the daughter and coheir of the Bloody40 Wolf; the Mostyns, from the Lord of Abergeleu who founded the eighth noble tribe; the Vaughans, who come from that King Rhodric who married the daughter of Meuric ap Dyfnwall ap Arthur ap Sitsylt, though that was only in the year 800; and we have the Lloyds----"
"O, papa," exclaimed Winifred, seeing that Estelle was laughing heartily41, "we cannot listen to more; and I am sure that your muster-roll of terrible names must have quite convinced Mr. Guilfoyle of his error."
"If it ever existed--I did but jest," said he, bowing and smiling as he turned to her.
Sir Madoc's gust42 of patriotic43 ire passed away at the sound of his daughter's voice; but from that moment his manner to Guilfoyle underwent a marked change, for he had already more than once contrived44 to wound him on this his most tender point. So the usually suave45 and kind old man became very cool to him as they rode homeward; and early that evening Guilfoyle retired46 to his room, alleging47 that he had to write letters.
After dinner, as we idled for a little time in the smoking-room prior to joining the ladies, Lord Pottersleigh led the conversation gradually back to our evening excursion, and with some hesitation48 began to speak of Guilfoyle.
"You will pardon me, my dear Sir Madoc, for venturing to speak slightingly of any friend of yours; but----"
"Mr. Guilfoyle is no friend of mine," said the other, hastily; "he dropped among us from the clouds, as it were. When with Lady Naseby I met him on the beach at Llandudno. He had done her some service on the Continent, at Catzeneln--what's-its-name?--I invited him on the strength of their past acquaintance--that's all."
"Then, briefly49, get rid of him if you can."
"What do you say, Harry50?"
"I say with Lord Pottersleigh."
Sir Madoc fidgeted, for his Welsh ideas of hospitality were somewhat shocked by the idea of "getting rid" of a guest.
"I assure you, Sir Madoc," resumed the peer, "that he is quite out of his place amongst us, quite; and despite his usually assumed suavity--for it is assumed--he lacks intensely l'odeur de la bonne société, though he affects it; and I overheard two of your late guests making some very dubious51 remarks concerning him."
"The deuce you did!" exclaimed Sir Madoc, tossing away his half-smoked cigar.
"They spoke52 quite audibly, as if they cared not who might hear them."
"Who were they?"
"Officers of the 19th, from Chester. 'Guilfoyle!' I heard that fast boy Clavell exclaim, as if with surprise, to another; 'is that fellow, who--' 'The very same.' 'Then how comes he to be a guest here?' 'Just what I was asking of myself, as he is tabooed everywhere. You know they say--' 'They--who?' 'O, that ubiquitous and irresponsible party so difficult to grapple with--that though he was attaché at some German place, he has been in several conspiracies53 to pigeon young muffs just come of age. There was particularly one poor fellow of ours whom he rooked at Hamburg of every sixpence, and who was afterwards found drowned in the Alster. And lately I have heard that he was proprietor54, or part proprietor, of a gaming-hell in Berlin.' 'By Jove!' exclaimed little Clavell, but can all this be proved?' 'No.' 'Why?' 'He lays his plans too deeply and surely.' Then they walked towards the marquee, and I thought I had hear, enough--quite," added his lordship, snuffing.
Long before Pottersleigh was done, Sir Madoc had blushed purple with stifled55 rage and mortification56. He said,
"My lord, you should have mentioned all this instantly."
"Truth is, I knew not how to approach the subject."
"And I have introduced this fellow to my daughters, to my friends, and to Craigaderyn! D--n me, I shall choke!" he exclaimed, as he started from his chair. "He is deep as Llyn Tegid! I have already lost considerable sums to him at billiards57, and I always thought his success at cards miraculous58. But an end shall be put to this instantly!--Owen! Owen Gwyllim!"
He kicked a spittoon to the other end of the room, rang the bell furiously for the butler, and dashed off a note to Mr. Guilfoyle. It was sufficiently59 curt60 and pointed61. He expressed "regret that a gun would not be at his service on the coming 1st of September; but that the carriage would await his orders, for Chester or elsewhere."
Guilfoyle had doubtless been accustomed to meet with affronts62 such as this. Desiring his baggage to be sent after him, he departed that night with his two horses, his groom63 (and diamond ring); but, prior to doing so, he had the effrontery64 to leave P.P.C. cards for Lady Naseby and Estelle, saying that "he should not forget their kind invitation to Walcot Park;" and rode off, scheming vengeance65 on me, to whom he evidently attributed the whole matter, as he informed Owen Gwyllim that he "would yet repay me, through his solicitor66, perhaps, for the interest I had taken in his affairs."
This threw a temporary cloud over our little party, and good Sir Madoc felt a kind of sorrow for Guilfoyle as he surmised67 how little money he might have in his purse, forgetting that he was proprietor of a pair of horses. To prevent her amour propre being wounded, we most unfortunately did not reveal this man's real character to Lady Naseby; thus, to Sir Madoc's hot temper was attributed his sudden departure.
Though Lady Estelle was excessively provoked that, through her and her mother, whom his service on the Continent had prejudiced in his favour, and through his alleged68 acquaintance with me, he had become Sir Madoc's guest, in a day or two the whole contretemps was forgotten; but I was fated not to have seen or heard the last of Mr. Hawkesby Guilfoyle.
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1
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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3
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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9
tapered
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| adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词 | |
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10
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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11
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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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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13
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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14
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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17
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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18
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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ozone
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| n.臭氧，新鲜空气 | |
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slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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21
quarries
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| 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 | |
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22
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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23
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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24
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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sequestered
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| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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26
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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corks
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| n.脐梅衣；软木( cork的名词复数 )；软木塞 | |
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30
invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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32
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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33
obstructed
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| 阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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34
gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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35
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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36
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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37
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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38
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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39
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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40
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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41
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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42
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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43
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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44
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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45
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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46
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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47
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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48
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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49
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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50
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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51
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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52
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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53
conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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54
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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55
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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56
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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57
billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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58
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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59
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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60
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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61
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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62
affronts
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| n.（当众）侮辱，（故意）冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 )；相遇 | |
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63
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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64
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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65
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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66
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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67
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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68
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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