After years of generally unsuccessful ventures in various directions, Miss Foster had at last found a post entirely3 after her own heart, and the whole of her by no means inconsiderable energy was absorbed by B. House. She declared that it gave her scope. She was convinced that she, and she alone, "ran" B. House. She regarded Tony merely as an amiable4 figure-head. She liked him; she knew him to be honourable5 and well-meaning, and had found him generous in his business relations, and of course he was necessary, as otherwise she, herself, might not have been there; nevertheless, in her heart of hearts she was convinced that she, and she alone, kept the machinery6 of B. House in working order. Tony was far too easy-going, far too easily imposed upon. She distrusted the matron, and for Mr. Johns she felt an irritated sort of contempt, which she was at small pains to conceal7: did not this misguided young man dare to entertain the incredibly conceited8 notion that he ran B. House? This in itself was more than enough to condemn9 him in Miss Foster's eyes.
A handsome woman, tall, plump, fresh-coloured, she made no attempt to look younger than her forty-nine years. She wore her plentiful10 grey hair dressed high over a cushion, well waved and beautifully arranged; no one ever saw Miss Foster with an untidy head. Her hats were always large and imposing11, and occasionally becoming; her dresses rich, rustling12, sober in colour, and thoroughly13 well made.
"All must have gone smoothly14 in my absence," she thought complacently15 as she sat in the jolting16 cab. "Mr. Bevan faithfully promised that if there was illness of any kind he would telegraph at once. Cripps can't have got the mumps17. He probably won't get it, and if he does it can't spread as he was quarantined at once. I hope Matron has been strict about the quarantine. I always mistrust these hospital-trained people when left to themselves; one has to be ever on the watch. Ah, here we are!"
Before Miss Foster could descend18 from the cab Ford19 appeared to help her with her smaller baggage. Ford looked particularly trim and smiling that afternoon in a nice new muslin apron20 and cap.
"All well, Ford?" Miss Foster remarked genially21, without waiting for an answer. "You may bring tea at once to the drawing-room; I'll have it before I go upstairs."
She crossed the hall and opened the drawing-room door, but she did not enter the room. Instead she stood transfixed upon the threshold and sniffed22 dubiously23.
The windows were open according to her instructions whenever the room was untenanted. Notwithstanding this, there was a very strong smell of violets. To most people this is an agreeable odour, but Miss Foster mistrusted the presence of violets at all. Why should there be violets in her drawing-room during her absence?
A few steps farther revealed to her astonished gaze that the room was not as she had left it. The furniture had been changed as to position, disarranged, increased!
Miss Foster was not fond of music, and she beheld24 with positive dismay that a grand piano, open, with long lid slanted25 upwards26, was placed athwart the inner wall. A huge harp27 stood just behind it, and an unfamiliar28 bulging29 green silk bag was flung on the Chesterfield, where it sprawled30 in flagrant publicity31. The overpowering scent32 of violets was easily traceable to a large china bowl, full of that modest flower, which stood on a little table, moved from its accustomed place against the wall close to a big chair by the fireplace. Moreover, on that table, cheek by jowl with the violets, lay a tin of "Player's Navy Cut," a common box of kitchen matches, an ash-tray, and a very brown meershaum pipe. Miss Foster passed her hand over her eyes to make sure that these things were not an hallucination, and at that moment Ford came in, bearing tea.
"What on earth is the meaning of all this, Ford?" poor Miss Foster exclaimed, waving her hand in the direction of the piano.
"It's been got for Miss Clonmell, 'm. This morning the men brought the piano; she brought 'er 'arp with her."
"Who brought a harp?" Miss Foster cried irritably33, as though she could hardly believe her ears. "Ford, what are you talking about?"
"Miss Clonmell, miss--the young lady as have come to live here."
"A young lady! To live here! But who is she, and when did she come, and why have I been told nothing about it?"
"She's sister to the Mr. Clonmell what was here last term, 'm, and she came unexpected like on Friday evening, while Mr. Bevan was at dinner. He didn't expect her any more than you, miss."
"But what in the world has she come for? She can't stay here. Where is she?"
"I don't exactly know 'm," Ford answered, with demure34 enjoyment35 of the situation. "Mrs. Wentworth came directly after luncheon36, 'm, and took her out. Miss Clonmell said as I was to ask you not to wait tea if you came before she got back, as she'll probably have hers with Mrs. Wentworth."
"Wait tea!" Miss Foster repeated, in tones that expressed volumes of determination to do nothing of the kind. "This is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard of. What is she like?"
"Oh, a very nice young lady, 'm. No one could 'elp liking37 'er. The 'ouse seems a different place since she come, so much livelier; and she sings and plays something beautiful----"
"I should think it does seem a different place," Miss Foster remarked grimly; "that horrible harp makes my drawing-room look like the deck of a penny steamer. It can't stay here, that's certain. However, I'll have tea now--I need it. Whenever Mr. Bevan comes in, Ford, ask him to be good enough to speak to me at once."
Miss Foster sat in her accustomed chair and made tea. The tea was good and refreshing38, but although she had purposely turned her back to the obnoxious39 musical instruments she felt uncomfortably conscious of their presence. There they were like a draught40 blowing down her back. A harp, too! In Miss Foster's mind harps41 were associated mainly with mendicity and the bars of public-houses. Not that she had the smallest personal knowledge of such objectionable places; but she was certain that the horrid42 people who frequented them played and listened to the harp. It was probably their favourite instrument, and it was more likely that during their disreputable orgies they even danced to its throbbing43 strains.
Miss Foster, who had never been out of her own country, was one of those persons who inevitably44 associate Scotland with plaids and porridge, and Ireland with pigs and shillelaghs.
"An unsatisfactory, ungrateful, untrustworthy race, the Irish," she reflected; "and if the sister is half as troublesome as the brother--and being a girl she is certain to be ten times more so; I detest45 girls--the prospect46 is far from pleasing. What I cannot understand is the underhand behaviour of Mr. Bevan. This girl can't have dropped from the clouds, and I consider it most ungentlemanly of him not to have given me some warning. He might at least have written to tell me of her arrival, and I would have come back yesterday. However, I don't fancy her visit will be a very long one now that I have come back."
She took a vigorous bite out of her piece of bread and butter, and stirred her tea with a determination that boded47 ill for the interloper. Yet, resolute48 woman as she was, she still smelt49 the violets and was aware of the grand piano in the background.
She had just finished her second cup of tea when Tony came in.
"Ah, Miss Foster, it's nice to see you back again. I hope the wedding went off well--you had a lovely day. I'm just in time to beg for a cup of tea. I suppose Ford has told you of the addition to our party; I didn't write, as you were away for such a brief holiday; it seemed too bad to bother you."
Somehow Miss Foster found it impossible to say all the bitter things to Tony that she had been preparing. He was so friendly, so kind, so interested in all her doings. Besides, he explained at once how Lallie's sudden appearance had been as great a surprise to him as to Miss Foster, and she was fain to believe him; but none the less did she determine that the said visit should be brief as unexpected.
Tony took it for granted she would do her best for the girl. So she would. It would certainly be best for the girl and for B. House that the girl's visit should not be unduly50 prolonged. When Tony left the drawing-room that afternoon Miss Foster was more than ever persuaded that he badly needed some one to stand between him and those who took advantage of his good nature, and she there and then valiantly51 resolved that, so far as in her lay, she would act as that buffer52. She was still glowing at the prospect of the friction53 such fortitude54 on her part would assuredly entail55 when Tony came back into the room. He might almost be said to have crept back, so shamefaced was his appearance.
"I fear that I have left some of my belongings56 in here," he mumbled57 apologetically. "I must have put them down when I came in to speak to Lallie, after lunch--and forgotten them."
Oh, mendacious58 Tony! when he knew perfectly59 well that those "belongings" had been left on that table ever since Lallie's second evening in B. House, and he had smoked there ruthlessly every evening since.
"It doesn't matter in the least," Miss Ford said graciously; "one couldn't smell even tobacco with these overpowering flowers. I really must ask Ford to throw them out; they are enough to give us all hay-fever."
Tony fled.
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1
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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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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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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10
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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12
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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16
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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17
mumps
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| n.腮腺炎 | |
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18
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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19
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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22
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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23
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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24
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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25
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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26
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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29
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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30
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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31
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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32
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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34
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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36
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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37
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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38
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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40
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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41
harps
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| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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42
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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43
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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44
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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45
detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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46
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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47
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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48
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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49
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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50
unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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51
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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52
buffer
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| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
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53
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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54
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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55
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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56
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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57
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
mendacious
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| adj.不真的，撒谎的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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