He was perilously7 near the sixties, but young-looking for his age in spite of his oriental experience; handsome still, with a smile that, upon first acquaintance, was found irresistibly8 fascinating; a genial9 easy manner—a way with him, in fact, that seemed to promise the utmost good-fellowship. It was only after experience that people felt the steel behind the velvet10 glove.
"Uncle Arthur," Aspasia one day averred11 in an irrepressible burst of frankness, "is the sort of man the more you know him, the less you like him."
No one would have been more surprised than Sir Arthur himself had he been told that he was a tyrant12. Yet very soon those who were brought into contact with him discovered what a domineering spirit dwelt behind that sweet smile; how, without ever departing from a form of speech and manner that, with his own family was almost always caressing13, with the rest of the world affable, no human being had ever been able to move him from the prosecution14 of his own purpose. Such a character, combined with a mighty15 intellect, would have been an enormous power for good. Unfortunately, it was upon the slightest premises16 and with limited reasoning faculties17 that Sir Arthur formed his unalterable views of life.
One of the problems that had most puzzled Aspasia, since unexpected family misfortunes had driven her to seek a home with the Lieutenant-Governor (her uncle and guardian), was whether her beautiful new aunt did not really hate Sir Arthur; and, "if she didn't," as the child phrased it, "how she could?" But not even Baby's shrewd young eyes could discover a flaw in the serenity18 with which Lady Gerardine listened to her husband's theories, or the grace with which she lent herself to the fulfilment of his wishes.
She now sat beside him with a half smile, her hands busied with some delicate work: a lovely picture of cool placidity19.
Sir Arthur turned and gazed upon her with such an eye of condescending20 and complacent22 affection as that with which the Grand Turk may regard his last favourite.
"Well, dear," he pursued, "I have finally rejected the Rajah's request."
"Indeed?"
She shot a look at him as if she would have added something; but upon the second thought dropped her long lids and resumed her embroidery23, while Aspasia, in her usual pose at her aunt's feet, broke into shrill24 protest:
"You never did? Why, Runkle, and everybody said the poor man was quite right! Only last night I heard General Staveley tell Aunt Rosamond that it was a mere25 case of justice, not to say one of expediency26."
The Lieutenant-Governor's self-satisfaction waxed visibly to swelling27 point.
"Ha! I dare say," he commented. "Indeed, I flatter myself, my dear Aspasia, that there is not another man in India that would have dared to take the responsibility. Aha, Rosamond, firmness! I was firm. Very firm. Discontented, disloyal set! I won't give them an inch more than the measure."
"Oh Lor!" ejaculated Baby.
Lady Gerardine's eyelashes flickered28 a second.
"Quiet!" she said, giving her niece a tap upon the shoulder.
Baby subsided29, growling30 to herself like a tiger cub31:
"That nice prince...! If Runkle does not start a new mutiny——!"
Sir Arthur surveyed his womankind a second with that singularly sweet smile of his. They were his womankind, part of his personal belongings32; and therefore it never even dawned upon him that they could be anything but superlative of their degree; much less that they could form an independent opinion really unfavourable to himself. His niece's petulance33 affected34 him not otherwise than as an agreeable émoustillage in moments of relaxation such as these, as well as an opportunity for the display of his own indulgent wit and wisdom. He had a pride in her smart tongue as well as in her pretty looks; and Aspasia's most earnest attempts produced no more effect upon her distinguished35 relative than would the gambols36 of a kitten. Thus he now beamed upon her. In his early years of London society and successes, he had been noted37 for that beautiful smile. "The ass38 with the seraphic smile," a light-hearted St. James's comrade had dubbed39 him, little guessing that his country would, in the future, consider so well of "the ass" as to confide40 some of the gravest interests of the Empire to his charge. In spite of which (all unknown to its distinguished wearer) the nickname stuck.
"I have given orders, my love," said the great man, once more addressing his wife, "for the cutting down of the group of banyan41 trees at the end of the garden. I know you and Aspasia rather liked that little jungle, but it was really a nasty bit. Now I propose to have the place concreted and a summer-house erected—something in a pretty artistic42 style, say Early English—or a Norwegian hut, perhaps, where you can sit without fear of snakes."
Again Baby felt a warning hand pressed upon her shoulder, and was fain, with crimson43 cheeks of wrath44, to compress her lips in silence, while Lady Gerardine drew a strand45 of silk through her needle and made a pretty little speech of thanks to her husband for his thoughtfulness.
"Why don't you carry the concrete down the garden walks," observed Miss Cuningham presently, with withering46 sarcasm47, "and set up a rockery, with shells and things?"
Sir Arthur ignored the sally.
"You will be glad to hear, Rosamond," he proceeded presently, "that I have been successful in a matter to which I attach great importance. I have found, I think, the exact person I have wanted so long: the native secretary, you know. All these young Civil Service fellows, with their translations, are no use to me. And my work was positively49 at a standstill."
Irrepressible Aspasia sniffed50. A faint look of weariness crossed Lady Gerardine's well-trained countenance51: this book of Sir Arthur's—a history of the Provinces confided52 to his charge, beginning from the earliest possible date and to be carried down to the triumphant53 conclusion of his own rule—this great work which was (as he was fond of saying) to be the monument of his career in India, was a subject which the Lieutenant-Governor's circle had learned to dread54.
"Monument, indeed; it will be all our monuments!" had cried Aspasia one day, and Lady Gerardine had not rebuked55.
The quaintest56 part about the matter, perhaps, was that, while Sir Arthur employed some half-dozen experts in obtaining material for him, and spent a fair part of his time in discussion of the matter provided, not one line of the folios which already filled his nest of drawers, some of which had been actually passed for press, had been either conceived or penned by the official author. And the guileless phrase, which often dropped from his lips: "I must really go; Macdonald (or it might be Gray, or Captain Smith) is waiting to read out to me the last chapter of my book," had ceased even to provoke a smile.
"It has always been my aim to get at the spirit of the people," said Sir Arthur, "to draw water from the source that springs in the soil of the land itself." He looked sideways for a second, reflecting. "Ah, not a bad phrase that; I must suggest it to Macdonald."
"And what's the name of the particular native spring?" inquired the pert Miss Cuningham.
"His name"—Sir Arthur drew a letter from his pocket—"is Muhammed Saif-u-din, if it makes you much the wiser, my dear Aspasia. It seems he's quite a remarkable57 individual. Curiously58 enough, a Pathan. Pathans, a real fighting lot, don't as a rule take to the pen. Yes, quite a remarkable individual. The son of a Subadar—who thought it fine to let his son have an English education. Thought it no doubt a form of loyalty59 that would pay. However it may have been, the fellow's as poor as a rat in spite of his learning—proud as Lucifer, of course. drop of princely blood in him, it appears." The Lieutenant-Governor smiled pityingly. "They generally have, if you believe them—ha! Read his letter, my dear," he went on, drawing a sheet from his pocket-book and tossing it in her lap; "it may amuse you to note the grandiloquence60 of the native style."
Lady Gerardine turned over the sheet with a languid finger. It was scored with beautifully regular copperplate writing, which presented certainly no difficulty to the decipherer. Baby, whose young interest was more easily aroused, craned her neck to see also, and read aloud the opening phrase in a mock declamatory style:
Huzur,—By your Honour's Gracious Permission, your devoted61 servant Muhammed Saif-u-din. Will your Magnificence so condescend21 to my nothingness as to permit your Heaven-illumined eyes to rest upon this unworthy document....
"Oh, Runkle, that's even finer than your phrase. Hadn't you better pass it on to Macdonald? You must let him have a finger in your pie—your Monumental Pie!"
Sir Arthur smiled with his benevolent62 air.
He drew a second letter from his pocket.
"Another agreeable piece of news," said he; "Lady Aspasia is quite ready to give us ten days or a fortnight after her visit to Calcutta."
"Lady Aspasia!" cried Baby; "do you mean the horrid63 woman that went and had a name like that to make me a laughing-stock all my life?"
"Lady Aspasia, your own cousin, and the most agreeable woman I have ever met," rebuked Sir Arthur. "With one exception, of course," added the gallant64 gentleman, bowing towards his wife. "You ought to be very proud, dear child," he went on, addressing his recalcitrant65 niece, "not only of your connection with a noble house, but also to bear a name which is perhaps unique. Had we had a daughter, Rosamond, my love, I could not have allowed her to be christened otherwise. Dear me," he went on, now throwing his remarks into space and inflating66 his chest with the breath of sentimental67 reminiscence, "dear Aspasia, what a fine creature she was; and how much in love with her I used to be in my salad days. You're not jealous, dear," he cried suddenly, struck by his wife's abstraction.
"Jealous?" she echoed with a start. Her gaze was really pathetic, as she raised it to his face; and Sir Arthur, satisfied that she had undoubtedly68 felt a little hurt by his reminiscence, smiled sympathetically and once more considerately selected another topic.
"By the way," he said, knocking the ash off his cheroot with a squat69 nail pared and polished to the last possible point of symmetry, "I met quite an interesting fellow just now. He tells me he has already called on you. Bethune his name is—Major Bethune, of the Guides. I asked him to dine to-night. I knew you would like me to show him some attention. You must know all about him, my love; he went through all that unfortunate business with your poor husband. I knew," repeated the Lieutenant-Governor, with a most intimate smile of self-approbation, "I knew that you would like me to show him some attention."
Baby, leaning against her aunt's pliant70 form, felt it suddenly stiffen71 into rigidity72. But the needle poised73 in Lady Gerardine's fingers did not tremble; it hovered74 for a hardly perceptible moment, then resumed its languid course. Sir Arthur, after waiting for the expected tribute, threw down the stump75 of his cigar and looked round in surprise.
"I always wish to do the right thing about any friend of poor English," he insisted. "And Bethune was flattered, of course, immensely flattered at my asking him. I knew it would please you, my dear Rosamond."
Lady Gerardine finished the lilac petal76, cut her silk, folded her work, and, then only, raised her eyes.
"Thank you," she said gently; "you are always kindness itself."
Those eyes of hers were so dark and encircled in her pale face that the affectionate husband was solicitously77 moved.
"You look tired, my love," he said, hoisting78 himself out of his lounge to approach her. "I trust you have not got a chill; I think we had better all adjourn79. You must lie down an hour before dinner."
Lady Gerardine rose and stood, looking out across the still garden falling in terraces to the river edge, beyond the flaming masses of poinsettia, the heavy-headed babul, and the starred wide-flung hibiscus, towards the far-off hills, mauve and amethyst80 hued81 against a sky of translucent82 sapphire83.
"I must go and say good-bye to my banyan trees," she said, almost as if speaking to herself.
Sir Arthur was horrified84 at the mere suggestion. Down into the lower garden, at the moment when the mists were rising! He would not hear of such a thing. And she was not looking well. He took her face by the chin and turned it to the sunset light. Even in that warm glow it showed wan48; and the lids she dropped between her eyes and his gaze were bruised85 and shadowed, faintly purple like the petals86 of wood violets.
"I'll have to ask Saunders to look at you," said the Governor. "I hope and trust that you have not been so foolish as to throw off your vests again!" He slipped two fingers under the lace of her diaphanous87 blouse to satisfy himself. "I cannot afford to have you ill, dear," he wound up caressingly88. "Now, I'll just tell Jani to measure you a couple of grains of quinine before you lie down."
Benevolent, consequential89, he hurried indoors. Rosamond stood yet a moment, looking at the sky. Baby, a thousand shades of exasperation90 and scorn upon her expressive91 countenance, now melted all into tenderness.
"If ever there was a woman killed by kindness," she exclaimed, "it is you, poor Aunt Rosamond!" And flinging her arms round the still figure: "Oh, darling," she whispered, with the wail92 of an ever-renewed complaint, "why do you always, always give in?"
Lady Gerardine gently disengaged herself, bringing her eyes back from the distant loveliness with a perceptible effort.
"Oh, Baby," she said, in a tone of melancholy93 mockery, "when you have lived as long as I have, you will see how much simpler it is."
She trailed away, obediently, to seek quinine and couch. Aspasia kicked over the work-basket as a relief, summoning a couple of supple94 Hindoos to repair the damage; and, feeling that the balance of things was slightly re-established, she took her way also into the palace to select her attire4 for the evening.
In spite of her ruffled95 sensations, she was smiling to herself as she went, and the dimples were very deep in the pink cheeks. Something was singing in her heart—a soft, pleasant little song: that it was good not to have lived long yet, and to have everything still before one; and that she was glad that the man with the light eyes and brown face was not going to drift out of her life. She hoped he would not be angry with her for not having succeeded yet.
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1
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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7
perilously
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| adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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12
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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18
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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placidity
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| n.平静，安静，温和 | |
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20
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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32
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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gambols
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的第三人称单数 ) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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banyan
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| n.菩提树，榕树 | |
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42
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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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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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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46
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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48
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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49
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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50
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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51
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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52
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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53
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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54
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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55
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
quaintest
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| adj.古色古香的( quaint的最高级 )；少见的，古怪的 | |
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57
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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58
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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59
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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60
grandiloquence
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| n.夸张之言，豪言壮语，豪语 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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62
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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63
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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64
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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65
recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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66
inflating
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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67
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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68
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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69
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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70
pliant
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| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
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71
stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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72
rigidity
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| adj.钢性，坚硬 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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petal
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| n.花瓣 | |
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solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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amethyst
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| n.紫水晶 | |
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hued
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| 有某种色调的 | |
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translucent
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| adj.半透明的；透明的 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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diaphanous
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| adj.(布)精致的，半透明的 | |
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caressingly
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| 爱抚地，亲切地 | |
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consequential
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| adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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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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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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