Towards eight o'clock of the evening of the day after his duel3 with Sir Jasper, Mr. Denis O'Hara, seated at his open window, disconsolate4 in a very gorgeous dressing-gown and a slight fever fit, found it indeed so damnably deserted that the sight of a sedan-chair and two toiling5 chairmen coming up the incline became quite an object of interest to him.
"To be sure," thought he, "don't I know it's only some old hen being joggled home to roost, after losing sixpence and her temper at piquet? But what's to prevent me beguiling6 myself for a bit by dreaming of some lovely young female coming to visit me in me misfortune? Sure it's the rats those fellows are, that not one of them would keep me company to-night! There's nobody like your dear friends for smelling out an empty purse. Musha!" said Mr. O'Hara, putting his head out of the window, "if the blessed ould chair isn't stopping at me own door!"
A bell pealing7 through the house confirmed his observation.
"It's a woman! By the powers, it's a woman! Tim, Tim, ye devil!" roared Mr. O'Hara, "come to me this minute, or I'll brain ye."
Conscious of his invalid8 negligé, he rose in his chair; but, curiosity proving stronger than decorum, was unable to tear himself from his post of vantage at the window.
"Oh! the doaty little foot!" he cried in rapture9, as arched pink-silk instep and a brocade slipper10 of daintiest proportion emerged, in a little cloud of lace, from the dim recesses11 of the chair, upon his delighted vision.
He turned for a moment to bellow12 again into the room:
"Tim, you limb of Satan, where are you at all? Sure, I'm not fit to be seen by any lady, let alone such a foot as that!"
When he popped his head once more through the window, only the chairmen occupied the street.
"It's for the ground floor, of course; for the French marquis," said O'Hara, and sat down, feeling as flat as a pancake.
The next instant a knock at the door sent the quick blood flying to the red head. The "limb of Satan," more generally known as Tim Mahoney, an ingratiating, untidy fellow, with a cunning leer and a coaxing14 manner, stood ogling15 his master on the threshold; then he jerked with his thumb several times over his shoulder, and grinned with exquisite16 enjoyment17.
"What is it?" said O'Hara fiercely.
Tim winked18, and jerked his thumb once more.
"Speak, ye ugly divil, or by heavens I'll spoil your beauty for you!"
"Your sisther!" cried Tim, with a rumbling19 subterraneous laugh.
"Me sisther, man?"
"Ay, yer honour," said the scamp, who, as O'Hara's foster-brother, was well aware that his master boasted no such gentle tie. "Sure she's heard your honour's wounded, and she's come to visit you. 'I'm Misther O'Hara's sister,' says she——"
"And am I not?" cried a sweet voice behind him, "or, if not, at least a very, very dear cousin, and, in any case, I must see Mr. O'Hara at once, and alone."
"To be sure," cried O'Hara, eagerly rising in every way to the situation, and leaping forward. "Show in the lady, you villain20!—Oh, my darling!" cried the Irishman, opening generous arms, "but I am glad to see ye!—Tim, you scoundrel, shut the door behind you!"
The visitor was much enveloped21, besides being masked. But there was not a moment's hesitation22 in the ardour of Mr. O'Hara's welcome.
"Sir, sir!" cried a faint voice from behind the folds of lace, "what conduct is this?"
"Oh, sisther darling, sure, me heart's been hungering for you! Another kiss, me dear, dear cousin!"
"Mr. O'Hara!" cried Mistress Bellairs, in tones of unmistakable indignation; tore off her mask, and stood with panting bosom23 and fiery24 eye.
"Tare25 and ages!" exclaimed the ingenuous26 Irishman. "If it isn't me lovely Kitty!"
"Mistress Bellairs, if you please, Mr. O'Hara," said the lady with great dignity. "I am glad to see, sir, that that other passion of which I have heard so much has not interfered27 with the strength of your family affections."
She sat down, and fanned herself with her mask, and, looking haughtily28 round the room, finally fixed29 her gaze, with much interest, upon the left branch of the chandelier.
For a second, Mr. O'Hara's glib30 tongue seemed at a loss; but it was only for a second. With a graceful31 movement he gathered the skirts of his fine-flowered damask dressing-gown more closely over the puce satin small clothes, which, he was sadly conscious, were not in their first freshness, besides bearing the trace of one over-generous bumper32 of what he was fond of calling the ruby-wine. Then, sinking on one knee, he began to pour a tender tale into the widow's averted33 ear.
"And it's the fine ninny ye must think me, Kitty darling—I beg your pardon, darling; ma'am it shall be, though I vow34 to see ye toss your little head like that, and set all those elegant little curls dancing, is enough to make anyone want to start you at it again. Oh, sure, it's the divine little ear you have, but, be jabers, Kitty, if it's the back of your neck you want to turn on me—there now, if I was to be shot for it, I couldn't help it—with the little place there just inviting35 my lips."
"Keep your kisses for your sister, sir, or your cousin!"
"What in the world—— And d'ye think I didn't know you?"
"A likely tale!"
"May I die this minute if I didn't know you before ever you were out of the ould chair!"
"Pray, sir," with an angry titter, "how will even your fertile wits prove that?"
"Sure, didn't I see the little pink foot of you step out, and didn't I know it before ever it reached the ground?"
"Lord forgive you!" said Mistress Kitty gravely. But a dimple peeped.
He had now possessed36 himself of her hand, which he was caressing37 with the touch of the tentative lover, tenderer than a woman's, full of mute cajoling inquiry38.
"I hope the Lord may forgive me for setting up and worshipping an idol39. I believe there's something against that in the commandments, darling, but sure, maybe, old Moses wouldn't have been so hard on those Israelites if they'd had the gumption40 to raise a pretty woman in the midst of them, instead of an old gilt41 Calf42."
At this word, Mistress Kitty gave a perceptible start.
"Oh, dear," said she, "never, never speak to me of that dreadful animal again! Oh, Denis," she said, turning upon him for the first time her full eyes, as melting and as pathetic just then as it was in their composition to look, "I am in sad, sad trouble, and I don't know what to do!"
Here she produced a delicate handkerchief, and applied43 it to her eyelashes, which she almost believed herself had become quite moist.
"Me jewel!" cried Mr. O'Hara, preparing to administer the first form of consolation44 that occurred to him.
"Be quiet," said Mistress Kitty testily45. "Get up, sir! I have to consult you. There, there, sit down. Oh, I am in earnest, and this is truly serious."
Mr. O'Hara, though with some reluctance46, obeyed. He drew his chair as near to the widow's as she would permit him, and pursed his lips into gravity.
"You know my Lord Verney," began the fascinating widow.
"I do," interrupted the irrepressible Irishman, "and a decent quiet lad he is, though, devil take him, he makes so many bones about losing a few guineas at cards that one would think they grew on his skin!"
"Hush," said she. "I can't abide47 him!"
Mr. O'Hara half started from his armchair.
"Say but the word," said he, "and I'll run him through the ribs48 as neat as——"
"Oh, be quiet," cried the lady, in much exasperation49. "How can you talk like that when all the world knows he is to be my husband!"
"Your husband!" Mr. O'Hara turned an angry crimson50 to the roots of his crisp red hair. Then he stopped, suffocating51.
"But I don't want to marry him, you gaby," cried Mistress Kitty, with a charming smile.
Her lover turned white, and leaned back against the wing of his great chair. The physician had blooded him that morning by way of mending him for his loss of the previous night, and he felt just a little shaky and swimming. Mistress Kitty's eye became ever more kindly52 as it marked those flattering signs of emotion.
"The noodle," said she vindictively53, "mistook the purport54 of some merely civil words, and forthwith went about bleating55 to all Bath that he and I were to be wed56."
"I'll soon stop his mouth for him," muttered Mr. O'Hara, moved to less refinement57 of diction than he usually affected58. "Oh, Kitty," said he, and wiped his pale brow, "sure, it's the terrible fright you've given me!"
Here Mistress Bellairs became suddenly and inexplicably59 agitated60.
"You don't understand," said she, and stamped her foot. "Oh, how can I explain? How are people so stupid! I was obliged to go to his rooms this morning—a pure matter of friendship, sir, on behalf of my Lady Standish. Who would have conceived that the calf would take it for himself and think it was for his sake I interfered between him and that madman, Sir Jasper! 'Tis very hard," cried Mistress Kitty, "for a lone13 woman to escape calumny61, and now there is my Lord Verney, after braying62 it to the whole of Bath, this moment writing to his insufferable old mother. And there is that cockatoo aunt of his looking out her most ancient set of garnets and strass for a wedding-gift. And, oh dear, oh dear; what am I to do?"
She turned over the back of her chair, to hide her face in her pocket-handkerchief. In a twinkling, O'Hara was again at her feet.
"Soul of my soul, pulse of my heart!" cried he. "Sure, don't cry, Kitty darling, I'll clear that little fellow out of your way before you know where you are."
"Indeed, sir," she said, flashing round upon him with a glance surprisingly bright, considering her woe63. "And is that how you would save my reputation? No, I see there's nothing for it," said Mistress Kitty with sudden composure, folding up her handkerchief deliberately64, and gazing up again at the chandelier with the air of an early martyr65, "there's nothing for it but to pay the penalty of my good-nature and go live at Verney Hall between my virtuous66 Lord Verney and that paragon67 of female excellence68 and domestic piety69, his mother."
"Now, by Saint Peter," cried O'Hara, springing to his feet, "if I have to whip you from under his nose at the very altar, and carry you away myself, I'll save you from that, me darling!"
"Say you so?" cried the lady with alacrity70. "Then, indeed, sir," she proceeded with sweetest coyness, and pointed71 her dimple at him, "I'll not deny but what I thought you could help me, when I sought you to-night. There was a letter, sir," she said, "which yester morning I received. 'Twas signed by a lock of hair——"
"Ah, Kitty!" cried the enraptured72 and adoring Irishman, once more extending wide his arms.
"Softly, sir," said she, eluding73 him. "Let us to business."
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1
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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5
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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6
beguiling
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| adj.欺骗的，诱人的v.欺骗( beguile的现在分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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8
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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10
slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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12
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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14
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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15
ogling
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的现在分词 ) | |
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16
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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17
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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18
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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19
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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20
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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21
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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23
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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24
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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tare
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| n.皮重；v.量皮重 | |
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26
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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28
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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29
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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30
glib
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| adj.圆滑的，油嘴滑舌的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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32
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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33
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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34
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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36
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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37
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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38
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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39
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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40
gumption
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| n.才干 | |
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41
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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42
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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43
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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44
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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45
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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46
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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47
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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48
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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49
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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50
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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51
suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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52
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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53
vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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54
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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55
bleating
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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56
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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57
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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inexplicably
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| adv.无法说明地，难以理解地，令人难以理解的是 | |
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60
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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61
calumny
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| n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤 | |
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62
braying
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| v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的现在分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
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63
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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64
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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66
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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67
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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68
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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69
piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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70
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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71
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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72
enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
eluding
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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