"It is like poking1 a little frightened animal out of its hole, trying to get anything from her!" said Minnie, impatiently.
Not that Rhoda's reticence2 was wholly due to timidity. She knew instinctively3 that she was to be warned against giving her heart to Algernon Errington; that she should hear him blamed; or, at least, that the unreasonableness4 of trusting in his promises, or taking his boyish love-making in serious earnest, would be safely set forth5 by Miss Bodkin. Rhoda had not perceived any of the wise things which might be said against her attachment6 to Algernon in the beginning, but now she thought she perceived them all. And she was resolved, with a sort of timid obstinacy7, not to listen to them.
"I'm sure Algy's fond of me. And even if he has changed"—the supposition brought tears into her eyes as the words framed themselves in her mind—"I don't want to have him spoken unkindly of."
But, in truth, latterly her hopes had been out-weighing her fears. In most of his letters to his mother Algernon had spoken of her, and had sent her his love. He was making friends, and looking forward hopefully to getting some definite position. Even her father spoke8 well of Algernon now;—said how clever he was, and what grand acquaintance he was making, and how sure he would be to succeed. And once or twice her father had dropped a word which had set Rhoda's heart beating, and made the colour rush into her face, for it seemed as if the old man had some idea of her love for Algy, and approved it! All these circumstances together made Minnie's task of mentor9 a rather hopeless one.
And then Minnie herself, although, as has been said, loyally anxious to fulfil her promise to David Powell, began to think that he had overrated the importance of interfering10 with Rhoda's love-story if love-story it were. Powell lived in a state of exalted11 and, perhaps, overstrained feeling, and attributed his own earnestness to slighter natures. Of course, on the side of worldly wisdom there was much to be said against Rhoda's fancying herself engaged to Algernon Errington. There was much to be said; and yet Minnie did not feel quite sure that the idea was so preposterous12 as Powell had appeared to think it. True, Mrs. Errington was vain, and worldly, and ambitious for her son. True, Algernon was volatile13, selfish, and little more than twenty years of age. But still there was one solid fact to be taken into account, which, Minnie thought, might be made to outweigh14 all the obstacles to a marriage between the two young people—the solid fact, namely, of old Maxfield's money.
"If Algernon married a wife with a good dower, and if the wife were as pretty, as graceful15, and as well-mannered as Rhoda, I do not suppose that anybody would concern himself particularly with her pedigree," thought Minnie. "And even if any one did, that difficulty would not be insuperable, for I have no knowledge of Mrs. Errington, if within three months of the wedding she had not invented a genealogy16, only second to her own, for her son's wife, and persuaded herself of its genuineness into the bargain!"
As to those other convictions which would have made such a marriage horrible to David Powell, even had it been made with the hearty17 approval of all the godless world, Minnie did not share them. She did not believe that Rhoda's character had any spiritual depth; and she thought it likely enough that she would be able to make Algernon happy, and to be happy as his wife. "Algy is not base, or cruel, or vicious," she said to herself. "He has merely the faults of a spoiled child. A woman with more earnestness than Rhoda has would weary him; and a wiser woman might, in the long run, be wearied by him. She is pretty, and sufficiently19 intelligent to make a good audience, and so humble20-minded that she would never be exacting21, but would gratefully accept any scraps22 of kindness and affection which Algy might feel inclined to bestow23 on her. And that would react upon him, and make him bestow bigger scraps for the pleasure of being adored for his generosity24."
And there were times when she felt very angry with Rhoda;—Rhoda, who turned away from the better to choose the worse, and who was coldly insensible to the fact that Matthew Diamond was in love with her. Nay25, had she been cognisant of the fact, she would, Minnie felt sure, have shrank away from the grave, clever gentleman who, as it was, could win nothing warmer from her than a sort of submissive endurance of his presence, and a humble acknowledgment that he was very kind to take notice of an ignorant little thing like her.
It was with strangely mingled26 feelings that Minnie, watching day by day from her sofa or easy-chair, perceived the girl's utter indifference27 to Diamond. How much would Minnie have given for one of those rare sweet smiles to beam upon her, which were wasted on Rhoda's pretty, shy, downcast face! How happy it would have made her to hear those clear, incisive28 tones lowered into soft indistinctness for her ears, as they so often were for Rhoda's, who would look timid and tired, and answer, "Yes, sir," and "No, sir," until Minnie's nervous sympathy with Diamond's disappointment, and irritation29 against him for being disappointed, grew almost beyond her own control.
One May evening, when the cuckoo was sending his voice across the purling Whit30 from distant Pudcombe Woods, and the hyacinths in Minnie's special flower-stand were pouring out their silent even-song in waves of perfume, five persons were sitting in Mrs. Bodkin's drawing-room, the windows of which looked towards the west. They were listening to the cuckoo, and smelling the sweet breath of the hyacinths, and gazing at the rosy31 sky, and dropping now and then a soft word, which seemed to enhance the sweetness and the silence of the room. The five persons were Minnie Bodkin, Rhoda Maxfield, Matthew Diamond, Mr. Warlock (the curate of St. Chad's), and Miss Chubb. The latter was embroidering32 something in Berlin wools, as usual; but the peace of the place, and of the hour, seemed to have fallen on her, as on the rest, and she sat with her work in her lap, looking across the stand of hyacinths, very still and quiet.
The Reverend Peter also sat looking silently across the hyacinths, but it was at the owner. Minnie's cheek rested on her thin white hand, and her lustrous33 eyes had a far-away look in them, as they gazed out towards Pudcombe Woods, where the cuckoo was calling his poet-loved syllables34 with a sweet, clear tone, that seemed to have gathered all the spirit of the spring into one woodland voice.
Rhoda sat beside the window, and was sewing very gently and noiselessly, but seemingly intent upon her work, and unconscious that the eyes of Mr. Diamond—who was seated close to Minnie's chair—were fixed35 upon her, and that in some vague way he was attributing to her the perfume of the flowers, and the melancholy-sweet note of the bird, and the melted rubies36 of the western sky.
"What a sunset!" said Miss Chubb, breaking the silence. But she spoke almost in a whisper, and her voice did not startle any ear. Mr. Warlock, habituated to suppress his feelings and adapt his words to those of his company, answered, after a little pause, "Lovely indeed! It is an evening to awaken37 the sensibilities of a feeling heart."
"It makes me think of Manchester Square. We had some hyacinths in pots, too, I remember, when I was staying with the Bishop38 of Plumbunn."
Miss Chubb's odd association of ideas was merely due to the fact that her thoughts were flying back to the rose-garden of youth.
"Do you not like to hear the cuckoo, Miss Bodkin?" said Diamond, softly, speaking almost in her ear. She started, and turned her head towards him.
"Yes; no. I like it, although it makes me sad. I like it because it makes me sad perhaps."
"All sights, and sounds, and scents39 seem to me to be combined this evening into something sweeter than words can say."
"It is a fine evening, and the cuckoo is calling from Pudcombe Woods, and my hyacinths are of a very good sort. It seems to me that words can manage to say that much with distinctness!"
"What a pity," thought Diamond, "that head overshadows heart in this attractive woman! She is too keen, too cool, too critical. A woman without softness and sentiment is an unpleasant phenomenon. And I think she has grown harder in her manner than she used to be." Then the reflection crossed his mind that her health had been more frail40 and uncertain than usual of late, and that she bore much physical suffering with high courage; and the little prick41 of resentment42 he had begun to feel was at once mollified. He answered aloud, with a slow smile, "Why, yes, words may manage to say all that. I wonder if I may ask you a question? It is one I have long wished to ask."
"You may, certainly."
"There are questions that should not be asked."
"I will trust you not to ask any such."
"Now when she looks and speaks like that, she is adorable!" thought Diamond, meeting the soft light of Minnie's lovely, pathetic eyes, which fell immediately before his own. "I wish I might have you for a friend, Miss Bodkin," he said.
"I think you have your wish. I thought you knew you had it."
"Ah, yes; you are always good, and kind, and—and—but you—I will make a clean breast of it, and pay you the compliment of telling you the truth. I have thought latterly that you were hardly so cordial, so frank in your kindness to me as you once were. It would matter nothing to me in another person, but in you, a little shade of manner matters a great deal. I don't believe there is another human being to whom I would say so much. For I am—as perhaps you know—a man little given to thrust myself where I am not welcome."
"You are about the proudest and most distant person I ever knew, and require to be very obviously implored43 before you condescend44 to easy friendship with anyone."
Minnie laughed, as she spoke, a little low rippling45 laugh, which she ended with a forced cough, to hide the sob46 in her throat.
"No; not proud. You misjudge me; but it is true that I dread47, almost more than anything else, being deemed intrusive48."
"If that fear has prevented you from putting the question to which you have so long desired an answer, pray ask it forthwith."
"I think it has almost answered itself," said Diamond, bending over her, and turning his chair so as to cut her and himself off still more from the others. "I was going to ask you if I had unwittingly offended you in any way, or if my frequent presence here were, for any reason, irksome to you? It might well be so. And if you would say so candidly49, believe me, I should feel not the smallest resentment. Sorrow I should feel. I can't deny it; but I should not cease to regard you as I have always regarded you from the beginning of our acquaintance. How highly that is, I have not the gift to tell; nor do you love the direct, broadly-spoken praise that sounds like flattery, be it ever so sincere."
"No; please don't praise me," said Minnie, huskily. She was shadowed by his figure as he sat beside her, and so he did not see the tears that quivered in her eyes. After a second or two, during which she had passed her handkerchief quickly, almost stealthily, across her face, she said, "But your question, you say, has answered itself."
"I hope so; I hope I may believe that there is nothing wrong between us."
"Nothing."
"I have not offended you in any way!"
"No."
"Nor unwittingly hurt you? I daresay I am awkward and abrupt50 sometimes."
"Pray believe that I have nothing in the world to blame you for."
"Thank you. I know you speak sincerely. Your friendship is very precious to me."
She answered nothing, but hesitatingly put out her hand, which he grasped for an instant, and would have raised to his lips, but that she drew it suddenly away, murmuring something about her cushions being awry52, and trying tremblingly to rearrange them.
He moved the cushions that supported her shoulders with a tender, careful touch, and placed them so that her posture53 in the lounging-chair might be easier. She clasped her hands together and laid her head back wearily.
"You don't know how precious your friendship is to me," he went on lowering his voice still more. "I never had a sister. But I have often thought how sweet the companionship of a sister must be. I am very much alone in the world; and, if I dared, I would speak to you with fraternal confidence."
"Pray speak so," answered Minnie, almost in a whisper. "I should like—to be—of some comfort to you."
There was a silence. It was scarcely broken by Miss Chubb's murmured remark to Mr. Warlock, that the moon was beginning to make a ring of light behind the poplar trees on the other side of the Whit, like the halo round the head of a saint. The twilight54 deepened, Rhoda's fingers ceased to ply55 the needle, but she remained at the window looking over at the moonlit poplars, while Miss Chubb's voice softly droned out some rambling56 speech, which jarred no more on the quietude of the hour than did the ripple57 of the river.
"You have been so good to her!" said Diamond suddenly, under cover of this murmur51; and then paused for a moment as if awaiting a reply. Minnie did not speak. Presently he went on. "You know her and understand her better than any of the people here."
"I think every one likes Rhoda," said Minnie at length.
"Yes," Diamond answered eagerly. "Yes; do they not? But it requires the delicate tact58 of a refined woman to overcome her shyness. I never saw so timid a creature. Has it not struck you as strange that she should have come out from that vulgar home so entirely59 free from vulgarity?"
"Rhoda has great natural refinement60."
"You appreciate her thoroughly61. And, then, the repulsive62 and ludicrous side of Methodism has not touched her at all. It is marvellous to me to see her so perfect in grace and sweetness."
"I do not think that Methodism has ever taken deep hold on Rhoda."
"And yet it is strange that it should be so. She was exposed to the influence of David Powell. And, although he has fine qualities, he is ignorant and fanatical."
"His ignorance and fanaticism63 are mere18 spots on the sun!" cried Minnie. And now, as she spoke, her voice was stronger, and she raised her head from the cushion. "In his presence the Scripture64 phrase, 'A burning and a shining light,' kept recurring65 to me. How poor and dark one's little selfish self seems beside him!"
Diamond slightly raised his eyebrows66 as he answered, "Powell has undoubtedly67 very genuine enthusiasm and fervour. But he might be a dangerous guide to undisciplined minds."
"He would sacrifice himself, he does sacrifice himself, for undisciplined and ungrateful minds, with whom, I own, my egotism could not bear so patiently."
But it was not of Powell that Matthew Diamond wished to speak now. Under the softening68 influences of the twilight, and the unaccustomed charm of pouring out the fulness of his heart to such a confidante as Minnie, he could talk of nothing but Rhoda.
"Perhaps I am a fool to keep singeing69 my wings," he said. "It may be all in vain. But don't you believe that a strong and genuine love is almost sure to win a woman's heart, provided the woman's heart is free to be won?"
"Perhaps—provided——"
"And you do not think hers is free?"
"How can I answer you?"
"I know that Powell thought there was some one trifling70 with her affections. It was on that subject that he begged for the interview with you. I have never asked any questions about that interview, but I have guessed since, from many little signs and tokens, that the person he had in his mind was young Errington."
"Yes."
"Then the matter cannot be serious. He was little more than a boy when he left Whitford."
"But Rhoda was turned nineteen when Algernon went away."
Diamond started eagerly forward, with his hand on the arm of the chair, and fixing his eyes anxiously on her face, said:
"Minnie, tell me the truth! Do you think she cares for him?"
It was the first time he had ever addressed Minnie by her Christian-name; and she marked the fact with a chilly71 feeling at the heart. "You ask for the truth?" she said, sadly. "Yes; I do think so."
Diamond leant his head on his hand for a minute in silence. Then he raised his face again and answered, "Thank you for answering with sincerity72. But I knew you would do no otherwise. This feeling for Algernon must be half made up of childish memories. I cannot believe it is an earnest sentiment that will endure."
"Nothing endures."
"If I know myself at all, my love will endure. I am a resolute73 man, and do not much regard external obstacles. The only essential point is, can she ever be brought to care for me?"
There was a pause.
"Do you think she might—some day?"
"Is that the only essential point?"
"Yes; to me it is so. I do believe that it would be for her happiness to care for me, rather than for that selfish young fellow."
"And—for your happiness——?"
"Oh, of that I am not doubtful at all!"
"There's the moon above the poplar trees!" cried Miss Chubb. And as she spoke a silver beam stole into the room and lighted one or two faces, leaving the others in shadow. Amongst the faces so illuminated74 was Minnie Bodkin's. "Did you ever see anything so beautiful as Minnie's countenance75 in the moonlight?" whispered Miss Chubb to the curate. "She looks like a spirit!"
Poor Mr. Warlock sighed. He had been envying Diamond his long confidential76 conversation with the doctor's daughter. "She is always beautiful," he replied. "But I think she looks unusually sad to-night."
"That's the moon, my dear sir! Bless you, it always gives a pensive77 expression to the eyes; always!" And Miss Chubb cast her own eyes upwards78 towards the sky as she spoke.
"Dear me, you have no lamp here!" said a voice, which, though mellow79 and musical in quality, was too loud and out of harmony with the twilight mood of the occupants of the drawing-room to be pleasant.
"Is not that silver lamp aloft there sufficient, Mrs. Errington?" asked Diamond.
"Oh, good evening, Mr. Diamond," returned Mrs. Errington, with perhaps an extra tone of condescension80, for she thought in her heart that the tutor was a little spoiled in Whitford society. "I can hardly make out who's who. Oh, there's Miss Chubb and Mr. Warlock, and—oh, is that you, Rhoda? Well, Minnie, I left your mamma giving the doctor his tea in the study, and she sent me upstairs. And, if you have no objection, I should like the lamp lit, for I am going to read you a letter from Algy."
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1
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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unreasonableness
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| 无理性； 横逆 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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8
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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mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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outweigh
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| vt.比...更重，...更重要 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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genealogy
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| n.家系，宗谱 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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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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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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incisive
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| adj.敏锐的，机敏的，锋利的，切入的 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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embroidering
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| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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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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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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47
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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intrusive
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| adj.打搅的；侵扰的 | |
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candidly
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| adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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51
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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52
awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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53
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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54
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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55
ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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56
rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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57
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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58
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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59
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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60
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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61
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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62
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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63
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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64
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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65
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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66
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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67
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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68
softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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69
singeing
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的现在分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿]；烧毛 | |
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70
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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71
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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72
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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74
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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75
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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78
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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