"We find the temperature so comfortable here!" said Violet. "Dear Castalia always has her rooms deliciously warm, we think."
"Perhaps, Violet, you are chilly5 by nature. Some constitutions are so. For myself, I have a wonderful circulation. But it is hereditary6. All my branch of the Ancrams were renowned7 for it. I don't know, my dear Castalia, whether my cousin, Lady Seely, has the same peculiarity8?"
"I don't know, I'm sure."
"With us it was a well-known thing among the Faculty10 for miles around Ancram Park. Our extremities11 were never cold, nor had we ever red noses. I believe a red nose was absolutely unknown in our family. No doubt that was part of the same thing; perfect circulation of the blood."
With that Mrs. Errington sat down tolerably near the fire and made herself comfortable. "Where is my dear boy?" she asked after a little while. "Not at that dreadful office I hope and trust!"
"He is at home," replied Castalia, slowly. "I asked him to come into the drawing-room, and he said he would by-and-by."
"Oh, I daresay he will come now, dear," said Rose McDougall, without raising her eyes from her sewing.
"Well, my dear," said Mrs. Errington to her daughter-in-law, "and if he does come 'now' you must not be jealous."
The two sisters glanced at the good lady in quick surprise, and then at Rhoda. Rhoda was looking, for the hundredth time, at a book of prints. It was her usual evening's occupation at Ivy12 Lodge13. Mrs. Errington proceeded, placid14, smiling, and condescending15 as ever: "You must not be jealous, Castalia, if he does come directly he learns that his mother is here. To be sure a wife ranks first. I have always acknowledged that; and, indeed, insisted on it. I am sure it was my own case with poor dear Dr. Errington, who would never have dreamed of putting any human being into competition with me. Still, allowances must be made for the very peculiar9 and devoted16 attachment17 Algy has always felt for me. He is, and ever was, an Ancram to the core. And this kind of—one may say romantic—affection for their mothers has always distinguished18 the scions19 of our house from time immemorial. Good evening, my dear Algy. I find our dear Castalia looking a little worn and ill, and I tell her she keeps her rooms too hot. What do you say?"
Algernon had sauntered into the room during his mother's harangue20, delivered in the full mellow21 voice that belonged to her, and now bent22 to kiss the worthy23 lady's cheek as he greeted her. It was a cool, firm, rosy24 cheek. Indeed, Mrs. Errington's freshness and bloom were in singular opposition25 to Castalia's sallow haggardness, and made the elder lady look doubly buxom26 and buoyant by the force of contrast.
"You're flourishing, at all events, chère madame," said Algernon, looking at his mother with unfeigned satisfaction. It was a relief to him to see a contented27, smiling, comfortable countenance28. Nevertheless, although agreeable to look upon, Mrs. Errington was apt to become a little wearisome in point of conversation, and her dutiful son cast his eyes round the circle in search of a pleasant seat wherein to bestow29 himself. But his glance met no response. Rose McDougall had drawn30 near his wife, and after very stiffly returning his bow, had ceased to take any notice of him, markedly avoiding his eye, and keeping silence after he had spoken. Violet was divided between listening to the elder Mrs. Errington and watching her sister. Castalia was more lazy, more silent, more indifferent than usual. Algernon was as unaccustomed as a spoiled child to be taken no notice of. He to stand among those women as a person of secondary importance, not greeted, not flattered, not smiled upon!
He looked across the group round the fire to Rhoda, who happened to raise her eyes at that moment, and being taken by surprise at meeting his, dropped them hastily, with a vivid blush. Rhoda's blushes were as unmeaning as the smiles of an infant. The most trivial cause made her change colour, as Algernon very well knew. But at least the soft bright pink hue on pretty Rhoda's cheek showed some emotion, however slight or transient, at the sight of him. And, moved partly by a boyish, pettish32 resentment33 against the others, partly by the desire to hear a pleasant voice and pleasant words, and look upon a pretty woman's face with its delicate contour and fine subtle changes of tint34, he walked across the room and seated himself beside Rhoda Maxfield.
Castalia pushed her chair back out of the lamplight. "You can't see to do your purse in that dark corner, Castalia," exclaimed Mrs. Errington.
"I don't want to do my purse. I'm sick of it."
"Naughty, fickle35 girl!" This was said playfully. Then in a loud whisper, addressed to the McDougalls as well as to her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Errington exclaimed, "Doesn't Rhoda look charming to-night? That pale lilac is the very colour for her. Trying to skins that have the least tinge36 of yellow in them, but she is so wonderfully fair! Dear me, it reminds one of old times to see those two side by side. As children they were always together."
No one responded. Violet McDougall fidgeted nervously37 on her chair and cast an appealing look at her sister. She would have tried to lead Mrs. Errington to talk of something else had she dared, but in Rose's presence Violet never ventured to take the initiative; and, besides, she was afraid of doing more harm than good, Mrs. Errington not being one of those persons who take a hint easily. The silence of her three listeners was no check to the worthy lady's eloquence38. She continued to descant39 on Rhoda's attractions, and graces, and good manners; she dropped hints of the excellent opportunities Rhoda now had of "settling in life," only that she was a little fastidious from long association with such refined persons as the Erringtons, and had turned the cold shoulder to several well-to-do wooers in her own rank of life; she related anecdotes40 of Rhoda's early devotion to herself and her son, until Violet McDougall muttered under her breath, in a paroxysm of nervous impatience41, "One would think the woman was doing it on purpose!"
Meanwhile Algernon was talking to Rhoda more freely and confidentially42 than he had spoken to her for a long, long time. He was indulging in the luxury of playing victim before a spectator whose pity would certainly be admiring, not contemptuous. And, as he spoke31, the old habit of appealing to Rhoda, and confiding43 in Rhoda, and taking Rhoda's sympathy for granted, resumed its power over him. There was no strain of tenderness in his words. He said not a syllable44 that his wife and all the world might not freely have listened to. He talked as a petted boy might talk to an idolising sister—with a mixture of boastfulness and repining, which he would have been ashamed to display to a man.
Rhoda listened with sorrowful interest. How could it be that Algernon should have to endure all these troubles and mortifications? He was so clever, so accomplished45, so highly connected, had such great and powerful relations! It appeared natural enough that folks like Mrs. Thimbleby, and the Gladwishes, and even her brother Seth, should sometimes be pressed for money. She herself, although she had never known privation in her father's house, had, until within the last year or so, been accustomed to the most rigid46 economy—not to say parsimony—and it had never cost her a care. But that Algernon Errington should desire money for various purposes, and not be able to get it, seemed to her a very hard case.
But Algernon's note was not all of complaint. There were occasional intervals47 in which he spoke of the brightness of his prospects48 ultimately, when once he should have tided over his present difficulties and had got out of Whitford. And there were a few flourishes about his social successes in town last year. In the indulgence of his all-absorbing egotism, he seemed to forget that the girl beside him had ever been—or had ever had either expectation or right to be—anything more to him than the patient, admiring, sisterly, humble49 confidante on whom he had relied for praise and sympathy from the time of his earliest recollections, and who supplied him with the most delicious food for his vanity, because unmingled with any doubt of its genuineness. No thought of her feelings (save that they were kindly50 and admiring towards himself) crossed his mind whilst he talked to her, bending down his head and gesticulating slightly with his white, handsome hands.
But when his mother called to her, "Come, Rhoda, I think, we must be going; I heard the carriage at the gate, child. You and Algy have been having a famous long chat! Reminded you of old times, didn't it?"
When I say Algernon heard these words, a spark of manhood made his cheeks tingle51 and his tongue stammer52 as he said, "I—I'm afraid I must have been—boring you dreadfully, Rhoda?"
In truth he was surprised to find that he had spent the whole evening in talking to Rhoda about himself. He glanced quickly at his wife, but she was occupied with the Misses McDougall. So occupied was she that she hardly returned Mrs. Errington's "Good night," which negligence53, however, little ruffled54 that lady's equanimity55. But when Rhoda approached to take leave of Castalia, the latter moved aside so suddenly that the movement might almost be called a start, and facing round, came opposite to her own image in the mirror above the chimney-piece, with Rhoda's fair image looking over its shoulder.
For one second, perhaps—it could scarcely have been more—the smooth surface of the glass gave back the two women's faces: one youthful, lily-hued, innocently surprised, with chestnut56 eyebrows57 and shining chestnut curls, and tender rosy lips parted like those of a child; the other yellow, worn full of fretful creases58, with glittering eager eyes, and a thin mouth set into a straight line, and yet over all the undefinable pathos59 of a suffering spirit; behind the two, Algernon looking into his wife's dark eyes and recognising something there that he had never seen in them before.
In no longer time than it would take for a breath to dim the mirror all these images were gone, and the cold shiny glass indifferently showed a confusion of cloaks and shoulders and the back of a huge bonnet60 crowning Mrs. Errington's majestic61 figure.
From that day forth62 Castalia gave herself up to a devouring63 jealousy64 of Rhoda. She spied her goings and comings; she watched her husband's face when the girl was spoken of; she opened the letters that she found in the pockets of his clothes; she lay in wait to surprise some proof, no matter what, of a tender feeling on his part for his old love. In a word, she pursued her own misery65 with more eagerness, vigilance, and unflagging singleness of purpose than most people devote to the attainment66 of any object whatsoever67.
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1
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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12
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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14
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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16
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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18
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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19
scions
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| n.接穗，幼枝( scion的名词复数 )；（尤指富家）子孙 | |
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20
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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21
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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23
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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buxom
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| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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28
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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30
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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31
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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32
pettish
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| adj.易怒的，使性子的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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34
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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35
fickle
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| adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的 | |
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36
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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37
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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38
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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39
descant
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| v.详论，絮说；n.高音部 | |
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40
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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41
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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42
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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43
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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44
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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45
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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46
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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47
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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48
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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49
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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50
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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51
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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52
stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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53
negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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54
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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55
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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56
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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57
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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58
creases
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
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59
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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60
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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61
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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62
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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63
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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64
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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65
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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66
attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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67
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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