This year several of Ernest’s brother officers were to have been invited, but Major Diggle man?uvred so cleverly that none of them were asked but himself. He had his own reasons for keeping men away from the Hall. He was not afraid of rivals, of course—who among the Duke’s Own was[149] there to compete with him? Still they might inadvertently interfere4 with his little game; and he preferred, at least for the present, to have the field all to himself.
Major Cavendish-Diggle was much appreciated at the Hall. Lady Farrington, a foolish, inconsequent woman, who was entirely5 wrapped up in Ernest, her only son, received the Major almost with effusion. He had been, oh, so kind to Ernest! She knew it; it was no use his disclaiming6 it, and she was deeply grateful to him.
‘Ith thutch a trial joining a regiment7; everything tho thrange, and Erney tho young, tho inexperienced; he would have been mitherable, quite mitherable, but for you.’
Lady Farrington was a large fair woman; so fair as to be almost colourless. Her manner was not without distinction, and[150] would have been impressive but for the vapidity8 of her remarks, and a trick of utterance9 due, seemingly, to her having too many teeth in her mouth, which robbed her words of anything like expression, and sometimes made them unintelligible10. Ernest, her son, greatly took after her. He was tall, but rather shambling in gait, and still excessively thin. In voice and manner of speech he reproduced Lady Farrington exactly. His mouth also seemed full of hot potatoes, or too full of teeth; and as he had a trick of keeping it constantly open, as though to cool the potatoes, or air his teeth, his general expression was vacuous11 in the extreme. A rather full lower lip and a very receding12 chin did not add to his personal charms. You gathered at once from his face and air that he was weak, irresolute13, easily led, and that he[151] might, if misled, slide soon into vicious ways.
But he had improved wonderfully since he had joined the Duke’s Own. They all said so. Even Sir Rupert, dark and undemonstrative as he was generally, thawed14 enough to say that he thought soldiering would make a man of Ernest—if anything would. Letitia, as Miss Farrington was called, and who in many respects resembled her father, changed her tone on seeing how much Ernest was changed for the better. Her attitude towards him had hitherto been one of patronage15 mixed with spite. Although outwardly she was very affectionate—in her heart she bore him a grudge16 because he was one of the sex commonly called superior to her own. She was the elder by three or four years; she had far more brains—‘not that that was surprising’—as[152] she said when she was more than usually venomous, seeing that Ernest had next to none. She was a Farrington, as was evident from her likeness17 to her father, while her brother was clearly a Burdakin, like his mother. Why should an absurd and monstrously19 unfair custom constitute him the heir and future head of the family, while she must be satisfied with what her father might choose to give her as a marriage portion or as a settlement for life? She had always bitterly resented the Salic law as it obtained in England with regard to the succession of estates and titles.
Letitia was, however, much more civil to Ernest now. There may be many subtle reasons for such sudden changes of demeanour. Major Cavendish-Diggle was perhaps not remotely connected with Letitia’s. He was Ernest’s bosom20 friend; what if he presently[153] developed into a friend and admirer of her own? Letitia was not exactly ill-favored, but she was certainly not a beauty in the strict sense of the term. Dark complexioned21 and thin lipped, but with a nose too sharp, and cheek bones too high, her face was not strikingly attractive to say the least of it; and the fact was being gradually borne in upon her, as she grew on in years, by the slackness with which suitors sought her hand. Major Cavendish-Diggle was one of the first who showed better taste. Why should not men admire her? She had a neat well-proportioned figure. Her eyes were good, of the deep brown piercing order; her dark hair was abundant and rich. She was a good talker, had all the accomplishments22 of a well-educated young lady, and a large share of that indescribable air of good breeding, of that perfect ease in[154] manner and thorough savoir faire, which are only to be seen in women of good station—all of which Diggle felt would be extremely becoming in a colonel’s or general officer’s wife. If the thin lips and fierce eyes foretold23 a vixenish temper when thwarted24, or if the world went wrong with her, these were bad points still in embryo25, little likely to deter26 so matter of fact a wooer as Diggle from prosecuting27 his suit.
Not that he precipitated28 matters. He could see, with half an eye, that Miss Farrington accepted his attentions cheerfully enough; but he was very doubtful whether her parents would look upon him with equal favour. Indeed, Sir Rupert had more than once spoken in a way to damp Diggle’s hopes. The baronet held his head high. He evidently knew what was due to himself. Having passed his early years as a[155] struggling solicitor29, barely able to keep the wolf from his door, he was now very eloquent30 about mésalliances, and the proper maintenance of distinctions of class. The major’s heart misgave31 him, for reasons best known to himself, when he heard Sir Rupert inveighing32 against the annoyance33 of upstart tradesmen, who, on the strength of fortunes amassed34 by not too reputable business (so he said), aped the manners of their betters, and tried to push themselves forward into the front rank of society. This very visit to Farrington Hall, a crusty old county magnate to whom Diggle had been formally introduced, had remarked rather pointedly35 upon the major’s name.
‘Diggle, Diggle, I know the name. To be sure. Get my tea from Diggle’s. Devilish good tea too—no connection, major, eh?’
[156]
At which Major Cavendish-Diggle inwardly shuddered36, although he replied promptly37 enough.
‘Come and taste our champagne38 at Triggertown, Mr. Burkinshaw; it’s far better than the best tea in the world.’ Whereby the inconvenient39 question was for the moment satisfactorily shelved.
Diggle knew, therefore, that much circumspection40 would be necessary if he aspired41 to Letitia’s hand. All he could hope to gain was the girl’s good-will and co-operation, and this, by his assiduous, although diplomatically veiled attentions, he secured in due course.
Meanwhile he sought and entirely succeeded in making himself agreeable to all in the house. He talked ‘central fire’ with Sir Rupert, parochial business and district visiting with Lady Farrington, who pretended[157] to play the Dorcas in the parish; he discussed turnips42 and quarter sessions with the squires43 and local magnates, who thought that such matters comprised the whole duty of man; last of all, he played duets and danced with Miss Farrington after dinner, in a way she called, and really felt to be divine.
‘It does not bore you to dance?’ she asked him one evening.
‘And with you? No, indeed, and really I am passionately44 devoted45 to it.’
‘Some men now-a-days are so fine. They stand about the doors at a dance like farm servants at a fair waiting to be hired.’
‘That’s not the way with the Duke’s Own,’ said Diggle, laughing. ‘No idlers are allowed when we give a ball. You should see our youngsters dance; and we have a string band on purpose for dance music.’
[158]
‘Delightful! Do give us a ball, Major Diggle.’
‘With all my heart; when you like. You shall fix the day, and it shall be the finest Triggertown has ever seen.’
The subject was re-opened another day, when Diggle was not by.
‘Does it rest with him?’ incredulous Sir Rupert asked of Ernest. ‘What does your colonel say?’
‘Oh, Colonel Prioleau’s “not in it” compared to Major Cavendish. We always call him Major Cavendish, he likes it better. The Major’s the leading man in the regiment. He does just as he pleases. There’s nobody like him.’
And Ernest went off into p?ans of praise, expatiating46 upon Diggle’s innumerable good qualities with all the eloquence47 (it was not much) he could command.
[159]
But he did not exaggerate the Major’s influence in the regiment. The ball, which came off a month or so later, was on a scale of unprecedented48 splendour, mainly because Diggle had resolved that it should be so. He had taken the affair altogether into his own hands. It was he who insisted that the ices should come straight from Gunter’s, that there should be foie gras, plovers’ eggs, and fresh truffles at supper; it was he who had conceived the brilliant idea of placing silver-hooped barrels in the tea rooms, full of champagne constantly on tap. He had commissioned the best decorators in London to do up the ball rooms; one built, contiguous to the mess-house, a boudoir, intended for the sole use of ladies, which was furnished with ivory toilet appliances, and lined with amber49 satin throughout; another designed an artificial grotto50 filled with[160] blocks of real ice, which, as they melted, fed a number of fountains, whose waters fell in showers of sweet-scented spray; a third, entrusted51 with the floral decorations, grouped great masses of tropical plants, a wealth of rich variegated52 colours in the corridors, before the fireplaces, and in all the best points of view. There were two rooms for dancing; in one the inimitable string band of the Duke’s Own performed, in the other a detachment of Coote and Tinney’s was specially53 engaged.
‘Ith moth18 wontherful, thertainly,’ said Lady Farrington, in raptures54, as Diggle received her; and having presented her to quiet Mrs. Prioleau, who was in duty bound to do the honours, but who was utterly55 bored and worn out after the first five minutes, led her to a seat of state on a sort of dais at the top of the room.
[161]
‘Oh, Major Cavendish-Diggle!’ cried Letitia, ‘you have indeed achieved a most triumphant56 success. It’s like a scene in fairy-land. The flowers, and the innumerable lights, the falling waters. Exquisite57, enchanting;’ and she half closed her eyes, as in an ecstasy58 of bliss59.
‘I wonder what it will all cost?’ growled60 Sir Rupert, sotto voce. ‘A pretty penny. I shall have Ernest overdrawing61 again.’
The fact being that, although Ernest received a handsome allowance, his account was perpetually overdrawn62. Constant association with Diggle did not tend to economical ways. What with grouse63 for breakfast, and hot-house fruits for lunch; what with great guest nights, and expensive wines flowing freely, his mess bills were enormous. Then there were his horses, his dog-cart to take him to the station, his[162] chambers64 in the neighbourhood of St. James’s, his boot varnish65, and his new hats once a fortnight, and his fresh ‘button-holes’ every two or three hours. Sir Rupert hardly knew how the money went, but he knew that the six hundred a year he allowed his son, which was more than he had enjoyed for years until he came into the title, did not go half as far as it should, and he grumbled66 at the extravagance and ostentation67 of this great ball.
The baronet was not in the best of humours, therefore, as he stood upon one of the two raised platforms which had been erected68 on each side of the regimental colours, for the accommodation of the most distinguished70 guests. The colours were uncased, and drooped71 gracefully72 over a trophy73 of swords and bayonets, the whole being under the protection of two stalwart[163] sentries74 in full uniform, who stood erect69 and impassive, like stone statues, perfectly75 unmoved by the revels76 in progress around. It was a signal honour to be permitted to mount guard in the ball-room, and only the finest-looking and the steadiest men were selected for the duty. But the duty was fatiguing77, and the sentries were relieved every hour, the relief being carried out quietly, but strictly in accordance with the regulations, by non-commissioned officers carefully selected, like the sentries, on account of their smartness and gallant78 bearing.
While Sir Rupert was standing79 scowling80 at the entertainment, for which, without sharing in the honour and glory, he would probably have to pay, the relief marched in. He looked on at the ceremony without interest, heard with indifferent ears the[164] trite81 words of command, ‘Port arms, take post, shoulder, order,’ and the rest, when something in the aspect of the corporal in command attracted his attention, and he found himself looking curiously82 at the soldier’s face.
Surely he knew it? Where had he seen it before?
Then with a sudden start he remembered. The man was the living image of cracked Lady Farrington’s protégé—of that lad whom he, Sir Rupert, had inveigled83 down into Devonshire, and left there to starve. Could it possibly be the same man? Did the fellow know him? Apparently84 not.
He was still debating the point as the relief marched away, when all doubts were set at rest by hearing a very young lady, a child, in fact (it was Edith Prioleau), say[165] laughingly, and with the accents of Stratford-le-Bow, as she touched the corporal on the arm with her fan,
‘En bien, Caporal Larkins, comment vous portez-vous?’
To which the corporal replied, with a smile,
‘Très bien, mademoiselle. Et vous?’
There could be no mistake. Look, name, voice, all were the same. What a curious fatality85! In the same regiment as his son—the true heir and the false serving side by side. Should he tell Ernest? Then Sir Rupert, pondering much, came to the conclusion that it would be best to keep his own counsel, but resolved to put, if possible, a watch upon the young man.
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1
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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coverts
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| n.隐蔽的，不公开的，秘密的( covert的名词复数 )；复羽 | |
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3
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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disclaiming
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| v.否认( disclaim的现在分词 ) | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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vapidity
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| n.乏味；无滋味；无生气；无趣 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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vacuous
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| adj.空的，漫散的，无聊的，愚蠢的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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14
thawed
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| 解冻 | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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18
moth
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| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
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monstrously
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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21
complexioned
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| 脸色…的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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23
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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embryo
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| n.胚胎，萌芽的事物 | |
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deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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28
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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29
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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30
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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31
misgave
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| v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的过去式 ) | |
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inveighing
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| v.猛烈抨击，痛骂，谩骂( inveigh的现在分词 ) | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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40
circumspection
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| n.细心，慎重 | |
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aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
turnips
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| 芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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45
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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46
expatiating
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| v.详述，细说( expatiate的现在分词 ) | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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48
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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51
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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53
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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54
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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55
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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56
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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57
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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60
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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61
overdrawing
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| 透支( overdraw的现在分词 ) | |
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overdrawn
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| 透支( overdraw的过去分词 )； (overdraw的过去分词) | |
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63
grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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varnish
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| n.清漆；v.上清漆；粉饰 | |
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66
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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70
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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71
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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74
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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75
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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76
revels
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| n.作乐( revel的名词复数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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77
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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78
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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79
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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80
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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81
trite
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| adj.陈腐的 | |
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82
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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83
inveigled
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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85
fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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