Chapter 13

It may be thought the Doctor was too positive, and Mrs. Almond intimated as much.

But, as he said, he had his impression; it seemed to him sufficient, and he had no wish to modify it.

He had passed his life in estimating people (it was part of the medical trade), and in nineteen cases out of twenty he was right.

"Perhaps Mr. Townsend is the twentieth case," Mrs. Almond suggested.

"Perhaps he is, though he doesn't look to me at all like a twentieth case.

But I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and, to make sure, I will go and talk with Mrs. Montgomery.

She will almost certainly tell me I have done right; but it is just possible that she will prove to me that I have made the greatest mistake of my life. If she does, I will beg Mr. Townsend's pardon.

You needn't invite her to meet me, as you kindly¹ proposed; I will write her a frank letter, telling her how matters stand, and asking leave to come and see her."

"I am afraid the frankness will be chiefly on your side.

The poor little woman will stand up for her brother, whatever he may be."

"Whatever he may be?

I doubt that.

People are not always so fond of their brothers."

"Ah," said Mrs. Almond, "when it's a question of thirty thousand a year coming into a family--"

"If she stands up for him on account of the money, she will be a humbug².

If she is a humbug I shall see it.

If I see it, I won't waste time with her."

"She is not a humbug--she is an exemplary woman.

She will not wish to play her brother a trick simply because he is selfish."

"If she is worth talking to, she will sooner play him a trick than that he should play Catherine one.

Has she seen Catherine, by the way--does she know her?"

"Not to my knowledge.

Mr. Townsend can have had no particular interest in bringing them together."

"If she is an exemplary woman, no.

But we shall see to what extent she answers your description."

"I shall be curious to hear her description of you!" said Mrs. Almond, with a laugh.

"And, meanwhile, how is Catherine taking it?"

"As she takes everything--as a matter of course."

"Doesn't she make a noise?

Hasn't she made a scene?"

"She is not scenic³."

"I thought a love-lorn maiden⁴ was always scenic."

"A fantastic widow is more so.

Lavinia has made me a speech; she thinks me very arbitrary."

"She has a talent for being in the wrong," said Mrs. Almond.

"But I am very sorry for Catherine, all the same."

"So am I.

But she will get over it."

"You believe she will give him up?"

"I count upon it.

She has such an admiration⁵ for her father."

"Oh, we know all about that!

But it only makes me pity her the more. It makes her dilemma⁶ the more painful, and the effort of choosing between you and her lover almost impossible."

"If she can't choose, all the better."

"Yes, but he will stand there entreating⁷ her to choose, and Lavinia will pull on that side."

"I am glad she is not on my side; she is capable of ruining an excellent cause.

The day Lavinia gets into your boat it capsizes. But she had better be careful," said the Doctor.

"I will have no treason in my house!"

"I suspect she will be careful; for she is at bottom very much afraid of you."

"They are both afraid of me--harmless as I am!" the Doctor answered. "And it is on that that I build--on the salutary terror I inspire!"

1 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

2 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

3 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

4 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

5 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

6 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

7 entreating   

恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• We have not bound your feet with our entreating arms. 我们不曾用恳求的手臂来抱住你的双足。
• The evening has come. Weariness clings round me like the arms of entreating love. 夜来到了，困乏像爱的恳求用双臂围抱住我。