About this time a firm of merchants having dealings with the East put on the market little paper flowers which opened on touching1 water. As it was the custom also to use finger-bowls at the end of dinner, the new discovery was found of excellent service. In these sheltered lakes the little coloured flowers swam and slid; surmounted2 smooth slippery waves, and sometimes foundered3 and lay like pebbles4 on the glass floor. Their fortunes were watched by eyes intent and lovely. It is surely a great discovery that leads to the union of hearts and foundation of homes. The paper flowers did no less.
It must not be thought, though, that they ousted5 the flowers of nature. Roses, lilies, carnations6 in particular, looked over the rims7 of vases and surveyed the bright lives and swift dooms9 of their artificial relations. Mr. Stuart Ormond made this very observation; and charming it was thought; and Kitty Craster married him on the strength of it six months later. But real flowers can never be dispensed10 with. If they could, human life would be a different affair altogether. For flowers fade; chrysanthemums11 are the worst; perfect over night; yellow and jaded12 next morning--not fit to be seen. On the whole, though the price is sinful, carnations pay best;--it's a question, however, whether it's wise to have them wired. Some shops advise it. Certainly it's the only way to keep them at a dance; but whether it is necessary at dinner parties, unless the rooms are very hot, remains13 in dispute. Old Mrs. Temple used to recommend an ivy14 leaf--just one--dropped into the bowl. She said it kept the water pure for days and days. But there is some reason to think that old Mrs. Temple was mistaken.
The little cards, however, with names engraved15 on them, are a more serious problem than the flowers. More horses' legs have been worn out, more coachmen's lives consumed, more hours of sound afternoon time vainly lavished16 than served to win us the battle of Waterloo, and pay for it into the bargain. The little demons17 are the source of as many reprieves18, calamities19, and anxieties as the battle itself. Sometimes Mrs. Bonham has just gone out; at others she is at home. But, even if the cards should be superseded20, which seems unlikely, there are unruly powers blowing life into storms, disordering sedulous21 mornings, and uprooting22 the stability of the afternoon--dressmakers, that is to say, and confectioners' shops. Six yards of silk will cover one body; but if you have to devise six hundred shapes for it, and twice as many colours?--in the middle of which there is the urgent question of the pudding with tufts of green cream and battlements of almond paste. It has not arrived.
The flamingo23 hours fluttered softly through the sky. But regularly they dipped their wings in pitch black; Notting Hill, for instance, or the purlieus of Clerkenwell. No wonder that Italian remained a hidden art, and the piano always played the same sonata24. In order to buy one pair of elastic25 stockings for Mrs. Page, widow, aged26 sixty-three, in receipt of five shillings out-door relief, and help from her only son employed in Messrs. Mackie's dye-works, suffering in winter with his chest, letters must be written, columns filled up in the same round, simple hand that wrote in Mr. Letts's diary how the weather was fine, the children demons, and Jacob Flanders unworldly. Clara Durrant procured27 the stockings, played the sonata, filled the vases, fetched the pudding, left the cards, and when the great invention of paper flowers to swim in finger-bowls was discovered, was one of those who most marvelled28 at their brief lives.
Nor were there wanting poets to celebrate the theme. Edwin Mallett, for example, wrote his verses ending:
And read their doom8 in Chloe's eyes,
which caused Clara to blush at the first reading, and to laugh at the second, saying that it was just like him to call her Chloe when her name was Clara. Ridiculous young man! But when, between ten and eleven on a rainy morning, Edwin Mallett laid his life at her feet she ran out of the room and hid herself in her bedroom, and Timothy below could not get on with his work all that morning on account of her sobs29.
"Which is the result of enjoying yourself," said Mrs. Durrant severely30, surveying the dance programme all scored with the same initials, or rather they were different ones this time--R.B. instead of E.M.; Richard Bonamy it was now, the young man with the Wellington nose.
"But I could never marry a man with a nose like that," said Clara.
"Nonsense," said Mrs. Durrant.
"But I am too severe," she thought to herself. For Clara, losing all vivacity31, tore up her dance programme and threw it in the fender.
Such were the very serious consequences of the invention of paper flowers to swim in bowls.
"Please," said Julia Eliot, taking up her position by the curtain almost opposite the door, "don't introduce me. I like to look on. The amusing thing," she went on, addressing Mr. Salvin, who, owing to his lameness32, was accommodated with a chair, "the amusing thing about a party is to watch the people--coming and going, coming and going."
"Last time we met," said Mr. Salvin, "was at the Farquhars. Poor lady! She has much to put up with."
"Doesn't she look charming?" exclaimed Miss Eliot, as Clara Durrant passed them.
"And which of them ...?" asked Mr. Salvin, dropping his voice and speaking in quizzical tones.
"There are so many ..." Miss Eliot replied. Three young men stood at the doorway33 looking about for their hostess.
"You don't remember Elizabeth as I do," said Mr. Salvin, "dancing Highland34 reels at Banchorie. Clara lacks her mother's spirit. Clara is a little pale."
"What different people one sees here!" said Miss Eliot.
"Happily we are not governed by the evening papers," said Mr. Salvin.
"I never read them," said Miss Eliot. "I know nothing about politics," she added.
"The piano is in tune," said Clara, passing them, "but we may have to ask some one to move it for us."
"Are they going to dance?" asked Mr. Salvin.
"Nobody shall disturb you," said Mrs. Durrant peremptorily35 as she passed.
"Julia Eliot. It IS Julia Eliot!" said old Lady Hibbert, holding out both her hands. "And Mr. Salvin. What is going to happen to us, Mr. Salvin? With all my experience of English politics--My dear, I was thinking of your father last night--one of my oldest friends, Mr. Salvin. Never tell me that girls often are incapable36 of love! I had all Shakespeare by heart before I was in my teens, Mr. Salvin!"
"You don't say so," said Mr. Salvin.
"But I do," said Lady Hibbert.
"Oh, Mr. Salvin, I'm so sorry. ..."
"I will remove myself if you'll kindly37 lend me a hand," said Mr. Salvin.
"You shall sit by my mother," said Clara. "Everybody seems to come in here. ... Mr. Calthorp, let me introduce you to Miss Edwards."
"Are you going away for Christmas?" said Mr. Calthorp.
"If my brother gets his leave," said Miss Edwards.
"What regiment38 is he in?" said Mr. Calthorp.
"The Twentieth Hussars," said Miss Edwards.
"Perhaps he knows my brother?" said Mr. Calthorp.
"I am afraid I did not catch your name," said Miss Edwards.
"Calthorp," said Mr. Calthorp.
"But what proof was there that the marriage service was actually performed?" said Mr. Crosby.
"There is no reason to doubt that Charles James Fox ..." Mr. Burley began; but here Mrs. Stretton told him that she knew his sister well; had stayed with her not six weeks ago; and thought the house charming, but bleak39 in winter.
"Going about as girls do nowadays--" said Mrs. Forster.
Mr. Bowley looked round him, and catching40 sight of Rose Shaw moved towards her, threw out his hands, and exclaimed: "Well!"
"Nothing!" she replied. "Nothing at all--though I left them alone the entire afternoon on purpose."
"Dear me, dear me," said Mr. Bowley. "I will ask Jimmy to breakfast."
"But who could resist her?" cried Rose Shaw. "Dearest Clara--I know we mustn't try to stop you..."
"You and Mr. Bowley are talking dreadful gossip, I know," said Clara.
"Life is wicked--life is detestable!" cried Rose Shaw.
"There's not much to be said for this sort of thing, is there?" said Timothy Durrant to Jacob.
"Women like it."
"Like what?" said Charlotte Wilding, coming up to them.
"Where have you come from?" said Timothy. "Dining somewhere, I suppose."
"I don't see why not," said Charlotte.
"People must go downstairs," said Clara, passing. "Take Charlotte, Timothy. How d'you do, Mr. Flanders."
"How d'you do, Mr. Flanders," said Julia Eliot, holding out her hand. "What's been happening to you?"
"Who is Silvia? what is she? That all our swains commend her?"
sang Elsbeth Siddons.
Every one stood where they were, or sat down if a chair was empty.
"Ah," sighed Clara, who stood beside Jacob, half-way through.
"Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling41. To her let us garlands bring,"
sang Elsbeth Siddons.
"Ah!" Clara exclaimed out loud, and clapped her gloved hands; and Jacob clapped his bare ones; and then she moved forward and directed people to come in from the doorway.
"You are living in London?" asked Miss Julia Eliot.
"Yes," said Jacob.
"In rooms?"
'Yes."
"There is Mr. Clutterbuck. You always see Mr. Clutterbuck here. He is not very happy at home, I am afraid. They say that Mrs. Clutterbuck ..." she dropped her voice. "That's why he stays with the Durrants. Were you there when they acted Mr. Wortley's play? Oh, no, of course not--at the last moment, did you hear--you had to go to join your mother, I remember, at Harrogate--At the last moment, as I was saying, just as everything was ready, the clothes finished and everything--Now Elsbeth is going to sing again. Clara is playing her accompaniment or turning over for Mr. Carter, I think. No, Mr. Carter is playing by himself--This is BACH," she whispered, as Mr. Carter played the first bars.
"Are you fond of music?" said Mr. Durrant.
"Yes. I like hearing it," said Jacob. "I know nothing about it."
"Very few people do that," said Mrs. Durrant. "I daresay you were never taught. Why is that, Sir Jasper?--Sir Jasper Bigham--Mr. Flanders. Why is nobody taught anything that they ought to know, Sir Jasper?" She left them standing42 against the wall.
Neither of the gentlemen said anything for three minutes, though Jacob shifted perhaps five inches to the left, and then as many to the right. Then Jacob grunted43, and suddenly crossed the room.
"Will you come and have something to eat?" he said to Clara Durrant.
"Yes, an ice. Quickly. Now," she said.
Downstairs they went.
But half-way down they met Mr. and Mrs. Gresham, Herbert Turner, Sylvia Rashleigh, and a friend, whom they had dared to bring, from America, "knowing that Mrs. Durrant--wishing to show Mr. Pilcher.--Mr. Pilcher from New York--This is Miss Durrant."
"Whom I have heard so much of," said Mr. Pilcher, bowing low.
So Clara left him.
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1
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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2
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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foundered
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| v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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ousted
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| 驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺 | |
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carnations
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| n.麝香石竹，康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 ) | |
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rims
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| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
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8
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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dooms
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| v.注定( doom的第三人称单数 )；判定；使…的失败（或灭亡、毁灭、坏结局）成为必然；宣判 | |
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10
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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11
chrysanthemums
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| n.菊花( chrysanthemum的名词复数 ) | |
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12
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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13
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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15
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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reprieves
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| n.（死刑）缓期执行令( reprieve的名词复数 )；暂缓，暂止v.缓期执行（死刑）( reprieve的第三人称单数 ) | |
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calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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21
sedulous
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| adj.勤勉的，努力的 | |
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22
uprooting
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| n.倒根，挖除伐根v.把（某物）连根拔起( uproot的现在分词 )；根除；赶走；把…赶出家园 | |
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23
flamingo
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| n.红鹳，火烈鸟 | |
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24
sonata
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| n.奏鸣曲 | |
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25
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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26
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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27
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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28
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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30
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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31
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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32
lameness
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| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
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33
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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34
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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35
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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36
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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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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38
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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39
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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40
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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41
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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42
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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43
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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