LEAH MORDECAI sat alone in her bed chamber1. A bright fire glowed within the grate, and the gas-light overhead added its mellow2 brightness to the apartment. Arrayed in a comfortable crimson3 silk wrapper, the girl sat before the fire, with her slippered4 foot upon the fender, and gazed steadily5 and thoughtfully into the fantastic coals. Without, the world was cold and bright, for a pale, tremulous moon filled the world with its beauty. The wind came in across the sea, and mingling7 with the murmur8 of the waters, produced a weird9 and ghost-like sound, as it swept through half-deserted streets, penetrating10 rudely the abodes11 of poverty, and whistling around the mansions12 of the rich. This sound Leah heard faintly, as it sought ingress at her windows, and down the half-closed chimney. She shuddered13; yet it was not an unusual or a frightful14 sound, and not half so saddening as the sound that floated up the stairs: the sound of low, sweet singing-Mark Abrams singing with flute-like voice to her sister Sarah, who was soon, very soon, expected to become his wife. Leah had heard that voice before, had listened to its melody, attuned15 to other words, and as she recalled the vanished time, she trembled, shuddered, with an indefinable terror.
As the sound of the music ceased, she arose and walked to the window. With both hands pressed closely beside her face, so as to exclude every gleam of light from within, she looked steadily out of the window. All without was bright, and cold, and beautiful. White fleecy clouds drifted about the heavens, like so many phantom16 barks upon the deep blue sea.
"It's cold without and cold within," she muttered, and then, as if startled by some sudden resolve, she turned from the window back to a small escritoire, saying:
"Yes, I'll delay no longer. I must answer Lizzie's letter and tell her all. My duties for the coming week will be pressing, allowing me no opportunity for writing, equal to that of the present."
Then she wrote: "QUEEN CITY, January 20, 185-.
"MY OWN CHERISHED FRIEND: To-night from my casement17 I looked out upon the cold, bright world, wrapped in moonlight, and as I gazed at the far-off misty18 horizon, the distance called to mind my far-off friend at Melrose--recalled to mind, too, the fact that your last welcome letter has for an unwonted length of time remained unanswered. Your letter that came on the new year, came as the flowers of spring, always fresh and beautiful. It has been neglected from the inevitable19 press of circumstances by which I have been surrounded, which neglect, I feel assured, you will appreciate and forgive, when I have detailed20 the following facts.
"My sister Sarah is to be married in a week. This approaching event has been the cause of my restricted time, pressing out of sight, and even out of memory, all letter-writing.
"Yes, dear Lizzie, the long-expected nuptials21 are actually about to be celebrated22, and all our household, except myself, are in a fever of excitement and delight.
"My step-mother is ecstatic over the success of her scheming, and even condescends23 to be kind to me,-to me, Lizzie, whom she has so long and so faithfully despised.
"My father, too, seems happy over this alliance, knowing Mark's excellent character and business qualifications, and appreciating the connection with the rabbi's family. Mark himself appears happy in the hope of securing Sarah for his wife. But as to Sarah, I can scarcely divine her feelings; she is too young and light-hearted fully6 to comprehend the step before her. She seems delighted with the occasion that bestows24 upon her so many handsome presents; and beyond this I think she scarcely casts a thought. The marriage will be solemnized at the synagogue, and the reception held here at home. Mark has given Sarah some elegant gifts, gifts that should be mine. Is it wrong to write those words--words that contain so much meaning? It may be; but as you know all, dear Lizzie, I shall not erase25 them. And this reminds me of something I must tell you, of another piece of double-dealing and treachery imposed upon me by Rebecca. Some weeks ago, my father's cousin, Baron26 von Rosenberg, hearing of Sarah's approaching marriage-I have told you of this cousin before-sent over a box of valuable presents for the children, all of us, including Sarah, of course. Among the articles sent, were an elegant crimson velvet27 mantle28, and a diamond brooch. 'These,' wrote the baron, 'are for your eldest29 daughter-Leah I believe.'
"My father gave the letter to his wife, supposing, of course, that I would be allowed a perusal30 of it. But instead she secreted31 the letter, and in disposing of the gifts, said to me 'Here, Leah, is a handsome necklace, sent to you by the baron, and this elegant velvet mantle and diamond brooch are for your sister Sarah-wedding presents. How kind of the baron to remember her so substantially!' 'Yes,' said I, 'it was kind, and thoughtful too. I am glad that he has been so generous. I certainly thank him for his remembrance of me.' I had no dream but that she was telling me the truth, nor should I have suspected the deception32, but, unfortunately, I overheard my father one day say, 'Rebecca, how did Leah like the mantle and brooch the baron sent her?'
"'Oh, she thought them beautiful, as they are,' was the quick reply; 'but like a generous girl-there are few such-she begged her sister to keep them, as suitable bridal gifts from her, as well as tokens of her love.'
"'She's a dear unselfish creature,' replied my father, with the credulity of a child; 'I never saw another young person just like her. She's so deep and hidden in her nature, one cannot easily read her thoughts. I wish sometimes she was more open and confiding33; but she is a darling, for all her reticence34.'
"'Yes, and loves Sarah to idolatry,' was the smooth, well-put rejoinder.
"This much I heard, dear Lizzie, of the conversation, and then, with a horrified35, sickening sensation, I flew away-flew away to solitude36, and communion with myself.
"I dared not undeceive my father; and as to the gifts my heart cried out, 'Go, vain baubles37, go? What are diamonds and velvet to a desolate38 soul? Go, as Mark Abrams, and many other things rightfully mine, have gone from me--through treachery and fraud.'
"At this dreadful discovery, dear Lizzie, I longed for your true heart, so warm with sympathy, but it was far, far away, and no medium of communication between us but the soulless, tearless pen. That was inadequate39 then; now, the feeling has passed.
"But I crave40 your pardon for consuming so much time and space upon myself and my woes41. Forgive me.
"When the wedding is over I'll write you a full and detailed account of it all.
"Did I tell you in my last of Bertha Levy42? She is cultivating her voice in Berlin, and promises to become a marvellous singer, they say. Would you ever have thought she could be sober long enough to sing even a short ballad43? What a girl Bertha was!-real good and kind though, despite her witchery.
"Oh, me! do you ever wish, Lizzie, you were a school-girl again at Madam Truxton's? I do. I often recall the song: "'Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,' and am always sorrowful that my cry is unheeded by this swift-footed monarch44.
"I see Madam Truxton occasionally. She is always engrossed45, as you know, and the pressing duties to the new pupils exclude from her mind all remembrance of the old ones. Yet I love her, and always shall.
"I think I hear you asking, 'What of Emile?' and in a few brief words I can reply. I still see him occasionally, and he still professes46 his unchanging love for me. Forgive me, Lizzie; pardon what may seem in me a weakness, but I must confess it, I believe I love Emile. Firmly as I once promised you to shut my heart against his overtures47 of love, I have slowly but surely yielded my resolution, and now I can but frankly48 confess it. I do not think I shall ever marry him. I have told him so again and again, and I believe I shall never surrender this resolve. I have never told my father of Emile's devotion to me. I have not deemed it necessary, as I do not intend to marry him; and, then, I have been afraid to tell him. I only meet Emile by chance, and but rarely. I know you would advise me not to see him at all, and maybe I will not in the future. Nous verrons.
"Since I wrote to you last, Kitty Legare has died. She has been fading, as you know, for a long time with consumption. Dear girl, now she is at rest; and, I think, to be envied.
"But dear friend, I am drawing my letter to a tedious length. The stillness of the hour admonishes49 me to seek repose50. So, hastily and with everlasting51 love, I bid you good night. "Your own "LEAH."
收听单词发音 |
1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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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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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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slippered
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| 穿拖鞋的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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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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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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condescends
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的第三人称单数 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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erase
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| v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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31
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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32
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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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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reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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baubles
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| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
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38
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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39
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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40
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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42
levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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43
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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44
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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45
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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46
professes
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| 声称( profess的第三人称单数 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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47
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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48
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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49
admonishes
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| n.劝告( admonish的名词复数 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责v.劝告( admonish的第三人称单数 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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50
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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51
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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