CHAPTER XIII.

 “Woman in bicycle costume is an acquired taste,” Ned Strong had once remarked to a friend. That was before Mrs. Brevoort had taken to wheeling. She had converted him to a belief in the artistic¹ possibilities of a bifurcated² dress for women. He had come to the final conclusion that the desirability of a bicycle costume, so far as the gentler sex is concerned, must remain wholly a local issue. Experience was teaching him that generalizations³ regarding the progressive woman of to-day are worthless. Furthermore, he had learned that whether or not he admired their ways and costumes made little difference to the women of his set. The iconoclastic⁴ tendency of recent years finds no more striking illustration than in the fact that women no longer sacrifice their comfort to their dress for the sake of man’s approval, but dare to be unconventional for the sake of their own comfort.

 

And Ned Strong was obliged to acknowledge to himself that Mrs. Brevoort, dark, piquante, vivacious⁵, presented an extremely attractive picture on this September afternoon as she sat gazing at the blue waters of the Sound, equipped for a long ride on her wheel.

 

That Kate Strong was a much more striking and impressive figure than Mrs. Brevoort[72] was a fact that had not appealed to the young man’s mind. Perhaps he had not observed his sister critically. Or it may be that he had so long taken it for granted that Kate always made a good appearance that he was not inclined to waste time on the question as to the adaptability⁶ of a bicycle costume to his sister’s use. At all events, the youth found pleasure in confining his attentions to Mrs. Brevoort, and failed to notice that his sister’s face wore an expression of melancholy⁷ and that there was a listlessness in her manner that the warmth of the day could not wholly explain.

 

“And you have heard nothing more about him?” asked Mrs. Brevoort, gazing interestedly at Ned Strong. “It seems very strange that he has never written you a line.”

 

“Doesn’t it?” cried the young man. “And he was such a thoroughbred in his manner and appearance! Wasn’t he, Kate?”

 

“He was very attractive,” answered his sister, somewhat reluctantly, it seemed. “I feel sure that some day we shall find an explanation to the mystery.”

 

“Oh, I don’t know,” exclaimed Mrs. Brevoort, airily. “You see, I don’t take a bit of stock in these foreigners. I have seen so much of them! It may be bad form on my part, but I prefer an American gentleman to the most fascinating European that ever claimed descent from Charlemagne or William the Conqueror⁸.” She cast a mischievous⁹, challenging glance at Ned Strong, and went on: “There’s something about monarchical¹⁰ countries that begets¹¹ ideal lovers but impossible husbands. The greatest complaint over absentee landlords on the other[73] side comes from American girls who have married titled foreigners.”

 

Ned Strong laughed. “On behalf of my fellow-countrymen I thank you, Mrs. Brevoort. It is too bad that your convictions have not a greater following here among us.”

 

“So much the worse for those who do not agree with me. How much can an American girl know about a titled foreigner who comes over here looking for a rich wife? Take the case you have just been telling me about,” continued Mrs. Brevoort, vivaciously¹². “This fascinating youth called himself ‘Count Szalaki.’ How easy it was for you to discover that there was no such title in Rexania! ’Twas surprisingly clumsy on his part.”

 

“That’s one reason that leads me to think,” remarked Ned, “that there is something more in the affair than a mere¹³ adventurer’s escapade. If he had been a fraud he would have been more careful in his choice of a name. If he was, as I have sometimes suspected, a man very high in rank, who wished to disguise his identity, he would have chosen a title that did not exist, taking it for granted that we would respect his wish to remain unknown. There are royal personages on the other side who travel under names that one cannot find in Burke’s Peerage or the Almanach de Gotha.”

 

“That’s merely a matter of form,” exclaimed Mrs. Brevoort, glancing at Kate. “Everybody knows who they are, wherever they go. I was introduced to a king in Paris who had chosen to trot¹⁴ around under the name of Mr. Smith, but it was a very thin disguise. He was such a wretched conversationalist[74] that I knew at once that he concealed¹⁵ a throne behind his stupidity. A real Mr. Smith could have talked about something besides the weather.”

 

Kate smiled at the sarcastic¹⁶ little woman’s words.

 

“What a thorough democrat¹⁷ you are, Mrs. Brevoort!” she remarked. “I almost suspect that you intend to go in for politics.”

 

“Why not?” cried Mrs. Brevoort enthusiastically. “If we don’t take part in public affairs, other women will. I believe it is our duty to raise the tone of politics by taking an interest in them. If the men of our class won’t do their duty by the State, it is for us to take their place.” She looked at Ned Strong defiantly¹⁸.

 

“I suspect,” he remarked, cautiously, “that you do not approve of my indifference¹⁹ to public affairs, Mrs. Brevoort.”

 

“Most assuredly I do not,” she exclaimed emphatically. “A youth who claims a divine right to occupy a European throne and defends that assumed right with cannon²⁰ and gunpowder²¹ is, to my mind, in a false position, but he is more consistent than a young American who possesses the prerogative²² of the ballot²³ and won’t take the trouble to go to the polls to vote.”

 

Ned Strong laughed merrily. “What a long memory you have, Mrs. Brevoort! It is nearly a year since you learned that I failed to register last fall, and now you bring a sweeping²⁴ accusation²⁵ against me. I fear you do not find me possessed²⁶ of the saving grace of patriotism²⁷.”

 

“Patriotism!” cried the youth’s accuser. “Surely, if you have it, it finds queer ways[75] of expression, Mr. Strong. You fail to vote, and yet you are forever denouncing this country for going to the dogs. I really believe that I have heard you crack a joke at the expense of George Washington.”

 

A smile of amusement crossed Kate Strong’s face. “He deserves what you are giving him, Mrs. Brevoort. Ned is a thorough believer in his divine right to let other people save the country.”

 

“This is unfair,” cried the young man, with assumed annoyance²⁸. “I am outnumbered two to one. You have me at a disadvantage. But I will not attempt now, Mrs. Brevoort, to defend my position. And, luckily for me, here comes my chance for escape. You cannot talk politics on the wheel, you two. Are you ready to mount? It is just three o’clock, and we are in good time for a long spin.”

 

A boy in livery had brought their wheels to the front of the club-house, and, mounting quickly, the trio sped down the pathway toward the entrance that opened on to the grounds from the main highway. Mrs. Brevoort and Ned Strong led the way, and Kate followed them, a flush of physical enjoyment²⁹ mounting to her cheeks as she chased the south wind inland.

 

1 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

2 bifurcated   

a.分为两部分

参考例句：

• Over the past 15 years the marketplace for art books has bifurcated. 过去15年里，卖艺术类书籍的市场逐渐分化。
• This bifurcated view was reflected in how U.S. officials described the trip. 这种一分为二的观点也反映在美国官员自己对访华之行的描述上。

3 generalizations   

一般化( generalization的名词复数 )； 普通化； 归纳； 概论

参考例句：

• But Pearlson cautions that the findings are simply generalizations. 但是波尔森提醒人们，这些发现是简单的综合资料。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
• They were of great service in correcting my jejune generalizations. 他们纠正了我不成熟的泛泛之论，帮了我大忙。

4 iconoclastic   

adj.偶像破坏的，打破旧习的

参考例句：

• His iconoclastic tendencies can get him into trouble. 他与传统信仰相悖的思想倾向可能会给他带来麻烦。 来自辞典例句
• The film is an iconoclastic allegory. 电影是一个关于破坏的寓言。 来自互联网

5 vivacious   

adj.活泼的，快活的

参考例句：

• She is an artless,vivacious girl.她是一个天真活泼的女孩。
• The picture has a vivacious artistic conception.这幅画气韵生动。

6 adaptability   

n.适应性

参考例句：

• It has a wide range of adaptability.它的应用性广。

7 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

8 conqueror   

n.征服者，胜利者

参考例句：

• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
• They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。

9 mischievous   

adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的

参考例句：

• He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
• A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。

10 monarchical   

adj. 国王的，帝王的，君主的，拥护君主制的 =monarchic

参考例句：

• The Declaration represented a repudiation of the pre-Revolutionary monarchical regime. 这一宣言代表了对大革命前的君主政体的批判。
• The monarchical period established an essential background for the writing prophets of the Bible. 王国时期为圣经的写作先知建立了基本的背景。

11 begets   

v.为…之生父( beget的第三人称单数 )；产生，引起

参考例句：

• It begets at least seven standard type offspring from such matings. 这类交配中生下至少七个标准型后代。 来自辞典例句
• Violence begets violence until the innocent perish with the guilty. 暴力招致暴力直到这因罪行而无缘无故的毁灭。 来自电影对白

12 vivaciously   

adv.快活地；活泼地；愉快地

参考例句：

• He describes his adventures vivaciously. 他兴奋地谈论着自己的冒险经历。 来自互联网

13 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

14 trot   

n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧

参考例句：

• They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。
• The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。

15 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

16 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

17 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

18 defiantly   

adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地

参考例句：

• Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

20 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

21 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

22 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。

23 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

24 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

25 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

26 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

27 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

28 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

29 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。