Miss Trevennon’s clear-cut, soft-tinted face was somewhat inanimate this evening. The ball had lost much of its charm since she had contemplated8 the prospect9 in the morning. In the first place, the possibility of Charley Somers coming to Washington troubled her, and, in the second, Alan Decourcy’s words and looks, with a chance of their repetition this evening, made her uneasy. Besides these, there was a feeling of disappointment, all the keener for being unowned, even to herself, that Louis Gaston should not be here to welcome her back, and to share the interest and pride Cousin Eugenia so evidently took in her appearance at this ball.
Arrived at their destination, Mrs. Gaston and Margaret, escorted by General Gaston, were passing through the main hall on their way to the dressing-rooms, when they came upon Alan Decourcy, with a sumptuously10 apparelled lady on his arm. She was a decidedly pretty woman, and Margaret observed that she clung to her companion with an air of the friendliest familiarity. She also observed that her pink gauze costume was somewhat decolleté, and that a strap12 of black velvet13 stood in lieu of a sleeve across her white shoulder, a similar bit supporting a superb pendant of diamonds, which ornamented14 her fair, round throat.
This lady bowed affably to Mrs. Gaston, and regarded Margaret with a broad stare. Alan, of course, spoke15 also, but for some reason Margaret avoided doing more than just glancing at him as she passed on toward the staircase.
“And so Mrs. Vere already has your cousin in her toils16!” said Mrs. Gaston, as they were approaching the dressing-room.
“Was that Mrs. Vere?” said Margaret. “Who is she?”
“Oh, she’s one of the most noted17 of the married belles18!” said Mrs. Gaston. “If Mr. Decourcy were not a man of the world and well able to take care of himself, it might be well for you to warn him. As it is, I feel no anxiety about him.”
“And who is Mr. Vere?”
“Mrs. Vere’s husband. He may or may not be here. He’s apt to turn up in the supper-room.”
Margaret said no more, but set herself to the adjustment of her toilet with a certain air of preoccupation. Having ascertained19 by a glance that her costume was in order, she stood looking very thoughtful as she waited for her cousin, whose touches here and there consumed a much longer time.
When the two ladies emerged from the dressing-room together, they found Alan Decourcy, with General Gaston, awaiting them. He had freed himself from Mrs. Vere, in some way, and offered his arm to take Margaret into the room. She laid her hand within it lightly, and they followed General and Mrs. Gaston in silence.
After they had spoken to their hostess and her daughters, Decourcy led Miss Trevennon away to make the tour of the rooms, which were ablaze20 with lights and flowers, and gorgeous to behold21.
“There’s something very distinguished22 about this dress you are wearing, Margaret,” he said, in a tone that was caressingly23 sweet, “or is it, perhaps, my cousin’s lovely face and figure that make it appear so? You are looking your very best, yet I never saw you so devoid24 of color.”
“It’s the contrast with Mrs. Vere’s gorgeousness, perhaps!” said Margaret, with a rather strained little laugh. “When did you meet Mrs. Vere, by-the-way?”
He turned suddenly, and looked at her with a glance of keen scrutiny25, but, seeing the utter unsuspiciousness of her frank gaze, he said carelessly:
“Mrs. Vere? Oh, she’s a very old friend! I hardly remember the time when I didn’t know Antoinette Vere.”
“Did you know of her being in Washington?”
“Yes, indeed; I saw her when I was in town, the other day. She lives here.”
“Why, I wonder you did not tell me you had this great friend living here, and make her come to see me!” said Margaret, in her honest way.
“I didn’t think of it,” he said, somewhat constrainedly26. “I didn’t suppose you’d care for it.”
He turned, then, and called her attention to some especially pretty bit of decoration, and Mrs. Vere was not mentioned again.
In a few minutes Mr. Leary came up to speak to Miss Trevennon, and, soon after, one or two other acquaintances appeared, and Margaret was importuned27 for dances.
“I shall not dance this evening,” she said, forming the resolution suddenly. She had not thought of the matter before, but when the time came she found herself indisposed to dance. There were strong protests from the young gentlemen, but these her decided11 manner soon silenced, and when Mr. Leary offered his arm, to take her to look for a seat, she looked around for Decourcy and found that he was gone.
For a long while after this, she had not time to think of her cousin. Scores of people were presented to her, by Mrs. Gaston and others, and the General whispered to her that his popularity with the young gentlemen this evening was something phenomenal. She went into the drawing-room and looked on for a while, and though she kept to her resolution she might have had two partners for every dance, if she had chosen. Most of the men whom she declined to dance with manifested an entire willingness to stop and talk instead, and throughout the evening she was so well attended, that Cousin Eugenia, who had heard with quaking of her resolution not to dance, admitted to herself, in the end, that it had given her young cousin a more distinguished appearance.
When the evening was growing old, and the flowers began to droop28 and the music to flag; when the girls began to look the worse for too much dancing, and the men, in many cases, the worse for too much wine, Miss Trevennon, finding herself a little weary, yielded to the suggestion of her companion for the moment, who happened to be Lord Waring, and allowed herself to be led to a cool, dim recess29 in the conservatory30, where she sank into a seat to wait, while Lord Waring went for a glass of water for her. It was very still and quiet here. Almost every one was occupied either in the supper-room or in dancing, and Margaret supposed herself to be quite alone, until the sound of low-toned voices arrested her attention. Turning, she caught sight, between the branches of some densely31 leaved palms, of the figures of a man and woman. The latter’s back was turned, but Margaret recognized the pink costume and smooth, bare shoulders. The head was raised to meet the ardent32 gaze of the man who bent33 above her. This man’s face was turned full toward Margaret, and she, too, could see that gaze—a tender, fervid34 look that, but a few hours since, had been bent upon herself. Instinctively35 she closed her eyes, afraid to look longer, and feeling a quick pang36 of horror as she remembered that so recently this man had kissed her hand. Thank Heaven he had never, for one instant, touched her heart—that she cared not an atom for him! But suppose it had been different! Suppose the tenderness he had so successfully counterfeited37, the significant words she had so implicitly38 believed, had awakened39 an answering tenderness in her heart!
As these hurried thoughts rushed through her mind, she rose to her feet, confused and agitated40. Again her troubled gaze rested for one instant upon another vision of those two figures through the vista41 of flowers and leaves, but it was for an instant only, for she felt a swift instinct of flight, and forgetting Lord Waring and the fact that he would expect to find her where he had left her, she fled from the conservatory and entered the room beyond. Bewildered, agitated, weak, uncertain, she looked about her with a troubled gaze, and met the steadfast42 eyes of Louis Gaston.
With a look of joyful43 relief she hastened toward him and placed her hand, with a confiding44 motion, within the arm he extended. His calm and self-collected aspect, the firm support of his strong arm, the repose45 of his quiet manner, the freshness of his evening toilet, recently made, which contrasted so pleasantly with the somewhat dishevelled and flushed appearance of many of the men at this late hour, all these were so restful and reassuring46 that Margaret drew a long breath of contentment to find herself so safe.
“Where did you come from?” she said. “You were the very last person I expected to see.”
“I returned from New York by the evening train, and, late as it was, I concluded to dress and come to the ball. I have seen my hostess, who has kindly47 forgiven my tardiness48, and my next thought was to find you. I was in the act of seeking you in the supper-room when you unexpectedly appeared before me, solitary49 and alone.”
“I was so glad to see you,” she said, with the unconscious simplicity50 a child might have shown.
He took her words as naturally as they were uttered, and said simply:
“How did you happen to be alone?”
“Oh, Lord Waring was with me,” she said, suddenly, remembering her errant knight51. “He went to get me some water. I wonder where he is.”
At this moment Lord Waring appeared at the door of the conservatory, glass in hand.
Margaret hurriedly made her apologies, explaining her having caught sight of Mr. Gaston unexpectedly, his recent return from New York, etc.
His lordship accepted her explanation in good part, and when Margaret had drunk the water rather eagerly he went off to return the glass, saying he would see her again.
He had scarcely disappeared when Gaston and Margaret, going out into the hall, saw Mrs. Vere and Alan Decourcy coming toward them.
Gaston suddenly stood still, detaining his companion by a slight pressure of the arm, and said, hurriedly:
“It is just possible that Mrs. Vere may ask you to join a theatre-party she is getting up for to-morrow evening. Forgive me if I take the liberty of suggesting that you shall decline if she should do so. Make an engagement to go with me instead, and just excuse yourself on the plea of a previous engagement. I hope you will pardon my venturing to advise you.”
“Certainly,” said Margaret; “but she will not ask me. I do not know her.”
Mrs. Vere, however, was coming straight toward them, and she now stopped in front of them, and giving Louis a tap with her fan, said:
“Present me to Miss Trevennon,” and when Gaston had complied, she went on in a rather boisterous52 tone:
“I’ve been teasing your cousin to present me to you all the evening, Miss Trevennon; but I suppose he wanted the monopoly of you, for he would not even bring me into your neighborhood.”
“It may have been that he wanted the monopoly of yourself,” said Gaston, looking at her keenly and speaking in his quietest tones.
“Well, it’s more than you’ll ever want, then!” said Mrs. Vere, pertly; “so you can just keep yourself out of the matter.”
“I have every intention of doing so, madam,” said Gaston, gravely. “I know my place, and I value my peace of mind.”
Mrs. Vere flashed a quick, vindictive53 glance at him, as he uttered these quiet words, and then turning to Margaret, she said:
“I want to ask you to join a little theatre-party I am giving to-morrow evening, Miss Trevennon. There will be eight of us, and we are going to see As You Like It, and have a little supper at my house afterward54. Now don’t say you have any other engagement.”
“Unfortunately I must,” said Margaret, conscious of the insincerity of the qualifying term, and yet too grateful to Louis for preparing her for this contingency55 to feel very contrite56 on account of it. “I have already pledged myself elsewhere.”
“How tiresome57!” said Mrs. Vere, darting58 a suspicious glance at Louis, which he met with imperturbable59 gravity. “By-the-way, I called on you while you were in Baltimore. I suppose you got my card.”
And, without waiting for an answer, she moved away, on Decourcy’s arm, saying, as if half involuntarily:
Decourcy, who was looking somewhat preoccupied61, made no answer, until she gave his arm a little jerk and said, with the petulance62 of a child:
“What’s the matter with you? Why don’t you speak?”
“What can I say, except that I feel deeply sorry for poor Gaston, and appropriately grateful that I do not happen to be in his place.”
He spoke in his softest tones, but Mrs. Vere knew instinctively that her spell was, for the time being, broken. Well! it had been broken before, she reflected, and she had always succeeded in mending it, and she felt confident she could do so again.
Meantime, as Margaret and Louis walked away, to look for Mrs. Gaston, the former said:
“Was it not rather odd that Mrs. Vere didn’t ask you to join her party?”
“She did,” said Louis. “She wrote me a note, which was forwarded to me in New York.”
“And what did you do?” asked Margaret.
“Excused myself on the score of another engagement.”
“I know,” he answered, smiling; “but I foresaw at least the possibility that you would be propitious64.”
“I think she’s angry with you about it.”
“Very likely. She’s been angry with me before.”
“I didn’t know, until to-night, that she was an old friend of Alan’s,” said Margaret.
“What do you mean?” said Margaret, facing him with a sudden surprise, and then, remembering the scene she had witnessed in the conservatory, she averted66 her eyes, and was silent.
“I merely meant,” he answered, in a tone of quick regret, “that I happened to hear Waring say that they were friends in London, last year. Mr. and Mrs. Vere spent the season there, and your cousin happening to be there also, naturally saw them often—all being Americans together.”
At this point they caught sight of Mrs. Gaston, and Margaret hastened to join her, and so the subject was very willingly dropped by them both.
Cousin Eugenia declared and reiterated67 that Margaret had been a shining success at this ball, but of that the girl thought and cared little. But for many days to come, the recurring68 thoughts of that evening brought with them certain memories that rankled69, as well as certain others that comforted and soothed70.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
shimmering
|
|
| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
pliant
|
|
| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
sumptuously
|
|
| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
strap
|
|
| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
toils
|
|
| 网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
belles
|
|
| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ascertained
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ablaze
|
|
| adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
caressingly
|
|
| 爱抚地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
constrainedly
|
|
| 不自然地，勉强地，强制地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
importuned
|
|
| v.纠缠，向（某人）不断要求( importune的过去式和过去分词 )；（妓女）拉（客） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
droop
|
|
| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
recess
|
|
| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
conservatory
|
|
| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
densely
|
|
| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
fervid
|
|
| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
counterfeited
|
|
| v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
implicitly
|
|
| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
vista
|
|
| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
steadfast
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
confiding
|
|
| 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） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
reassuring
|
|
| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
tardiness
|
|
| n.缓慢；迟延；拖拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
simplicity
|
|
| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
boisterous
|
|
| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vindictive
|
|
| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
contingency
|
|
| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
contrite
|
|
| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
tiresome
|
|
| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
imperturbable
|
|
| adj.镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
detest
|
|
| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
preoccupied
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
petulance
|
|
| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
propitious
|
|
| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
averted
|
|
| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
recurring
|
|
| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
rankled
|
|
| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
soothed
|
|
| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |