But the absurdity2 of going during the night, as if she had been a prisoner, and he the keeper of a dungeon3! So much secrecy4 and mystery, to go sojourning out on the Bon Dieu? Well, the Michés might keep their daughter after this. For the companionship of no woman on earth would he again undergo the humiliating sensation of baseness that had overtaken him in passing the old oak-tree in the fallow meadow.
But a terrible sense of loss overwhelmed Cazeau. It was not new or sudden; he had felt it for weeks growing upon him, and it seemed to culminate5 with Athénaïse’s flight from home. He knew that he could again compel her return as he had done once before,—compel her to return to the shelter of his roof, compel her cold and unwilling6 submission7 to his love and passionate8 transports; but the loss of self-respect seemed to him too dear a price to pay for a wife.
He could not comprehend why she had seemed to prefer him above others; why she 68had attracted him with eyes, with voice, with a hundred womanly ways, and finally distracted him with love which she seemed, in her timid, maidenly9 fashion, to return. The great sense of loss came from the realization10 of having missed a chance for happiness,—a chance that would come his way again only through a miracle. He could not think of himself loving any other woman, and could not think of Athénaïse ever—even at some remote date—caring for him.
He wrote her a letter, in which he disclaimed11 any further intention of forcing his commands upon her. He did not desire her presence ever again in his home unless she came of her free will, uninfluenced by family or friends; unless she could be the companion he had hoped for in marrying her, and in some measure return affection and respect for the love which he continued and would always continue to feel for her. This letter he sent out to the rigolet by a messenger early in the day. But she was not out on the rigolet, and had not been there.
The family turned instinctively12 to Montéclin, and almost literally13 fell upon him for an 69explanation; he had been absent from home all night. There was much mystification in his answers, and a plain desire to mislead in his assurances of ignorance and innocence14.
But with Cazeau there was no doubt or speculation15 when he accosted16 the young fellow. “Montéclin, w’at have you done with Athénaïse?” he questioned bluntly. They had met in the open road on horseback, just as Cazeau ascended17 the river bank before his house.
“W’at have you done to Athénaïse?” returned Montéclin for answer.
“I don’t reckon you’ve considered yo’ conduct by any light of decency18 an’ propriety19 in encouraging yo’ sister to such an action, but let me tell you”—
“Voyons! you can let me alone with yo’ decency an’ morality an’ fiddlesticks. I know you mus’ ’a’ done Athénaïse pretty mean that she can’t live with you; an’ fo’ my part, I’m mighty20 durn glad she had the spirit to quit you.”
“I ain’t in the humor to take any notice of yo’ impertinence, Montéclin; but let me remine you that Athénaïse is nothing but a chile in character; besides that, she’s my wife, an’ 70I hole you responsible fo’ her safety an’ welfare. If any harm of any description happens to her, I’ll strangle you, by God, like a rat, and fling you in Cane21 river, if I have to hang fo’ it!” He had not lifted his voice. The only sign of anger was a savage22 gleam in his eyes.
“I reckon you better keep yo’ big talk fo’ the women, Cazeau,” replied Montéclin, riding away.
But he went doubly armed after that, and intimated that the precaution was not needless, in view of the threats and menaces that were abroad touching23 his personal safety.
点击收听单词发音
1 jewelry | |
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 absurdity | |
n.荒谬,愚蠢;谬论 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 dungeon | |
n.地牢,土牢 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 culminate | |
v.到绝顶,达于极点,达到高潮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 maidenly | |
adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 realization | |
n.实现;认识到,深刻了解 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 disclaimed | |
v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 speculation | |
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 accosted | |
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |