The equine Cecilia walked slowly up the hill and lounged into the gate, no longer caring to hasten her certainty of oaten banquet, or spoil her appetite by trepidation6. A fine-looking darkey stepped forward and took her head, while the gentlemen descended7.
“Fugitive8 slave,” whispered Mr. Tootler. “Jefferson Lee Compton Davis—first families of Virginia on the father’s side and on the maternal9 grandfather’s.”
[89]Little Cecilia had scampered11 away at once, and now reappeared, bright as a cherub12 in a sunbeam, leading her mother by the hand. At sight of the stranger, this lady checked herself at the threshold. But she had evidently, as Mr. Tootler said, heard already of Mr. Waddy, and when her husband presented him by name, she stepped forward with a shy tremble of diffident friendliness13 lovely to behold14.
If Mr. Tootler had fittingly represented the masculine side of friendship, Mrs. Tootler as sincerely acted the feminine part. It was not merely the few cordial words, expressing her pleasure at meeting her husband’s old friend, to whom he owed so much in so many ways, but the frank grasp of the hand, the bright look of genuine welcome in the clear brown eyes, the blush of warm interest, the winning smile as she introduced the friend into a home, as he must henceforth feel it—all this was more and more on the side of happiness. Mr. Waddy was again conscious of that unaccustomed feeling overcoming him, like a summer cloud full of summer’s joyful17 tears.
Mrs. Tootler left them to give orders about the fatted calf18 and icing the champagne19. Tommy conducted his friend to his room, and both, with their coats off, were commencing their toilet, chatting through an open door of communication, when there came a sudden alarm from little Cecilia.
[90]“Papa!” she cried, running up the stair, “come quick! Some men are fighting Jefferson.”
The host and guest were down the stair and in the barnyard in an instant. Four men were endeavouring to put the Fugitive Slave Bill in operation. Jefferson believed in the Declaration of Independence, and was making wondrous play for freedom, but four were too many for him. They had him down and were producing handcuffs. Two of the men were in the Virginia uniform of black dress-coat and shiny satin waistcoat. The other two were Deputy Marshals Hookey and Tucker.
It was beautiful as forked lightning to see Mr. Tootler count himself in and make free with the fight. He alighted like a bomb, unexpected, on one Virginian who had his knee on the negro’s head. This man, for reasons, appeared no more in the fray20. Ira, of course, followed his friend and occupied himself with raising bumps on the countenance21 of Marshal Tucker. Jefferson Davis, once released, soon floored the second Virginian.
“Cut, Jeff, and go to Sammy’s,” cried Tommy, amidst his attentions to Hookey. “I’ll send your clothes in the morning,” and Jeff was off in an instant.
The prey22 escaped, the two marshals preferred not to be bruised23 further and called a truce24. Virginian No. 2 was quite groggy25 and hors de combat. Crackers26, the dog, had pounced27 upon his fellow-huntsman[91] as he lay, and was smiling at him with very white teeth. At this moment, with a neighbour flash, bang went the big thunder-gun and down came the deluge28. The two gentlemen took refuge within, leaving the vanquished29 to scamper10 for their carriage with such speed as they were capable of. As the heroes re-entered the house, they met Mrs. Tootler rushing forward with a double-barrelled gun and silver fish-knife. The black cook, with a distinct cuisiney odor of fatted calf, was in the van, armed with a gridiron and pitcher30 of steaming water. This reserve was, however, needless as the Prussians at Waterloo, and there was no pursuit.
“No,” replied the guest, “my man was rather cushiony about the chops. Neither of us was much hurt.”
“Capital little shindy!” said Tommy, glowing with satisfaction. “I think I shall take a station of the Underground for the chances of such an appetiser now and then. I haven’t felt such a meritorious33 hunger for ages. Very likely we’ll be arrested in the morning.”
Battles in a worthy cause win favour with the fair. Mrs. Cecilia looked a little anxiously for wounds, but there were none save what a stitch might repair. She plucked a rose for each, as a palm of victory.
At dinner, after the asphodel cauliflower, the[92] lotus celery, the pommes d’amour tomatoes, and the amaranthine flower-adorned fruits, the friends talked over this mêlée, sipping34 meanwhile their nectar coffee, and wielding35 the nephelegeret sceptre of tobacco. Mrs. Tootler was not to be weeded out. They could not spare her presence, blithe36 and débonnaire, nor in the discussion her unembarrassed womanly rectitude.
“You must be indignant, Tommy,” said Ira, “at the intrusion of those kidnappers37.”
“Unfortunately our moral sense on these subjects is too much degraded,” answered Tommy. “I am angry, of course, but I do not think half enough of the infernal shame to that poor darkey. He must go to Canada, just as much an exile as any of the foreigners we make such disturbance38 about.”
“I may seem rather ignorant,” said Waddy, “after my long absence, but tell me, do men with the social position of gentlemen here accept office from a government that is willing to make and execute such laws as this Fugitive Slave Bill?”
“It seems to me,” said Ira, “that in the present condition of things, a conservative must be either an ignoramus, a coward, or a knave39. But, madam,” he added, turning to Mrs. Tootler, “we are boring you with politics. Parlons chiffons.”
[93]“Chiffons!” cried Cecilia. “I am really indignant, Mr. Waddy. I do not believe that the gentleman so quietly smoking by your side would ever have been really roused if I were not always buzzing in his ears.”
“She is right,” admitted Mr. Tootler, sipping the last drops of his now cold coffee. “Women are vigorous antidotes40 to moral or mental sleepiness. But, Waddy, our little adventure is bringing the present too near us; to-night must be devoted41 to recalling our dear old days together. To-morrow we’ll talk politics and be sad for the uncertainties42 of our cause—‘ma quest oggi n’ é dato goder,’” he sang.
“‘Non contiamo l’ incerto domani,’” responded Cecilia, with spirit, from the same air, “which I freely translate that we do not count the future of our cause uncertain at all, either to-morrow or after.”
It is a fascinating thing to see a lovely woman in wrath43, and probably Mr. Waddy thought for the moment more of how startlingly bright were the eyes of the lady, and how quick her heart’s blood leaped to her vivid cheek, than of the cause that made the eyes electric and the cheek burning.
“My wife knows all the old songs, Ira,” said Tommy, also gazing admiringly, but deeming it discreet44 to change the subject, “and I’ve not forgotten my stock. We’ll have the old first, as old wine should come, and then, if satiety45 does not[94] interfere46, you shall have new music till you cry basta.”
“Yes,” agreed Cecilia, the little storm over in an instant, “I’ve learnt all your old favourites, Mr. Waddy. We have always expected you and determined47 to make you forget your sad absence,” and then, as if she had been too frank and had betrayed some confidence of husband and wife, she shrank a little and folded into herself like a mimosa leaf.
“Thank you,” said Mr. Waddy simply.
So they had music. Mrs. Tootler’s voice was a pearly soprano of more marked tenderness and sentiment than you would have expected from her blithesomeness of manner. Tommy’s was a barytone, strong and rich; it rolled out of the happy little man in a careless way, perpetually making musical ten-strikes. Mr. Waddy sometimes contributed a bass48 note, deep as an oubliette.
But it was his part to assist passively rather than actively49 at the concert. He would have listened quite forever, but at last the husband detected huskiness and said punch. Thereupon he brewed50 a browst—tumblers for the men, a wineglass for the lady. They partook by the rising moonlight.
“What are your plans?” asked Tommy. “You will stay with us a week, or a month, or five years?”
“I have no plans except to buy the black colt to-morrow. I expect pretty soon an English friend, and have promised to look up the lions with him.[95] Apropos51, perhaps you can put him in the way of seeing your Boston dons. He is an accomplished52 fellow, naturalist53, man of science, charming companion, and brave soldier.”
“He will find the Boston dons rather slow,” said Tommy; “there is nothing soldierly about them. A respectably studious and rather dyspeptic set. Quite conventional and conscious of European influence. But here’s to the midnight moon!” he added, as that gibbous deity54 cleft55 the clouds and seemed sailing upward through their stationary56 masses. “One can see almost heaven and the angels!”
“But why do you look up yonder for them?” queried57 Waddy, when the toast was drunk. “Your life seems to me a revelation of earthly heaven, with one abiding58 angelic presence. You think my rhapsodies mere Oriental absurdities59, perhaps, Mrs. Cecilia—but it seems to me that my friend, with you, has attained60 to happiness. You were always a hopeful man, Tommy; now you seem by hopes achieved to have learnt what they call Faith. Well, you deserve it. For me, whatever I have deserved, there is only a poor refuge of such careless stoicism as I affect,” and he uttered in some strange tongue an expression savage61 and stern as the growl62 of a lion.
“No!” said he again, after a silence, during which his friends had been, perhaps, seeking vainly[96] for the right word; “my dear Mrs. Cecilia, my first evening at your lovely house shall not end sulkily on my part. Tommy, unsheathe your jocund63 flute64 and draw thenceforth soul-animating strains.”
Tommy was not one of those non-performing humbugs65, noticed by Socrates as existing in his time, who are uniformly out of practice or have left their notes at home, so he got out his flute immediately, and accompanied Cecilia in a delicious echo song, the silver sounds threading themselves among the fine moonbeams that floated through the network of vines over the piazza66 where they sat. With the last fading echo, drifted away every thought of bitterness, and the calm midnight silence fell around them peacefully. So they separated.
Mr. Waddy stood at the window of his bedroom, looking out upon the night. Was it to the spirit of the night that he stretched forth16 his arms and murmured words of yearning67 tenderness? His hand was feeling, as if unconsciously, in his bosom68. He missed something.
He lighted a cigar, but after a puff71 or two, threw it away and turned in. His health was excellent, despite the memories which troubled him from time to time, and after the long day diversified72 with incidents of collision and shindy, he slept solidly, not far from the scenes of old happiness, lost long ago.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
villa
|
|
| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bliss
|
|
| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
trepidation
|
|
| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fugitive
|
|
| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
maternal
|
|
| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
scamper
|
|
| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scampered
|
|
| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
cherub
|
|
| n.小天使，胖娃娃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
calf
|
|
| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
champagne
|
|
| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
fray
|
|
| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bruised
|
|
| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
truce
|
|
| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
groggy
|
|
| adj.体弱的；不稳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
crackers
|
|
| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
pounced
|
|
| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
pitcher
|
|
| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
knuckles
|
|
| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
meritorious
|
|
| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
sipping
|
|
| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wielding
|
|
| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
blithe
|
|
| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
kidnappers
|
|
| n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
knave
|
|
| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
antidotes
|
|
| 解药( antidote的名词复数 )； 解毒剂； 对抗手段； 除害物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
uncertainties
|
|
| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
discreet
|
|
| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
satiety
|
|
| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
actively
|
|
| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
brewed
|
|
| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
apropos
|
|
| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
naturalist
|
|
| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
deity
|
|
| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
cleft
|
|
| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
stationary
|
|
| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
abiding
|
|
| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
absurdities
|
|
| n.极端无理性( absurdity的名词复数 )；荒谬；谬论；荒谬的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
jocund
|
|
| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
flute
|
|
| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
humbugs
|
|
| 欺骗( humbug的名词复数 )； 虚伪； 骗子； 薄荷硬糖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
66
piazza
|
|
| n.广场；走廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
yearning
|
|
| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
testament
|
|
| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
diversified
|
|
| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |