小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 经典英文小说 » The Peacock Feather A Romance » CANDLES AND MASSES II
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CANDLES AND MASSES II
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 Muriel made more than one further journey to the Oratory1 to explain matters to St. Joseph, on each occasion presenting that delightful2 saint with a candle. The first time—subsequent to Anne’s confession—that she went to the Oratory she gave him two, one being for thanksgiving.
 
Also she invited Father O’Sullivan to tea on an occasion when Tommy, by Muriel’s suggestion, had taken Anne to skate at Prince’s.
 
Father O’Sullivan was a short, stoutish3 man, with grizzled hair, small twinkling eyes, and a mouth that had the kindliest twist of a smile imaginable. To know Father O’Sullivan for an hour was to love him. To know him for longer was to love him better. Muriel had known him from her babyhood.
 
This afternoon, having invited him to tea, she plied4 him with cakes and quince sandwiches, which latter his soul adored, and talked in a gay and inconsequent fashion of airy nothings, to which Father O’Sullivan responded after the manner of Irishmen, be they priests or laymen5.
 
But on the conclusion of the meal she dropped into a pensive6 mood, and sat with her elbow on the arm of her chair, and her pointed7 chin resting in her cupped hand, gazing into space with great dreamy eyes.
 
And then all at once she roused herself and looked across at Father O’Sullivan.
 
“Father,” she said seriously, “I want you to say a Mass for me.”
 
“You do, do you?” said Father O’Sullivan, stroking his chin. “And with what intention?”
 
“Well,” said Muriel, reflective, “it’s not quite easy to explain. I think I’d better tell you the story.” And she launched forth8, omitting names at the moment, though at a future date she happened inadvertently to mention Peter’s.
 
“Well, now,” said Father O’Sullivan as she ended, and his eyes were twinkling, “is it just a little small story like that you’d have me be repeating at Mass, for I’m thinking it will take just no time at all.”
 
“Oh, don’t laugh at me!” begged Muriel. “Don’t you see how difficult it is to put into words what I want!” She dropped her hands in her lap and gazed at him tragically9.
 
“Well, but have a try,” urged Father O’Sullivan. “Perhaps I can be helping10 you out.”
 
“First, then,” said Muriel, “I want her to be happy again, and I don’t see how that can be unless she hears from him, and even that alone would be no good, because I’m sure to be really happy she’d have to marry him, and you see he has committed forgery11. If only that could be untrue—but it’s impossible, and I don’t see how anything can come right,” she ended despairingly.
 
Father O’Sullivan rubbed his hair up the wrong way. “And it’s a Mass with the intention of things coming right you want me to say, when all the time you’re feeling sure they can’t,” he remarked severely12. “And if I’m going to say it that way myself, what kind of faith do you think I’m going to have in it?”
 
Muriel looked at him contritely13. “But don’t you see—” she began.
 
“Oh, I see fast enough,” he responded. “Let’s get at what you want the other way round. To begin with, you want the young man never to have committed the forgery, and then you want to run through the whole gamut14 till they live happily ever after. And all the time you’re wishing it, and wanting me to pray for it, you’re telling yourself it can’t be. Isn’t that so?” His twinkling old eyes belied15 the half-severity of his words.
 
“Oh, but,” said Muriel, “it’s—it’s such a lot to ask.”
 
Father O’Sullivan leaned forward and tapped the forefinger16 of his right hand in the palm of his left.
 
“Faith, my child, is not asking God for bushels and setting out a pint17 measure to catch them in. It’s a good old saying, but not my own, more’s the pity of it. Now, do you want me to say this Mass for you with the intention we’ve arranged?”
 
“Yes,” said Muriel firmly.
 
“And you’ll come to it, and believe that it will be answered, whether in your way or God’s you leave to Him?” he asked gravely.
 
“Yes,” said Muriel again.
 
Father O’Sullivan nodded his head approvingly. “To-morrow morning at eight o’clock I’ll be saying it then,” he said, “and you’ll be praying too.” He leaned back in his chair.
 
“Of course,” ventured Muriel, “it’s rather a complicated thing to put into words.”
 
Father O’Sullivan smiled, a merry, twinkling humorous old smile. “Faith, I’ll be getting it into some kind of shape,” he promised. “And if we could hear all the prayers sent up to heaven I’m thinking we’d find many a muddled18 phrase down here straightened out by the holy saints as they carry them up to God’s Throne. And no matter what the muddles19 are, the answer’s clear enough when it comes.”
 
And then the door opened and Anne, Tommy, and General Carden walked in.
 
Muriel gave a little gasp20. “I thought you were having tea at Prince’s,” she said.
 
And Father O’Sullivan, as he watched her face with wicked pleasure, realized—and it did not take a vast amount of sagacity to do so—that one at least of the three was concerned with the story she had just confided21 to his ears. And as it obviously was not Tommy, and he concluded he might rule out the white-haired military-looking man, it left only the tall, graceful22 woman who crossed to a chair by Muriel and began pulling off her gloves.
 
“We got bored,” said Tommy; “at least Anne did, and we decided23 to come home to tea. And we met General Carden on the doorstep, and here we all are. And if you’re too flustered24 for some reason to introduce everybody nicely, I will.”
 
“Don’t be silly, Tommy,” said Muriel, laughing and recovering her equanimity25. “Ring the bell, and we’ll have fresh tea made.”
 
“No need,” said Tommy. “I saw Morris in the hall and told him.” And he sat down by Father O’Sullivan. General Carden took a chair near Anne.
 
“I was sorry not to find you at home when I called last Thursday,” he said. “Your servant told me you were at home on Tuesdays.”
 
“Yes,” said Anne. She hesitated, half doubtful. Then she added: “But perhaps you’ll come another afternoon? At-home days are not very satisfactory. Shall we say Wednesday?”
 
“I shall be delighted,” returned General Carden. “We had, if I remember rightly, a long argument the last time we met, about a book. Let me see, what was the author’s name?” He wrinkled his brows, reflective, thoughtful.
 
Anne turned to put her gloves on the table beside her. “Robin Adair, wasn’t it?” she asked quietly.
 
“Ah, yes, of course!” replied the old hypocrite.
 
Muriel glanced at Anne. “I wish,” she reflected with admiration26, “that I could act as well. I nearly gave myself away just now, when they all descended27 on me like an avalanche28. And I’d bet my bottom dollar Father O’Sullivan guessed something.” Which bet, if there had been any one to take her on, Muriel would certainly have won.
 
Anne, as she drove towards Chelsea half an hour later, wondered vaguely29 why she had asked General Carden to tea with her. Finally she decided that it was for the obvious reason that he wanted to come, and she would have been rude if she had not done so.
 
And Father O’Sullivan, as he walked home, ruminated30 on the tangled31 story Muriel had told him. It was only one of the many tangles32 in the world, and he knew it, but it had been brought directly to his notice, and he had a very simple and perfect faith that the good God would unravel33 the knots in His own way and at His own time.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 oratory HJ7xv     
n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞
参考例句:
  • I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
  • He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。
2 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的
参考例句:
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
3 stoutish d8877d21cc2a1d6febe8fdd65163c0cf     
略胖的
参考例句:
  • There was a knock on the door and a large stoutish man stepped in. 门上敲了一下,一个身材魁梧、略为发胖的男人走了进来。
4 plied b7ead3bc998f9e23c56a4a7931daf4ab     
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意
参考例句:
  • They plied me with questions about my visit to England. 他们不断地询问我的英国之行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They plied us with tea and cakes. 他们一个劲儿地让我们喝茶、吃糕饼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 laymen 4eba2aede66235aa178de00c37728cba     
门外汉,外行人( layman的名词复数 ); 普通教徒(有别于神职人员)
参考例句:
  • a book written for professionals and laymen alike 一本内行外行都可以读的书
  • Avoid computer jargon when you write for laymen. 写东西给一般人看时,应避免使用电脑术语。
6 pensive 2uTys     
a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的
参考例句:
  • He looked suddenly sombre,pensive.他突然看起来很阴郁,一副忧虑的样子。
  • He became so pensive that she didn't like to break into his thought.他陷入沉思之中,她不想打断他的思路。
7 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
8 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
9 tragically 7bc94e82e1e513c38f4a9dea83dc8681     
adv. 悲剧地,悲惨地
参考例句:
  • Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
  • Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。
10 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
11 forgery TgtzU     
n.伪造的文件等,赝品,伪造(行为)
参考例句:
  • The painting was a forgery.这张画是赝品。
  • He was sent to prison for forgery.他因伪造罪而被关进监狱。
12 severely SiCzmk     
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
参考例句:
  • He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
  • He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
13 contritely 3ab449eb7416f0b47d0891f1aca396c2     
参考例句:
14 gamut HzJyL     
n.全音阶,(一领域的)全部知识
参考例句:
  • The exhibition runs the whole gamut of artistic styles.这次展览包括了所有艺术风格的作品。
  • This poem runs the gamut of emotions from despair to joy.这首诗展现了从绝望到喜悦的感情历程。
15 belied 18aef4d6637b7968f93a3bc35d884c1c     
v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 );证明(或显示)…为虚假;辜负;就…扯谎
参考例句:
  • His bluff exterior belied a connoisseur of antiques. 他作风粗放,令人看不出他是古董鉴赏家。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Her smile belied her true feelings. 她的微笑掩饰了她的真实感情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句:
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
17 pint 1NNxL     
n.品脱
参考例句:
  • I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
  • In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前,花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。
18 muddled cb3d0169d47a84e95c0dfa5c4d744221     
adj.混乱的;糊涂的;头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱,弄糟( muddle的过去式);使糊涂;对付,混日子
参考例句:
  • He gets muddled when the teacher starts shouting. 老师一喊叫他就心烦意乱。
  • I got muddled up and took the wrong turning. 我稀里糊涂地拐错了弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 muddles 5016b2db86ad5279faf07c19b6318b49     
v.弄乱,弄糟( muddle的第三人称单数 );使糊涂;对付,混日子
参考例句:
  • Translation muddles model concepts, which leads to destructive refactoring of code. 这些转换混淆了模型的概念,可能导致重构代码时的失败。 来自互联网
  • A glass of whisky soon muddles him. 一杯威士忌很快就会把他醉得迷迷糊糊。 来自互联网
20 gasp UfxzL     
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说
参考例句:
  • She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
  • The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。
21 confided 724f3f12e93e38bec4dda1e47c06c3b1     
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等)
参考例句:
  • She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
  • He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露,他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
23 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
24 flustered b7071533c424b7fbe8eb745856b8c537     
adj.慌张的;激动不安的v.使慌乱,使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The honking of horns flustered the boy. 汽车喇叭的叫声使男孩感到慌乱。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. 她太紧张了,都忘记了该如何作答。 来自辞典例句
25 equanimity Z7Vyz     
n.沉着,镇定
参考例句:
  • She went again,and in so doing temporarily recovered her equanimity.她又去看了戏,而且这样一来又暂时恢复了她的平静。
  • The defeat was taken with equanimity by the leadership.领导层坦然地接受了失败。
26 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
27 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
28 avalanche 8ujzl     
n.雪崩,大量涌来
参考例句:
  • They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
  • Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。
29 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
30 ruminated d258d9ebf77d222f0216ae185d5a965a     
v.沉思( ruminate的过去式和过去分词 );反复考虑;反刍;倒嚼
参考例句:
  • In the article she ruminated about what recreations she would have. 她在文章里认真考虑了她应做些什么消遣活动。 来自辞典例句
  • He ruminated on his defenses before he should accost her father. 他在与她父亲搭话前,仔细地考虑着他的防范措施。 来自辞典例句
31 tangled e487ee1bc1477d6c2828d91e94c01c6e     
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了,我梳不动。
  • A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。
32 tangles 10e8ecf716bf751c5077f8b603b10006     
(使)缠结, (使)乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Long hair tangles easily. 长头发容易打结。
  • Tangles like this still interrupted their intercourse. 像这类纠缠不清的误会仍然妨碍着他们的交情。
33 unravel Ajzwo     
v.弄清楚(秘密);拆开,解开,松开
参考例句:
  • He was good with his hands and could unravel a knot or untangle yarn that others wouldn't even attempt.他的手很灵巧,其他人甚至都不敢尝试的一些难解的绳结或缠在一起的纱线,他都能解开。
  • This is the attitude that led him to unravel a mystery that long puzzled Chinese historians.正是这种态度使他解决了长期以来使中国历史学家们大惑不解的谜。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533