A smile--a pressure of the hand.
A reference to the stars above,
A "fly with me to some far land,"
A sigh as soft as coo of dove,
A kiss--the rest she'll understand.
Mr. Gelthrip, thinking no one but himself knew anything, had contradicted his clerical superior on some point connected with the introduction of printing into England, and the vicar in great wrath1 had carried off his dogmatic curate to the library in order to prove his case. The two elder ladies were talking about Sir Rupert as Mrs. Valpy had met him a few months previously2, and Mrs. Belswin was trying to find out all about her quondam husband, in order to strengthen her position as much as possible. At present she knew that she was entirely3 at the mercy of Sir Rupert, so if she could discover something detrimental4 to his character it might serve as a weapon against him. The scheme which she hoped to carry through with the assistance of Ferrari, was a dangerous one; and moreover, she was doubtful if the Italian would consent to aid her; therefore she was anxious to try all other methods of coercing5 her husband before resorting to the last and most terrible expedient6. She was a clever woman, was Mrs. Belswin, and the instinct for discovery, which she inherited from her savage7 grandparents, made her wonderfully acute in cross-examining simple Mrs. Valpy, who not comprehending the subtlety8 of her companion, told all she knew about the baronet in the most open manner. The result was not gratifying to Mrs. Belswin; for with all her dexterity9 in twisting, and turning and questioning, and hinting, she discovered nothing likely to compromise Sir Rupert in any way.
"It's no use," she thought, with a feeling of despair in her heart, "Rupert has it all his own way, and I can do nothing--nothing except----"
She smiled significantly, and simple Mrs. Valpy, seeing that the companion was looking at Toby and her daughter, who were amusing themselves at the piano, misinterpreted the smile, and therefore spoke10 according to her misinterpretation.
"They'll make a very happy couple, won't they, Mrs. Belswin?"
Mrs. Belswin, thus being appealed to, started, smiled politely, and assented11 with much outward show of interest to the remark of the old lady.
"It's so nice for Toby to have his home here," pursued Mrs. Valpy, with much satisfaction; "because, you know, our place is not far from the vicarage, so I shall not be parted from my daughter."
The other woman started, and laid her hand on her breast, as if to still the beating of her heart.
"Yes; it would be a terrible thing to part with your only child," she said in a low voice. "I know what the pain of such a separation is."
"You have parted from your child, then?" said Mrs. Valpy, sympathetically.
Mrs. Belswin clutched her throat, and gave an hysterical12 laugh.
"Well, no; not exactly;" she said, still in the same low voice; "but--but my little daughter--my little daughter died many years ago."
It was very hard for her to lie like this when her daughter was only a few yards away, chatting to Maxwell at the window; but Mrs. Belswin looked upon such necessary denial as punishment for her sins, and accepted it accordingly.
"I'm very sorry," observed Mrs. Valpy, with well-bred condolence. "Still, time brings consolation13."
"Not to all people."
"Oh, yes, I think so. Besides, now you have that dear girl, Kaituna, and she seems very fond of you."
"Yes."
She could say no more. The strangeness of the situation excited her to laughter, to that laughter which is very near tears, and she was afraid to speak lest she should break down.
"And then Sir Rupert will be so glad to find his daughter has such a good friend."
The mention of the hated name restored Mrs. Belswin to her usual self, and with a supercilious14 glance at the blundering woman who had so unconsciously wounded her, she answered in her ordinary manner--
"I hope so! But I'm afraid I shall not have an opportunity of seeing Sir Rupert at once, as I go to town shortly, on business."
"But you will return?"
"Oh, yes! of course I shall return, unless some unforeseen circumstances should arise. We are never certain of anything in the future, you know, Mrs. Valpy."
"No, perhaps not! At all events I think you will like Sir Rupert."
"Oh, do you think so?"
"I'm certain. Such a gentlemanly man. Quite young for his age. I wonder he does not marry again."
"Perhaps he had enough of matrimony with his first wife," said Mrs. Belswin, coolly.
"Was he, indeed?"
"Yes! Simply worshipped her. She died in New Zealand when Kaituna was a baby, I believe, and Sir Rupert told me how this loss had overshadowed his life."
The conversation was becoming a little difficult for her to carry on, as she dare not disclose herself yet, and did not care about exchanging complimentary19 remarks on the subject of a man she detested20 so heartily21.
At this moment Toby struck a chord on the piano, and Tommy burst out laughing, so, with ready wit, Mrs. Belswin made this interruption serve as an excuse to break off the conversation.
"The young people seem to be merry," she said to Mrs. Valpy, and rising to her feet, "I must go over and see what the joke is about."
Mrs. Valpy nodded sleepily, feeling somewhat drowsy23 after her dinner, so Mrs. Belswin, seeing she did not mind being left to her own devices, walked across to the piano and interrupted the two lovers, for which interruption, however, they did not feel profoundly grateful.
"Won't you sing something?" asked the companion, addressing Toby, "or you, Miss Valpy?"
"Oh, my songs are too much of the orthodox drawing-room' type," replied Miss Valpy, disparagingly24. "Now Toby is original in his ditties. Come, let's have a little chin-music, Toby!"
"Wherever do you learn such slang?" said Mrs. Belswin, with a smile.
"Toby."
"I! Oh, how can you? I speak the Queen's English."
"Do you really?" said Tommy, laughing. "Well, I at present speak the President's American, so go right along, stranger, and look slippy with the barrel organ."
"If your mother hears you," remonstrated25 Mrs. Belswin, "she will----"
"Yes, I know she will," retorted Tommy, imperturbably26; "but she's asleep and I'm awake, very much so. I say, Mrs. Belswin, where's Kaituna?"
"I think she's walking on the lawn with Mr. Maxwell."
"As a chaperon you should hunt them out," said Miss Valpy, mischievously27.
"Suppose I give the same advice to your mother," replied Mrs. Belswin, dryly.
"Don't," said Toby, in mock horror; "as you are strong be merciful."
"Certainly, if you sing something."
"What shall I sing?"
Toby laughed mischievously and began to sing--
No! no! no!
If I bolted would she miss me?
No! no! no!
She knows I haven't got a rap;
Besides, there is the other chap--
At him, not me, she sets her cap;
No! no! no!"
"Mr. Clendon," said Tommy, in a tone of dignified30 rebuke31, "we don't want any music-hall songs. If you can't sing something refined, don't sing at all."
"I must collect my ideas first," replied Toby, running his fingers over the piano. "Wait till the spirit moves me."
Mrs. Belswin had resumed her seat near the sleeping form of Mrs. Valpy, and was thinking deeply, though her thoughts, judging from the savage expression in her fierce eyes, did not seem to be very agreeable ones, while Tommy leaned over the piano watching Toby's face as he tried to seek inspiration from her smiles.
Outside on the short dry grass of the lawn, Kaituna was strolling, accompanied by Archie Maxwell. The grass extended for some distance in a gentle slope, and was encircled by tall trees, their heavy foliage32 drooping33 over the beds of flowers below. Beyond, the warm blue of the sky, sparkling with stars, and just over the trembling tree-tops the golden round of the moon. A gentle wind was blowing through the rustling34 leaves, bearing on its faint wings the rich odours of the flowers, and the lawn was strewn with aerial shadows that trembled with the trembling of the trees. Then the white walls of the vicarage, the sloping roof neutral tinted35 in the moonlight, the glimmer36 of the cold shine on the glass of the upstair windows, and below, the yellow warm light streaming out of the drawing-room casements37 on the gravelled walk, the lawn beyond, and the figures of the two lovers moving like black shadows through the magical light. A nightingale began to sing deliciously, hidden in the warm dusk of the leaves, then another bird in the distance answered the first. The hoot38 of an owl39 sounded faintly through the air, the sharp whirr of a cricket replied, and all the night seemed full of sweet sounds.
Kaituna sat down on a bench placed under the drawing-room windows, and Archie, standing40 beside her, lighted a cigarette after asking and obtaining the requisite41 permission. The voices of the vicar and his curate sounded in high dispute from the adjacent library; there was a murmur17 of conversation from within, where Mrs. Belswin was talking to the other lovers, and at intervals42 the sharp notes of the piano struck abruptly43 through the voices, the songs of the nightingale, and the charm of the night.
"What I miss very much in the sky here," said Kaituna, looking up at the stars, "is the Southern Cross."
"Yes; I have seen it myself," replied Archie, removing his cigarette. "You know I have travelled a great deal."
"And intend to travel still more!"
"Perhaps."
"You don't seem very sure, Mr. Maxwell. What about South America?"
"I thought I had told you that I had changed my mind about South America."
Kaituna flushed a little at the significance of his words, and cast down her eyes.
"I believe you said something about putting off your journey till the end of the year."
"I'll put it off altogether, if a certain event takes place."
"And that certain event?"
"Cannot you guess?"
Duplicity on the part of the woman, who knew perfectly44 well the event to which the young man referred.
"No, I am afraid I can't."
"Miss Pethram--Kaituna, I----"
It was only to gain time for reflection, as she knew that a declaration of love trembled on his lips, but with feminine coquetry could not help blowing hot to his cold.
And Toby was singing a bold martial46 song, with a curious accompaniment like the trotting47 of a horse--a song which thrilled through the listeners, with its fierce exultation48 and savage passion.
On God and his prophet I seven times called me;
I read it--thou wast to be bride to another;
I knew my betrayer, 'twas him I called brother,
Zulema! Zulema!
I sprang on my steed as he waited beside me,
Then rode through the desert with Allah to guide me;
Fierce blew the sirocco, its terrors were idle;
Zulema! Zulema!
I rode to the tent-door, your father's tribe knew me;
I dashed through the cowards--I met my betrayer,
Zulema! Zulema!
You ran from your dwelling--your father's spears missed me;
You sprang to my saddle with fervour to kiss me;
We broke through the press of your kinsfolk, my foemen;
I won thee, Zulema, so false was the omen;
Zulema! Zulema!
"Ah!" said Archie, with a long breath, when the fierce cry had rung out for the last time, "that is the way to win a bride."
Kaituna thought so too, although she did not make any remark, but the shrill53 savagery54 of the song had stirred her hereditary55 instincts profoundly, and even in the dim moonlight Archie could see the distension56 of her nostrils57, and the flash of excitement that sparkled in her eyes. It gave him an idea, and throwing himself on his knees, he began to woo her as fiercely and as freely as ever her dusky ancestors had been wooed in the virgin58 recesses59 of New Zealand woods.
"Kaituna, I love you! I love you. You must have seen it; you must know it. This is no time for timid protestations, for doubtful sighing. Give me your hands." He seized them in his strong grasp. "I am a man, and I must woo like a man. I love you! I love you! I wish you to be my wife. I am poor, but I am young, and with you beside me, I can do great things. Say that you will marry me."
"But my father!"
He sprang to his feet, still holding her hands, and drew her forcibly towards him.
"Your father may consent--he may refuse. I do not care for his consent or his refusal. Say you will be my wife, and no human being shall come between us. I have no money. I will gain a fortune for you. I have no home--I will make one for you. Youth, love, and God are on our side, and we are made the one for the other. You must not say no! You shall not say no. You are the woman needed to complete my life; and God has given you to me. Lay aside your coquetry, your hesitations60, your fears. Speak boldly to me as I do to you. Let no false modesty--no false pride--no maidenly61 dread62 come between us. I love you, Kaituna. Will you be my wife?"
There was something in this akin63 to the fierce wooing of primeval man. All the artificial restraints of civilisation64 were laid aside. The doubts, the fears, the looks, the shrinkings, all these safeguards and shields of nervous natures had vanished before this whirlwind of passion, which bore down such feeble barriers set between man and woman. As his eyes ardent65 with love, passionate66 with longing67, flashed into her own she felt her bosom68 thrill, her blood rush rapidly through her veins69, and, with an inarticulate cry, wherein all the instincts she had inherited from her Maori ancestors broke forth70, she flung herself on his heaving breast.
"Kaituna!"
"Yes! yes! take me I take me! I am yours, and yours only."
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收听单词发音
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1
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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4
detrimental
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| adj.损害的，造成伤害的 | |
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5
coercing
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| v.迫使做( coerce的现在分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
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6
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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7
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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8
subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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9
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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10
spoke
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| 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 | |
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11
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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13
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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14
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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15
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devotedly
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| 专心地； 恩爱地； 忠实地； 一心一意地 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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18
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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20
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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22
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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23
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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24
disparagingly
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| adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度 | |
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25
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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26
imperturbably
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| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
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27
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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28
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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29
mashed
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| a.捣烂的 | |
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30
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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31
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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32
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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33
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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35
tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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37
casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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38
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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39
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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40
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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41
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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42
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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43
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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45
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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46
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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47
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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48
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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49
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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50
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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51
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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52
slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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53
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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54
savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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56
distension
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| n.扩张，膨胀(distention) | |
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57
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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58
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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59
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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60
hesitations
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| n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 )；踌躇；犹豫（之事或行为）；口吃 | |
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61
maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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62
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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63
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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64
civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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65
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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66
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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67
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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68
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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69
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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70
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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