Mrs. Bellamy Bellmore arched a sympathetic eyebrow1. Thus she expressed condolence and a generous amount of apparent surprise.
"Fancy her telling everywhere," recapitulated2 Mrs. Kinsolving, "that she saw a ghost in the apartment she occupied here—our choicest guest-room—a ghost, carrying a hod on its shoulder—the ghost of an old man in overalls3, smoking a pipe and carrying a hod! The very absurdity4 of the thing shows her malicious5 intent. There never was a Kinsolving that carried a hod. Every one knows that Mr. Kinsolving's father accumulated his money by large building contracts, but he never worked a day with his own hands. He had this house built from his own plans; but—oh, a hod! Why need she have been so cruel and malicious?"
"It is really too bad," murmured Mrs. Bellmore, with an approving glance of her fine eyes about the vast chamber6 done in lilac and old gold. "And it was in this room she saw it! Oh, no, I'm not afraid of ghosts. Don't have the least fear on my account. I'm glad you put me in here. I think family ghosts so interesting! But, really, the story does sound a little inconsistent. I should have expected something better from Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins. Don't they carry bricks in hods? Why should a ghost bring bricks into a villa7 built of marble and stone? I'm so sorry, but it makes me think that age is beginning to tell upon Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins."
"This house," continued Mrs. Kinsolving, "was built upon the site of an old one used by the family during the Revolution. There wouldn't be anything strange in its having a ghost. And there was a Captain Kinsolving who fought in General Greene's army, though we've never been able to secure any papers to vouch8 for it. If there is to be a family ghost, why couldn't it have been his, instead of a bricklayer's?"
"The ghost of a Revolutionary ancestor wouldn't be a bad idea," agreed Mrs. Bellmore; "but you know how arbitrary and inconsiderate ghosts can be. Maybe, like love, they are 'engendered9 in the eye.' One advantage of those who see ghosts is that their stories can't be disproved. By a spiteful eye, a Revolutionary knapsack might easily be construed10 to be a hod. Dear Mrs. Kinsolving, think no more of it. I am sure it was a knapsack."
"But she told everybody!" mourned Mrs. Kinsolving, inconsolable. "She insisted upon the details. There is the pipe. And how are you going to get out of the overalls?"
"Shan't get into them," said Mrs. Bellmore, with a prettily11 suppressed yawn; "too stiff and wrinkly. Is that you, Felice? Prepare my bath, please. Do you dine at seven at Clifftop, Mrs. Kinsolving? So kind of you to run in for a chat before dinner! I love those little touches of informality with a guest. They give such a home flavour to a visit. So sorry; I must be dressing12. I am so indolent I always postpone13 it until the last moment."
Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins had been the first large plum that the Kinsolvings had drawn14 from the social pie. For a long time, the pie itself had been out of reach on a top shelf. But the purse and the pursuit had at last lowered it. Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins was the heliograph of the smart society parading corps15. The glitter of her wit and actions passed along the line, transmitting whatever was latest and most daring in the game of peep-show. Formerly16, her fame and leadership had been secure enough not to need the support of such artifices17 as handing around live frogs for favours at a cotillon. But, now, these things were necessary to the holding of her throne. Beside, middle age had come to preside, incongruous, at her capers18. The sensational19 papers had cut her space from a page to two columns. Her wit developed a sting; her manners became more rough and inconsiderate, as if she felt the royal necessity of establishing her autocracy20 by scorning the conventionalities that bound lesser22 potentates23.
To some pressure at the command of the Kinsolvings, she had yielded so far as to honour their house by her presence, for an evening and night. She had her revenge upon her hostess by relating, with grim enjoyment24 and sarcastic25 humour, her story of the vision carrying the hod. To that lady, in raptures26 at having penetrated27 thus far toward the coveted28 inner circle, the result came as a crushing disappointment. Everybody either sympathized or laughed, and there was little to choose between the two modes of expression.
But, later on, Mrs. Kinsolving's hopes and spirits were revived by the capture of a second and greater prize.
Mrs. Bellamy Bellmore had accepted an invitation to visit at Clifftop, and would remain for three days. Mrs. Bellmore was one of the younger matrons, whose beauty, descent, and wealth gave her a reserved seat in the holy of holies that required no strenuous29 bolstering30. She was generous enough thus to give Mrs. Kinsolving the accolade31 that was so poignantly32 desired; and, at the same time, she thought how much it would please Terence. Perhaps it would end by solving him.
Terence was Mrs. Kinsolving's son, aged33 twenty-nine, quite good-looking enough, and with two or three attractive and mysterious traits. For one, he was very devoted34 to his mother, and that was sufficiently35 odd to deserve notice. For others, he talked so little that it was irritating, and he seemed either very shy or very deep. Terence interested Mrs. Bellmore, because she was not sure which it was. She intended to study him a little longer, unless she forgot the matter. If he was only shy, she would abandon him, for shyness is a bore. If he was deep, she would also abandon him, for depth is precarious36.
On the afternoon of the third day of her visit, Terence hunted up Mrs. Bellmore, and found her in a nook actually looking at an album.
"It's so good of you," said he, "to come down here and retrieve37 the day for us. I suppose you have heard that Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins scuttled38 the ship before she left. She knocked a whole plank39 out of the bottom with a hod. My mother is grieving herself ill about it. Can't you manage to see a ghost for us while you are here, Mrs. Bellmore—a bang-up, swell40 ghost, with a coronet on his head and a cheque book under his arm?"
"That was a naughty old lady, Terence," said Mrs. Bellmore, "to tell such stories. Perhaps you gave her too much supper. Your mother doesn't really take it seriously, does she?"
"I think she does," answered Terence. "One would think every brick in the hod had dropped on her. It's a good mammy, and I don't like to see her worried. It's to be hoped that the ghost belongs to the hod-carriers' union, and will go out on a strike. If he doesn't, there will be no peace in this family."
"I'm sleeping in the ghost-chamber," said Mrs. Bellmore, pensively41. "But it's so nice I wouldn't change it, even if I were afraid, which I'm not. It wouldn't do for me to submit a counter story of a desirable, aristocratic shade, would it? I would do so, with pleasure, but it seems to me it would be too obviously an antidote42 for the other narrative43 to be effective."
"True," said Terence, running two fingers thoughtfully into his crisp, brown hair; "that would never do. How would it work to see the same ghost again, minus the overalls, and have gold bricks in the hod? That would elevate the spectre from degrading toil44 to a financial plane. Don't you think that would be respectable enough?"
"There was an ancestor who fought against the Britishers, wasn't there? Your mother said something to that effect."
"I believe so; one of those old chaps in raglan vests and golf trousers. I don't care a continental45 for a Continental, myself. But the mother has set her heart on pomp and heraldry and pyrotechnics, and I want her to be happy."
"You are a good boy, Terence," said Mrs. Bellmore, sweeping46 her silks close to one side of her, "not to beat your mother. Sit here by me, and let's look at the album, just as people used to do twenty years ago. Now, tell me about every one of them. Who is this tall, dignified47 gentleman leaning against the horizon, with one arm on the Corinthian column?"
"That old chap with the big feet?" inquired Terence, craning his neck. "That's great-uncle O'Brannigan. He used to keep a rathskeller on the Bowery."
"I asked you to sit down, Terence. If you are not going to amuse, or obey, me, I shall report in the morning that I saw a ghost wearing an apron48 and carrying schooners49 of beer. Now, that is better. To be shy, at your age, Terence, is a thing that you should blush to acknowledge."
At breakfast on the last morning of her visit, Mrs. Bellmore startled and entranced every one present by announcing positively50 that she had seen the ghost.
"Did it have a—a—a—?" Mrs. Kinsolving, in her suspense51 and agitation52, could not bring out the word.
"No, indeed—far from it."
There was a chorus of questions from others at the table. "Weren't you frightened?" "What did it do?" "How did it look?" "How was it dressed?" "Did it say anything?" "Didn't you scream?"
"I'll try to answer everything at once," said Mrs. Bellmore, heroically, "although I'm frightfully hungry. Something awakened53 me—I'm not sure whether it was a noise or a touch—and there stood the phantom54. I never burn a light at night, so the room was quite dark, but I saw it plainly. I wasn't dreaming. It was a tall man, all misty55 white from head to foot. It wore the full dress of the old Colonial days—powdered hair, baggy56 coat skirts, lace ruffles57, and a sword. It looked intangible and luminous58 in the dark, and moved without a sound. Yes, I was a little frightened at first—or startled, I should say. It was the first ghost I had ever seen. No, it didn't say anything. I didn't scream. I raised up on my elbow, and then it glided59 silently away, and disappeared when it reached the door."
Mrs. Kinsolving was in the seventh heaven. "The description is that of Captain Kinsolving, of General Greene's army, one of our ancestors," she said, in a voice that trembled with pride and relief. "I really think I must apologize for our ghostly relative, Mrs. Bellmore. I am afraid he must have badly disturbed your rest."
Terence sent a smile of pleased congratulation toward his mother. Attainment60 was Mrs. Kinsolving's, at last, and he loved to see her happy.
"I suppose I ought to be ashamed to confess," said Mrs. Bellmore, who was now enjoying her breakfast, "that I wasn't very much disturbed. I presume it would have been the customary thing to scream and faint, and have all of you running about in picturesque61 costumes. But, after the first alarm was over, I really couldn't work myself up to a panic. The ghost retired62 from the stage quietly and peacefully, after doing its little turn, and I went to sleep again."
Nearly all listened, politely accepted Mrs. Bellmore s story as a made-up affair, charitably offered as an offset63 to the unkind vision seen by Mrs. Fischer-Suympkins. But one or two present perceived that her assertions bore the genuine stamp of her own convictions. Truth and candour seemed to attend upon every word. Even a scoffer64 at ghosts—if he were very observant—would have been forced to admit that she had, at least in a very vivid dream, been honestly aware of the weird65 visitor.'
Soon Mrs. Bellmore's maid was packing. In two hours the auto21 would come to convey her to the station. As Terence was strolling upon the east piazza66, Mrs. Bellmore came up to him, with a confidential67 sparkle in her eye.
"I didn't wish to tell the others all of it," she said, "but I will tell you. In a way, I think you should be held responsible. Can you guess in what manner that ghost awakened me last night?"
"Rattled68 chains," suggested Terence, after some thought, "or groaned69? They usually do one or the other."
"Do you happen to know," continued Mrs. Bellmore, with sudden irrelevancy70, "if I resemble any one of the female relatives of your restless ancestor, Captain Kinsolving?"
"Don't think so," said Terence, with an extremely puzzled air. "Never heard of any of them being noted71 beauties."
"Then, why," said Mrs. Bellmore, looking the young man gravely in the eye, "should that ghost have kissed me, as I'm sure it did?"
"Heavens!" exclaimed Terence, in wide-eyed amazement72; "you don't mean that, Mrs. Bellmore! Did he actually kiss you?"
"I said it," corrected Mrs. Bellmore. "I hope the impersonal73 pronoun is correctly used."
"But why did you say I was responsible?"
"Because you are the only living male relative of the ghost."
"I see. 'Unto the third and fourth generation.' But, seriously, did he—did it—how do you—?"
"Know? How does any one know? I was asleep, and that is what awakened me, I'm almost certain."
"Almost?"
"Well, I awoke just as—oh, can't you understand what I mean? When anything arouses you suddenly, you are not positive whether you dreamed, or—and yet you know that— Dear me, Terence, must I dissect74 the most elementary sensations in order to accommodate your extremely practical intelligence?"
"But, about kissing ghosts, you know," said Terence, humbly75, "I require the most primary instruction. I never kissed a ghost. Is it—is it—?"
"The sensation," said Mrs. Bellmore, with deliberate, but slightly smiling, emphasis, "since you are seeking instruction, is a mingling76 of the material and the spiritual."
"Of course," said Terence, suddenly growing serious, "it was a dream or some kind of an hallucination. Nobody believes in spirits, these days. If you told the tale out of kindness of heart, Mrs. Bellmore, I can't express how grateful I am to you. It has made my mother supremely77 happy. That Revolutionary ancestor was a stunning78 idea."
Mrs. Bellmore sighed. "The usual fate of ghost-seers is mine," she said, resignedly. "My privileged encounter with a spirit is attributed to lobster79 salad or mendacity. Well, I have, at least, one memory left from the wreck—a kiss from the unseen world. Was Captain Kinsolving a very brave man, do you know, Terence?"
"He was licked at Yorktown, I believe," said Terence, reflecting. "They say he skedaddled with his company, after the first battle there."
"I thought he must have been timid," said Mrs. Bellmore, absently. "He might have had another."
"Another battle?" asked Terence, dully.
"What else could I mean? I must go and get ready now; the auto will be here in an hour. I've enjoyed Clifftop immensely. Such a lovely morning, isn't it, Terence?"
On her way to the station, Mrs. Bellmore took from her bag a silk handkerchief, and looked at it with a little peculiar80 smile. Then she tied it in several very hard knots, and threw it, at a convenient moment, over the edge of the cliff along which the road ran.
In his room, Terence was giving some directions to his man, Brooks81. "Have this stuff done up in a parcel," he said, "and ship it to the address on that card."
The card was that of a New York costumer. The "stuff" was a gentleman's costume of the days of '76, made of white satin, with silver buckles82, white silk stockings, and white kid shoes. A powdered wig83 and a sword completed the dress.
"And look about, Brooks," added Terence, a little anxiously, "for a silk handkerchief with my initials in one corner. I must have dropped it somewhere."
It was a month later when Mrs. Bellmore and one or two others of the smart crowd were making up a list of names for a coaching trip through the Catskills. Mrs. Bellmore looked over the list for a final censoring84. The name of Terence Kinsolving was there. Mrs. Bellmore ran her prohibitive pencil lightly through the name.
"Too shy!" she murmured, sweetly, in explanation.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
eyebrow
|
|
| n.眉毛，眉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
recapitulated
|
|
| v.总结，扼要重述( recapitulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
overalls
|
|
| n.（复）工装裤；长罩衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
absurdity
|
|
| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
villa
|
|
| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
vouch
|
|
| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
engendered
|
|
| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
construed
|
|
| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
prettily
|
|
| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
postpone
|
|
| v.延期，推迟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
corps
|
|
| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
artifices
|
|
| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
capers
|
|
| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sensational
|
|
| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
autocracy
|
|
| n.独裁政治，独裁政府 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
auto
|
|
| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lesser
|
|
| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
potentates
|
|
| n.君主，统治者( potentate的名词复数 )；有权势的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sarcastic
|
|
| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
raptures
|
|
| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
penetrated
|
|
| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
coveted
|
|
| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
bolstering
|
|
| v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
accolade
|
|
| n.推崇备至，赞扬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
poignantly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
precarious
|
|
| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
retrieve
|
|
| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
scuttled
|
|
| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
plank
|
|
| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
pensively
|
|
| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
antidote
|
|
| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
continental
|
|
| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
schooners
|
|
| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
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： |
|
|
|
|
54
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
baggy
|
|
| adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ruffles
|
|
| 褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
luminous
|
|
| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
attainment
|
|
| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
offset
|
|
| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
scoffer
|
|
| 嘲笑者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
piazza
|
|
| n.广场；走廊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
confidential
|
|
| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
rattled
|
|
| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
irrelevancy
|
|
| n.不恰当，离题，不相干的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
71
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
impersonal
|
|
| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
dissect
|
|
| v.分割；解剖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
supremely
|
|
| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
stunning
|
|
| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
lobster
|
|
| n.龙虾，龙虾肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
brooks
|
|
| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
buckles
|
|
| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
wig
|
|
| n.假发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
censoring
|
|
| 删剪（书籍、电影等中被认为犯忌、违反道德或政治上危险的内容）( censor的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |