Not until the second act did Col. Webster Calhoun appear upon the stage. When he made his entry Major Talbot gave an audible sniff2, glared at him, and seemed to freeze solid. Miss Lydia uttered a little, ambiguous squeak3 and crumpled4 her programme in her hand. For Colonel Calhoun was made up as nearly resembling Major Talbot as one pea does another. The long, thin white hair, curly at the ends, the aristocratic beak5 of a nose, the crumpled, wide, ravelling shirt front, the string tie, with the bow nearly under one ear, were almost exactly duplicated. And then, to clinch6 the imitation, he wore the twin to the major's supposed to be unparalleled coat. High-collared, baggy7, empire-waisted, ample-skirted, hanging a foot lower in front than behind, the garment could have been designed from no other pattern. From then on, the major and Miss Lydia sat bewitched, and saw the counterfeit8 presentment of a haughty10 Talbot "dragged," as the major afterward11 expressed it, "through the slanderous12 mire13 of a corrupt14 stage."
Mr. Hargraves had used his opportunities well. He had caught the major's little idiosyncrasies of speech, accent, and intonation15 and his pompous16 courtliness to perfection—exaggerating all to the purposes of the stage. When he performed that marvellous bow that the major fondly imagined to be the pink of all salutations, the audience sent forth17 a sudden round of hearty19 applause.
Miss Lydia sat immovable, not daring to glance toward her father. Sometimes her hand next to him would be laid against her cheek, as if to conceal20 the smile which, in spite of her disapproval21, she could not entirely22 suppress.
The culmination23 of Hargraves's audacious imitation took place in the third act. The scene is where Colonel Calhoun entertains a few of the neighbouring planters in his "den18."
Standing24 at a table in the centre of the stage, with his friends grouped about him, he delivers that inimitable, rambling25, character monologue26 so famous in "A Magnolia Flower," at the same time that he deftly27 makes juleps for the party.
Major Talbot, sitting quietly, but white with indignation, heard his best stories retold, his pet theories and hobbies advanced and expanded, and the dream of the "Anecdotes28 and Reminiscences" served, exaggerated and garbled30. His favourite narrative—that of his duel31 with Rathbone Culbertson—was not omitted, and it was delivered with more fire, egotism, and gusto than the major himself put into it.
The monologue concluded with a quaint32, delicious, witty33 little lecture on the art of concocting34 a julep, illustrated35 by the act. Here Major Talbot's delicate but showy science was reproduced to a hair's breadth—from his dainty handling of the fragrant36 weed—"the one-thousandth part of a grain too much pressure, gentlemen, and you extract the bitterness, instead of the aroma37, of this heaven-bestowed plant"—to his solicitous38 selection of the oaten straws.
At the close of the scene the audience raised a tumultuous roar of appreciation39. The portrayal40 of the type was so exact, so sure and thorough, that the leading characters in the play were forgotten. After repeated calls, Hargraves came before the curtain and bowed, his rather boyish face bright and flushed with the knowledge of success.
At last Miss Lydia turned and looked at the major. His thin nostrils41 were working like the gills of a fish. He laid both shaking hands upon the arms of his chair to rise.
"We will go, Lydia," he said chokingly. "This is an abominable—desecration."
Before he could rise, she pulled him back into his seat. "We will stay it out," she declared. "Do you want to advertise the copy by exhibiting the original coat?" So they remained to the end.
Hargraves's success must have kept him up late that night, for neither at the breakfast nor at the dinner table did he appear.
About three in the afternoon he tapped at the door of Major Talbot's study. The major opened it, and Hargraves walked in with his hands full of the morning papers—too full of his triumph to notice anything unusual in the major's demeanour.
"I put it all over 'em last night, major," he began exultantly42. "I had my inning, and, I think, scored. Here's what the Post says:
His conception and portrayal of the old-time Southern colonel, with his absurd grandiloquence43, his eccentric garb29, his quaint idioms and phrases, his moth-eaten pride of family, and his really kind heart, fastidious sense of honour, and lovable simplicity44, is the best delineation45 of a character role on the boards to-day. The coat worn by Colonel Calhoun is itself nothing less than an evolution of genius. Mr. Hargraves has captured his public.
"How does that sound, major, for a first nighter?"
"I had the honour"—the major's voice sounded ominously46 frigid—"of witnessing your very remarkable47 performance, sir, last night."
Hargraves looked disconcerted.
"You were there? I didn't know you ever—I didn't know you cared for the theatre. Oh, I say, Major Talbot," he exclaimed frankly48, "don't you be offended. I admit I did get a lot of pointers from you that helped me out wonderfully in the part. But it's a type, you know—not individual. The way the audience caught on shows that. Half the patrons of that theatre are Southerners. They recognized it."
"Mr. Hargraves," said the major, who had remained standing, "you have put upon me an unpardonable insult. You have burlesqued49 my person, grossly betrayed my confidence, and misused50 my hospitality. If I thought you possessed51 the faintest conception of what is the sign manual of a gentleman, or what is due one, I would call you out, sir, old as I am. I will ask you to leave the room, sir."
The actor appeared to be slightly bewildered, and seemed hardly to take in the full meaning of the old gentleman's words.
"I am truly sorry you took offence," he said regretfully. "Up here we don't look at things just as you people do. I know men who would buy out half the house to have their personality put on the stage so the public would recognize it."
"Perhaps not. I have a pretty good memory, major; let me quote a few lines from your book. In response to a toast at a banquet given in—Milledgeville, I believe—you uttered, and intend to have printed, these words:
The Northern man is utterly53 without sentiment or warmth except in so far as the feelings may be turned to his own commercial profit. He will suffer without resentment9 any imputation54 cast upon the honour of himself or his loved ones that does not bear with it the consequence of pecuniary55 loss. In his charity, he gives with a liberal hand; but it must be heralded56 with the trumpet57 and chronicled in brass58.
"Do you think that picture is fairer than the one you saw of Colonel Calhoun last night?"
"The description," said the major frowning, "is—not without grounds. Some exag—latitude must be allowed in public speaking."
"And in public acting," replied Hargraves.
"That is not the point," persisted the major, unrelenting. "It was a personal caricature. I positively59 decline to overlook it, sir."
"Major Talbot," said Hargraves, with a winning smile, "I wish you would understand me. I want you to know that I never dreamed of insulting you. In my profession, all life belongs to me. I take what I want, and what I can, and return it over the footlights. Now, if you will, let's let it go at that. I came in to see you about something else. We've been pretty good friends for some months, and I'm going to take the risk of offending you again. I know you are hard up for money—never mind how I found out; a boarding house is no place to keep such matters secret—and I want you to let me help you out of the pinch. I've been there often enough myself. I've been getting a fair salary all the season, and I've saved some money. You're welcome to a couple hundred—or even more—until you get—"
"Stop!" commanded the major, with his arm outstretched. "It seems that my book didn't lie, after all. You think your money salve will heal all the hurts of honour. Under no circumstances would I accept a loan from a casual acquaintance; and as to you, sir, I would starve before I would consider your insulting offer of a financial adjustment of the circumstances we have discussed. I beg to repeat my request relative to your quitting the apartment."
Hargraves took his departure without another word. He also left the house the same day, moving, as Mrs. Vardeman explained at the supper table, nearer the vicinity of the down-town theatre, where "A Magnolia Flower" was booked for a week's run.
Critical was the situation with Major Talbot and Miss Lydia. There was no one in Washington to whom the major's scruples60 allowed him to apply for a loan. Miss Lydia wrote a letter to Uncle Ralph, but it was doubtful whether that relative's constricted61 affairs would permit him to furnish help. The major was forced to make an apologetic address to Mrs. Vardeman regarding the delayed payment for board, referring to "delinquent62 rentals63" and "delayed remittances64" in a rather confused strain.
Deliverance came from an entirely unexpected source.
Late one afternoon the door maid came up and announced an old coloured man who wanted to see Major Talbot. The major asked that he be sent up to his study. Soon an old darkey appeared in the doorway65, with his hat in hand, bowing, and scraping with one clumsy foot. He was quite decently dressed in a baggy suit of black. His big, coarse shoes shone with a metallic66 lustre67 suggestive of stove polish. His bushy wool was gray—almost white. After middle life, it is difficult to estimate the age of a Negro. This one might have seen as many years as had Major Talbot.
"I be bound you don't know me, Mars' Pendleton," were his first words.
The major rose and came forward at the old, familiar style of address. It was one of the old plantation68 darkeys without a doubt; but they had been widely scattered69, and he could not recall the voice or face.
"I don't believe I do," he said kindly—"unless you will assist my memory."
"Wait a moment," said the major, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his fingers. He loved to recall everything connected with those beloved days. "Cindy's Mose," he reflected. "You worked among the horses—breaking the colts. Yes, I remember now. After the surrender, you took the name of—don't prompt me—Mitchell, and went to the West—to Nebraska."
"Yassir, yassir,"—the old man's face stretched with a delighted grin—"dat's him, dat's it. Newbraska. Dat's me—Mose Mitchell. Old Uncle Mose Mitchell, dey calls me now. Old mars', your pa, gimme a pah of dem mule71 colts when I lef' fur to staht me goin' with. You 'member dem colts, Mars' Pendleton?"
"I don't seem to recall the colts," said the major. "You know I was married the first year of the war and living at the old Follinsbee place. But sit down, sit down, Uncle Mose. I'm glad to see you. I hope you have prospered72."
Uncle Mose took a chair and laid his hat carefully on the floor beside it.
"Yassir; of late I done mouty famous. When I first got to Newbraska, dey folks come all roun' me to see dem mule colts. Dey ain't see no mules73 like dem in Newbraska. I sold dem mules for three hundred dollars. Yassir—three hundred.
"Den I open a blacksmith shop, suh, and made some money and bought some lan'. Me and my old 'oman done raised up seb'm chillun, and all doin' well 'cept two of 'em what died. Fo' year ago a railroad come along and staht a town slam ag'inst my lan', and, suh, Mars' Pendleton, Uncle Mose am worth leb'm thousand dollars in money, property, and lan'."
"And dat little baby of yo'n, Mars' Pendleton—one what you name Miss Lyddy—I be bound dat little tad done growed up tell nobody wouldn't know her."
The major stepped to the door and called: "Lydia, dear, will you come?"
Miss Lydia, looking quite grown up and a little worried, came in from her room.
"Dar, now! What'd I tell you? I knowed dat baby done be plum growed up. You don't 'member Uncle Mose, child?"
"This is Aunt Cindy's Mose, Lydia," explained the major. "He left Sunnymead for the West when you were two years old."
"Well," said Miss Lydia, "I can hardly be expected to remember you, Uncle Mose, at that age. And, as you say, I'm 'plum growed up,' and was a blessed long time ago. But I'm glad to see you, even if I can't remember you."
And she was. And so was the major. Something alive and tangible75 had come to link them with the happy past. The three sat and talked over the olden times, the major and Uncle Mose correcting or prompting each other as they reviewed the plantation scenes and days.
The major inquired what the old man was doing so far from his home.
"Uncle Mose am a delicate," he explained, "to de grand Baptis' convention in dis city. I never preached none, but bein' a residin' elder in de church, and able fur to pay my own expenses, dey sent me along."
"And how did you know we were in Washington?" inquired Miss Lydia.
"Dey's a cullud man works in de hotel whar I stops, what comes from Mobile. He told me he seen Mars' Pendleton comin' outen dish here house one mawnin'.
"What I come fur," continued Uncle Mose, reaching into his pocket—"besides de sight of home folks—was to pay Mars' Pendleton what I owes him."
"Owe me?" said the major, in surprise.
"Yassir—three hundred dollars." He handed the major a roll of bills. "When I lef' old mars' says: 'Take dem mule colts, Mose, and, if it be so you gits able, pay fur 'em'. Yassir—dem was his words. De war had done lef' old mars' po' hisself. Old mars' bein' 'long ago dead, de debt descends76 to Mars' Pendleton. Three hundred dollars. Uncle Mose is plenty able to pay now. When dat railroad buy my lan' I laid off to pay fur dem mules. Count de money, Mars' Pendleton. Dat's what I sold dem mules fur. Yassir."
Tears were in Major Talbot's eyes. He took Uncle Mose's hand and laid his other upon his shoulder.
"Dear, faithful, old servitor," he said in an unsteady voice, "I don't mind saying to you that 'Mars' Pendleton' spent his last dollar in the world a week ago. We will accept this money, Uncle Mose, since, in a way, it is a sort of payment, as well as a token of the loyalty77 and devotion of the old regime. Lydia, my dear, take the money. You are better fitted than I to manage its expenditure78."
"Take it, honey," said Uncle Mose. "Hit belongs to you. Hit's Talbot money."
After Uncle Mose had gone, Miss Lydia had a good cry—for joy; and the major turned his face to a corner, and smoked his clay pipe volcanically79.
The succeeding days saw the Talbots restored to peace and ease. Miss Lydia's face lost its worried look. The major appeared in a new frock coat, in which he looked like a wax figure personifying the memory of his golden age. Another publisher who read the manuscript of the "Anecdotes and Reminiscences" thought that, with a little retouching and toning down of the high lights, he could make a really bright and salable80 volume of it. Altogether, the situation was comfortable, and not without the touch of hope that is often sweeter than arrived blessings81.
One day, about a week after their piece of good luck, a maid brought a letter for Miss Lydia to her room. The postmark showed that it was from New York. Not knowing any one there, Miss Lydia, in a mild flutter of wonder, sat down by her table and opened the letter with her scissors. This was what she read:
Dear Miss Talbot:
I thought you might be glad to learn of my good fortune. I have received and accepted an offer of two hundred dollars per week by a New York stock company to play Colonel Calhoun in "A Magnolia Flower."
There is something else I wanted you to know. I guess you'd better not tell Major Talbot. I was anxious to make him some amends82 for the great help he was to me in studying the part, and for the bad humour he was in about it. He refused to let me, so I did it anyhow. I could easily spare the three hundred.
Sincerely yours,
H. Hopkins Hargraves,
P.S. How did I play Uncle Mose?
Major Talbot, passing through the hall, saw Miss Lydia's door open and stopped.
"Any mail for us this morning, Lydia, dear?" he asked.
Miss Lydia slid the letter beneath a fold of her dress.
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收听单词发音
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1
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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beak
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| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
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clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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7
baggy
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| adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的 | |
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counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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slanderous
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| adj.诽谤的，中伤的 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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intonation
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| n.语调，声调；发声 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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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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culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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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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rambling
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| adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的 | |
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monologue
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| n.长篇大论，（戏剧等中的）独白 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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garbled
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| adj.（指信息）混乱的，引起误解的v.对（事实）歪曲，对（文章等）断章取义，窜改( garble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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concocting
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| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的现在分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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portrayal
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| n.饰演；描画 | |
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41
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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42
exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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43
grandiloquence
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| n.夸张之言，豪言壮语，豪语 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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delineation
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| n.记述；描写 | |
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ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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47
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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49
burlesqued
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| v.（嘲弄地）模仿，（通过模仿）取笑( burlesque的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
misused
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| v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用 | |
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51
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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52
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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53
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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54
imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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55
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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56
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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57
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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58
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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59
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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60
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61
constricted
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| adj.抑制的，约束的 | |
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62
delinquent
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| adj.犯法的，有过失的；n.违法者 | |
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63
rentals
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| n.租费，租金额( rental的名词复数 ) | |
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remittances
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| n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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mediately
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| 在中间，间接 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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descends
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| v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 )；下去；下降；下斜 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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volcanically
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| adv.火山似地，猛烈地 | |
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salable
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| adj.有销路的，适销的 | |
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81
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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