The setting sun shed its bright tints1 over the snow which lay thick upon the ground, making it glisten2 like diamonds, the cold was intense, and a bitter wind howled through the leafless trees, when the train arrived at M----, and Isabel almost benumbed with cold, procured3 a conveyance4 from the station to the Rock Hotel, where Mrs. Arlington had promised to send for her.
On arriving at the hotel, she found the sleigh waiting punctual to the time appointed. Isabel would gladly have partaken of some refreshment5, but Mrs. Arnold had informed her, that Mrs. Arlington was very particular, and to have kept the horses standing6, Isabel felt would have offended her, which she was very anxious to avoid although she was shivering with cold.
It was a long drive of twelve miles to Elm Grove7, but the horses went at a great speed, and in less than an hour they arrived at their destination. As they drew up at the door, it was opened by a footman, and a woman who seemed to be an upper servant met her in the hall, and conducted her to her room.
"I suppose you would like some tea Miss," she said "I will order it while you are taking off your things, and then I will show you the school-room. Mrs. Arlington and the young ladies are dressing8 for a ball, so they cannot see you to-night."
When Norris had left the room, Isabel sat down with a sigh, and looked about to see what kind of accommodation she was to have. It was a nice sized room, with a bay window having an eastern aspect, at which the wind was now howling with great violence. It was neatly9, but plainly furnished, the fire had burnt low, and the room was cold. She took off her things as quickly as possible, and sincerely hoped that the school-room would be more comfortable.
Norris soon returned, and Isabel desiring her to have more fuel put upon the fire descended11 to the school-room, which she found very bright and pleasant looking, the large fire and lamp making it look quite attractive.
The tea was on the table, and Norris after saying "if you want anything Miss, please ring for Susan," left the room. Isabel was very glad to have some refreshment after her cold drive, and when she rang to have the things removed, the bell was answered by a neat, pleasant looking girl, who had such a sunny face that it did one good to look at her, and presently a sweet little girl of about seven years old came running into the room, and going up to Isabel, said "you are our new governess are you not. I think I shall like you very much, but I can't stay now, for Eliza is waiting to put me to bed, but I did so want to see you to-night. Good night!" and throwing her arms round Isabel's neck, she gave her a hearty12 kiss, and disappeared as quickly as she came. When Isabel returned to her room she had no cause to complain of the fire which was piled to the top of the grate.
When she awoke next morning it seemed very strange to be where she had not the least idea what any of the family were like. After dressing and arranging some of her things, she sat down to contemplate13 her situation, which she found anything but pleasant, so she determined14 to descend10 to the school-room.
The door was open, and as she approached she overheard little Amy saying "she is the prettiest lady I ever saw, only she looks so pale and sad." Isabel found three little girls in the room, of whom Amy was the youngest. Amy greeted her in the same cordial manner she had done on the preceding evening, the other two rose saying "good morning Miss Leicester," but when she stooped to kiss them, Alice sulkily put up her face, and Rose laughed. "Fancy, Miss Manning kissing us" she whispered to her sister. "Hush15!" returned Alice, "she will hear."
Isabel spoke16 kindly17 to them, but Alice only returned unwilling18, and Rose pert answers, so the breakfast was a dull unpleasant affair, and Isabel perceived they regarded the governess in the light of an enemy; even little Amy became shy and uneasy.
After breakfast Rose informed her that they always had half an hour before school for a run out of doors. As they were departing little Amy ran back, and coming close up to Isabel whispered "don't cry Miss Leicester, I love you, indeed I do," for Amy had noticed the tears that would come in spite of her efforts to repress them. Isabel drew the child to her, and kissing her pretty upturned face, told her to go with the others.
Amy had scarcely gone, when Mrs. Arlington entered. She was tall and stately, rather cold and haughty19, and very dignified20 and patronizing in her manner. She hoped Miss Leicester had been made comfortable, and was sure that she would like the children. She then informed her that the school hours were from nine until four, with an hour for dinner, then she would have to take them for a walk, after that her time was her own. She would take her meals with the children, but she would be happy to have her come into the drawing-room occasionally in the evening. She said that her own time was so much occupied with her elder daughters, that she was forced to leave the children entirely21 to the governess, but, that as Mrs. Arnold had so strongly recommended her she felt sure she should be satisfied, then bidding Miss Leicester a polite good morning, she swept majestically22 from the room.
Poor Isabel, she had not expected quite so much dignity, and was excessively annoyed. "Take the children for walks," that was a thing she had not thought of, and she did not relish23 the idea and as to going into the drawing-room, she could very well dispense24 with that. She was not aware that Mrs. Arlington intended her accomplished25 young governess to help to amuse her guests. Excessively annoyed, Isabel repaired to her own room to calm her ruffled26 feelings.
At nine o'clock she went to the school-room and found her pupils there already, also a very pretty girl of about seventeen, whom they were coaxing27 to tell them about the ball. As Isabel entered the room, Amy exclaimed, "Miss Leicester this is Emily!" Then Emily laughed merrily, and held out her hand saying, "I hope we shall be good friends Miss Leicester, I'm sorry we were out last night."
"Oh! Emily, I'm sure you wanted very much to go to the ball, and you just now said that you enjoyed yourself exceedingly," said Alice gravely.
"I didn't mean that you silly child, returned Emily, but I am intruding28 upon school hours I fear, so if you will allow me Miss Leicester I will come for a chat before dinner."
Isabel bowed assent29 and Emily retired30, rather annoyed that her advances had not met with a warmer reception. Shortly after Emily's departure, a tall and very elegant looking girl of about twenty entered the room, and bowing condescendingly to Isabel, said, "have the goodness to try these songs Miss Leicester, I wish to know if there are any pretty ones among them, I would not trouble you only I am so excessively tired" she added, taking the most comfortable seat the room afforded; this was done in the most easy manner possible, precluding31 of course the idea that it was by design. Miss Arlington upon entering any room, immediately perceived the nicest place, and having seen, at once took possession with an easy indifference32, as if totally unconscious that she was monopolizing33 the best place. Isabel complied with her request, tho' not best pleased with the interruption.
"You sing very nicely Miss Leicester," Miss Arlington said patronizingly.
Isabel's lip curled contemptuously, she presumed so when the crowded room had been hushed to perfect silence whenever she approached the piano, and when she ceased singing, the murmured praise and applause on all sides had sent the hot blood to her cheeks, and this not once or twice, but scores of times--she needed not to be told that she sang nicely.
"She sings much better than you do Grace," said Rose pertly.
"Don't be rude, Rose," replied Grace, haughtily34, "Miss Leicester will have some trouble with you I imagine," then thanking Isabel, she left the room excessively annoyed with Rose.
The lessons proceeded, and Isabel thought that Alice and Rose must alter their manners greatly before she could take any interest in teaching them. It was evident that they had not been treated kindly by their last governess. Alice sulked so much, and Rose was so pert, that Isabel found it difficult to keep her temper, and when tea was over, her head ached so severely35, and she felt so tired and miserable36, that she retired to her room, and locking herself in gave way to irrepressible emotion, while she thought that she should indeed be unhappy in her new position.
Presently some one knocked at the door, but vexed37 at the interruption, and not wishing to be seen giving way to her feelings, Isabel took no notice. As the knocking continued unanswered, a soft voice pleaded for admittance. On opening the door, she found it was Emily, and not Amy, as she expected.
"I hope you will excuse me," she said, "but not finding you in the school-room I came after you, as I knew that I should not have any other opportunity this evening."
Isabel was very much confused, but Emily sat down by her side, telling her how very much she felt for her, and how she hoped she would consider her a friend. "Mrs. Arnold wrote and told me all about you" she said, "and dear Isabel I will do all in my power to make you happy."
"You must not say that, you must not think so," exclaimed Emily. "You must come into the drawing-room with us, and that will cheer you up a bit. I know you will like papa. Elm Grove looks dreary39 now, but in summer it is delightful40. Then, I always get up early and go for a ramble41 before breakfast, if I can only get any one to go with me, and I feel sure you will go with me next summer. I think I shall breakfast with you, I can't wait for mama's late breakfast, but I would sooner have gone without altogether, than have taken it with Miss Manning. I only left school you know a few weeks ago, and I like a little fun. I know I make the children very outrageous42 sometimes, but then, you know I could not behave at all like a fashionable young lady in the evening, if I did not get rid of some of my wild spirits before hand. By-the-bye," she cried, laughing, "I believe you will have to teach me manners, Miss Massie pronounced me quite incorrigible43, my sister is a perfect model according to her idea, but I could never be like Grace, I think mamma has given up all thought of it."
"I don't know about teaching you manners, but I must try what I can do with Alice and Rose, they are sadly deficient44 even in politeness."
"Ah, you have found that out already have you," cried Emily laughing.
Isabel colored, and murmured something about forgetting who she was speaking to. "O you needn't mind, I like people who say what they think" said Emily, "besides that is just what papa says about them, but you must own that Amy is a nice little thing, I don't think she could be rude or unkind."
"Yes Amy is a sweet child."
"It will not be quite so dull here next week, for Everard is coming home. I do wish so much for you to see him, he is my idea of perfection as far as attainable45 in human nature. Oh! he's so handsome, and such a dear nice fellow, I'm sure you will like him."
"You can't help seeing them, they are as clear as daylight," returned Emily, warmly. "What do you think he asked me in his last letter--to tell him what sort of a gorgon47 the new governess was, so as I wrote to-day, I said she was beyond all description, and not to be compared with Miss Manning, so if he does not imagine something awful its very strange, (Isabel did not look well pleased) I hope you wont48 mind; it was such a nice opportunity for a trick, but it is time I dressed for dinner, dear me how tiresome49, and away she bounded. What a funny girl, thought Isabel, I wonder if I shall like her, at all events she means to be kind.
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收听单词发音
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1
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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glisten
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| vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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4
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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5
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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6
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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7
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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11
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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12
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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13
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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16
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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17
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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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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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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23
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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24
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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25
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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27
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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28
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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29
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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30
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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31
precluding
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| v.阻止( preclude的现在分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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32
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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33
monopolizing
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| v.垄断( monopolize的现在分词 )；独占；专卖；专营 | |
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34
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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35
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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36
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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37
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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38
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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39
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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40
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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41
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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42
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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43
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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44
deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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45
attainable
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| a.可达到的，可获得的 | |
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46
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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47
gorgon
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| n.丑陋女人，蛇发女怪 | |
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48
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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49
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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