"What makes you look so sad Everard; Isabel was not much hurt; not hurt at all I may say."
"I was not thinking of her just now Emmy," he answered smiling, but the smile passed away, and left his face very sad indeed.
"What is it Evvie," she asked in the old coaxing1 way, seating herself beside him on the seat round the old Elm tree.
"I was thinking of Grace," he replied "you can't think how her keeping away pains me."
"I wouldn't think of it, if I were you, it is very mean and ill-natured of her, but she will get over her huff after a while."
"That would be all very well, if I were going to remain here, but you know how soon I go and----"
"Oh Everard," (Emmy could not contemplate2 this event with composure) "Oh Everard, I can't bear you to go, and she threw her arms round his neck, weeping passionately3.
His sisters were not much given to tears, this one in particular, the brightest of them all, so that this genuine bust4 of grief was the more perplexing.
He was endeavouring in vain to soothe5 her, when little Emmy came upon the scene, and seeing her mamma in trouble, she set up a terrific howling, and running at Everard, she seized his coat to steady herself and commenced to kick him with all the force she could muster6, exclaiming "naughty, naughty, to make my mamma cry."
This warlike attack upon her brother set Emily laughing, while he feigned7 to be desperately8 hurt by the tiny feet at which the round blue eyes grew wonderfully well satisfied. Isabel now joined them alarmed by the cries of her little playmate. Emmy looking very brave scrambled9 upon mamma's knee, from whence she darted10 very defiant11 glances at her uncle.
"I think I will go to Ashton Park" said Everard.
"Do you think that it will do any good" asked Emily.
"I hope so, Grace is not bad hearted, only vexed12, besides, I should wish to leave on good terms with the old lady."
"I have no doubt that she pities you immensely." Everard laughed "I will go now" he said, "and we hope you may be successful" returned both warmly.
"Good evening Lady Ashton" said Everard when he arrived at the Park; entering the drawing-room from the lawn.
"Oh is that you, you poor unfortunate boy," returned her ladyship compassionately13.
"Pray spare your pity, for some more deserving individual," answered Everard laughing, "I think myself the most fortunate of mortals."
"Don't come to me with your nonsense, you are very silly, and have behaved in a most dishonorable manner towards your family."
"Will you be kind enough to state in what way," replied Everard colouring, "I confess I can't see it."
"Why, in offering to that governess girl."
"You are severe."
"Oh I haven't patience with you; my sympathy is all with poor Grace, who feels quite disgraced by it."
"She cannot think so, seriously, or if she does, she ought to be ashamed.
"Hoighty, toighty, how we are coming the parson to-night."
"Pshaw," exclaimed Everard impatiently.
"I think she is justly angry and aggrieved14. Of course in receiving so young and pretty a girl, as governess for your sisters, (for I allow that she is pretty.) "Oh you do," said Everard sarcastically15. "Your mother" continued Lady Ashton "relied upon your honorable feelings, and good sense, but you have abused her confidence in a most cruel manner."
The swelling16 veins17, and heavy breathing showed how annoyed he was, and he answered warmly, "I deny having done anything wrong or dishonorable, I presume that I have a perfect right to choose for myself."
"To a certain extent I grant, but you owe something to the feelings of your family."
"They have no cause of complaint, Isabel is quite their equal if not superior."
"In your estimation," said Lady Ashton contemptuously.
"Reverse the matter, how would you like it, if Grace was going to marry a tutor."
"I doubt it," cried Lady Ashton angrily. Then she commenced aspersing20 Isabel in every way, and Everard hotly defended her. "Nasty, artful, designing girl, you will live to repent21 your folly22 yet," she said. Then Everard got in a terrible passion newly ordained23 though he was. But Lady Ashton was a woman, and Everard Arlington never forgot when he was in the presence of ladies, so though they most decidedly quarrelled, Everard saying some pretty severe things, he managed to keep the cooler of the two, Lady Ashton being as spiteful as only Lady Ashton could be. So instead of conciliating Grace he had only made matters worse; as he supposed; but Lady Ashton really loved her god-son, and in her heart admired him for his spirit.
Everard's anger once roused was not easily appeased24, so that after he left Ashton Park, he took a ten mile walk in the moonlight before he was sufficiently25 calm to venture home. "What is the matter" asked his mother when he did.
"I have been in a tremendous passion, and am not quite cooled down yet" he answered, "good night."
The upshot of all this was, that on coming home one afternoon, Everard found Lady Ashton, and Grace waiting for him. "Let bygones, be bygones," said the former taking his hand, while Grace offered hers with a dignified26 condescension27 that was truly amusing, Everard was only too glad to have a cessation of hostilities28, and responded cordially to the overtures29 of peace.
Then Lady Ashton insisted upon giving them a farewell party, she would take no denial, saying that if Everard did not come, that she would not believe that he forgave her."
Grace and Emily were delighted, saying, it was the very thing, and Alice was half wild with glee at being included in the invitation, and also allowed to go.
So Isabel had a new white dress for the occasion, and now that she was no longer the governess, she arrayed herself with some of the beautiful and costly30 jewels, which her fathers creditors31 had refused to take, (though they were offered them by Isabel,) which had not seen the light since she came to Elm Grove32.
"Oh Isabel, now you look like yourself" said Lucy, who had arrived just in time to be of the party.
"How sly of you Isabel, not to let us see them before" cried Emily examining them "what beauties," and Mrs. Arlington looked very approvingly at her future daughter-in-law. "I think that you are the proudest girl I ever saw, Isabel," she said reproachfully.
"Oh mamma, not proud, only sensitive," interposed Alice warmly.
"Please don't', pleaded Isabel the tears gathering34 in her eyes "I could not help feeling so, indeed I could not."
"Don't blame her mamma, it does not matter now," put in Emily.
"She was a stupid little goose to care so much about it; and I always said so," chimed in Lucy.
"Pray who is a stupid little goose," asked Everard joining the group in the drawing-room.
"On arriving at the Park, an unexpected pleasure caused a great deal of excitement. On entering the dressing-room they met Ada. "Oh, when did you come." I'm so glad." "How delightful37." Burst from them simultaneously38, as Ada was hugged in a manner that bid fair to ruin the effect of her careful toilet.
"Didn't Lucy tell you," asked Ada amazed.
"Not I," cried Lucy triumphantly39.
"Oh Lucy."
Then a thundering rap at the door from Harry, who was impatient to see his sister; made them hasten down, all in high spirits at the unlooked for meeting.
Lady Ashton hardly seemed herself she was so pleasant, and even Grace did the agreeable to perfection.
Lucy, lectured Everard, and condemned40 severely41 his taking Isabel to be eaten up by savages42; as she persisted would be the case if he carried out his preposterous43 intentions. But Everard only laughed. "I cannot see how you can reconcile it to your conscience, to doom44 such a girl as that, to so wretched an existence, look at her, is she fit for such a hum-drum-knock-about life."
"Everard cast a very admiring glance at his bride elect, but his only answer was a rather sad smile.
"Oh I see I am right," she cried, "I know you think that she is more fitted for civilized45 society, confess now, confess, I used to think you so considerate, but now I see you are very selfish.
"Perhaps I am," and he walked out on the lawn, leaving Lucy much astonished and very indignant.
"Be merciful Lucy," said Charles offering his arm.
"Then it must be very refreshing47 this hot evening" said Charles laughing.
"Don't be provoking." I'm awfully angry."
"Lucy!"
"Charles!"
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
coaxing
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
contemplate
|
|
| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bust
|
|
| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
muster
|
|
| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
feigned
|
|
| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
scrambled
|
|
| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
vexed
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
compassionately
|
|
| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
aggrieved
|
|
| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sarcastically
|
|
| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
haughtily
|
|
| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
aspersing
|
|
| v.毁坏（名誉），中伤，诽谤( asperse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
21
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ordained
|
|
| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
appeased
|
|
| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
condescension
|
|
| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hostilities
|
|
| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
overtures
|
|
| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
costly
|
|
| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
creditors
|
|
| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
heeding
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
saucily
|
|
| adv.傲慢地，莽撞地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
refreshing
|
|
| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |