"Oh, here you are," said Lucy when shortly after breakfast next morning she found Everard enjoying a cigar in the piazza1. "You needn't think to escape by going off in that unceremonious manner last night, so you may as well listen now, for I intend to express my sentiments some time or other."
"I am all attention Miss Lucy, only I hope you don't object to my cigar."
"Not at all, it will make you more patient perhaps."
Everard laughed. "You stupid fellow, won't you be quiet and hear what I have to say."
"Oh certainly."
"I wish to remind you, that you need not go goodness knows how many hundred miles to find people to convert, as there are plenty nearer home."
"No doubt, and also, others near home anxious to convert them."
"And do you think, that no one but yourself would go to that outlandish place."
"Very few, comparatively; of course there are some."
"Then you see an additional reason, why I should."
"I have not seen any yet, so of course cant't see additional ones" she answered saucily5. "I tell you what you had better do, stay and convert me, and that will take you a precious long time I promise you."
"Lucy!"
"Oh, how grave you are, I wish you could see your face."
"You forget what you are talking about, Lucy, or you would not speak so" he said gravely, "I cannot believe that you are in earnest."
"Of course I don't mean half I say, I never do, I did not think you would take it so seriously."
"It is a bad way to get into, Lucy."
"Don't be alarmed" cried Lucy laughing, "I'm not so awfully6 wicked as you imagine. I know, that I am very wild, and thoughtless, and that that school did not do me any good, but for all that, I'm not quite a heathen."
"That is not so easy" returned Lucy with a gulp8, "you may think so, you are so mild tempered; but with one, so impulsive9, and high spirited as I am, it is very hard, almost impossible; that's always the way with you quiet, easy going people, you have no sympathy with us."
"Oh, Lucy, how apt we are to form wrong opinions, you think me quiet, easy, gentle, I may be so, but I am also passionate10, determined11, and you say selfish; be that as it may, I cannot give up without a very hard struggle, not even then usually. I am unyielding. Persevering12 and firm, Emily would say, self-willed and obstinate13, Grace would call me."
"I can't believe you."
"It is true."
"But to resume our discussion; it is really too provoking to take Isabel off to that outlandish place."
"It is settled, all the talking in the world can't make any difference," he said with the quiet smile, and languid manner, that made it so hard to believe that he was indeed what he had described.
In the evening Susan brought a note to Isabel, as she and Everard were walking on the terrace. Isabel turned deadly pale on observing the handwriting, "it is from Dr. Tachereau" she exclaimed.
"A poisoned letter perhaps."
"Oh Everard, such things only happen in story books, but if you really think so, it had better go at the back of the fire."
"The fire is the right place for it no doubt, but I have a curiosity to see the inside first, some impertinence you may be sure."
"Perhaps to inform us, that he will bring his pistols to the church, if we dare to venture there, said Isabel breaking the seal. She opened it, but a sickening faintness overpowered her, and she was unable to read. He had now succeeded in making her fear him, while his vindictiveness15 had been solely16 against herself, she had defied him, but now, that another was menaced she trembled for his safety.
"Let me see this madman's effusion" said Everard soothingly17, "Why I declare you are quite ill, take this seat and I will read for our mutual18 edification."
Casting an anxious glance towards Isabel occasionally to ascertain19 if she was recovering from her agitation, he read a follow's:
DEAR ISABEL,--(cool muttered Everard). What a fool I was the other night, can you, will you, forgive me. Could you know the remorse20 and misery21 I have suffered since, or the feeling of thankfulness with which I heard that I had not seriously injured either of you; I think you would. What a reward for your kindness to my poor Natalie; what a return for your sympathy in my trouble. When had you rejoiced at my misfortune, I could scarcely have been surprised. But I loved myself, and my own way, and you thwarted22 me twice; but enough of the past. I dare not contemplate23 it. Let me however say a few words in extenuation24 of my folly25. You can never know what I endured that evening, to see the regard once bestowed26 on me, transferred to another, to see that I was nothing,--that I was entirely27, unmistakeably forgotten,--perhaps detested28; for you treated me with unnecessary coldness. All this so worked upon my unhappy temperament29 until nearly mad with anger and jealousy30, I did that, for which I now beseech31 you to forgive me. I shall never see you again, as the thought of your marrying another is so hateful to me that I dare not trust myself in your presence after the dark glimpse I have had of my evil nature. I did not think I could be so wicked. Farewell, I still remain your loving, though now unloved--LOUIS.
Everard deliberately32 tore the note into fragments, with the same expression that Dr. Heathfield had remarked, while an angry flush suffused33 his countenance34. But there was more of pity, than of anger, in Isabel's mind, and she did not notice his displeasure. And as Rose at this moment came to call them in, to see Mrs. Arnold, of course no comment was passed on the letter; though Everard's unusual gloominess that evening, proved that he had not forgotten it.
Mrs. Arnold was very fussy35 as usual, and told many amusing anecdotes36 regarding her journey, and also gave an immense amount of good advice to both Everard and Isabel, for which of course they were duly grateful.
"Really my dear Mabel" said Mrs. Arnold, "I never was more glad in my life, than when I heard of this match, I was positively37 delighted. But you must not suppose for a moment, that I had any such idea; when I got her the situation."
Isabel looked annoyed, "naughty girl" said Mrs. Arlington, and then it came out, how foolishly sensitive, (as Mrs. Arlington termed it,) Isabel had always been, regarding her position. "Never mind, dear," said Mrs. Arnold kindly, "It is all over now, but still I should have thought that you had been a governess long enough to get used to it."
"Please don't pleaded Isabel, resolutely38 forcing back the tears which invariably came, at any allusion39 to the distasteful subject. And Everard, who until now had been unaware40 of her extreme dislike of being a governess admired her the more, that while hating her position so much, she had so determinately refused him, as long as she felt, that she did not return his affection.
"How is it my dear" inquired Mrs. Arnold, who seemed destined41 to-night to hit upon the wrong topic, "that you have never been to visit any of your old friends, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Vernon, Miss Carding, and hosts of others, told me repeatedly, that time after time, they have sent you the most pressing invitations, all to no purpose."
Isabel reddened painfully, Emily and Lucy laughed.
"That is another of Isabel's 'weaknesses'." Everard looked annoyed. "Sing some of your comic songs, Harry42," he said, wishing to change the subject. And Harry sung, to the great amusement of the party generally, and of Mrs. Arnold in particular.
Before they separated, a moonlight excursion to the romantic dell, the scene of the memorable43 picnic four years ago, was arranged for the next evening, and met with universal approbation44. All agreeing that the water-fall could only be seen to perfection by moonlight.
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1
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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saucily
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| adv.傲慢地，莽撞地 | |
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6
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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7
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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gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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persevering
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| a.坚忍不拔的 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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vindictiveness
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| 恶毒；怀恨在心 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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22
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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23
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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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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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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43
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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44
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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