Colester village above King's-meadows, in a county which need not be named, is one of these
unknown spots. No doubt before long the bicycle and the motor-car will enliven its
contact with the busy world. This prejudice against intrusion dates from mediæval times,
when strangers rarely came to the village with peaceful intentions. Even now a chance comer
is looked upon with suspicion.
weeks after he had taken up his residence in The Nun's House. With the parson and the
newcomer did his best to overcome their churlish doubts. They did not credit his story
that he had settled in Colester to pass his remaining years in peace, and even the money he
before. In most countries an open purse invites an open heart; but the Colester villagers
were above Mammon worship. Such an experience was refreshing11 to Pratt, and introduced him
to a new type of humanity.
"The first place I ever struck in which the dollar is not all-powerful," he said, with his
Yankee twang and pleasant laugh.
"We are not sufficiently12 educated in that respect," replied Mr Tempest in his simple way.
"For my part, I am not ill pleased that my parishioners should refuse to worship the Golden
"There is no calf about me, I guess," said Pratt, grimly, "and very little gold. I don't
say I haven't a decent income, but as to being a millionaire—no, sir."
"In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed is king, Mr Pratt. You are a millionaire in this
poor place. But I fear you find it dull."
"Why, no, vicar. I'm glad to be out of the buzz. The world's made up of nerves and
"Hollow!" said the vicar, smiling, "and our earthly dwelling-place is set upon a hill! Mr
had used the word figuratively. "Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle," he explained, nodding,
whereat the vicar smiled again.
The situation of Colester was striking and strange. A green-clothed promontory19 extended
to the plains below. In pre-historic ages the ocean waves had beaten against these cliffs,
King's-meadows. An appanage of the Crown, they had been called so from the days of William
From where they stood, the vicar and his friend had a bird's-eye view of this desirable
land, unrolled like a map under the bright June sky. League after league of corn-fields
Irish an expression be permitted—was the blue expanse of the Channel dotted with the white
sails of merchantmen.
gradually, and spread out into a broad neck of land, down the centre of which ran a road
leading from chapel to village. On either side of this, amidst oaks and elms and sycamores,
were the houses of the gentry. From where they ended the promontory rose into two rounded
hills, with a slight depression between. On the one to the left the village was built, its
defence. The other hill was surmounted34 by a well-preserved castle, the keep of which with
its flag could be seen above the oak woods. This was inhabited by Mrs Gabriel, the sole
From castle and village steps led down into the depression between the two hills. Down this
whole place had the look of some Rhenish robber-hold. And if tradition was to be trusted,
the Gabriels. It had defied king and priest, and parliament and people. Time alone had ever
conquered it.
"A survival of the Middle Ages," said Mr Tempest, pointing out these things to his
only thing they ever lost was their title. A bill of attainder was passed against them in
the time of the second George. After that they became less lions than foxes."
in the bow and arrow days, a strong force coming over the moor and down the spur—"
"That was often tried," interrupted Tempest, quickly, "but the attempt always failed. In
chapel as a thanksgiving. The Archangel Gabriel was the patron saint of the family, and the
chapel is dedicated to him."
"He couldn't keep the family from dying out, however," said Pratt, as they moved towards
the village.
"No. With the late John Gabriel the family became extinct. But I daresay Mrs Gabriel will
arrange that her adopted son succeeds. He can take the name and the coat of arms. I should
be very pleased to see that," added the vicar, half to himself. "Leo is a good fellow, and
would make an excellent landlord."
The eyes of the American flashed when the name was mentioned, but he made only a careless
comment. "Leo Haverleigh," he said, after a pause, "he's a right smart young chap, sure.
Who is he?"
"The son of Mrs Gabriel's brother. She was a Miss Haverleigh, you know. I believe her
brother was somewhat dissipated, and died abroad. The boy arrived here when he was three
years of age, and Mrs Gabriel adopted him. He will be her heir."
"Is there anyone to object?" asked Pratt, eagerly.
The vicar shook his head. "The Gabriels are absolutely extinct. Failing Leo, the estates
case, as the sovereigns were always anxious to hold this point of vantage which dominated
their lands below. But we live in such law-abiding times, that Mrs Gabriel, although not of
the blood of the family, can leave the estates to whomsoever she will. I understand that
"She doesn't strike me as over-fond of the boy," said Pratt, as they climbed the crooked
street; "rather a hard woman I should say."
"Mrs Gabriel has a particularly high moral standard," replied the vicar, evasively, "and
"He's no worse than a boy ought to be," said the American, cheerily. "Your young saint
makes an old sinner. That's so, vicar!"
young or old," he said, "though he is a good lad in many ways. Wild, I admit, but his
heart is in the right place."
Pratt smiled to himself. He knew that Leo was in love with Sybil, the daughter of this
prosy old archæologist. Simple as Mr Tempest was, he could not be blind to the possibility
of his daughter making such an excellent match. "Oh, yes," laughed Pratt, knowingly, "I'm
sure his heart is in the right place."
the speech. "Here," he said, waving his hand towards the four sides of the square in which
they stood, "the Romans built a camp. It crowned this hill, and was garrisoned55 by the tenth
built within the camp, as the name shows."
"How does it show that?" asked Pratt, more to keep the vicar talking than because he cared.
"The name, man, the name. It is properly Colncester, but by usage has been shortened to
Colester. Coln comes from the Latin colonia, a colony, and caster, or cester, is derived
from castra, a camp. Colncester therefore means the camp colony, which proves that the
original castra of Claudian. If you will come with me, Mr Pratt, I will show you the
"I have seen it several times before," replied Pratt, rather bored by this archæological
disquisition. "I know every inch of this place. It doesn't take an American centuries to
there's the chapel, vicar. We might walk up there. I'd like to hear a few remarks on the
subject of the chapel. Interesting. Oh, I guess so!"
"Certainly! certainly!" said Tempest, absently, "let us walk, walk," and he strolled away
with his hands in his tail-coat pockets, looking something like an elderly jackdaw. Indeed
the churchman, with his lean, oval face, his large spectacles and the fluttering black
garments on his thin figure, very much resembled a bird. He was scholarly, well-bred and
gentle, but wholly unworldly. Since his wife had died seven years before, Sybil had taken
charge of the house. Harold Raston, the energetic curate, looked after the parish. But for
these two, both clerical and domestic affairs would have been neglected, so immersed was Mr
Tempest in his dry-as-dust explorations. Many people said openly that the vicar was past
his work and should be pensioned off. Mrs Gabriel, a capable and managing woman, had once
rebellion of a sheep." Mrs Gabriel recalled this remark of Balzac's when Tempest, proving
constantly wore an expression of imperturbable67 good-humour. His dress was too neat for
he was never without—a smoothly-rolled umbrella. Spick-and-span, he might have stepped out
of a glass case, and this was his invariable appearance. No one ever saw Pratt unshaven or
untidy. He had been everywhere, had seen everything, and was a most engaging companion,
never out of temper and never bored. But for all his smiling ways the villagers held aloof
from him. Wishing to break down their barrier of prejudice, the sharp little American had
attached himself to the vicar during the good man's usual morning walk. He thought that
such a sight might dispose the villagers to relent.
"I shall not vary my usual walk," remarked Mr Tempest, positively69. "We will stroll through
the village, return to the chapel, and then, Mr Pratt, I hope you will lunch with me."
"Delighted, if it will not put Miss Sybil out."
"No, no. My wife is always prepared for chance visitors," answered the vicar, quite
Mrs Jeal. How do you do, Mrs Jeal?"
Mrs Jeal, with a pair of extremely wicked black eyes which snapped fire when she was
angered. She had a temper, but rarely displayed it, for it suited her better to gain her
ends by craft rather than force. Fifteen years ago she had appeared from nowhere, to
settle as a midwife in Colester. Contrary to their usual fashion, the villagers had taken
her knowledge of herbs. She had cured many sick people whom the doctor had given up, and
consequently was not looked upon with favour by Dr James, who had succeeded to the family
practice. But even he could not be angry at rosy, laughing Mrs Jeal. "Though I don't like
her," confessed Dr James; "the devil looks out of her eyes. Dangerous woman, very
dangerous."
Pratt had no chance of proving this remark of the doctor's to be true, for Mrs Jeal never
punctuating73 such smiles with an occasional curtsey. "Pearl is not with you?" said Mr
Tempest.
"No, bless her poor heart!" cried Mrs Jeal, "she is up at the chapel. Her favourite place
"She might have a worse place to haunt, Mrs Jeal. Poor soul—poor, mad, innocent child!"
"Do you call eighteen years of age childish, Mr Tempest?" asked the woman.
"No, no! I speak of her mind, her poor, weak mind. She is still a child. I beg of you to
look after her, Mrs Jeal. We must make her path as pleasant as we may."
"Then I beg your reverence will tell that Barker to leave her alone."
"Barker, Barker? Ah, yes, the sexton—of course. Worthy man."
"Tut! tut! This must be seen to. Poor Pearl is God's child, Mrs Jeal, so she has a right to
rest in His House. Yes, yes, I'll see to it. Good-day, Mrs Jeal."
The woman dropped a curtsey, and for the first time shot a glance at Pratt, who was smiling
drew herself up and passed on, crossing herself. Pratt looked after her, still smiling,
then hurried to rejoin the vicar, who began to explain in his usual wandering way.
"A good woman, Mrs Jeal, a good woman," he said. "For some years she has had charge of
Pearl Darry, whom she rescued from her cruel father."
"Is that the insane girl?" said Pratt, idly.
herself reached Portfront"—the principal town of the county—"it is possible that the
authorities might wish to shut her up, and that would be the death of Pearl. No, no!" said
the good vicar, "let her have a fair share of God's beautiful earth, and live to a happy
old age. In this quiet place we can afford one natural."
"Just so, Mr Pratt. In Waverley there is such a one. Pearl Darry is quite harmless, and
really has a very beautiful nature. Mrs Jeal is much to be commended for her charity."
"She looks a charitable woman," said the American, but whether he meant this ironically or
not it is hard to say.
their husbands worked in the fields below. During three seasons the mountain men, as they
might be called, ploughed the meadow-land, sowed the corn and helped to reap and harvest
worked all the year through, and Colester lace was famous. As the vicar and Pratt walked
down the street, at the door of every house sat a woman with her pillow and pins
beauty. They were mostly serious-looking, and some even grim. But all had a smile for the
vicar, although they pursed up their lips when they saw the good-natured face of Pratt.
Most unaccountable this dislike they had for the American. He was rather annoyed by his
pronounced unpopularity.
years for them to fancy a stranger. I was an object of distrust to[13] them for quite
"And have you been here long?"
"About forty years," said Tempest. "I have buried many and christened most. We have no
Methodists in Colester, Mr Pratt. Everyone comes to church and worships according to the
"I suppose you are a prosperous community on the whole?"
"So, so! Nothing to complain of. The lace made here by those clever fingers sells well in
London and even abroad. Then the men earn a fair wage in King's-meadows. Mrs Gabriel looks
after the few poor we have amongst us. On the whole, we have much to be thankful for, Mr
Pratt."
Thus talking the good vicar led his companion round by the mouldering90 walls, where they
could look down on to the plains. After a glance they re-entered the town and walked
village through the old gate, and after walking along the neck, which was the fashionable
part of Colester, began to climb up towards the chapel.
"A most delightful93 spot," said Pratt, politely; "but I guess the folk don't cotton to me. I
must make them freeze on somehow."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
somnolent
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| adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地 | |
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2
jaunts
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| n.游览( jaunt的名词复数 ) | |
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3
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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4
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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5
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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6
vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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7
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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8
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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9
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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10
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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11
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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12
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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13
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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14
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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15
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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16
graveyard
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| n.坟场 | |
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17
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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18
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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19
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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20
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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21
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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23
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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24
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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25
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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26
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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27
ripening
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成 | |
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28
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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34
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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35
feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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38
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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39
swooping
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
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40
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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41
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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42
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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43
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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44
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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48
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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49
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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50
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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51
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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53
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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54
gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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55
garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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56
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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57
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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58
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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60
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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61
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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62
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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63
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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64
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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65
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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66
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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67
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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68
spats
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| n.口角( spat的名词复数 )；小争吵；鞋罩；鞋套v.spit的过去式和过去分词( spat的第三人称单数 )；口角；小争吵；鞋罩 | |
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69
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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70
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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71
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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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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punctuating
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的现在分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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75
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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80
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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81
earnings
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| n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得 | |
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82
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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83
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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84
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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86
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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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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88
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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90
mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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91
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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92
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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