小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 经典英文小说 » The Beetle A Mystery » CHAPTER 14. THE DUCHESS’ BALL
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER 14. THE DUCHESS’ BALL
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 That night was the Duchess of Datchet’s ball—the first person I saw as I entered the dancing-room was Dora Grayling.
 
I went straight up to her.
 
‘Miss Grayling, I behaved very badly to you last night, I have come to make to you my apologies,—to sue for your forgiveness!’
 
‘My forgiveness?’ Her head went back,—she has a pretty bird-like trick of cocking it a little on one side. ‘You were not well. Are you better?’
 
‘Quite.—You forgive me? Then grant me plenary absolution by giving me a dance for the one I lost last night.’
 
She rose. A man came up,—a stranger to me; she’s one of the best hunted women in England,—there’s a million with her.
 
‘This is my dance, Miss Grayling.’
 
She looked at him.
 
‘You must excuse me. I am afraid I have made a mistake. I had forgotten that I was already engaged.’
 
I had not thought her capable of it. She took my arm, and away we went, and left him staring.
 
‘It’s he who’s the sufferer now,’ I whispered, as we went round,—she can waltz!
 
‘You think so? It was I last night,—I did not mean, if I could help it, to suffer again. To me a dance with you means something.’ She went all red,—adding, as an afterthought, ‘Nowadays so few men really dance. I expect it’s because you dance so well.’
 
‘Thank you.’
 
We danced the waltz right through, then we went to an impromptu1 shelter which had been rigged up on a balcony. And we talked. There’s something sympathetic about Miss Grayling which leads one to talk about one’s self,—before I was half aware of it I was telling her of all my plans and projects,—actually telling her of my latest notion which, ultimately, was to result in the destruction of whole armies as by a flash of lightning. She took an amount of interest in it which was surprising.
 
‘What really stands in the way of things of this sort is not theory but practice,—one can prove one’s facts on paper, or on a small scale in a room; what is wanted is proof on a large scale, by actual experiment. If, for instance, I could take my plant to one of the forests of South America, where there is plenty of animal life but no human, I could demonstrate the soundness of my position then and there.’
 
‘Why don’t you?’
 
‘Think of the money it would cost.’
 
‘I thought I was a friend of yours.’
 
‘I had hoped you were.’
 
‘Then why don’t you let me help you?’
 
‘Help me?—How?’
 
‘By letting you have the money for your South American experiment;—it would be an investment on which I should expect to receive good interest.’
 
I fidgeted.
 
‘It is very good of you, Miss Grayling, to talk like that.’
 
She became quite frigid2.
 
‘Please don’t be absurd!—I perceive quite clearly that you are snubbing me, and that you are trying to do it as delicately as you know how.’
 
‘Miss Grayling!’
 
‘I understand that it was an impertinence on my part to volunteer assistance which was unasked; you have made that sufficiently3 plain.’
 
‘I assure you—’
 
‘Pray don’t. Of course, if it had been Miss Lindon it would have been different; she would at least have received a civil answer. But we are not all Miss Lindon.’
 
I was aghast. The outburst was so uncalled for,—I had not the faintest notion what I had said or done to cause it; she was in such a surprising passion—and it suited her!—I thought I had never seen her look prettier,—I could do nothing else but stare. So she went on,—with just as little reason.
 
‘Here is someone coming to claim this dance,—I can’t throw all my partners over. Have I offended you so irremediably that it will be impossible for you to dance with me again?’
 
‘Miss Grayling!—I shall be only too delighted.’ She handed me her card. ‘Which may I have?’
 
‘For your own sake you had better place it as far off as you possibly can.’
 
‘They all seem taken.’
 
‘That doesn’t matter; strike off any name you please, anywhere and put your own instead.’
 
It was giving me an almost embarrassingly free hand. I booked myself for the next waltz but two,—who it was who would have to give way to me I did not trouble to inquire.
 
‘Mr Atherton!—Is that you?’
 
It was,—it was also she. It was Marjorie! And so soon as I saw her I knew that there was only one woman in the world for me,—the mere4 sight of her sent the blood tingling5 through my veins6. Turning to her attendant cavalier, she dismissed him with a bow.
 
‘Is there an empty chair?’
 
She seated herself in the one Miss Grayling had just vacated. I sat down beside her. She glanced at me, laughter in her eyes. I was all in a stupid tremblement.
 
‘You remember that last night I told you that I might require your friendly services in diplomatic intervention7?’ I nodded,—I felt that the allusion8 was unfair. ‘Well, the occasion’s come,—or, at least, it’s very near.’ She was still,—and I said nothing to help her. ‘You know how unreasonable9 papa can be.’
 
I did,—never a more pig-headed man in England than Geoffrey Lindon,—or, in a sense, a duller. But, just then, I was not prepared to admit it to his child.
 
‘You know what an absurd objection he has to—Paul.’
 
There was an appreciative10 hesitation11 before she uttered the fellow’s Christian12 name,—when it came it was with an accent of tenderness which stung me like a gadfly. To speak to me—of all men,—of the fellow in such a tone was—like a woman.
 
‘Has Mr Lindon no notion of how things stand between you?’
 
‘Except what he suspects. That is just where you are to come in, papa thinks so much of you—I want you to sound Paul’s praises in his ear—to prepare him for what must come.’ Was ever rejected lover burdened with such a task? Its enormity kept me still. ‘Sydney, you have always been my friend,—my truest, dearest friend. When I was a little girl you used to come between papa and me, to shield me from his wrath13. Now that I am a big girl I want you to be on my side once more, and to shield me still.’
 
Her voice softened14. She laid her hand upon my arm. How, under her touch, I burned.
 
‘But I don’t understand what cause there has been for secrecy15,—why should there have been any secrecy from the first?’
 
‘It was Paul’s wish that papa should not be told.’
 
‘Is Mr Lessingham ashamed of you?’
 
‘Sydney!’
 
‘Or does he fear your father?’
 
‘You are unkind. You know perfectly16 well that papa has been prejudiced against him all along, you know that his political position is just now one of the greatest difficulty, that every nerve and muscle is kept on the continual strain, that it is in the highest degree essential that further complications of every and any sort should be avoided. He is quite aware that his suit will not be approved of by papa, and he simply wishes that nothing shall be said about it till the end of the session,—that is all’
 
‘I see! Mr Lessingham is cautious even in love-making,—politician first, and lover afterwards.’
 
‘Well!—why not?—would you have him injure the cause he has at heart for want of a little patience?’
 
‘It depends what cause it is he has at heart.’
 
‘What is the matter with you?—why do you speak to me like that?—it is not like you at all.’ She looked at me shrewdly, with flashing eyes. ‘Is it possible that you are—jealous?—that you were in earnest in what you said last night?—I thought that was the sort of thing you said to every girl.’
 
I would have given a great deal to take her in my arms, and press her to my bosom17 then and there,—to think that she should taunt18 me with having said to her the sort of thing I said to every girl.
 
‘What do you know of Mr Lessingham?’
 
‘What all the world knows,—that history will be made by him.’
 
‘There are kinds of history in the making of which one would not desire to be associated. What do you know of his private life,—it was to that that I was referring.’
 
‘Really,—you go too far. I know that he is one of the best, just as he is one of the greatest, of men; for me, that is sufficient.’
 
‘If you do know that, it is sufficient.’
 
‘I do know it,—all the world knows it. Everyone with whom he comes in contact is aware—must be aware, that he is incapable19 of a dishonourable thought or action.’
 
‘Take my advice, don’t appreciate any man too highly. In the book of every man’s life there is a page which he would wish to keep turned down.’
 
‘There is no such page in Paul’s,—there may be in yours; I think that probable.’
 
‘Thank you. I fear it is more than probable. I fear that, in my case, the page may extend to several. There is nothing Apostolic about me,—not even the name.’
 
‘Sydney!—you are unendurable!—It is the more strange to hear you talk like this since Paul regards you as his friend.’
 
‘He flatters me.’
 
‘Are you not his friend?’
 
‘Is it not sufficient to be yours?’
 
‘No,—who is against Paul is against me.’
 
‘That is hard.’
 
‘How is it hard? Who is against the husband can hardly be for the wife,—when the husband and the wife are one.’
 
‘But as yet you are not one.—Is my cause so hopeless?’
 
‘What do you call your cause?—are you thinking of that nonsense you were talking about last night?’
 
She laughed!
 
‘You call it nonsense.—You ask for sympathy, and give—so much!’
 
‘I will give you all the sympathy you stand in need of,—I promise it! My poor, dear Sydney!—don’t be so absurd! Do you think that I don’t know you? You’re the best of friends, and the worst of lovers,—as the one, so true; so fickle20 as the other. To my certain knowledge, with how many girls have you been in love,—and out again. It is true that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, you have never been in love with me before,—but that’s the merest accident. Believe me, my dear, dear Sydney, you’ll be in love with someone else to-morrow,—if you’re not half-way there to-night. I confess, quite frankly21, that, in that direction, all the experience I have had of you has in nowise strengthened my prophetic instinct. Cheer up!—one never knows!—Who is this that’s coming?’
 
It was Dora Grayling who was coming,—I went off with her without a word,—we were half-way through the dance before she spoke22 to me.
 
‘I am sorry that I was cross to you just now, and—disagreeable. Somehow I always seem destined23 to show to you my most unpleasant side.’
 
‘The blame was mine,—what sort of side do I show you? You are far kinder to me than I deserve,—now, and always.’
 
‘That is what you say.’
 
‘Pardon me, it’s true,—else how comes it that, at this time of day, I’m without a friend in all the world?’
 
‘You!—without a friend!—I never knew a man who had so many!—I never knew a person of whom so many men and women join in speaking well!’
 
‘Miss Grayling!’
 
‘As for never having done anything worth doing, think of what you have done. Think of your discoveries, think of your inventions, think of—but never mind! The world knows you have done great things, and it confidently looks to you to do still greater. You talk of being friendless, and yet when I ask, as a favour—as a great favour!—to be allowed to do something to show my friendship, you—well, you snub me.’
 
‘I snub you!’
 
‘You know you snubbed me.’
 
‘Do you really mean that you take an interest in—in my work?’
 
‘You know I mean it.’
 
She turned to me, her face all glowing,—and I did know it.
 
‘Will you come to my laboratory to-morrow morning?’
 
‘Will I!—won’t I!’
 
‘With your aunt?’
 
‘Yes, with my aunt.’
 
‘I’ll show you round, and tell you all there is to be told, and then if you still think there’s anything in it, I’ll accept your offer about that South American experiment,—that is, if it still holds good.’
 
‘Of course it still holds good.’
 
‘And we’ll be partners.’
 
‘Partners?—Yes,—we will be partners.’
 
‘It will cost a terrific sum.’
 
‘There are some things which never can cost too much.’
 
‘That’s not my experience.’
 
‘I hope it will be mine.’
 
‘It’s a bargain?’
 
‘On my side, I promise you that it’s a bargain.’
 
When I got outside the room I found that Percy Woodville was at my side. His round face was, in a manner of speaking, as long as my arm. He took his glass out of his eye, and rubbed it with his handkerchief,—and directly he put it back he took it out and rubbed it again. I believe that I never saw him in such a state of fluster,—and, when one speaks of Woodville, that means something.
 
‘Atherton, I am in a devil of a stew24.’ He looked it. ‘All of a heap!—I’ve had a blow which I shall never get over!’
 
‘Then get under.’
 
Woodville is one of those fellows who will insist on telling me their most private matters,—even to what they owe their washerwomen for the ruination of their shirts. Why, goodness alone can tell,—heaven knows I am not sympathetic.
 
‘Don’t be an idiot!—you don’t know what I’m suffering!—I’m as nearly as possible stark25 mad.’
 
‘That’s all right, old chap,—I’ve seen you that way more than once before.’
 
‘Don’t talk like that,—you’re not a perfect brute26!’
 
‘I bet you a shilling that I am.’
 
‘Don’t torture me,—you’re not. Atherton!’ He seized me by the lapels of my coat, seeming half beside himself,—fortunately he had drawn27 me into a recess28, so that we were noticed by few observers. ‘What do you think has happened?’
 
‘My dear chap, how on earth am I to know?’
 
‘She’s refused me!’
 
‘Has she!—Well I never!—Buck up,—try some other address,—there are quite as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.’
 
‘Atherton, you’re a blackguard.’
 
He had crumpled29 his handkerchief into a ball, and was actually bobbing at his eyes with it,—the idea of Percy Woodville being dissolved in tears was excruciatingly funny,—but, just then, I could hardly tell him so.
 
‘There’s not a doubt of it,—it’s my way of being sympathetic. Don’t be so down, man,—try her again!’
 
‘It’s not the slightest use—I know it isn’t—from the way she treated me.’
 
‘Don’t be so sure—women often say what they mean least. Who’s the lady?’
 
‘Who?—Is there more women in the world than one for me, or has there ever been? You ask me who! What does the word mean to me but Marjorie Lindon!’
 
‘Marjorie Lindon?’
 
I fancy that my jaw30 dropped open,—that, to use his own vernacular31, I was ‘all of a heap.’ I felt like it.
 
I strode away—leaving him mazed—and all but ran into Marjorie’s arms.
 
‘I’m just leaving. Will you see me to the carriage, Mr Atherton?’ I saw her to the carriage. ‘Are you off?—can I give you a lift?’
 
‘Thank you,—I am not thinking of being off.’
 
‘I’m going to the House of Commons,—won’t you come?’
 
‘What are you going there for?’
 
Directly she spoke of it I knew why she was going,—and she knew that I knew, as her words showed.
 
‘You are quite well aware of what the magnet is. You are not so ignorant as not to know that the Agricultural Amendment32 Act is on to-night, and that Paul is to speak. I always try to be there when Paul is to speak, and I mean to always keep on trying.’
 
‘He is a fortunate man.’
 
‘Indeed,—and again indeed. A man with such gifts as his is inadequately33 described as fortunate.—But I must be off. He expected to be up before, but I heard from him a few minutes ago that there has been a delay, but that he will be up within half-an-hour.—Till our next meeting.’
 
As I returned into the house, in the hall I met Percy Woodville. He had his hat on.
 
‘Where are you off to?’
 
‘I’m off to the House.’
 
‘To hear Paul Lessingham?’
 
‘Damn Paul Lessingham!’
 
‘With all my heart!’
 
‘There’s a division expected,—I’ve got to go.’
 
‘Someone else has gone to hear Paul Lessingham,—Marjorie Lindon.’
 
‘No!—you don’t say so!—by Jove!—I say, Atherton, I wish I could make a speech,—I never can. When I’m electioneering I have to have my speeches written for me, and then I have to read ’em. But, by Jove, if I knew Miss Lindon was in the gallery, and if I knew anything about the thing, or could get someone to tell me something, hang me if I wouldn’t speak,—I’d show her I’m not the fool she thinks I am!’
 
‘Speak, Percy, speak!—you’d knock ’em silly, sir!—I tell you what I’ll do,—I’ll come with you! I’ll to the House as well!—Paul Lessingham shall have an audience of three.’

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 impromptu j4Myg     
adj.即席的,即兴的;adv.即兴的(地),无准备的(地)
参考例句:
  • The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
  • The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。
2 frigid TfBzl     
adj.寒冷的,凛冽的;冷淡的;拘禁的
参考例句:
  • The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨,他在下面呆不了太长时间。
  • She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。
3 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
4 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
5 tingling LgTzGu     
v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • My ears are tingling [humming; ringing; singing]. 我耳鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • My tongue is tingling. 舌头发麻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
6 veins 65827206226d9e2d78ea2bfe697c6329     
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理
参考例句:
  • The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的,感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 intervention e5sxZ     
n.介入,干涉,干预
参考例句:
  • The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
  • Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。
8 allusion CfnyW     
n.暗示,间接提示
参考例句:
  • He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
  • She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
9 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
10 appreciative 9vDzr     
adj.有鉴赏力的,有眼力的;感激的
参考例句:
  • She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
  • We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。
11 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
12 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
13 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
14 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
15 secrecy NZbxH     
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
  • Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。
16 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
17 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
18 taunt nIJzj     
n.辱骂,嘲弄;v.嘲弄
参考例句:
  • He became a taunt to his neighbours.他成了邻居们嘲讽的对象。
  • Why do the other children taunt him with having red hair?为什么别的小孩子讥笑他有红头发?
19 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
20 fickle Lg9zn     
adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的,不坚定的
参考例句:
  • Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
  • The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。
21 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
22 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
23 destined Dunznz     
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句:
  • It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
  • The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
24 stew 0GTz5     
n.炖汤,焖,烦恼;v.炖汤,焖,忧虑
参考例句:
  • The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
  • There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
25 stark lGszd     
adj.荒凉的;严酷的;完全的;adv.完全地
参考例句:
  • The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
  • He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。
26 brute GSjya     
n.野兽,兽性
参考例句:
  • The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
  • That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲,它咬人。
27 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
28 recess pAxzC     
n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处)
参考例句:
  • The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
  • Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
29 crumpled crumpled     
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
  • She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。
30 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
31 vernacular ULozm     
adj.地方的,用地方语写成的;n.白话;行话;本国语;动植物的俗名
参考例句:
  • The house is built in a vernacular style.这房子按当地的风格建筑。
  • The traditional Chinese vernacular architecture is an epitome of Chinese traditional culture.中国传统民居建筑可谓中国传统文化的缩影。
32 amendment Mx8zY     
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案
参考例句:
  • The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
  • The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
33 inadequately TqQzb5     
ad.不够地;不够好地
参考例句:
  • As one kind of building materials, wood is inadequately sturdy. 作为一种建筑材料,木材不够结实。
  • Oneself is supported inadequately by the money that he earns. 他挣的钱不够养活自己。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533