To spend that shortness basely were too long,
If life did ride upon a dial’s point,
Still ending at the arrival of an hour.”
—SHAKESPEARE: Henry IV.
On the second day after the archery meeting, Mr. Henleigh Mallinger Grandcourt was at his breakfast-table with Mr. Lush. Everything around them was agreeable: the summer air through the open windows, at which the dogs could walk in from the old green turf on the lawn; the soft, purplish coloring of the park beyond, stretching toward a mass of bordering wood; the still life in the room, which seemed the stiller for its sober antiquated1 elegance2, as if it kept a conscious, well-bred silence, unlike the restlessness of vulgar furniture.
Whether the gentlemen were agreeable to each other was less evident. Mr. Grandcourt had drawn3 his chair aside so as to face the lawn, and with his left leg over another chair, and his right elbow on the table, was smoking a large cigar, while his companion was still eating. The dogs—half-a-dozen of various kinds were moving lazily in and out, taking attitudes of brief attention—gave a vacillating preference first to one gentleman, then to the other; being dogs in such good circumstances that they could play at hunger, and liked to be served with delicacies4 which they declined to put in their mouths; all except Fetch, the beautiful liver-colored water-spaniel, which sat with its forepaws firmly planted and its expressive5 brown face turned upward, watching Grandcourt with unshaken constancy. He held in his lap a tiny Maltese dog with a tiny silver collar and bell, and when he had a hand unused by cigar or coffee-cup, it rested on this small parcel of animal warmth. I fear that Fetch was jealous, and wounded that her master gave her no word or look; at last it seemed that she could bear this neglect no longer, and she gently put her large silky paw on her master’s leg. Grandcourt looked at her with unchanged face for half a minute, and then took the trouble to lay down his cigar while he lifted the unimpassioned Fluff close to his chin and gave it caressing6 pats, all the while gravely watching Fetch, who, poor thing, whimpered interruptedly, as if trying to repress that sign of discontent, and at last rested her head beside the appealing paw, looking up with piteous beseeching8. So, at least, a lover of dogs must have interpreted Fetch, and Grandcourt kept so many dogs that he was reputed to love them; at any rate, his impulse to act just in that way started from such an interpretation9. But when the amusing anguish10 burst forth11 in a howling bark, Grandcourt pushed Fetch down without speaking, and, depositing Fluff carelessly on the table (where his black nose predominated over a salt-cellar), began to look to his cigar, and found, with some annoyance12 against Fetch as the cause, that the brute13 of a cigar required relighting. Fetch, having begun to wail14, found, like others of her sex, that it was not easy to leave off; indeed, the second howl was a louder one, and the third was like unto it.
“Turn out that brute, will you?” said Grandcourt to Lush, without raising his voice or looking at him—as if he counted on attention to the smallest sign.
And Lush immediately rose, lifted Fetch, though she was rather heavy, and he was not fond of stooping, and carried her out, disposing of her in some way that took him a couple of minutes before he returned. He then lit a cigar, placed himself at an angle where he could see Grandcourt’s face without turning, and presently said,
“Shall you ride or drive to Quetcham to-day?”
“I am not going to Quetcham.”
“You did not go yesterday.”
Grandcourt smoked in silence for half a minute, and then said,
“I went myself at four, and said you were sure to be there shortly. They would suppose some accident prevented you from fulfilling the intention. Especially if you go to-day.”
Silence for a couple of minutes. Then Grandcourt said, “What men are invited here with their wives?”
Lush drew out a note-book. “The Captain and Mrs. Torrington come next week. Then there are Mr. Hollis and Lady Flora16, and the Cushats and the Gogoffs.”
“Rather a ragged17 lot,” remarked Grandcourt, after a while. “Why did you ask the Gogoffs? When you write invitations in my name, be good enough to give me a list, instead of bringing down a giantess on me without my knowledge. She spoils the look of the room.”
“You invited the Gogoffs yourself when you met them in Paris.”
“What has my meeting them in Paris to do with it? I told you to give me a list.”
Grandcourt, like many others, had two remarkably18 different voices. Hitherto we have heard him speaking in a superficial interrupted drawl suggestive chiefly of languor19 and ennui20. But this last brief speech was uttered in subdued21 inward, yet distinct, tones, which Lush had long been used to recognize as the expression of a peremptory22 will.
“Are there any other couples you would like to invite?”
“Yes; think of some decent people, with a daughter or two. And one of your damned musicians. But not a comic fellow.”
“I wonder if Klesmer would consent to come to us when he leaves Quetcham. Nothing but first-class music will go down with Miss Arrowpoint.”
Lush spoke23 carelessly, but he was really seizing an opportunity and fixing an observant look on Grandcourt, who now for the first time, turned his eyes toward his companion, but slowly and without speaking until he had given two long luxuriant puffs24, when he said, perhaps in a lower tone than ever, but with a perceptible edge of contempt,
“What in the name of nonsense have I to do with Miss Arrowpoint and her music?”
“Well, something,” said Lush, jocosely25. “You need not give yourself much trouble, perhaps. But some forms must be gone through before a man can marry a million.”
“Very likely. But I am not going to marry a million.”
“That’s a pity—to fling away an opportunity of this sort, and knock down your own plans.”
“Your plans, I suppose you mean.”
“You have some debts, you know, and things may turn out inconveniently26, after all. The heirship27 is not absolutely certain.”
Grandcourt did not answer, and Lush went on.
“It really is a fine opportunity. The father and mother ask for nothing better, I can see, and the daughter’s looks and manners require no allowances, any more than if she hadn’t a sixpence. She is not beautiful; but equal to carrying any rank. And she is not likely to refuse such prospects29 as you can offer her.”
“Perhaps not.”
“The father and mother would let you do anything you like with them.”
“But I should not like to do anything with them.”
Here it was Lush who made a little pause before speaking again, and then he said in a deep voice of remonstrance30, “Good God, Grandcourt! after your experience, will you let a whim7 interfere31 with your comfortable settlement in life?”
“What?” Lush put down his cigar and thrust his hands into his side pockets, as if he had to face something exasperating33, but meant to keep his temper.
“I am going to marry the other girl.”
“I am going to marry her.”
“You have made her an offer already, then?”
“No.”
“She is a young lady with a will of her own, I fancy. Extremely well fitted to make a rumpus. She would know what she liked.”
“She doesn’t like you,” said Grandcourt, with the ghost of a smile.
“Perfectly true,” said Lush, adding again in a markedly sneering35 tone. “However, if you and she are devoted36 to each other, that will be enough.”
Grandcourt took no notice of this speech, but sipped37 his coffee, rose, and strolled out on the lawn, all the dogs following him.
Lush glanced after him a moment, then resumed his cigar and lit it, but smoked slowly, consulting his beard with inspecting eyes and fingers, till he finally stroked it with an air of having arrived at some conclusion, and said in a subdued voice,
“Check, old boy!”
Lush, being a man of some ability, had not known Grandcourt for fifteen years without learning what sort of measures were useless with him, though what sort might be useful remained often dubious38. In the beginning of his career he held a fellowship, and was near taking orders for the sake of a college living, but, not being fond of that prospect28, accepted instead the office of traveling companion to a marquess, and afterward39 to young Grandcourt, who had lost his father early, and who found Lush so convenient that he had allowed him to become prime minister in all his more personal affairs. The habit of fifteen years had made Grandcourt more and more in need of Lush’s handiness, and Lush more and more in need of the lazy luxury to which his transactions on behalf of Grandcourt made no interruption worth reckoning. I cannot say that the same lengthened40 habit had intensified41 Grandcourt’s want of respect for his companion since that want had been absolute from the beginning, but it had confirmed his sense that he might kick Lush if he chose—only he never did choose to kick any animal, because the act of kicking is a compromising attitude, and a gentleman’s dogs should be kicked for him. He only said things which might have exposed himself to be kicked if his confidant had been a man of independent spirit. But what son of a vicar who has stinted42 his wife and daughters of calico in order to send his male offspring to Oxford43, can keep an independent spirit when he is bent44 on dining with high discrimination, riding good horses, living generally in the most luxuriant honey-blossomed clover—and all without working? Mr. Lush had passed for a scholar once, and had still a sense of scholarship when he was not trying to remember much of it; but the bachelor’s and other arts which soften45 manners are a time-honored preparation for sinecures46; and Lush’s present comfortable provision was as good a sinecure47 in not requiring more than the odor of departed learning. He was not unconscious of being held kickable, but he preferred counting that estimate among the peculiarities48 of Grandcourt’s character, which made one of his incalculable moods or judgments49 as good as another. Since in his own opinion he had never done a bad action, it did not seem necessary to consider whether he should be likely to commit one if his love of ease required it. Lush’s love of ease was well-satisfied at present, and if his puddings were rolled toward him in the dust, he took the inside bits and found them relishing50.
This morning, for example, though he had encountered more annoyance than usual, he went to his private sitting-room51 and played a good hour on the violoncello.
该作者的其它作品
米德尔马契 Middlemarch
该作者的其它作品
米德尔马契 Middlemarch
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1
antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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2
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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5
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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6
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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7
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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8
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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9
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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10
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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11
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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13
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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14
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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15
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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16
flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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17
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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18
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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19
languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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20
ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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21
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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22
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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23
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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24
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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25
jocosely
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| adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地 | |
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26
inconveniently
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| ad.不方便地 | |
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27
heirship
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| n.继承权 | |
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28
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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29
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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30
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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31
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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32
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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33
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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34
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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35
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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36
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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37
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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39
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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40
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
stinted
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| v.限制，节省（stint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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43
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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44
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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45
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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46
sinecures
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| n.工作清闲但报酬优厚的职位，挂名的好差事( sinecure的名词复数 ) | |
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47
sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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48
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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49
judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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50
relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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51
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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