Wratislaw’s presence at first cast a certain awe8 on the assembly. His name was so painfully familiar, so consistently abused, that it was hard to refrain from curiosity. Lady Manorwater, an ancient ally, greeted him effusively9, and Alice cast shy glances at this strong man with the kind smile and awkward manners. The truth is that Wratislaw was acutely nervous. With Mr. Stocks alone was he at his ease. He shook his hand heartily10, declared himself delighted to meet him again, and looked with such manifest favour on this opponent that the gentleman was cast into confusion.
“I must talk shop,” cried Lady Manorwater when they were seated at table. “Lewie, have you heard the news that poor Sir Robert has retired11? What a treasure of a cook you have, sir! The poor man is going to travel, as his health is bad; he wrote me this morning. Now who is to take his place? And I wish you’d get me the recipe for this tomato soup.”
“I heard about Merkland last night from Wratislaw. I think, perhaps, I had better make a confession14 to everybody. I never intended to bother with party politics, at least not for a good many years, but some people want me to stand, so I have agreed. You will have a very weak opponent, Stocks, so I hope you will pardon my impertinence in trying the thing.”
“I shall be glad to have so distinguished17 an opponent. But I thought that yesterday you would never have dreamed of the thing.”
“No more I should; but Wratislaw talked to me seriously and I was persuaded.”
Wratislaw tried to look guileless, failed signally, and detected a sudden unfavourable glance from Mr. Stocks in his direction.
“We must manage everything as pleasantly as possible. You have my aunt and my uncle and Arthur on your side, while I have George, who doesn’t count in this show, and I hope Wratislaw. I’ll give you a three days’ start if you like in lieu of notice.” And the young man laughed as if the matter were the simplest of jokes.
The laugh jarred very seriously on one listener. To Alice the morning had been full of vexations, for Mr. Stocks had again sought her company, and wearied her with a new manner of would-be gallantry which sat ill upon him. She had come to Etterick with a tenderness towards Lewis which was somewhat dispelled18 by his newly-disclosed political aims. It meant that the Glenavelin household, including herself, would be in a different camp for three dreary19 weeks, and that Mr. Stocks would claim more of her society than ever. With feminine inconsistency she visited her repugnance20 towards that gentleman on his innocent rival. But Mr. Lewis Haystoun’s light-hearted manner of regarding the business struck the little Puritan deeper. Politics had always been a thing of the gravest import in her eyes, bound up with a man’s duty and honour and religion, and lo! here was this Gallio who not only adorned21 a party she had been led to regard as reprobate23, but treated the whole affair as a half-jocular business, on which one should not be serious. It was sheer weakness, her heart cried out, the weakness of the philanderer24, the half-hearted. In her vexation her interest flew in sympathy to Mr. Stocks, and she viewed him for the occasion with favour.
“You are far too frivolous25 about it,” she cried. “How can you fight if you are not in earnest, and how can you speak things you only half believe? I hate to think of men playing at politics.” And she had set her little white teeth, and sat flushed and diffident, a Muse26 of Protest.
Lewis flushed in turn. He recognized with pain the fulfilment of his fears. He saw dismally28 how during the coming fight he would sink daily in the estimation of this small critic, while his opponent would as conspicuously29 rise. The prospect30 did not soothe31 him, and he turned to Bertha Afflint, who was watching the scene with curious eyes.
“It’s very sad, Lewie,” she said, “but you’ll get no canvassers from Glenavelin. We have all been pledged to Mr. Stocks for the last week. Alice is a keen politician, and, I believe, has permanently32 unsettled Lord Manorwater’s easy-going Liberalism. She believes in action; whereas, you know, he does not.”
“We all believe in action nowadays,” said Wratislaw. “I could wish at times for the revival33 of ‘leisureliness’ as a party catch-word.”
And then there ensued a passage of light arms between the great man and Bertha which did not soothe Alice’s vexation. She ignored the amiable34 George, seeing in him another of the half-hearted, and in a fine heat of virtue35 devoted36 herself to Mr. Stocks. That gentleman had been melancholy37, but the favour of Miss Wishart made him relax his heavy brows and become communicative. He was flattered by her interest. She heard his reminiscences with a smile and his judgments38 with attention. Soon the whole table talked merrily, and two people alone were aware that breaches39 yawned under the unanimity40.
Archness was not in Alice’s nature, and still less was coquetry. When Lewis after lunch begged to be allowed to show her his dwelling41 she did not blush and simper, she showed no pretty reluctance42, no graceful43 displeasure. She thanked him, but coldly, and the two climbed the ridge44 above the lake, whence the whole glen may be seen winding45 beneath. It was still, hot July weather, and the far hills seemed to blink and shimmer46 in the haze47; but at their feet was always coolness in the blue depth of the loch, the heath-fringed shores, the dark pines, and the cold whinstone crags.
He shrugged49 his shoulders. “After all, it is only a month, and it will all be over before the shooting begins.”
“I cannot understand you,” she cried suddenly and impatiently. “People call you ambitious, and yet you have to be driven by force to the simplest move in the game, and all the while you are thinking and talking as if a day’s sport were of far greater importance.”
She drew swiftly away and turned her face, so that the man might not see the vexation and joy struggling for mastery.
“Of course it is none of my business, but surely it is a pity.” And the little doctrinaire52 walked with head erect53 to the edge of the slope and studied intently the distant hills.
The man was half amused, half pained, but his evil star was in the ascendant. Had he known it, he would have been plain and natural, for at no time had the girl ever been so near to him. Instead, he made some laughing remark, which sounded harshly flippant in her ears. She looked at him reproachfully; it was cruel to treat her seriousness with scorn; and then, seeing Lady Manorwater and the others on the lawn below, she asked him with studied carelessness to take her back. Lewis obeyed meekly54, cursing in his heart his unhappy trick of an easy humour. If his virtues55 were to go far to rob him of what he most cared for, it looked black indeed for the unfortunate young man.
Meantime Wratislaw and Mr. Stocks had drawn56 together by the attraction of opposites. A change had come over the latter, and momentarily eclipsed his dignity. For the man was not without tact57, and he felt that the attitude of high-priest of all the virtues would not suit in the presence of one whose favourite task it was to laugh his so-called virtues to scorn. Such, at least to begin with, was his honourable58 intention. But the subtle Wratislaw drew him from his retirement59 and skilfully60 elicited61 his coy principles. It was a cruel performance—a shameless one, had there been any spectator. The one would lay down a fine generous line of policy; the other would beg for a fact in confirmation62. The one would haltingly detail some facts; the other would promptly63 convince him of their falsity. Eventually the victim grew angry and a little frightened. The real Mr. Stocks was a man of business, not above making a deal with an opponent; and for a little the real Mr. Stocks emerged from his shell.
“You won’t speak much in the coming fight, will you? You see, you are rather heavy metal for a beginner like myself,” he said, with commercial frankness.
“No, my dear Stocks, to set your mind at rest, I won’t. Lewis wants to be knocked about a little, and he wants the fight to brace64 him. I’ll leave him to fight his own battles, and wish good luck to the better man. Also, I won’t come to your meetings and ask awkward questions.”
Mr. Stocks bore malice65 only to his inferiors, and respected his betters when he was not on a platform. He thanked Wratislaw with great heartiness66, and when Lady Manorwater found the two they were beaming on each other like the most ancient friends.
“Has anybody seen Lewie?” she was asking. “He is the most scandalous host in the world. We can’t find boats or canoes and we can’t find him. Oh, here is the truant67!” And the renegade host was seen in the wake of Alice descending68 from the ridge.
Something in the attitude of the two struck the lady with suspicion. Was it possible that she had been blind, and that her nephew was about to confuse her cherished schemes? This innocent woman, who went through the world as not being of it, had fancied that already Alice had fallen in with her plans. She had seemed to court Mr. Stocks’s company, while he most certainly sought eagerly for hers. But Lewis, if he entered the lists, would be a perplexing combatant, and Lady Manorwater called her gods to witness that it should not be. Many motives69 decided70 her against it. She hated that a scheme of her own once made should be checkmated, though it were by her dearest friend. More than all, her pride was in arms. Lewis was a dazzling figure; he should make a great match; money and pretty looks and parvenu71 blood were not enough for his high mightiness72.
So it came about that, when they had explored the house, circumnavigated the loch, and had tea on a lawn of heather, she informed her party that she must get out at Haystounslacks, for she wished to see the farmer, and asked Bertha to keep her company. The young woman agreed readily, with the result that Alice and Mr. Stocks were left sole occupants of the carriage for the better half of the way. The man was only too willing to seize the chance thus divinely given him. His irritation73 at Lewis’s projects had been tempered by Alice’s kindness at lunch and Wratislaw’s unlooked-for complaisance74. Things looked rosy for him; far off, as on the horizon of his hopes, he saw a seat in Parliament and a fair and amply dowered wife.
But Miss Wishart was scarcely in so pleasant a humour. With Lewis she was undeniably cross, but of Mr. Stocks she was radically75 intolerant. A moment of pique76 might send her to his side, but the position was unnatural77 and could not be maintained. Even now Lewis was in her thoughts. Fragments of his odd romantic speech clove78 to her memory. His figure—for he showed to perfection in his own surroundings—was so comely79 and gallant16, so bright with the glamour80 of adventurous81 youth, that for a moment this prosaic82 young woman was a convert to the coloured side of life and had forgotten her austere83 creed84.
Mr. Stocks went about his duty with praise-worthy thoroughness. For the fiftieth time in a week he detailed85 to her his prospects86. When he had raised a cloud-built castle of fine hopes, when he had with manly87 simplicity88 repeated his confession of faith, he felt that the crucial moment had arrived. Now, when she looked down the same avenue of prospect as himself, he could gracefully89 ask her to adorn22 the fair scene with her presence.
“Alice,” he said, and at the sound of her name the girl started from a reverie in which Lewis was not absent, and looked vacantly in his face.
“I have wanted to speak to you for long, Alice. We have seen a good deal of each other lately, and I have come to be very fond of you. I trust you may have some liking92 for me, for I want you to promise to be my wife.”
He told his love in regular sentences. Unconsciously he had fallen into the soft patronizing tone in which aforetime he had shepherded a Sunday school.
The girl looked at the large sentimental93 face and laughed. She felt ashamed of her rudeness even in the act.
He caught her hands, and before she knew his face was close to hers. “Promise me, dear,” he said. “We have everything in common. Your father will be delighted, and we will work together for the good of the people. You are not meant to be a casual idler like the people at Etterick. You and I are working man and woman.”
It was her turn to flush in downright earnest. The man’s hot face sickened her. What were these wild words he was speaking? She dimly caught their purport94, heard the mention of Etterick, saw once again Lewis with his quick, kindly95 eyes, and turned coldly to the lover.
“It is quite out of the question, Mr. Stocks,” she said calmly. “Of course I am obliged to you for the honour you have done me, but the thing is impossible.”
“Who is it?” he cried, with angry eyes. “Is it Lewis Haystoun?”
The girl looked quickly at him, and he was silent, abashed96. Strangely enough, at that moment she liked him better than ever before. She forgave him his rudeness and folly97, his tactless speech and his comical face. He was in love with her, he offered her what he most valued, his political chances and his code of fine sentiments; it was not his blame if she found both little better than husks.
Her attention flew for a moment to the place she had left, only to return to a dismal27 reflection. Was she not, after all, in the same galley98 as her rejected suitor? What place had she in the frank good-fellowship of Etterick, or what part had they in the inheritance of herself and her kind? Had not Mr. Stocks—now sitting glumly99 by her side—spoken the truth? We are only what we are made, and generations of thrift100 and seriousness had given her a love for the strenuous101 and the unadorned which could never be cast out. Here was a quandary—for at the same instant there came the voice of the heart defiantly102 calling her to the breaking of idols103.
该作者的其它作品
《Greenmantle绿斗篷》
《Mr. Standfast》
《No man's land》
该作者的其它作品
《Greenmantle绿斗篷》
《Mr. Standfast》
《No man's land》
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vagaries
|
|
| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
tart
|
|
| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
dingy
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
disarray
|
|
| n.混乱，紊乱，凌乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tenants
|
|
| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
effusively
|
|
| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
unravelled
|
|
| 解开，拆散，散开( unravel的过去式和过去分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gallantly
|
|
| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
dispelled
|
|
| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
adorn
|
|
| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
reprobate
|
|
| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
philanderer
|
|
| n.爱和女人调情的男人，玩弄女性的男人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
muse
|
|
| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
dismally
|
|
| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
conspicuously
|
|
| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
revival
|
|
| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
judgments
|
|
| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
breaches
|
|
| 破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
unanimity
|
|
| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
reluctance
|
|
| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
shimmer
|
|
| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
haze
|
|
| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
vexes
|
|
| v.使烦恼( vex的第三人称单数 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
doctrinaire
|
|
| adj.空论的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
retirement
|
|
| n.退休，退职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
skilfully
|
|
| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
elicited
|
|
| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
confirmation
|
|
| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
heartiness
|
|
| 诚实，热心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
truant
|
|
| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
parvenu
|
|
| n.暴发户，新贵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
mightiness
|
|
| n.强大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
irritation
|
|
| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
complaisance
|
|
| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
radically
|
|
| ad.根本地，本质地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
pique
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
clove
|
|
| n.丁香味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
glamour
|
|
| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
prosaic
|
|
| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
austere
|
|
| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
creed
|
|
| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
detailed
|
|
| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
prospects
|
|
| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
simplicity
|
|
| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
maidenly
|
|
| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
liking
|
|
| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
purport
|
|
| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
abashed
|
|
| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
galley
|
|
| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
glumly
|
|
| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
thrift
|
|
| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
defiantly
|
|
| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
idols
|
|
| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |