There are two classes of flirts5—those who love to flirt6, and those who flirt to love. There is little to be said against the latter, for they are merely experimenting. They intend to fall in love, but they can hardly compass it without preliminary acquaintance, and by giving themselves a wide and varied7 selection, are more likely to discover the fitting object of affection. It is easy to confound both classes of flirts together, and heartbroken lovers generally do so, when they do not use a stronger expression. But so far as Lord Silverdale could tell, there was nothing in Miss Rand's behavior to justify8 him in relegating9 her to either class, or to make him doubt the genuineness of the anti-hymeneal feelings provoked by her disappointment in Trepolpen. Her manner was simple and artless—she gushed11, indeed, but charmingly, like a daintily sculptured figure on a marble fountain in a fair pleasaunce. You could be as little offended by her gush10, as by her candid1 confessions12 of her own talents. The Lord had given her a good conceit13 of herself, and given it her so gracefully14, that it was one of her chiefest charms. She spoke15 with his lordship of Shakespeare and others of her profession, and mentioned that she was about to establish a paper called The Cherub16, after her popular story The Cherub That Sits Up Aloft.
"I want to get into closer touch with my readers," she explained, helping17 herself charmingly to the chocolate creams. "In a book, you cannot get into direct rapport18 with your public. Your characters are your rivals and distract attention from the personality of the author. In a journal I shall be able to chat with them freely, open my heart to them and gather them to it. There is a legitimate19 curiosity to learn all about me—the same curiosity that I feel about other authors. Why should I allow myself to be viewed in the refracting medium of alien ink? Let me sketch20 myself to my readers, tell them what I eat and drink, and how I write, and when, what clothes I wear and how much I pay for them, what I think of this or that book of mine, of this or that character of my creation, what my friends think of me, and what I think of my friends. All the features of the paper will combine to make my face. I shall occupy all the stories, and every column will have me at the top. In this way I hope, not only to gratify my yearnings for sympathy, but to stimulate21 the circulation of my books. Nay22 more, with the eye of my admirers thus encouragingly upon me, I shall work more zealously24. You see, Lord Silverdale, we authors are a race apart—without the public hanging upon our words, we are like butterflies in a London fog, or actors playing to an empty auditorium25."
"I have noticed that," said Lord Silverdale dryly, "before authors succeed, it takes them a year to write a book, after they succeed it takes them only a month."
"You see I am right," said Ellaline eagerly. "That's what the sun of public sympathy does. It ripens26 work quickly."
"Yes, and when the sun is very burning, it sometimes takes the authors no time at all."
"Ah, now you are laughing at me. You are speaking of 'ghosts.'"
"Yes. Ghost stories are published all the year round—not merely at Christmas. Don't think I'm finding fault. I look upon an author who keeps his ghost, as I do on a tradesmen who keeps his carriage. It is a sign he has succeeded."
"Oh, but it's very wicked, giving the public underweight like that!" said Ellaline in her sweet, serious way. "How can anybody write as well as yourself? But why I mentioned about The Cherub is because it has just struck me the paper might become the organ of the Old Maids' Club, for I should make a point of speaking freely of my aims and aspirations27 in joining it. I presume you know all about Miss Dulcimer's scheme?"
"Oh, yes! But I don't think it feasible."
"You don't?" she said, with a little tremor28 of astonishment29 in her voice. "And why not?" She looked anxiously into his eyes for the reply.
"The candidates are too charming to remain single," he explained, smiling.
She smiled back a little at him, those sweet gray eyes still looking into his.
"You are not a literary man?" she said irrelevantly30.
"I am afraid I must plead guilty to trying to be," he said. "The evidence is down in black and white."
The smile died away and for an instant Ellaline's brow went into black for it. She accepted an ice from Turple the magnificent, but took her leave shortly afterwards, Lillie promising31 to write to her.
"Well?" said the President when she was left alone with the Honorary Trier.
That functionary32 looked dubious33. "Up till the very last she seemed single-hearted in her zeal23. Then she asked whether I was a literary man. You know her story. What do you conclude?"
"I can hardly come to a conclusion. Do you think there is still a danger of her marrying to get someone to advertise her?"
"I think it depends on The Cherub. If The Cherub is born and lives, it will be a more effectual advertising34 medium than even a husband, and may replace him. A paper of your own can puff35 you rather better than a husband of your own, it has a larger circulation and more opportunities. An authoress-editress, her worth is far above rubies36! Her correspondents praise her in the gates and her staff shall rise up and call her blessed. It may well be that she will arrive at that stage at which a husband is an incubus37 and marriage a manacle. In that day the honor of the Club will be safe in her hands."
"What do you suggest then?" said Lillie anxiously.
"That you wait till she is delivered of The Cherub before deciding."
"Very well," she replied resignedly. "Only I hope we shall be able to admit her. Her conception of the use of man is so sublime38!"
Lord Silverdale smiled. "Ah, if the truth were known," he said, "I daresay it would be that pretty women regard man merely as a beast of draught39 and burden, a creature to draw their checks and carry their cloaks."
Lillie answered, "And men look on pretty women either as home pets or as drawing-room decorations."
Silverdale said further, "I do not look on you as either."
To which, Lillie, "Why do you say such obvious things? It is unworthy of you. Have you anything worthy40 of you in your pocket to-day?"
"Nothing of your hearing. Just a little poem about another Cherub."
AN ANCIENT PASSION.
Mine is no passion of to-day,
Upblazing like a rocket,
And leave you out of pocket.
By just the woman's graces:
I loved her when, a sucking dove,
And when the pretty darling cried,
I often stooped and kissed her,
Though cold and faint her lips replied,
As though she were my sister.
I loved her long but loved her still
When she discarded long-clothes,
Yet here if she had had her will
Would this romantic song close.
For, though we wandered hand in hand,
She always made me understand
Not weeping like the cayman,
When she was Mab, the Fairy Queen,
And I Tom King, highwayman.
'Twas at a Children's Fancy Ball,
It did not kill my love at all
But heightened its complexion49.
My love to tell, when she grew up,
Necessitates50 italics.
Her hair was like the buttercup
(Corolla not the calyx).
Her form was slim, her eye was bright,
Her mouth a jewel-casket,
Her hand it was so soft and white
I often used to ask it.
And so from year to year I wooed,
My passion growing fiercer,
Addressed me as "My dear sir."
At twenty she was still as coy,
Her heart was like Diana's.
The future held for me no joy,
Save smoking choice Havanas.
At last my perseverance52 woke
A sweet responsive passion,
And of her love for me she spoke
In woman's wordless fashion.
I told her, when her speech was done,
The task would be above her
To make a happy man of one
Who long had ceased to love her.
Lillie put on an innocently analytical53 frown. "I think you behaved very badly," she exclaimed. "You might have waited a little longer."
"Do you think so? Then I will go and leave you to your labors," said Lord Silverdale with his wonted irrelevancy54.
Lillie sat for a long time with pen in hand, thinking without writing. As a change from writing without thinking this was perhaps a relief.
Rejected Addresses.
"A penny for your thoughts," said the millionaire, stealing in upon her reflections.
Lillie started.
"I am not Ellaline Rand," she said smiling. "Wait till The Cherub comes out, and you will get hers at that price."
"Was Ellaline the girl who has just gone?"
"Did you see her? I thought you were gardening."
"So I was, but I happened to go into the dining-room for a moment and saw her from the window. I suppose she will be here often."
The millionaire rubbed his hands.
"Miss Eustasia Pallas," announced Turple the magnificent.
"A new candidate, probably," said the President.
"Father, you must go and play in the garden."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
candid
|
|
| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
embroidering
|
|
| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
prettily
|
|
| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
flirts
|
|
| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
flirt
|
|
| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
relegating
|
|
| v.使降级( relegate的现在分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
10
gush
|
|
| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
gushed
|
|
| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
confessions
|
|
| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
conceit
|
|
| n.自负，自高自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spoke
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
16
cherub
|
|
| n.小天使，胖娃娃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rapport
|
|
| n.和睦，意见一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
stimulate
|
|
| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
zealously
|
|
| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
auditorium
|
|
| n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ripens
|
|
| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
aspirations
|
|
| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
tremor
|
|
| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
irrelevantly
|
|
| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
functionary
|
|
| n.官员；公职人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
advertising
|
|
| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
rubies
|
|
| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
incubus
|
|
| n.负担；恶梦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
snared
|
|
| v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
grimaces
|
|
| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
chronic
|
|
| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
platonic
|
|
| adj.精神的；柏拉图（哲学）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
rejection
|
|
| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
necessitates
|
|
| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
perseverance
|
|
| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
analytical
|
|
| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
irrelevancy
|
|
| n.不恰当，离题，不相干的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
55
dubiously
|
|
| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |