MY LAST CHANCE

 “Now mind,” said Mrs. Hilary Musgrave, impressively, “this is the last time I shall take any trouble about you. She’s a very nice girl, quite pretty, and she’ll have a lot of money. You can be very pleasant when you like—”

 

“This unsolicited testimonial—”

 

“Which isn’t often—and if you don’t do it this time I wash my hands of you. Why, how old are you?”

 

“Hush, Mrs. Hilary.”

 

“You must be nearly—”

 

“It’s false—false—false!”

 

“Come along,” said Mrs. Hilary, and she added over her shoulder, “she has a slight north-country accent.”

 

“It might have been Scotch,” said I.

 

“She plays the piano a good deal.”

 

“It might have been the fiddle,” said I.

 

“She’s very fond of Browning.”

 

“It might have been Ibsen,” said I.

 

Mrs. Hilary, seeing that I was determined¹ to look on the bright side, smiled graciously on me and introduced me to the young lady. She was decidedly good-looking, fresh and sincere of aspect, with large inquiring eyes—eyes which I felt would demand a little too much of me at breakfast—but then a large tea-urn puts that all right.

 

“Miss Sophia Milton—Mr. Carter,” said Mrs. Hilary, and left us.

 

Well, we tried the theaters first; but as she had only been to the Lyceum and I had only been to the Gaioety, we soon got to the end of that. Then we tried Art: she asked me what I thought of Degas: I evaded² the question by criticizing a drawing of a horse in last week’s Punch—which she hadn’t seen. Upon this she started literature. She said “Some Qualms³ and a Shiver” was the book of the season. I put my money on “The Queen of the Quorn.” Dead stop again! And I saw Mrs. Hilary’s eye upon me; there was wrath⁴ in her face. Something must be done. A brilliant idea seized me. I had read that four-fifths of the culture of England were Conservative. I also was a Conservative. It was four to one on! I started politics. I could have whooped⁵ for joy when I elicited⁶ something particularly incisive⁷ about the ignorance of the masses.

 

“I do hope you agree with me,” said Miss Milton. “The more one reads and thinks, the more one sees how fatally false a theory it is that the ignorant masses—people such as I have described—can ever rule a great Empire.”

 

“The Empire wants gentlemen; that’s what it wants,” said I, nodding my head and glancing triumphantly⁸ at Mrs. Hilary.

 

“Men and women,” said she, “who are acquainted with the best that has been said and thought on all important subjects.”

 

At the time I believed this observation to be original, but I have since been told that it was borrowed. I was delighted with it.

 

“Yes,” said I, “and have got a stake in the country, you know, and know how to behave emselves in the House, don’t you know?”

 

“What we have to do,” pursued Miss Milton, “is to guide the voters. These poor rustics⁹ need to be informed—”

 

“Just so,” I broke in. “They have to be told—”

 

“Of the real nature of the questions—”

 

“And which candidate to support.”

 

“Or they must infallibly”—she exclaimed.

 

“Get their marching orders,” I cried, in rapture¹⁰. It was exactly what I always did on my small property.

 

“Oh, I didn’t quite mean that,” she said reproachfully.

 

“Oh, well, neither did I—quite,” I responded adroitly¹¹. What was wrong with the girl now?

 

“But with the help of the League—” she went on.

 

“Do you belong?” I cried, more delighted than ever.

 

“O, yes,” said she. “I think it’s a duty. I worked very hard at the last election. I spent days distributing packages of—”

 

Then I made, I’m sorry to say, a false step. I observed, interrupting:

 

“But it’s ticklish¹² work now, eh? Six months’ ‘hard’ wouldn’t be pleasant, would it?”

 

“What do you mean, Mr.—er Carter?” she asked.

 

I was still blind. I believe I winked¹³, and I’m sure I whispered, “Tea.”

 

Miss Milton drew herself up very straight.

 

“I do not bribe,” she said. “What I distribute is pamphlets.”

 

Now I suppose that “pamphlets” and “blankets don’t really sound much alike, but I was agitated¹⁴.

 

“Quite right,” said I. “Poor old things! They can’t afford proper fuel.”

 

She rose to her feet.

 

“I was not joking,” she said with horrible severity.

 

“Neither was I,” I declared in humble¹⁵ apology. “Didn’t you say blankets?’”

 

“Pamphlets.”

 

“Oh!”

 

There was a long pause. I glanced at Mrs. Hilary. Things had not fallen out as happily as they might, but I did not mean to give up yet.

 

“I see you’re right,” I said, still humbly¹⁶. “To descend¹⁷ to such means as I had in my mind is—”

 

“To throw away our true weapons,” said she earnestly. (She sat down again—good sign.)

 

“What we really need—” I began.

 

“Is a reform of the upper classes,” said she.

 

“Let them give an example of duty, of self-denial, of frugality¹⁸.”

 

I was not to be caught out again.

 

“Just what I always say,” I observed, impressively.

 

“Let them put away their horse racing¹⁹, their betting, their luxurious²⁰ living, their—”

 

“You’re right, Miss Milton,” said I.

 

“Let them set an example of morality.”

 

“They should,” I assented²¹.

 

Miss Milton smiled.

 

“I thought we agreed really,” said she.

 

“I’m sure we do,” cried I; and I winked with my “off” eye at Mrs. Hilary as I sat down beside Miss Milton.

 

“Now I heard of a man the other day,” said she, “who’s nearly 40. He’s got an estate in the country. He never goes there, except for a few days’ shooting. He lives in town. He spends too much. He passes an absolutely vacant existence in a round of empty gaiety. He has by no means a good reputation. He dangles²² about, wasting his time and his money. Is that the sort of example—?”

 

“He’s a traitor²³ to his class,” said I warmly.

 

“If you want him, you must look on a race course, or at a tailor’s, or in some fashionable woman’s boudoir. And his estate looks after itself. He’s too selfish to marry, too idle to work, too silly to think.”

 

I began to be sorry for this man, in spite of his peccadilloes²⁴.

 

“I wonder if I’ve met him,” said I. “I’m occasionally in town, when I can get time to run up. What’s his name?”

 

“I don’t think I heard—or I’ve forgotten. But he’s got the place next to a friend of mine in the country, and she told me all about him. She’s exactly the opposite sort of person—or she wouldn’t be my friend.”

 

“I should think not, Miss Milton,” said I admiringly.

 

“Oh, I should like to meet that man, and tell him what I think of him!” said she. “Such men as he do more harm than a dozen agitators²⁵. So contemptible²⁶, too!”

 

“It’s revolting to think of,” said I.

 

“I’m so glad you—” began Miss Milton, quite confidentially²⁷; I pulled my chair a trifle closer, and cast an apparently²⁸ careless glance towards Mrs. Hilary. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me.

 

“Eh, what? Upon my honor it is! Why, Carter, my boy, how are you? Eh, what? Miss Milton, too, I declare! Well, now, what a pity Annie didn’t come!”

 

I disagreed. I hate Annie. But I was very glad to see my friend and neighbor, Robert Dinnerly. He’s a sensible man—his wife’s a little prig.

 

“Oh, Mr. Dinnerly,” cried Miss Milton, “how funny that you should come just now? I was just trying to remember the name of a man Mrs. Dinnerly told me about. I was telling Mr. Carter about him. You know him.”

 

“Well, Miss Milton, perhaps I do. Describe him.”

 

“I don’t believe Annie ever told me his name, but she was talking about him at our house yesterday.”

 

“But I wasn’t there, Miss Milton.”

 

“No,” said Miss Milton, “but he’s got the next place to yours in the country.”

 

I positively²⁹ leaped from my seat.

 

“Why, good gracious, Carter himself, you mean?” cried Dinnerly, laughing. “Well, that is a good un—ha-ha-ha!”

 

She turned a stony³⁰ glare on me.

 

“Do you live next to Mr. Dinnerly in the country?” she asked.

 

I would have denied it if Dinnerly had not been there. As it was, I blew my nose.

 

“I wonder,” said Miss Milton, “what has become of Aunt Emily.”

 

“Miss Milton,” said I, “by a happy chance you have enjoyed a luxury. You have told the man what you think of him.”

 

“Yes,” said she; “and I have only to add that he is also a hypocrite.”

 

Pleasant, wasn’t it? Yet Mrs. Hilary says it was my fault. That’s a woman all over!

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 evaded   

逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出

参考例句：

• For two weeks they evaded the press. 他们有两周一直避而不见记者。
• The lion evaded the hunter. 那狮子躲开了猎人。

3 qualms   

n.不安；内疚

参考例句：

• He felt no qualms about borrowing money from friends.他没有对于从朋友那里借钱感到不安。
• He has no qualms about lying.他撒谎毫不内疚。

4 wrath   

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。

5 whooped   

叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起

参考例句：

• The bill whooped through both houses. 此提案在一片支持的欢呼声中由两院匆匆通过。
• The captive was whooped and jeered. 俘虏被叱责讥笑。

6 elicited   

引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Threats to reinstate the tax elicited jeer from the Opposition. 恢复此项征税的威胁引起了反对党的嘲笑。
• The comedian's joke elicited applause and laughter from the audience. 那位滑稽演员的笑话博得观众的掌声和笑声。

7 incisive   

adj.敏锐的，机敏的，锋利的，切入的

参考例句：

• His incisive remarks made us see the problems in our plans.他的话切中要害，使我们看到了计划中的一些问题。
• He combined curious qualities of naivety with incisive wit and worldly sophistication.他集天真质朴的好奇、锐利的机智和老练的世故于一体。

8 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

9 rustics   

n.有农村或村民特色的( rustic的名词复数 )；粗野的；不雅的；用粗糙的木材或树枝制作的

参考例句：

• These rustics are utilized for the rough work of devoton. 那样的乡村气质可以替宗教做些粗重的工作。 来自互联网

10 rapture   

n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜

参考例句：

• His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.他的演说受到支持者们的热烈欢迎。
• In the midst of his rapture,he was interrupted by his father.他正欢天喜地，被他父亲打断了。

11 adroitly   

adv.熟练地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He displayed the cigarette holder grandly on every occasion and had learned to manipulate it adroitly. 他学会了一套用手灵巧地摆弄烟嘴的动作，一有机会就要拿它炫耀一番。 来自辞典例句
• The waitress passes a fine menu to Molly who orders dishes adroitly. 女服务生捧来菜单递给茉莉，后者轻车熟路地点菜。 来自互联网

12 ticklish   

adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理

参考例句：

• This massage method is not recommended for anyone who is very ticklish.这种按摩法不推荐给怕痒的人使用。
• The news is quite ticklish to the ear,这消息听起来使人觉得有些难办。

13 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

15 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

16 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

17 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

18 frugality   

n.节约，节俭

参考例句：

• We must build up our country with industry and frugality.我们必须勤俭建国。
• By frugality she managed to get along on her small salary.凭着节俭，她设法以自己微薄的薪水生活。

19 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

20 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

21 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

22 dangles   

悬吊着( dangle的第三人称单数 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• A kite dangles from a telephone wire. 一只风筝悬挂在电话线上晃来晃去。
• Her hand, which dangles over the side, sparkles cold with jewels. 她一只手耷拉在一边，闪耀着珠宝的寒光。

23 traitor   

n.叛徒，卖国贼

参考例句：

• The traitor was finally found out and put in prison.那个卖国贼终于被人发现并被监禁了起来。
• He was sold out by a traitor and arrested.他被叛徒出卖而被捕了。

24 peccadilloes   

n.轻罪，小过失( peccadillo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His peccadilloes finally broke his marriage. 他的小过失最终毁灭了他的婚姻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• People are prepared to be tolerant of extra-marital peccadilloes by public figures. 人们可以容忍公众人物婚外的不检点行为。 来自辞典例句

25 agitators   

n.（尤指政治变革的）鼓动者( agitator的名词复数 )；煽动者；搅拌器；搅拌机

参考例句：

• The mud is too viscous, you must have all the agitators run. 泥浆太稠，你们得让所有的搅拌机都开着。 来自辞典例句
• Agitators urged the peasants to revolt/revolution. 煽动者怂恿农民叛变（革命）。 来自辞典例句

26 contemptible   

adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的

参考例句：

• His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬，言语粗俗。
• That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。

27 confidentially   

ad.秘密地，悄悄地

参考例句：

• She was leaning confidentially across the table. 她神神秘秘地从桌子上靠过来。
• Kao Sung-nien and Wang Ch'u-hou talked confidentially in low tones. 高松年汪处厚两人低声密谈。

28 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

29 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

30 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。