Within the limits of becoming mirth,
I never spent an hour’s talk withal.”
—Love’s Labour’s Last.
I HAD a client in R—— by the name of Monell; and it was from him I had planned to learn the best way of approaching Mrs. Belden. When, therefore, I was so fortunate as to meet him, almost on my arrival, driving on the long road behind his famous trotter Alfred, I regarded the encounter as a most auspicious1 beginning of a very doubtful enterprise.
“Well, and how goes the day?” was his exclamation2 as, the first greetings passed, we drove rapidly into town.
“Your part in it goes pretty smoothly,” I returned; and thinking I could never hope to win his attention to my own affairs till I had satisfied him in regard to his, I told him all I could concerning the law-suit then pending3; a subject so prolific4 of question and answer, that we had driven twice round the town before he remembered he had a letter to post. As it was an important one, admitting of no delay, we hasted at once to the post-office, where he went in, leaving me outside to watch the rather meagre stream of goers and comers who at that time of day make the post-office of a country town their place of rendezvous5. Among these, for some reason, I especially noted6 one middle-aged7 woman; why, I cannot say; her appearance was anything but remarkable8. And yet when she came out, with two letters in her hand, one in a large and one in a small envelope, and meeting my eye hastily drew them under her shawl, I found myself wondering what was in her letters and who she could be, that the casual glance of a stranger should unconsciously move her to an action so suspicious. But Mr. Monell’s reappearance at the same moment, diverted my attention, and in the interest of the conversation that followed, I soon forgot both the woman and her letters. For determined9 that he should have no opportunity to revert10 to that endless topic, a law case, I exclaimed with the first crack of the whip,--“There, I knew there was something I wanted to ask you. It is this: Are you acquainted with any one is this town by the name of Belden?”
“There is a widow Belden in town; I don’t know of any other.”
“Is her first name Amy?”
“Yes, Mrs. Amy Belden.”
“That is the one,” said I. “Who is she, what is she, and what is the extent of your acquaintance with her?”
“Well,” said he, “ I cannot conceive why you should be interested in such an antiquated11 piece of commonplace goodness as she is, but seeing you ask, I have no objection to telling you that she is the very respectable relict of a deceased cabinetmaker of this town; that she lives in a little house down the street there, and that if you have any forlorn old tramp to be lodged12 over night, or any destitute13 family of little ones to be looked after, she is the one to go to. As to knowing her, I know her as I do a dozen other members of our church there up over the hill. When I see her I speak to her, and that is all.”
“A respectable widow, you say. Any family?”
“No; lives alone, has a little income, I believe; must have, to put the money on the plate she always does; but spends her time in plain sewing and such deeds of charity, as one with small means but willing heart can find the opportunity of doing in a town like this. But why in the name of wonders do you ask?”
“Business,” said I, “business. Mrs. Belden--don’t mention it by the way--has got mixed up in a case of mine, and I felt it due to my curiosity if not to my purse, to find out something about her. And I am not satisfied yet. The fact is I would give something, Monell, for the opportunity of studying this woman’s character. Now couldn’t you manage to get me introduced into her house in some way that would make it possible and proper for me to converse14 with her at my leisure? Business would thank you if you could.”
“Well, I don’t know; I suppose it could be done. She used to take lodgers15 in the summer when the hotel was full, and might be induced to give a bed to a friend of mine who is very anxious to be near the post-office on account of a business telegram he is expecting, and which when it comes will demand his immediate16 attention.” And Mr. Monell gave me a sly wink17 of his eye, little imagining how near the mark he had struck.
“You need not say that. Tell her I have a peculiar18 dislike to sleeping in a public house, and that you know of no one better fitted to accommodate me, for the short time I desire to be in town, than herself.”
“And what will be said of my hospitality in allowing you under these circumstances to remain in any other house than my own?”
“I don’t know; very hard things, no doubt; but I guess your hospitality can stand it.”
“Well, if you persist, we will see what can be done.” And driving up to a neat white cottage of homely19, but sufficiently20 attractive appearance, he stopped.
“This is her house,” said he, jumping to the ground; “let’s go in and see what we can do.”
Glancing up at the windows, which were all closed save the two on the veranda21 overlooking the street, I thought to myself, “If she has anybody in hiding here, whose presence in the house she desires to keep secret, it is folly22 to hope she will take me in, however well recommended I may come.” But, yielding to the example of my friend, I alighted in my turn and followed him up the short, grass-bordered walk to the front door.
“As she has no servant, she will come to the door herself, so be ready,” he remarked as he knocked.
I had barely time to observe that the curtains to the window at my left suddenly dropped, when a hasty step made itself heard within, and a quick hand drew open the door; and I saw before me the woman whom I had observed at the post-office, and whose action with the letters had struck me as peculiar. I recognized her at first glance, though she was differently dressed, and had evidently passed through some worry or excitement that had altered the expression of her countenance23, and made her manner what it was not at that time, strained and a trifle uncertain. But I saw no reason for thinking she remembered me. On the contrary, the look she directed towards me had nothing but inquiry24 in it, and when Mr. Monell pushed me forward with the remark, “A friend of mine; in fact my lawyer from New York,” she dropped a hurried old-fashioned curtsey whose only expression was a manifest desire to appear sensible of the honor conferred upon her, through the mist of a certain trouble that confused everything about her.
“We have come to ask a favor, Mrs. Belden; but may we not come in? “said my client in a round, hearty25 voice well calculated to recall a person’s thoughts into their proper channel. “I have heard many times of your cosy26 home, and am glad of this opportunity of seeing it.” And with a blind disregard to the look of surprised resistance with which she met his advance, he stepped gallantly27 into the little room whose cheery red carpet and bright picture-hung walls showed invitingly28 through the half-open door at our left.
Finding her premises29 thus invaded by a sort of French coup30 d’etat, Mrs. Belden made the best of the situation, and pressing me to enter also, devoted31 herself to hospitality. As for Mr. Monell, he quite blossomed out in his endeavors to make himself agreeable; so much so, that I shortly found myself laughing at his sallies, though my heart was full of anxiety lest, after all, our efforts should fail of the success they certainly merited. Meanwhile, Mrs. Belden softened32 more and more, joining in the conversation with an ease hardly to be expected from one in her humble33 circumstances. Indeed, I soon saw she was no common woman. There was a refinement34 in her speech and manner, which, combined with her motherly presence and gentle air, was very pleasing. The last woman in the world to suspect of any underhanded proceeding35, if she had not shown a peculiar hesitation36 when Mr. Monell broached37 the subject of my entertainment there.
“I don’t know, sir; I would be glad, but,” and she turned a very scrutinizing38 look upon me, “the fact is, I have not taken lodgers of late, and I have got out of the way of the whole thing, and am afraid I cannot make him comfortable. In short, you will have to excuse me.”
“But we can’t,” returned Mr. Monell. “What, entice39 a fellow into a room like this”—and he cast a hearty admiring glance round the apartment which, for all its simplicity40, both its warm coloring and general air of cosiness41 amply merited, “and then turn a cold shoulder upon him when he humbly42 entreats43 the honor of staying a single night in the enjoyment44 of its attractions? No, no, Mrs. Belden; I know you too well for that. Lazarus himself couldn’t come to your door and be turned away; much less a good-hearted, clever-headed young gentleman like my friend here.”
“You are very good,” she began, an almost weak love of praise showing itself for a moment in her eyes; “but I have no room prepared. I have been house-cleaning, and everything is topsy-turvy Mrs. Wright, now, over the way——”
“My young friend is going to stop here,” Mr. Mouell broke in, with frank positiveness. “If I cannot have him at my own house,—and for certain reasons it is not advisable,—I shall at least have the satisfaction of knowing he is in the charge of the best housekeeper45 in R——.”
“Yes,” I put in, but without too great a show of interest; “I should be sorry, once introduced here, to be obliged to go elsewhere.”
The troubled eye wavered away from us to the door.
“I was never called inhospitable,” she commenced; “but everything in such disorder46. What time would you like to come?”
“I was in hopes I might remain now,” I replied; “I have some letters to write, and ask nothing better than for leave to sit here and write them.”
At the word letters I saw her hand go to her pocket in a movement which must have been involuntary, for her countenance did not change, and she made the quick reply:
“Well, you may. If you can put up with such poor accommodations as I can offer, it shall not be said I refused you what Mr. Monell is pleased to call a favor.”
And, complete in her reception as she had been in her resistance, she gave us a pleasant smile, and, ignoring my thanks, bustled47 out with Mr. Monell to the buggy, where she received my bag and what was, doubtless, more to her taste, the compliments he was now more than ever ready to bestow48 upon her.
“I will see that a room is got ready for you in a very short space of time,” she said, upon re-entering. “Meanwhile, make yourself at home here; and if you wish to write, why I think you will find everything for the purpose in these drawers.” And wheeling up a table to the easy chair in which I sat, she pointed49 to the small compartments50 beneath, with an air of such manifest desire to have me make use of anything and everything she had, that I found myself wondering over my position with a sort of startled embarrassment51 that was not remote from shame.
“Thank you; I have materials of my own,” said I, and hastened to open my bag and bring out the writing-case, which I always carried with me.
“Then I will leave you,” said she; and with a quick bend and a short, hurried look out of the window, she hastily quitted the room.
I could hear her steps cross the hall, go up two or three stairs, pause, go up the rest of the flight, pause again, and then pass on. I was left on the first floor alone.
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1
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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4
prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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5
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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antiquated
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| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
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12
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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13
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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lodgers
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| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
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16
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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24
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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32
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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34
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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40
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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41
cosiness
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| n.舒适，安逸 | |
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42
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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43
entreats
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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45
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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46
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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47
bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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48
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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49
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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50
compartments
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| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
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51
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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