Lord Aspenly walked forth1 among the trim hedges and secluded2 walks which surrounded the house, and by alternately taking enormous pinches of rappee, and humming a favourite air or two, he wonderfully assisted his philosophy in recovering his equanimity3.
"It matters but little how the affair ends," thought his lordship, "if in matrimony—the girl is, after all, a very fine girl: but if the matter is fairly off, in that case I shall—look very foolish," suggested his conscience faintly, but his lordship dismissed the thought precipitately—"in that case I shall make it a point to marry within a fortnight. I should like to know the girl who would refuse me"—"the only one you ever asked," suggested his conscience again, but with no better result—"I should like to see the girl of sense or discrimination who could refuse me. I shall marry the finest girl in the country, and then I presume very few will be inclined to call me fool."
"Not I for one, my lord," exclaimed a voice close by. Lord Aspenly started, for he was conscious that in his energy he had uttered the concluding words of his proud peroration5 with audible emphasis, and became instantly aware that the speaker was no other than Major O'Leary.
"Not I for one, my lord," repeated the major, with extreme gravity, "I take it for granted, my lord, that you are no fool."
"I am obliged to you, Major O'Leary, for your good opinion," replied his lordship, drily, with a surprised look and a stiff inclination6 of his person.
"Nothing to be grateful for in it," replied the major, returning the bow with grave politeness: "if years and discretion7 increase together, you and I ought to be models of wisdom by this time of day. I'm proud of my years, my lord, and I would be half as proud again if I could count as many as your lordship."
There was something singularly abrupt8 and uncalled for in all this, which Lord Aspenly did not very well understand; he therefore stopped short, and looked in the major's face; but reading in its staid and formal gravity nothing whatever to furnish a clue to his exact purpose, he made a kind of short bow, and continued his walk in dignified9 silence. There was something exceedingly disagreeable, he thought, in the manner of his companion—something very near approaching to cool impertinence—which he could not account for upon any other supposition than that the major had been prematurely10 indulging in the joys of Bacchus. If, however, he thought that by the assumption of the frigid11 and lofty dignity with which he met the advances of the major, he was likely to relieve himself of his company, he was never more lamentably12 mistaken. His military companion walked with a careless swagger by his side, exactly regulating his pace by that of the little nobleman, whose meditations13 he had so cruelly interrupted.
"What on earth is to be done with this brute14 beast?" muttered his lordship, taking care, however, that the query15 should not reach the subject of it. "I must get rid of him—I must speak with the girl privately—what the deuce is to be done?"
They walked on a little further in perfect silence. At length his lordship stopped short and exclaimed,—
"My dear major, I am a very dull companion—quite a bore; there are times when the mind—the—the—spirits require solitude16—and these walks are the very scene for a lonely ramble17. I dare venture to aver19 that you are courting solitude like myself—your silence betrays you—then pray do not stand on ceremony—that walk leads down toward the river—pray no ceremony."
"Upon my conscience, my lord, I never was less inclined to stand on ceremony than I am at this moment," replied the major; "so give yourself no trouble in the world about me. Nothing would annoy me so much as to have you think I was doing anything but precisely20 what I liked best myself."
Lord Aspenly bowed, took a violent pinch of snuff, and walked on, the major still keeping by his side. After a long silence his lordship began to lilt his own sweet verses in a careless sort of a way, which was intended to convey to his tormentor21 that he had totally forgotten his presence:—
"Tho' Chloe slight me when I woo,
The shepherd's heart she scorns is true,
His heart is true, his passion tender."
"Passion tender," observed the major—"passion tender—it's a nurse-tender the like of you and me ought to be looking for—passion tender—upon my conscience, a good joke."
Lord Aspenly was strongly tempted23 to give vent18 to his feelings; but even at the imminent24 risk of bursting, he managed to suppress his fury. The major was certainly (however unaccountable and mysterious the fact might be) in a perfectly25 cut-throat frame of mind, and Lord Aspenly had no desire to present his weasand for the entertainment of his military friend.
"Tender—tender," continued the inexorable major, "allow me, my lord, to suggest the word tough as an improvement—tender, my lord, is a term which does not apply to chickens beyond a certain time of life, and it strikes me as too bold a license26 of poetry to apply it to a gentleman of such extreme and venerable old age as your lordship; for I take it for granted that Philander is another name for yourself."
As the major uttered this critical remark, Lord Aspenly felt his brain, as it were, fizz with downright fury; the instinct of self-preservation, however, triumphed; he mastered his generous indignation, and resumed his walk in a state of mind nothing short of awful.
"My lord," inquired the major, with tragic27 abruptness28, and with very stern emphasis—"I take the liberty of asking, have you made your soul?"
The precise nature of the major's next proceeding29, Lord Aspenly could not exactly predict; of one thing, however, he felt assured, and that was, that the designs of his companion were decidedly of a dangerous character, and as he gazed in mute horror upon the major, confused but terrific ideas of "homicidal monomania," and coroner's inquests floated dimly through his distracted brain.
"Yes, my lord," repeated the major, with remarkable32 coolness, "have you made your soul?"
During this conference his lordship's complexion33 had shifted from its original lemon-colour to a lively orange, and thence faded gradually off into a pea-green; at which hue34 it remained fixed35 during the remainder of the interview.
"I protest—you cannot be serious—I am wholly in the dark. Positively36, Major O'Leary, this is very unaccountable conduct—you really ought—pray explain."
"Upon my conscience, I will explain," rejoined the major, "although the explanation won't make you much more in love with your present predicament, unless I am very much out. You made my niece, Mary Ashwoode, an offer of marriage to-day; well, she was much obliged to you, but she did not want to marry you, and she told you so civilly. Did you then, like a man and a gentleman, take your answer from her as you ought to have done, quietly and courteously37? No, you did not; you went to bully38 the poor girl, and to insult her; because she politely declined to marry a—a—an ugly bunch of wrinkles, like you; and you threatened to tell Sir Richard—ay, you did—to tell him your pitiful story, you—you—you—but wait awhile. You want to have the poor girl frightened and bullied39 into marrying you. Where's your spirit or your feeling, my lord? But you don't know what the words mean. If ever you did, you'd sooner have been racked to death, than have terrified and insulted a poor friendless girl, as you thought her. But she's not friendless. I'll teach you she's not. As long as this arm can lift a small-sword, and while the life is in my body, I'll never see any woman maltreated by a scoundrel—a scoundrel, my lord; but I'll bring him to his knees for it, or die in the attempt. And holding these opinions, did you think I'd let you offend my niece? No, sir, I'd be blown to atoms first."
"Major O'Leary," replied his lordship, as soon as he had collected his thoughts and recovered breath to speak, "your conduct is exceedingly violent—very, and, I will add, most hasty and indiscreet. You have entirely40 misconceived me, you have mistaken the whole affair. You will regret this violence—I protest—I know you will, when you understand the whole matter. At present, knowing the nature of your feelings, I protest, though I might naturally resent your observations, it is not in my nature, in my heart to be angry." This was spoken with a very audible quaver.
"You would, my lord, you would be angry," rejoined the major, "you'd dance with fury this moment, if you dared. You could find it in your heart to go into a passion with a girl; but talking with men is a different sort of thing. Now, my lord, we are both here, with our swords; no place can be more secluded, and, I presume, no two men more willing. Pray draw, my lord, or I'll be apt to spoil your velvet41 and gold lace."
"Major O'Leary, I will be heard!" exclaimed Lord Aspenly, with an earnestness which the imminent peril42 of his person inspired—"I must have a word or two with you, before we put this dispute to so deadly an arbitrament."
The major had foreseen and keenly enjoyed the reluctance43 and the evident tremors44 of his antagonist45. He returned his half-drawn sword to its scabbard with an impatient thrust, and, folding his arms, looked down with supreme46 contempt upon the little peer.
"Major O'Leary, you have been misinformed—Miss Ashwoode has mistaken me. I assure you, I meant no disrespect—none in the world, I protest. I may have spoken hastily—perhaps I did—but I never intended disrespect—never for a moment."
"Well, my lord, suppose that I admit that you did not mean any disrespect; and suppose that I distinctly assert that I have neither right nor inclination just now to call you to an account for anything you may have said, in your interview this morning, offensive to my niece; I give you leave to suppose it, and, what's more, in supposing it, I solemnly aver, you suppose neither more nor less than the exact truth," said the major.
"Well, then, Major O'Leary," replied Lord Aspenly, "I profess47 myself wholly at a loss to understand your conduct. I presume, at all events, that nothing further need pass between us about the matter."
"Not so fast, my lord, if you please," rejoined the major; "a great deal more must pass between us before I have done with your lordship; although I cannot punish you for the past, I have a perfect right to restrain you for the future. I have a proposal to make, to which I expect your lordship's assent—a proposal which, under the circumstances, I dare say, you will think, however unpleasant, by no means unreasonable48."
"Pray state it," said Lord Aspenly, considerably49 reassured50 on finding that the debate was beginning to take a diplomatic turn.
"This is my proposal, then," replied the major: "you shall write a letter to Sir Richard, renouncing51 all pretensions52 to his daughter's hand, and taking upon yourself the whole responsibility of the measure, without implicating53 her directly or indirectly54; do you mind: and you shall leave this place, and go wherever you please, before supper-time to-night. These are the conditions on which I will consent to spare you, my lord, and upon no other shall you escape."
"Why, what can you mean, Major O'Leary?" exclaimed the little coxcomb55, distractedly. "If I did any such thing, I should be run through by Sir Richard or his rakehelly son; besides, I came here for a wife—my friends know it; I cannot consent to make a fool of myself. How dare you presume to propose such conditions to me?"
The little gentleman as he wound up, had warmed so much, that he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Without one word of commentary, the major drew his, and with a nod of invitation, threw himself into an attitude of defence, and resting the point of his weapon upon the ground, awaited the attack of his adversary56. Perhaps Lord Aspenly regretted the precipitate4 valour which had prompted him to place his hand on his sword-hilt, as much as he had ever regretted any act of his whole life; it was, however, too late to recede57, and with the hurried manner of one who has made up his mind to a disagreeable thing, and wishes it soon over, he drew his also, and their blades were instantly crossed in mortal opposition58.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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3
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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5
peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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6
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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7
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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8
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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9
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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11
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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12
lamentably
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| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
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13
meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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14
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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16
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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17
ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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18
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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19
aver
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| v.极力声明；断言；确证 | |
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20
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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21
tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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22
philander
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| v.不真诚地恋爱，调戏 | |
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23
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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24
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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25
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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26
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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27
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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28
abruptness
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| n. 突然，唐突 | |
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29
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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30
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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31
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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32
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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33
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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35
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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36
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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37
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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38
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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39
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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41
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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42
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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43
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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44
tremors
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| 震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动 | |
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45
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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46
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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47
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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48
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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49
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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50
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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51
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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52
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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53
implicating
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| vt.牵涉，涉及（implicate的现在分词形式） | |
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54
indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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55
coxcomb
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| n.花花公子 | |
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56
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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57
recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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58
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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