Mr. Tuke was arrayed resplendent, cap-à-pie. His personal baggage had reached him from London, and he felt human, in the sense of the beast of civilization, once more. If his household was as yet unenlarged and his halls filled with little but echoes, he had at least a retiring chamber1 worthy2 of the most exquisite3 refinements4 of a Georgian toilet.
It was four o’clock of a sunny afternoon as he descended5 the stairs, pulling on his gloves; for he was for a little party at “Chatters,” to meet a neighbour or so, and Whimple held his horse at the door.
Taking him altogether, he was a handsome and amiable-looking gentleman, and manly6 withal; nor did his subscription7 to the dandyism of the day exhibit exaggeration or tastelessness. It is true his hair, now surmounted8 by the high-crowned beaver9 hat of the period, was “craped,” as the fashion-books would say, over his forehead, and liberally anointed with some lustrous10 oil; but cleanliness in this respect would have then been considered the merest affectation of eccentricity11. For the rest, his long riding-coat, of many capes12, concealed13 a toilet of cloth and silk and plaited lawn that, in its mode and finish, bespoke14 the highest traditions of metropolitan15 elegance16.
So, at any rate, thought Betty Pollack, who was standing17 in the porch waiting to have a word with his honour.
Betty had driven over with her grandfather in an old taxed-cart, which was now drawn18 up at the broad end of the drive.
She curtsied like a daffodil to the sun; and Mr. Tuke nodded brightly to her as he buttoned the last ray of his glories into his coat.
“On what errand, my girl?” said he.
“With a humble19 message from grandfather, your honour,” she answered—“that there’s a battle-royal in his cockpit Saturday forenoon, and will your honour condescend20 to take a seat?”
“I don’t know. What would you have me do, Betty?”
“Sure, your honour’s the best judge. Cocks will be cocks, I suppose; but ’tis a cruel business to set natural enemies to the scratch, think I; and I’d rather have them in broth21, with their necks wrung22, when all’s said and done.”
“Then, I won’t come.”
“Oh! but save us! that’s only a woman’s view.”
“It flies with all the force of beauty behind it, my dear.”
The girl shrunk back a little.
“Then I was to ask you,” she said, in a more strained voice, “if you would favor us with your custom in the matter of poultry23 and butter and garden stuff?”
The gentleman laughed.
“Why, I’ve turned away one with the same offer already,” cried he. Then, seeing her fall back timid, as if at a rebuff: “Could you undertake to supply ’em very fresh?” he said, with mock gravity.
“Oh! rest your honour!” she said eagerly. “We could drive over every day, if needs were.”
“Say, twice a week, Betty. And, if you lack garden stuff, why come none the less, and I’ll take a fruitful pleasure of your visits.”
He caught his stirrup and mounted, and was gone with a smiling nod to the girl. At the entrance to the drive, the old man saluted24 him respectfully. He pulled up, and was about to exchange a word with the gaffer, when he remembered his deafness, and made as if to proceed on his way. But Grandfather Pollack leaned out of his cart and beckoned25 him.
Mr. Tuke, feeling the uselessness of speech, nodded after a reserved manner.
“That girl,” said the old man, with a small experimental leer of confidence, “would serve a gentleman well for her beauty and her lovingness.”
He tapped the sleeve of the other’s riding-coat.
“I’m poor, sir, I’m poor and failin’. What a chance if I had a piece o’ goods that costly27 as to be worth a little annuity28 to me!”
He received a grunt29 and scowl30 of indignation for answer; but it was doubtful if he read their significance.
Mr. Tuke shook off the old clawing touch and rode on. He did not, however, put a short period to the evil by forbidding the ancient rascal31 then and there his presence. Which of us has the courage to strike at the snake of temptation on the first protrusion32 of his head from the ground? We want to circumvent33 him, with that truly human habit of temporizing34 that so often ends by our getting entangled35 in the toils36.
Now he was righteously incensed37; yet as he rode away under the yellowing trees, his thoughts ran warm on the ardent38 beauty of melancholy39 that characterized the face of all things about him; and gradually his mood fell from indignation to a tenderness that was almost a passion.
Miss Angela Royston received her preserver very prettily40, and thanked him with an exaggerated effusiveness41 which was the more embarrassing inasmuch as the company, to whom the ultimate revelation of what he had done seemed to present itself as a rather tame anti-climax, had already treated his advent42 (but this was by way of provincial43 gaucherie) as if it were an intrusion.
The party was of the nature of a kettle-drum, it appeared, with supper to follow and genteel games. The young baronet was not yet in evidence, being ridden to some kennels44 across country and late in returning; but there were two or three squireens who obviously desired the moral support of his presence, and, lacking it, had so strenuously46 beaten about in the waste lands of their brains for ideas, as to have grown as apoplectic47 and nearly as expressionless as tomatoes. A notable member of the company was the Honourable48 Mrs. Tatty49, whose turban was so immense as to give her the perpetual appearance of tilting50 up her nose to keep it from falling off; and whose observations invariably drew rein51 on the brink52 or pit-edge of profundity53, where, when one expected much, they sat down abruptly54 and refused, as it were, to yield their further confidences to strangers.
This lady was accompanied by a quizzical little person, a cousin from London, who was of the order of those who curry55 favour with their present, by laughing at their late, company; and a saturnine56 gentleman, addressed as Captain Luvaine—who said little, and said that as if he grudged57 it—completed the party.
To all was Mr. Tuke presented—generally as a neighbour of a romantic cast; and it needed much of his acquired urbanity and deftness58 in society to carry off the situation without a show of self-consciousness.
“We call you the lord of Wastelands,” said Miss Royston, with a little smiling blush, as if she offered him the fruit of her invention. Certainly she looked a very dainty body, and she bore her daintiness as if it were a burden she loved. Her fair hair, combed over her forehead and falling in ringlets on her neck, was banded with a fillet of gold like a sunbeam. Her robe was of pure white satin, clasped at one shoulder with a diamond button; and in her hand she flirted59 a little sparkling fan no bigger than a pheasant’s wing, and much its colour.
Naturally, in the presence of this radiant bird of his feather, Mr. Tuke lost mental sight and consideration of homely60 Betty.
“It was a laying on of lands, not hands,” she cried merrily in response. “I brought away a rare impression of their picturesqueness—but ’twas on my gown;” and then the fine creature must give the company the history of her introduction to the squire45 of romance, whom she looked at very tenderly as she eulogized him.
“A remarkable63 situation,” said Mrs. Tatty, scenting64 the neighbourhood of the pit with uplifted nostrils65. “Mr. Richardson himself never imagined a more pronounced. Sure there is an affinity66 in circumstance—and therein lies the explanation.”
“It was like poor Julia’s experience,” said the little cousin from London. “Only that Julia was trop embarrassée de sa personne to extricate67 herself with grace.”
“Oh!” cried Angela. “I blush to hear you talk of grace.”
“’Twas after meat, my dear,” said Mrs. Tatty, with a splendid benevolence68 of humour; and immediately sat down, morally, on the brink.
Mr. Tuke laboriously69 strained at a camel of wit. “Before, before!” he cried—“for ’twas the grace that introduced food for reflection.”
“Am I that” cried Miss Royston. “Then I must be angélique glacée. But my poor bréviaire, that I cried to have lost! Had I had that charm with me, no accident would have befallen.”
“But fifty others failed to save you,” said the baronet, with a low bow, and, it must be admitted, considerable gallantry; for his back was yet stiff with dipping for the abominable70 trinket.
And at this point Sir David entered the room.
His sister ran at him, and scolded him with twenty little tricks of endearment71.
“Sure, sir,” she cried, “this is pretty behaviour to your guests!”—and she came forward on his arm, mutely daring slander72 to deny perfection to so beautiful a couple.
The little gentleman was charmed to meet his new neighbour, and said so with amazing condescension73. He was very daintily attired74, and prodigal75 of self-important courtesy to all.
“I passed your fellow,” he said, “hob-nobbin’ with a gipsy hag. I know the witch by sight. He caught me up later, and we fell a-talkin’. We’ve been neighbours, you know, ever since I can remember. There’s no beast-leech like him in all the county.”
“Indeed?” said Mr. Tuke dryly.
“You’d not think it, eh? It’s truth, sir. Why,” said the baronet, “I don’t s’pose the fellow’s ever fired a fowling-piece in his life; but he knows more of the habits of animals, ground and winged, than any dozen sportsmen in the parish. Ain’t that so, Charlie?”
“That’s so, by Gad76, Davy,” said the squireen addressed, greatly stimulated77 and emboldened78 by the presence of his host.
“He cured my bitch Daisy of a capped hock,” said another; and then looked as if he wished he hadn’t spoken.
“They are all Jack-puddings to showman Davy,” whispered Miss Angela, looking up at her cavalier with a waggish79 twinkle.
“Come!” cried the master of “Chatters.” “Who’s for a game? Let’s have ‘Pinch without Laughin’.’”
The squireens boisterously80 assented81; but Miss Royston and the cousin from London cried “No! no!” feeling their little powdered noses in jeopardy82. So they played “Hot Cockles,” and “Jack’s Alive,” and “Shadow Buff,” and enjoyed themselves after the light-hearted manner of the period, the problems of which were, indeed, mostly exercised in merriment.
When they settled down at last, flushed and dishevelled, Mr. Tuke looked in the face of a certain lady, with whom he sat in a corner, and was aware of his pulses drumming a little thickly.
“I think I have lived an empty life for long,” he said; “and now I have learned to know myself.”
She twinkled up at him archly.
“Does the knowledge repay the study?” said she.
“Cruel!” he answered. “Ah! if you only guessed my tutor.”
“But I cannot.”
“Indeed, they have pupils, sir. Oh, the heavenly pedagogues84!”
“Like the rose that lives in man’s imagination. Oh, fie, Mr. Tuke! Here is an ardent philosopher of the desert! Tell me, does the house of shadows yield many mysteries? I am dying to hear all about it.”
“Then I will save you.”
“As you have once already.”
“It yields—yes; I think I can say it yields one at least.”
“Oh! oh! what is it about?”
“A Lake of Wine.”
Both talkers turned round with a start. Captain Luvaine had, it appeared, been seated solitary87 near them, and had dropped upon the ground a heavy book in which he had been reading.
“Really, Captain Luvaine,” said Miss Royston peevishly88, “I protest you near frightened me to death.”
The melancholy soldier was apologizing with much humility89 and confusion, when up came Sir David, and insisted upon carrying off the gentlemen for a pipe and a glass.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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capes
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| 碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬 | |
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13
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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bespoke
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| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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23
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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25
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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27
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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protrusion
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| n.伸出，突出 | |
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circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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temporizing
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| v.敷衍( temporize的现在分词 )；拖延；顺应时势；暂时同意 | |
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entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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toils
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| 网 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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38
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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40
prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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41
effusiveness
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| n.吐露，唠叨 | |
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42
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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43
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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44
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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45
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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46
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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47
apoplectic
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| adj.中风的；愤怒的；n.中风患者 | |
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48
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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49
tatty
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| adj.不整洁的，简陋的 | |
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50
tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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51
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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52
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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53
profundity
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| n.渊博；深奥，深刻 | |
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54
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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55
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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56
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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57
grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
deftness
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59
flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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62
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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63
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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64
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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65
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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66
affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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67
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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68
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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69
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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70
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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71
endearment
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| n.表示亲爱的行为 | |
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72
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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73
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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74
attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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76
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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77
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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78
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
waggish
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| adj.诙谐的，滑稽的 | |
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80
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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81
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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83
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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84
pedagogues
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| n.教师，卖弄学问的教师( pedagogue的名词复数 ) | |
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85
irises
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| n.虹( iris的名词复数 )；虹膜；虹彩；鸢尾（花） | |
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86
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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87
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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88
peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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89
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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