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CHAPTER LV.
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“Well,” cried Creel, “you have sown your wild oats and reaped a whirlwind; and now at last is the calm; and you shall sit under your fig-tree and grow fat.”
 
“Never, my old friend. We shall come and go like the swallows, and build under the eaves of the world.”
 
“Aye, aye, and rear a brood at every visit, no doubt. Well, you have realized well on the famous stone, and can indulge a whimsey or so. And you can afford to waive1 title to the estate, and encumber2 me with a property I neither covet3 nor care for. But you are wise no doubt; and maybe you have that of the gambler’s instinct left you to know when the luck hath turned. And, if anything will convince me it has, Sir Robert, it is in the fact that that one rogue4 was spared for the gallows5 and to give evidence against himself in a near incredible story; which he did with so fine a tact6 of villainy as to startle virtuous7 truth out of conceit8 with itself.”
 
“Mr. Creel, Brander was not the first that missed his vocation9 of attorney.”
 
“A stale witticism10, Sir Robert, that has its origin in the unreasoning petulance11 of unsuccessful litigants12. Yet what man blames his broker13 that he takes his percentage equally in a good or bad speculation14?”
 
“Why, I spoke15 the common cant16 thoughtlessly, sir, and only aimed at a laugh. I would ennoble all lawyers for your sake.”
 
“Well, well. And so the man Whimple goes abroad with you?”
 
“I would not part with him for a fortune. Sir David Blythewood offered to take him into his service, but——”
 
“Ah! I hear that gentleman’s half-sister is pledged to a coronet?”
 
“She will bring it lustre17.”
 
He rose, and the attorney with him. The old grey eyes of the latter looked kindlily over their glasses.
 
“And what are your plans?” said he.
 
“To travel for a year, maybe, while our garden is maturing.”
 
“The garden that is in the green hollow out of the world? God make it fruitful for you. And is Lady Linne pleased with her new-found title?”
 
“She is a woman of very women, sir; and all grace I offer her is but repayment18 of a loan of her own advancing.”
 
“Well, indeed; you are very much in love.”
 
By Way of Grace.
Miss Royston rose to meet her brother in the candle-light. A really superb collect of diamonds sparkled on her white bosom19.
 
“Are they not ravishing?” she said; “and is not Dunlone a princely suitor?”
 
“Why, he cannot do credit to his own selection with niggardliness20.”
 
“You are always grudging21 in your acknowledgment of his condescension22, brother—yes, condescension, sir, for all your little flippant nose. And simplicity23 in a smock may be a very engaging thing, but I vow24 I prefer it in a coronet.”
 
“Rank, madam, is but the guinea stamp.”
 
“Then I would be the guinea-hen, and you may go, if you will, to the barn-door for your partner.”
 
“Angel, the stones are very fine. What a storm in a tea-cup! Dunlone knows where to lay out his property to the best advantage, and I swear your white skin pays a pretty interest on his investment.”
 
This might have been designed for a compliment. The incensed25 lady was not to be appeased26.
 
“You may swear,” she said; “but not in my company. This last year is responsible for more than one change to a coarseness of sentiment in you; though, being the impressionable child you are, I do not wonder.”
 
She turned with an acid smile to a little table hard by.
 
“Here,” she said, “is the latest intelligence of a country neighbour of yours that you once studied to take your cue from.”
 
“You mean Tuke, of course. What about him?”
 
“Why, only that his hoyden27 hath presented him with an heir to his profligacy;”—and she read out from a current copy of the Lady’s Magazine the following announcement: “‘October 29. The lady of Sir Robt. Linne, Bart., of a son.’”
 
“I congratulate them with all my heart,” said Blythewood fervently28.
 
Miss Angela looked at him with a stare of infinite scorn.
 
“You were present at the wedding, I think?” said she.
 
“You know I was.”
 
“And you made quite an ingenious little speech to the May-day bride and her Jack-in-the-green, or clown—which was it? and I think you got tipsy, which was the best compliment you could have paid her.”
 
“I dare say—I dare say; and—well, what then?”
 
“What then, sir? Why, only that I think Sir Robert Linne should have kept his wife’s name out of an advertisement.”
 
“Pooh! She takes her husband’s status; and she is a noble wench, by George, and will never bring him to shame.”
 
“Or he, her, of course,” said Miss Angela—“and, Davy, ’tis time you put on your pinafore and went to play in the nursery.”
 
 
And here ends the story—so far as it relates to the personages of this history—of the wonderful ruby29 that went by the name of the Lake of Wine. And here—or there, set in a leafy swale of the lonely Hampshire downs—stood until somewhat recently the ruins of that fallen house that superstition30 must still be peopling with spectres. They are gone now, the ruins. When the historian last saw them, a profound silence reigned31 within the broken walls; a riot of “devil’s-rope” and ground-elder filled the deep hollows of the courts; the ivy32 stems were grown ancient; and flitting about the green melancholy33, a brimstone butterfly was blown aloft like a flake34 of the destroying fire that the spirit of romance had breathed into life again.
 
And now a model farm, rising from the wreck35, has disciplined the wild fields to a very pretty behaviour, and the ghosts are fled before the terror of the Psychical36 Society.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 waive PpGyO     
vt.放弃,不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)
参考例句:
  • I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
  • In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况,他们同意放弃他们的要求。
2 encumber 3jGzD     
v.阻碍行动,妨碍,堆满
参考例句:
  • He never let a woman encumber him for any length of time.他从来不让一个女人妨碍他太久的时间。
  • They can't encumber us on the road.他们不会在路上拖累大家。
3 covet 8oLz0     
vt.垂涎;贪图(尤指属于他人的东西)
参考例句:
  • We do not covet anything from any nation.我们不觊觎任何国家的任何东西。
  • Many large companies covet these low-cost acquisition of troubled small companies.许多大公司都觊觎低价收购这些陷入困境的小公司。
4 rogue qCfzo     
n.流氓;v.游手好闲
参考例句:
  • The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
  • They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
5 gallows UfLzE     
n.绞刑架,绞台
参考例句:
  • The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
  • Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。
6 tact vqgwc     
n.机敏,圆滑,得体
参考例句:
  • She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
  • Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。
7 virtuous upCyI     
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的
参考例句:
  • She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性,人人都尊敬她。
  • My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。
8 conceit raVyy     
n.自负,自高自大
参考例句:
  • As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后,谦虚使人进步。
  • She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。
9 vocation 8h6wB     
n.职业,行业
参考例句:
  • She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
  • She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。
10 witticism KIeyn     
n.谐语,妙语
参考例句:
  • He tries to lighten his lectures with an occasional witticism.他有时想用俏皮话使课堂活跃。
  • His witticism was as sharp as a marble.他的打趣话十分枯燥无味。
11 petulance oNgxw     
n.发脾气,生气,易怒,暴躁,性急
参考例句:
  • His petulance made her impatient.他的任性让她无法忍受。
  • He tore up the manuscript in a fit of petulance.他一怒之下把手稿撕碎了。
12 litigants c9ff68410d06ca6c01713855fdb780e5     
n.诉讼当事人( litigant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Litigants of the two parties may reconcile of their own accord. 双方当事人可以自行和解。 来自口语例句
  • The litigants may appeal against a judgment or a ruling derived from the retrial. 当事人可就重审案件的判决或裁定进行上诉。 来自口语例句
13 broker ESjyi     
n.中间人,经纪人;v.作为中间人来安排
参考例句:
  • He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
  • I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。
14 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机
参考例句:
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
15 spoke XryyC     
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:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
16 cant KWAzZ     
n.斜穿,黑话,猛扔
参考例句:
  • The ship took on a dangerous cant to port.船只出现向左舷危险倾斜。
  • He knows thieves'cant.他懂盗贼的黑话。
17 lustre hAhxg     
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉
参考例句:
  • The sun was shining with uncommon lustre.太阳放射出异常的光彩。
  • A good name keeps its lustre in the dark.一个好的名誉在黑暗中也保持它的光辉。
18 repayment repayment     
n.偿还,偿还款;报酬
参考例句:
  • I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
  • The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。
19 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
20 niggardliness e7f21a321209158a2f21ea66a9cc6229     
参考例句:
  • Connie felt again the tightness, niggardliness of the men of her generation. 康妮又感觉到她同代的男子们的狭隘和鄙吝。 来自互联网
21 grudging grudging     
adj.勉强的,吝啬的
参考例句:
  • He felt a grudging respect for her talents as an organizer.他勉强地对她的组织才能表示尊重。
  • After a pause he added"sir."in a dilatory,grudging way.停了一会他才慢吞吞地、勉勉强强地加了一声“先生”。
22 condescension JYMzw     
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人)
参考例句:
  • His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
  • Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲,但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。
23 simplicity Vryyv     
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯
参考例句:
  • She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
  • The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。
24 vow 0h9wL     
n.誓(言),誓约;v.起誓,立誓
参考例句:
  • My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿,每星期日都去做礼拜。
  • I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。
25 incensed 0qizaV     
盛怒的
参考例句:
  • The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
  • They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。
26 appeased ef7dfbbdb157a2a29b5b2f039a3b80d6     
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争)
参考例句:
  • His hunger could only be appeased by his wife. 他的欲望只有他的妻子能满足。
  • They are the more readily appeased. 他们比较容易和解。
27 hoyden XcgxL     
n.野丫头,淘气姑娘
参考例句:
  • Don't put out your tongue at me,you cheeky hoyden!不要向我伸舌头,你这个没规矩的野丫头!
  • It was rather imprudent of the hoydento interrupt our conversation like that.这丫头,打断我们的谈话,没轻没重的。
28 fervently 8tmzPw     
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地
参考例句:
  • "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦,我真高兴!”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊,我亲爱的,亲爱的,你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
29 ruby iXixS     
n.红宝石,红宝石色
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
  • On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
30 superstition VHbzg     
n.迷信,迷信行为
参考例句:
  • It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
  • Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。
31 reigned d99f19ecce82a94e1b24a320d3629de5     
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式)
参考例句:
  • Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静,一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
32 ivy x31ys     
n.常青藤,常春藤
参考例句:
  • Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
  • The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。
33 melancholy t7rz8     
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的
参考例句:
  • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
  • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
34 flake JgTzc     
v.使成薄片;雪片般落下;n.薄片
参考例句:
  • Drain the salmon,discard the skin,crush the bones and flake the salmon with a fork.将鲑鱼沥干,去表皮,粉碎鱼骨并用餐叉子将鱼肉切成小薄片状。
  • The paint's beginning to flake.油漆开始剥落了。
35 wreck QMjzE     
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难
参考例句:
  • Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
  • No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
36 psychical 8d18cc3bc74677380d4909fef11c68da     
adj.有关特异功能现象的;有关特异功能官能的;灵魂的;心灵的
参考例句:
  • Conclusion: The Liuhe-lottery does harm to people, s psychical health and should be for bidden. 结论:“六合彩”赌博有害人们心理卫生,应予以严禁。 来自互联网


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