CHAPTER XXIII. THE OFFER REFUSED.

All was still in the house when Hattie climbed up those long and dreary¹ stairs, for tired working girls go to sleep early and sleep soundly.

 

They know the day must not dawn on their closed eyes, but they must be up, wash, eat, and off to labor² before the sun from its eastern up-lift gilds³ the city spires⁴.

 

Hattie entered her room, set her lamp alight, took off her things, and sat down by her bedside to think.

 

She took the letter from her pocket which Mr. W—— had given her at the bindery, and put it down on the table, unopened, and there it lay for full a quarter of an hour, while she was lost in her meditation⁵.

 

And yet men say a woman is made up of curiosity. And that is all men know about it. They can say so, but it doesn’t make it so.

 

At last she took up the letter, looked again at her name written in a bold, handsome hand on a business envelope of the firm, and then she broke the seal.

 

The color came and went in her face, showing surprise, agitation⁶, and even pain, while she read it. That we may understand her feelings it may be as well to give the letter place here. It ran thus:

 

“Miss Hattie:—I feel embarrassed, hardly knowing how to frame words to express a desire, a hope, and a fear.

 

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“The desire is, in all sincerity⁷, honor, truth, and tenderness, to possess you as my wife—the holiest relationship known on earth.

 

“The hope is that you will listen to and reciprocate⁸ a love which I believe to be pure and unselfish—a love based on your merits rather than your transcendent beauty—a love, which, though fervent⁹, will be, I am sure, lasting¹⁰ as my life.

 

“A fear that I am not worthy¹¹ of the boon¹² I ask—your love and hand—or, alas¹³ for me if it prove so, that young as you are, some one else has already gained the heart which I would give worlds, were they mine, to claim as my own, all my own.

 

“Can you respond favorably to this petition? I ask no speedy answer. I will press no unwelcome suit. Come and go as you always do, bringing brightness when I see you, leaving a void in my eyes, but not in my heart, as you pass out, and when you feel that you can answer me do so, confident that I shall ever love you. I shall never presume to press one word on your ear which shall bring a frown on the face so dear to me. God bless you, Miss Hattie, and may He turn your heart to thoughts of your sincere friend,

 

“E. W——.”

 

For a love-letter, it was a model. I say so, and I ought to know, for, young as I am, I’ve got a waste-basket half full of them.

 

Tears started in Hattie’s eyes as she carefully refolded the letter and restored it to the envelope.

 

“He is a true and a noble man,” she said. “A gentleman in every sense. But I cannot return his love. How can I say so and not wound his generous and sensitive nature? I must think of it—I must ask advice and aid from that unfailing source which never will bid me do wrong.”

 

And the pure, sweet girl knelt by her humble¹⁴ bed in silent prayer. Then she arose, her heart lighter¹⁵, her eyes bright with new inspiration.

 

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She drew up to her table, opened a small portable writing-desk, and rapidly wrote these words:

 

“Mr. W——:—Esteemed and Valued Friend. The desire you express can never be gratified, because, while feeling your worth, knowing how good and truthful¹⁶ you are, I know in heart I cannot harbor the love which would be a just return for that which you feel and offer. It will make me very unhappy to think I sadden your bright life in any way. Try to forget love in the friendship I shall ever feel so proud and happy to possess.

 

“With sympathy and sincerity, I am your humble friend,

 

“Hattie Butler.”

 

She bowed her head and wept after she had sealed and directed her letter, for she felt sorrow in her soul that her answer must pain so warm a heart.

 

Then she knelt again in silent prayer, read, as she ever did, a chapter in the revealed word of God, and then lay down to the rest which innocence¹⁷ alone can enjoy—that quiet, dreamless rest which gives new life to the body and the soul.

 

And thus we will leave her, while for a time and for a reason we fly far away on the swift wings of fancy to a different—a far different scene.

 

1 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 gilds   

把…镀金( gild的第三人称单数 )； 给…上金色； 作多余的修饰（反而破坏原已完美的东西）； 画蛇添足

参考例句：

• The morning sun gilds the sky. 朝阳把天空染成金色。
• You look green around the gilds. 你看上去病得不轻。

4 spires   

n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her masts leveled with the spires of churches. 船的桅杆和教堂的塔尖一样高。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• White church spires lift above green valleys. 教堂的白色尖顶耸立在绿色山谷中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

6 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

7 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。

8 reciprocate   

v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答

参考例句：

• Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.尽管她没有回应他的感情，她也没有使他丧失信心。
• Some day I will reciprocate your kindness to me.总有一天我会报答你对我的恩德。

9 fervent   

adj.热的，热烈的，热情的

参考例句：

• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
• Austria was among the most fervent supporters of adolf hitler.奥地利是阿道夫希特勒最狂热的支持者之一。

10 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

11 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

12 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

13 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

14 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。

15 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

16 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

17 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。