THEY sat down at table, and, as Crane looked at his guests, he had little hope that even Lefferts' cheerful facility could save the situation. Circumstances would be too much against him. Even the poet himself could hardly be at his best, having just arrived in the hope of dining with his lady-love to find she had been spirited away by an irate1 mother. This in itself was enough to put a pall2 on most men; yet, of the three guests, Lefferts seemed by far the most hopeful. Tucker was already sullen3 and getting more sullen every moment. Crane knew the signs of his lawyer's bearing—the irritable4 eye that would meet no one's directly, the tapping fingers, the lips compressed but moving. Tucker was one of those people cursed by anger after the event. His nature, slow moving or overcontrolled, bore him past the real moment of offense5 without explosion; but with the crisis over, his resentment6 began to gain in strength and to grow more bitter as the opportunity for action receded7 more and more into the past. Crane knew now that Tucker was reviewing every phrase that had passed between them; every injury, real or fancied, that he had ever received at Crane's hands; these he was summoning like a sort of phantom8 army to fight on his side. No, Tucker was not a guest from whom any host could expect much genial9 interchange that evening.
Reed, on the other hand, was too unconscious. Placid10, good-natured, confident in his own powers to arrange any little domestic difficulties that might have arisen, he sat down, unfolded his napkin, and turned to Lefferts in answer to the inquiry11 about real estate which Lefferts had just tactfully addressed to him.
"The great charm of this section of the country," he was saying, "is that from the time of its earliest settlement it has been in the hands of a small group of—" At this instant Jane-Ellen entered with the soup. Reed, who had expected to see Smithfield, stopped short, and stared at her with an astonishment12 he did not even attempt to disguise. Lefferts, following the direction of his eyes and seeing Jane-Ellen for the first time, mistook the subject of Reed's surprise.
"Oh," he said, as the girl left the room, "is this 'the face that launched a thousand ships'?"
Tucker, who was perhaps not as familiar with the Elizabethan dramatists as he should have been, replied shortly that this was the cook.
"A very beautiful little person," said Lefferts, imagining, poor fellow, that he was now on safe ground.
"I own," said Tucker, "that I have never been able to take much interest in the personal appearance of servants."
"You sometimes behave as if you did, Tuck," remarked his host.
"If you are interested in beauty," observed Lefferts, "I don't see how you can eliminate any of its manifestations13, particularly according to social classes."
"Indeed, how delightful15," Lefferts replied. "What, exactly, is your definition of 'decadent'?"
Now in Tucker's vocabulary the word "decadent" was a hate word. It signified nothing definite, except that he disliked the person to whose opinions he applied16 it. He had several others of the same sort—hysterical, half-baked and subversive-of-the-Constitution being those most often in use. This being so, he really couldn't define the word, and so he pretended not to hear and occupied himself flicking17 an imaginary crumb18 from the satin lapel of his coat.
Lefferts, who had no wish to be disagreeable, did not repeat the question, but contented19 himself by observing that he had never tasted such delicious soup. Reed shook his head in an ecstasy20 that seemed to transcend21 words. Only Tucker scowled22.
As Jane-Ellen entered at this moment to take away the soup-plates, Crane, who was growing reckless, decided23 to let her share the compliment.
"The gentlemen enjoyed the soup, Jane-Ellen," he said, "at least, Mr. Lefferts and Mr. Reed did, but Mr. Tucker has not committed himself. Did you enjoy the soup, Tuck?"
Tucker rapped with his middle finger.
"I care very little for my food," he answered.
"Well," said Crane, "I've heard of hating the sin and loving the sinner; I suppose it is possible to hate the cooking and—and—" He paused.
"I did not say I hated the cooking," answered Tucker. "I only say I am not interested in talking about it all the time."
"All right," said Burton, "we'll talk about something else, and you shall have first choice of a topic, Tuck."
"One moment before we begin," exclaimed Reed, "I must ask, where is Smithfield?"
Crane turned to him.
"Smithfield," he said, "in common with my two guests, the housemaid Lily and the boy Brindlebury, have all left, or been ejected from my house within the last twenty-four hours."
"I regret to say that Mr. Tucker also leaves me this evening."
"But—but—" began Reed, in a protest too earnest to find words on the instant.
"We won't discuss the matter now," said Crane. "I have several things to talk over with you, Mr. Reed, after dinner. In the meantime," he added, looking around on the dreary25 faces of all but Lefferts, "let us enjoy ourselves."
"Certainly, by all means," agreed Reed, "but I would just like to ask you, Mr. Crane—You can't mean, you don't intend, you don't contemplate—"
"Oh, I won't trouble you with my immediate26 plans," said Crane, and added, turning to Lefferts, "my experience is that no one is really interested in any one else's plans—their daily routine, I mean, and small domestic complications."
"Oh, come, I don't know about that," answered Lefferts, on whom the situation was beginning vaguely27 to dawn. "Mr. Reed struck me as being very genuinely interested in your intentions. You are genuinely interested, aren't you, Mr. Reed?"
"Yes, yes," he said eagerly, "I am, genuinely, sincerely. You see, I understand what would be said in a community like this,—what would be thought. You get my idea?"
"I own I don't," answered Burton suavely29, "but I will say this much, that in deciding my conduct, I have usually considered my own opinion rather than that of others."
"Of course, exactly. I do, myself," said Reed, "but in this case, I really think you would agree with me if I could make myself clear."
"Doubtless, doubtless," answered Crane, and seeing that Jane-Ellen was again in the room, he went on: "What is it exactly that we are talking about? What is it that you fear?"
Reed cast an agonized30 look at the cook and remained speechless, but Tucker, with more experience in the befogging properties of language, rushed to his assistance.
"It's perfectly31 clear what he means," he said. "Mr. Reed's idea is that in a small community like this the conduct of every individual is watched, scrutinized32 and discussed, however humble33 a sphere he or she may occupy; and that if any young woman should find herself in a position which has been considered a compromising one by every author and dramatist in the language, she would not be saved from the inevitable34 criticism that would follow by the mere35 fact that—"
But here something very unfortunate happened. The lip of the ice-water pitcher36, which Jane-Ellen was approaching to Tucker's glass, suddenly touched his shoulder, and a small quantity of the chilling liquid trickled37 between his collar and his neck. It was not enough to be called a stream, and yet it was distinctly more than a drop; it was sufficient to cut short his sentence.
"Oh, sir, I'm so sorry," she cried, and she added, with a sort of wail38, looking at Crane, "You see how it is, sir, I'm not used to waiting on table."
"I think she waits admirably," murmured Lefferts aside to his host.
"Extremely competent, I call it," said Crane clearly. "Don't give it another thought, Jane-Ellen. See," he added, glancing at Tucker's face which was distorted with anger, "Mr. Tucker has forgotten it already."
"Oh, sir, how kind you are to me!" cried the cook and ran hastily into the pantry, from which a sound which might have been a cough was instantly heard.
"Yours is a strange but delightful home, Crane," observed Lefferts. "I don't really recall ever having experienced anything quite like it."
"You refer, I fancy," replied Crane, "to the simple peace, the assured confidence that—"
"That something unexpected is going to happen within the next ten seconds."
Tucker and Reed, both absorbed in their private wrongs, were for an instant like deaf men, but the latter having now dried his neck and as much of his collar as was possible, showed signs of coming to, so that Crane included both in the conversation.
"Lefferts and I were speaking," he said, slightly raising his voice, "of the peculiar39 atmosphere that makes for the enjoyment40 of a home. What, Mr. Reed, do you think is most essential?"
"Just one moment, Mr. Crane," said Reed. "I want to say a word more of that other subject we were speaking of."
Crane's seat allowed him to see the pantry door before any one else could. On it his eyes were fixed41 as he answered thoughtfully:
"Our last subject. Now, let me see, what was that?"
"Fish, sir?" said a gentle voice in Reed's ear. He groaned43 and helped himself largely and in silence.
"What a fine old house this is," he said, glancing around the high-ceilinged room. "Who does it belong to?"
"It belongs," answered Tucker, "to a family named Revelly—a family who held a highly honored position in the history of our country until they took the wrong side in war."
"In this part of the country, sir," cried Reed, "we are not accustomed to thinking it the wrong side."
Tucker bowed slightly.
"I believe that I am voicing the verdict of history and time," he answered.
It was in remorse45, perhaps, for having stirred up this new subject of dispute that Lefferts now went on rapidly, too rapidly to feel his way.
"Well, this present generation seems to be an amusing lot. Eliot was telling me about them last night. He says one of the girls is a perfect beauty. Now, what was her name—such a pretty one. Oh, yes," he added, slightly raising his voice, as his memory gave it to him, "Claudia."
"What?" said the cook.
"Nobody spoke46 to you, Jane-Ellen," said Crane, but his eyes remained fixed on her long and meditatively47 as she handed the sauce for the fish.
Lefferts continued:
"Eliot said that she was a most indiscriminating fascinator—engaged to three men last summer, to his knowledge. Our Northern girls are infants compared—"
Reed suddenly sprang up from the table.
"I'd be obliged, sir," he said, "if you'd tell Mr. Eliot, with my compliments, that that story of his is untrue, and if he doesn't know it, he ought to. I don't blame you, sir, a stranger, for repeating all you hear about one of the loveliest young ladies in the country, but I do blame him—"
At this the cook approached him and said with a stern civility:
"Do sit down and eat your fish, sir, before it gets cold." They exchanged a long and bitter glance, but Reed sat down.
"I'm sure you'll believe," said Lefferts, "that I'm sorry to have said anything I ought not, particularly about any friend of yours, Mr. Reed, but the truth is, I thought of it only as being immensely to the credit of the young lady, in a neighborhood which must be, you'll forgive my saying, rather dull if you're not fond of hunting."
"The point is not whether it is to her credit or not," returned Reed, who was by no means placated48, "the point is that it is not true."
"Probably not," Lefferts agreed, "only," he added, after a second's thought, "I don't see how any one can say that except the young lady herself."
"Miss Claudia Revelly," answered Reed, "is one of the most respected and admired young ladies in the State, I may say in the whole South. I have known her and her family since she was a child, and I should have been informed if anything of the kind had taken place."
As he said this, the glance that the cook cast at him was indescribable. It was mingled49 pity and wonder, as much as to say, "What hope is there, after all, for a man who can talk like that?"
"Undoubtedly50 you're right, Mr. Reed," said Lefferts, "and yet I have never heard of a girl's announcing more than one engagement at a time, although it has come within my experience to know—"
"But, after all, why not?" said Crane. "Perhaps that will be the coming fashion. We shall in future get letters from our friends, which will begin: 'I want you to know of the three great happinesses that have come into my life. I am engaged to John Jones, Peter Smith and Paul Robinson, and I feel almost sure that one of these three, early next June—'"
Seeing that Reed was really growing angry, Lefferts hastened to interrupt his host.
"I think you might tell us, Mr. Reed," he said, "what the great beauty of the county looks like?"
"I can't think that this is the time or place for retailing51 the charms of a young lady as if it were a slave market," answered Reed; and it seemed to Crane that the cook, who had come in to change the plates, looked a little bit disappointed.
"No, not as if it were a slave market," said Lefferts, "because, of course, it isn't."
"I can see no reason, Reed," said Crane, "why you shouldn't give us a hint as to whether Miss Revelly is blond or brunette, tall or short."
"Perhaps I see reasons that you do not, sir," answered the wretched real estate man.
"Well," said Crane, "I tell you what, Jane-Ellen must have seen her often,—Jane-Ellen," he added, "you've seen Miss Revelly. What does she look like?"
Jane-Ellen advanced into the room thoughtfully.
"Well, sir," she said, "it isn't for me to criticize my superiors, nor to say a word against a young lady whom Mr. Reed admires so much, but I have my own reasons, sir, for thinking that there was more in those stories of her engagement than perhaps Mr. Reed himself knows. Servants hear a good deal, you know, sir, and they do say that Miss Revelly—"
"Claudia!" burst from Reed.
"Miss Claudia Revelly, I should say," the cook corrected herself. "Well, sir, as for looks—let me see—she's a tall, commanding looking lady—"
"With flashing black eyes?" asked Crane.
"And masses of blue-black hair."
"A noble brow?"
"A mouth too large for perfect beauty."
"A queenly bearing?"
"An irresistible52 dignity of manner."
"Oh, indeed, sir, if it were she, it's you who would be standing," said the cook.
"For my part," said Crane, turning again to the table, "I had imagined her to myself as quite different. I had supposed her small, soft-eyed, with tiny hands and feet and a mouth—" He was looking at Jane-Ellen's mouth, as if that might give him an inspiration, when Reed interrupted.
"I regret to say, Mr. Crane," he said, "that if this conversation continues to deal disrespectfully with the appearance of a young lady for whom—"
"Disrespectfully!" cried Crane. "I assure you, I had no such intention. I leave it to you, Jane-Ellen, whether anything disrespectful was said about this young lady."
"It did not seem so to me, sir," answered the cook, with all her gentlest manner. "But," she added, glancing humbly54 at Reed, "of course, it would never do for a servant like me to be setting up my opinion on such a matter against a gentleman like Mr. Reed."
"What I mean is, if Miss Revelly were here, do you think she would object to anything we have said?"
"Indeed, I'm sure she would actually have enjoyed it, sir."
"Well, then, she ought not," shouted Reed sternly.
Jane-Ellen shook her head sadly.
"Ah, sir," she said, "young ladies like Miss Revelly don't always do what they ought to, if report speaks true."
"May I ask, without impertinence, Burton," said Tucker, at this point, "whether it is your intention to give us nothing whatsoever55 to drink with our dinner?"
The reason for this omission57 was presently only too clear. Jane-Ellen had not the faintest idea of how to open the bottle. Crane, listening with one ear to his guests, watched her wrestling with it in a corner, holding it as if it were a venomous reptile58.
"For my part," Tucker was saying, "I have a great deal of sympathy with the stand Mr. Reed has taken. Any discussion of a woman behind her back runs at least the risk—"
Suddenly Crane shouted:
"Look out! Don't do that!" He was speaking not to Tucker, but to the cook. His warning, however, came too late. There was the sound of breaking glass and a deep cherry-colored stain dyed the napkin in Jane-Ellen's hand.
All four chairs were pushed back, all four men sprang to her side.
"Let me see your hand."
"Is it badly cut?"
"Is there any glass in it?"
They crowded around her, nor did any one of them seem to be averse60 to taking the case entirely61 into his own control.
"There are antiseptics and bandages upstairs," said Crane.
"Better let me wash it well at the tap in the pantry," urged Reed.
"Does it hurt horribly?" asked Lefferts.
Tucker, putting on his glasses, observed:
"I have had some experience in surgery, and if you will let me examine the wound by a good light—"
"Oh, gentlemen," said Jane-Ellen, "this is absurd. It's nothing but a scratch. Do sit down and finish your dinner, and let me get through my work."
As the injury did not, after a closer observation, seem to be serious, the four men obeyed. But they did so in silence; not even Lefferts and Crane could banter62 any more. Tucker had never made any pretense63 of recovering his temper, and Reed seemed to be revolving64 thoughts of deep import.
As they rose from table, Crane touched the arm of Reed.
"Come into the office, will you? I have something I want to say to you."
"And I to you," said Reed, with feeling.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
irate
|
|
| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
irritable
|
|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
offense
|
|
| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
receded
|
|
| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
manifestations
|
|
| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
decadent
|
|
| adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
flicking
|
|
| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
crumb
|
|
| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
ecstasy
|
|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
transcend
|
|
| vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
suavely
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
agonized
|
|
| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
scrutinized
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
pitcher
|
|
| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
trickled
|
|
| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
spoke
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
47
meditatively
|
|
| adv.冥想地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
placated
|
|
| v.安抚，抚慰，使平静( placate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
retailing
|
|
| n.零售业v.零售(retail的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
champagne
|
|
| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
omission
|
|
| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
reptile
|
|
| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
artery
|
|
| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
averse
|
|
| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
banter
|
|
| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
pretense
|
|
| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
revolving
|
|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |