CHAPTER XIX A BEWITCHING

If this—his own voluntary invitation—had surprised Father Maloney, twenty minutes later he was more surprised still. His mind was in one chaotic¹ state of surprise. It had entirely² lost its bearings; it had drifted into an extraordinary geniality³ with, apparently⁴, no volition⁵ on his own part. As surely as he contracted it momentarily into a state of astonished frigidity⁶, so surely it expanded, thawed⁷ again, into an altogether untoward⁸ hospitality.

 

“Sure, it’s entirely bewitched I am,” he muttered sternly, bewildered at one moment, and the next expatiating⁹ on the individual beauties of some rose, as a mother expatiates¹⁰ on the virtues¹¹ of her child, provided, of course, that her audience be sufficiently¹² sympathetic.

 

“’Tis in June you should have been seeing them,” he said at length, tenderly fingering a [Pg 153]Madame Abel Chatenay, salmon¹³ pink, pale, and graceful¹⁴, “’tis in June you should have been seeing them. For every one rose on the bushes now, there were ten then. Sure, I never know which of them I’m for loving best. At times I think ’tis this fair lady, then I’m for thinking ’tis yonder creamy Devonionsis, or that drooping¹⁵ white Niphetos, or Caroline Testout smiling away over there. But for the most I’m always coming back to General Jacqueminot. ’Tis the old-fashionedness of him, and his sturdy ways, and, more than all, the sweet scent¹⁶ of him. If you’re down on your luck, and take a good sniff¹⁷ at him, why, the world’s a different place that very minute. There’s all the sunshine of the summer, and the humming of the bees, and the laughter of children, and your mother’s voice, and all the memories of your boyhood in the scent, there is that. And you’d laugh yourself, the while there’s a queer tenderness is catching¹⁸ at your heart for happy tears.”

 

“I know,” nodded David. (I have not insulted your intelligence by giving him a former and formal introduction.) “I know. There are scents¹⁹ like that. They are alive. They are worth [Pg 154]a million words, or a million pictures. I could be taken blindfold²⁰ across the world, and if I were set down on the veldt I would know the scent in an instant. It’s hot, pungent²¹, aromatic²². I’d see the scrubby bushes, the scarlet²³ everlastings²⁴, the flame-coloured heaths, and the straggling blue lobelia. I’d see the mountains, blue against the sun, and golden facing it. I’d feel the great spaces, and the vast distances. I’d—” he broke off with a laugh. “There I am trying to give you in words what only the scent of the place can really give you.”

 

“Words are poor things,” said Father Maloney smiling, “when you come to wanting to express what lies closest to your heart. I’m thinking ’tis like the Tower of Babel over again, after a fashion. We can talk fast enough when our thoughts are down near the earth, but the moment they get up a bit, for the most of us our tongue is halting and stammering²⁵, and there’s confusion. I’m thinking it’s as well, or we might get a bit above ourselves with glibness²⁶ of speech, and be fancying ourselves embryo²⁷ prophets and visionaries, and getting others to fancy it along with us.”

 

David flicked²⁸ an insect off a rose.

 

[Pg 155]

 

“There’s not much need for speech if you happen to be with the right person, is there?” said he thoughtfully.

 

Father Maloney’s eyes twinkled.

 

“There is not,” quoth he. “Or, at all events, your stammering will stand you in good stead.”

 

And then Anastasia rang the tea-bell.

 

Father Maloney started almost guiltily. Time had stolen a march on him, it would appear. He looked uneasily towards the house.

 

“That’s your tea-bell,” said David calmly, voicing the obvious.

 

“It is that,” said Father Maloney. “I—will you be having a cup,” he blurted²⁹ out.

 

For one instant, for just one brief instant, David hesitated, then,

 

“Thanks,” he said.

 

“’Tis altogether bewitched I am,” groaned³⁰ Father Maloney inwardly, as he accompanied his guest towards the house.

1 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 geniality   

n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快

参考例句：

• They said he is a pitiless,cold-blooded fellow,with no geniality in him.他们说他是个毫无怜悯心、一点也不和蔼的冷血动物。
• Not a shade was there of anything save geniality and kindness.他的眼神里只显出愉快与和气，看不出一丝邪意。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 volition   

n.意志；决意

参考例句：

• We like to think that everything we do and everything we think is a product of our volition.我们常常认为我们所做和所想的一切都出自自己的意愿。
• Makin said Mr Coombes had gone to the police of his own volition.梅金说库姆斯先生是主动去投案的。

6 frigidity   

n.寒冷；冷淡；索然无味；（尤指妇女的）性感缺失

参考例句：

• Doctor Simpson believes that Suzie's frigidity is due to some hang-up about men. 辛普森大夫认为苏西的性冷淡是由于她对男人有着异常的精神反应。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Frigidity and horror have attacked that crying baby ! 那位哭闹的孩子又冷又害怕。 来自辞典例句

7 thawed   

解冻

参考例句：

• The little girl's smile thawed the angry old man. 小姑娘的微笑使发怒的老头缓和下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He thawed after sitting at a fire for a while. 在火堆旁坐了一会儿，他觉得暖和起来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 untoward   

adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的

参考例句：

• Untoward circumstances prevent me from being with you on this festive occasion.有些不幸的事件使我不能在这欢庆的时刻和你在一起。
• I'll come if nothing untoward happens.我要是没有特殊情况一定来。

9 expatiating   

v.详述，细说( expatiate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was expatiating upon the benefits of swimming in rivers, lakes and seas. 他正详细说明到江河湖海中去游泳的好处。 来自互联网
• US politicians expatiating on the evils of bank secrecy are regarded in the same light. 详细罗列银行保密做法罪状的美国政界人士也被认为同出一辙。 来自互联网

10 expatiates   

v.详述，细说( expatiate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The also expatiates some other possible solving methods for it. 并对解决城中村的其他途径也作了简要阐述。 来自互联网
• It mainly expatiates the formation and valuation of the theory. 主要阐述了公司法人格否认理论的产生和价值功能。 来自互联网

11 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

12 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

13 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

14 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

15 drooping   

adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词

参考例句：

• The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
• The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。

16 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

17 sniff   

vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视

参考例句：

• The police used dogs to sniff out the criminals in their hiding - place.警察使用警犬查出了罪犯的藏身地点。
• When Munchie meets a dog on the beach, they sniff each other for a while.当麦奇在海滩上碰到另一条狗的时候，他们会彼此嗅一会儿。

18 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

19 scents   

n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉

参考例句：

• The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills. 空气中荡漾着山和海的芬芳气息。
• The winds came down with scents of the grass and wild flowers. 微风送来阵阵青草和野花的香气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 blindfold   

vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物

参考例句：

• They put a blindfold on a horse.他们给马蒙上遮眼布。
• I can do it blindfold.我闭着眼睛都能做。

21 pungent   

adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的

参考例句：

• The article is written in a pungent style.文章写得泼辣。
• Its pungent smell can choke terrorists and force them out of their hideouts.它的刺激性气味会令恐怖分子窒息，迫使他们从藏身地点逃脱出来。

22 aromatic   

adj.芳香的，有香味的

参考例句：

• It has an agreeable aromatic smell.它有一种好闻的香味。
• It is light,fruity aromatic and a perfect choice for ending a meal.它是口感轻淡，圆润，芳香的，用于结束一顿饭完美的选择。

23 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

24 everlastings   

永久，无穷（everlasting的复数形式）

参考例句：

25 stammering   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He betrayed nervousness by stammering. 他说话结结巴巴说明他胆子小。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"Why,\" he said, actually stammering, \"how do you do?\" “哎呀，\"他说，真的有些结结巴巴，\"你好啊？” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

26 glibness   

n.花言巧语；口若悬河

参考例句：

• Mr Samgrass replied with such glibness and at such length, telling me of mislaid luggage. 桑格拉斯先生却油嘴滑舌，事无巨细地告诉我们说行李如何被错放了。 来自辞典例句

27 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

28 flicked   

（尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等）

参考例句：

• She flicked the dust off her collar. 她轻轻弹掉了衣领上的灰尘。
• I idly picked up a magazine and flicked through it. 我漫不经心地拿起一本杂志翻看着。

29 blurted   

v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止，她已脱口而出。
• He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相，说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

30 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：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》