CHAPTER LI AND SO THE STORY ENDS

“And that,” said David, concluding a little speech, “is all.”

 

A curious silence fell upon the room. Rosamund and John looked at each other; Lady Mary had her hands folded over an old piece of parchment; Elizabeth was watching her; Father Maloney looked at David.

 

“You mean,” said Father Maloney, breaking the silence, “that you wish to give up your claim to the whole thing?”

 

“That’s so,” said David pleasantly.

 

“And what,” demanded Father Maloney, “has brought you to this conclusion?”

 

“Simply,” said David smiling, “that I have seen that fishes live best in water, as birds live best on land. This,” he waved his hand around the hall, “isn’t my element.”

 

[Pg 353]

 

Lady Mary rose quietly from her chair, and thrust something into a drawer of her desk. Then she turned to David.

 

“Is that your sole reason?” she asked.

 

David coloured.

 

“For practical purposes,” he replied.

 

Lady Mary looked straight at him.

 

“In my grandson’s name,” she said, a little smile trembling on her lips, “I accept your generous offer in the spirit in which you make it.”

 

Father Maloney stared.

 

“Glory be to God!” he ejaculated inwardly, “she doesn’t mean to tell him. She’s a wonderful woman, is Lady Mary. A wonderful woman!”

 

And then suddenly a bell rang out, pulled by the stalwart arm of the under gardener.

 

Father Maloney started.

 

“Bless my soul,” he cried, “’tis time for Benediction¹.”

 

And he bolted towards the dining-hall, which, as I told you long ago led to the chapel².

 

Lady Mary looked at the little group.

 

“We’re all coming,” said Elizabeth with fine assurance³.

 

And then Lady Mary led the way.

 

[Pg 354]

 

Said John in a low voice to Rosamund:

 

“I have at least three thanksgivings to make.”

 

“I think,” she replied, looking at him, “that so have I.”

 

Said David in a low voice to Elizabeth:

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“I am thinking,” quoth she smiling, “that there is a folly⁴ which is very very wise.”

 

And then they all went in to Benediction.

 

1 benediction   

n.祝福；恩赐

参考例句：

• The priest pronounced a benediction over the couple at the end of the marriage ceremony.牧师在婚礼结束时为新婚夫妇祈求上帝赐福。
• He went abroad with his parents' benediction.他带着父母的祝福出国去了。

2 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

3 assurance   

n.把握，信心，保证，（人寿）保险

参考例句：

• The young teacher lacked assurance in front of his class.这位青年教师在学生面前缺少自信心。
• He has a life assurance.他投保了人寿保险。

4 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。