Jeffray had taken lodgings1 at Tunbridge Wells over a stationer’s shop, Peter Gladden, pompously2 indefatigable3, having discharged all the petty preliminaries for his master. The windows of the parlor4 gave a slanting5 view of the Pantiles, and a broad glimpse of the common, gilded6 with gorse, its may-trees bursting into snow, the rocks sleeping like toads7 on the sunny slopes. The woods of Eridge bristled8 beyond, and Crowborough Beacon9 climbed purple into the south-western sky. The village with its biblically-named hills seemed gay with spruce gentlemen, beflowered ladies, lackeys10, and such gaudy11 beetles12. The frivolous13 little Sybaris nestled amid the dazzling freshness of spring, orchards14 still white upon the slopes, flowers thick in every meadow.
It was a dewy morning after rain, the landscape a-shimmer in the sun when Peter Gladden shaved and valeted his master, and prepared him for a parade upon the Pantiles and the public walks where he might study the life of the place. Jeffray, who still wore black and dressed without great respect to fashion, discovered himself scrutinized15 with some closeness by the smart idlers whose lives appeared consecrated16 to studying the shape of a buckle17 or the cock of a hat.
Jeffray sat down on a seat in the public walk and watched the people go to and fro. A strutting18, waddling19 crowd it was, picturesque20 at a distance, with its brocades and colors, but, like a bold and splashing picture, disclosing its artifices21 and its flaws to the close observer. The men, with a few signal exceptions, appeared to belong to that indefinable order of beings who combined the semi-sentimental spirit of libertinism22 with the coarse arrogance23 of an aristrocratic animal. What thrusting out of elbows was there; what delicate dabbings of the nose with lace; what strutting and smirking24; what showing off of legs and gesturings with white ruffled25 hands! It was a clever crowd, too, with the exception of a few clumsy squires26 who lumbered27 through it, and the open-mouthed toadies28 gaping29 and ready like stupid codfish for “my lord’s joke.” Shallow and superficial seemed the gay, epigrammatic philosophy of such people. Jeffray felt that fashion was justified30 of her children, and that even the pageantry of life could not make such mumming bearable.
At three o’clock Jeffray dined at a quiet “ordinary” preparatory to paying a state call on the Lady Letitia. He took his meal in a little white-fronted inn whose casements31 opened on trim lawns, fruit-trees, and white palings. The beds cut in the grass were bright with pansies, stocks, and arabis. A broad brick path led up to the trellised porch.
Even in this quaint32, black-beamed old place the same feeling of artificiality haunted him. The bobbing, scurrying33 waiter was a servile offence against liberty, while at a table in one corner three young exquisites34 were discussing the virtues35 of a new shoe-buckle and the piquances of the latest demi-mondaine of the place. The proprietor36 of the inn, a fat, tallow-faced foreigner in black, scuttled37 hither and thither38, and beamed with delight when Jeffray spoke39 to him in Italian. Richard felt that the fellow would have licked the dust off any great, little gentleman’s shoes had his highness honored him with such an order. Money, impudence40, and ostentation41 were the only noble necessities amid such surroundings. Beggared, sea-stained Ulysses would have had the dogs set on him in such a pace.
Richard, after being conducted to the gate by the proprietor, who jabbered42 Italian, and appeared ready to embrace his patron had not etiquette43 intervened, strolled down the village towards the Pantiles, and looked for the house where the Lady Letitia was staying. A rat-tat from a brass44 knocker on a green front door brought Jeffray face to face with the dowager’s footman in cerise and buff. The man’s smug face relaxed into a grin as he bowed Richard into the narrow hall, and surrendered him to the urbanity of Mr. Parsons. The Lady Letitia was at home, and expected a few folk of some consequence to tea and cards. The major-domo dared to assure Richard that her ladyship would be rejoiced at seeing him.
When Jeffray was ushered45 into his aunt’s room, he found the old lady seated alone at one of the windows overlooking the Pantiles. Two card-tables were set out at the upper end, and a great silver tray ladened with choice china in blue and gold stood on a gate-legged table by the fire. For the rest, the room appeared shabby and colorless, the gilding46 on the walls dull and cracked, the carpet worn, the brocades and tapestries47 faded. Certainly its atmosphere was one of genteel elegance48, and in a fashionable health resort even a grocer’s parlor was considered elegant. It was the inmates49 who mattered, not the upholstery and the chandeliers.
The Lady Letitia received her nephew with absolute effusion. She tottered50 up, putting aside her stick, and held out two gouty hands to him with the smile of a most amiable51 of grandmothers. The recollection of her hurried flight from Rodenham did not appear to disturb her equanimity52, for the old lady had grown accustomed to forgetting “incidents” in her day. She kissed Jeffray on both cheeks, leaving in each case a patch of powder behind, and then held him at arm’s length, gazing in his face.
“Ha, ha, mon cher; why, you look quite brave and well, though a little thin. By the Queen of Hearts, I am overjoyed at seeing you, with hardly a spot or a pock-mark either! You are a credit to your physician, Richard; all’s well that ends well; a wise proverb. And when did you arrive, sir? What, last night! To be sure, Richard, you ought to have shown yourself to a poor old woman earlier. And how is the dear Jilian, is she with you?”
The Lady Letitia, still talking, subsided53 again into her chair. She looked very yellow and ugly despite her rouge54, and she was short of breath, as Richard noticed. Age seemed to be gaining fast on her, and even a liberal remittance55 from her bankers could not keep her from growing feeble. Jeffray was astonished at the change that even two months had wrought56 in her. Her fierce, peering eyes were bright as ever, but he could see that her hands trembled, and that a senile tremor57 was shaking the feathers in her “head.”
“Sit down, nephew, sit down. And how does Miss Jilian like The Wells, sir? You ought to have brought her to see me, Richard.”
Jeffray had settled himself on a stool by the window. He was watching the gay stream of color in the walk below, one hand playing with the hilt of his sword.
“Jilian is at Hardacre, aunt,” he said.
“Indeed, sir, indeed!”
“I was ordered here for my health by Surgeon Stott. It seems a gay place, madam. I have never before seen so many butterflies flitting about together.”
The Lady Letitia’s keen and angular face had taken on an expression of vivid alertness. Her birdlike eyes twinkled over her nephew’s face. Certainly he appeared more melancholy58 and self-centred than ever, and spoke listlessly, as though some trouble were weighing on his mind. The old lady’s insatiable curiosity was awake on the instant. It was her fate to be forever prying59 and peering into the affairs of others.
“I hope dear Jilian is well, Richard.”
“Not very well, aunt.”
“Eh, eh! What’s been the matter?”
“Miss Hardacre has had the small-pox.”
“The small-pox!”
“Yes.”
The old lady’s eyes glittered shrewdly. She sat with her hands on the crook60 of her stick, looking at Richard with penetration61. There were cynical62 and amused wrinkles about her mouth. Jeffray’s melancholy, his air of abstraction, expressed infinite things to the Lady Letitia. She could have chuckled63 over the apparent fulfilment of her prophecies. Miss Jilian, doubtless, had had her complexion64 shattered, and Mr. Richard was feeling utterly65 out of love with her.
“Hum, Richard, mon cher, pardon me, but you look worried, troubled. Will you not confide66 in an old woman, eh? I have seen a great deal of the world.”
Jeffray, who had been leaning with one elbow on the window-sill, and drumming on the glass with his fingers, turned suddenly, looking vexed67 and half ashamed. He had still enough mock pride left in him to resent the steady conviction that his elderly relative had warned him very shrewdly. He had always half despised the worldly old Jezebel, but she seemed to have the laugh of him for the moment.
“To tell you the truth, madam,” he said, unbosoming himself with clumsy brusqueness and with an effort, “Jilian has been much disfigured.”
The Lady Letitia leaned forward on her stick.
“There, there, mon cher Richard, I understand.”
“I gave it to her.”
“And now you love her no longer, nephew, eh? Do not contradict me, sir, I can see it in every line of your face. Poor boy! poor boy! It is a mercy that you are not married.”
Jeffray, who had been writhing68 and reddening before the old lady’s eyes, started and flashed a questioning look at her as the last words were uttered.
“A mercy, madam!” he exclaimed.
“Of course, my dear.”
“It was all my fault,” he said. “I suppose I ought to act like a man of honor. I ought to marry her, I know.”
The Lady Letitia actually broke out into a merry laugh. Her eyes twinkled, and she tapped on the floor applaudingly with her stick.
“Richard, mon cher, when will you learn to put on the breeches?”
“Madam!”
“Lud, sir, when will you discover that these silly sentiments, these toys of honor, are only idols71 invented and decorated by us women to delude72 and impress the callow male. We must get husbands, and keep ’em, if we can. Foh, sir, better marry a red-cheeked, bouncing wench who wants you because you are a man, than a fine spinster who is hunting for a household and for money.”
Jeffray, sentimentalist that he was, looked surprised and even shocked.
“Why, madam, you are a lady yourself, one of a class, and can you talk like this?”
The dowager chuckled with cynical delight.
“Come, come, Richard; I have played the game, have I not? I have schemed and plotted, tilted73 my nose, and rustled74 my silken skirts. Yes, yes. But I know what it is worth, sir; I know the value of a pawn75, a bishop76, and a king. I have studied the moves, the openings, the finesse77, the checkmate. It is only a game that we polite and religious gamblers cultivate. Do not be deluded78, sir. Hearts are not broken at five-and-thirty; they are leather at twenty when the modesty79 dries up. Do you think that Miss Hardacre would marry you if you were a common attorney or a penniless ensign? No, no. The illusions have gone. It is comfort, carriages, servants, baubles80, money for cards. That is her disease, Richard.”
Jeffray hung his head and stroked his chin, yet discovered, despite his sensibility, a comforting flavor in the old lady’s words.
“It may be so,” he said, with the air of a fatalist.
The Lady Letitia, however, saw nothing inevitable81 in the marriage. She cackled with the greatest good humor, and tapped Jeffray’s knee with the point of her stick.
“Dear Lord, Richard, don’t pull such a very long face. Do you think you are the first man who has grown tired of the angel? There is not a more scheming, artful, intrigue-eaten veteran in the county. Why should you marry her because she wants your money? As for a betrothal82, nephew, sensible people ought to regard it as a state trial, a bargain that either may break with honor, when it seems likely to prove a bad one. Let the scandal-mongers go hang. When you have money, Richard, you need not be afraid of people’s tongues. Cock your hat at them all, step out and swagger. And how does the noble Lancelot behave to you, sir?”
Jeffray’s mouth hardened as he remembered his cousin’s red face and overbearing manner. The Lady Letitia had struck the right chord. The look on her nephew’s face applauded her diplomacy83.
“Do not be browbeaten84 by that oaf, Richard,” she continued, with much spirit. “Lot Hardacre is a fine fellow to set himself up as a judge of honor. Why, he has jilted three girls to my knowledge, and is content now to amuse himself with farmers’ daughters, without the burdens of matrimony. Stand up to him, nephew; rattle85 your sword. The more you show your teeth in this world the better will people respect you. The Christian86 fool is a poor creature. He gets an abundance of kicks, sir, and, by Heaven! he deserves them. Ah, here is my dear friend, Dean Stubbs. Nephew, you must stay and drink tea with us, and take a hand at cards.”
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1
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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slanting
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| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
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gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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toads
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 ) | |
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bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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lackeys
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| n.听差( lackey的名词复数 )；男仆（通常穿制服）；卑躬屈膝的人；被待为奴仆的人 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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beetles
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| n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 ) | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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14
orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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strutting
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| 加固，支撑物 | |
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waddling
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的现在分词 ) | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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libertinism
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| n.放荡，玩乐，（对宗教事物的）自由思想 | |
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arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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smirking
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| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
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25
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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26
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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28
toadies
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| n.谄媚者，马屁精( toady的名词复数 )v.拍马，谄媚( toady的第三人称单数 ) | |
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29
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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casements
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| n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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exquisites
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| n.精致的( exquisite的名词复数 )；敏感的；剧烈的；强烈的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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jabbered
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的过去式和过去分词 )；急促兴奋地说话 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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50
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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51
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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53
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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54
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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remittance
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| n.汇款，寄款，汇兑 | |
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56
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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delude
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| vt.欺骗；哄骗 | |
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73
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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74
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
pawn
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| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
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76
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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77
finesse
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| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
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78
deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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80
baubles
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| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
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81
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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82
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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83
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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84
browbeaten
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| v.（以言辞或表情）威逼，恫吓( browbeat的过去分词 ) | |
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85
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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86
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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