So here is the world with us again, and our sentimental1 excursion is over. In the front of the Rufus Stone Hotel conceive a remarkable2 collection of wheeled instruments, watched over by Dangle3 and Phipps in grave and stately attitudes, and by the driver of a stylish4 dogcart from Ringwood. In the garden behind, in an attitude of nervous prostration5, Mr. Hoopdriver was seated on a rustic6 seat. Through the open window of a private sitting-room7 came a murmur8 of voices, as of men and women in conference. Occasionally something that might have been a girlish sob9.
"I fail to see what status Widgery has," says Dangle, "thrusting himself in there."
"He takes too much upon himself," said Phipps.
"I've been noticing little things, yesterday and to-day," said Dangle, and stopped.
"They went to the cathedral together in the afternoon."
"Financially it would be a good thing for her, of course," said Dangle, with a gloomy magnanimity.
He felt drawn10 to Phipps now by the common trouble, in spite of the man's chequered legs. "Financially it wouldn't be half bad."
"He's so dull and heavy," said Phipps.
Meanwhile, within, the clergyman had, by promptitude and dexterity11, taken the chair and was opening the case against the unfortunate Jessie. I regret to have to say that my heroine had been appalled12 by the visible array of public opinion against her excursion, to the pitch of tears. She was sitting with flushed cheeks and swimming eyes at the end of the table opposite to the clergyman. She held her handkerchief crumpled13 up in her extended hand. Mrs. Milton sat as near to her as possible, and occasionally made little dabs14 with her hand at Jessie's hand, to indicate forgiveness. These advances were not reciprocated15, which touched Widgery very much. The lady in green, Miss Mergle (B. A.), sat on the opposite side near the clergyman. She was the strong-minded schoolmistress to whom Jessie had written, and who had immediately precipitated16 the pursuit upon her. She had picked up the clergyman in Ringwood, and had told him everything forthwith, having met him once at a British Association meeting. He had immediately constituted himself administrator17 of the entire business. Widgery, having been foiled in an attempt to conduct the proceedings18, stood with his legs wide apart in front of the fireplace ornament19, and looked profound and sympathetic. Jessie's account of her adventures was a chary20 one and given amidst frequent interruptions. She surprised herself by skilfully21 omitting any allusion22 to the Bechamel episode. She completely exonerated23 Hoopdriver from the charge of being more than an accessory to her escapade. But public feeling was heavy against Hoopdriver. Her narrative24 was inaccurate25 and sketchy26, but happily the others were too anxious to pass opinions to pin her down to particulars. At last they had all the facts they would permit.
"My dear young lady," said the clergyman, "I can only ascribe this extravagant27 and regrettable expedition of yours to the wildest misconceptions of your place in the world and of your duties and responsibilities. Even now, it seems to me, your present emotion is due not so much to a real and sincere penitence28 for your disobedience and folly29 as to a positive annoyance30 at our most fortunate interference--"
"Not that," said Mrs. Milton, in a low tone. "Not that."
"But WHY did she go off like this?" said Widgery. "That's what _I_ want to know."
Jessie made an attempt to speak, but Mrs. Milton said "Hush31!" and the ringing tenor32 of the clergyman rode triumphantly33 over the meeting. "I cannot understand this spirit of unrest that has seized upon the more intelligent portion of the feminine community. You had a pleasant home, a most refined and intelligent lady in the position of your mother, to cherish and protect you--"
"If I HAD a mother," gulped34 Jessie, succumbing35 to the obvious snare36 of self-pity, and sobbing37.
"To cherish, protect, and advise you. And you must needs go out of it all alone into a strange world of unknown dangers-"
"I wanted to learn," said Jessie.
"You wanted to learn. May you never have anything to UNlearn."
"AH!" from Mrs. Milton, very sadly.
"It isn't fair for all of you to argue at me at once," submitted Jessie, irrelevantly38.
"A world full of unknown dangers," resumed the clergyman. "Your proper place was surely the natural surroundings that are part of you. You have been unduly39 influenced, it is only too apparent, by a class of literature which, with all due respect to distinguished40 authoress that shall be nameless, I must call the New Woman Literature. In that deleterious ingredient of our book boxes--"
"I don't altogether agree with you there," said Miss Mergle, throwing her head back and regarding him firmly through her spectacles, and Mr. Widgery coughed.
"What HAS all this to do with me?" asked Jessie, availing herself of the interruption.
"The point is," said Mrs. Milton, on her defence, "that in my books--"
"All I want to do," said Jessie, "is to go about freely by myself. Girls do so in America. Why not here?"
"Social conditions are entirely41 different in America," said Miss Mergle. "Here we respect Class Distinctions."
"It's very unfortunate. What I want to know is, why I cannot go away for a holiday if I want to."
"With a strange young man, socially your inferior," said Widgery, and made her flush by his tone.
"Why not?" she said. "With anybody."
"They don't do that, even in America," said Miss Mergle.
"My dear young lady," said the clergyman, "the most elementary principles of decorum--A day will come when you will better understand how entirely subservient42 your ideas are to the very fundamentals of our present civilisation43, when you will better understand the harrowing anxiety you have given Mrs. Milton by this inexplicable44 flight of yours. We can only put things down at present, in charity, to your ignorance--"
"You have to consider the general body of opinion, too," said Widgery.
"Precisely," said Miss Mergle. "There is no such thing as conduct in the absolute." "If once this most unfortunate business gets about," said the clergyman, "it will do you infinite harm."
"But I'VE done nothing wrong. Why should I be responsible for other people's--"
"The world has no charity," said Mrs. Milton.
"For a girl," said Jessie. "No."
"Now do let us stop arguing, my dear young lady, and let us listen to reason. Never mind how or why, this conduct of yours will do you infinite harm, if once it is generally known. And not only that, it will cause infinite pain to those who care for you. But if you will return at once to your home, causing it to be understood that you have been with friends for these last few days--"
"Tell lies," said Jessie. "Certainly not. Most certainly not. But I understand that is how your absence is understood at present, and there is no reason--"
Jessie's grip tightened45 on her handkerchief. "I won't go back," she said, "to have it as I did before. I want a room of my own, what books I need to read, to be free to go out by myself alone, Teaching--"
"Anything," said Mrs. Milton ,"anything in reason."
"But will you keep your promise?" said Jessie.
"Surely you won't dictate46 to your mother!" said Widgery.
"My stepmother! I don't want to dictate. I want definite promises now."
"This is most unreasonable," said the clergyman. "Very well," said Jessie, swallowing a sob but with unusual resolution. "Then I won't go back. My life is being frittered away--"
"LET her have her way," said Widgery.
"A room then. All your Men. I'm not to come down and talk away half my days--"
"My dear child, if only to save you," said Mrs. Milton. "If you don't keep your promise--"
"Then I take it the matter is practically concluded," said the clergyman. "And that you very properly submit to return to your proper home. And now, if I may offer a suggestion, it is that we take tea. Freed of its tannin, nothing, I think, is more refreshing47 and stimulating48."
"There's a train from Lyndhurst at thirteen minutes to six," said Widgery, unfolding a time table. "That gives us about half an hour or three-quarters here--if a conveyance49 is obtainable, that is."
"A gelatine lozenge dropped into the tea cup precipitates50 the tannin in the form of tannate of gelatine," said the clergyman to Miss Mergle, in a confidential51 bray52.
Jessie stood up, and saw through the window a depressed53 head and shoulders over the top of the back of a garden seat. She moved towards the door. "While you have tea, mother," she said, "I must tell Mr. Hoopdriver of our arrangements."
"Don't you think I--" began the clergyman.
"No," said Jessie, very rudely; "I don't."
"But, Jessie, haven't you already--"
"You are already breaking the capitulation," said Jessie.
"Will you want the whole half hour?" said Widgery, at the bell.
"Every minute," said Jessie, in the doorway54. "He's behaved very nobly to me."
"There's tea," said Widgery.
"I've had tea."
"He may not have behaved badly," said the clergyman. "But he's certainly an astonishingly weak person to let a wrong-headed young girl--"
Jessie closed the door into the garden.
Meanwhile Mr. Hoopdriver made a sad figure in the sunlight outside. It was over, this wonderful excursion of his, so far as she was concerned, and with the swift blow that separated them, he realised all that those days had done for him. He tried to grasp the bearings of their position. Of course, they would take her away to those social altitudes of hers. She would become an inaccessible55 young lady again. Would they let him say good-bye to her?
How extraordinary it had all been! He recalled the moment when he had first seen her riding, with the sunlight behind her, along the riverside road; he recalled that wonderful night at Bognor, remembering it as if everything had been done of his own initiative. "Brave, brave!" she had called him. And afterwards, when she came down to him in the morning, kindly56, quiet. But ought he to have persuaded her then to return to her home? He remembered some intention of the sort. Now these people snatched her away from him as though he was scarcely fit to live in the same world with her. No more he was! He felt he had presumed upon her worldly ignorance in travelling with her day after day. She was so dainty, so delightful57, so serene58. He began to recapitulate59 her expressions, the light of her eyes, the turn of her face . . .
He wasn't good enough to walk in the same road with her. Nobody was. Suppose they let him say good-bye to her; what could he say? That? But they were sure not to let her talk to him alone; her mother would be there as--what was it? Chaperone. He'd never once had a chance of saying what he felt; indeed, it was only now he was beginning to realise what he felt. Love I he wouldn't presume. It was worship. If only he could have one more chance. He must have one more chance, somewhere, somehow. Then he would pour out his soul to her eloquently60. He felt eloquently, and words would come. He was dust under her feet . . .
His meditation61 was interrupted by the click of a door handle, and Jessie appeared in the sunlight under the verandah. "Come away from here," she said to Hoopdriver, as he rose to meet her. "I'm going home with them. We have to say good-bye."
Mr. Hoopdriver winced62, opened and shut his mouth, and rose without a word.
收听单词发音 |
1
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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stylish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的；漂亮的，气派的 | |
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prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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dabs
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| 少许( dab的名词复数 )； 是…能手； 做某事很在行； 在某方面技术熟练 | |
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reciprocated
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| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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administrator
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| n.经营管理者，行政官员 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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chary
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| adj.谨慎的，细心的 | |
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skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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exonerated
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| v.使免罪，免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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inaccurate
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| adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的 | |
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sketchy
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| adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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penitence
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| n.忏悔，赎罪；悔过 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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31
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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succumbing
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的现在分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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37
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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irrelevantly
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| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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45
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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46
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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47
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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48
stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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49
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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50
precipitates
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的第三人称单数 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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51
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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53
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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54
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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55
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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56
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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recapitulate
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| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
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eloquently
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| adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地) | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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