Lady Carlotta stepped out on to the platform of the small wayside station and took a turn or two up and down its uninteresting length, to kill time till the train should be pleased to proceed on its way. Then, in the roadway beyond, she saw a horse struggling with a more than ample load, and a carter of the sort that seems to bear a sullen1 hatred2 against the animal that helps him to earn a living. Lady Carlotta promptly3 betook her to the roadway, and put rather a different complexion4 on the struggle. Certain of her acquaintances were wont5 to give her plentiful6 admonition as to the undesirability7 of interfering8 on behalf of a distressed9 animal, such interference being “none of her business.” Only once had she put the doctrine11 of non-interference into practice, when one of its most eloquent12 exponents13 had been besieged14 for nearly three hours in a small and extremely uncomfortable may-tree by an angry boar-pig, while Lady Carlotta, on the other side of the fence, had proceeded with the water-colour sketch15 she was engaged on, and refused to interfere10 between the boar and his prisoner. It is to be feared that she lost the friendship of the ultimately rescued lady. On this occasion she merely lost the train, which gave way to the first sign of impatience16 it had shown throughout the journey, and steamed off without her. She bore the desertion with philosophical17 indifference18; her friends and relations were thoroughly19 well used to the fact of her luggage arriving without her. She wired a vague non-committal message to her destination to say that she was coming on “by another train.” Before she had time to think what her next move might be she was confronted by an imposingly20 attired21 lady, who seemed to be taking a prolonged mental inventory22 of her clothes and looks.
“You must be Miss Hope, the governess I’ve come to meet,” said the apparition23, in a tone that admitted of very little argument.
“Very well, if I must I must,” said Lady Carlotta to herself with dangerous meekness24.
“I am Mrs. Quabarl,” continued the lady; “and where, pray, is your luggage?”
“It’s gone astray,” said the alleged25 governess, falling in with the excellent rule of life that the absent are always to blame; the luggage had, in point of fact, behaved with perfect correctitude. “I’ve just telegraphed about it,” she added, with a nearer approach to truth.
“How provoking,” said Mrs. Quabarl; “these railway companies are so careless. However, my maid can lend you things for the night,” and she led the way to her car.
During the drive to the Quabarl mansion26 Lady Carlotta was impressively introduced to the nature of the charge that had been thrust upon her; she learned that Claude and Wilfrid were delicate, sensitive young people, that Irene had the artistic27 temperament28 highly developed, and that Viola was something or other else of a mould equally commonplace among children of that class and type in the twentieth century.
“I wish them not only to be taught ,” said Mrs. Quabarl, “but interested in what they learn. In their history lessons, for instance, you must try to make them feel that they are being introduced to the life-stories of men and women who really lived, not merely committing a mass of names and dates to memory. French, of course, I shall expect you to talk at meal-times several days in the week.”
“I shall talk French four days of the week and Russian in the remaining three.”
“Russian? My dear Miss Hope, no one in the house speaks or understands Russian.”
“That will not embarrass me in the least,” said Lady Carlotta coldly.
Mrs. Quabarl, to use a colloquial29 expression, was knocked off her perch30. She was one of those imperfectly self-assured individuals who are magnificent and autocratic as long as they are not seriously opposed. The least show of unexpected resistance goes a long way towards rendering31 them cowed and apologetic. When the new governess failed to express wondering admiration32 of the large newly-purchased and expensive car, and lightly alluded33 to the superior advantages of one or two makes which had just been put on the market, the discomfiture35 of her patroness became almost abject36. Her feelings were those which might have animated37 a general of ancient warfaring days, on beholding38 his heaviest battle-elephant ignominiously39 driven off the field by slingers and javelin40 throwers.
At dinner that evening, although reinforced by her husband, who usually duplicated her opinions and lent her moral support generally, Mrs. Quabarl regained41 none of her lost ground. The governess not only helped herself well and truly to wine, but held forth42 with considerable show of critical knowledge on various vintage matters, concerning which the Quabarls were in no wise able to pose as authorities. Previous governesses had limited their conversation on the wine topic to a respectful and doubtless sincere expression of a preference for water. When this one went as far as to recommend a wine firm in whose hands you could not go very far wrong Mrs. Quabarl thought it time to turn the conversation into more usual channels.
“We got very satisfactory references about you from Canon Teep,” she observed; “a very estimable man, I should think.”
“Drinks like a fish and beats his wife, otherwise a very lovable character,” said the governess imperturbably43.
“My dear Miss Hope! I trust you are exaggerating,” exclaimed the Quabarls in unison44.
“One must in justice admit that there is some provocation,” continued the romancer. “Mrs. Teep is quite the most irritating bridge-player that I have ever sat down with; her leads and declarations would condone45 a certain amount of brutality46 in her partner, but to souse her with the contents of the only soda-water syphon in the house on a Sunday afternoon, when one couldn’t get another, argues an indifference to the comfort of others which I cannot altogether overlook. You may think me hasty in my judgments47, but it was practically on account of the syphon incident that I left.”
“We will talk of this some other time,” said Mrs. Quabarl hastily.
“I shall never allude34 to it again,” said the governess with decision.
Mr. Quabarl made a welcome diversion by asking what studies the new instructress proposed to inaugurate on the morrow.
“History to begin with,” she informed him.
“Ah, history,” he observed sagely48; “now in teaching them history you must take care to interest them in what they learn. You must make them feel that they are being introduced to the life-stories of men and women who really lived —”
“I’ve told her all that,” interposed Mrs. Quabarl.
“I teach history on the Schartz–Metterklume method,” said the governess loftily.
“Ah, yes,” said her listeners, thinking it expedient49 to assume an acquaintance at least with the name.
* * * *
“What are you children doing out here?” demanded Mrs. Quabarl the next morning, on finding Irene sitting rather glumly50 at the head of the stairs, while her sister was perched in an attitude of depressed51 discomfort52 on the window-seat behind her, with a wolf-skin rug almost covering her.
“We are having a history lesson,” came the unexpected reply. “I am supposed to be Rome, and Viola up there is the she-wolf; not a real wolf, but the figure of one that the Romans used to set store by — I forget why. Claude and Wilfrid have gone to fetch the shabby women.”
“The shabby women?”
“Yes, they’ve got to carry them off. They didn’t want to, but Miss Hope got one of father’s fives-bats and said she’d give them a number nine spanking53 if they didn’t, so they’ve gone to do it.”
A loud, angry screaming from the direction of the lawn drew Mrs. Quabarl thither54 in hot haste, fearful lest the threatened castigation55 might even now be in process of infliction56. The outcry, however, came principally from the two small daughters of the lodge57-keeper, who were being hauled and pushed towards the house by the panting and dishevelled Claude and Wilfrid, whose task was rendered even more arduous58 by the incessant59, if not very effectual, attacks of the captured maidens’ small brother. The governess, fives-bat in hand, sat negligently60 on the stone balustrade, presiding over the scene with the cold impartiality61 of a Goddess of Battles. A furious and repeated chorus of “I’ll tell muvver” rose from the lodge-children, but the lodge-mother, who was hard of hearing, was for the moment immersed in the preoccupation of her washtub.
After an apprehensive62 glance in the direction of the lodge (the good woman was gifted with the highly militant63 temper which is sometimes the privilege of deafness) Mrs. Quabarl flew indignantly to the rescue of the struggling captives.
“Wilfrid! Claude! Let those children go at once. Miss Hope, what on earth is the meaning of this scene?”
“Early Roman history; the Sabine Women, don’t you know? It’s the Schartz–Metterklume method to make children understand history by acting64 it themselves; fixes it in their memory, you know. Of course, if, thanks to your interference, your boys go through life thinking that the Sabine women ultimately escaped, I really cannot be held responsible.”
“You may be very clever and modern, Miss Hope,” said Mrs. Quabarl firmly, “but I should like you to leave here by the next train. Your luggage will be sent after you as soon as it arrives.”
“I’m not certain exactly where I shall be for the next few days,” said the dismissed instructress of youth; “you might keep my luggage till I wire my address. There are only a couple of trunks and some golf-clubs and a leopard65 cub66.”
“A leopard cub!” gasped67 Mrs. Quabarl. Even in her departure this extraordinary person seemed destined68 to leave a trail of embarrassment69 behind her.
“Well, it’s rather left off being a cub; it’s more than half-grown, you know. A fowl70 every day and a rabbit on Sundays is what it usually gets. Raw beef makes it too excitable. Don’t trouble about getting the car for me, I’m rather inclined for a walk.”
And Lady Carlotta strode out of the Quabarl horizon.
The advent71 of the genuine Miss Hope, who had made a mistake as to the day on which she was due to arrive, caused a turmoil72 which that good lady was quite unused to inspiring. Obviously the Quabarl family had been woefully befooled, but a certain amount of relief came with the knowledge.
“How tiresome73 for you, dear Carlotta,” said her hostess, when the overdue74 guest ultimately arrived; “how very tiresome losing your train and having to stop overnight in a strange place.”
“Oh dear, no,” said Lady Carlotta; “not at all tiresome — for me.”
收听单词发音 |
1
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
plentiful
|
|
| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
undesirability
|
|
| n.不受欢迎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
interfering
|
|
| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
doctrine
|
|
| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
exponents
|
|
| n.倡导者( exponent的名词复数 )；说明者；指数；能手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
besieged
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
philosophical
|
|
| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
imposingly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
21
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
inventory
|
|
| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
apparition
|
|
| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
meekness
|
|
| n.温顺，柔和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
alleged
|
|
| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
artistic
|
|
| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
colloquial
|
|
| adj.口语的，会话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
alluded
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
allude
|
|
| v.提及，暗指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
discomfiture
|
|
| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
abject
|
|
| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
beholding
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
ignominiously
|
|
| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
javelin
|
|
| n.标枪，投枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
imperturbably
|
|
| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
unison
|
|
| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
condone
|
|
| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
brutality
|
|
| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
judgments
|
|
| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
sagely
|
|
| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
expedient
|
|
| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
glumly
|
|
| adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
discomfort
|
|
| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
spanking
|
|
| adj.强烈的，疾行的；n.打屁股 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
castigation
|
|
| n.申斥，强烈反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
infliction
|
|
| n.（强加于人身的）痛苦，刑罚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
arduous
|
|
| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
incessant
|
|
| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
negligently
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
impartiality
|
|
| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
apprehensive
|
|
| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
militant
|
|
| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
leopard
|
|
| n.豹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
cub
|
|
| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
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： |
|
|
|
|
68
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
advent
|
|
| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
tiresome
|
|
| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
overdue
|
|
| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |