Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.
As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided1 on jotting2 down the results of my inquiries3 in a kind of diary. Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended5. This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter. To remember all I hear and pick up about these departed Haygarths without the aid of pen and ink would be out of the question; so I mean to go in for unlimited6 pen and ink like a hero, not to say a martyr7.
And I am to do all this for twenty shillings a week, and the remote possibility of three thousand pounds! O genius, genius! in all the markets of this round world is there no better price for you than that?
How sweetly my Charlotte looked at me yesterday, when I told her I was going away! If I could have dared to kneel at her feet under those whispering elms — unconscious of the children, unconscious of the nursemaids — if I could have dared to cry aloud to her, “I am a penniless reprobate8, but I love you; I am a disreputable pauper9, but I adore you! Have pity upon my love and forget my worthlessness!” If I could have dared to carry her away from her prim10 suburban11 home and that terrible black-whiskered stockbroking12 stepfather! But how is a man to carry off the woman he adores when he has not the de quoi for the first stage of the journey?
With three thousand pounds in my pocket, I think I could dare anything. Three thousand pounds! One year of splendour and happiness, and then — the rest is chaos13!
I have seen the oldest inhabitant. Ay de mi! Sheldon did not exaggerate the prosiness of that intolerable man. I thought of the luckless wedding guest in Coleridge’s grim ballad14 as I sat listening to this modern-ancient mariner15. I had to remind myself of all the bright things to be bought for three thousand pounds, every now and then, in order to endure with fortitude16, if not serenity17. And now the day’s work is done, I begin to think it might as well have been left undone18. How am I to disintegrate19 the mass of prosiness which I have heard this day? For three mortal hours did I listen to my ancient mariner; and how much am I the wiser for my patience? Clever as you may fancy yourself, my friend Hawkehurst, you don’t seem to be the man for this business. You have not the legal mind. Your genius is not the genius of Scotland-yard, and I begin to fear that in your new line you may prove yourself a failure.
However, where all is dark to me the astute20 Sheldon may see daylight, so I’ll observe the letter of my bond, and check off the residuum of the ancient mariner’s prosiness.
By dint21 of much pumping I obtained from my ancient, first, his father’s recollections of Matthew Haygarth a few years before his death, and secondly22, his grandfather’s recollections of Matthew in his wild youth. It seems that in those last years of his life Matthew was a most sober and estimable citizen; attended the chapel23 of a nonconforming sect24; read the works of Baxter, and followed in the footsteps of his departed father; was a kind husband to a woman who appears to me to have been rather a pragmatical and icy personage, but who was esteemed25 a model of womanly virtue26, and who had money. Strange that these respectable and wealthy citizens should be so eager to increase their store by alliance with respectable and wealthy citizenesses.
In his later years Matthew Haygarth seems to have imitated his father in many respects. Like his father, he executed more than one will; and, like his father, he died intestate. The lawyer who drew up his will on more than one occasion was a man called Brice — like his client, eminently27 respectable.
After his marriage, our esteemed Matthew retired28 to a modest mansion29 in the heart of the country, and some ten or fifteen miles from Ullerton. The mansion in question is at a place called Dewsdale, and was the property of the wife, and accrued30 to him through her.
This house and estate of some thirty acres was afterwards sold by the rev4. intestate, John Haygarth, shortly after his coming of age, and within a year of his mother’s death.
This much and no more could I extort31 from the oldest inhabitant relative to the latter days of our Matthew.
Respecting his wild youth I obtained the following crumbs32 of enlightenment. In the year 1741–2, being then one-and-twenty years of age, he left Ullerton. It is my ancient mariner’s belief that he ran away from home, after some desperate quarrel with his father; and it is also the belief of my ancient that he stayed away, without intermission, for twenty years — though on what precise fact that belief is founded is much more than I can extract from the venerable proser.
My ancient suggests — always in the haziest33 and most impracticable manner — the possibility that Matthew in his wild days lodged34 somewhere Clerkenwell way. He has a dim idea that he has heard his grandfather speak of St. John’s-gate, Clerkenwell, in connection with Matthew Haygarth; but, as my ancient’s grandfather seems to have been almost imbecile at the time he made such remarks, this is not much.
He has another idea — also very vague and impracticable — of having heard his grandfather say something about an adventure of Matthew Haygarth’s, which was rather a heroic affair in its way — an adventure in which, in some inexplicable35 manner, the wild Matthew is mixed up with a dancing-girl, or player-girl, of Bartholomew Fair, and a nobleman.
This is the sum-total of the information to be extracted in three mortal hours from my ancient. Altogether the day has been very unsatisfactory; and I begin to think I’m not up to the sort of work required of me. Oct. 3rd. Another long interview with my ancient. I dropped in directly after my breakfast, and about an hour after his dinner. I sat up late last night, occupied till nearly ten in copying my diary for Sheldon — which was just in time for the London post — and lingering over my cigar till past midnight, thinking of Charlotte. So I was late this morning.
My ancient received me graciously. I took him half a pound of mild bird’s-eye tobacco, on diplomatic grounds. He is evidently the sort of person who would receive Mephistopheles graciously, if the fiend presented him with tobacco.
I returned to the charge — diplomatically, of course; talked about Ullerton and Ullerton people in general, insinuating36 occasional questions about the Haygarths. I was rewarded by obtaining some little information about Mrs. Matthew. That lady appears to have been a devoted37 disciple38 of John Wesley, and was fonder of travelling to divers39 towns and villages to hear the discourses40 of that preacher than her husband approved. It seems they were wont41 to disagree upon this subject.
For some years before her marriage Mrs. Matthew was a member of a Wesleyan confraternity, in those days newly established at Ullerton. They held meetings and heard sermons in the warehouse42 of a wealthy draper; and shortly before Mrs. Matthew’s demise43 they built a chapel, still extant, in a dingy44 little thoroughfare known as Waterhouse-lane.
On these points my ancient mariner is tolerably clear. They belong to the period remembered by his father.
And now I believe him to be pumped dry. I gave him my benediction45, and left him smoking some of my tobacco, content with himself and with the world — always excepting the authorities, or board, of the almshouses, against whom he appears to nourish a grievance46.
After leaving him, I walked about Ullerton for an hour or so before returning to my humble47 hostelry. The streets of Ullerton are sealed with the seal of desolation — the abomination of desolation reigns48 in the market-place, where the grass flourishes greenly in the interstices of the pavement. The place has known prosperity, and is prosperous no longer; but although its chief trade has left it, there are still some three or four factories in full swing. I heard clanging bells, and met bare-headed women and uncouth-looking men hurrying to and fro. I went to look at the Wesleyan chapel in Waterhouse-lane. It is a queer little building, and bears some resemblance to a toy Noah’s Ark in red brick. Tall warehouses49 have arisen about it and hemmed50 it in, and the slim chimney-shaft of a waterworks throws a black shadow aslant51 its unpretending facade52. I inquired the name of the present minister. He is called Jonah Goodge, began life as a carpenter, and is accounted the pink and pattern of piety53. Oct. 4th. A letter from Sheldon awaited me in the coffee-room letter-rack when I went downstairs to breakfast.
“MY DEAR HAWKEHURST — Don’t be disheartened if the work seems slow at first. You’ll soon get used to it.
“I should recommend you to adopt the following tactics:
“1st. Go to the house at Dewsdale, inhabited by M.H. and his wife. You may have some difficulty in obtaining admission — and full liberty to explore and examine — from the present servant or owner; but you are not the man I take you for if you cannot overcome such a difficulty. I enclose a few of my cards, which you can use at your discretion54. They show professional status. It would be as well to call yourself my articled clerk, and to state that you are prosecuting55 an inquiry56 on the behalf of a client of mine, who wishes to prove a certain event in the past connected remotely with the H. family. If asked whether your business relates to the property left by the rev. intestate, you must reply decisively in the negative. But I must remind you that extreme caution is required in every move you make. Wherever you can do your work without any reference to the name of Haygarth, avoid such reference. Always remember that there may be other people on the same scent57.
“2nd. Examine the house in detail; look for old pictures, old furniture, old needlework — if you are lucky enough to find the Haygarth furniture was sold with the property, which I should think probable. The rev. intestate must have been at the University when he made the sale; and a young Cantab would in all likelihood pass over his ancestral chairs and tables to the purchaser of his ancestral mansion, as so much useless lumber58. It is proverbial that walls have ears. I hope the Dewsdale walls may have tongues, and favour you with a little information.
“3rd. When you have done all that is to be done at Dewsdale, your next work must be to hunt up any scion59 of the lawyer Brice, if such scion be in existence at Ullerton. Or if not to be found in Ullerton, ascertain60 where the descendant, or decendants, of Brice is, or are, to be found. Brice, the lawyer, must have known the contents of those wills executed and afterwards destroyed by Haygarth, and may have kept rough draughts61, copies, or memoranda62 of the same. This is most important. — Yours truly, G.S.”
This Sheldon is a wonderful man, and a cautious! — no Signature to his letter.
I started for Dewidale immediately after my breakfast. I have made arrangements for boarding in this house, which is a second-rate commercial inn. They have agreed to give me board and lodging63 for twenty shillings a week — the full amount of my stipend64: so all that I gain by my researches in the affairs of the departed Matthew is food and shelter. However, as this food and shelter is perhaps more honestly obtained than those little dinners which I have so often eaten with the great Horatio, I will try to fancy a sweetness in the tough steaks and greasy65 legs of mutton. O sheep of Midlandshire! why cultivate such ponderous66 calves67, and why so incline to sinews? O cooks of Midlandshire! why so superficial in the treatment of your roasts, so impetuous and inconsiderate when you boil?
A railroad now penetrates68 the rural district in which the village of Dewsdale is situated69. There is a little station, something like a wooden Dutch oven, within a mile of the village; and here I alighted. The morning savoured of summer rather than autumn. The air was soft and balmy, the sunshine steeped the landscape in warm light, and the red and golden tints70 of the fading foliage71 took new splendour from that yellow sunshine. A man whose life is spent in cities must be dull of soul indeed if he does not feel a little touched by the beauty of rustic72 scenery, when he finds himself suddenly in the heart of the country. I had seen nothing so fair as those English fields and copses since I left the pine-clad hills of Forêtdechêne. An idiotic73 boy directed me across some fields to Dewsdale. He sent me a mile out of the way; but I forgave and blest him, for I think the walk did me good. I felt as if all manner of vicious vapours were being blown out of my head as the soft wind lifted my hair.
And so to Dewsdale. Strolling leisurely74 through those quiet meadows, I fell to thinking of many things that seldom came into my mind in London. I thought of my dead mother — a poor gentle creature — too frail75 to carry heroically the burden laid upon her, and so a little soured by chronic76 debt and difficulty. I have reason to remember her tenderly; we shared so much misery77 together. I believe my father married her in the Rules of the Bench; and if I am not sure upon this point, I know for a certainty that I was born within those mystic boundaries.
And then my mind wandered to those nomadic78 adventures in which poor Diana Paget and I were so much together. I think we were a little fond of each other in those days; but in that matter I was at least prudent79; and now the transient fancy has faded, on Di’s part as well as on mine.
If I could be as prudent where Charlotte H. is concerned!
But prudence80 and Charlotte’s eyes cannot hold their own in the same brain. Of two things, one, as our neighbours say: a man must cease to be prudent, or he must forget those bewitching gray eyes.
I know she was sorry when she heard of my intended departure.
This is her birthday. She is twenty-one years of age to-day. I remember the two girls talking of it, and Miss Halliday declaring herself “quite old.” My dear one, I drink your health in this poor tavern81 liquor, with every tender wish and holy thought befitting your innocent girlhood!
收听单词发音 |
1
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
jotting
|
|
| n.简短的笔记，略记v.匆忙记下( jot的现在分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
Amended
|
|
| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
unlimited
|
|
| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
martyr
|
|
| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
reprobate
|
|
| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
pauper
|
|
| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
prim
|
|
| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
suburban
|
|
| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
stockbroking
|
|
| n.炒股 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
ballad
|
|
| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mariner
|
|
| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
fortitude
|
|
| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
serenity
|
|
| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
disintegrate
|
|
| v.瓦解，解体，（使）碎裂，（使）粉碎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
astute
|
|
| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
secondly
|
|
| adv.第二，其次 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
chapel
|
|
| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
sect
|
|
| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
esteemed
|
|
| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
eminently
|
|
| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mansion
|
|
| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
accrued
|
|
| adj.权责已发生的v.增加( accrue的过去式和过去分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
extort
|
|
| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
crumbs
|
|
| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
haziest
|
|
| 有薄雾的( hazy的最高级 )； 模糊的； 不清楚的； 糊涂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
insinuating
|
|
| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
disciple
|
|
| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
divers
|
|
| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
discourses
|
|
| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
warehouse
|
|
| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
demise
|
|
| n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
dingy
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
benediction
|
|
| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
grievance
|
|
| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
reigns
|
|
| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
warehouses
|
|
| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
hemmed
|
|
| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
aslant
|
|
| adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
facade
|
|
| n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
piety
|
|
| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
prosecuting
|
|
| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lumber
|
|
| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
scion
|
|
| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
draughts
|
|
| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
memoranda
|
|
| n. 备忘录, 便条 名词memorandum的复数形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
lodging
|
|
| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
stipend
|
|
| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
greasy
|
|
| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
calves
|
|
| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
penetrates
|
|
| v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
tints
|
|
| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
idiotic
|
|
| adj.白痴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
leisurely
|
|
| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
chronic
|
|
| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
nomadic
|
|
| adj.流浪的；游牧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |