TO lengthen1 the airing, Mr. Tyrold ordered the carriage by a new road; and to induce Eugenia to break yet another spell, in walking as well as riding, he proposed their alighting, when they came to a lane, and leaving the coach in waiting while they took a short stroll.
He walked between his daughters a considerable way, passing, wherever it was possible, close to cottages, labourers, and children. Eugenia submitted with a sigh, but held down her head, affrighted at every fresh object they encountered, till, upon approaching a small miserable2 hut, at the door of which several children were playing, an unlucky boy called out, ‘O come! Come! Look!-here’s the little hump-back gentlewoman!’
She then, clinging to her father, could not stir another step, and cast upon him a look of appeal and reproach that almost overset him; but, after speaking to her some words of kindness, he urged her to go on, and alone, saying, ‘Throw only a shilling to the senseless little crew, and let Camilla follow and give nothing, and see which will become the most popular.’
They both obeyed, Eugenia fearfully and with quickness casting amongst them some silver, and Camilla quietly walking on.
‘O, I have got a sixpence!’ cried one; ‘and I’ve got a shilling!’ said another; while the mother of the little tribe came from her wash-tub, and called out, ‘God bless your ladyship!’ and the father quitted a little garden at the side of his cottage, to bow down to the ground, and cry, ‘Heaven reward you, good madam! you’ll have a blessing3 go with you, go where you will!’
The children then, dancing up to Camilla, begged her charity; but when, seconding the palpable intention of her father, she said she had nothing for them, they looked highly dissatisfied, while they redoubled their blessings4 to Eugenia.
‘See, my child,’ said Mr. Tyrold, now joining them, ‘how cheaply preference, and even flattery, may be purchased!’
‘Ah, Sir!’ she answered, recovered from her terrour, yet deep in reflection, ‘this is only by bribery5, and gross bribery, too! And what pleasure, or what confidence can accrue6 from preference so earned!’
‘The means, my dear Eugenia, are not beneath the objects: if it is only from those who unite native hardness with uncultured minds and manners, that civility is to be obtained by such sordid7 materials, remember, also, it is from such only it can ever fail you. In the lowest life, equally with the highest, wherever nature has been kind, sympathy springs spontaneously for whatever is unfortunate, and respect for whatever seems innocent. Steel yourself then, firmly to withstand attacks from the cruel and unfeeling, and rest perfectly8 secure you will have none other to apprehend9.’
The clear and excellent capacity of Eugenia, comprehended in this lesson, and its illustration, all the satisfaction Mr. Tyrold hoped to impart; and she was ruminating10 upon it with abated11 despondence, when, as they came to a small house, surrounded with a high wall, Mr. Tyrold, looking through an iron gate at a female figure who stood at one of the windows, exclaimed–‘What a beautiful creature! I have rarely, I think seen a more perfect face.’
Eugenia felt so much hurt by this untimely sight, that, after a single glance which confirmed the truth of what he said, she bent12 her eyes another way; while Camilla herself was astonished that her kind father should call their attention to beauty, at so sore and critical a juncture13.
‘The examination of a fine picture,’ said he, fixing his eyes upon the window, and standing14 still at the iron gate, ‘is a constant as well as exquisite15 pleasure; for we look at it with an internal security, that such as it appears to us today, it will appear again tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow; but in the pleasure given by the examination of a fine face, there is always, to a contemplative mind, some little mixture of pain; an idea of its fragility steals upon our admiration17, and blends with it something like solicitude18; the consciousness how short a time we can view it perfect, how quickly its brilliancy of bloom will be blown, and how ultimately it will be nothing.–’
‘You would have me, Sir,’ said Eugenia, now raising her eyes, ‘learn to see beauty with unconcern, by depreciating19 its value? I feel your kind intention; but it does not come home to me; reasoning such as this may be equally applicable to any thing else, and degrade whatever is desirable into insignificance20.’
‘No, my dear child, there is nothing, either in its possession or its loss, that can be compared with beauty; nothing so evanescent, and nothing that leaves behind it a contrast which impresses such regret. It cannot be forgotten, since the same features still remain, though they are robbed of their effect upon the beholder21; the same complexion22 is there, though faded into a tint23 bearing no resemblance with its original state; and the same eyes present themselves to the view, though bereft24 of all the lustre25 that had rendered them captivating.’
‘Ah, Sir! this is an argument but formed for the moment. Is not the loss of youth the same to every body? and is not age equally unwelcome to the ugly and to the handsome?’
‘For activity, for strength, and for purposes of use, certainly, my dear girl, there can be no difference; but for motives26 to mental regret, there can be no comparison. To those who are commonly moulded, the gradual growth of decay brings with it its gradual endurance, because little is missed from day to day; hope is not roughly chilled, nor expectation rudely blasted; they see their friends, their connections, their contemporaries, declining by the same laws, and they yield to the immutable27 and general lot rather imperceptibly than resignedly; but it is not so with the beauty; her loss is not only general, but peculiar28; and it is the peculiar, not the general evil, that constitutes all hardship. Health, strength, agility16, and animal spirits, she may sorrowing feel diminish; but she hears everyone complain of similar failures, and she misses them unmurmuring, though not unlamenting; but of beauty, every declension is marked with something painful to self-love. The change manifested by the mirror might patiently be borne; but the change manifested in the eyes of every beholder, gives a shock that does violence to every pristine30 feeling.’
‘This may certainly, sir, be cruel; trying at least; but then, what a youth has she first passed! Mortification31 comes upon her, at least, in succession; she does not begin the world with it,-a stranger at all periods to anything happier!’
‘Ah, my child! the happiness caused by personal attractions pays a dear after-price! The soldier who enters the field of battle requires not more courage, though of a different nature, than the faded beauty who enters an assembly-room. To be wholly disregarded, after engaging every eye; to be unassisted, after being habituated to seeing crowds anxiously offer their services; to be unheard, after monopolising every ear-can you, indeed, persuade yourself a change such as this demands but ordinary firmness? Yet the altered female who calls for it, has the least chance to obtain it; for even where nature has endowed her with fortitude32, the world and its flatteries have almost uniformly enervated33 it, before the season of its exertion34.’
‘All this may be true,’ said Eugenia, with a sigh; ‘and to me, however sad in itself, it may prove consolatory35; and yet-forgive my sincerity36, when I own–I would purchase a better appearance at any price, any expence, any payment, the world could impose!’
Mr. Tyrold was preparing an answer, when the door of the house, which he had still continued facing, was opened, and the beautiful figure, which had for some time retired37 from the window, rushed suddenly upon a lawn before the gate against which they were leaning.
Not seeing them, she sat down upon the grass, which she plucked up by hands full, and strewed38 over her fine flowing hair.
Camilla, fearing they should seem impertinent, would have retreated; but Eugenia, much struck, sadly, yet with earnestness, compelled herself to regard the object before her, who was young, fair, of a tall and striking figure, with features delicately regular.
A sigh, not to be checked, acknowledged how little either reasoning or eloquence39 could subdue40 a wish to resemble such an appearance, when the young person, flinging herself suddenly upon her face, threw her white arms over her head, and sobbed41 aloud with violence.
Astonished, and deeply concerned, Eugenia internally said, alas42! what a world is this! even beauty so exquisite, without waiting for age or change, may be thus miserable!
She feared to speak, lest she should be heard; but she looked up to her father, with an eye that spoke43 concession44, and with an interest for the fair afflicted45, which seemed to request his assistance.
He motioned to her to be quiet; when the young person, abruptly46 half rising, burst into a fit of loud, shrill47, and discordant48 laughter.
Eugenia now, utterly49 confounded, would have drawn50 her father away; but he was intently engaged in his observations, and steadily51 kept his place.
In two minutes, the laugh ceased all at once, and the young creature, hastily rising, began turning round with a velocity52 that no machine could have exceeded.
The sisters now fearfully interchanged looks that shewed they thought her mad, and both endeavoured to draw Mr. Tyrold from the gate, but in vain; he made them hold by his arms, and stood still.
Without seeming giddy, she next began to jump; and he now could only detain his daughters, by shewing them the gate, at which they stood, was locked.
In another minute, she perceived them, and, coming eagerly forward, dropt several low courtesies, saying, at every fresh bend–‘Good day!–Good day!–Good day!’
Equally trembling, they now both turned pale with fear; but Mr. Tyrold, who was still immovable, answered her by a bow, and asked if she were well.
‘Give me a shilling!’ was her reply, while the slaver drivelled unrestrained from her mouth, rendering53 utterly disgusting a chin that a statuary might have wished to model.
‘Do you live at this house!’ said Mr. Tyrold.
‘Yes, please-yes, please-yes, please,’ she answered, twenty times following, and almost black in the face before she would allow herself to take another breath.
A cat now appearing at the door, she seized it, and tried to twine54 it round her neck with great fondling, wholly unresisting the scratches which tore her fine skin.
Next, capering55 forward with it towards the gate, ‘Look! Look!’ she cried, ‘here’s puss!-here’s puss!-here’s puss!’
Then, letting it fall, she tore her handkerchief off her neck, put it over her face, strained it as tight as she was able, and tied it under her chin; and then struck her head with both her hands, making a noise that resembled nothing human.
‘Take, take me away, my father!’ cried Eugenia, ‘I see, I feel your awful lesson! but impress it no further, lest I die in receiving it!’
Mr. Tyrold immediately moved off without speaking; Camilla, penetrated56 for her sister, observed the same silence; and Eugenia, hanging upon her father, and absorbed in profound rumination57, only by the depth of her sighs made her existence known; and thus, without the interchange of a word, slowly and pensively58 they walked back to the carriage.
Eugenia broke the silence as soon as they were seated: ‘O, my father!’ she exclaimed, ‘what a sight have you made me witness! how dread59 a reproof60 have you given to my repining spirit! Did you know this unhappy beauty was at that house? Did you lead me thither61 purposely to display to me her shocking imbecility?’
‘Relying upon the excellence62 of your understanding, I ventured upon an experiment more powerful, I well knew, than all that reason could urge; an experiment not only striking at the moment, but which, by playing upon the imagination, as well as convincing the judgment63, must make an impression that can never be effaced64. I have been informed for some time, that this poor girl was in our neighbourhood; she was born an idiot, and therefore, having never known brighter days, is insensible to her terrible state. Her friends are opulent, and that house is taken, and a woman is paid, to keep her in existence and in obscurity. I had heard of her uncommon65 beauty, and when the news reached me of my dear Eugenia’s distress66, the idea of this meeting occurred to me; I rode to the house, and engaged the woman to detain her unfortunate charge at the window till we appeared, and then to let her loose into the garden. Poor, ill fated young creature! It has been, indeed, a melancholy67 sight.’
‘A sight,’ cried Eugenia, ‘to come home to me with shame!–O, my dear Father! your prescription68 strikes to the root of my disease!-shall I ever again dare murmur29!-will any egotism ever again make me believe no lot so hapless as my own! I will think of her when I am discontented; I will call to my mind this spectacle of human degradation-and submit, at least with calmness, to my lighter69 evils and milder fate.’
‘My excellent child! this is just what I expected from the candour of your temper, and the rectitude of your sentiments. You have seen, here, the value of intellects in viewing the horrour of their loss; and you have witnessed, that beauty, without mind, is more dreadful than any deformity. You have seized my application, and left me nothing to enforce; my dear, my excellent child! you have left for your fond Father nothing but tender approbation70! With the utmost thankfulness to Providence71, I have marked from your earliest childhood, the native justness of your understanding; which, with your studious inclination72 to sedentary accomplishments73, has proved a reviving source of consolation74 to your mother and to me, for the cruel accidents we have incessantly75 lamented76. How will that admirable mother rejoice in the recital77 I have to make to her! What pride will she take in a daughter so worthily78 her own, so resembling her in nobleness of nature, and a superior way of thinking! Her tears, my child, like mine, will thank you for your exertions79! she will strain you to her fond bosom80, as your father strains you at this moment!’
‘Yes, Sir,’ cried Eugenia, ‘your kind task is now completed with your vanquished81 Eugenia! her thoughts, her occupations, her happiness, shall henceforth all be centred in filial gratitude82 and contentment.’
The affectionate Camilla, throwing her arms about them both, bathed each with the tears of joy and admiration, which this soothing83 conclusion to an adventure so severe excited.
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1
lengthen
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| vt.使伸长，延长 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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depreciating
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的现在分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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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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pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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enervated
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| adj.衰弱的，无力的v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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consolatory
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| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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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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concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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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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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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55
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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rumination
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| n.反刍，沉思 | |
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pensively
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| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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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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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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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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prescription
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| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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75
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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76
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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78
worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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79
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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80
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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81
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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82
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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83
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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