THE wish of Camilla was to lay this whole affair before her father; but she checked it, from an apprehension1 she might seem displaying her duty and confidence at the expence of those of her sister; whose motives3 for concealment4 were intentionally5 the most pure, however, practically, they might be erroneous; and whom she both pitied and revered6 for her proposed submission7 to her uncle, in opposition8 to her palpable reluctance9.
She saw not, however, any obstacle to consulting with Edgar, since he was already apprised10 of the business, and since his services might be essentially11 useful to her sister: while, with respect to herself, there seemed, at this time, more of dignity in meeting than shunning12 his friendly intercourse13, since his regard for her seemed to have lost all its peculiarity14. He has precisely15, cried she, the same sentiments for my sisters as for me,-he is equally kind, disinterested16, and indifferent to us all! anxious alike for Eugenia with Mr. Bellamy, and for me with the detestable Major! Be it so!-we can no where obtain a better friend; and I should blush, indeed, if I could not treat as a brother one who can treat me as a sister.
Tranquil17, though not gay, she returned to converse18 with him; but when she had related what had passed, he confessed that his uneasiness upon the subject was increased. The heart of Eugenia appeared to him positively19 entangled20; and he besought21 Camilla not to lose a moment in acquainting Mr. Tyrold with her situation.
She pleaded against giving this pain to her sister with energetic affection: her arguments failed to convince, but her eloquence22 powerfully touched him; and he contented23 himself with only entreating24 that she would again try to aid him with an opportunity of conversing25 with Eugenia.
This she could not refuse; nor could he then resist the opportunity to inquire why Mrs. Arlbery had left her and Lavinia at the play. She thanked him for remembering his character of her monitor, and acknowledged the fault to be her own, with a candour so unaffected, that, captivated by the soft seriousness of her manner, he flattered himself his fear of the Major was a chimera26 and hoped that, as soon as Sir Hugh was able to again join his family, no impediment would remain to his begging the united blessings27 of the two brothers to his views.
When Camilla told her sister the request of Edgar, she immediately suspected the attachment29 of Bellamy had been betrayed to him; and Camilla, incapable30 of any duplicity, related precisely how the matter had passed. Eugenia, always just, no sooner heard than she forgave it, and accompanied her sister immediately down stairs.
‘I must rest all my hope of pardon,’ cried Edgar, ‘for the part I am taking, to your conviction of its motive2; a filial love and gratitude31 to Mr. Tyrold, a fraternal affection and interest for all his family.’
‘My own sisterly feelings,’ she answered, ‘make me both comprehend and thank your kind solicitude32: but, believe me, it is now founded in error. I am shocked to find you informed of this unhappy transaction; and I charge and beseech33 that no interference may wound its ill-fated object, by suffering him to surmise34 your knowledge of his humiliating situation.’
‘I would not for the world give you pain,’ answered Edgar: ‘but permit me to be faithful to the brotherly character in which I consider myself to stand with you... all.’
A blush had overspread his face at the word Brotherly; while at that of all, which recovered him, a still deeper stained the cheeks of Camilla: but neither of them looked at the other; and Eugenia was too self-absorbed to observe either.
‘Your utter inexperience in life,’ he continued, ‘makes me, though but just giving up leading-strings myself, an adept35 in the comparison. Suffer me then, as such, to represent to you my fears, that your innocence36 and goodness may expose you to imposition. You must not judge all characters by the ingenuousness37 of your own; nor conclude, however rationally and worthily38 a mind such as yours might-may-and will inspire a disinterested regard, that there is no danger of any other, and that mercenary views are out of the question, because mercenary principles are not declared.’
‘I will not say your inference is severe,’ replied Eugenia, ‘because you know not the person of whom you speak: but permit me to make this irrefragable vindication39 of his freedom from all sordid40 motives; he has never once named the word fortune, neither to make any inquiries41 into mine, nor any professions concerning his own. Had he any inducement to duplicity, he might have asserted to me what he pleased, since I have no means of detection.’
‘Your situation,’ said Edgar, ‘is pretty generally known; and for his... pardon me if I hint it may be possible that silence is no virtue42. However, since I am unacquainted, you say, with his character, will you give me leave to make myself better informed?’
‘There needs no investigation43; to me it is perfectly44 known.’
‘Forgive me if I ask how!’
‘By his letters and by his conversation.’
A smile which stole upon the features of Edgar obliged him to turn his head another way; but presently recovering, ‘My dear Miss Eugenia,’ he cried, ‘will it not be most consonant45 to your high principles, and scrupulous46 delicacy47, to lay the whole of what has passed before Mr. Tyrold?’
‘Undoubtedly, if my part were not strait forward. Had I the least hesitation48, my father should be my immediate28 and decisive umpire. But... I am not at liberty even for deliberation!–I am not... I know... at my own disposal!’–
She blushed and looked down, confused; but presently, with firmness, added, ‘It is not, indeed, fit that I should be; my uncle completely merits to be in all things my director. To know his wishes, therefore, is not only to know, but to be satisfied with my doom49. Such being my situation, you cannot misunderstand my defence of this unhappy young man. It is but simple justice to rescue an amiable50 person from calumny51.’
‘Let us allow all this,’ said Edgar; ‘still I see no reason why Mr. Tyrold–’
‘Mr. Mandlebert,’ interrupted she, ‘you must do what you judge right. I can desire no one to abstain52 from pursuing the dictates53 of their own sense of honour. I leave you, therefore, unshackled: but there is no consideration which, in my opinion, can justify54 a female in spreading, even to her nearest connexions, an unrequited partiality. If, therefore, I am forced to inflict55 this undue56 mortification57, upon a person to whom I hold myself so much obliged, an uneasiness will remain upon my mind, destructive of my forgetfulness of an event which I would, fain banish58 from my memory.’
She then refused to be any longer detained.
‘How I love the perfect innocence, and how I reverence59 the respectable singularity of that charming character!’ cried Edgar; ‘yet how vain are all arguments against such a combination of fearless credulity, and enthusiastic reasoning? What can we determine?’
‘I am happy to retort upon you that question,’ replied Camilla; ‘for I am every way afraid to act myself, lest I should hurt this dear sister, or do wrong by my yet dearer father.’
‘What a responsibility you cast upon me! I will not, however, shrink from it, for the path seems far plainer to me since I have had this conversation. Eugenia is at present safe; I see, now, distinctly, her heart is yet untouched. The readiness with which she met the subject, the openness with which she avows60 her esteem61, the unembarrassed, though modest simplicity62 with which she speaks of his passion and his distress63, all shew that her pity results from generosity64, not from love. Had it been otherwise, with all her steadiness, all her philosophy, some agitation65 and anxiety would have betrayed her secret soul. The internal workings of hopes and fears, the sensitive alarms of repressed consciousness....’ A deep glow, which heated his face, forced him here to break off; and, abruptly66 leaving his sentence unfinished, he hastily began another.
‘We must not, nevertheless, regard this as security for the future, though it is safety for the present; nor trust her unsuspicious generosity of mind to the dangerous assault of artful distress. I speak without reserve of this man; for though I know him not, as she remonstrated67, I cannot, from the whole circumstances of his clandestine68 conduct, doubt his being an adventurer.... You say nothing? tell me, I beg, your opinion.’
Camilla had not heard one word of this last speech. Struck with his discrimination between the actual and the possible state of Eugenia’s mind, and with the effect the definition had produced upon himself, her attention was irresistibly69 seized by a new train of ideas, till finding he waited for an answer, she mechanically repeated his last word ‘opinion?’
He saw her absence of mind, and suspected his own too palpable disturbance70 had occasioned it: but in what degree, or from what sensations, he could not conjecture71. They were both some time silent; and then, recollecting72 herself, she said it was earnestly her wish to avoid disobliging her sister, by a communication, which, made by any one but herself, must put her into a disgraceful point of view.
Edgar, after a pause, said, they must yield, then, to her present fervour, and hope her sounder judgment73, when less played upon, would see clearer. It appeared to him, indeed, that she was so free, at this moment, from any dangerous impression, that it might, perhaps, be even safer to submit quietly to her request, than to urge the generous romance of her temper to new workings. He undertook, meantime, to keep a constant watch upon the motions of Bellamy, to make sedulous74 inquiries into his character and situation in life, and to find out for what ostensible75 purpose he was in Hampshire: entreating leave to communicate constantly to Camilla what he might gather, and to consult with her, from time to time, upon what measures should be pursued: yet ultimately confessing, that if Eugenia did not steadily76 persist in refusing any further rejections77, he should hold himself bound in conscience to communicate the whole to Mr. Tyrold.
Camilla was pleased, and even thankful for the extreme friendliness78 and kind moderation of this arrangement; yet she left him mournfully, in a confirmed belief his regard for the whole family was equal.
Eugenia, much gratified, promised she would henceforth take no step with which Edgar should not first be acquainted.
1 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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2 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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3 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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4 concealment | |
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
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5 intentionally | |
ad.故意地,有意地 | |
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6 revered | |
v.崇敬,尊崇,敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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8 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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9 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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10 apprised | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 );评价 | |
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11 essentially | |
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
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12 shunning | |
v.避开,回避,避免( shun的现在分词 ) | |
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13 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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14 peculiarity | |
n.独特性,特色;特殊的东西;怪癖 | |
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15 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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16 disinterested | |
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的 | |
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17 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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18 converse | |
vi.谈话,谈天,闲聊;adv.相反的,相反 | |
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19 positively | |
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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20 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21 besought | |
v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的过去式和过去分词 );(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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22 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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23 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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24 entreating | |
恳求,乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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25 conversing | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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26 chimera | |
n.神话怪物;梦幻 | |
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27 blessings | |
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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28 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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29 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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30 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
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31 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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32 solicitude | |
n.焦虑 | |
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33 beseech | |
v.祈求,恳求 | |
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34 surmise | |
v./n.猜想,推测 | |
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35 adept | |
adj.老练的,精通的 | |
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36 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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37 ingenuousness | |
n.率直;正直;老实 | |
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38 worthily | |
重要地,可敬地,正当地 | |
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39 vindication | |
n.洗冤,证实 | |
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40 sordid | |
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的 | |
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41 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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42 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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43 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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44 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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45 consonant | |
n.辅音;adj.[音]符合的 | |
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46 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
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47 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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48 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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49 doom | |
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定 | |
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50 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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51 calumny | |
n.诽谤,污蔑,中伤 | |
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52 abstain | |
v.自制,戒绝,弃权,避免 | |
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53 dictates | |
n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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54 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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55 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
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56 undue | |
adj.过分的;不适当的;未到期的 | |
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57 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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58 banish | |
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除 | |
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59 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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60 avows | |
v.公开声明,承认( avow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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62 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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63 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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64 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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65 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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66 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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67 remonstrated | |
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫 | |
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68 clandestine | |
adj.秘密的,暗中从事的 | |
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69 irresistibly | |
adv.无法抵抗地,不能自持地;极为诱惑人地 | |
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70 disturbance | |
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
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71 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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72 recollecting | |
v.记起,想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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73 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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74 sedulous | |
adj.勤勉的,努力的 | |
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75 ostensible | |
adj.(指理由)表面的,假装的 | |
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76 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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77 rejections | |
拒绝( rejection的名词复数 ); 摒弃; 剔除物; 排斥 | |
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78 friendliness | |
n.友谊,亲切,亲密 | |
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