THE increasing depression of Camilla, and the melancholy1 of her sympathising sisters, though still attributed to the adverse2 wind by the compass-watching baronet, escaped not the notice of Mr. Tyrold; who, alarmed for the peace of his daughter, determined3 to watch for the first quiet opportunity of investigating her actual situation.
Lionel, after breakfast, the next morning, was obliged to relinquish4 waiting for Clermont, and to set off for Oxford5. He contrived6 to whisper to Camilla, that he hoped she would be a good girl at last, and not play the fool; but, finding she only sighed, he laughed at her calamitous7 state, in becoming mistress of fifteen thousand per annum, only by the small trouble of running over a short ceremony; and, assuring her he would assist her off with part of the charge, if it were too heavy for her, bid her inform him in time of the propitious8 day.
Camilla, shortly after, saw from her window, galloping9 full speed across the park to the house, Major Cerwood. She suspected her tormenting10 brother to have been again at work; nor was she mistaken. He had met with the Major at the hotel at Tunbridge, while his spirits, always violent, were in a state of almost intoxication11 of delight, at the first idea of such an accession to his powers of amusement, as a new brother rolling in immense wealth, which he already considered as nearly at his own disposal. High wrought12, therefore, for what he deemed good sport, he confirmed what he had asserted at the ball at Northwick, of the expectations of Camilla from Sir Hugh, by relating the public fact, of her having been announced, to the family and neighbourhood, for his uncle’s heiress, at ten years of age; and only sinking, in his account, the revocation13 made so soon after in favour of Eugenia. To this, he added his advice, that no time was to be lost, as numberless new suitors were likely to pursue her from Tunbridge.
The Major, upon alighting, inquired for Sir Hugh, deeming Mr. Tyrold of little consequence, since it was not from him Camilla was to inherit her fortune.
The baronet, as usual, was watching the winds and the clouds; but, concluding whoever came would bring some news from Clermont, received the Major with the utmost cordiality, saying: ‘I see, sir, you are a stranger; by which I suppose you to be just come from abroad; where, I hope, you left all well?’
‘I am just come, sir,’ answered the Major, ‘from Tunbridge, where I had the honour, through my acquaintance with Mrs. Arlbery, of meeting daily with your charming niece; an honour, sir, which must cause all the future happiness or misery14 of my life.’
He then made a declaration, in form, of the most ardent15 passion for Camilla; mentioned his family, which was an honourable16 one; talked of his expectations with confidence, though vaguely17; and desired to leave the disposition18 of the settlement wholly to the baronet; who, he hoped, would not refuse to see his elder brother, a gentleman of fortune in Lincolnshire, who would have the honour to wait upon him, at any time he would be so good as to appoint, upon this momentous19 affair.
Sir Hugh heard this harangue20 with consternation21. The Major was in the prime of life, his person was good, his speech was florid, his air was assured, and his regimentals were gay. Not a doubt of his success occurred to the baronet; who saw, in one blow, the darling scheme of his old age demolished22, in the deprivation23 of Camilla.
The Major impatiently waited for an answer; but Sir Hugh was too much disordered to frame one; he walked up and down the room, muttering in a desponding mariner24, to himself, ‘Lord, help us! what a set of poor weak mortals we are, we poor men! The best schemes and plans in the world always coming to nothing before we can bring them about! I’ll never form another while I live, for the sake of this one warning. Nobody knows, next, but what Clermont will be carrying off Eugenia to see foreign parts! and then comes some other of these red-coats to take away Indiana; and, after doing all for the best so long, I may be left all alone, except just for Mrs. Margland and the Doctor! that I don’t take much pleasure in, Lord help me! except as a Christian25, which I hope is no sin.’
At length, endeavouring to compose himself, he sat down, and said, ‘So you are come, sir, to take away from me my own particular little niece? which is a hard thing upon an uncle, intending her to live with him. However, I don’t mean to find fault; but I can tell you this one thing, sir, which I beg you to remember; which is, if you don’t make her happy, you’ll break my heart! For she’s what I love the best in the world, little as I’ve made it appear, by not leaving her a shilling. For which sake, however, I can’t but respect you the more for coming after her, instead of Eugenia.’
‘Sir?’ cried the Major, amazed.
‘The other two chaps,’ continued he, ‘that came about us not long ago, wanted to make their court to Eugenia and Indiana; as well as another that came to the house when I was ill, in the same coat as yourself, by what I can gather from the description; but never a one has come to Camilla yet, except yourself, because my brother can spare her but a trifle, having another young girl to provide for, besides Lionel; which is the most expensive of them all, poor boy! never having enough, by the reason Oxford is so dear, as I suppose.’
The Major now wore an air of surprise and uneasiness that Sir Hugh began to observe, but attributed to his unpleasant reception of his proposals. He begged his pardon, therefore, and again assured him of his respect for a choice so little mercenary, which he looked upon as a mark of a good heart.
The Major, completely staggered, and suspecting the information of Lionel to be ill grounded, if not purposely deluding26, entreated27 his permission to wait upon him again; and offered for the present to take leave.
Sir Hugh, in a melancholy voice, said, he would first summon his niece, as he could not answer it to his conscience preventing the meeting, unless she gave him leave.
He then rang the bell, and told Jacob to call Camilla.
Major Cerwood was excessively distressed28. To retreat seemed impossible; yet to connect himself without fortune, when he thought he was addressing a rich heiress, was a turn of fate he scarcely knew how either to support or to parry. All that, in this haste, he could resolve, was, to let the matter pass for the moment, and then insist upon satisfaction from Lionel, either in clearing up the mistake, or taking upon himself its blame.
When Camilla appeared, the disturbance29 of Sir Hugh still augmented30; and he could hardly articulate, ‘My dear, in the case you are willing to leave your family, here’s a gentleman come to make his addresses to you; which I think it right you should know, though how I shall struggle through it, if I lose you, is more than my poor weak head can tell; for what shall I do without my dear little girl, that I thought to make the best comfort of my old age? which, however, I beg you not to think of, in case this young Captain’s more agreeable.’
‘Ah! my dear uncle!’ cried she, ‘your Camilla can never return half the comfort she receives from you! keep me with you still, and ever! I am much obliged to Major Cerwood. I beg him to accept my sincerest thanks; but to pardon me, when I assure him, they are all I have to offer him.’
Repulse31 was not new to the Major; who, in various country towns, had sought to retrieve32 his affairs by some prudent33 connection; his pride, however, had never so little suffered as on the present occasion, for his apprehension34 of error or imposition had removed from him all thought of even the possibility of a refusal; which, now, therefore, unexpectedly and joyfully35 obviated36 his embarrassment37, and enabled him to quit the field by an honourable retreat. He bowed profoundly, called himself, without knowing what he said, the most unhappy of men; and, without risking one solicitation38, or a moment for repentance39, hastily took leave, with intention, immediately, to demand an explanation of Lionel.
But he had not escaped a mile from the house, ere he gave up that design, from anticipating the ridicule40 that might follow it. To require satisfaction for a young lady’s want of fortune, however reasonable, would always be derided41 as ludicrous. He resolved, therefore, quietly to put up with the rejection42; and to gather his next documents concerning the portion of a fair damsel, from authority better to be relied upon than that of a brother.
Sir Hugh, for some time, discovered not that he had retired43. Enchanted44 by so unexpected a dismission, his favourite scheme of life seemed accorded to him, and he pressed Camilla to his bosom45, in a transport of joy. ‘We shall live together, now, I hope,’ he cried, ‘without any of these young chaps coming in again to part us. Not that I would object to your marrying, my dear girl, if it was with a relation, like Eugenia, or, with a neighbour, like Indiana, if it had not been for its going off; but to see you taken away from me by a mere46 stranger, coming from distant parts, and knowing nothing of any of us, is a thing that makes my heart ache but to think of; so I hope it will happen no more; for these trials do no good to my recovery.’
Turning round, then, with a view to say something consolatory47 to the Major, he was seriously concerned to find him departed. ‘I can’t say,’ he cried, ‘I had any intention to send him off so short, his meaning not being bad, considering him in the light of a person in love; which is a time when a man has not much thought, except for himself, by what I can gather.’
He then proposed a walk, to watch if Clermont were coming. The wind, he acknowledged, was indeed contrary; but, he did not doubt, upon such a particular occasion, his good lad would not mind such difficulties.
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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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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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calamitous
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| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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revocation
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| n.废止，撤回 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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deluding
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的现在分词 ) | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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obviated
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| v.避免，消除（贫困、不方便等）( obviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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41
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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43
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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44
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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45
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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consolatory
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| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
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