Zenobia was the queen of London, of fashion, and of the Tory party. When she was not holding high festivals, or attending them, she was always at home to her intimates, and as she deigned1 but rarely to honour the assemblies of others with her presence, she was generally at her evening post to receive the initiated2. To be her invited guest under such circumstances proved at once that you had entered the highest circle of the social Paradise.
Zenobia was leaning back on a brilliant sofa, supported by many cushions, and a great personage, grey-headed and blue-ribboned, who was permitted to share the honours of the high place, was hanging on her animated3 and inspiring accents. An ambassador, in an armed chair which he had placed somewhat before her, while he listened with apparent devotion to the oracle4, now and then interposed a remark, polished and occasionally cynical5. More remote, some dames6 of high degree were surrounded by a chosen band of rank and fashion and celebrity7; and now and then was heard a silver laugh, and now and then was breathed a gentle sigh. Servants glided8 about the suite9 of summer chambers10, occasionally with sherbets and ices, and sometimes a lady entered and saluted11 Zenobia, and then retreated to the general group, and sometimes a gentleman entered, and pressed the hand of Zenobia to his lips, and then vanished into air.
“What I want you to see,” said Zenobia, “is that reaction is the law of life, and that we are on the eve of a great reaction. Since Lord Castlereagh’s death we have had five years of revolution—nothing but change, and every change has been disastrous12. Abroad we are in league with all the conspirators13 of the Continent, and if there were a general war we should not have an ally; at home our trade, I am told, is quite ruined, and we are deluged14 with foreign articles; while, thanks to Mr. Huskisson, the country banks, which enabled Mr. Pitt to carry on the war and saved England, are all broken. There was one thing, of which I thought we should always be proud, and that was our laws and their administration; but now our most sacred enactments15 are questioned, and people are told to call out for the reform of our courts of judicature, which used to be the glory of the land. This cannot last. I see, indeed, many signs of national disgust; people would have borne a great deal from poor Lord Liverpool—for they knew he was a good man, though I always thought a weak one; but when it was found that his boasted Liberalism only meant letting the Whigs into office—who, if they had always been in office, would have made us the slaves of Bonaparte—their eyes were opened. Depend upon it, the reaction has commenced.”
“We shall have some trouble with France,” said the ambassador, “unless there is a change here.”
“The Church is weary of the present men,” said the great personage. “No one really knows what they are after.”
“And how can the country be governed without the Church?” exclaimed Zenobia. “If the country once thinks the Church is in danger, the affair will soon be finished. The King ought to be told what is going on.”
“Nothing is going on,” said the ambassador; “but everybody is afraid of something.”
“The King’s friends should impress upon him never to lose sight of the landed interest,” said the great personage.
“How can any government go on without the support of the Church and the land?” exclaimed Zenobia. “It is quite unnatural16.”
“That is the mystery,” remarked the ambassador. “Here is a government, supported by none of the influences hitherto deemed indispensable, and yet it exists.”
“The newspapers support it,” said the great personage, “and the Dissenters17, who are trying to bring themselves into notice, and who are said to have some influence in the northern counties, and the Whigs, who are in a hole, are willing to seize the hand of the ministry18 to help them out of it; and then there is always a number of people who will support any government—and so the thing works.”
“They have got a new name for this hybrid19 sentiment,” said the ambassador. “They call it public opinion.”
“How very absurd!” said Zenobia; “a mere20 nickname. As if there could be any opinion but that of the Sovereign and the two Houses of Parliament.”
“They are trying to introduce here the continental21 Liberalism,” said the great personage. “Now we know what Liberalism means on the continent. It means the abolition22 of property and religion. Those ideas would not suit this country; and I often puzzle myself to foresee how they will attempt to apply Liberal opinions here.”
“I shall always think,” said Zenobia, “that Lord Liverpool went much too far, though I never said so in his time; for I always uphold my friends.”
“Well, we shall see what Canning will do about the Test and Corporation Acts,” said the great personage. “I understand they mean to push him.”
“By the by, how is he really?” said the ambassador. “What are the accounts this afternoon?”
“Here is a gentleman who will tell us,” said Zenobia, as Mr. Ferrars entered and saluted her.
“And what is your news from Chiswick?” she inquired.
“They say at Brookes’, that he will be at Downing Street on Monday.”
“I doubt it,” said Zenobia, but with an expression of disappointment.
Zenobia invited Mr. Ferrars to join her immediate23 circle. The great personage and the ambassador were confidentially24 affable to one whom Zenobia so distinguished25. Their conversation was in hushed tones, as become the initiated. Even Zenobia seemed subdued26, and listened; and to listen, among her many talents, was perhaps her rarest. Mr. Ferrars was one of her favourites, and Zenobia liked young men who she thought would become Ministers of State.
An Hungarian Princess who had quitted the opera early that she might look in at Zenobia’s was now announced. The arrival of this great lady made a stir. Zenobia embraced her, and the great personage with affectionate homage27 yielded to her instantly the place of honour, and then soon retreated to the laughing voices in the distance that had already more than once attracted and charmed his ear.
“Mind; I see you tomorrow,” said Zenobia to Mr. Ferrars as he also withdrew. “I shall have something to tell you.”
收听单词发音 |
1
deigned
|
|
| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
initiated
|
|
| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
oracle
|
|
| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
cynical
|
|
| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dames
|
|
| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
celebrity
|
|
| n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
suite
|
|
| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
disastrous
|
|
| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
conspirators
|
|
| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
deluged
|
|
| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
enactments
|
|
| n.演出( enactment的名词复数 )；展现；规定；通过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
dissenters
|
|
| n.持异议者，持不同意见者( dissenter的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
ministry
|
|
| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
hybrid
|
|
| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
continental
|
|
| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
abolition
|
|
| n.废除，取消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
confidentially
|
|
| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |