The ordinary aspect of the schoolroom was seen no more.
Installed in a position of temporary authority, the parlour-maid sat silently at her needlework. Maria stood by the window, in the new character of an idle girl — with her handkerchief in her hand, and her everlasting1 book dropped unnoticed on the floor. Zo lay flat on her back, on the hearth-rug, hugging the dog in her arms. At intervals3, she rolled herself over slowly from side to side, and stared at the ceiling with wondering eyes. Miss Minerva’s departure had struck the parlour-maid dumb, and had demoralized the pupils.
Maria broke the silence at last. “I wonder where Carmina is?” she said.
“In her room, most likely,” the parlour-maid suggested.
“Had I better go and see after her?”
The cautious parlour-maid declined to offer advice. Maria’s well-balanced mind was so completely unhinged, that she looked with languid curiosity at her sister. Zo still stared at the ceiling, and still rolled slowly from one side to the other. The dog on her breast, lulled4 by the regular motion, slept profoundly — not even troubled by a dream of fleas5!
While Maria was still considering what it might be best to do, Carmina entered the room. She looked, as the servant afterwards described it, “like a person who had lost her way.” Maria exhibited the feeling of the schoolroom, by raising her handkerchief in solemn silence to her eyes. Without taking notice of this demonstration6, Carmina approached the parlour-maid, and said, “Did you see Miss Minerva before she went away?”
“I took her message, Miss.”
“What message?”
“The message, saying she wished to see my mistress for a few minutes.”
“Well?”
“Well, Miss, I was told to show the governess into the library. She went down with her bonnet7 on, ready dressed to go out. Before she had been five minutes with my mistress she came out again, and rang the hall-bell, and spoke8 to Joseph. ‘My boxes are packed and directed,’ she says; ‘I will send for them in an hour’s time. Good day, Joseph.’ And she stepped into the street, as quietly as if she was going out shopping round the corner.”
“Have the boxes been sent for?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Carmina lifted her head, and spoke in steadier tones.
“Where have they been taken to?”
“To the flower-shop at the back — to be kept till called for.”
“No other address?”
“None.”
The last faint hope of tracing Frances was at an end. Carmina turned wearily to leave the room. Zo called to her from the hearth-rug. Always kind to the child, she retraced9 her steps. “What is it?” she asked.
Zo got on her legs before she spoke, like a member of parliament. “I’ve been thinking about that governess,” she announced. “Didn’t I once tell you I was going to run away? And wasn’t it because of Her? Hush10! Here’s the part of it I can’t make out — She’s run away from Me. I don’t bear malice11; I’m only glad in myself. No more dirty nails. No more bread and water for tea. That’s all. Good morning.” Zo laid herself down again on the rug; and the dog laid himself down again on Zo.
Carmina returned to her room — to reflect on what she had heard from the parlour-maid.
It was now plain that Mrs. Gallilee had not been allowed the opportunity of dismissing her governess at a moment’s notice: Miss Minerva’s sudden departure was unquestionably due to Miss Minerva herself.
Thus far, Carmina was able to think clearly — and no farther. The confused sense of helpless distress12 which she had felt, after reading the few farewell words that Frances had addressed to her, still oppressed her mind. There were moments when she vaguely13 understood, and bitterly lamented14, the motives15 which had animated16 her unhappy friend. Other moments followed, when she impulsively17 resented the act which had thrown her on her own resources, at the very time when she had most need of the encouragement that could be afforded by the sympathy of a firmer nature than her own. She began to doubt the steadiness of her resolution — without Frances to take leave of her, on the morning of the escape. For the first time, she was now tortured by distrust of Ovid’s reception of her; by dread18 of his possible disapproval19 of her boldness; by morbid20 suspicion even of his taking his mother’s part. Bewildered and reckless, she threw herself on the sofa — her heart embittered21 against Frances — indifferent whether she lived or died.
At dinner-time she sent a message, begging to be excused from appearing at the table. Mrs. Gallilee at once presented herself, harder and colder than ever, to inspect the invalid22. Perceiving no immediate23 necessity for summoning Mr. Null, she said, “Ring, if you want anything,” and left the room.
Mr. Gallilee followed, after an interval2, with a little surreptitious offering of wine (hidden under his coat); and with a selection of tarts24 crammed25 into his pocket.
“Smuggled goods, my dear,” he whispered, “picked up when nobody happened to be looking my way. When we are miserable26 — has the idea ever occurred to you?— it’s a sign from kind Providence27 that we are intended to eat and drink. The sherry’s old, and the pastry28 melts in your mouth. Shall I stay with you? You would rather not? Just my feeling! Remarkable29 similarity in our opinions — don’t you think so yourself? I’m sorry for poor Miss Minerva. Suppose you go to bed?”
Carmina was in no mood to profit by this excellent advice.
She was still walking restlessly up and down her room, when the time came for shutting up the house. With the sound of closing locks and bolts, there was suddenly mingled30 a sharp ring at the bell; followed by another unexpected event. Mr. Gallilee paid her a second visit — in a state of transformation31. His fat face was flushed: he positively32 looked as if he was capable of feeling strong emotion, unconnected with champagne33 and the club! He presented a telegram to Carmina — and, when he spoke, there were thrills of agitation34 in the tones of his piping voice.
“My dear, something very unpleasant has happened. I met Joseph taking this to my wife. Highly improper35, in my opinion,— what do you say yourself?— to take it to Mrs. Gallilee, when it’s addressed to you. It was no mistake; he was so impudent36 as to say he had his orders. I have reproved Joseph.” Mr. Gallilee looked astonished at himself, when he made this latter statement — then relapsed into his customary sweetness of temper. “No bad news?” he asked anxiously, when Carmina opened the telegram.
“Good news! the best of good news!” she answered impetuously.
Mr. Gallilee looked as happy as if the welcome telegram had been addressed to himself. On his way out of the room, he underwent another relapse. The footman’s audacious breach37 of trust began to trouble him once more: this time in its relation to Mrs. Gallilee. The serious part of it was, that the man had acted under his mistress’s orders. Mr. Gallilee said — he actually said, without appealing to anybody —“If this happens again, I shall be obliged to speak to my wife.”
The telegram was from Teresa. It had been despatched from Paris that evening; and the message was thus expressed:
“Too tired to get on to England by to-night’s mail. Shall leave by the early train to-morrow morning, and be with you by six o’clock.”
Carmina’s mind was exactly in the state to feel unmingled relief, at the prospect38 of seeing the dear old friend of her happiest days. She laid her head on the pillow that night, without a thought of what might follow the event of Teresa’s return.
收听单词发音 |
1
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
lulled
|
|
| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fleas
|
|
| n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bonnet
|
|
| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
lamented
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
animated
|
|
| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
disapproval
|
|
| n.反对，不赞成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
morbid
|
|
| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
embittered
|
|
| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
invalid
|
|
| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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
tarts
|
|
| n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 )；轻佻的女人；妓女；小妞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
crammed
|
|
| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
pastry
|
|
| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
transformation
|
|
| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
champagne
|
|
| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
impudent
|
|
| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
breach
|
|
| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |