In Which Mr. Temple and His Daughter, with Their New Friend, Make an Unexpected Excursion.
ONE delicious morning, remarkable1 even in the south, Lord Montfort called upon them in his carriage, and proposed a little excursion. Mr. Temple looked at his daughter, and was charmed that Henrietta consented. She rose from her seat, indeed, with unwonted animation2, and the three friends had soon quitted the city and entered its agreeable environs.
‘It was wise to pass the winter in Italy,’ said Lord Montfort, ‘but to see Tuscany in perfection I should choose the autumn. I know nothing more picturesque3 than the carts laden4 with grapes, and drawn5 by milk-white steers6.’
They drove gaily7 along at the foot of green hills, crowned ever and anon by a convent or a beautiful stone-pine. The landscape attracted the admiration8 of Miss Temple. A palladian villa9 rose from the bosom10 of a gentle elevation11, crowned with these picturesque trees. A broad terrace of marble extended in front of the villa, on which were ranged orange trees. On either side spread an olive-grove. The sky was without a cloud, and deeply blue; bright beams of the sun illuminated12 the building. The road had wound so curiously13 into this last branch of the Apennines, that the party found themselves in a circus of hills, clothed with Spanish chestnuts14 and olive trees, from which there was apparently15 no outlet16. A soft breeze, which it was evident had passed over the wild flowers of the mountains, refreshed and charmed their senses.
‘Could you believe we were only two hours’ drive from a city?’ said Lord Montfort.
‘Indeed,’ said Henrietta, ‘if there be peace in this world, one would think that the dweller17 in that beautiful villa enjoyed it.’
‘He has little to disturb him,’ said Lord Montfort: ‘thanks to his destiny and his temper.’
‘I believe we make our miseries,’ said Henrietta, with a sigh. ‘After all, nature always offers us consolation18. But who lives here?’
‘I sometimes steal to this spot,’ replied his lordship.
‘Oh! this, then, is your villa? Ah! you have surprised us!’
‘I only aimed to amuse you.’
‘You are very kind, Lord Montfort,’ said Mr. Temple; ‘and we owe you much.’
They stopped, they ascended19 the terrace, they entered the villa. A few rooms only were furnished, but their appearance indicated the taste and pursuits of its occupier. Busts20 and books were scattered22 about; a table was covered with the implements23 of art; and the principal apartment opened into an English garden.
‘This is one of my native tastes,’ said Lord Montfort, ‘that will, I think, never desert me.’
The memory of Henrietta was recalled to the flowers of Ducie and of Armine. Amid all the sweets and sunshine she looked sad. She walked away from her companions; she seated herself on the terrace; her eyes were suffused24 with tears. Lord Montfort took the arm of Mr. Temple, and led him away to a bust21 of Germanicus.
‘Let me show it to Henrietta,’ said Mr. Temple; ‘I must fetch her.’
Lord Montfort laid his hand gently on his companion. The emotion of Henrietta had not escaped his quick eye.
‘Miss Temple has made a great exertion,’ he said. ‘Do not think me pedantic25, but I am something of a physician. I have long perceived that, although Miss Temple should be amused, she must sometimes be left alone.’
Mr. Temple looked at his companion, but the countenance26 of Lord Montfort was inscrutable. His lordship offered him a medal and then opened a portfolio27 of Marc Antonios.
‘These are very rare,’ said Lord Montfort; ‘I bring them into the country with me, for really at Rome there is no time to study them. By-the-bye, I have a plan,’ continued his lordship, in a somewhat hesitating tone; ‘I wish I could induce you and Miss Temple to visit me at Rome.’
Mr. Temple shrugged28 his shoulders, and sighed.
‘I feel confident that a residence at Rome would benefit Miss Temple,’ said his lordship, in a voice a little less calm than usual. ‘There is much to see, and I would take care that she should see it in a manner which would not exhaust her. It is the most delightful29 climate, too, at this period. The sun shines here today, but the air of these hills at this season is sometimes treacherous30. A calm life, with a variety of objects, is what she requires. Pisa is calm, but for her it is too dull. Believe me, there is something in the blended refinement31 and interest of Rome that she would find exceedingly beneficial. She would see no one but ourselves; society shall be at her command if she desire it.’
‘My dear lord,’ said Mr. Temple, ‘I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your considerate sympathy; but I cannot flatter myself that Henrietta could avail herself of your really friendly offer. My daughter is a great invalid32. She———’
But here Miss Temple joined them.
‘We have a relic33 of a delicate temple here,’ said Lord Montfort, directing her gaze to another window. ‘You see it now to advantage; the columns glitter in the sun. There, perhaps, was worshipped some wood-nymph, or some river-god.’
The first classic ruin that she had yet beheld34 attracted the attention of Miss Temple. It was not far, and she acceded35 to the proposition of Lord Montfort to visit it. That little ramble36 was delightful. The novelty and the beauty of the object greatly interested her. It was charming also to view it under the auspices37 of a guide so full of information and feeling.
‘Ah!’ said Lord Montfort, ‘if I might only be your cicerone at Rome!’
‘What say you, Henrietta?’ said Mr. Temple, with a smile. ‘Shall we go to Rome?’
The proposition did not alarm Miss Temple as much as her father anticipated. Lord Montfort pressed the suggestion with delicacy38; he hinted at some expedients39 by which the journey might be rendered not very laborious40. But as she did not reply, his lordship did not press the subject; sufficiently41 pleased, perhaps, that she had not met it with an immediate42 and decided43 negative.
When they returned to the villa they found a collation44 prepared for them worthy45 of so elegant an abode46. In his capacity of a host, Lord Montfort departed a little from that placid47 and even constrained48 demeanour which generally characterised him. His manner was gay and flowing; and he poured out a goblet49 of Monte Pulciano and presented it to Miss Temple.
‘You must pour a libation,’ he said, ‘to the nymph of the fane.’
1 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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2 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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3 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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4 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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5 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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6 steers | |
n.阉公牛,肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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7 gaily | |
adv.欢乐地,高兴地 | |
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8 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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9 villa | |
n.别墅,城郊小屋 | |
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10 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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11 elevation | |
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
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12 illuminated | |
adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
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13 curiously | |
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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14 chestnuts | |
n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 );栗色;栗树;栗色马 | |
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15 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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16 outlet | |
n.出口/路;销路;批发商店;通风口;发泄 | |
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17 dweller | |
n.居住者,住客 | |
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18 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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19 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20 busts | |
半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 ); 妇女的胸部; 胸围; 突击搜捕 | |
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21 bust | |
vt.打破;vi.爆裂;n.半身像;胸部 | |
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22 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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23 implements | |
n.工具( implement的名词复数 );家具;手段;[法律]履行(契约等)v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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24 suffused | |
v.(指颜色、水气等)弥漫于,布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25 pedantic | |
adj.卖弄学问的;迂腐的 | |
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26 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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27 portfolio | |
n.公事包;文件夹;大臣及部长职位 | |
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28 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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29 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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30 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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31 refinement | |
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼 | |
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32 invalid | |
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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33 relic | |
n.神圣的遗物,遗迹,纪念物 | |
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34 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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35 acceded | |
v.(正式)加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 );答应;(通过财产的添附而)增加;开始任职 | |
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36 ramble | |
v.漫步,漫谈,漫游;n.漫步,闲谈,蔓延 | |
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37 auspices | |
n.资助,赞助 | |
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38 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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39 expedients | |
n.应急有效的,权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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40 laborious | |
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅 | |
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41 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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42 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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43 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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44 collation | |
n.便餐;整理 | |
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45 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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46 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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47 placid | |
adj.安静的,平和的 | |
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48 constrained | |
adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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49 goblet | |
n.高脚酒杯 | |
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