The door of the house stood wide. The afternoon radiance gilded1 the emerald veil of willows2, shot back in fire from the unshuttered windows, rifled the last syringas of their inmost fragrance4. Vance, even through his perturbation, felt again the spell of the old house. That door had first admitted him into the illimitable windings5 of the Past; and as he approached the magic threshold compunction and anger vanished.
“Oh, Vance!” he heard Miss Spear exclaim. He caught in her rich voice a mingling6 of reproach and apology — yes, apology. She was atoning7 already — for what? — but she was also challenging. “I knew you’d come.” She put her hand on his arm with her light coercive touch. “Our cousin Mr. Tom Lorburn is here — he arrived unexpectedly on Sunday to see the Willows. It’s years and years since he’s been here . . . .”
“A surprise visit,” came a voice, an old cracked fluty voice, querulous and distinguished8, from the drawing room. “And I WAS surprised. . . . But perhaps you’ll bring the young man in here, Halo. . . . Whatever you have to say to him may as well be said in my presence, since I am here . . .”
The little tirade9 ended almost in a wail10, as the speaker, drooping12 in the doorway13, looked down on Vance from the vantage of his narrow shoulders and lean brown throat. Vance looked up, returning the gaze. He had hardly ever seen anyone as tall as Mr. Lorburn, and no one, ever, as plaintively14 and unhappily handsome. A chronic15 distress16 was written on the narrow beautiful face condescending17 to his, with its perfectly18 arched nose, and the sensitive lips under a carefully trimmed white moustache; and the distress was repeated in the droop11 of Mr. Lorburn’s shoulders under their easily fitting homespun, in the hollowing of his chest, and the clutch of his long expressive19 brown hand (so like Mrs. Spear’s) on the bamboo stick which supported him.
“Since unhappily I AM here,” Mr. Lorburn repeated.
Miss Spear met this with a little laugh. “Oh, Cousin Tom — why unhappily? After all, since you’ve come, it was just as well you should arrive when we were all napping.”
Mr. Lorburn bent20 his grieved eyes upon her. “Just as well?”
“That you should know the worst.”
“Ah, THAT we never know, my child; there’s always something worse behind the worst . . . .” Mr. Lorburn, shaking his head, turned back slowly through the drawing room. “There’s my health, to begin with, which no one but myself ever appears to think of. A shock of this kind, in this heat . . .”
“Well, here’s Vance Weston, who has come, as I knew he would, to clear things up.”
Mr. Lorburn considered Vance again in the light of this fresh introduction. “I should be glad if he could do that,” he said.
“Then,” said Miss Spear briskly, “let’s begin by transporting ourselves to the scene of the crime, as they say in the French law reports.”
She slipped her arm in Mr. Lorburn’s, and led him through the two drawing rooms, his long wavering stride steadied by her firm tread. Vance followed, wondering.
In the library the shutters21 were open, and the western sun streamed in on the scene of disorder22 which Vance had left so lightheartedly three days before. He wondered at his own callousness23. In the glare of the summer light the room looked devastated24, dishonoured25; and the long grave face of Miss Elinor Lorburn, with its chalky highlights on brow and lappets, seemed to appeal to her cousin and heir for redress26. “See how they have profaned27 my solitude28 — that, at least, my family always respected!”
Mr. Lorburn let himself down by cautious degrees into the Gothic armchair. “At least,” he echoed, as if answering the look, “if I never came here, I gave strict orders that nothing should be touched . . . that everything should remain absolutely as she left it.”
The words were dreadful to Vance. His eyes followed Mr. Lorburn’s about the room, resting on the books pitched down on chairs and tables, on the gaping29 spaces of the shelves, and the lines of volumes which had collapsed30 for lack of support. Then he looked at the cigarette ashes which Lorry Spear had scattered31 irreverently on the velvet32 table cover, and his gaze turned back to Mr. Lorburn’s scandalized countenance33. He felt too crushed to speak. But Miss Spear spoke34 for him:
“Now, Cousin Tom, that all sounds very pretty; but just consider what would have happened if we’d obeyed you literally35. The place would have been a foot deep in dust. Everything in it would have been ruined; and if the house hadn’t been regularly aired your precious books would have been covered with green mould. So what’s the use — ”
Vance lifted his head eagerly, reassured36 by her voice. “The books did need cleaning,” he said. “But I was wrong not to put them back after I’d wiped them, the way you told me to. Fact is, I’d never had a chance at real books before, and I got reading, and forgot everything . . . .” He looked at Miss Spear. “I’m sorry,” he said.
Mr. Lorburn, leaning on his stick, emitted a faint groan37. “The young man, as he says himself, appears to have forgotten everything — even to return the books he has taken from here.”
Again Mrs. Tracy’s accusation38! Vance turned his eyes on Miss Spear; but to his bewilderment her eloquence39 seemed to fail her. She met his glance, but only for a moment; then hers was averted40. At last she said in a low voice: “I’m sure he’ll tell you the books are at Mrs. Tracy’s . . . that he took them away to finish reading something that interested him . . . without realising their value . . . .”
“I’m waiting to hear what he has to tell me,” Mr. Lorburn rejoined. “But I must remind you, Halo, that, according to your own statement, Mrs. Tracy has looked everywhere for the books, and been forced to the conclusion — as you were — that when the young man disappeared from her house he took them with him. Perhaps he will now say if he has been obliging enough to bring them back.”
Mr. Lorburn revolved41 his small head on his long thin neck and fixed42 his eyes on Vance.
Vance felt the muscles of his face contracting. His lips were so stiff that he could hardly move them. These people were suggesting that he had taken away books from the Willows — valuable books! This Mr. Lorburn, apparently43, was almost accusing him of having stolen them! What else could he mean by the phrase “When he disappeared from Mrs. Tracy’s he took them with him”? Vance felt as defenceless as a little boy against whom a schoolmate had trumped44 up a lying charge; in his first bewilderment he did not know what to say, or what tone to take. Then his anger rushed to his lips.
“What’s this about taking books away and disappearing? I never disappeared. I went with Upton to a ball game.” He felt himself redden at the memory. “I never took a single book away from here, not one.”
Miss Spear interrupted eagerly: “I told you so, Cousin Tom . . . I was sure . . . .”
Mr. Lorburn leaned more heavily on his stick. “Where are they then?” Her head drooped45, and she turned from him with an appealing gesture. “Vance? — ”
“What books?” Vance asked again.
Mr. Lorburn drew himself to his feet and began to move across the room with shaking sideway steps, his stick pointed46 first at one shelf, then at another. As he did so he reeled off a succession of long titles, all too unfamiliar47 to Vance for his ear to hold them. He heard “rare Americana,” and did not know if it were the name of a book or a reference to some literary category he had never met with. At last he said: “I never even heard of the names of any of those books. Why on earth should I have taken them?”
“Never heard of them?” Mr. Lorburn spluttered. “Then some accomplished48 bibliophile49 must have given you a list.” He looked pale and gasping50, like a fish agonizing51 for water. “Oh, my heart — I should never have let myself to be drawn52 into this.” Sitting down again, he closed his lids and leaned his head against the knobby carving53 of the armchair.
Vance was alarmed by his appearance; but he noticed that it did not affect Miss Spear. She continued to fix her anxious gaze upon himself. “Just try to remember exactly what happened.” She spoke as if reassuring54 a child. Her voice was too kind, too compassionate55; his own caught in his throat, and he felt the tears swelling56.
“Of course I didn’t take any books,” he repeated. “And I didn’t disappear — I went with Upton . . . .”
“Of course,” she said. “But the books are gone. There’s the point. Very valuable ones, unluckily.”
(“The most valuable,” Mr. Lorburn interjected, his eyes still closed.)
“Think, Vance; when you left last Saturday night, didn’t you forget to shut this window?” She pointed to the window near which she stood.
The definiteness of the question cleared Vance’s mind.
“No, I didn’t. I fastened all the shutters and windows before I left.”
She paused, and he saw a look of uncertainty57 in her face. “Think again, please. On Sunday morning this one was found open, and the shutter3 had been unhooked from the inside. Someone must have got in after you left, and taken the books, for they’re really gone. We’ve hunted everywhere.”
Vance repeated: “I fastened all the shutters; I’m sure I did. And I locked the front door.” He stopped, and then remembered that when he left the house Lorburn Spear had been with him. “Ask your brother; I guess he’ll remember.”
As he spoke, there came back to him the sensation he had experienced as he waited in the dusk of the hall for Lorry Spear, who had gone back to the library to find his cigarette case. He had been a long time finding it, and while Vance waited he had heard that mysterious sound somewhere in the distance: a sound like a window opening or a shutter swinging loose. He had thought of Laura Lou’s childish fears, smiled them away, and nevertheless turned back to see . . . .
“My brother? Yes, I know he was with you,” Miss Spear said, almost irritably58. Her face looked expressionless, cold. “He says it was you who attended to closing the house.”
“Well, doesn’t he say I closed everything?”
“He says he doesn’t remember.” She paused, and then began, in a hasty authoritative59 tone: “Someone must have broken in. Someone has taken the books. Try to remember what happened when you were leaving — try again, Vance,” she urged, more gently.
Mr. Lorburn still sat with closed eyes, and the gasping fishlike expression. He murmured again: “I ought not to have let myself be drawn into this — ” and then was silent.
Vance looked resolutely60 at Miss Spear. Her eyes wavered, as if trying to escape from him; then they bathed him in a fluid caress61. The caress poured over him, enveloping62, persuading. The words were on his lips: “But after we left the library your brother went back to it alone — while he was there I heard a window opened . . . or thought I did . . . .” THOUGHT YOU DID? But only THOUGHT, her smile whispered back, silencing him. How can you suggest (it said) . . . and anyhow, what use would it be? Don’t you see that I can’t let you touch my brother? Vance felt himself subdued63 and mastered. . . . He couldn’t hurt her . . . he couldn’t. He had the sense of being shut in with her in a hidden circle of understanding and connivance64.
“Of course a burglar broke in somehow and stole the books,” he heard her begin again with renewed energy. “Come, Cousin Tom; why should we stay any longer? It’s just upsetting you. . . . This is a job for the police.”
She held out her hand to Vance. “I’m sorry — but I had to ask you to come.”
He said of course she had to . . . he understood; but the only thing he really understood was that she had bound him fast in a net of unspoken pledges. As they reached the door she turned back. “We’ll see you again soon — at Eaglewood? Promise . . . .”
But he had given her his last promise. “I don’t know. I’m going to New York. . . . Maybe I’ll have to go back home . . . .”
Mr. Lorburn had descended65 the steps and was walking unsteadily along the drive. Miss Spear looked at Vance. “Yes, go,” she said quickly, “but come back someday.” Her face was sunned over with relief; for a moment she reminded him of the girl of the mountaintop. “Don’t forget me,” she said, and pressed his hand. She unlocked the gate and sprang into the car after Mr. Lorburn. Vance watched them drive away. Then he walked slowly down the lane without once looking back at the old house. He felt sick at heart, diminished and ashamed, as he had at Crampton the day he had seen his grandfather prowling by the river.
收听单词发音 |
1
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
willows
|
|
| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
shutter
|
|
| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
windings
|
|
| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
mingling
|
|
| adj.混合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
atoning
|
|
| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的现在分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tirade
|
|
| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
droop
|
|
| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
drooping
|
|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
plaintively
|
|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
chronic
|
|
| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
condescending
|
|
| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
expressive
|
|
| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
callousness
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
devastated
|
|
| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
dishonoured
|
|
| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
redress
|
|
| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
profaned
|
|
| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
collapsed
|
|
| adj.倒塌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
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： |
|
|
|
|
35
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
reassured
|
|
| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
accusation
|
|
| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
averted
|
|
| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
revolved
|
|
| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
trumped
|
|
| v.（牌戏）出王牌赢（一牌或一墩）( trump的过去分词 )；吹号公告，吹号庆祝；吹喇叭；捏造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
unfamiliar
|
|
| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
bibliophile
|
|
| n.爱书者；藏书家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
agonizing
|
|
| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
carving
|
|
| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
reassuring
|
|
| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
compassionate
|
|
| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
irritably
|
|
| ad.易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
authoritative
|
|
| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
resolutely
|
|
| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
enveloping
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
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： |
|
|
|
|
64
connivance
|
|
| n.纵容；默许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |