Could truth have descended6 from heaven ever to be distorted, to be corrupted7, misapprehended, misunderstood? Impossible! Such a belief would confound and contradict all the attributes of the All-wise and the All-mighty8. There must be truth on earth now as fresh and complete is it was at Bethlehem. And how could it be preserved but by the influence of the Paraclete acting9 on an ordained10 class? On this head his tutor at Oxford11 had fortified12 him; by a conviction of the Apostolical succession of the English bishops13, which no Act of Parliament could alter or affect. But Lothair was haunted by a feeling that the relations of his Communion with the Blessed Virgin14 were not satisfactory. They could not content either his heart or his intellect. Was it becoming that a Christian15 should live as regards the hallowed Mother of his God in a condition of harsh estrangement16? What mediatorial influence more awfully17 appropriate than the consecrated18 agent of the mighty mystery? Nor could he, even in his early days, accept without a scruple19 the frigid20 system that would class the holy actors in the divine drama of the Redemption as mere21 units in the categories of vanished generations. Human beings who had been in personal relation with the Godhead must be different from other human beings. There must be some transcendent quality in their lives and careers, in their very organization, which marks them out from all secular22 heroes. What was Alexander the Great, or even Caius Julius, compared with that apostle whom Jesus loved?
Restless and disquieted23, Lothair paced the long and lofty rooms which had been secured for him in a London hotel which rivalled the colossal24 convenience of Paris and the American cities. Their tawdry ornaments25 and their terrible new furniture would not do after the galleries and portraits of Vauxe. Lothair sighed.
Why did that visit ever end? Why did the world consist of any thing else but Tudor palaces in ferny parks, or time be other than a perpetual Holy Week? He never sighed at Vauxe. Why? He supposed it was because their religion was his life, and here—and he looked around him with a shudder26. The cardinal27 was right: it was a most happy thing for him to be living so much with so truly a religious family.
The door opened, and servants came in bearing a large and magnificent portfolio28. It was of morocco and of prelatial purple with broad bands of gold and alternate ornaments of a cross and a coronet. A servant handed to Lothair a letter, which enclosed the key that opened its lock. The portfolio contained the plans and drawings of the cathedral.
Lothair was lost in admiration29 of these designs and their execution. But after the first fever of investigation30 was over, he required sympathy and also information. In a truly religious family there would always be a Father Coleman or a Monsignore Catesby to guide and to instruct. But a Protestant, if he wants aid or advice on any matter, can only go to his solicitor31. But as he proceeded in his researches he sensibly felt that the business was one above even an oratorian32 or a monsignore. It required a finer and a more intimate sympathy; a taste at the same time more inspired and more inspiring; some one who blended with divine convictions the graceful33 energy of human feeling, and who would not only animate34 him to effort but fascinate him to its fulfilment. The counsellor he required was Miss Arundel.
Lothair had quitted Vauxe one week, and it seemed to him a year. During the first four-and-twenty hours he felt like a child who had returned to school, and, the day after, like a man on a desert island. Various other forms of misery35 and misfortune were suggested by his succeeding experience. Town brought no distractions36 to him; he knew very few people, and these be had not yet encountered; he had once ventured to White’s, but found only a group of gray-beaded men, who evidently did not know him, and who seemed to scan him with cynical37 nonchalance38. These were not the golden youth whom he had been assured by Bertram would greet him; so, after reading a newspaper for a moment upside downward, he got away. But he had no harbor of refuge, and was obliged to ride down to Richmond and dine alone, and meditate39 on symbols and celestial adumbrations. Every day he felt how inferior was this existence to that of a life in a truly religious family.
But, of all the members of the family to which his memory recurred40 with such unflagging interest, none more frequently engaged his thoughts than Miss Arundel. Her conversation, which stimulated41 his intelligence while it rather piqued42 his self-love, exercised a great influence over him, and he had omitted no opportunity of enjoying her society. That society and its animating43 power he sadly missed; and now that he had before him the very drawings about which they had frequently talked, and she was not by his side to suggest and sympathize and criticism and praise, he felt unusually depressed44.
Lothair corresponded with Lady St. Jerome, and was aware of her intended movements. But the return the family to London had been somewhat delayed. When this disappointment was first made known to him, his impulse was to ride down to Vauxe; but the tact45 in which he was not deficient46 assured him that he ought not to reappear on a stage where he had already figured for perhaps too considerable a time, and so another week had to be passed, softened47, however, by visits from the father of the oratory48 and the chamberlain of his holiness, who came to look after Lothair with much friendliness49, and with whom it was consolatory50 and even delightful51 for him to converse52 on sacred art, still holier things, and also Miss Arundel.
At length, though it seemed impossible, this second week elapsed, and tomorrow Lothair was to lunch with Lady St. Jerome in St. James’s Square, and to meet all his friends. He thought of it all day, and he passed a restless night. He took an early canter to rally his energies, and his fancy was active in the splendor53 of the spring. The chestnuts54 were in silver bloom, and the pink May had flushed the thorns, and banks of sloping turf were radiant with plots of gorgeous flowers. The waters glittered in the sun, and the air was fragrant55 with that spell which only can be found in metropolitan56 mignonette. It was the hour and the season when heroic youth comes to great decisions, achieves exploits, or perpetrates scrapes.
Nothing could be more cordial, nothing more winning, than the reception of Lothair by Lady St. Jerome. She did not conceal57 her joy at their being again together. Even Miss Arundel, though still calm, even a little demure58, seemed glad to see him: her eyes looked kind and pleased, and she gave him her hand with graceful heartiness59. It was the sacred hour of two when Lothair arrived, and they were summoned to luncheon60 almost immediately. Then they were not alone; Lord St. Jerome was not there, but the priests were present and some others. Lothair, however, sat next to Miss Arundel.
“I have been thinking of you very often since I left Vauxe,” said Lothair to his neighbor.
“Charitably, I am sure.”
“I have been thinking of you every day,” he continued, “for I wanted your advice.”
“Ah! but that is not a popular thing to give.”
“But it is precious—at least, yours is to me—and I want it now very much.”
“Father Coleman told me you had got the plans for the cathedral,” said Miss Arundel.
“And I want to show them to you.”
“I fear I am only a critic,” said Miss Arundel, “and I do not admire mere critics. I was very free in my comments to you on several subjects at Vauxe; and I must now say I thought you bore it very kindly61.”
“I was enchanted,” said Lothair, “and desire nothing but to be ever subject to such remarks. But this affair of the cathedral, it is your own thought—I would fain hope your own wish, for unless it were your own wish I do not think I ever should be able to accomplish it.”
“And when the cathedral is built,” said Miss Arundel “what then?”
“Do you not remember telling me at Vauxe that all sacred buildings should be respected, for that in the long-run they generally fell to the professors of the true faith?”
“But when they built St. Peter’s, they dedicated62 it to a saint in heaven,” said Miss Arundel. “To whom is yours to be inscribed63?”
“To a saint in heaven and in earth,” said Lothair, blushing; “to St. Clare.”
But Lady St. Jerome and her guests rose at this moment, and it is impossible to say with precision whether this last remark of Lothair absolutely reached the ear of Miss Arundel. She looked as if it had not. The priests and the other guests dispersed64. Lothair accompanied the ladies to the drawing-room; he lingered, and he was meditating65 if the occasion served to say more.
Lady St. Jerome was writing a note, Mss Arundel was arranging some work, Lothair was affecting an interest in her employment in order that he might be seated by her and ask her questions, when the groom66 of the chambers67 entered and inquired whether her ladyship was at home, and being answered in the affirmative, retired68, and announced and ushered69 in the duchess and Lady Corisande.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
symbolical
|
|
| a.象征性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
adumbration
|
|
| n.预示，预兆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
5
celestial
|
|
| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
corrupted
|
|
| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
ordained
|
|
| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
Oxford
|
|
| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fortified
|
|
| adj. 加强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
bishops
|
|
| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
estrangement
|
|
| n.疏远，失和，不和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
consecrated
|
|
| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
scruple
|
|
| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
frigid
|
|
| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
secular
|
|
| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
disquieted
|
|
| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
ornaments
|
|
| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
cardinal
|
|
| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
portfolio
|
|
| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
solicitor
|
|
| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
Oratorian
|
|
| n.奥拉托利会会友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
33
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
animate
|
|
| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
distractions
|
|
| n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
cynical
|
|
| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
nonchalance
|
|
| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
meditate
|
|
| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
recurred
|
|
| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
stimulated
|
|
| a.刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
piqued
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
animating
|
|
| v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
deficient
|
|
| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
oratory
|
|
| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
consolatory
|
|
| adj.慰问的，可藉慰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
converse
|
|
| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
chestnuts
|
|
| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
metropolitan
|
|
| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
demure
|
|
| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
heartiness
|
|
| 诚实，热心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
dedicated
|
|
| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
inscribed
|
|
| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
meditating
|
|
| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
groom
|
|
| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |