’Tis Fingall himself.”
If our readers are desirous to know how this personage, respecting whose identity there seem to exist so many contradictory1 opinions, obtained entrance to this gay circle, and the envied hand of Lady Julia L.; nay2, how it was that so many people actually believed him to be Lord Fitz-Ullin; we must lead them back, about half an hour, to when, and[134] where, we left the sisters with Lord L., near the door of the first reception-room.
Mammas told Lord L. that he ought to have allowed their girls a chance, before he thus cruelly merged3 all that had been bright in the hemisphere of fashion in the dazzling lustre4 of stars so pre-eminent. The young ladies themselves thought, that had they had as beautiful dresses on, they should have looked just as well. The downright old gentlemen congratulated his Lordship, with sincere cordiality, on the charms of his daughters. Those who still had twinkling eyes, and merry souls, wished themselves twenty years younger, and envied the present generation. The middle-aged5 dandies addressed well-turned compliments to the ladies themselves; and the coxcomical young ones endeavoured[135] to look quite irresistible6, as they made their bows in silence.
At length, “Lord Fitz-Ullin!—Lord Fitz-Ullin!” was thundered in the hall, echoed, from servant to servant, on each landing of the stairs, and finally repeated at the door of the reception room. The reports of his Lordship’s intended marriage broken off at the altar, and of his having shot himself for love, were fresh in the minds of all; so that the idea of beholding7 him, appeared to create a pretty general sensation; and, at the sound of his announcement, every head turned round. Yet, when he did actually enter, Julia was not even aware of the circumstance. She had looked towards the door, her heart trembling with the expectation of seeing Edmund enter with him. And she had seen Edmund enter; but with whom she had been too much agitated9 to notice. The[136] appearance of our hero had shocked her. It was that of one who had received a stunning10 blow! All expression of feature was deadened,—all animation11 of air and carriage gone! He advanced with eyes scarcely raised. If Julia’s ideas had been thrown into a state of confusion on his first entrance, what was her astonishment12, when her father, presenting our hero, said, “Julia, my dear, this is Lord Fitz-Ullin! Lord Fitz-Ullin, Lady Julia L., Lady Frances L.”
It was now Lord L.’s turn to be surprised. He saw both his daughters extend a hand at the same moment, while the gentleman he was in the act of presenting, took a hand of each, and, though with a pale and quivering lip, pronounced the names, Julia, Frances, divested13 of title.
All this had occupied but a second or two,[137] during which Lord L. had exclaimed, “My introduction has been superfluous14 here, I perceive!”
“Why, papa,” cried Frances, “this is Edmund!”
Julia attempted to speak, but failed. Lord L. looked his amazement15, which was too great for utterance16.
“It is very true, my Lord,” said our hero, raising his eyes, and making a wretched attempt to smile; “I am both Montgomery and Fitz-Ullin! and, in that double character,” he added, in a tone of more feeling, “owe a double debt of gratitude17 and affection to Lord L., and to—to all his family,” he attempted to say, but voice failed him. Here, notwithstanding Lord L.’s aversion to a scene, something very like one, unavoidably took place; at the commencement of which, however, his[138] Lordship had the presence of mind, to hurry the party, for a few moments, just within the doorway18 of a small refreshment19 room, which stood invitingly20 open at but the distance of a pace or two, and which was as yet unoccupied. Here Edmund hastily gave recitals21, of some very unexpected discoveries, which the supposed Lord Fitz-Ullin’s intended marriage had brought to light, and which had proved our hero to be the only legitimate22 son and rightful heir of the deceased Earl. The noble conduct of the individual who was the sole sufferer, had, he explained, placed him at once in quiet possession of all his rights. In answer to Lord L.’s surprise that a clearer statement of facts had not appeared in the papers, he mentioned, that the editors had been silenced, for the present, from delicacy23 to the feelings of some of the parties. He seemed shocked[139] when Frances assured him, that his letter to her grandmamma, had been completely a riddle24.
He thought, he said, that it had explained all that the papers had left unexplained. But, he confessed that he had had much to agitate8 and confuse his mind just at the time; and that he did not, therefore, know exactly what he had written; his object, however, in writing, he said, had been to mark the respect due to his revered25 benefactress, by giving her the earliest intimation of the wonderful change in his circumstances.
Edmund confessed that he would have turned back, and postponed26 this agitating27 interview till the next day, had he not got out of the carriage and ascended28 the stairs in total abstraction of mind, and literally29 without once looking about him till he had entered the first reception room, when it was too late to retreat.[140] Explanations ended, Lord L., as the party returned to the company, said, with assumed carelessness:—
“It is full time, I should think, for the dancing to commence. You had better take Julia out,” he added, lowering his voice, and addressing our hero, “you know how to prevail in that quarter, I dare say!”
Edmund, (whom we must in future call Fitz-Ullin,) instead of colouring became paler than before, and, without speaking, offered his arm to Julia. She took it with a sensation of panic. The strangeness of his present manner, agreed but too well with that letter, but for which, and this manner, how happy had the wonderful discoveries of this evening made her. How happy, even for dear Edmund’s sake, had it been possible not to mingle30 self with the thought.
[141]
As she took his offered arm, she was certain she felt him shudder31; but as her own trembled at the time, she afterwards thought she might have been mistaken.
They walked up the room in silence. Confused, and pained, Julia found that she could not congratulate her companion on his good fortune with the cordial frankness which had else been natural, nor ask half the obvious questions, respecting circumstances so hastily explained, and which had brought about, thus suddenly, a state of things, that altogether appeared to her bewildered apprehension32, more like a dream, than a reality. Oh how delightedly would she have dwelt, she thought, a short time since on such a subject, so full of wonder, and, which ought to be, so full of joy.
But something extraordinary, something more than sorrow in the manner of this incomprehensible[142] being, whom she must now too, call by the new, and not yet endeared name of Fitz-Ullin, seemed to have raised up an insuperable barrier between them. Even the expression of his countenance33, (though still she beheld34 the features of Edmund) was, in all that regarded mind, or indicated feeling, utterly35 changed.
His presence inspired her with an almost superstitious36 awe37! He was so like, and yet so unlike himself, that she traced the resemblance, with feelings not far removed from those with which the identity of a visitant from the grave might be recognised. And strange it is, that such identity should appal38, while it portrays39 what, in life, would have claimed our fondest embrace.
He was indeed evidently miserable40; and that idea, awakened41 every habitual42 feeling of tenderness[143] in Julia’s breast. The thought of, why he was thus unhappy, came next in the train of reflections, and, as it presented itself in the unwelcome form of his love for another, she unconsciously suffered a sigh to be audible.
Fitz-Ullin looked suddenly round; her eyes were bent43 downwards44; and now, for the first time since he entered the room, he permitted his to dwell, for a few seconds, on that perfect loveliness which he had never contemplated45, even in imagination, without a bewildering sense of delight, which rendered the lapse46 of time imperceptible. Julia felt his silent gaze, though she saw it not, and a thrill of pleasure accompanied the consciousness; for which weakness, however, she instantly condemned47 herself.
Thus occupied, our hero and heroine, arrived[144] at the head of the dancing room, forgetful of all present, while the eyes, if not of all, of many, were, as we have seen, fixed48 on them. But where is that radiant joy; where that sunshine of the heart brightening every feature, which might naturally be expected, at this moment, to appear on the countenance of the once humble49 Edmund, feeling himself, as he must now do, in every circumstance the equal of that Julia, whom he had so long thought it presumption50, nay even ingratitude51 to love; yet loved to an excess so uncontroulable, that no power was left of concealing52 his passion, and to fly its object, had become his only resource.
When last he had been her partner in a scene like the present, could some prophetic voice have said, “Within a few short months shall Edmund, whose only home is the deep, have[145] wide domains53 and large possessions, inherited from his forefathers54: Edmund, whose very name is but a borrowed right, have titles and dignities, descending55 through lines of honoured ancestry56, and centring in him: Edmund, who knows not at what unlettered grave to mourn a father’s loss, be found the son of him whose memory has been embalmed57 by a nation’s tears!”
With what feelings had he hailed the wondrous58 prophecy! Yet, at this moment, was all the fairy-tale vision realized, and Edmund, notwithstanding, entered the mazes59 of the joyous60 dance, looking and moving like one, bewildered by the excess of mental suffering.
The laws of the figure constantly severed61 the hand of his partner from his, and as constantly required him to retake it; but, what with anticipating this part of the ceremony at one time, and delaying it at another, he was more than once guilty of actually deranging62 the order of the quadrille.
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1
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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2
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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3
merged
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| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
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4
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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5
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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6
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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7
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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8
agitate
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| vi.(for,against)煽动，鼓动；vt.搅动 | |
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9
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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10
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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12
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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13
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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14
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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15
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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16
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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17
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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18
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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19
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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20
invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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21
recitals
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| n.独唱会( recital的名词复数 )；独奏会；小型音乐会、舞蹈表演会等；一系列事件等的详述 | |
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22
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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23
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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24
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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25
revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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27
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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28
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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30
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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31
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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32
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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33
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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34
beheld
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| 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
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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36
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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37
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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38
appal
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| vt.使胆寒，使惊骇 | |
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39
portrays
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| v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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40
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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41
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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42
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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43
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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44
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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45
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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46
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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47
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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48
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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49
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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50
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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51
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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52
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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53
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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54
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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55
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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56
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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57
embalmed
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| adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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58
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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59
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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60
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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61
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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62
deranging
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| v.疯狂的，神经错乱的( deranged的过去分词 )；混乱的 | |
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