Are oft the best!”
On entering the breakfast-room, they found that Lady Oswald had by this time joined the party there.
Her ladyship contrived1 by looks, a kind pressure of the hand, and a well-timed whisper, to shew her nephew that she was fully2 prepared to congratulate him on his new found happiness.
Frances had, at length, completed her journey to the bell, and by agitating3 it, had occasioned, though at a later hour than usual, the appearance of a steaming tea-urn, hot rolls, &c. &c. She now began to dispense4 the good[384] things over which she presided, and had just requested Fitz-Ullin to ring the bell for Alice to take her grandmamma’s breakfast, when the door opened, and, supported on one side by our old friend, Mrs. Smyth, and on the other by Julia, Mrs. Montgomery herself appeared. Whether it was the extreme contrast between the figures of the very old and the very young lady, or the amiable5 light in which youth always appears, while rendering6 support to the infirmities of age, or whether Julia might, for any reasons best known to herself, be really looking more blooming or more happy than usual, or whether there was any thing in Fitz-Ullin’s own thoughts which diffused7 a peculiar8 lustre9 over the charms of her he now viewed, almost for the first time as his own, or, whether all these causes operated together; certain it is, he found one moment to think her more lovely, more irresistibly10 attractive than ever, before the bustle11 immediately occasioned by Mrs.[385] Montgomery’s entrance, commenced. It was the first time that lady, so deservedly the object of the love and veneration12 of all, had left her room since she had heard of Henry’s death. Every one rose to meet her—every one hailed her approach with a joyful13 welcome—and even Fitz-Ullin himself, in all the hurry of his spirits, had the presence of mind to remember the great chair in which she usually sat, and to place it for her. He also succeeded in finding the foot-stool, after twice stumbling over it in the course of his researches; and was, at length, amply rewarded by perceiving, at the conclusion of his labours, that the seat next to Julia had, by general consent, been left for him.
Though the breakfast was rather a late one, seldom has there been a meal at which all who sat down to it were so truly happy. Those most interested, indeed, were almost too much so for enjoyment14. The heart scarcely knows[386] how, thus quickly, to appropriate so much new found felicity: at one moment it doubts the reality of the very bliss15 it feels, and the next trembles at being the repository of so great a treasure.
The breakfast was ended, but no one moved; all seemed unwilling16 to break up so happy an assembly. Meanwhile, ungrateful world, the author, or at least the importer of so much joy, was, in the very intensity17 of that joy, totally forgotten, till an exclamation18 from Arthur, of “Oh, how beautiful!” drew pretty general attention towards the small table, on which the restored jewel box still stood open.
“That’s true!” said our heroine: “where is poor Gotterimo? I have not thanked him for his honesty in bringing back these things. I forget, too, where it was he said he found them.”
“Oh, Lady Oswald!” exclaimed Fitz-Ullin, “I forgot to mention it before, but—” and,[387] making two strides into the library, and one back, carrying a pile of parchment, he continued—“Here are the title-deeds of Arthur’s estates.” Lady Oswald was near fainting. Frances was obliged to assist in supporting her.
“Why, Fitz-Ullin! where, in the name of all that is marvellous, did these come from?” said Lord L?, eagerly examining the parchments.
“I had them of the honest fellow who brought back Lady Julia’s diamonds,” answered Fitz-Ullin.
“But where?” “And when?” “And how?” vociferated many voices.
“I met with the poor man this morning,” replied our hero, “tumbled out of a gig on the high road, a few miles from hence. A couple of fellows were about to rob, and, I suppose, murder him—” Here numerous exclamations19 of horror and surprise interrupted the speaker.[388] At length he was permitted to proceed. “The villains20 fled,” he continued, “at the first sound of my carriage-wheels; but, on driving up to the spot, I perceived a person lying on the side of the road, and desired my servants to stop and give any assistance in their power. While they did so, having ascertained21 that the man was not hurt, I leaned from the window, enjoying the freshness of the morning air, and began, I suppose, to think of something else; for I found, in a short time after, that the poor fellow had been throwing away many of his best bows, and repeating frequently, ‘How you do, sir?’ just under me, before I observed him. When I returned his salutation, he said, that he remembered me very well; for that he had seen me at the house of the good family, and that I was the nice Captain who had advised the lady to buy the chain. He then told me a very long story about a sea-chest, and about a box of jewels, that he knew to be the property of Lady Julia L?.”
[389]
“Yes,” interrupted Frances, “for the box is one which Julia happened to employ Gotterimo to purchase for her in town; he could have no doubt, therefore, to whom it belonged.”
“So he said,” rejoined our hero; “and that finding these parchments lying near the box, and with them some letters, one of which, he said, was directed to Lady Julia L?, he thought it most prudent22 to bring all to this house. On glancing at the parchments,” continued Fitz-Ullin, “which, as the little man concluded his recital23, he produced and offered to me, and which bore their titles, in large characters, on their outsides, I perceived immediately their nature and importance; and decided24 on returning to Lodore, for the purpose of assisting Lady Oswald to establish the rights of Arthur, rendered, by the recovery of these documents, indisputable. As for the letters, I should have considered it an unwarrantable liberty in me to have examined even[390] their outsides; I therefore recommended it to Gotterimo to deliver them himself, with the box, into Lady Julia’s own hands. This arrangement made, I returned as quickly as possible, and—”
“And, on your arrival,” interrupted Lady Oswald, who was now a little recovered, “forgot the very existence of Lady Oswald, title-deeds, pedlar and all! This account of the transaction, oh learned judges, wants that consistency25 which is characteristic of the simple truth,” added her ladyship, much amused.
Fitz-Ullin, who was saying something aside to Julia, coloured, laughed, and replied, “I read the deeds over very attentively26, I assure you, ma’am, in the library, on my first getting out of the carriage, before I came into the breakfast-room.”
“Oh then, it was in the breakfast-room you happened to forget me and my parchments,” said Lady Oswald, with a significant look.
[391]
“What have we got here?” exclaimed Lord L?, examining a packet of the parchments, which proved to be distinct from the rest, though contained within the same outer envelope of grey linen27, “why, here are the title-deeds of the Craigs!”
“Indeed! indeed!” cried various voices.
Gotterimo was now called for. “He was very useful in the recovery of the pictures and plate,” observed Lord L?. “By the bye, Fitz-Ullin,” he added, turning to our hero, “did you ever hear us mention that daring robbery at the Craigs?”
“Oh, yes,” replied our hero, “I was one of the luncheon28 party there the day it was discovered.” As he concluded, he looked at Julia, who looked again and smiled. What multitudes of thoughts, on both sides, crowded into that moment. “Well,” said Lord L?, “it was chiefly through the means of this Gotterimo, that the things have been recovered.[392] He found out for us the persons to whom the swindler had pawned29 the articles, and though at the expense certainly of some of the savings30 of minority, we have succeeded in getting almost every thing into its place again.”
Gotterimo, who had been sent for, was now ushered31 in. Every one welcomed and thanked him, and commendations of his honourable32 and upright conduct, accompanied by assurances that his services should be handsomely rewarded, were poured upon him on all sides. The little English he possessed33, was banished34 from his memory, bows and blushes were all the replies he could offer. The gentlemen then proceeded to question him respecting the mode of discovering the parchments, letters, &c. He could give little more information than had already been collected. After the particulars, therefore, were all recapitulated35 by him connectedly and at full[393] length, he was dismissed, and commended to the care of Mrs. Smyth, a destination to which he had no objection, for poor Gotterimo had lately begun to have some hopes of rendering himself agreeable in the eyes of Alice Smyth, who was already very agreeable in his eyes.
Lord L? requested Mr. Jackson to adjourn36 with him to the library, for the purpose of examining the packet of letters, which, having been found with the parchments, might possibly throw some light on the late mysterious business. His lordship had also the cruelty to ask Fitz-Ullin to assist them with his judgment37. Our hero had just whispered a request to Julia to take a walk in the shrubbery, and had just received a smile in assent38. What a disappointment!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
agitating
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
dispense
|
|
| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rendering
|
|
| n.表现，描写 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
diffused
|
|
| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
irresistibly
|
|
| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
bustle
|
|
| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
veneration
|
|
| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bliss
|
|
| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
exclamations
|
|
| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
villains
|
|
| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ascertained
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
recital
|
|
| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
consistency
|
|
| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
pawned
|
|
| v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
savings
|
|
| n.存款，储蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
banished
|
|
| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
recapitulated
|
|
| v.总结，扼要重述( recapitulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
adjourn
|
|
| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |