Ashby Park was certainly a very delightful1 residence. The mansion2 was stately without, commodious3 and elegant within; the park was spacious4 and beautiful, chiefly on account of its magnificent old trees, its stately herds5 of deer, its broad sheet of water, and the ancient woods that stretched beyond it: for there was no broken ground to give variety to the landscape, and but very little of that undulating swell6 which adds so greatly to the charm of park scenery. And so, this was the place Rosalie Murray had so longed to call her own, that she must have a share of it, on whatever terms it might be offered--whatever price was to be paid for the title of mistress, and whoever was to be her partner in the honour and bliss7 of such a possession! Well I am not disposed to censure8 her now.
She received me very kindly9; and, though I was a poor clergyman's daughter, a governess, and a schoolmistress, she welcomed me with unaffected pleasure to her home; and--what surprised me rather-- took some pains to make my visit agreeable. I could see, it is true, that she expected me to be greatly struck with the magnificence that surrounded her; and, I confess, I was rather annoyed at her evident efforts to reassure11 me, and prevent me from being overwhelmed by so much grandeur--too much awed12 at the idea of encountering her husband and mother-in-law, or too much ashamed of my own humble13 appearance. I was not ashamed of it at all; for, though plain, I had taken good care not to shabby or mean, and should have been pretty considerably14 at my ease, if my condescending15 hostess had not taken such manifest pains to make me so; and, as for the magnificence that surrounded her, nothing that met my eyes struck me or affected10 me half so much as her own altered appearance. Whether from the influence of fashionable dissipation, or some other evil, a space of little more than twelve months had had the effect that might be expected from as many years, in reducing the plumpness of her form, the freshness of her complexion16, the vivacity17 of her movements, and the exuberance18 of her spirits.
I wished to know if she was unhappy; but I felt it was not my province to inquire: I might endeavour to win her confidence; but, if she chose to conceal19 her matrimonial cares from me, I would trouble her with no obtrusive20 questions. I, therefore, at first, confined myself to a few general inquiries21 about her health and welfare, and a few commendations on the beauty of the park, and of the little girl that should have been a boy: a small delicate infant of seven or eight weeks old, whom its mother seemed to regard with no remarkable22 degree of interest or affection, though full as much as I expected her to show.
Shortly after my arrival, she commissioned her maid to conduct me to my room and see that I had everything I wanted; it was a small, unpretending, but sufficiently23 comfortable apartment. When I descended24 thence--having divested25 myself of all travelling encumbrances26, and arranged my toilet with due consideration for the feelings of my lady hostess, she conducted me herself to the room I was to occupy when I chose to be alone, or when she was engaged with visitors, or obliged to be with her mother-in-law, or otherwise prevented, as she said, from enjoying the pleasure of my society. It was a quiet, tidy little sitting-room27; and I was not sorry to be provided with such a harbour of refuge.
'And some time,' said she, 'I will show you the library: I never examined its shelves, but, I daresay, it is full of wise books; and you may go and burrow28 among them whenever you please. And now you shall have some tea--it will soon be dinner-time, but I thought, as you were accustomed to dine at one, you would perhaps like better to have a cup of tea about this time, and to dine when we lunch: and then, you know, you can have your tea in this room, and that will save you from having to dine with Lady Ashby and Sir Thomas: which would be rather awkward--at least, not awkward, but rather-- a--you know what I mean. I thought you mightn't like it so well-- especially as we may have other ladies and gentlemen to dine with us occasionally.'
'Certainly,' said I, 'I would much rather have it as you say, and, if you have no objection, I should prefer having all my meals in this room.'
'Why so?'
'Because, I imagine, it would be more agreeable to Lady Ashby and Sir Thomas.'
'Nothing of the kind.'
'At any rate it would be more agreeable to me.'
She made some faint objections, but soon conceded; and I could see that the proposal was a considerable relief to her.
'Now, come into the drawing-room,' said she. 'There's the dressing29 bell; but I won't go yet: it's no use dressing when there's no one to see you; and I want to have a little discourse30.'
The drawing-room was certainly an imposing31 apartment, and very elegantly furnished; but I saw its young mistress glance towards me as we entered, as if to notice how I was impressed by the spectacle, and accordingly I determined32 to preserve an aspect of stony33 indifference34, as if I saw nothing at all remarkable. But this was only for a moment: immediately conscience whispered, 'Why should I disappoint her to save my pride? No--rather let me sacrifice my pride to give her a little innocent gratification.' And I honestly looked round, and told her it was a noble room, and very tastefully furnished. She said little, but I saw she was pleased.
She showed me her fat French poodle, that lay curled up on a silk cushion, and the two fine Italian paintings: which, however, she would not give me time to examine, but, saying I must look at them some other day, insisted upon my admiring the little jewelled watch she had purchased in Geneva; and then she took me round the room to point out sundry35 articles of vertu she had brought from Italy: an elegant little timepiece, and several busts36, small graceful37 figures, and vases, all beautifully carved in white marble. She spoke38 of these with animation39, and heard my admiring comments with a smile of pleasure: that soon, however, vanished, and was followed by a melancholy40 sigh; as if in consideration of the insufficiency of all such baubles41 to the happiness of the human heart, and their woeful inability to supply its insatiate demands.
Then, stretching herself upon a couch, she motioned me to a capacious easy-chair that stood opposite--not before the fire, but before a wide open window; for it was summer, be it remembered; a sweet, warm evening in the latter half of June. I sat for a moment in silence, enjoying the still, pure air, and the delightful prospect42 of the park that lay before me, rich in verdure and foliage43, and basking44 in yellow sunshine, relieved by the long shadows of declining day. But I must take advantage of this pause: I had inquiries to make, and, like the substance of a lady's postscript45, the most important must come last. So I began with asking after Mr. and Mrs. Murray, and Miss Matilda and the young gentlemen.
I was told that papa had the gout, which made him very ferocious46; and that he would not give up his choice wines, and his substantial dinners and suppers, and had quarrelled with his physician, because the latter had dared to say that no medicine could cure him while he lived so freely; that mamma and the rest were well. Matilda was still wild and reckless, but she had got a fashionable governess, and was considerably improved in her manners, and soon to be introduced to the world; and John and Charles (now at home for the holidays) were, by all accounts, 'fine, bold, unruly, mischievous47 boys.'
'And how are the other people getting on?' said I--'the Greens, for instance?'
'Ah! Mr. Green is heart-broken, you know,' replied she, with a languid smile: 'he hasn't got over his disappointment yet, and never will, I suppose. He's doomed48 to be an old bachelor; and his sisters are doing their best to get married.'
'And the Melthams?'
'Oh, they're jogging on as usual, I suppose: but I know very little about any of them--except Harry,' said she, blushing slightly, and smiling again. 'I saw a great deal of him while we were in London; for, as soon as he heard we were there, he came up under pretence49 of visiting his brother, and either followed me, like a shadow, wherever I went, or met me, like a reflection, at every turn. You needn't look so shocked, Miss Grey; I was very discreet50, I assure you, but, you know, one can't help being admired. Poor fellow! He was not my only worshipper; though he was certainly the most conspicuous51, and, I think, the most devoted52 among them all. And that detestable--ahem--and Sir Thomas chose to take offence at him--or my profuse53 expenditure54, or something--I don't exactly know what--and hurried me down to the country at a moment's notice; where I'm to play the hermit55, I suppose, for life.'
And she bit her lip, and frowned vindictively56 upon the fair domain57 she had once so coveted58 to call her own.
'And Mr. Hatfield,' said I, 'what is become of him?'
Again she brightened up, and answered gaily--'Oh! he made up to an elderly spinster, and married her, not long since; weighing her heavy purse against her faded charms, and expecting to find that solace59 in gold which was denied him in love--ha, ha!'
'Well, and I think that's all--except Mr. Weston: what is he doing?'
'I don't know, I'm sure. He's gone from Horton.'
'How long since? and where is he gone to?'
'I know nothing about him,' replied she, yawning--'except that he went about a month ago--I never asked where' (I would have asked whether it was to a living or merely another curacy, but thought it better not); 'and the people made a great rout61 about his leaving,' continued she, 'much to Mr. Hatfield's displeasure; for Hatfield didn't like him, because he had too much influence with the common people, and because he was not sufficiently tractable62 and submissive to him--and for some other unpardonable sins, I don't know what. But now I positively63 must go and dress: the second bell will ring directly, and if I come to dinner in this guise64, I shall never hear the end of it from Lady Ashby. It's a strange thing one can't be mistress in one's own house! Just ring the bell, and I'll send for my maid, and tell them to get you some tea. Only think of that intolerable woman--'
'Who--your maid?'
'No;--my mother-in-law--and my unfortunate mistake! Instead of letting her take herself off to some other house, as she offered to do when I married, I was fool enough to ask her to live here still, and direct the affairs of the house for me; because, in the first place, I hoped we should spend the greater part of the year, in town, and in the second place, being so young and inexperienced, I was frightened at the idea of having a houseful of servants to manage, and dinners to order, and parties to entertain, and all the rest of it, and I thought she might assist me with her experience; never dreaming she would prove a usurper65, a tyrant66, an incubus67, a spy, and everything else that's detestable. I wish she was dead!'
She then turned to give her orders to the footman, who had been standing68 bolt upright within the door for the last half minute, and had heard the latter part of her animadversions; and, of course, made his own reflections upon them, notwithstanding the inflexible69, wooden countenance70 he thought proper to preserve in the drawing- room. On my remarking afterwards that he must have heard her, she replied--'Oh, no matter! I never care about the footmen; they're mere60 automatons71: it's nothing to them what their superiors say or do; they won't dare to repeat it; and as to what they think--if they presume to think at all--of course, nobody cares for that. It would be a pretty thing indeed, it we were to be tongue-tied by our servants!'
So saying, she ran off to make her hasty toilet, leaving me to pilot my way back to my sitting-room, where, in due time, I was served with a cup of tea. After that, I sat musing72 on Lady Ashby's past and present condition; and on what little information I had obtained respecting Mr. Weston, and the small chance there was of ever seeing or hearing anything more of him throughout my quiet, drab-colour life: which, henceforth, seemed to offer no alternative between positive rainy days, and days of dull grey clouds without downfall. At length, however, I began to weary of my thoughts, and to wish I knew where to find the library my hostess had spoken of; and to wonder whether I was to remain there doing nothing till bed-time.
As I was not rich enough to possess a watch, I could not tell how time was passing, except by observing the slowly lengthening73 shadows from the window; which presented a side view, including a corner of the park, a clump74 of trees whose topmost branches had been colonized75 by an innumerable company of noisy rooks, and a high wall with a massive wooden gate: no doubt communicating with the stable-yard, as a broad carriage-road swept up to it from the park. The shadow of this wall soon took posession of the whole of the ground as far as I could see, forcing the golden sunlight to retreat inch by inch, and at last take refuge in the very tops of the trees. Ere long, even they were left in shadow--the shadow of the distant hills, or of the earth itself; and, in sympathy for the busy citizens of the rookery, I regretted to see their habitation, so lately bathed in glorious light, reduced to the sombre, work-a- day hue76 of the lower world, or of my own world within. For a moment, such birds as soared above the rest might still receive the lustre77 on their wings, which imparted to their sable78 plumage the hue and brilliance79 of deep red gold; at last, that too departed. Twilight80 came stealing on; the rooks became more quiet; I became more weary, and wished I were going home to-morrow. At length it grew dark; and I was thinking of ringing for a candle, and betaking myself to bed, when my hostess appeared, with many apologies for having neglected me so long, and laying all the blame upon that 'nasty old woman,' as she called her mother-in-law.
'If I didn't sit with her in the drawing-room while Sir Thomas is taking his wine,' said she, 'she would never forgive me; and then, if I leave the room the instant he comes--as I have done once or twice--it is an unpardonable offence against her dear Thomas. SHE never showed such disrespect to HER husband: and as for affection, wives never think of that now-a-days, she supposes: but things were different in HER time--as if there was any good to be done by staying in the room, when he does nothing but grumble81 and scold when he's in a bad humour, talk disgusting nonsense when he's in a good one, and go to sleep on the sofa when he's too stupid for either; which is most frequently the case now, when he has nothing to do but to sot over his wine.'
'But could you not try to occupy his mind with something better; and engage him to give up such habits? I'm sure you have powers of persuasion82, and qualifications for amusing a gentleman, which many ladies would be glad to possess.'
'And so you think I would lay myself out for his amusement! No: that's not MY idea of a wife. It's the husband's part to please the wife, not hers to please him; and if he isn't satisfied with her as she is--and thankful to possess her too--he isn't worthy83 of her, that's all. And as for persuasion, I assure you I shan't trouble myself with that: I've enough to do to bear with him as he is, without attempting to work a reform. But I'm sorry I left you so long alone, Miss Grey. How have you passed the time?'
'Chiefly in watching the rooks.'
'Mercy, how dull you must have been! I really must show you the library; and you must ring for everything you want, just as you would in an inn, and make yourself comfortable. I have selfish reasons for wishing to make you happy, because I want you to stay with me, and not fulfil your horrid84 threat of running away in a day or two.'
'Well, don't let me keep you out of the drawing-room any longer to- night, for at present I am tired and wish to go to bed.'
收听单词发音 |
1
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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obtrusive
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| adj.显眼的；冒失的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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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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encumbrances
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| n.负担( encumbrance的名词复数 )；累赘；妨碍；阻碍 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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busts
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| 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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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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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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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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baubles
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| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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basking
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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67
incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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68
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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69
inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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70
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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71
automatons
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| n.自动机，机器人( automaton的名词复数 ) | |
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72
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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73
lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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74
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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75
colonized
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| 开拓殖民地，移民于殖民地( colonize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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77
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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78
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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79
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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80
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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81
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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82
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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83
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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84
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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