PART TWO DECEMBER 23RD

PART TWO DECEMBER 23RD

Tressilian went to answer the doorbell. It had been an unusually aggressive peal¹, and now, before

he could make his slow way across the hall, it pealed² out again.

Tressilian flushed. An ill-mannered, impatient way of ringing the bell at a gentleman’s house!

If it was a fresh lot of those carol singers he’d give them a piece of his mind.

Through the frosted glass of the upper half of the door he saw a silhouette—a big man in a

slouch hat. He opened the door. As he had thought—a cheap, flashy stranger—nasty pattern of suit

he was wearing—loud! Some impudent³ begging fellow!

“Blessed if it isn’t Tressilian,” said the stranger. “How are you, Tressilian?”

Tressilian stared—took a deep breath—stared again. That bold arrogant⁴ jaw⁵, the high-bridged

nose, the rollicking eye. Yes, they had all been there three years ago. More subdued⁶ then. . . .

He said with a gasp⁷:

“Mr. Harry⁸!”

Harry Lee laughed.

“Looks as though I’d given you quite a shock. Why? I’m expected, aren’t I?”

“Yes, indeed, sir. Certainly, sir.”

“Then why the surprise act?” Harry stepped back a foot or two and looked up at the house—a

good solid mass of red brick, unimaginative but solid.

“Just the same ugly old mansion,” he remarked. “Still standing⁹, though, that’s the main thing.

How’s my father, Tressilian?”

“He’s somewhat of an invalid¹⁰, sir. Keeps his room, and can’t get about much. But he’s

wonderfully well, considering.”

“The old sinner!”

Harry Lee came inside, let Tressilian remove his scarf and take the somewhat theatrical¹¹ hat.

“How’s my dear brother Alfred, Tressilian?”

“He’s very well, sir.”

Harry grinned.

“Looking forward to seeing me? Eh?”

“I expect so, sir.”

“I don’t! Quite the contrary. I bet it’s given him a nasty jolt¹², my turning up! Alfred and I

never did get on. Ever read your Bible, Tressilian?”

“Why, yes, sir, sometimes, sir.”

“Remember the tale of the prodigal’s return? The good brother didn’t like it, remember?

Didn’t like it at all! Good old stay-at-home Alfred doesn’t like it either, I bet.”

Tressilian remained silent looking down his nose. His stiffened¹³ back expressed protest. Harry

clapped him on the shoulder.

“Lead on, old son,” he said. “The fatted calf¹⁴ awaits me! Lead me right to it.”

Tressilian murmured:

“If you will come this way into the drawing room, sir. I am not quite sure where everyone is

. . . They were unable to send to meet you, sir, not knowing the time of your arrival.”

Harry nodded. He followed Tressilian along the hall, turning his head to look about him as he

went.

“All the old exhibits in their place, I see,” he remarked. “I don’t believe anything has changed

since I went away twenty years ago.”

He followed Tressilian into the drawing room. The old man murmured:

“I will see if I can find Mr. or Mrs. Alfred,” and hurried out.

Harry Lee had marched into the room and had then stopped, staring at the figure who was

seated on one of the windowsills. His eyes roamed incredulously over the black hair and the

creamy exotic pallor.

“Good Lord!” he said. “Are you my father’s seventh and most beautiful wife?”

Pilar slipped down and came towards him.

“I am Pilar Estravados,” she announced. “And you must be my Uncle Harry, my mother’s

brother.”

Harry said, staring:

“So that’s who you are! Jenny’s daughter.”

Pilar said: “Why did you ask me if I was your father’s seventh wife? Has he really had six

wives?”

Harry laughed.

“No, I believe he’s only had one official one. Well—Pil—what’s your name?”

“Pilar, yes.”

“Well, Pilar, it really gives me quite a turn to see something like you blooming in this

mausoleum.”

“This—maus—please?”

“This museum of stuffed dummies¹⁵! I always thought this house was lousy! Now I see it again

I think it’s lousier than ever!”

Pilar said in a shocked voice:

“Oh, no, it is very handsome here! The furniture is good and the carpets—thick carpets

everywhere—and there are lots of ornaments¹⁶. Everything is very good quality and very, very

rich!”

“You’re right there,” said Harry, grinning. He looked at her with amusement. “You know, I

can’t help getting a kick out of seeing you in the midst—”

He broke off as Lydia came rapidly into the room.

She came straight to him.

“How d’you do, Harry? I’m Lydia—Alfred’s wife.”

“How de do, Lydia.” He shook hands, examining her intelligent mobile face in a swift glance

and approving mentally of the way she walked—very few women moved well.

Lydia in her turn took quick stock of him.

She thought: “He looks a frightful¹⁷ tough—attractive though. I wouldn’t trust him an inch.

. . .”

She said smiling:

“How does it look after all these years? Quite different, or very much the same?”

“Pretty much the same.” He looked round him. “This room’s been done over.”

“Oh, many times.”

He said:

“I meant by you. You’ve made it—different.”

“Yes, I expect so. . . .”

He grinned at her, a sudden impish grin that reminded her with a start of the old man upstairs.

“It’s got more class about it now! I remember hearing that old Alfred had married a girl

whose people came over with the Conqueror¹⁸.”

Lydia smiled. She said:

“I believe they did. But they’ve rather run to seed since those days.”

Harry said:

“How’s old Alfred? Just the same blessed old stick-in-the-mud as ever?”

“I’ve no idea whether you will find him changed or not.”

“How are the others? Scattered¹⁹ all over England?”

“No—they’re all here for Christmas, you know.”

Harry’s eyes opened.

“Regular Christmas family reunion? What’s the matter with the old man? He used not to give

a damn for sentiment. Don’t remember his caring much for his family, either. He must have

changed!”

“Perhaps.” Lydia’s voice was dry.

Pilar was staring, her big eyes wide and interested.

Harry said:

“How’s old George? Still the same skinflint? How he used to howl if he had to part with a

halfpenny of his pocket money!”

Lydia said:

“George is in Parliament. He’s member for Westeringham.”

“What? Popeye in Parliament? Lord, that’s good.”

Harry threw back his head and laughed.

It was rich stentorian²⁰ laughter—it sounded uncontrolled and brutal²¹ in the confined space of

the room. Pilar drew in her breath with a gasp. Lydia flinched²² a little.

Then, at a movement behind him, Harry broke off his laugh and turned sharply. He had not

heard anyone coming in, but Alfred was standing there quietly. He was looking at Harry with an

odd expression on his face.

Harry stood a minute, then a slow smile crept to his lips. He advanced a step.

“Why,” he said, “it’s Alfred!”

Alfred nodded.

“Hallo, Harry,” he said.

They stood staring at each other. Lydia caught her breath. She thought:

“How absurd! Like two dogs—looking at each other. . . .”

Pilar’s gaze widened even further. She thought to herself:

“How silly they look standing there . . . Why do they not embrace? No, of course the English

do not do that. But they might say something. Why do they just look?”

Harry said at last:

“Well, well. Feels funny to be here again!”

“I expect so—yes. A good many years since you—got out.”

Harry threw up his head. He drew his finger along the line of his jaw. It was a gesture that

was habitual²³ with him. It expressed belligerence²⁴.

“Yes,” he said. “I’m glad I have come”—he paused to bring out the word with greater

significance—“home. . . .”

1 peal   

n.钟声；v.鸣响

参考例句：

• The bells of the cathedral rang out their loud peal.大教堂响起了响亮的钟声。
• A sudden peal of thunder leaves no time to cover the ears.迅雷不及掩耳。

2 pealed   

v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bells pealed (out) over the countryside. 钟声响彻郊野。 来自辞典例句
• A gun shot suddenly pealed forth and shot its flames into the air. 突然一声炮响，一道火光升上天空。 来自辞典例句

3 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

4 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

5 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

6 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：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

7 gasp   

n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说

参考例句：

• She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
• The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。

8 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

11 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

12 jolt   

v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸

参考例句：

• We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.我们担心稍微颠簸一下就可能会使她的伤势恶化。
• They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.他们拼命地干着，担心余震可能会使房子再次受到震动。

13 stiffened   

加强的

参考例句：

• He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去，这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
• She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。

14 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

15 dummies   

n.仿制品( dummy的名词复数 )；橡皮奶头；笨蛋；假传球

参考例句：

• If he dummies up, just try a little persuasion. 如果他不说话，稍微劝劝他就是了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All the articles in the window are dummies. 橱窗里的全部物品都是仿制品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 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：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

18 conqueror   

n.征服者，胜利者

参考例句：

• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
• They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。

19 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

20 stentorian   

adj.大声的，响亮的

参考例句：

• Now all joined in solemn stentorian accord.现在，在这庄严的响彻云霄的和声中大家都联合在一起了。
• The stentorian tones of auctioneer,calling out to clear,now announced that the sale to commence.拍卖人用洪亮的声音招呼大家闪开一点，然后宣布拍卖即将开始。

21 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

22 flinched   

v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He flinched at the sight of the blood. 他一见到血就往后退。
• This tough Corsican never flinched or failed. 这个刚毅的科西嘉人从来没有任何畏缩或沮丧。 来自辞典例句

23 habitual   

adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的

参考例句：

• He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
• They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。

24 belligerence   

n.交战，好战性，斗争性

参考例句：

• He could be accused of passion,but never belligerence.可以说他很冲动，但不能说他爱挑事。
• He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago.他故态复萌，几乎又像一年前那样咄咄逼人了。