The afternoon of the tennis party was fortunately fine. Lord Whitfield wasin his most genial1 mood, acting2 the part of the host with a good deal of en-joyment. He referred frequently to his humble3 origin. The players wereeight in all. Lord Whitfield, Bridget, Luke, Rose Humbleby, Mr. Abbot, Dr.
Thomas, Major Horton and Hetty Jones, a giggling4 young woman who wasthe daughter of the bank manager.
In the second set of the afternoon, Luke found himself partnering Brid-get against Lord Whitfield and Rose Humbleby. Rose was a good playerwith a strong forehand drive and played in county matches. She atonedfor Lord Whitfield’s failures, and Bridget and Luke, who were neither ofthem particularly strong, made quite an even match of it. They were threegames all, and then Luke found a streak5 of erratic6 brilliance7 and he andBridget forged ahead to five-three.
It was then he observed that Lord Whitfield was losing his temper. Heargued over a line ball, declared a serve to be a fault in spite of Rose’s dis-claimer, and displayed all the attributes of a peevish8 child. It was set point,but Bridget sent an easy shot into the net and immediately after served adouble fault. Deuce. The next ball was returned down the middle line andas he prepared to take it he and his partner collided. Then Bridget servedanother double fault and the game was lost.
Bridget apologized. “Sorry, I’ve gone to pieces.”
It seemed true enough. Bridget’s shots were wild and she seemed to beunable to do anything right. The set ended with Lord Whitfield and hispartner victorious9 at the score of eight-six.
There was a momentary10 discussion as to the composition of the next set.
In the end Rose played again with Mr. Abbot as her partner against Dr.
Thomas and Miss Jones.
Lord Whitfield sat down, wiping his forehead and smiling complacently,his good humour quite restored. He began to talk to Major Horton on thesubject of a series of articles on Fitness for Britain which one of his paperswas starring.
Luke said to Bridget:
“Show me the kitchen garden.”
“Why the kitchen garden?”
“I have a feeling for cabbages.”
“Won’t green peas do?”
“Green peas would be admirable.”
They walked away from the tennis court and came to the walled kitchengarden. It was empty of gardeners this Saturday afternoon and lookedlazy and peaceful in the sunshine.
“Here are your peas,” said Bridget.
Luke paid no attention to the object of the visit. He said:
“Why the hell did you give them the set?”
Bridget’s eyebrows11 went up a fraction.
“I’m sorry. I went to bits. My tennis is erratic.”
“Not so erratic as that! Those double faults of yours wouldn’t deceive achild! And those wild shots—each of them half a mile out!”
Bridget said calmly:
“That’s because I’m such a rotten tennis player. If I were a bit better Icould perhaps have made it a bit more plausible12! But as it is if I try tomake a ball go just out, it’s always on the line and all the good work still todo.”
“Oh, you admit it then?”
“Obvious, my dear Watson.”
“And the reason?”
“Equally obvious, I should have thought. Gordon doesn’t like losing.”
“And what about me? Supposing I like to win?”
“I’m afraid, my dear Luke, that that isn’t equally important.”
“Would you like to make your meaning just a little clearer still?”
“Certainly, if you like. One mustn’t quarrel with one’s bread and butter.
Gordon is my bread and butter. You are not.”
Luke drew a deep breath. Then he exploded.
“What the hell do you mean by marrying that absurd little man? Whyare you doing it?”
“Because as his secretary I get six pounds a week, and as his wife I shallget a hundred thousand settled on me, a jewel case full of pearls and dia-monds, a handsome allowance, and various perquisites13 of the marriedstate!”
“But for somewhat different duties!”
Bridget said coldly:
“Must we have this melodramatic attitude towards every single thing inlife? If you are contemplating14 a pretty picture of Gordon as an uxorioushusband, you can wash it right out! Gordon, as you should have realized,is a small boy who has not quite grown up. What he needs is a mother, nota wife. Unfortunately his mother died when he was four years old. Whathe wants is someone at hand to whom he can brag15, someone who will re-assure him about himself and who is prepared to listen indefinitely toLord Whitfield on the subject of Himself!”
“You’ve got a bitter tongue, haven’t you?”
Bridget retorted sharply:
“I don’t tell myself fairy stories if that’s what you mean! I’m a young wo-man with a certain amount of intelligence, very moderate looks, and nomoney. I intend to earn an honest living. My job as Gordon’s wife will bepractically indistinguishable from my job as Gordon’s secretary. After ayear I doubt if he’ll remember to kiss me good night. The only difference isin the salary.”
They looked at each other. Both of them were pale with anger. Bridgetsaid jeeringly16:
“Go on. You’re rather old-fashioned, aren’t you, Mr. Fitzwilliam? Hadn’tyou better trot17 out the old clichés—say that I’m selling myself for money—that’s always a good one, I think!”
Luke said: “You’re a cold-blooded little devil!”
“That’s better than being a hot-blooded little fool!”
“Is it?”
“Yes. I know.”
Luke sneered18. “What do you know?”
“I know what it is to care about a man! Did you ever meet JohnnieCornish? I was engaged to him for three years. He was adorable—I caredlike hell about him—cared so much that it hurt! Well, he threw me overand married a nice plump widow with a North-Country accent and threechins and an income of thirty thousand a year! That sort of thing rathercures one of romance, don’t you think?”
Luke turned away with a sudden groan19. He said:
“It might.”
“It did….”
There was a pause. The silence lay heavy between them. Bridget brokeit at last. She said, but with a slight uncertainty20 in her tone:
“I hope you realize that you had no earthly right to speak to me as youdid. You’re staying in Gordon’s house and it’s damned bad taste!”
Luke recovered his composure.
“Isn’t that rather a cliché too?” he inquired politely.
Bridget flushed. “It’s true, anyway!”
“It isn’t. I had every right.”
“Nonsense!”
Luke looked at her. His face had a queer pallor, like a man who is suffer-ing physical pain. He said:
“I have a right. I’ve the right of caring for you—what did you say justnow?—of caring so much that it hurts!”
She drew back a step. She said: “You—”
“Yes, funny, isn’t it? The sort of thing that ought to give you a heartylaugh! I came down here to do a job of work and you came round thecorner of that house and—how can I say it—put a spell on me! That’s whatit feels like. You mentioned fairy stories just now. I’m caught up in a fairystory! You’ve bewitched me. I’ve a feeling that if you pointed21 your fingerat me and said: ‘Turn into a frog,’ I’d go hopping22 away with my eyes pop-ping out of my head.”
He took a step nearer to her.
“I love you like hell, Bridget Conway. And, loving you like hell, you can’texpect me to enjoy seeing you get married to a potbellied pompous23 littlepeer who loses his temper when he doesn’t win at tennis.”
“What do you suggest I should do?”
“I suggest that you should marry me instead! But doubtless that sugges-tion will give rise to a lot of merry laughter.”
“The laughter is positively24 uproarious.”
“Exactly. Well, now we know where we are. Shall we return to the ten-nis court? Perhaps this time you will find me a partner who can play towin!”
“Really,” said Bridget sweetly, “I believe you mind losing just as much asGordon does!”
Luke caught her suddenly by the shoulders.
“You’ve got a devilish tongue, haven’t you, Bridget?”
“I’m afraid you don’t like me very much, Luke, however great your pas-sion for me!”
“I don’t think I like you at all.”
Bridget said, watching him:
“You meant to get married and settle down when you came home, didn’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“But not to someone like me?”
“I never thought of anyone in the least like you.”
“No—you wouldn’t—I know your type. I know it exactly.”
“You are so clever, dear Bridget.”
“A really nice girl—thoroughly English—fond of the country and goodwith dogs…You probably visualized25 her in a tweed skirt stirring a log firewith the tip of her shoe.”
“The picture sounds most attractive.”
“I’m sure it does. Shall we return to the tennis court? You can play withRose Humbleby. She’s so good that you’re practically certain to win.”
“Being old-fashioned I must allow you to have the last word.”
Again there was a pause. Then Luke took his hands slowly from hershoulders. They both stood uncertain as though something still unsaidlingered between them.
Then Bridget turned abruptly26 and led the way back. The next set wasjust ending. Rose protested against playing again.
“I’ve played two sets running.”
Bridget, however, insisted.
“I’m feeling tired. I don’t want to play. You and Mr. Fitzwilliam take onMiss Jones and Major Horton.”
But Rose continued to protest and in the end a men’s four was arranged.
Afterwards came tea.
Lord Whitfield conversed27 with Dr. Thomas, describing at length andwith great self-importance a visit he had recently paid to the WellermanKreitz Research Laboratories.
“I wanted to understand the trend of the latest scientific discoveries formyself,” he explained earnestly. “I’m responsible for what my papersprint. I feel that very keenly. This is a scientific age. Science must be madeeasily assimilable by the masses.”
“A little science might possibly be a dangerous thing,” said Dr. Thomaswith a slight shrug28 of his shoulders.
“Science in the home, that’s what we have to aim at,” said Lord Whit-field. “Science minded—”
“Test tube conscious,” said Bridget gravely.
“I was impressed,” said Lord Whitfield. “Wellerman took me round him-self, of course. I begged him to leave me to an underling, but he insisted.”
“Naturally,” said Luke.
Lord Whitfield looked gratified.
“And he explained everything most clearly—the culture—the serum—the whole principle of the thing. He agreed to contribute the first article inthe series himself.”
Mrs. Anstruther murmured:
“They use guinea-pigs, I believe—so cruel—though of course not so badas dogs—or even cats.”
“Fellows who use dogs ought to be shot,” said Major Horton, hoarsely29.
“I really believe, Horton,” said Mr. Abbot, “that you value canine30 lifeabove human life.”
“Every time!” said the major. “Dogs can’t turn round on you like humanbeings can. Never get a nasty word from a dog.”
“Only a nasty tooth stuck into your leg,” said Mr. Abbot. “Eh, Horton?”
“Dogs are a good judge of character,” said Major Horton.
“One of your brutes31 nearly pinned me by the leg last week. What do yousay to that, Horton?”
“Same as I said just now!”
Bridget interposed tactfully:
“What about some more tennis?”
A couple more sets were played. Then, as Rose Humbleby said good-bye,Luke appeared beside her.
“I’ll see you home,” he said. “And carry the tennis bat. You haven’t got acar, have you?”
“No, but it’s no distance.”
“I’d like a walk.”
He said no more, merely taking her racquet and shoes from her. Theywalked down the drive without speaking. Then Rose mentioned one ortwo trivial matters. Luke answered rather shortly but the girl did not seemto notice.
As they turned into the gate of her house, Luke’s face cleared.
“I’m feeling better now,” he said.
“Were you feeling badly before?”
“Nice of you to pretend you didn’t notice it. You’ve exorcised the brute’ssulky temper, though. Funny, I feel as though I’d come out of a dark cloudinto the sun.”
“So you have. There was a cloud over the sun when we left the Manorand now it’s passed over.”
“So it’s literally32 as well as figuratively. Well, well—the world’s a goodplace after all.”
“Of course it is.”
“Miss Humbleby, may I be impertinent?”
“I’m sure you couldn’t be.”
“Oh, don’t be too sure of that. I wanted to say that I think Dr. Thomas isa very lucky man.”
Rose blushed and smiled.
She said: “So you’ve heard?”
“Was it supposed to be a secret? I’m so sorry.”
“Oh! Nothing is a secret in this place,” said Rose ruefully.
“So it is true—you and he are engaged?”
Rose nodded.
“Only—just now—we’re not announcing it officially. You see, daddy wasagainst it and it seems—well—unkind to—to blazon33 it abroad the momenthe’s dead.”
“Your father disapproved34?”
“Well, not disapproved exactly. Oh, I suppose it did amount to that,really.”
Luke said gently:
“He thought you were too young?”
“That’s what he said.”
Luke said acutely: “But you think there was something more than that?”
Rose bent35 her head slowly and reluctantly.
“Yes—I’m afraid what it really amounted to was that daddy didn’t—well,didn’t really like Geoffrey.”
“They were antagonistic36 to each other?”
“It seemed like that sometimes…Of course, daddy was rather a preju-diced old dear.”
“And I suppose he was very fond of you and didn’t like the thought oflosing you?”
Rose assented37 but still with a shade of reservation in her manner.
“It went deeper than that?” asked Luke. “He definitely didn’t wantThomas as a husband for you?”
“No. You see—daddy and Geoffrey are so very unlike—and in someways they clashed. Geoffrey was really very patient and good about it—but knowing daddy didn’t like him made him even more reserved and shyin his manner, so that daddy really never got to know him any better.”
“Prejudices are very hard to combat,” said Luke.
“It was so completely unreasonable38!”
“Your father didn’t advance any reasons?”
“Oh, no. He couldn’t! Naturally, I mean, there wasn’t anything he couldsay against Geoffrey except that he didn’t like him.”
“I do not like thee, Dr. Fell, the reason why I cannot tell.”
“Exactly.”
“No tangible39 thing to get hold of? I mean, your Geoffrey doesn’t drink orback horses?”
“Oh, no. I don’t believe Geoffrey even knows what won the Derby.”
“That’s funny,” said Luke. “You know, I could swear I saw your Dr.
Thomas at Epsom on Derby Day.”
For a moment he was anxious lest he might already have mentionedthat he only arrived in England on that day. But Rose responded at oncequite unsuspiciously.
“You thought you saw Geoffrey at the Derby? Oh, no. He couldn’t getaway, for one thing. He was over at Ashewold nearly all that day at a diffi-cult confinement40 case.”
“What a memory you’ve got!”
Rose laughed.
“I remember that, because he told me they called the baby Jujube as anickname!”
Luke nodded abstractedly.
“Anyway,” said Rose, “Geoffrey never goes to race meetings. He’d bebored to death.”
She added, in a different tone:
“Won’t you—come in? I think mother would like to see you.”
“If you’re sure of that?”
Rose led the way into a room where twilight41 hung rather sadly. A wo-man was sitting in an armchair in a curiously42 huddled43 up position.
“Mother, this is Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
Mrs. Humbleby gave a start and shook hands. Rose went quietly out ofthe room.
“I’m glad to see you, Mr. Fitzwilliam. Some friends of yours knew myhusband many years ago, so Rose tells me.”
“Yes, Mrs. Humbleby.” He rather hated repeating the lie to the widowedwoman, but there was no way out of it.
Mrs. Humbleby said:
“I wish you could have met him. He was a fine man and a great doctor.
He cured many people who had been given up as hopeless just by thestrength of his personality.”
Luke said gently:
“I’ve heard a lot about him since I’ve been here. I know how muchpeople thought of him.”
He could not see Mrs. Humbleby’s face very distinctly. Her voice wasrather monotonous44, but its very lack of feeling seemed to emphasize thefact that actually feeling was in her, strenuously45 held back.
She said rather unexpectedly:
“The world is a very wicked place, Mr. Fitzwilliam. Do you know that?”
Luke was a little surprised.
“Yes, perhaps that may be.”
She insisted:
“No, but do you know it? It’s important that. There’s a lot of wickednessabout…One must be prepared—to fight it! John was. He knew. He was onthe side of the right!”
Luke said gently:
“I’m sure he was.”
“He knew the wickedness there was in this place,” said Mrs. Humbleby.
“He knew—”
She burst suddenly into tears.
Luke murmured:
“I’m so sorry—” and stopped.
She controlled herself as suddenly as she had lost control.
“You must forgive me,” she said. She held out her hand and he took it.
“Do come and see us while you are here,” she said. “It would be so goodfor Rose. She likes you so much.”
“I like her. I think your daughter is the nicest girl I’ve met for a longtime, Mrs. Humbleby.”
“She’s very good to me.”
“Dr. Thomas is a very lucky man.”
“Yes.” Mrs. Humbleby dropped his hand. Her voice had gone flat again.
“I don’t know—it’s all so difficult.”
Luke left her standing46 in the half gloom, her fingers nervously47 twistingand untwisting themselves.
As he walked home his mind went over various aspects of the conversa-tion.
Dr. Thomas had been absent from Wychwood for a good part of DerbyDay. He had been absent in a car. Wychwood was thirty-five miles fromLondon. Supposedly he had been attending a confinement case. Was theremore than his word? The point, he supposed, could be verified. His mindwent on to Mrs. Humbleby.
What had she meant by her insistence48 on that phrase, “There’s a lot ofwickedness about…?”
Was she just nervous and overwrought by the shock of her husband’sdeath? Or was there something more to it than that?
Did she perhaps know something? Something that Dr. Humbleby hadknown before he died?
“I’ve got to go on with this,” said Luke to himself. “I’ve got to go on.”
Resolutely49 he averted50 his mind from the passage of arms that had takenplace between him and Bridget.
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收听单词发音
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1
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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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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giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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12
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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perquisites
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| n.（工资以外的）财务补贴( perquisite的名词复数 )；额外收入；（随职位而得到的）好处；利益 | |
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14
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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15
brag
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| v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的 | |
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jeeringly
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| adv.嘲弄地 | |
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17
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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18
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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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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visualized
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| 直观的，直视的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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blazon
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| n.纹章，装饰；精确描绘；v.广布；宣布 | |
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disapproved
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| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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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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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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48
insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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