Thirty

Thirty
(Anne’s Narrative¹ Resumed)
IAs soon as I got to Kimberlely I wired to Suzanne. She joined me therewith the utmost dispatch, heralding² her arrival with telegrams sent off enroute. I was awfully³ surprised to find that she really was fond of me—Ithought I had been just a new sensation, but she positively⁴ fell on my neckand wept when we met.
When we had recovered from our emotion a little, I sat down on the bedand told her the whole story from A to Z.
“You always did suspect Colonel Race,” she said thoughtfully, when Ihad finished. “I didn’t until the night you disappeared. I liked him so muchall along and thought he would make such a nice husband for you. Oh,Anne, dear, don’t be cross, but how do you know that this young man ofyours is telling the truth? You believe every word he says.”
“Of course I do,” I cried indignantly.
“But what is there in him that attracts you so? I don’t see that there’sanything in him at all except his rather reckless good looks and his mod-ern Sheik-cum-Stone-Age lovemaking.”
I poured out the vials of my wrath⁵ upon Suzanne for some minutes.
“Just because you’re comfortably married and getting fat, you’ve forgot-ten that there’s any such thing as romance,” I ended.
“Oh, I’m not getting fat, Anne. All the worry I’ve had about you latelymust have worn me to a shred⁶.”
“You look particularly well-nourished,” I said coldly. “I should say youmust have put on about half a stone.”
“And I don’t know that I’m so comfortably married either,” continuedSuzanne in a melancholy⁷ voice. “I’ve been having the most dreadful cablesfrom Clarence ordering me to come home at once. At last I didn’t answerthem, and now I haven’t heard for over a fortnight.”
I’m afraid I didn’t take Suzanne’s matrimonial troubles very seriously.
She will be able to get round Clarence all right when the time comes. Iturned the conversation to the subject of the diamonds.
Suzanne looked at me with a dropped jaw⁸.
“I must explain, Anne. You see, as soon as I began to suspect ColonelRace, I was terribly upset about the diamonds. I wanted to stay on at theFalls in case he might have kidnapped you somewhere close by, but didn’tknow what to do about the diamonds. I was afraid to keep them in mypossession—”
Suzanne looked round her uneasily, as though she feared the wallsmight have ears, and then whispered vehemently⁹ in my ear.
“A distinctly good idea,” I approved. “At the time, that is. It’s a bit awk-ward now. What did Sir Eustace do with the cases?”
“The big ones were sent down to Cape¹⁰ Town. I heard from Pagett beforeI left the Falls, and he enclosed the receipt for their storage. He’s leavingCape Town today by the by, to join Sir Eustace in Johannesburg.”
“I see,” I said thoughtfully. “And the small ones, where are they?”
“I suppose Sir Eustace has got them with him.”
I turned the matter over in my mind.
“Well,” I said at last, “it’s awkward—but it’s safe enough. We’d better donothing for the present.”
Suzanne looked at me with a little smile.
“You don’t like doing nothing, do you, Anne?”
“Not very much,” I replied honestly.
The one thing I could do was to get hold of a timetable and see whattime Guy Pagett’s train would pass through Kimberley. I found that itwould arrive at 5:40 on the following afternoon and depart again at 6. Iwanted to see Pagett as soon as possible, and that seemed to me a good op-portunity. The situation on the Rand was getting very serious, and it mightbe a long time before I got another chance.
The only thing that livened up the day was a wire dispatched from Jo-hannesburg. A most innocent-sounding telegram:
“Arrived safely. All going well. Eric here, also Eustace, but not Guy. Re-main where you are for the present. Andy.”
II
Eric was our pseudonym¹¹ for Race. I chose it because it is a name I dis-like exceedingly. There was clearly nothing to be done until I could see Pa-gett. Suzanne employed herself in sending off a long soothing¹² cable to thefar-off Clarence. She became quite sentimental¹³ over him. In her way—which of course is quite different from me and Harry¹⁴—she is really fondof Clarence.
“I do wish he was here, Anne,” she gulped¹⁵. “It’s such a long time sinceI’ve seen him.”
“Have some face cream,” I said soothingly¹⁶.
Suzanne rubbed a little on the tip of her charming nose.
“I shall want some more face cream soon too,” she remarked, “and youcan only get this kind in Paris.” She sighed. “Paris!”
“Suzanne,” I said, “very soon you’ll have had enough of South Africa andadventure.”
“I should like a really nice hat,” admitted Suzanne wistfully. “Shall Icome with you to meet Guy Pagett tomorrow?”
“I prefer to go alone. He’d be shyer speaking before two of us.”
So it came about that I was standing¹⁷ in the doorway¹⁸ of the hotel on thefollowing afternoon, struggling with a recalcitrant¹⁹ parasol that refused togo up, whilst Suzanne lay peacefully on her bed with a book and a basketof fruit.
According to the hotel porter, the train was on its good behaviour todayand would be almost on time, though he was extremely doubtful whetherit would ever get through to Johannesburg. The line had been blown up,so he solemnly assured me. It sounded cheerful!
The train drew in just ten minutes late. Everybody tumbled out on theplatform and began walking up and down feverishly²⁰. I had no difficulty inespying Pagett. I accosted²¹ him eagerly. He gave his usual nervous start atseeing me—somewhat accentuated²² this time.
“Dear me, Miss Beddingfeld, I understood that you had disappeared.”
“I have reappeared again,” I told him solemnly. “And how are you, Mr.
Pagett?”
“Very well, thank you—looking forward to taking up my work againwith Sir Eustace.”
“Mr. Pagett,” I said, “there is something I want to ask you. I hope thatyou won’t be offended, but a lot hangs on it, more than you can possiblyguess. I want to know what you were doing at Marlow on the 8th of Janu-ary last?”
He started violently.
“Really, Miss Beddingfeld—I—indeed—”
“You were there, weren’t you?”
“I—for reasons of my own I was in the neighbourhood, yes.”
“Won’t you tell me what those reasons were?”
“Sir Eustace has not already told you?”
“Sir Eustace? Does he know?”
“I am almost sure that he does. I hoped he had not recognized me, butfrom the hints he has let drop, and his remarks, I fear it is only too certain.
In any case, I meant to make a clean breast of the matter and offer myresignation. He is a peculiar²³ man, Miss Beddingfeld, with an abnormalsense of humour. It seems to amuse him to keep me on tenterhooks²⁴. Allthe time, I dare say, he was perfectly²⁵ well aware of the true facts. Possiblyhe has known them for years.”
I hoped that sooner or later I should be able to understand what Pagettwas talking about. He went on fluently:
“It is difficult for a man of Sir Eustace’s standing to put himself in my po-sition. I know that I was in the wrong, but it seemed a harmless deception²⁶.
I would have thought it better taste on his part to have tackled me outright—instead of indulging in covert²⁷ jokes at my expense.”
A whistle blew, and the people began to surge back into the train.
“Yes, Mr. Pagett,” I broke in, “I’m sure I quite agree with all you’re say-ing about Sir Eustace. But why did you go to Marlow?”
“It was wrong of me, but natural under the circumstances—yes, I stillfeel natural under the circumstances.”
“What circumstances?” I cried desperately²⁸.
For the first time, Pagett seemed to recognize that I was asking him aquestion. His mind detached itself from the peculiarities²⁹ of Sir Eustace,and his own justification³⁰, and came to rest on me.
“I beg your pardon, Miss Beddingfeld,” he said stiffly, “but I fail to seeyour concern in the matter.”
He was back in the train now, leaning down to speak to me. I felt des-perate. What could one do with a man like that?
“Of course, if it’s so dreadful that you’d be ashamed to speak of it to me—” I began spitefully.
At last I had found the right stop. Pagett stiffened³¹ and flushed.
“Dreadful? Ashamed? I don’t understand you.”
“Then tell me.”
In three short sentences he told me. At last I knew Pagett’s secret! It wasnot in the least what I expected.
I walked slowly back to the hotel. There a wire was handed to me. I toreit open. It contained full and definite instructions for me to proceed forth-with to Johannesburg, or rather to a station this side of Johannesburg,where I should be met by a car. It was signed, not Andy, but Harry.
I sat down in a chair to do some very serious thinking.

1 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

2 heralding   

v.预示( herald的现在分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• It is the heralding of a new age of responsibilities. 那预示着一个充满责任的新时期的开始。 来自互联网
• Streaks of faint light were rising, heralding a new day. 几道淡淡的晨曦正在升起，预示新的一天的来临。 来自互联网

3 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

4 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

5 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

6 shred   

v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少

参考例句：

• There is not a shred of truth in what he says.他说的全是骗人的鬼话。
• The food processor can shred all kinds of vegetables.这架食品加工机可将各种蔬菜切丝切条。

7 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

8 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。

9 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

10 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

11 pseudonym   

n.假名，笔名

参考例句：

• Eric Blair wrote under the pseudonym of George Orwell.埃里克·布莱尔用乔治·奧威尔这个笔名写作。
• Both plays were published under the pseudonym of Philip Dayre.两个剧本都是以菲利普·戴尔的笔名出版的。

12 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。

13 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

14 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。

15 gulped   

v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住

参考例句：

• He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. 他把剩下的茶一饮而尽便出去了。
• She gulped nervously, as if the question bothered her. 她紧张地咽了一下，似乎那问题把她难住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 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。

18 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

19 recalcitrant   

adj.倔强的

参考例句：

• The University suspended the most recalcitrant demonstraters.这所大学把几个反抗性最强的示威者开除了。
• Donkeys are reputed to be the most recalcitrant animals.驴被认为是最倔强的牲畜。

20 feverishly   

adv. 兴奋地

参考例句：

• Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
• The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。

21 accosted   

v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭

参考例句：

• She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger. 在街上，一个完全陌生的人贸然走到她跟前搭讪。
• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him. 他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 accentuated   

v.重读( accentuate的过去式和过去分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于

参考例句：

• The problem is accentuated by a shortage of water and electricity. 缺乏水电使问题愈加严重。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her black hair accentuated the delicateness of her skin. 她那乌黑的头发更衬托出她洁嫩的皮肤。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

23 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

24 tenterhooks   

n.坐立不安

参考例句：

• The students are on tenterhooks to hear the result of the examination.学生们烦躁不安地听考试结果。
• The mother was on tenterhooks until her little Laura came back.当小珞拉回来后，她母亲才放下心来。

25 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

26 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

27 covert   

adj.隐藏的；暗地里的

参考例句：

• We should learn to fight with enemy in an overt and covert way.我们应学会同敌人做公开和隐蔽的斗争。
• The army carried out covert surveillance of the building for several months.军队对这座建筑物进行了数月的秘密监视。

28 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

29 peculiarities   

n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪

参考例句：

• the cultural peculiarities of the English 英国人的文化特点
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another. 他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

30 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

31 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。