Besides, think of all the virtuous3 declamation4, all the penetrating5 observation, which had been built up entirely6 on the fundamental position that the Countess was a very objectionable person indeed, and which would be utterly7 overturned and nullified by the destruction of that premiss. Mrs. Phipps, the banker’s wife, and Mrs. Landor, the attorney’s wife, had invested part of their reputation for acuteness in the supposition that Mr. Bridmain was not the Countess’s brother. Moreover, Miss Phipps was conscious that if the Countess was not a disreputable person, she, Miss Phipps, had no compensating8 superiority in virtue9 to set against the other lady’s manifest superiority in personal charms. Miss Phipps’s stumpy figure and unsuccessful attire10, instead of looking down from a mount of virtue with an aureole round its head, would then be seen on the same level and in the same light as the Countess Czerlaski’s Diana-like form and well-chosen drapery. Miss Phipps, for her part, didn’t like dressing11 for effect—she had always avoided that style of appearance which was calculated to create a sensation.
Then what amusing innuendoes12 of the Milby gentlemen over their wine would have been entirely frustrated13 and reduced to nought14, if you had told them that the Countess had really been guilty of no misdemeanours which demanded her exclusion15 from strictly16 respectable society; that her husband had been the veritable Count Czerlaski, who had had wonderful escapes, as she said, and who, as she did not say, but as was said in certain circulars once folded by her fair hands, had subsequently given dancing lessons in the metropolis17; that Mr. Bridmain was neither more nor less than her half-brother, who, by unimpeached integrity and industry, had won a partnership18 in a silk-manufactory, and thereby19 a moderate fortune, that enabled him to retire, as you see, to study politics, the weather, and the art of conversation at his leisure. Mr. Bridmain, in fact, quadragenarian bachelor as he was, felt extremely well pleased to receive his sister in her widowhood, and to shine in the reflected light of her beauty and title. Every man who is not a monster, a mathematician20, or a mad philosopher, is the slave of some woman or other. Mr. Bridmain had put his neck under the yoke21 of his handsome sister, and though his soul was a very little one—of the smallest description indeed—he would not have ventured to call it his own. He might be slightly recalcitrant22 now and then, as is the habit of long-eared pachyderms, under the thong23 of the fair Countess’s tongue; but there seemed little probability that he would ever get his neck loose. Still, a bachelor’s heart is an outlying fortress24 that some fair enemy may any day take either by storm or stratagem25; and there was always the possibility that Mr. Bridmain’s first nuptials26 might occur before the Countess was quite sure of her second. As it was, however, he submitted to all his sister’s caprices, never grumbled27 because her dress and her maid formed a considerable item beyond her own little income of sixty pounds per annum, and consented to lead with her a migratory28 life, as personages on the debatable ground between aristocracy and commonalty, instead of settling in some spot where his five hundred a-year might have won him the definite dignity of a parochial magnate.
The Countess had her views in choosing a quiet provincial29 place like Milby. After three years of widowhood, she had brought her feelings to contemplate30 giving a successor to her lamented31 Czerlaski, whose fine whiskers, fine air, and romantic fortunes had won her heart ten years ago, when, as pretty Caroline Bridmain, in the full bloom of five-and-twenty, she was governess to Lady Porter’s daughters, whom he initiated32 into the mysteries of the pas de basque, and the lancers’ quadrilles. She had had seven years of sufficiently33 happy matrimony with Czerlaski, who had taken her to Paris and Germany, and introduced her there to many of his old friends with large titles and small fortunes. So that the fair Caroline had had considerable experience of life, and had gathered therefrom, not, indeed, any very ripe and comprehensive wisdom, but much external polish, and certain practical conclusions of a very decided34 kind. One of these conclusions was, that there were things more solid in life than fine whiskers and a title, and that, in accepting a second husband, she would regard these items as quite subordinate to a carriage and a settlement. Now, she had ascertained35, by tentative residences, that the kind of bite she was angling for was difficult to be met with at watering-places, which were already preoccupied36 with abundance of angling beauties, and were chiefly stocked with men whose whiskers might be dyed, and whose incomes were still more problematic; so she had determined37 on trying a neighbourhood where people were extremely well acquainted with each other’s affairs, and where the women were mostly ill-dressed and ugly. Mr. Bridmain’s slow brain had adopted his sister’s views, and it seemed to him that a woman so handsome and distinguished38 as the Countess must certainly make a match that might lift himself into the region of county celebrities39, and give him at least a sort of cousinship to the quarter-sessions.
All this, which was the simple truth, would have seemed extremely flat to the gossips of Milby, who had made up their minds to something much more exciting. There was nothing here so very detestable. It is true, the Countess was a little vain, a little ambitious, a little selfish, a little shallow and frivolous40, a little given to white lies.—But who considers such slight blemishes41, such moral pimples42 as these, disqualifications for entering into the most respectable society! Indeed, the severest ladies in Milby would have been perfectly43 aware that these characteristics would have created no wide distinction between the Countess Czerlaski and themselves; and since it was clear there was a wide distinction—why, it must lie in the possession of some vices44 from which they were undeniably free.
Hence it came to pass that Milby respectability refused to recognize the Countess Czerlaski, in spite of her assiduous church-going, and the deep disgust she was known to have expressed at the extreme paucity45 of the congregations on Ash-Wednesdays. So she began to feel that she had miscalculated the advantages of a neighbourhood where people are well acquainted with each other’s private affairs. Under these circumstances, you will imagine how welcome was the perfect credence46 and admiration47 she met with from Mr. and Mrs. Barton. She had been especially irritated by Mr. Ely’s behaviour to her; she felt sure that he was not in the least struck with her beauty, that he quizzed her conversation, and that he spoke48 of her with a sneer49. A woman always knows where she is utterly powerless, and shuns50 a coldly satirical eye as she would shun51 a Gorgon52. And she was especially eager for clerical notice and friendship, not merely because that is quite the most respectable countenance53 to be obtained in society, but because she really cared about religious matters, and had an uneasy sense that she was not altogether safe in that quarter. She had serious intentions of becoming quite pious—without any reserves—when she had once got her carriage and settlement. Let us do this one sly trick, says Ulysses to Neoptolemus, and we will be perfectly honest ever after—
ἀλλ’ ἡδὺ γάρ τοι κτῆμα τῆς νίκης λαβεῖν,
τόλμα· δίκαιοι δ’ αὖθις ἐκφανούμεθα.
The Countess did not quote Sophocles, but she said to herself, ‘Only this little bit of pretence54 and vanity, and then I will be quite good, and make myself quite safe for another world.’
And as she had by no means such fine taste and insight in theological teaching as in costume, the Rev55. Amos Barton seemed to her a man not only of learning—that is always understood with a clergyman—but of much power as a spiritual director. As for Milly, the Countess really loved her as well as the preoccupied state of her affections would allow. For you have already perceived that there was one being to whom the Countess was absorbingly devoted56, and to whose desires she made everything else subservient—namely, Caroline Czerlaski, nee Bridmain.
Thus there was really not much affectation in her sweet speeches and attentions to Mr. and Mrs. Barton. Still their friendship by no means adequately represented the object she had in view when she came to Milby, and it had been for some time clear to her that she must suggest a new change of residence to her brother.
The thing we look forward to often comes to pass, but never precisely57 in the way we have imagined to ourselves. The Countess did actually leave Camp Villa58 before many months were past, but under circumstances which had not at all entered into her contemplation.
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1
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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3
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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4
declamation
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| n. 雄辩，高调 | |
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5
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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6
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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8
compensating
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| 补偿，补助，修正 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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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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12
innuendoes
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| n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 )；讽刺的话；含沙射影；暗讽 | |
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13
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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14
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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16
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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17
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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mathematician
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| n.数学家 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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27
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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28
migratory
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| n.候鸟，迁移 | |
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provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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33
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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34
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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40
frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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41
blemishes
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| n.（身体的）瘢点( blemish的名词复数 )；伤疤；瑕疵；污点 | |
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42
pimples
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| n.丘疹，粉刺，小脓疱( pimple的名词复数 ) | |
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43
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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44
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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45
paucity
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| n.小量，缺乏 | |
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46
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
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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49
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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50
shuns
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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51
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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52
gorgon
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| n.丑陋女人，蛇发女怪 | |
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53
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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54
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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55
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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56
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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57
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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58
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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