Rose Red and Snow White（3）

　　III
　　"You look exactly as you did at seventeen, Thomas Royde," said Lady Tressilian. "Just the same owlish look. And no more conversation now than you had then. Why not?"Thomas said vaguely¹: "I dunno. Never had the gift of the gab²." "Not like Adrian. Adrian was a very clever and witty³ talker." "Perhaps that's why. Always left the talking to him." "Poor Adrian. So much promise." Thomas nodded.
　　Lady Tressilian changed the subject. She was granting an audience to Thomas. She usually preferred her visitors one at a time. It did not tire her and she was able to concentrate her attention on them.
　　"You've been here twenty-four hours," she said. "What do you think of our Situation?""Situation?"
　　"Don't look stupid. You do that deliberately⁴. You know quite well what I mean. The eternal triangle which has established itself under my roof."Thomas said cautiously: "Seems a bit of friction⁵." Lady Tressilian smiled rather diabolically⁶.
　　"I will confess to you, Thomas, I am rather enjoying myself. This came about through no wish of mine - indeed, I did my utmost to prevent it. Nevile was obstinate⁷. He would insist on bringing these two together - and now he is reaping what he has sown!"Thomas Royde shifted a little in his chair.
　　"Seems funny," he said.
　　"Elucidate," snapped Lady Tressilian.
　　"Shouldn't have thought Strange was that kind of chap.""It's interesting your saying that. Because it is what I felt. It was uncharacteristic of Nevile. Nevile, like most men, is usually anxious to avoid any kind of embarrassment⁸ or possible unpleasantness. I suspected that it wasn't originally Nevile's idea - but, if not, I don't see whose idea it can have been." She paused and said with only the slightest upward inflexion: "It wouldn't be Audrey's?"Thomas said promptly⁹: "No, not Audrey's.""And I can hardly believe it was that unfortunate young woman, Kay's, idea. Not unless she is a really remarkable¹⁰ actress. You know, I have almost felt sorry for her lately.""You don't like her much, do you?"
　　"No. She seems to me empty-headed and lacking in any kind of poise¹¹. But, as I say, I do begin to feel sorry for her. She is blundering about like a daddy-longlegs in lamp-light. She has no idea of what weapons to use. Bad temper, bad manners, childish rudeness - all things which have a most unfortunate-effect upon a man like Nevile."Thomas said quietly: "I think Audrey is the one who is in a difficult position."Lady Tressilian gave him a sharp glance.
　　"You've always been in love with Audrey, haven't you, Thomas?"His reply was quite imperturbable¹². "Suppose I have.""Practically from the time you were children together?"He nodded.
　　"And then Nevile came along and carried her off from under your nose?"He moved uneasily in his chair.
　　"Oh, well -I always knew I hadn't a chance.""Defeatist," said Lady Tressilian.
　　"I always have been a dull dog."
　　"Dobbin!"
　　"Good old Thomas! - that's what Audrey feels about me.""‘True Thomas,'" said Lady Tressilian. "That was your nickname, wasn't it?"He smiled as the words brought back memories of childish days. "Funny! I haven't heard that for years.""It might stand you in good stead now," said Lady Tressilian. She met his glance clearly and deliberately.
　　"Fidelity," she said, "is a quality that anyone who has been through Audrey's experience might appreciate. The dog-like devotion of a lifetime, Thomas, does sometimes get its reward."Thomas Royde looked down, his fingers fumbled¹³ with a pipe.
　　"That," he said, "is what I came home hoping."

1 vaguely   

adv.含糊地，暖昧地

参考例句：

• He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
• He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。

2 gab   

v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯；n.饶舌，多嘴，爱说话

参考例句：

• The young man had got the gift of gab.那个年轻小贩能说会道。
• She has the gift of the gab.她口才很好。

3 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

4 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

5 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

6 diabolically   

参考例句：

• His writing could be diabolically satiric. 他的作品极具讽刺性。 来自互联网

7 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

8 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

9 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

10 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

11 poise   

vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信

参考例句：

• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise.她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。
• Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.芭蕾课对培养优雅的姿仪非常重要。

12 imperturbable   

adj.镇静的

参考例句：

• Thomas,of course,was cool and aloof and imperturbable.当然，托马斯沉着、冷漠，不易激动。
• Edward was a model of good temper and his equanimity imperturbable.爱德华是个典型的好性子，他总是沉着镇定。

13 fumbled   

（笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下

参考例句：

• She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
• He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。