曼斯菲尔德庄园 Chapter 10
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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
CHAPTER X 
A quarter of an hour, twenty minutes, passed away, and Fanny was still thinking of Edmund, Miss Crawford, and herself, without interruption from any one. She began to be surprised at being left so long, and to listen with an anxious desire of hearing their steps and their voices again. She listened, and at length she heard; she heard voices and feet approaching; but she had just satisfied herself that it was not those she wanted, when Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth, and Mr. Crawford issued from the same path which she had trod herself, and were before her. 
"Miss Price all alone" and "My dear Fanny, how comes this?" were the first salutations. She told her story. "Poor dear Fanny," cried her cousin, "how ill you have been used by them! You had better have staid with us." 
Then seating herself with a gentleman on each side, she resumed the conversation which had engaged them before, and discussed the possibility of improvements with much animation1. Nothing was fixed2 on; but Henry Crawford was full of ideas and projects, and, generally speaking, whatever he proposed was immediately approved, first by her, and then by Mr. Rushworth, whose principal business seemed to be to hear the others, and who scarcely risked an original thought of his own beyond a wish that they had seen his friend Smith's place. 
After some minutes spent in this way, Miss Bertram, observing the iron gate, expressed a wish of passing through it into the park, that their views and their plans might be more comprehensive. It was the very thing of all others to be wished, it was the best, it was the only way of proceeding3 with any advantage, in Henry Crawford's opinion; and he directly saw a knoll4 not half a mile off, which would give them exactly the requisite5 command of the house. Go therefore they must to that knoll, and through that gate; but the gate was locked. Mr. Rushworth wished he had brought the key; he had been very near thinking whether he should not bring the key; he was determined6 he would never come without the key again; but still this did not remove the present evil. They could not get through; and as Miss Bertram's inclination7 for so doing did by no means lessen8, it ended in Mr. Rushworth's declaring outright9 that he would go and fetch the key. He set off accordingly. 
"It is undoubtedly10 the best thing we can do now, as we are so far from the house already," said Mr. Crawford, when he was gone. 
"Yes, there is nothing else to be done. But now, sincerely, do not you find the place altogether worse than you expected?" 
"No, indeed, far otherwise. I find it better, grander, more complete in its style, though that style may not be the best. And to tell you the truth," speaking rather lower, "I do not think that _I_ shall ever see Sotherton again with so much pleasure as I do now. Another summer will hardly improve it to me." 
After a moment's embarrassment11 the lady replied, "You are too much a man of the world not to see with the eyes of the world. If other people think Sotherton improved, I have no doubt that you will." 
"I am afraid I am not quite so much the man of the world as might be good for me in some points. My feelings are not quite so evanescent, nor my memory of the past under such easy dominion12 as one finds to be the case with men of the world." 
This was followed by a short silence. Miss Bertram began again. "You seemed to enjoy your drive here very much this morning. I was glad to see you so well entertained. You and Julia were laughing the whole way." 
"Were we? Yes, I believe we were; but I have not the least recollection at what. Oh! I believe I was relating to her some ridiculous stories of an old Irish groom13 of my uncle's. Your sister loves to laugh." 
"You think her more light-hearted than I am?" 
"More easily amused," he replied; "consequently, you know," smiling, "better company. I could not have hoped to entertain you with Irish anecdotes14 during a ten miles' drive." 
"Naturally, I believe, I am as lively as Julia, but I have more to think of now." 
"You have, undoubtedly; and there are situations in which very high spirits would denote insensibility. Your prospects15, however, are too fair to justify16 want of spirits. You have a very smiling scene before you." 
"Do you mean literally17 or figuratively? Literally, I conclude. Yes, certainly, the sun shines, and the park looks very cheerful. But unluckily that iron gate, that ha-ha, give me a feeling of restraint and hardship. "I cannot get out, as the starling said." As she spoke18, and it was with expression, she walked to the gate: he followed her. "Mr. Rushworth is so long fetching this key!" 
"And for the world you would not get out without the key and without Mr. Rushworth's authority and protection, or I think you might with little difficulty pass round the edge of the gate, here, with my assistance; I think it might be done, if you really wished to be more at large, and could allow yourself to think it not prohibited." 
"Prohibited! nonsense! I certainly can get out that way, and I will. Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment, you know; we shall not be out of sight." "Or if we are, Miss Price will be so good as to tell him that he will find us near that knoll: the grove19 of oak on the knoll." 
Fanny, feeling all this to be wrong, could not help making an effort to prevent it. "You will hurt yourself, Miss Bertram," she cried; "you will certainly hurt yourself against those spikes20; you will tear your gown; you will be in danger of slipping into the ha-ha. You had better not go." 
Her cousin was safe on the other side while these words were spoken, and, smiling with all the good-humour of success, she said, "Thank you, my dear Fanny, but I and my gown are alive and well, and so good-bye." 
Fanny was again left to her solitude21, and with no increase of pleasant feelings, for she was sorry for almost all that she had seen and heard, astonished at Miss Bertram, and angry with Mr. Crawford. By taking a circuitous22 route, and, as it appeared to her, very unreasonable23 direction to the knoll, they were soon beyond her eye; and for some minutes longer she remained without sight or sound of any companion. She seemed to have the little wood all to herself. She could almost have thought that Edmund and Miss Crawford had left it, but that it was impossible for Edmund to forget her so entirely24
She was again roused from disagreeable musings by sudden footsteps: 
somebody was coming at a quick pace down the principal walk. She expected Mr. Rushworth, but it was Julia, who, hot and out of breath, and with a look of disappointment, cried out on seeing her, "Heyday25! Where are the others? I thought Maria and Mr. Crawford were with you." 
Fanny explained. 
"A pretty trick, upon my word! I cannot see them anywhere," looking eagerly into the park. "But they cannot be very far off, and I think I am equal to as much as Maria, even without help." 
"But, Julia, Mr. Rushworth will be here in a moment with the key. Do wait for Mr. Rushworth." 
"Not I, indeed. I have had enough of the family for one morning. Why, child, I have but this moment escaped from his horrible mother. Such a penance26 as I have been enduring, while you were sitting here so composed and so happy! It might have been as well, perhaps, if you had been in my place, but you always contrive27 to keep out of these scrapes." 
This was a most unjust reflection, but Fanny could allow for it, and let it pass: Julia was vexed28, and her temper was hasty; but she felt that it would not last, and therefore, taking no notice, only asked her if she had not seen Mr. Rushworth. 
"Yes, yes, we saw him. He was posting away as if upon life and death, and could but just spare time to tell us his errand, and where you all were." 
"It is a pity he should have so much trouble for nothing." 
"_That_ is Miss Maria's concern. I am not obliged to punish myself for _her_ sins. The mother I could not avoid, as long as my tiresome29 aunt was dancing about with the housekeeper30, but the son I _can_ get away from." 
And she immediately scrambled31 across the fence, and walked away, not attending to Fanny's last question of whether she had seen anything of Miss Crawford and Edmund. The sort of dread33 in which Fanny now sat of seeing Mr. Rushworth prevented her thinking so much of their continued absence, however, as she might have done. She felt that he had been very ill-used, and was quite unhappy in having to communicate what had passed. He joined her within five minutes after Julia's exit; and though she made the best of the story, he was evidently mortified34 and displeased35 in no common degree. At first he scarcely said anything; his looks only expressed his extreme surprise and vexation, and he walked to the gate and stood there, without seeming to know what to do. 
"They desired me to stay--my cousin Maria charged me to say that you would find them at that knoll, or thereabouts." 
"I do not believe I shall go any farther," said he sullenly36; "I see nothing of them. By the time I get to the knoll they may be gone somewhere else. I have had walking enough." 
And he sat down with a most gloomy countenance37 by Fanny. 
"I am very sorry," said she; "it is very unlucky." And she longed to be able to say something more to the purpose. 
After an interval38 of silence, "I think they might as well have staid for me," said he. 
"Miss Bertram thought you would follow her." 
"I should not have had to follow her if she had staid." 
This could not be denied, and Fanny was silenced. After another pause, he went on--"Pray, Miss Price, are you such a great admirer of this Mr. Crawford as some people are? For my part, I can see nothing in him." 
"I do not think him at all handsome." 
"Handsome! Nobody can call such an undersized man handsome. He is not five foot nine. I should not wonder if he is not more than five foot eight. I think he is an ill-looking fellow. In my opinion, these Crawfords are no addition at all. We did very well without them." 
A small sigh escaped Fanny here, and she did not know how to contradict him. 
"If I had made any difficulty about fetching the key, there might have been some excuse, but I went the very moment she said she wanted it." 
"Nothing could be more obliging than your manner, I am sure, and I dare say you walked as fast as you could; but still it is some distance, you know, from this spot to the house, quite into the house; and when people are waiting, they are bad judges of time, and every half minute seems like five." 
He got up and walked to the gate again, and "wished he had had the key about him at the time." Fanny thought she discerned in his standing39 there an indication of relenting, which encouraged her to another attempt, and she said, therefore, "It is a pity you should not join them. They expected to have a better view of the house from that part of the park, and will be thinking how it may be improved; and nothing of that sort, you know, can be settled without you." 
She found herself more successful in sending away than in retaining a companion. Mr. Rushworth was worked on. "Well," said he, "if you really think I had better go: it would be foolish to bring the key for nothing." And letting himself out, he walked off without farther ceremony. 
Fanny's thoughts were now all engrossed40 by the two who had left her so long ago, and getting quite impatient, she resolved to go in search of them. She followed their steps along the bottom walk, and had just turned up into another, when the voice and the laugh of Miss Crawford once more caught her ear; the sound approached, and a few more windings41 brought them before her. They were just returned into the wilderness42 from the park, to which a sidegate, not fastened, had tempted43 them very soon after their leaving her, and they had been across a portion of the park into the very avenue which Fanny had been hoping the whole morning to reach at last, and had been sitting down under one of the trees. This was their history. It was evident that they had been spending their time pleasantly, and were not aware of the length of their absence. Fanny's best consolation44 was in being assured that Edmund had wished for her very much, and that he should certainly have come back for her, had she not been tired already; but this was not quite sufficient to do away with the pain of having been left a whole hour, when he had talked of only a few minutes, nor to banish45 the sort of curiosity she felt to know what they had been conversing46 about all that time; and the result of the whole was to her disappointment and depression, as they prepared by general agreement to return to the house. 
On reaching the bottom of the steps to the terrace, Mrs. Rushworth and Mrs. Norris presented themselves at the top, just ready for the wilderness, at the end of an hour and a half from their leaving the house. Mrs. Norris had been too well employed to move faster. Whatever cross-accidents had occurred to intercept47 the pleasures of her nieces, she had found a morning of complete enjoyment48; for the housekeeper, after a great many courtesies on the subject of pheasants, had taken her to the dairy, told her all about their cows, and given her the receipt for a famous cream cheese; and since Julia's leaving them they had been met by the gardener, with whom she had made a most satisfactory acquaintance, for she had set him right as to his grandson's illness, convinced him that it was an ague, and promised him a charm for it; and he, in return, had shewn her all his choicest nursery of plants, and actually presented her with a very curious specimen49 of heath. 
On this _ rencontre_ they all returned to the house together, there to lounge away the time as they could with sofas, and chit-chat, and Quarterly Reviews, till the return of the others, and the arrival of dinner. It was late before the Miss Bertrams and the two gentlemen came in, and their ramble32 did not appear to have been more than partially50 agreeable, or at all productive of anything useful with regard to the object of the day. By their own accounts they had been all walking after each other, and the junction51 which had taken place at last seemed, to Fanny's observation, to have been as much too late for re-establishing harmony, as it confessedly had been for determining on any alteration52. She felt, as she looked at Julia and Mr. Rushworth, that hers was not the only dissatisfied bosom53 amongst them: there was gloom on the face of each. Mr. Crawford and Miss Bertram were much more gay, and she thought that he was taking particular pains, during dinner, to do away any little resentment54 of the other two, and restore general good-humour. 
Dinner was soon followed by tea and coffee, a ten miles' drive home allowed no waste of hours; and from the time of their sitting down to table, it was a quick succession of busy nothings till the carriage came to the door, and Mrs. Norris, having fidgeted about, and obtained a few pheasants' eggs and a cream cheese from the housekeeper, and made abundance of civil speeches to Mrs. Rushworth, was ready to lead the way. At the same moment Mr. Crawford, approaching Julia, said, "I hope I am not to lose my companion, unless she is afraid of the evening air in so exposed a seat." The request had not been foreseen, but was very graciously received, and Julia's day was likely to end almost as well as it began. Miss Bertram had made up her mind to something different, and was a little disappointed; but her conviction of being really the one preferred comforted her under it, and enabled her to receive Mr. Rushworth's parting attentions as she ought. He was certainly better pleased to hand her into the barouche than to assist her in ascending55 the box, and his complacency seemed confirmed by the arrangement. 
"Well, Fanny, this has been a fine day for you, upon my word," said Mrs. Norris, as they drove through the park. "Nothing but pleasure from beginning to end! I am sure you ought to be very much obliged to your aunt Bertram and me for contriving56 to let you go. A pretty good day's amusement you have had!" 
Maria was just discontented enough to say directly, "I think _you_ have done pretty well yourself, ma'am. Your lap seems full of good things, and here is a basket of something between us which has been knocking my elbow unmercifully." 
"My dear, it is only a beautiful little heath, which that nice old gardener would make me take; but if it is in your way, I will have it in my lap directly. There, Fanny, you shall carry that parcel for me; take great care of it: do not let it fall; it is a cream cheese, just like the excellent one we had at dinner. Nothing would satisfy that good old Mrs. Whitaker, but my taking one of the cheeses. I stood out as long as I could, till the tears almost came into her eyes, and I knew it was just the sort that my sister would be delighted with. That Mrs. Whitaker is a treasure! She was quite shocked when I asked her whether wine was allowed at the second table, and she has turned away two housemaids for wearing white gowns. Take care of the cheese, Fanny. Now I can manage the other parcel and the basket very well." 
"What else have you been spunging?" said Maria, half-pleased that Sotherton should be so complimented. 
"Spunging, my dear! It is nothing but four of those beautiful pheasants' eggs, which Mrs. Whitaker would quite force upon me: she would not take a denial. She said it must be such an amusement to me, as she understood I lived quite alone, to have a few living creatures of that sort; and so to be sure it will. I shall get the dairymaid to set them under the first spare hen, and if they come to good I can have them moved to my own house and borrow a coop; and it will be a great delight to me in my lonely hours to attend to them. And if I have good luck, your mother shall have some." 
It was a beautiful evening, mild and still, and the drive was as pleasant as the serenity57 of Nature could make it; but when Mrs. Norris ceased speaking, it was altogether a silent drive to those within. Their spirits were in general exhausted58; and to determine whether the day had afforded most pleasure or pain, might occupy the meditations59 of almost all.

第一卷 第十章
十五分钟过去了,二十分钟过去了,范妮仍然在想着埃德蒙、克劳福德小姐和她自己,没有一个人来打断她的思绪。她开始感到奇怪,她怎么会给撂下这么长时间,于是便侧耳倾听,急于想再听到他们的脚步声和说话声。她听了又听,终于听见了,听见说话声和脚步声越来越近。但是,她刚意识到来的并不是她所盼的人,伯特伦小姐、拉什沃思先生和克劳福德先生便从她走过的那条路上走出来,来到了她面前。
几个人一看见她,迎头而来的是这样的话:“普莱斯小姐孤零零一个人啊!”“亲爱的范妮,这是怎么回事呀?”范妮把事情的原委告诉了他们。“可怜的小范妮,”她表姐嚷道,“他们竟然这样怠慢你呀!你早该和我们待在一起的。”
然后,这位表姐便坐了下来,两位先生分坐在她两边。她又捡起了他们刚才谈论的话题,兴致勃勃地讨论如何改造庄园。没有得出任何结论——不过,亨利·克劳福德满脑子的主意和方案,而且一般说来,不论他提出什么建议,都会立即得到赞同,先是伯特伦小姐,接着是拉什沃思先生。拉什沃思先生的主要任务,似乎就是听别人出主意,自己不敢贸然提出任何主见,只是遗憾大家没见过他的朋友史密斯的庄园。
这样过了一阵,伯特伦小姐眼望着铁门,说是想穿过铁门到庭园里看看,以便他们的想法和计划能够更加全面。这正中其他几个人的心意。在亨利·克劳福德看来,这再好不过了,只有这样才能有所帮助。他当即发现,不到半英里以外有座小山丘,站在上边恰好可以俯瞰大宅。因此,他们必须到那山丘上,而且就打这铁门出去。可是门却锁着。拉什沃思先生后悔没带钥匙。他出来的时候,曾隐约想过是否要带钥匙,现在下定了决心,今后再来这里决不能不带钥匙。可是,这仍然不能解决眼下的问题。他们出不了铁门。由于伯特伦小姐要出铁门的愿望丝毫未减,最后拉什沃思先生爽快地宣布,他要去取钥匙。于是,他就走了。
“我们离大宅这么远,这无疑是我们所能采取的最好办法,”拉什沃思先生走后,克劳福德先生说。
“是的,没有别的办法。不过说实话,难道你不觉得这座庭园总的来说比你预想的要差吗?”
“那倒没有,事实恰恰相反。我觉得比我预想的更好、更气派,就其风格来说更趋完美,虽说这种风格可能算不上是最好的。跟你说实话,”克劳福德先生声音压得低低地说,“我想,我要是再看到索瑟顿的话,就决不会像这次这样兴高采烈了。一到了明年夏天,我也不会觉得它改善得比现在更好。”
伯特伦小姐不知说什么是好,过了一会才答道:“你是个深通世故的人,自然会用世俗的眼光看问题。要是别人觉得索瑟顿变得更好了,我相信你也会那样看的。”
“我恐怕还不是个那么深通世故的人,因此不会去顾及在某些方面于己是否有利。我的感情不像老于世故的人那样说变就变,我对往事的记忆也不像老于世故的人那样容易受别人的影响。”
接着是一阵短暂的沉默。伯特伦小姐又开口了:“今天上午你赶车来这里的时候,好像赶得很开心。我看到你那样快乐感到很高兴。你和朱莉娅笑了一路。”
“是吗?不错,我想我们是笑了一路,不过我丝毫记不得为什么而笑。噢!我想我给她讲了我叔叔的爱尔兰老马夫的一些滑稽故事。你妹妹就爱笑。”
“你觉得她比我开朗吧。”
“更容易被逗乐,”克劳福德先生答道,“因而,你知道,”说着笑了笑,“更适合做伴。我想,在十英里的旅途中,我很难拿一些爱尔兰的奇闻逗你开心的。”
“我想,我天性和朱莉娅一样快活,不过我现在的心事比她多。”
“你的心事肯定比她多——在有些处境下,情绪高涨会意味着麻木不仁。不过你前程似锦,不该情绪低落。你的前面是一片明媚的景色。”
“你说的是字面意思还是比喻意义?我想是字面意思吧。景色的确不错,阳光灿烂,庭园令人赏心悦目。但遗憾的是,这座铁门、这道隐篱,给我一种约束和困苦的感觉。正如椋鸟说的那样:‘我无法飞出牢笼。’①”(译注:①引自英国小说家劳伦斯·斯特恩(1713-1768)所著《感伤的旅程》。)伯特伦小姐面带表情地一边说,一边向铁门走去,克劳福德先生跟在她后边。“拉什沃思先生取钥匙去了这么长时间!”
“没有钥匙,没有拉什沃思先生的许可相保护,你无论如何也是出不去的。不然的话,我想在我的帮助下,你可以毫不费力地从门上边翻过去。如果你真的想要自由,并且认为这不犯禁,我想还是可以这样做的。”
“犯禁!什么话呀!我当然可以那样出去,而且就要那样出去。你知道,拉什沃思先生一会儿就会回来——他不会看不见我们的。”
“即使他看不见我们,还可以请普莱斯小姐告诉他,让他到山丘附近,到山丘上的橡树林里找我们。”
范妮觉得这样做不妥,忍不住想要加以阻止。“你会受伤的,伯特伦小姐,”她嚷道。“那些尖头肯定会把你刺伤——会撕破你的衣服——你会掉到隐篱里去。你最好不要过去。”
话音未落,她表姐已平安无事地翻到了那边,脸上挂着洋洋得意的微笑,说道:“谢谢你,亲爱的范妮,我和我的衣服都安然无恙,再见。”
范妮又一次被孤零零地扔在那里,心情并不比原来好受。她几乎为她耳闻目睹的一切感到难过,对伯特伦小姐感到惊讶,对克劳福德先生感到气恼。他们俩采取一条迂回路线,一条在她看来很不合理的路线,朝小山丘走去,很快就走没影了。就这样又过了一会,她既见不到人,也听不到什么动静。整个小树林里似乎就她一个人。她几乎感到,埃德蒙和克劳福德小姐已经离开了树林,可是埃德蒙不会把她忘得这么彻底。
突然传来一阵脚步声,又一次把她从懊恼的沉思中惊醒,有人脚步匆匆地顺着主径走来了。她以为是拉什沃思先生,不料却是朱莉娅,只见她又热又气喘吁吁,满脸失望的样子,一见到范妮便嚷嚷道:“啊!别人都哪儿去了?我还以为玛丽亚和克劳福德先生和你在一起呢。”
范妮说明了事情的原委。
“我敢说,他们在捣鬼!我哪儿也看不到他们,”朱莉娅一边说一边用急切的目光往庭园里搜寻。“不过他们不会离这儿很远,我想玛丽亚能做到的事我也能做到,甚至不用别人搀扶。”
“不过,朱莉娅,拉什沃思先生马上就会拿来钥匙。你还是等等他吧。”
“我才不等哪。我一个上午都在陪这家人,够腻烦的了。听着,姑娘,我是刚刚摆脱他那令人讨厌透顶的妈妈。你安安静静、快快活活地坐在这里,我却一直在活受罪呀!也许当初可以让你来干我这份差事,可你总是设法避开这种尴尬局面。”
对范妮的这番责难极不公正,不过范妮倒能宽容,不予计较。朱莉娅心里有气,性子又急,不过她觉得持续不了多久,因而未予理会,只是问她有没有见到拉什沃思先生。
“见到了,见到了。他风风火火地跑开了,好像性命攸关似的,只是仓促地对我们说了声他去干什么,你们都在哪里。”
“可惜他白辛苦了一场。”
“那是玛丽亚小姐的事。我犯不着因为她的过失而跟自己过不去。讨厌的大姨妈拉着管家婆东游西逛,弄得我甩不开拉什沃思太太,不过她儿子我可甩得掉。”
朱莉娅立即爬过栅栏走开了,也不理会范妮问的最后一个问题:她有没有看见克劳福德小姐和埃德蒙。不过,范妮坐在那里,由于担心看到拉什沃思先生,不再一味地去琢磨他们久去不归。她觉得他们太对不住拉什沃思先生,而刚才的事还得由她来告诉拉什沃思先生,她感到非常难受。朱莉娅跳出栅栏不到五分钟,拉什沃思先生便赶来了。范妮尽管把事情讲得十分婉转,但看得出来,拉什沃思先生感到非同一般的屈辱和气愤。起初他几乎什么都不说,只是脸上表现出极度的惊讶和恼怒,随即便走到铁门跟前,站在那里,仿佛不知如何是好。
“他们要我待在这儿——玛丽亚表姐叫我转告你,你可以在那座山丘或附近一带找到他们。”
“我想我一步也不想往前走了,”拉什沃思先生气呼呼地说。“我连他们的影子都看不见。等我赶到山丘那儿,他们也许又到别的地方了。我走路已经走得够多了。”
他在范妮身旁坐下,脸色异常阴郁。
“我感到很抱歉,”范妮说。“真令人遗憾。”她很想再说点妥帖的安慰话。
沉默了一阵之后,拉什沃思先生说:“我想他们完全可以在这儿等我。”
“伯特伦小姐认为你会去找她的。”
“她要是待在这儿,我就不用去找她了。”
这话是毋庸置疑的,因此范妮沉默不语。又停了一阵之后,拉什沃思先生继续说道:“请问,普莱斯小姐,你是不是像有些人那样,对这位克劳福德先生崇拜得五体投地?我却看不出他有什么了不起的。”
“我觉得他一点也不漂亮。”
“漂亮!谁也不会说这么一个矮小的男人漂亮。他还不到五英尺九英寸。我看他可能还不到五英尺八英寸。我觉得这家伙不好看。依我看,克劳福德家这兄妹俩完全是多余的,没有他们我们照样过得挺好。”
范妮一听这话,不由得轻轻叹息了一声,她不知道如何反驳他。
“假如我说过取钥匙有什么难处的话,他们不等我倒也情有可原,可是伯特伦小姐一说要钥匙,我就赶忙去取了。”
“我敢说,你当时表现得再爽快不过了,我认为你走路的速度不能再快了。不过你如道,从这里到大宅,再到大宅里面,总还是有一段距离。而人在等待的时候,对时间就把握不准了,每过半分钟就像是过了五分钟。”
拉什沃思先生站起身来,又走到铁门跟前,嘴里说:“我当时身上带钥匙就好了。”范妮见他站在那里,觉得他态度有所缓和,由此受到鼓励,想再劝说一次,于是便说道:“真遗憾,你没跟他们一起去。他们认为从庭园的那个地方可以更好地察看大宅,可以琢磨如何加以改进。可你要知道,你不在场,这种事什么也定不下来。”
范妮发现,把一个伙伴打发走比把他留在身边还要顺利些。拉什沃思先生被说动了。“好吧,”他说,“如果你真认为我还是去的好,我也不该白去取了一趟钥匙。”他开门走了出去,也没再打个招呼便走开了。
这时候,范妮的心思完全回到了离她已久的那两个人身上,实在耐不住了,便决定去找他们。她顺着林边小路,朝他们去的方向走去,刚转到另一条小路上,便又一次听到了克劳福德小姐的说话声和笑声。声音越来越近,又转了几个弯,那两个人便出现在她面前。据他们说,他们是刚从庭园回到荒野上来的。他们离开她没走多久,便遇到一个边门没锁,于是情不自禁地走了进去。他们在庭园里走了一阵,终于走上了范妮一上午都盼着要去的那条林荫大道,在一棵树下坐了下来。原来他们是这样玩的。显然,他们玩得非常快活,忘记了已离开她有多久。埃德蒙对范妮说,他多么希望她也和他们在一起,当时若不是因为她已经走不动了,他肯定会回来叫她一块去的。这些话是对范妮的莫大安慰,但还不足以消除她内心的委屈,表哥本来说过一会就回来,却把她撂下了整整一个小时;也不足以驱除她的好奇心,她想知道他们在此期间一直在谈些什么。到头来,她只能感到失望和伤心,因为她们一致表示,要回大宅去了。
拉什沃思太太和诺里斯太太走到阶径的台阶跟前,来到了顶部,准备往荒野走去,这时她们离开大宅已足有一个半小时了。诺里斯太太分心的事情太多,因而无法走快。尽管外甥女都遇到了不顺心的事,心里快活不起来,她却觉得一上午十分开心——女管家先是客客气气地就野鸡问题向她介绍了许多情况,接着把她领到奶牛场,又把奶牛的情况做了详细的介绍,给了她一张领单,让她去领一包有名的奶酪。朱莉娅离开她们之后,她们又遇到了园丁。诺里斯太太极其高兴能与园丁相识,因为她为园丁判明了他孙子的病症,告诉他说他孙子得的是疟疾,答应给他一个治疟疾的符咒。为了报答她,园丁领她参观了他所有的奇花异草,还把一株非常稀罕的石楠送给了她。
相遇之后,大家一起回到大宅,坐在沙发上聊天,看《评论季刊》,借以消磨时间,等待其他人回来,等候开饭。两位伯特伦小姐和两位男士回来时天色已晚,他们的出游看来并不怎么愉快,也丝毫无助于这天原来的计划。照他们的说法,他们一直在你找我我找你,最后虽然终于碰到了一起,但是照范妮看来,似乎为时过晚,难以恢复原来的和谐关系,而且正如他们所说的,也来不及做出改造庄园的任何决定。她看了看朱莉娅和拉什沃思先生,觉得心中不快的并不止她一个人,他们两人都是满脸阴沉沉的。克劳福德先生和伯特伦小姐要快活得多,她觉得吃饭的时候,克劳福德先生煞费苦心地想要消除那两个人对他的怨恨,使席间个个都喜笑颜开。
饭后不久,送来了茶和咖啡,由于坐车回家还要走十‘英里,不允许耽搁很多时间,因而从就座入席开始,到马车来到门前为止,一连串无关紧要的客套应酬进行得紧紧张张,诺里斯太太先是坐立不安地折腾了一番,接着从女管家那里弄到几只野鸡蛋和一包奶酪,又对拉什沃思太太说了一大堆客气话,便准备带头动身了。与此同时,克劳福德先生走到朱莉娅跟前,说道:“我来时的伙伴如果不怕在夜色中坐在一个无遮无挡的位置上,我希望她回去时还能和我坐在一起。”朱莉娅没有料到他会提出这一请求,但却和颜悦色地接受了,她这一天的结局很可能像开始一样愉快。伯特伦小姐本来心里另有打算,现在却有点失望——不过,她深信克劳福德先生真正的意中人是她,这使她足可聊以自慰,并能得体地接受拉什沃思先生临别时的殷勤。毫无疑问,比起把她扶上驾驶座来,克劳福德先生倒更乐意把她扶进马车——这样的安排越发使他自呜得意。
“范妮,我敢说你这一天过得不错呀!”马车打庭园里驶过时,诺里斯太太说。“自始至终好开心啊!我想你应该非常感激伯特伦姨妈和我,是我们安排让你来的。你这一天玩得多快活呀!”
玛丽亚心中不满,直言不讳地说:“我想,姨妈,你真是大获丰收啊。你怀里好像抱满了好东西,我们之间有一只篮子,里面装着什么东西,一直在碰我的胳膊肘,碰得我好痛。”
“亲爱的,那只不过是一小株漂亮的石楠,那个好心的老园丁非要叫我带上。不过要是妨碍了你,我这就把它抱在腿上。喂,范妮,你给我拿着那个包——要小心——不要掉下来。里边是奶酪,就是我们吃饭时吃的那种高级奶酪。那位惠特克太太真好,非让我拿一包不行。我一直不肯拿,后来见她都快急哭了才拿了一包。我知道我妹妹就喜欢这东西。那个惠特克太太真是个难得的好管家呀!我问她仆人在饭桌上是否允许喝酒时,她都吓了一跳。有两个女仆因为穿白裙子被她辞退了。小心奶酪,范妮。现在,我能照顾好另一个包裹和篮子了。”
“你还白捞来了些什么?”玛丽亚说,听了对方以这样的话恭维索瑟顿,颇有几分得意。
“亲爱的,怎么是白捞!只不过是四只漂亮的野鸡蛋,惠特克太太非要逼着我拿,我不拿她就不答应。她说她知道我孤零零一个人过日子,能养那么几个小生灵,一定会给我带来乐趣。我想肯定会很好玩。我打算把它们交给牛奶房女工,一有母鸡抱窝,就塞进去。要是能抱出来,我就把它们弄回家,借个鸡笼。我寂寞的时候摆弄摆弄它们,倒会很有意思。我要是养得好,还会给你母亲几只。”
当晚夜色很美,又温和又宁静,在如此静谧的大自然中坐车旅行,真是再惬意不过了。不过,诺里斯太太一不说话,车里的人便静悄悄了。他们都已疲惫不堪——几乎所有的人都在琢磨,这一天给他们带来的是愉快还是痛苦。



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 animation UMdyv     
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作
参考例句:
  • They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
  • The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。
2 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
3 proceeding Vktzvu     
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
参考例句:
  • This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
  • The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
4 knoll X3nyd     
n.小山,小丘
参考例句:
  • Silver had terrible hard work getting up the knoll.对于希尔弗来说,爬上那小山丘真不是件容易事。
  • He crawled up a small knoll and surveyed the prospect.他慢腾腾地登上一个小丘,看了看周围的地形。
5 requisite 2W0xu     
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品
参考例句:
  • He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
  • Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。
6 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
7 inclination Gkwyj     
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好
参考例句:
  • She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
  • I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
8 lessen 01gx4     
vt.减少,减轻;缩小
参考例句:
  • Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
  • They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
9 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
10 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
11 embarrassment fj9z8     
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。
12 dominion FmQy1     
n.统治,管辖,支配权;领土,版图
参考例句:
  • Alexander held dominion over a vast area.亚历山大曾统治过辽阔的地域。
  • In the affluent society,the authorities are hardly forced to justify their dominion.在富裕社会里,当局几乎无需证明其统治之合理。
13 groom 0fHxW     
vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁
参考例句:
  • His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
  • George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作,乔治已在接受专门的培训。
14 anecdotes anecdotes     
n.掌故,趣闻,轶事( anecdote的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor 关于他短暂演员生涯的趣闻逸事
  • He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman. 他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
16 justify j3DxR     
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护
参考例句:
  • He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
  • Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗?
17 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
18 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
19 grove v5wyy     
n.林子,小树林,园林
参考例句:
  • On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
  • The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。
20 spikes jhXzrc     
n.穗( spike的名词复数 );跑鞋;(防滑)鞋钉;尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划
参考例句:
  • a row of iron spikes on a wall 墙头的一排尖铁
  • There is a row of spikes on top of the prison wall to prevent the prisoners escaping. 监狱墙头装有一排尖钉,以防犯人逃跑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 solitude xF9yw     
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
参考例句:
  • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
  • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
22 circuitous 5qzzs     
adj.迂回的路的,迂曲的,绕行的
参考例句:
  • They took a circuitous route to avoid reporters.他们绕道避开了记者。
  • The explanation was circuitous and puzzling.这个解释很迂曲,让人困惑不解。
23 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
24 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
25 heyday CdTxI     
n.全盛时期,青春期
参考例句:
  • The 19th century was the heyday of steam railways.19世纪是蒸汽机车鼎盛的时代。
  • She was a great singer in her heyday.她在自己的黄金时代是个了不起的歌唱家。
26 penance Uulyx     
n.(赎罪的)惩罪
参考例句:
  • They had confessed their sins and done their penance.他们已经告罪并做了补赎。
  • She knelt at her mother's feet in penance.她忏悔地跪在母亲脚下。
27 contrive GpqzY     
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出
参考例句:
  • Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?你能不能早一点来?
  • How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?你怎么把事情弄得一团糟呢?
28 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的;(指问题等)棘手的;争论不休的问题;烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
参考例句:
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
29 tiresome Kgty9     
adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的
参考例句:
  • His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
  • He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。
30 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家
参考例句:
  • A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
  • She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家,一家人吃得很省。
31 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 ramble DAszo     
v.漫步,漫谈,漫游;n.漫步,闲谈,蔓延
参考例句:
  • This is the best season for a ramble in the suburbs.这是去郊区漫游的最好季节。
  • I like to ramble about the street after work.我下班后在街上漫步。
33 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
34 mortified 0270b705ee76206d7730e7559f53ea31     
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等)
参考例句:
  • She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了,直羞得无地自容。
  • The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
35 displeased 1uFz5L     
a.不快的
参考例句:
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。
  • He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。
36 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
37 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
38 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
参考例句:
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
39 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
40 engrossed 3t0zmb     
adj.全神贯注的
参考例句:
  • The student is engrossed in his book.这名学生正在专心致志地看书。
  • No one had ever been quite so engrossed in an evening paper.没人会对一份晚报如此全神贯注。
41 windings 8a90d8f41ef7c5f4ee6b83bec124a8c9     
(道路、河流等)蜿蜒的,弯曲的( winding的名词复数 ); 缠绕( wind的现在分词 ); 卷绕; 转动(把手)
参考例句:
  • The time harmonics can be considered as voltages of higher frequencies applied to the windings. 时间谐波可以看作是施加在绕组上的较高频率的电压。
  • All the vales in their manifold windings shaded by the most delightful forests. 所有的幽谷,都笼罩在繁茂的垂枝下。
42 wilderness SgrwS     
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠
参考例句:
  • She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
  • Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
43 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
44 consolation WpbzC     
n.安慰,慰问
参考例句:
  • The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
  • This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
45 banish nu8zD     
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除
参考例句:
  • The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
  • He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。
46 conversing 20d0ea6fb9188abfa59f3db682925246     
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
47 intercept G5rx7     
vt.拦截,截住,截击
参考例句:
  • His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
  • Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。
48 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
49 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本,标本
参考例句:
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
50 partially yL7xm     
adv.部分地,从某些方面讲
参考例句:
  • The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
  • The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静,宵禁部分解除。
51 junction N34xH     
n.连接,接合;交叉点,接合处,枢纽站
参考例句:
  • There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
  • You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。
52 alteration rxPzO     
n.变更,改变;蚀变
参考例句:
  • The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
  • He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。
53 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
54 resentment 4sgyv     
n.怨愤,忿恨
参考例句:
  • All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
  • She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。
55 ascending CyCzrc     
adj.上升的,向上的
参考例句:
  • Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。
56 contriving 104341ff394294c813643a9fe96a99cb     
(不顾困难地)促成某事( contrive的现在分词 ); 巧妙地策划,精巧地制造(如机器); 设法做到
参考例句:
  • Why may not several Deities combine in contriving and framing a world? 为什么不可能是数个神联合起来,设计和构造世界呢? 来自哲学部分
  • The notorious drug-pusher has been contriving an escape from the prison. 臭名昭著的大毒枭一直都在图谋越狱。
57 serenity fEzzz     
n.宁静,沉着,晴朗
参考例句:
  • Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤,但仍使人感觉安详。
  • She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。
58 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
59 meditations f4b300324e129a004479aa8f4c41e44a     
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想
参考例句:
  • Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉,打断你思考问题了。
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